GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 29, 2021 – Max Friar, Founder and Managing Partner of Calder Capital, LLC was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Entrepreneur of the Year – Financial Services category in The 19th Annual American Business Awards® today.
The American Business Awards are the USA’s premier business awards program. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be virtually presented to winners during a live event on Wednesday, June 30.
“Friar exhibits great skills of leadership and entrepreneurship. Calder has had yearly substantial growth and it looks like he knows how to move fast and make changes.” -Judges
“I’m honored to receive this recognition alongside so many impressive and hardworking honorees,” remarked Friar, regarding the award. “I am so proud of our team, each of whom buckled down in 2020 and refused to let the pandemic stop our growth and progress. Thank you also to the American Business Awards’ judges who gave their time to analyze so many entries. This has truly been an honor.”
According to judges, “In a time where many small business owners are struggling to keep their doors open and fighting the urge to simply close up shop, this venture has helped the community more than ever before. It has given the business owners hope in seeing profits from what many have built their entire lives.”
In 2020, Calder’s revenue crested a record $3,700,000 and the firm closed 40 successful transactions. This represents an 85% increase in revenue and 74% increase in closed transactions vs 2019, respectively.
In 2020, Friar pioneered new offices in Chicago, IL, East Lansing, MI, Macomb, MI, and Huntsville, AL. Additionally, Friar augmented staff by hiring an Office Manager and Marketing/Content Writer.
To spur growth in 2020, Friar:
- Launched a service offering specifically focused on helping distressed/turnaround businesses locate buyers quickly.
- Formalized an intern program and hired 5 interns.
- Implemented a sales program that targets 300 business owners per week, informing them of Calder’s services. This program includes email marketing automation, drip sequences, and has resulted in a multitude of new clients.
- Deployed a Buy-Side M&A Services Program that guarantees unlisted leads for buyer clients.
Calder also received a Gold Stevie® Award in the Company of the Year – Financial Services Category and a Bronze Stevie® Award for Fastest Growing Company of the Year – Up to 100 Employees.
More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.
“The American economy continues to show its resilience, and as we’re poised on the beginning of what should be a phenomenal period of growth, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of a wide range of organizations and people over the past 18 months,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Gallagher. “This year’s Stevie-winning nominations in The American Business Awards are testament to the ingenuity, the commitment, the passion, the adaptability, and the creativity of the American people.”
Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2021 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.
To read about Friar’s making the Grand Rapids Top 200 list, click here.
To read about Friar’s 2020 Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, click here.