Results

The register.

Every embedded engagement since 2010, sponsor-backed and founder-led, from a portfolio assessment to the seat itself. What we did is on the record; who it was for is a partner’s call.

84
engagements
27
active
60
sponsor-backed
Steve Dion, Founder & CEO, Dion Leadership
In their words

Hear it from the founder.

Sold to Gallagher · 2025

Steve Dion built Dion Leadership and sold it to Gallagher in 2025. Fairlead ran the process from preparation to close. Here he describes what that was like from the founder’s chair.

M&ASaleProfessional services
See the engagement
The register

84 engagements, 2010 to today.

Interim CFO and controller seats, operating-partner roles, M&A and portfolio assessments, across energy and infrastructure, venture-backed companies and family offices. 27 active today; 60 with a sponsor at the table.

24 engagements · 2 filters onClear all
№ 010Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 10: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment of this distressed district energy system followed by the divestiture of the company to a strategic buyer.

M&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 014Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 14: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Supported New England based portfolio of 18 run-of-the-river hydro units with M&A and lender restructuring

M&A
№ 016Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 16: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Buy-side due diligence support of the acquisition of Veolia's North American energy division.

AssessmentSponsor-backed
№ 025Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 25: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

In collaboration with London Economics, developed a business plan and provided due diligence support for a PE-company's bid for Chicago's district cooling system.

M&ASponsor-backed
№ 030Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 30: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Renee Sass, a partner at Fairlead Advisors, supported the DOE's Loan Program Office with credit analysis and risk management for cleantech and energy projects.

Advisory
№ 031Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 31: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Supported Basalt and the internal CEO of the company with the development of a new business plan followed by the marketing and successful sale of the company.

Operating partnerAssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 032Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 32: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Led the restructuring, merger, and $50 million recapitalization of the company, the fourth-largest district energy system in the U.S.

Operating partnerAssessmentM&ASponsor-backed
№ 039Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 39: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Supported the implementation of a new ERP system for this publicly-traded developer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Advisory
№ 040Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 40: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment and the development of a cost-to-complete budget for a PE-backed development of 10K barrel per day renewable diesel production.

AssessmentSponsor-backed
№ 042Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 42: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

As Operating Partner and Chair of a Special Board Committee, assessed the probability-weighted potential of this Geothermal Energy company and managed it through to its sale to a strategic buyer.

Operating partnerAssessmentM&ASponsor-backed
№ 043Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 43: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio Company assessment of this VC-backed operator of this 3000 ton-per-day waste energy company followed by the development of a business plan.

AssessmentSponsor-backed
№ 044Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 44: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

On behalf of a fund manager, engaged to oversee an oil field services company with over $300M in annual revenues. Fairlead placed a fractional CFO and Controller into the company to revise and execute a new business plan.

Operating partnerM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 046Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 46: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Helped this solar developer build a business plan and prepare for and execution its first round of institutional investment.

M&A
№ 047Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 47: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment of this developer of an ocean-based district cooling system in Hawaii followed by fundraising preparation and advisory services.

Assessment
№ 050Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 50: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

In collaboration with London Economics, prepared a business plan and designed a pro-forma company to catalyze the development of renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia.

Advisory
№ 055Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 55: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Retained to represent a PE-owner on the Board of a publicly traded retail gas and electricity provider with 250,000 customers across the U.S. Sold to Constellation Energy.

Operating partnerSponsor-backed
№ 056Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 56: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Provided technical due diligence support for this developer of biochar carbon sequestration in the Pacific Northwest.

Assessment
№ 058Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 58: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Restructured this German-based biomass and cogeneration platform following changes in Germany's Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program. Managed the sale to two separate German buyers.

Operating partnerAssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 068Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 68: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Capital raise and financial advisory support for this Midland, Texas-based energy company. Fairlead manages the fundraising process, financial modeling, and data room preparation.

M&A
№ 071Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 71: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Provide Operating Partner services, fractional Controller, and back-office support to this PE-backed solar developer.

Operating partnerLeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 073Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 73: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Turned around the company, then the largest district energy company and in default with its lenders, drove significant value growth and operational improvements followed by the sale to Veolia.

AssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 076Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 76: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Developed a complex sales, working capital, and operational cost tool for this natural gas distributer.

AssessmentAdvisorySponsor-backed
№ 077Energy & infrastructureHistorical
Engagement 77: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment of this distressed district energy system followed by the divestiture of the company to a strategic buyer.

AssessmentM&ASponsor-backed