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.

26 engagements · 2 filters onClear all
№ 007Other sectorsHistorical
Engagement 7: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Advising on an AI-centric business pivot, including business structure decisions and fundraising strategy. Supporting modeling and investor outreach materials.

M&A
№ 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
№ 013Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 13: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Interim CFO and fundraising support for this battery technology startup backed by the the sponsor Foundation.

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
№ 021Other sectorsHistorical
Engagement 21: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment of an activated-carbon manufacturing startup with a focus on the sales strategy and operating costs followed by organizing and managing the bankruptcy.

Operating partnerAssessmentM&ASponsor-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
№ 027Other sectorsHistorical
Engagement 27: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Represented mezzanine lender in a declining telecom company. Facilitated sale of the company to recover full value.

Operating partnerM&ASponsor-backed
№ 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
№ 033Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 33: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Fractional CFO/COO and fundraising services for this AI startup helping universities and colleges retain students

M&ALeadership
№ 037Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 37: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment followed by fundraising and fractional CFO/Controller services for this online retailer.

AssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-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
№ 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
№ 053Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 53: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio Company assessment followed by interim-CEO and fundraising services for this natural language AI spinoff from MIT. Raised $10M in Series B Financing.

AssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 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
№ 060Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 60: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Portfolio company assessment and fundraising support for this high-speed time-series database technology startup.

AssessmentM&ALeadershipSponsor-backed
№ 061Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 61: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Fundraising and fractional CFO/Controller leadership for this startup provider of online tracking of fire inspection equipment.

M&ALeadership
№ 063Other sectorsHistorical
Engagement 63: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

M&A support for the sale of this design engineering company serving the biotech and robotics industry.

M&A
№ 066Venture-backedHistorical
Engagement 66: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Fractional CFO, Controller, and Financial Analyst for this industrial IoT company; oversaw exit and provided post-sale support.

M&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
№ 072Other sectorsHistorical
Engagement 72: company and sponsor withheld. Ask a partner for them.

Prepped privately owned manufacturer of field-portable spectrometers and spectroradiometers for exit and oversaw sale process.

M&A
№ 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
№ 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