#327: Unlocking Real Value in Small Business Acquisitions with Dave Lam, USAFA ‘11
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Release Date: 06/30/2025
#343: Leveraging AI to Close Real Estate Loans Faster with Zach Farkas, Army Veteran
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in Tampa, FL on January 26th & 27th? Visit: ____ Speaker Bio: Zach Farkas is the founder of Relos, a proptech company automating real estate workflows to streamline transaction coordination and reduce hours of manual work. Before launching Relos, Zach was the #4 ranked VA lender in the nation, a career he built by focusing not on volume, but on educating veterans about how to leverage their VA home loan benefits. A former Army officer, Zach built his lending business by combining his personal mission...
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#342: Strengthening the Backbone of Business (and Self) with Omar Ritter, USMA ‘00
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in Tampa, FL on January 26th & 27th? Visit: ____ Omar Ritter is a West Point graduate, fractional CFO, and the author of West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness. Currently serving as an Area President at FocusCFO, he helps small and mid-sized businesses improve their financial visibility and achieve sustainable growth. With a career spanning financial leadership, entrepreneurship, and military service, Omar works to strengthen the backbone of small business communities through expert...
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#341: Helping Defense Contractors Work Smarter with AI, Anthony Pinto USNA ‘14
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: ____ Anthony Pinto is the founder of Veteran Vectors, an AI consulting and automation company serving defense and government contractors. A former submarine officer with nine years of service, Anthony previously appeared on the SABM podcast in April 2020 while still on active duty, managing real estate deals from overseas. After leaving the Navy and navigating the challenges of military spouse life, Anthony pivoted from real estate to launch Veteran Vectors in 2025. His company helps small and medium-sized defense tech companies...
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#340: Building a National Real Estate Brand for Veterans with Travis Winfield, USN Ret.‘16
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: ____ Travis Winfield is the founder of Military Operated Real Estate, and author of the upcoming book Military Money and More. A retired Navy Command Senior Chief with 24 years of service, Travis founded the Winfield Group in Southern California, successfully helping 100-150 military families per year before passing the business to his son in 2024. Recognizing that less than 12% of the nearly 20 million active duty and veteran population has used their VA home loan benefit, Travis launched MORE to create the first national real...
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#339: Growing America’s Padel Community with Dan Fitzgerald, Army Veteran
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Dan Fitzgerald is the Founder of the 40Forty Padel Club, a company bringing one of the world’s fastest growing sports to South Carolina and beyond. A Citadel graduate and former Army Infantry Officer, Dan went on to serve as a TAC officer at West Point, teach leadership, and build executive teams as a recruiter before discovering padel during his travels to South America. Hooked from the very first game, Dan saw an opportunity to introduce the sport to the U.S. market in a way that was both affordable and community-driven. Today, he leads 40Forty Padel Club with the mission to make padel...
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#338: Building Affordable Survival Communities at Fortitude Ranch with Drew Miller, USAFA ‘80
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in San Francisco, CA on October 7th & 8th? Visit: ____ Drew Miller is the CEO of Fortitude Ranch, a survival and recreational community for disaster preparedness and everyday use. A former Air Force intelligence officer and longtime prepper, Drew founded Fortitude Ranch over a decade ago, creating a network of secure rural compounds supported by professionally organized teams and sustainable resources. With eight locations nationwide, Drew’s mission is to offer members affordable access to well...
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#337: Bringing Institutional Discipline to Multifamily Investing with Curtis Cullen, USMA ‘09
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in San Francisco, CA on October 7th & 8th? Visit: ____ Curtis Cullen is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Convolo Capital, a real estate investment firm focused on small to mid-size multifamily syndications across the Southeast and Sunbelt markets. A West Point graduate, Curtis served as an Infantry and Aviation officer, including time as a Battalion Operations Officer, before exiting the Army in 2018 to pursue a career in commercial real estate. After the Army, Curtis built his business and finance...
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#336: Finding Opportunity at a Crossroads: Raj Kankaria and Lone Star Attorney Service, USMA ‘13
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in San Francisco, CA on October 7th & 8th? Visit: ____ Raj Kankaria is the President of Lone Star Attorney Service, a full-service litigation support firm and the largest process service company in Harris County, Texas. A West Point graduate and former Army engineer officer, Raj went on to hold leadership roles in investment banking and commercial strategy at Citi, Mexico Pacific, and WSI Enterprises. After discovering an overlooked corner of the legal services industry, he rolled up his sleeves, learned...
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#335: Transforming Restaurant Efficiency Through Real Time Data with Daniel Bednar, USNA ‘08
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in San Francisco, CA on October 7th & 8th? Visit: ____ Daniel Bednar is an investor and advisor at Curbit, a technology company transforming the restaurant industry with real-time data and operational transparency. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Officer, Daniel led technical operations and intelligence programs on the USS Makin Island, in Afghanistan, and at the Office of Naval Intelligence. After transitioning into finance and strategy, he’s applied that same mission-driven focus to...
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#334: Helping Small Businesses Overcome Financial Challenges and Access Capital with Juan Dominguez, USMA ’89
Service Academy Business Mastermind
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: Want to join us in San Francisco, CA on October 7th & 8th? Visit: ____ Juan Dominguez is the founder of Dominguez Advisory Group, specializing in business mediation and access to capital for small to midsize companies facing financial obstacles. Drawing on three decades of business experience, he has built a practice focused on business advocacy for those who have hit a bump in the road. After a successful corporate career, including leading a $1 billion company and managing a team of 600, he launched this consulting...
info_outlineDave Lam is a seasoned investor, veteran, and strategic operator focused on unlocking value in microcap and lower-middle market companies. A former U.S. Air Force contracting officer, he offers deep expertise on execution, strategy, and operational excellence.
As a Principal at Phalanx Partners, he helps lead independent sponsorship and advisory efforts for growing companies across multiple sectors. He is also a Managing Principal at Oakwood Legacy Partners, a private holding company investing in alternative assets including real estate, cryptocurrency, and private debt.
With a decade of experience managing complex vendor portfolios and leading operational strategy, Dave’s expertise spans procurement, underwriting, and portfolio management. His background includes work with the U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard, where he oversaw projects in medical services, construction, communications, and defense manufacturing.
Dave holds an MS in Finance from Boston College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Whether advising founders or evaluating new investments, he brings a rigorous, data-driven approach to growth, risk management, and long-term value creation.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Dave about:
- From Military to Main Street: How Dave’s background as an Air Force contracting officer led him to pursue small business acquisitions.
- The PHX Playbook: A value-driven model where founders sell majority ownership but stay on to scale with strategic support.
- Smart Acquisition Strategy: Why clean financials, low owner dependency, and operational upside are essential for a successful deal.
- Opportunity in the Lower Market: Dave targets $1–3M EBITDA businesses where hands-on improvements can drive major returns.
- The Power of Relationships: Trusted veteran and referral networks are key to finding deals and aligning the right people for growth.
Timestamps:
- 00:41 Dave’s Background and Introduction
- 01:48 The Importance of Due Diligence
- 03:00 Introduction to Phalanx Partners
- 06:02 Opportunities in Business Acquisitions
- 14:19 Pitfalls in Business Acquisitions
- 18:27 Secrets to Finding Deal Flow
- 20:22 Building Your Professional Network
- 21:15 Strategic Referral Partners
- 23:20 Investment and Value Addition
- 27:28 Optimizing Small Businesses
- 33:15 Future Goals and Aspirations
- 38:00 Acquisitions and Exit Circle
- 39:50 Connecting and Contact Information
Connect with Dave:
- Email: dave.lam@phalanxpart.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
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A special thank you to Dave for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01