The Pathfinders
Our People
When you work with Western, you have a team of dedicated experts (Pathfinders) who remain committed to you throughout the entire relationship – which can often span years or generations.
The Pathfinders
When you work with Western, you have a team of dedicated experts (Pathfinders) who remain committed to you throughout the entire relationship – which can often span years or generations.
Western is a family-owned M&A advisory firm that has spent over 25 years helping business owners navigate complex transactions with discretion and care. We focus on developing long-term relationships with our clients, ensuring that when the time comes to explore a transaction, they have an advisor who understands their goals and values their business’s legacy.
Being family-owned ourselves, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with managing and transitioning such companies. Our experience working with over 150 families throughout North America has equipped us to provide tailored strategic advice that honors the legacy and values that are foundational to the family business enterprise. Ultimately, we seek to help companies secure the right path forward – whether that means strategic growth, partnerships, or long-term transition planning.
Head of Research
Natalie Carter was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas in 2009 with a BBA in Finance. She joined Western in 2009, spearheading the development of the company’s research division, which she currently leads. Natalie lives in Aledo, Texas, with her husband and three girls.
Chief Financial Officer
Kallen serves as Western’s Chief Financial Officer and manages all finance, accounting, and administrative functions. Previously, he served in a dual role as Corporate Controller at Vecta Environmental Services and Controller at Polaris Services, both located in Weatherford, Texas. Kallen is originally from Elysian Fields, Texas, and attended Abilene Christian University from 2003 to 2007 (Master’s in Accounting). Today, he lives in Brock, Texas, with his wife and two daughters.
Chief Commercial Officer
As Chief Commercial Officer, Rick focuses on developing relationships with Western’s valued clients and supporting various sales and marketing efforts throughout the company. Previously, he was a managing partner and founder at PXP Holdings, a Dallas-based consulting services firm that serves private companies. Rick has nearly 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, including CMO or Director-level positions at private and public companies. While Rick has lived and worked in too many places to count worldwide, Rick calls Texas home.
Chief Operating Officer
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Turner earned his B.S. in Economics from the United States Military Academy. After five years in the U.S. Army, he received his MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to Western, Turner worked at J.P. Morgan in New York in their Leveraged Finance Investment Banking group. His primary role at Western is to lead the team from day one engagement all the way through close and beyond. Accordingly, he is a close friend and confidant with many of Western’s clients.
Head of Execution
Jack earned his BBA in Finance from Texas Christian University. After graduation, he spent several years in commercial banking at Frost Bank before joining Western in 2020. As the leader of the deal execution team, Jack works closely with Western's clients to effectively value, structure, and execute transactions. Outside of the office, Jack enjoys spending time on his ranch in Stephenville, Texas, or pursuing his passion for hunting and fishing.
President
Don Woodard, Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Texas. At fifteen, he started his career in the advertising space by selling ads for the Fort Worth News-Tribune until eventually moving into the life insurance business. In that capacity, he met many business owners who, in addition to purchasing life insurance, were looking for assistance with estate planning strategies related to their companies. Don saw an opportunity to help these families and opened Western’s doors in 1998. As President of Western, he manages many of the firm’s buy-side and sell-side relationships.
Chief Marketing Officer
dwoodard@western-companies.com
Donnie grew up at Western and has regularly been coming to the office with his father since he was just a few years old. He joined Western in an official capacity in 2019, starting in the company’s research department. Today, he is Western’s Chief Marketing Officer, managing all aspects of the company’s branding, advertising, and client-facing functions. Donnie was born and raised in Fort Worth, just a few miles from Western’s Museum Place office.
what our clients are saying
“Working with Western was another relationship-driven thing. They were great people to have a
relationship with.”
- Matt Mingus,
Team Construction
“Dustin [Smith] was very understanding of the situation, and he worked very hard to get the deal
done.”
- Chip Bean,
Bean Electrical