After a year of change, people seeking to buy or sell a government contracting company in 2026 face a new landscape! Hear from three experts- Huntsville's own Jonathan Mayhall of Maynard Nexsen and Mark Underhill of BMSS -- and national M&A advisor Sharon Heaton, the author of the Amazon bestseller Lift Off: 12 Things to Know Before Selling Your Business. The panel will provide insights and advice, covering:

• 2026 market trends for buying or selling GovCon companies today
• multiples and valuations: how buyers think
• regulatory issues and Administration changes affecting deals and deal structuring
• tax efficiencies and savings tips and secrets
• roles of the investment banker, lawyer, and accountant--what to look for in your M&A team

We will provide an opportunity to submit questions prior to the event.  To register and submit questions.

Meet our speakers:

Jonathan Mayhall – Shareholder, Corporate/M&A – Maynard Nexsen

 Jonathan is a Shareholder in Maynard Nexsen’s Corporate Securities & Tax Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of business, corporate, and franchise law, including acquisitions, commercial transactions, and franchise formation. Jonathan’s legal experience in the business arena encompasses a broad range of industries, including aerospace, technology, construction, banking and financial services, real estate, software, and app development, brewing and entertainment, manufacturing, and government contracting. He works with all types of business clients, including large corporations, start-ups, and emerging growth companies, to provide guidance and assistance with the legal challenges they encounter in their daily operations.

Jonathan earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, and he holds a B.A., cum laude, from Auburn University. While a student at the University of Alabama School of Law, he served as a judicial intern for U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler, Northern District of Alabama.

Sharon Heaton, Founder & CEO – sbLiftOff

 Known as one of the country’s leading small business advocates, Sharon Heaton, founder of sbLiftOff, is an avidly sought speaker on small business, growth strategies and M&A. “I founded sbLiftOff,” says Heaton, “to serve those special people who sit at their kitchen table, come up with an idea, start a business, hire people, pay their taxes, and fuel our economy. Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy, and we are honored to make sure they get a fair deal.”  sbLiftOff serves commercial and government contracting companies with $10 million to $100 million in revenues and more than $2 million in EBITDA.

Heaton’s book, LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Company, is published by Forbes and in its second edition. Appointed to the Small Business Administration’s Investment Capital Advisory Committee, she is working nationally to increase small business access to investment capital. Heaton publishes in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Washington Business Journal, AL.com and regional outlets around the country. 

Heaton has been associated with the global law firms of Skadden Arps and Latham & Watkins and has served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She co-founded Wellford Energy Group, an investment bank serving clean energy and low carbon companies. Previously, she was Deputy Counsel of a Fortune 500 company operating in ten states.

Ms. Heaton holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. from Barnard College. 

Mark Underhill – Member - BMSS

Mark Underhill, CPA, CM&AA, CVGA, CAIM, is a Member at BMSS Advisors & CPAs and the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) Practice Leader. Mark advises business owners, management teams, and private equity sponsors on buy-side and sell-side transactions, helping clients identify and execute value drivers, manage diligence and closing dynamics, and position businesses for successful outcomes.

Mark brings a strong tax foundation to transaction planning and execution, with experience in tax consulting, compliance, and planning for large multi-state companies. He frequently supports transaction-related structuring and planning considerations and works closely with deal teams and client stakeholders to translate technical requirements into practical, decision-useful guidance. His transaction experience spans engagements from approximately $1 million to more than $500 million in value.

In addition to transaction execution, Mark helps clients improve performance and maximize enterprise value through organizational structuring and profitability initiatives. Mark serves clients across private equity and venture capital, technology and software, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, and professional services.

 Mark earned a Master of Tax Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama, and he is a member of the AICPA, the Alabama Society of CPAs, and the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors.