Provenance Hill's Founder - Martha Sullivan

My Provenance

When I started my career, my dream was to help businesses improve their company's systems and grow their profits so business owners could better enjoy the fruits of their labors.

My first real job was as an internal information systems consultant, which affirmed my view that a company is only as good as the sum of its people and its systems. 

A few years later, I moved to my first official consulting role at a large regional certified public accounting (CPA) firm. 

It was there, in a genius act of rebellion, I became a CPA.  This set the stage for my roles in industry as a Controller for a large, family-owned, business-to-business manufacturer and distributor of school and library supplies and, later, as Chief Financial Officer in another family-owned, business-to-business manufacturer and distributor of professional level audio and video gear.  These roles are where I gained a deeper understanding of family business as well as leading a successful financial turnaround.

I returned to my advisory roots with gigs as a Senior Manager in Grant Thornton's Transaction Support practice, a Chief Operating Officer for a large professional services firm  and, most recently, a Partner in Top 100 CPA firm, Honkamp, Krueger & Co.'s Business Transitions Strategies group. There, I helped business owners buy, build, and sell companies, explore exit alternatives and maximize the value of their companies.  In 2021, I became an consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group, deepening the resources I bring to family-owned enterprises navigating ownership transitions.

Every step of the way, I've strengthened management disciplines, accounting systems, strategic and human resources initiatives, and operational and organizational processes to fuel company growth and transferability.

These 30-some years and experiences form the foundation for launching Provenance Hill Consulting.  It reaffirms the provenance of my career - helping established, entrepreneurial companies like yours grow sustainable and transferable value.  Together, let's  achieve our dreams. 

Specialties

Value enhancement
Strategic and business planning
Business exit planning
Mergers & acquisitions including due diligence
Accounting, financial modeling, CFO support, systems & process improvement, and business turnaround
Executive and management  coaching
Organizational development

Credentials

B.B.A. Accounting and Information Systems, University of Madison-Wisconsin, Madison, WI


Certified Public Accountant
Certified Exit Planning Advisor  
Certified Value Growth Advisor 
Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor 
Certified Valuation Analyst via Accredited Business Valuation 

Community Leader

Wisconsin Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association,  Board of Directors


Rotary Club of Madison, WI, Retention Committee Chair, Caring Committee, and Community Projects Committee (Former Chair)


A Fund For Women (AFFW) Executive Committee, Past Chair

Professional Affiliations

Exit Planning Institute, Wisconsin Chapter – Co-Founder & Chapter President (2017 - 2020)


American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
WI Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

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Life - Work Balance

My husband and I have two aspiring-adult children and one forever bickering cat.  (Where's the dog when you need him?)  For fun, I kick back reading, creating quilts, hanging with family and friends, and, if you haven't guessed it, being outdoors hiking, biking and playing in the garden.