Growth Through Partnership
What Drives Us
Our essence extends beyond the individual—it’s a celebration of ‘we.’ Our culture places humanity at the forefront, embodying a profound people-centric philosophy. We believe in the collective strength of individuals who not only share our core principles but also exude a shared passion for championing small businesses. This commitment is rooted in humility, accountability, and a clear understanding of both who we are and, perhaps more significantly, who we are not.
A Community-Oriented Vision
Our unwavering dedication, drive, and work ethic form the foundation of our support for business owners, management, and employees, fostering enduring, collaborative relationships and sustained value creation. AEP is guided by a vision to bring valuable resources and efficiency to small businesses through a collective ecosystem, united by shared goals and a commitment to collaboration.
Our ecosystem consists of experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds, offering resources and expertise that inform strategic decisions and solve business challenges. This network, which includes operating executives, CEOs, advisors, and functional area experts, is united by a passion for collaboration and growth.
This unique ecosystem, unmatched in the lower market, becomes a powerful force for success when applied to businesses, driving measurable, positive impact through collective collaboration.
Leadership
Our leadership is the compass steering our journey. Grounded in shared values and a passion for reshaping the landscape of small business growth and investment, our leaders exemplify the very principles that define us.
Founded by the enduring friendship of Jackson Rimpas and Luke Prendergast, AEP embodies the synergy of shared dreams and complementary skills. Their journey, though taking divergent paths, remained parallel—a testament to individual strengths and shared values.
Jackson immersed himself in the realms of M&A and private equity, honing a decade’s worth of expertise. Meanwhile, Luke embraced the challenges of family business and entrepreneurship, contributing a wealth of hands-on experience.
Our Core Principles
Integrity
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty, ethical conduct, transparency, reliability, and consistency and will always do what is right, not what is easy.
Curiosity
We embrace curiosity and are not afraid to explore, question, and wonder, to learn and develop, and constantly improve ourselves and our perspectives.
Loyalty
We believe that loyalty is black and white. There is no gray area. We stay loyal to ourselves and our community, not needs or circumstances, no matter what.
Collaboration
Our individual commitment is to the team, as we believe progress can only be sustainable through many, and success is only achievable through teamwork.
