Our Philosophy

We believe the best businesses are often built patiently over many years through consistent service, trusted relationships, and strong local reputations. Those qualities are hard to replicate and worth protecting.

That is why our approach centers on:

  • Preserving what makes a business work

  • Supporting employees and customers through transition

  • Making practical improvements over time

  • Operating with a long-term ownership mindset

We are not looking to make dramatic changes for the sake of appearances. We are looking to build on solid foundations.

Arbor Way Holdings

  • Long-term ownership with no fixed exit timeline

  • Focused on preserving the company’s legacy, culture, and team

  • Practical improvements made gradually, not disruptive overhauls

  • Direct involvement from owners who care about day-to-day continuity

Private Equity

  • Often structured around a defined investment hold period

  • May prioritize rapid growth, cost cutting, or resale value

  • Involves leadership changes, reporting layers, or operational disruption

  • Decisions may be driven by investor return targets rather than local legacy

Our Team

Michael Donnelly

CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER

Michael is a lower-middle-market M&A advisor with experience across business valuation, transaction execution, buyer communication, and deal coordination. Through his advisory work, he has worked closely with business owners, lenders, buyers, and intermediaries across a wide range of industries.

That background has given him a front-row view into what makes transactions succeed and where transitions can go wrong. At Arbor Way, Michael focuses on sourcing, transaction execution, and helping ensure a thoughtful and professional process from first conversation through closing.

CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER

Damian Mietus

Damian has a background in software engineering and experience working with large, complex organizations. His expertise lies in building reliable systems, improving workflows, and using data to make operations more measurable and efficient. His experience gives him a practical lens for identifying where established businesses can become more scalable and resilient without disrupting what already works.

At Arbor Way, Damian focuses on long-term ownership and operational support. He is committed to preserving the strengths of a business, backing the existing team, and compounding steady improvements over time.