The CDI Group: Mid-Market M&A Advisory Specialist
Advisory Approach
The CDI Group is a boutique M&A advisory firm founded in 2001 by Taylor Devine, a veteran executive with over 60 years of combined business experience spanning Saga Corporation, Arthur D. Little, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Blockbuster Entertainment, and Coffee People. The firm operates with a clear thesis: business owners in the $2M-$100M revenue range have been historically underserved by traditional M&A advisory firms that focus exclusively on larger transactions. CDI's sweet spot is founder-owned and family-owned businesses seeking institutional-quality M&A guidance without the bulky overhead of national investment banking firms.
The firm's competitive advantage stems from the founding principle that M&A advisors should have walked in their clients' shoes. Taylor Devine has personally built, grown, sold, and acquired multiple companies across diverse industries. He understands the emotional, financial, and operational complexities facing business owners contemplating a sale or acquisition. This founder's empathy is embedded in the firm's culture and distinguishes CDI from transactional advisors who treat M&A as a fee-extraction exercise.
Services and Process
CDI offers comprehensive M&A advisory services including sell-side representation, buy-side advisory, management buyouts (MBOs), Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structuring, valuations, and appraisals. The firm also provides crisis and turnaround management and value enhancement consulting for companies seeking to prepare for strategic transactions. CDI uses what they call "The M&A Method" — an institutional-quality process refined over two decades of mid-market transactions. This methodology includes comprehensive business valuation, seller preparation, buyer identification and outreach, deal structuring, financing coordination, and transaction management through closing.
The firm maintains deep expertise in transaction structuring and has particular strength in complex situations including recapitalizations, minority stake acquisitions, and multi-step transactions. CDI professionals work closely with the client's existing advisors (attorneys, CPAs, financial planners) to ensure coordinated execution and manage all deal mechanics.
Industry Focus and Expertise
Based on nine industry sectors identified through client work and market presence, CDI advises across business services, financial services, healthcare services, life sciences, manufacturing, retail and e-commerce, technology, and telecommunications. Within these verticals, the firm has developed specialized expertise: healthcare includes medical device distribution and physician practice management; manufacturing encompasses discrete and process operations including specialty chemicals; technology includes software and IT services; financial services includes investment advisory and administrative services firms.
The firm's partnerships with Eaton Square (a global cross-border M&A network with 24 offices spanning North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific) provide access to international buyer networks and capability for cross-border transactions. This partnership, formalized in 2020, significantly expanded CDI's reach beyond the Mid-Atlantic region.
Team and Credentials
The CDI Group operates with 8+ partners and associates, all personally vetted and accepted by existing partners before joining. Key team members include Taylor Devine (Founder/Managing Partner, FINRA-registered with Series 7, 79, 82, 99, 63 certifications), Robert Dutton (Partner), G. Terry Jones (Partner), Gee McCord (Partner), Art O'Donnell (Partner), Tom Springer (Partner), Roby Swan (Partner, CBA and CBI certified), and Barbara DeRosa (Associate). Collectively, the team represents approximately 200 years of business experience and includes certified business appraisers, certified machinery and equipment appraisers, and licensed property appraisers across multiple states.
Professionals hold M&A, appraisal, and valuation certifications including SBA (Society of Business Analysts), CMEA (Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisals), CBI (Certified Business Intermediary), BTS (Business Transfer Specialists), and FRC (Financial Recasting Consultant). Taylor Devine holds FINRA registrations through StillPoint Capital and maintains securities licenses in both Minnesota and Virginia.
Client Profile and Sweet Spot
CDI serves three core constituencies: business owners generating $2M-$100M in annual revenue seeking to sell or merge their companies; aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to acquire established businesses in their range; and corporate leaders wanting to outsource their M&A function or increase firm valuation. The firm's ideal client is a founder-owned or family-owned business with $25M-$75M in revenue where owner motivation and exit timing are well-defined, and where the complexity of the transaction benefits from experienced process management.
Network and Market Presence
The firm maintains active membership in multiple professional associations including the M&A Source, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (AMAA, where Taylor Devine has held chapter leadership positions), and the International Business Brokers Association. These affiliations provide deal flow, buyer relationships, and access to complementary service providers. Strategic partnerships with conventional lenders, SBICs (Small Business Investment Companies), and private equity groups enable financing solutions for client transactions.
Geographic footprint: McLean, Virginia (headquarters); Chevy Chase, Maryland; Washington, DC; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; with international reach through Eaton Square network spanning North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.