About Us

David has personally founded, operated, built, bought, or successfully exited over 15 businesses in his career. Additionally, he has worked with over 100 business owners/operators to build, buy, grow, and/or sell their own businesses. He works hard everyday to live by the Blue Collar Consulting mission: Real People. Real Experience. Real Results! 

David began his career with Advanced Cabling Systems in 1999 as a field technician (he made $7/hr).  Over the next 11 years he served in every capacity until being named COO and partner in 2010.  Under his leadership ACS grew from 6 employees and $250K in annual revenue to over 200 employees in 6 office locations, and in 2018 was recognized as the 13th largest Technology Integration firm in North America. This growth was achieved both organically and through acquisition, as David facilitated the purchase of five competing integration firms between 2011 and 2018. He was responsible for all corporate matters and Advanced Cabling was the recipient of the Arkansas Business of the Year award and twice named to the Arkansas Best Places to Work list.  David was part of the senior leadership team that led the sale of Advanced Cabling to ADT Commercial in 2019.

In 2020 David founded Blue Collar Consulting in Little Rock, AR. He recognized a need for advisory level support in helping other business owners navigate the buy and/or sell of a business. As Arkansas’ only growth consulting firm, David has worked with hundreds of clients to help them start, operate, and/or successfully exit their businesses. He has represented clients on both the buy and sell side of several acquisitions, using his personal experience to ensure transactions are mutually beneficial.

Most recently, David served as President of Encore Technology Solutions in North Little Rock and led the sale of the business to Pye-Barker Fire & Security in December of 2024. He is an active investor in several other businesses and is proud to serve on the board(s) for People’s Bank and Sells Group Advisors.

My name is Michael Kennedy. I am the Managing Partner at Blue Collar Consulting. We are a firm dedicated to connecting sellers with buyers and facilitating a successful transfer of their business.  Prior to Blue Collar, I was the president and co-owner of the 13th largest security integration firm in North America. 

After a successful transaction of the business, I became the VP of Mergers & Acquisitions for a private equity backed national strategic fire and security company. For several years, I traveled the country assisting in the acquisition of over 15 companies. This position gave me a new perspective on the industry and led me in a different direction.

After meeting over 200 small business owners, a common theme began to surface. Most had done a great job of starting and growing a company, but very few had ever been in a position of selling their business. Most owners were beginning to get calls from brokers and bankers and private equity firms, but few had someone in their corner representing them on the process that involved finances and legal and all things associated with the necessary steps toward a transaction. This is why we started Blue Collar Consulting.

Our firm’s sole purpose is to help business owners identify and implement a strategy to maximize the value of your company. Buyers can be overwhelming and outnumbering to a seller who still has to run the business while entertaining offers.

We have the unique history of not only being a seller of a 20 year legacy company, but also being involved in numerous deals on the buy side. Sitting on both sides of the table gives us a unique perspective on what you will face, but also how we can help ensure that you get it right and that it is beneficial to both the owners and the employees and the clients.