Southard Financial

Southard Financial is a Small Business Award Finalist!

Small Business Awards

37th Memphis Business Journal Small Business Awards Dinner scheduled for May 18, 2017


Since 1980, (MBJ) has recognized small businesses and owners through its annual Small Business Awards (SBAs) program.


In this way, the MBJ takes time out to honor the dedication and achievement of hard-working entrepreneurs in the Memphis business community, and to recognize “gutsy local entrepreneurs who started from scratch to create successful businesses that shape our economy.”

The SBAs are designed to honor Memphis’ essential small businesses in three categories based on company size, as well as Executive of the Year. Southard Financial is honored to have been nominated, and then selected as a finalist, in the 1-25 Employees category for the 2017 SBAs. Our company and other finalists will be honored at an awards dinner on May 18th, during which a winner in each category will be announced.

Here’s how the process works …

We were nominated for the SBA award by a company that provides services to Southard Financial, and we then provided the MBJ with historical, descriptive, and financial information about our firm. After that information was reviewed by MBJ personnel and various judges, we were selected as a finalist.

Southard Financial was then interviewed by the prior year’s winner in our category and was filmed by a videographer who documented our daily office activity. Two of our partners then appeared before a panel of five independent judges to answer more in-depth questions. The judging process culminates with the selection of a winner for each category, to be announced at the awards dinner.

We are honored by this recognition.

We are deeply thankful and pleased to have been nominated and selected as a finalist for this prestigious award. We’re also thrilled to note that each of the finalists will be profiled individually in the MBJ in the coming weeks, and we look forward to sharing the news with you when Southard Financial’s profile is published.

If you’re in the Memphis area, mark your calendar!

The Memphis Business Journal Small Business Awards dinner will be held Thursday, May 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis. For more information or to register, contact Sarah Butts, MBJ director of events and special projects, at (901) 259-1713 or at smbutts@bizjournals.com.

Recent Activities

  • Southard Financial was proud to be a Bonze Sponsor of The ESOP Association Annual Conference in 2021, 2022, and 2023

  • Southard Financial was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association in 2020 and 2021

  • Southard Financial was proud to be a Member Bank Sponsor of the Ole Miss Banking & Finance Symposium in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023

  • Southard Financial was proud to be a Co-Sponsor of the National Center for Employee Ownership ESOP Nuts & Bolts Event in 2018

  • Southard Financial was proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of the Mid-South Minority Business Council in 2017 and 2018

  • Dave Harris attended The ESOP Association Annual Conference in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023

  • Dave Harris attended The ESOP Association Professionals’ Forum in 2019, 2020, 2021 (virtual), and 2024

  • Dave Harris attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019

  • Mark Orndorff and Matthew Jakes attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2017

  • Southard Financial attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2020 (virtual) and 2021 (virtual)

  • Mark Orndorff attended The ESOP Association Professionals’ Forum in 2023

  • Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Flint Hydraulics to Hydraquip, Inc.

    Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Flint Hydraulics to Hydraquip, Inc.
  • Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own Cooper Glass Company

    Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own Cooper Glass Company
  • David A. Harris and Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the 2019 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association

    David A. Harris and Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the 2019 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Orlando, Florida on October 16-17. They gave a presentation titled “Can Employees Really Impact Company Value?”

  • Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own TOPS Bar-B-Q chain

    Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own TOPS Bar-B-Q chain
  • David A. Harris and Matthew L. Jakes spoke at the 2019 Spring Workshop of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association

    David A. Harris and Matthew L. Jakes spoke at the 2019 Spring Workshop of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Atlanta, Georgia in February, 2019 on the topic of “Valuation Appraisal Checklist – 10 Things Your ESOP Appraiser Should be Doing”

  • David A. Harris spoke at The Fall ESOP Forum of the NCEO

    David A. Harris spoke at The Fall ESOP Forum of the NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership) held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October, 2018 on the topic, “Communicating Valuation: Tools, Tips, and Examples”.

  • Southard Financial negotiated the sale of and was the exclusive financial advisor to Southern Systems, Inc.

    Southard Financial negotiated the sale of and was the exclusive financial advisor to Southern Systems, Inc.
  • David A. Harris spoke at the 2018 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association

    David A. Harris spoke at the 2018 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Birmingham, Alabama in September, 2018. He led a workshop called “The People’s Roundtable Interactive Workshop – A series of ‘Build to Last’ activities that focus on developing successful communication and team building programs for employee owners of all generations.” Speakers included Dolores Lawrence, Blue Ridge ESOP Associates; Lindsay Baublitz, SCandH Capital; David Harris, Southard Financial LLC

  • Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the ESOP Nuts & Bolts Seminar of the NCEO

    Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the ESOP Nuts and Bolts Seminar of the NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership) held in Indianapolis, Indiana in August, 2018 on the topic of “What’s Your Company Worth? – ESOP Valuation.”

  • Southard Financial helps Transnetyx expand with growth capital

    Southard Financial helps Transnetyx expand with growth capital
  • Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute

    Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute 2018 held in Memphis, TN in January, 2018 on the topic of Succession Planning titled “What is Your ‘End Goal’?”

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    Phone: (901) 761-7500   Fax: (901) 761-6045