profile
After graduating from the University of South Alabama in 1995, Mr. Steward initiated his career in M&A Industrial Sales. During this period, he became highly fascinated by the intricate layers of communication within large business operations. His daily routine often involved troubleshooting across various tiers of personnel within manufacturing facilities, allowing him to quickly discern the unique value and individual contributions each person brought to the enterprise.
The central mission guiding Mike Steward is to pursue a high level of enjoyment in life while concurrently empowering others to achieve the same. He approaches his career with a palpable passion for living, finding fulfillment in observing how individuals infuse their unique vitality and creativity into their respective business models. Mr. Steward firmly believes that a career must serve dual purposes: meeting financial needs while also fueling the creative energy essential for a sense of purpose.
Following several professional relocations and a significant career pivot, he spent multiple years in the wine business as a District Manager. While employed by a large, publicly traded company, the goals and objectives were often heavily influenced by Wall Street performance and bottom-line successes. This experience provided a key insight: the true measure of a company is not simply the tangible product, but the underlying need to constantly measure and protect the value of the stock and the intangible assets behind the brand—a crucial perspective in M&A due diligence.
The entrepreneurial bug was a major catalyst in 2006. Since then, he has engaged in a dynamic series of ventures and transactions, demonstrating versatile business acumen. His portfolio of experience includes launching a preschool, acquiring and managing a property management company, starting and subsequently selling a real estate brokerage, launching and selling a vacation rental business, and founding and selling a construction company. Most recently, he facilitated the rollout of a luxury real estate franchise and, through his role at Gulf Coast Business Broker, has focused on guiding other entrepreneurs through their own acquisition and exit strategies.
