DWH

What DWH does

DWH is a Michigan-based business advisory and financial consulting firm serving middle-market companies, family-owned businesses, and tribal economic development entities. The firm operates four core practice areas: Financial Advisory, Growth & Transition, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Turnaround & Restructuring. Beyond these core services, DWH offers proprietary engagement-enablement tools including a Business Assessment Tool (a structured process combining information requests, leader interviews, and site observations to identify gaps between current and best practices) and a PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator. The firm also provides no-cost Whiteboard Sessions as a client entry point and runs the Tactical Tuesdays educational webinar series in partnership with Adamy Valuation. DWH is majority-owned by Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, the economic development arm of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), making the firm both a private-sector advisory practice and a vehicle for tribal economic development. The firm has dual Michigan offices in Grand Rapids (headquarters, 180 Monroe Avenue NW) and Detroit/Troy (regional, 888 West Big Beaver, recently expanded).

DWH generates revenue through professional consulting fees on custom engagements, likely structured as project-based or retainer work, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market motion is consultative and relationship-driven, combining no-cost Whiteboard Sessions as lead generators with content marketing (blog, webinars, Tribal Talks podcast) and active participation in industry associations (TMA, ACG, NAFOA). The firm markets to companies at crossroads — facing transition, growth, or distress — and has been operating for nearly two decades (founded circa 2008). The senior team includes Managing Partner Ben Borisch (20+ years, M&A and interim CFO), Partners Heather Gardner (25+ years, turnaround and bankruptcy) and Jeremy Cosby (20+ years, growth and ownership transition), and Managing Director Marcel van der Elst (25+ years, former senior advisor at Deere & Company, consultant at Sara Lee/DE, Nestlé, TPG, and Philips Electronics; co-author of an FT top-10 bestseller on management models).

DWH's technology footprint is limited to professional-services tooling and proprietary advisory methodologies; the firm does not sell software, expose APIs, or maintain a customer-facing product platform. Its intellectual capital is concentrated in financial modeling, business assessment processes, and the experience of its senior team. Recent strategic moves include 60% staff growth and 65% revenue growth in a single year, the 2021 rebrand and Detroit office expansion, the strategic partnership with Ohio-based JACO Advisory Group, the 2021 WDC majority investment, and 2022 leadership appointments including the firm's first female CEO Monica King.

Name

DWH

Legal name

DWH LLC

Website

https://dwhcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DWH is a Michigan-based business advisory firm providing financial advisory, M&A, growth planning, and turnaround services to middle-market companies, family-owned businesses, and tribal economic development entities. It is majority-owned by the NHBP tribe's economic development arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Advisory & Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Office Administrative Services (561110), All Other Business Support Services (561499)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

M&A HR Advisory (Due Diligence, Integration, Carve-outs) (BPACAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Planning & Analysis Support (Budgeting, Forecasting, Management Reporting) (BPAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Turnaround and restructuring
• Business transition planning
• Middle market consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Business Advisory and Financial Consulting Services: DWH generates revenue through professional consulting fees for services including financial advisory, mergers and acquisitions support, turnaround and restructuring consulting, growth and transition planning, and interim management roles. Services are tailored to client needs and likely billed on a project or retainer basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DWH is a business advisory and financial consulting firm providing four core practice areas: Financial Advisory (turnaround, restructure, insolvency support with cash flow management tools and interim leadership), Growth & Transition (long-term strategic advisory), Mergers & Acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side support with post-deal assurance), and Turnaround & Restructuring (support for at-risk businesses). The firm also offers no-cost Whiteboard Sessions, a proprietary Business Assessment Tool, a PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator, and the Tactical Tuesdays webinar series. Services are tailored and delivered to middle-market companies and family-owned businesses primarily in the U.S. Midwest.

Product overview

DWH is a business advisory and financial consulting firm offering a portfolio of professional services centered around four core practice areas: Financial Advisory, Growth & Transition, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Turnaround & Restructuring. These core services are supplemented with proprietary tools including a Business Assessment Tool for identifying operational gaps and best practices, and a PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator. The firm also offers Whiteboard Sessions as a client acquisition/engagement tool and hosts educational webinars through their Tactical Tuesdays series. DWH does not operate as a software product company but rather as a consulting practice providing human-centered advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Advisory Services Guiding companies through turnaround, restructure, and insolvency events with cash flow management tools and interim leadership roles.
• Growth & Transition Services Strategic advisory for long-term decision making that sustainably grows businesses while balancing the needs of people, investors, vendors, and community.
• Mergers & Acquisitions Services M&A support for both buyers and sellers, filling gaps in understanding and ensuring business success after deal closure.
• Turnaround & Restructuring Services Experienced and tenacious team to help turn around businesses at risk due to economic downturn, demand changes, or cost pressures.
• Whiteboard Sessions No-cost, two-hour consultation sessions where experienced business advisors help explore challenges, uncover opportunities, and define actionable next steps.
• DWH Business Assessment Tool Proprietary process to collect quantitative and qualitative data through information requests, key leader interviews, and physical observations to identify gaps between current practices and best practices.
• PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator Excel spreadsheet tool for calculating SBA Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness, shared freely with businesses needing to navigate the PPP program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved over 65% revenue increase and 60% staff growth in one year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• JACO Advisory GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2021DWH and Ohio-based JACO Advisory Group formed a strategic partnership to provide growth and transition services. Both companies remain independent but collaborate on client engagements. JACO focuses on family business planning and exit planning.
• Adamy ValuationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWH and Adamy Valuation conduct the Tactical Tuesdays webinar series providing exit planning content. Adamy Valuation provides business valuation services in collaboration with DWH for succession and exit planning engagements.
• Barnes & ThornburgsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm partnership for PPP loan forgiveness guidance and COVID-19 employment law discussions. Barnes & Thornburg attorneys provided expert guidance on FFCRA, PPP forgiveness calculations, and employment law compliance during the pandemic.
• Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great LakessecondaryOthersDWH Partner Jeremy Cosby serves as a Classroom Volunteer and Board Member. Community engagement initiative supporting youth entrepreneurship and business education.
• Turnaround Management Association (TMA)secondaryOthersDWH team members including Jeremy Cosby (Vice-President of West Michigan Chapter) and Heather Gardner are members. Industry association for turnaround and restructuring professionals.
• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)secondaryOthersHeather Gardner is a member. Marcel van der Elst serves on the Programming Committee and was Member of the Year for 2024. Industry association for M&A and corporate growth professionals.
• Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)secondaryOthersDWH participated in the 37th Annual NAFOA Conference focused on economic and financial issues facing Indian Country. Important for relationship building with tribal economic development companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Huron Consulting Group: Public consulting firm offering financial advisory, restructuring, and operational improvement services. Comparable across DWH's full advisory portfolio but with broader service lines and national reach.
• Alvarez & Marsal: Global professional services firm specializing in turnaround, restructuring, and performance improvement. Directly comparable to DWH's turnaround and restructuring practice but operating at significantly larger scale with international reach.
• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm with strong turnaround, M&A, and financial advisory practices. Directly comparable service offerings to DWH's core practice areas, with significantly larger scale and global footprint.
• BDO USA: Global accounting and advisory network with US middle-market focus. Comparable to DWH across advisory, M&A, and turnaround service lines, though with much larger scale and broader capabilities.
• Baker Tilly: Top-10 US advisory, tax, and assurance firm serving middle-market companies with M&A, restructuring, and consulting services. Comparable across DWH's core service portfolio with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Conway MacKenzie (now part of Riveron): Detroit-based advisory firm specializing in turnaround, restructuring, and financial advisory for middle-market companies. Highly comparable to DWH in geography, target market (Michigan middle market), and turnaround focus.
• JACO Advisory Group: Ohio-based advisory firm specializing in family business planning, exit planning, and growth/transition services. DWH's strategic partner; comparable in niche focus on family-owned business transitions.

Regional players

• Plante Moran: Michigan-based accounting and business advisory firm serving middle-market companies. Comparable geographic and customer overlap with DWH, though broader in scope including audit, tax, and wealth management.
• Wipfli: Top-20 US accounting and advisory firm with strong Midwest presence offering business advisory, M&A, and consulting services. Comparable to DWH in middle-market focus and regional Midwest orientation, with broader service portfolio.
• Rehmann: Michigan-based business advisory and accounting firm serving middle-market clients with financial advisory, M&A, and consulting services. Highly comparable to DWH in geography, target market, and service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dwh-llc-dwh-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DWH