At EPI, we celebrate professionals who truly make a difference in the lives of business owners. This year, we're excited to have honored Amy Wirtz as the 2024 Exit Planner of the Year at our 2024 Exit Planning Summit. Her dedication and contributions to the exit planning community truly deserve a spotlight.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Amy to discuss her path, the valuable lessons learned along the way, and advice for the next generation of CEPA®s.
When asked to describe herself Amy said she was a wife, a mom, a friend, a daughter, a CEPA, a lawyer, but most of all, a caring and authentic family business consultant.
Growing up in a family business household, Amy saw firsthand the different challenges they faced and felt inspired to help others avoid any similar roadblocks.
After earning a degree in education, she made a transition into law, specializing in family business consulting. Amy’s background has led her to understand the different dynamics involved in business transitions and has positioned her to being a leader in exit planning today.
When asked how becoming a CEPA changed her career, “Oh my gosh, it changed my life. Literally changed my life.”
After years in collaborative law, Amy felt drained and knew a shift was needed. It was then through a connection with Kevin Donovan that she met Chris Snider and discovered the CEPA program and was introduced to the Value Acceleration Methodology, a decision that reshaped her career. Initially viewing CEPA as just another certification, she soon found it became a major focus under Chris’s mentorship.
Amy believes that successful exit planning starts with truly listening. To her, it’s about being authentically curious about the ownership group, making sure to listen not just with your ears, but with your heart and mind as well. She sees listening as more than just understanding what’s being said, it’s about connecting with the deeper emotions, challenges, and aspirations that business owners bring.
In her view, every owner deserves that level of attention because their most valuable assets are most at stake including their family, their business, and their leadership teams. Amy’s genuine curiosity and dedication to listening have helped her build strong, trusting relationships with the business owners she serves.
Amy’s advice to new CEPAs includes notes about being patient and embracing the learning curve. “It’ll take you a year to figure out what you want to do with this, and three to five years to feel competent.” She also noted, “Just because someone has the CEPA credential it doesn’t mean they know everything. New CEPAs should seek mentors, continuously learn, and focus on personal and professional growth.”
Receiving the Exit Planner of the Year award is deeply meaningful to Amy. “It’s affirming that my journey is significant and that the effort I’ve put into the exit planning community has made a real difference.”
However, was quick to emphasize that this award isn’t about one person, it’s really a group effort. Amy embodies who we are at EPI through her focus on teamwork and community, making her a perfect recipient of this award.
We couldn’t be more excited to congratulate Amy on this well-deserved honor as the 2024 Exit Planner of the Year. The achievements made over the years from Amy will have a lasting impact on the exit planning community, and we’re excited to see what comes next.
Keep an eye out for more of her insights in future blog posts, Exit Is Now podcast episodes, and her participation as the 2025 Exit Planning Summit emcee!