Danny Payne is a Co-Founder of Stirling Heights, a holding company built through self-funded search and acquisition. Danny has navigated the full arc from searcher to multi-business operator — developing hands-on playbooks for post-acquisition integration, team building, and growing a portfolio of acquired companies.

At SMBash 2026, Danny shares practical insights from building Stirling Heights and the hard lessons learned along the way. He speaks candidly about the operational challenges of running multiple acquired businesses, how to systematize what works, and what it actually takes to scale a holding company from a single acquisition into something bigger. If you're thinking beyond your first deal, this session is for you.