Your life’s work deserves more than an exit.
It deserves a future.
We will buy your business to lead it for the long-term.
Who is Ethos Succession Group…
I'm Clarence Marsh. My career spans ten different small businesses, where I’ve gained hands-on experience tackling the day-to-day challenges that make service companies tick. From landscaping labor to marshalling commercial aircraft, I’ve been in the trenches, and I’ve seen what it takes to build a lasting business. This diverse background, shaped by a childhood moving across the country as the son of military parents, instilled in me fierce curiosity, unshakable adaptability, and a genuine capacity to connect with people from all walks of life.
Today, I’m the Chief Operating Officer of a commercial real estate investment sales firm in Chicago. In this role, I’ve built the foundation for scalable growth by developing talent, defining strategic initiatives, and formalizing operating rhythms. This work has only deepened my conviction: I’m called to acquire and lead a business as its long-term owner and CEO.
That’s why I founded Ethos Succession Group. By combining my real estate knowledge, business services background, and leadership toolkit, I aim to acquire one great Chicagoland CRE services business to lead with care and integrity. I'm especially focused on commercial property management, facility services, and mixed commercial/residential service businesses that are local, resilient, and community-rooted — businesses where employees are treated with respect and legacy matters.
If you’re a business owner who is ready to transition, I want to carry your legacy forward. With deep respect and long-term commitment, I’ll carry the torch, building on what you’ve created with integrity and purpose.
ethos refers to the distinctive character, values, and guiding principles that define a person, organization, or culture.
ethos is your legacy
Why I Lead
No job is beneath me. That belief, paired with an impulse to lead and a deep understanding that success hinges on positioning the right people in the right roles, has shaped every chapter of my career. My experience leading both professional and athletic teams has fueled a pursuit of purpose: the opportunity to acquire and lead a business is not just a professional milestone, but a calling.
I view it as a privilege to serve my team, my family, and my community. I carry a leadership ethos grounded in accountability, resilience, and long-term stewardship. That’s what I intend to effectuate in this next chapter.
About Me
Outside of work, I’m an avid reader, a loyal Baltimore Ravens fan, and an outdoor enthusiast. I live in suburban Chicagoland with my wife, Tara, our daughter, Nell, our son, Clarence, and our terrier, Paul, embodying the very community I seek to support.
I hold BA degrees in Business and Geosciences from Franklin & Marshall College, and an MBA with High Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
What we look for…
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INDUSTRIES
• COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
• FACILITIES SERVICES
e.g. Commercial Cleaning & Porter Services, Flooring Cleaning & Repair, Commercial Door & Self-Storage R&M
• MIXED COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
e.g. Roofing, Paving / Asphalt Repair & Maintenance, Tree Trimming & Removal
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COMPANIES
• LOCAL TO CHICAGOLAND
• FOUNDER | FAMILY OWNED
• $750K - $5M CASH FLOW
• RESILIENT 10+ YEAR OPERATING HISTORY
• PREDICTABLE REVENUE
• LOW CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION
• SERVICE PROVIDER OF CHOICE
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CULTURES
• ENGAGED EMPLOYEES
• LOW TURNOVER
• ABOVE INDUSTRY-AVERAGE COMPENSATION
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OWNERSHIP
• CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP INTEREST
Because we admire your expertise & legacy, we prefer:
• ROLLED SELLER EQUITY
• SELLER FINANCING
• POST-TRANSACTION SELLER INVOLVEMENT
Why Ethos Succession Group…
To us, Legacy is more than branding. It’s our defining heritage.
Ethos Succession Group’s mission extends beyond a financial transaction, it connects the past with the future. Clarence is 100% committed to leading your business as its CEO following the acquisition and aligning his compensation structure with the company and team’s long-term success.
Unlike private equity buyers, Ethos Succession Group faces no pressure to quickly flip your company for profit within a few years. Great businesses, like enduring legacies, are built and sustained over the long term.
The future deserves the same reverence as the past — That’s how we honor your legacy.
Clarence T. Marsh, Sr
1887 - 1953
Clarence T. Marsh, II
1916 - 2001
Clarence T. Marsh, III
1956 - 1995
Clarence T. Marsh, IV
1989 - Present
Clarence T. Marsh, V
2024 - Present
Frequently Asked Questions…
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Why partner with ESG?
We understand that your business isn’t just a business, it’s a part of you and your legacy. Our goal is to honor that legacy by guiding your company into its next chapter with care and intention.
Before moving forward with any acquisition, we’ll work closely with you to deeply understand your business - its history, values, and culture - and ensure there’s a strong mutual fit.
Following the transition, Clarence will step in as CEO to lead the company forward, ensuring its continued success and that you feel proud of the direction it takes.
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What happens to my team?
Your team is an integral part of what you’ve built, and we want them to remain at the heart of the company’s continued growth.
We believe a great team is the foundation of any successful organization, and we have no intention of making radical staffing changes.
In fact, we aim to align compensation with the future success of the business, grounded in our belief that incentives matter and that a rising tide should lift all ships.
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Can I remain involved?
Whether you're ready to move on and focus on your next chapter or prefer to remain involved - financially, operationally, or both - we’ll work together to create a plan that fits you.
We respect your expertise and aim for complete alignment in the future of your business.
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Why Chicagoland?
Ethos Succession Group was founded by a Chicagoan, in Chicago, with the sole purpose of acquiring a Chicagoland business.
We are committed to actively building your business while remaining physically present and engaged with all of its employees, customers, and suppliers, not managing from a distant office location.