Garen Armstrong to headline AM&AA construction M&A fireside chat

Shamrock Roofing and Construction Executive Director Garen Armstrong will lead a featured fireside chat at the AM&AA 2027 Winter Conference on Jan. 28 in Fort Lauderdale. The session will focus on what construction owners should do years before a sale to improve value and attract buyers.

Why it matters: - Construction company exits are often decided long before a sale process begins. - The session is aimed at owners who want to increase business value, reduce key-person risk and prepare for a future transaction. - Armstrong brings a buyer’s perspective and an operator’s perspective to the discussion.

What happened: - Garen Armstrong, executive director of Shamrock Roofing and Construction, will headline the featured Fireside Chat at the Alliance of M&A Advisors 2027 Winter Conference. - The session, “Navigating M&A in the Construction Industry,” is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. - Armstrong will discuss construction M&A with a focus on how owners can prepare years before a sale.

The details: - Armstrong is an active acquirer in the roofing industry. - Armstrong is also scaling his own construction business with an eventual exit in mind. - The chat will cover what buyers look at first when evaluating a construction company. - The discussion will also address the early decisions owners make that can raise or lower future value. - Armstrong will outline how to build a business that someone else will want to own. - Armstrong said selling does not start when an owner calls a broker; it starts with how the company is run today. - Armstrong pointed to clean books and a team that can run without the owner as signs buyers notice quickly. - Armstrong grew up in the roofing trade and has spent his career building, buying and growing businesses. - Armstrong regularly speaks to family offices and business owners about growth and succession. - The AM&AA Winter Conference draws investment bankers, private equity firms, advisors and business owners from the lower middle market. - Registration and the full agenda are available on the AM&AA Winter Conference website at conference information.

Between the lines: - The event reflects a broader push to help construction owners think like buyers before they think like sellers. - Armstrong’s dual role as operator and acquirer gives the conversation practical weight for owners who may not know what drives valuation. - The focus on succession and owner independence suggests deal readiness is becoming a core business discipline, not just a late-stage transaction task.

What's next: - The Winter Conference session will take place Jan. 28, 2027. - Attendees can use the conference agenda to plan around the fireside chat and related M&A sessions. - Armstrong is expected to continue speaking to owners and advisors about growth, succession and exit readiness.

The bottom line: - For construction owners, value is built years before a sale, not during the sale itself.