10th St. Talent — About 10th St. Talent

Operators who think like investors.

Kelie Morgan

Founder & CEO

After joining Permanent Equity in 2018, just after it closed its first fund. The firm had capital and a way to find deals. It did not have a way to find leaders. Kelie’s job was to build one.

She brought more than ten years of experience in small business operations and saw quickly that most search firms did not understand lower middle market companies. So she built a different process, one that uses the same diligence on people that Permanent Equity uses to buy a company.

Other investors soon asked for help. In late 2023, that work became 10th St. Talent. Today Kelie leads a team of 15 running retained searches for private equity firms, family offices, holding companies, and independent sponsors.

“The hire deserves the same rigor as the deal. Investors test the financials, the market, and the risks before they buy a company. Then, too often, they hire the leader on a resume and a good conversation. We built 10th St. to close that gap.
Rigor also means candor and transparency. You see every stage of our process: the pipeline, the funnel, and the conversion rates. And because no candidate is perfect, we show you each finalist’s strengths, their gaps, and where they will need support. You hire with your eyes wide open.”
- Kelie Morgan