Refreshment services veteran Gary Pretzer has joined Orrin Huebner LLC as director of mergers and acquisitions. With extensive experience owning and operating businesses as well as facilitating major business transactions, Pretzer brings expertise and a proven track record to his new role.
Orrin Huebner, principal of Orrin Huebner LLC, cites Pretzer’s experience owning and operating businesses, facilitating major business transactions and extensive experience as key reasons Pretzer was named director of mergers and acquisitions. “Gary has the experience of being a successful owner. He bought and sold companies himself and understands all sides. He was heavily involved with the formation of BVA (USG) and was mayor of Willowbrook, Ill. All of these experiences have brought us a well-rounded expertise for our clients.”
Gary Pretzer expressed equal enthusiasm about the partnership. “I’m thrilled to formally join Orrin,” Pretzer said in a release. “We share a solutions-minded approach, having been on both sides of M&A transactions many times. Together, we’ll ensure the best outcomes for our clients before, during, and after the process. Orrin is a leader in the industry and I’m thankful to be working alongside him.”
Huebner, a long-time OCS, pantry and unattended retail executive, knows that a strong team is built with strong members, and he shared his perspective exclusively with Automatic Merchandiser.
One of the reasons teaming up with Pretzer makes sense, Huebner says, is that Pretzer's expertise complements his own and benefits the clients. “Gary has great expertise in the ‘details.’ From BVA, [serving as] mayor and [as] owner/operator, Gary has been all about the details and the art of finding the best solution for everyone. He understands greatly what the independent operator needs most, and the best net result,” Huebner said.
“My experience as an independent owner/operator, along with almost a decade working with Canteen, provides a different perspective and set of relationships,” he added. “We have the best interests of the seller and the buyer. True success comes from both walking away with successful end games.”
Successful relationships, whether in professional or personal settings, rely on core characteristics to go the distance. Having worked with Pretzer in the past, he knows that they both value communication and respect as the most important ingredients. “We want to be checked by each other and have the utmost respect for the other’s opinion. We check our egos and look to have collaboration with each other and our client. It isn’t about us. It’s about what makes for the best merger of two companies,” Huebner said.
Reaching the ground running means Huebner and Pretzer can focus on their clients. “There is so much movement right now. Gary and I want to be able to make sure that a seller understands what is coming every step of the way,” Huebner said. “It’s not transactional. It is personal, and we recognize what goes into it emotionally. We have been on both sides and have empathy for what it all means. We are there way past the dollars changing hands.”
