You spent decades building your legacy.
I want to spend the next decades expanding it.
White Oak Partners, LLC (MN) is the acquisition search vehicle for Michael Shoemaker, a Minnesota-native entrepreneur and serial operator. Michael has two decades of experience profitably growing businesses large and small, across industries and global geographies.
My goal is to acquire and continue growing one outstanding small to mid-sized business in the greater MSP metro over the next two decades.
During the last 15 years, I’ve had the privilege to serve as CEO, COO, Managing Director, and General Manager of several high-tech, institutionally-backed startups. I have built a strong track record of scaling businesses, leading and reshaping large teams, and driving profitable growth. I bring deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, geographic expansion, and growth operations.
Raised in Detroit Lakes, MN, I graduated from St. Olaf College and worked for a Minneapolis-based professional services firm before spending ten years in far-flung places - first in Europe, where I received my MBA at INSEAD, and then in Latin America and the west coast of the US. In 2020, I returned to Minnesota with my wife, a Minneapolis native, and our two school-age daughters. We are firmly rooted here as a family and committed to building career and community in the area.
Areas of expertise:
Global P&L management
Building and managing large teams
Go-to-market strategy and tactics
Blue/white collar and diverse team leadership
Managing operations in hyper growth
Strategic and analytical decision making
New business and product development
Financial management and capital raising
Org reshaping and turnarounds
Board leadership and governance
“Mike was one of the most inspiring tech professionals I've come across during my tenure at Uber in Latin America. He is a skilled GM, with strong operational expertise and a sharp strategic mindset - but also a people's person able to lead 100+ people organizations and create a strong culture within a large organization. He is a resilient manager who leads by example and is always coming up with creative ideas for challenging problems. His dual expertise in Latin America and the US make him a strong asset for any company interested in expanding in the region - as he understands the nuances of the individual countries but can communicate in a way that is productive to US company's HQs. I've thoroughly enjoyed working for Mike and can recommend him for any role where hustle, creativity and leadership are needed.”
“Mike is a leader that detects and develops talent, empowering the people that surround him, he creates strong teams that have a clear sense of purpose. I have seen him constantly raise the bar operationally and strategically, driving his teams to perform at a high level even in complex and ambiguous situations. As my manager, Mike provided the right balance between guidance and autonomy to his leadership team, so we could be fast and aligned in a constantly changing/growing business. He excels in situations of accelerated growth and enjoys a challenge!”
“As a leader, Mike will recruit a talented, high-performing team, set a high bar for their performance through lofty goal-setting, all while continually investing in the growth of his people through mentorship and coaching. Mike is one of the rare managers who is just as effective as an operator as he is a leader of people. He is comfortable leading through ambiguity and can always be counted on to keep a calm demeanor even when solving some of the most challenging problems. Mike expects a lot from his team, but nothing more than what he would expect of himself. Any organziation would benefit from Mike's brand of leadership.”
My ideal match:
B2B software, services, or value-add distribution
$1,000,000 to $3,000,000 in adjusted EBITDA
Based in the greater MSP metro area or remote/relocatable
Capable of becoming a regional or industry leader
Contact Me
If you are planning to exit your business and looking to sell to another experienced operator with the ability to extend your legacy, please reach out using this form or directly via email: mike@whiteoakpartners.co