Stephen Quisenberry

Overview

Stephen, or Steve, Quisenberry joins the Forbes M&A Group as a Managing Director. He serves as a senior advisor to the Forbes team in developing, negotiating, and closing M&A and capital formation transactions on behalf of seller and buyer organizations. Steve is based in Franklin, Tennessee where he heads the Forbes Nashville branch.

Steve is an icon in the ski and outdoor industry with more than 25 years of experience as a successful entrepreneur and dealmaker. Steve was the founder of 105 Meridien in 1990, a private label/OEM manufacturer of sports bags and luggage. His clients included Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Cabela’s, Harley Davidson, Mizuno, Nike, Wilson, and over 30 ski companies.

After his successful exit with 105 Meridien, Steve owned, operated, and exited several additional companies, specifically Mountainsmith (outdoor gear manufacturer that included tents), WindXtreme, Pentrax, Head Luggage, and Power Sports Group. He has worked side by side with some of the largest retailers internationally, including Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Cabela’s, Bass Pro, Costco, and Walmart, and has contacts at C-level suite with most major outdoor gear and apparel brands, including VF, Thule, Authentic Sport Brands, Jarden, Patagonia, and Amer Sports. He has been involved in over $1.5B in transactions.

Steve enjoys spending time with his wife Laura and two children: Caitlin, a breakthrough country music star, and his son Cole, a hockey player for Brown University. Originally from Colorado, Steve enjoys skiing, biking, playing tennis, golfing, and reading on business-related topics