Past Forward Group

Honoring what works. Evolving what’s next.

Jerry Wertheim, Founding Partner

About Past Forward

Past Forward was founded with the goal of acquiring and growing a single business for the long term. I’m looking for an established service-based business generating between $500,000 and $1,000,000 in SDE or adjusted EBITDA that I can operate full time from the NYC or DC metro areas. For whichever business I acquire, I plan to be on-site full-time to ensure a smooth transition.With over a decade of experience in management consulting, operations, and design management, I’ve spent my career helping organizations scale by improving systems and service delivery, strengthening teams, and delivering better customer experiences. My focus is on acquiring a business with consistent historical cash flow, a capable team, and strong customer relationships - one where I can apply my operational strengths to build on what works and drive sustainable, thoughtful growth.

Expert Backing to Support Efficient Closing

  • Member of SMB Deal Hunter's Accelerator Program

  • SMB Deal Hunter is a leading platform in the small business acquisition space, supporting entrepreneurs and investors as they navigate the complexities of buying established businesses.

  • Supported by a network of coaches and advisors to navigate the complexities of buying an established business.

  • Fully capitalized and established relationships with several lenders to complete an SBA-backed acquisition efficiently.

Core Values

I lead with a collaborative, people-first mindset shaped by years of leading design projects where success depended on close partnership with clients and teams. Great outcomes start with listening, co-creating, and refining together. Over time, I’ve seen that when customers are involved throughout the process, and when teams feel supported and empowered, they naturally create better experiences for everyone involved.Strong systems and clear processes are essential. They give people the structure and confidence to deliver great work. But even the best systems won’t succeed without a culture that values and invests in its people. Great employee experience leads to great customer experience. Take care of your people, and they’ll take care of your business.

Background

  • 10+ years across management consulting, operations, and supply chain management, helping organizations scale by improving systems, team performance, and customer experience.

  • Helped scale a small customer experience consulting firm from $5M to $12M in revenue (from 25 to 65 employees) by supporting the leadership team across business development, hiring, process design, and client delivery.

  • Led teams and managed direct reports in both in-person and remote operating environments.

  • Launched and scaled the award-winning Customer Experience Institute (VACXi) for the Department of Veterans Affairs, building the systems and programs that have trained 700+ VA employees on innovation since launching three years ago.

  • Experienced in strategy development, project management, people management, and change leadership.

  • Worked in supply chain management at a Fortune 500 CPG company, gaining practical experience in forecasting, sourcing, and logistics.

  • MBA (Johns Hopkins) and MA in Design Management (MICA); Bachelor’s in Operations & Supply Chain (WashU in St. Louis).