Travis Baker is a Senior Associate on the M&A team at Transom, where he plays a key role in evaluating new investments and executing transactions.
We sat down with Travis to learn about his day-to-day responsibilities, highlights from recent acquisitions, and reflections on what makes Transom’s approach to M&A so rewarding to him.
What’s your role at Transom, and what does a typical day look like for you?
Travis Baker : I’m a Senior Associate on the M&A team. I spend my time across several areas, including new deal evaluation and transaction execution. No two days at Transom are ever quite the same.
On the new deal side, I work closely with colleagues across the M&A and Operations teams to evaluate potential investment opportunities and form an opinion on whether we’d be interested in pursuing a transaction.
On the execution side, I conduct business diligence and data analysis and do financial modeling to help us form a strong point of view on each deal and to set us up for success in getting the transaction across the finish line.
What’s one deal or initiative you’ve worked on recently at Transom that stands out, and why?
TB: Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with our management team to support our portfolio company Secur-Serv. As part of my role, I’ve had the opportunity to help identify add-on acquisition targets for the business and support the close of various transactions that Transom’s pursued as part of Secur-Serv’s inorganic thesis. While add-on acquisitions weren’t a part of the strategy for Secur-Serv at underwriting, we’ve been able to close five add-on acquisitions in the last three years for the business.
Our Secur-Serv investment showcases Transom’s dynamic and flexible approach to investing that delivers real results. It’s been incredibly rewarding to be a part of that journey.
What excites you most about being on the Transom team?
TB: I was lucky enough to join Transom in 2021, and it’s been remarkable to watch the firm grow and evolve firsthand. The team is a true reflection of our shared vision and collective potential. Seeing the progressive momentum across our funds and recent investments makes me incredibly excited for the years to come.
What first drew you to private equity—and what keeps you excited about it today?
TB: What first attracted me to private equity was the intellectually stimulating environment. It’s a field that demands you to have well-informed opinions and to back them up with rigorous analysis.
The dynamic nature of private equity means you’re always learning: every deal introduces you to new industries, business models, and management teams. You’re constantly challenged to develop investment theses, test your assumptions, and make recommendations that have real impact. This combination of curiosity, responsibility, and the tangible results of your decisions keeps the work fresh and exciting for me. Every day brings new opportunities to grow, adapt, and contribute, which is what continues to energize me every day.
What’s a book/podcast/movie/etc. you’ve consumed recently that you found insightful and why?
TB: I recently read Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey and couldn’t put it down. Beyond the wildly entertaining stories from his adventurous life, what really stood out to me was his unique perspective on the world – one that I think we can all take something positive from.
Emily Steckhan, for Transom Capital
Email: emily.steckhan@fgsglobal.com
(631) 702-0111
