At the end of May 2025, I will step into retirement. And with that, Ceibass Venture Partners—my firm, my mission, my calling—will come to a close.

This isn’t a story about closing a business. It’s about completing something important. For me, Ceibass was personal from the start. A mission built around a lived experience. It was created to serve a very specific purpose: to help business owners in the green industry exit in proper fashion—with clarity, dignity, and full value in hand.

That purpose has been fulfilled. And it sure was a ton of fun!

Ceibass grew from my own journey—my years building and running CoCal Landscape, my understanding of the grit, pressure, and pride that define this work. I knew what it felt like to build something from nothing. And I knew that when the time came to let go, most owners had no idea how to finish well. Ceibass existed to be the answer to that problem.

And what a ride it’s been for the last 13 years.

We’ve had the privilege of walking with incredible owners across the country—people who built real companies, who led with integrity, and who cared deeply about their employees, customers, and communities. Helping them transition was more than a transaction. It was about honoring what they built and giving them the ending they deserved.

To those owners: thank you. Thank you for trusting us with something so personal. For letting us inside your numbers, your fears, and your hopes for the future. I’ve learned something from every one of you.

To our partners, colleagues, and friends in the green industry: thank you for welcoming Ceibass, for believing in this work, and for sharing our vision.

To the team members and supporters who helped bring this to life: thank you for your loyalty, hard work and your heart.

The legacy of Ceibass will live in the ripple effect—families protected, companies passed on, futures preserved, and lives changed. That’s enough for me.

And now, it’s time. Time to put away the spreadsheets. Time to enjoy summers in Northern Michigan, ski more, fish more, travel a lot more, reflect more, and be more present with those I love. I leave with a full heart and a quiet peace.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you for being with me on this journey.

— Tom Fochtman
CEO, Ceibass Venture Partners