Mackenzie Lake founded Cardinal Lake LLC to identify and acquire exceptional small businesses in the Chicagoland with significant growth potential. With a passion for strategic growth and experience in acquiring business, Mackenzie leads the mission to find and grow promising companies into market leaders.

Mackenzie has over 20 years of experience successfully leading both inorganic and organic growth initiatives for small, mid, and public companies. She has worked across a broad set of industries including industrial products and services, business services, logistics, CPG, healthcare, and technology. Her background encompasses investment banking, in-house M&A, and strategy consulting, equipping her with a sharp acumen for recognizing unique opportunities and driving value creation through strategic initiatives.

Growing up in a small town in northern Wisconsin in an entrepreneurial family, Mackenzie values building meaningful relationships with business owners. She is committed to a transparent transaction process, prioritizes long-term ownership opportunities, and understands that employee satisfaction is essential for sustained success.

Mackenzie has an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and is a cofounder of its Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club. She is a Midwesterner at heart and loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and their 3 children.