Veteran-led team formed in Rice entrepreneurship program acquires national leadership development firm

An all-veteran ownership team, Summit Point Leadership LLC, which launched through the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and its Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Lab, has acquired the business of LDR Leadership LLC, a nationwide leadership, management and supervisory training firm.

"Our mission remains the same: to create better leaders who build better teams and stronger organizations," said Dave Taylor, CEO of LDR Leadership, who will continue that role with Summit Point Leadership. "What changes is our scale, our ambition, and our ability to invest further in our people, our clients, and our curriculum as we grow under a new banner."

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The acquisition team was led by Dan Maxwell, U.S. Army veteran, Rice MBA graduate and a current Rice adjunct professor of entrepreneurship, in partnership with the company's long-standing executive leadership team: Chief Executive Officer Dave Taylor, Chief Operating Officer Vern Tubbs and Chief Sales Officer Jim Freeze. The transaction was signed ceremonially on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025 and formally closed on Dec. 23, 2025.

The seller of the business, Houston-based and veteran-owned investment firm LDR Partners LP, has committed to donating a portion of its proceeds to Rice Business, and its Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. LDR and Rice will also formalize an ongoing mentorship partnership that includes the development of a case study based on the transaction, participation by LDR leaders in Rice's annual ETA Conference, volunteer service by LDR professionals on Rice's ETA advisory and mentorship councils, and the continued placement of Rice students within LDR-backed operating companies.

This transaction was enabled by Rice Business's entrepreneurship ecosystem and long-standing commitment to entrepreneurial education. The Jones Graduate School of Business has been ranked the No. 1 Graduate Entrepreneurship Program by The Princeton Review for seven consecutive years.

"This transaction reflects the strength of the Rice Business entrepreneurship and Veteran community," said Dan Maxwell. 
 

"Rice doesn't just teach academic theory; it puts students in real world business situations where their decisions have real impact & potentially lead to opportunities like this one."

Reflecting on the transaction and LDR's ongoing commitment to the Rice Business ecosystem, Ryan Martin, Managing Partner of LDR Partners LP, shared:

"The 'leader' in the name "LDR" was never meant to describe us, but rather our belief that good leadership is the ultimate differentiator in life. What matters most is how leadership compounds, endures, and creates future leaders. This transition, and our commitment to Rice, is about doubling down on that belief and ensuring the next generation of leaders has both opportunity and support across the United States."