Trident Equity Group

Reo Williams is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Trident Equity Group, a Chicago-based search fund. Raised in Champaign, Illinois, Reo comes from a family shaped by grit, entrepreneurship, and community impact. From carpentry and mortuary services to daycare and event-planning ventures, his family built companies centered on serving others and creating lasting opportunity - experiences that shaped his belief that business is ultimately about people, relationships, and legacy.

He began his career at JPMorgan Chase and later worked in management consulting before serving as Chief of Staff at an AV services company supporting multi-unit QSR brands. Reo co-founded Trident Equity Group alongside Lee Livingston with a focus on partnering with founder-led companies and building on the foundations owners have spent years creating.

Reo earned his MBA from Northwestern Kellogg and brings a rare blend of financial rigor and operator instinct. He is motivated by the opportunity to partner with great founders, earn their trust, and build something that endures.