Joe Connelly heads the Contributor Program for Durable and is focused on the craft of buying and building great small businesses. His work is shaped by a long-standing interest in ownership, responsibility, and the relationships that make enduring companies possible.

Joe’s background spans acquisitions and operating environments across multiple industries. He previously served as Director of Acquisitions for a Texas land-investing firm, where he evaluated and executed transactions across rural development projects. Before that, he spent several years in tech sales and sales-coaching roles at Dell and Qualia, working closely with founders, operators, and go-to-market teams navigating growth and change. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University.

Today, Joe is actively searching for the right business to buy and operate for the long term. He is drawn to communities that prioritize thoughtful ownership, local relationships, and learning from people who have been in the seat — which is what led him to Durable. Through the Contributor Program, Joe works alongside operators, investors, and advisors across Utah to help shape programming, elevate practical experience, and expand access to the ETA ecosystem.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys traveling, skiing, riding dirt bikes, and exploring Utah’s mountains and cities. Having recently made Utah home, he values the state’s deep small-business culture and the kind of civic-minded builders Durable exists to bring together.