Elmer A. Laydon
Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner · CPA · CGMA · CFE
B.S. Accounting, magna cum laude, Quinnipiac College · Licensed CPA: CT, FL, TN
BIOGRAPHY
Elmer Laydon brings something genuinely uncommon to private equity: the technical precision of a Big Four professional — built advising Fortune 500 companies at Price Waterhouse — alongside the operating instincts of an entrepreneur who has founded, built, and scaled multiple businesses himself.
He has spent his career at the intersection of financial rigor and hands-on operational leadership, working closely with founders, lenders, and operators to evaluate businesses, structure transactions, improve performance, and manage risk. His credentials as a CPA, CGMA, and Certified Fraud Examiner directly inform how Chantilly underwrites and how quickly the firm identifies the operational and financial issues that matter most.
Elmer co-founded Chantilly because he had spent decades watching smart founders leave value on the table — not because their businesses weren’t good, but because no one had ever given them the financial infrastructure to see clearly, decide confidently, and grow deliberately. He built the firm to change that, one business at a time.
“Good financial infrastructure doesn’t slow a business down. It’s what lets a business grow without losing control of itself.”
CAREER
Chantilly Investment Partners — Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner
Leads financial diligence, transaction structuring, and post-acquisition value creation. Partners with management teams to professionalize financial operations, strengthen controls, improve margins, and build the infrastructure that allows businesses to scale without losing visibility.
Compact Container Systems — CFO & COO
Joined as Chief Financial Officer in 2019 and assumed additional responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer in 2024. Oversees finance, accounting, forecasting, capital allocation, and operational execution for an asset-intensive logistics business. Central role in scaling the business and strengthening governance.
Intermodal Container Group, LLC — Co-Founder & Co-Managning Partner
Co-founded a company focused on the sale and management of intermodal shipping containers. Operational and strategic leadership in a capital-intensive, contract-driven environment.
Laydon and Company, LLC — Founder & Managing Member
Founded and led a boutique CPA and advisory firm delivering tax strategy, transaction support, financial reporting, forensic accounting, and business consulting to entrepreneurs and closely held companies. Deep exposure to the financial realities of founder-owned businesses across multiple sectors and market cycles.
GoToMyAccountant.com — Founder
Founded a digital accounting and advisory platform designed to bring high-quality financial guidance to small businesses and entrepreneurs — leveraging technology and standardized process to improve financial visibility and decision-making at scale.
Price Waterhouse — Tax Manager
Advised Fortune 500 and middle-market clients on complex tax planning, compliance, and financial matters. Built the technical foundation that informs every financial evaluation and transaction structure Elmer designs today.
CREDENTIALS & AFFILIATIONS
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — Licensed in CT, FL, and TN
- Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners