Joe Hawkins

Principal

Joe is a principal at Oaklins Heritage in Jacksonville. His primary focus is advising clients on M&A transactions and capital raising for companies at all stages. He has over 35 years of experience in investment banking, venture capital and early-stage businesses in the US and abroad. Recent transactions he has advised on include the sale of Sandar Industries to Ryeco, the sale of Illingworth Engineering Company to Thermal Tech and the purchase of U.S. Legal Services by an affiliate of CCW Safe.

Prior to joining Oaklins Heritage, Joe founded and led PlanetHS, LLC, a software company serving high school and middle school athletics nationwide. As CEO, he managed the business model transition from a consumer-oriented service supported by ad revenue to one focused on school athletic departments — reaching 2,400 schools — and state associations. PlanetHS provided workflow management and comprehensive compliance tools for state associations, high schools and middle schools supported by annual fees. PlanetHS merged with a larger company offering complementary software in the same market in 2019.