Clay Reale

Business Coach. Operator-Turned-Guide. Real Partnership.

Clay Reale founded Reale Business Advisors to help entrepreneurs, leaders and their teams escape the day-to-day chaos and lead with clarity, confidence and purpose. Clay helps teams and leaders own their business rather than their business owning them.  With over 30 years of experience—spanning startups, operational excellence, consulting, banking, and successful exits—Clay brings real-world grit and wisdom to business leadership.

Clay’s approach is not coaching from the shore.

Clay steps into the water with you—pointing out the rocks, helping you read the current, and walks with you and your team as you lead and grow. His coaching is immersive, relational, and tailored. He doesn’t just hand you a plan—he rolls up his sleeves, walks your floor, reviews your numbers, sits in leadership meeting and helps you build the habits and systems that create real, sustainable momentum.

“Like fly fishing in a mountain stream, business takes presence, patience, perseverance and someone willing to wade into the river with you—not just shout advice from the bank.”

Clay’s experienced ranges from founding ventures—including a heavy equipment distribution, service and rental company in Hawaii, to purchasing, building and exiting a fire protection/life safety company he scaled 8x in revenue and returned a 30x valuation before exiting. He knows firsthand what it’s like to build from the ground up in high-pressure, capital-intensive industries where every decision matters as well as focus an organization on market niche’s and staying true to the strategy.  

Before coaching, Clay was with Bank of America where he led vendor strategy, re-branded the Northwest and Northeast footprints and has worked in consulting, distribution, healthcare, and construction services. He has worked with teams ranging from 10 - 200+, and he’s built both the culture and the cash flow to keep businesses moving forward.

Clay holds an MBA from Wake Forest University, studied at Oxford, and completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Babson College. He is active in EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) and actively mentors founders and leaders in growth-stage companies and nonprofits.

At the core of Clay’s work is his Christian faith. He believes that business done right, is a calling—one that allows you to serve others, honor your gifts and build a legacy. His coaching reflects that belief: honest, encouraging, purpose-driven, and grounded in integrity.

And while many entrepreneurs have been introduced to tools like EOS®, Clay understands that not every business fits into a rigid framework. That’s why he uses the Pinnacle Business Operating System™—a flexible, proven, and personalized approach that adapts to you or your company’s needs. With Pinnacle, there are no templates, no boxes to force your team into. Just real tools, real rhythms, and a guide who helps you figure out what works for you.

Clay lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife, Naomi and when he’s not coaching clients or facilitating leadership sessions, you’ll likely find him in the mountains, at the beach, traveling or cheering on his two sons in football and lacrosse.

Build the business. Keep the purpose. Wade into the water. And let’s climb together.