Growth in a shaky economy has prompted a local mergers-and-acquisition consultant founded by a former Lincoln Financial Group executive to move into a larger, renovated space.

The company, True North Strategic Advisors, plans to move into its new offices today at 347 W. Berry St., across from the Mizpah Shrine. True North, which is relocating from 810 S. Calhoun St., now has double the square footage it had before, said Chris Goeglein, who is also a principal owner.

The company caters to small- and medium-sized businesses in northern Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio and has grown from one professional — Goeglein — to seven since Goeglein founded it in 2002.

Staying downtown, and close to its referral network of banks, accountants and other financial institutions, was important, said Goeglein, a 46-year-old Fort Wayne native and Concordia High School graduate who returned home after four years in Philadelphia with Lincoln.

In layman's terms, True North helps businesses up for sale or in the market to buy, in addition to offering strategic and financial consulting for those same businesses.

“Just like outside legal help, we come in to assist,” said another True North principal, Scott Metzger.

The company, which has 20-25 clients and takes its name from the term referring to the top of the nautical chart, has successfully navigated the choppy economic waters that have plagued others recently.

Revenue has increased 50 percent during the last three years.

Goeglein would only say its revenue is more than $1 million.

“The size of deals we work on, we have not seen a tightening,” said Metzger, 42, a graduate of DeKalb High School who got his MBA from the University of Chicago and worked with Goeglein at Lincoln.

True North draws on a wealth of experience.

Goeglein, who earned his MBA from Ball State after graduating from Taylor University-Upland, was in corporate development for Lincoln Financial Group for 11 years.

Another principal, Monte Lightner, also worked at Lincoln, and the fourth principal, Ken Sipe, was a friend of Goeglein.

Goeglein, who went with Lincoln when its headquarters moved out of Fort Wayne in 1998, said he came home when opportunity presented itself.

“I had studied this market in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio and determined it was underserved,” he said.

Being part of a small firm means a very different atmosphere, but it allows Goeglein to continue in the work he loves.

“You leave the comfort and security of corporate America and exchange it with the freedom of owning your own business,” he said.