Key Advisors

To maximize the value in any transaction you need a team of highly trained professionals that have specific areas of expertise. IBG Business has identified and learned to trust specific professionals to bring helpful and insightful services to parties involved in buying or selling a business. Often they do not supplant a party’s standing relationship with an advisor, but provide added knowledge and perspective to improve solutions and value as specialists in specific areas of need or value.

Professionals in the following areas of expertise are available to you from our national network. Please contact IBG Business for a referral.

• Accounting
• Tax Planning & Management
• Estate Planning
• Financial Planning
• Investment Advisors
• Lenders – Corporate Finance
• Mezzanine Financing
• Private Equity Groups
• Banking/Non-traditional Lending
• Business Buyers and Buying Groups
• Profit Enhancement Specialists
• Real Estate & Business Appraisers
• Machinery & Equipment Appraisers
• Specialty Services Providers
• Merger & Acquisitions / M&A Brokers
• Business Brokers

“I acted as legal counsel . . . during the process of negotiating and documenting the sale of the business thank you for your hard work, professionalism and innovation . . . a valuable role that ultimately led to a very successful result for the company . . . I am hopeful we have the opportunity to work together on future acquisitions.”
– Andy Johnson, Attorney

Each affiliate office is independently owned and operated.

Ronald C. Johnson, M&AMI, CBI, CBB, Fellow of the IBBA

ABI Business Sales
San Ramon, CA 94583
www.abi-ma.com

Ron Johnson is President of ABI Business Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions, established in San Ramon, CA, in 1984. Ron has been the business intermediary for over one hundred transactions since 1991. He managed, for his associates, hundreds of additional business sales and acquisitions. He founded Onyx Associates, “sister” M&A firm incorporated under the ABI banner and name. Ron is well-recognized nationally in his profession. He served 10 years on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB), two terms as President, and chaired the Education, Governmental Relations, and Nominating Committees. Ron twice received CABB’s President’s Award.

Ron served as Chair of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the world’s largest professional association of business brokers and M&A intermediaries. He also chaired IBBA’s Affiliates, Conference Planning, Finance, and Nominating Committees, and served on IBBA’s Board. Ron teaches IBBA’s Introduction to Mergers & Acquisitions, and frequently contributes to business brokerage professional journals, publications and websites. His leadership in IBBA and CABB added extensively to his network of highly skilled dealmakers and Private Equity Groups, which provides a continuous stream of new ideas regarding marketing and selling businesses. Ron is a graduate of Long Beach State University with a degree in mathematics.

Rocco J. Pezza, CBI, Fellow of the IBBA

New England Brokerage Corporation
Providence RI
www.nebc.com

There is a common thread among people who have had the opportunity to work with Rocco: they want him to stick around even after the deal is done. Some say it is his uncanny ability to see around the corner and warn of a potential pitfall. Others say it is the tenacity he brings to everything he does, especially for his clients. And yet others claim it is the calm, sensible and reassuring way he will walk a business seller and buyer through even the most difficult negotiations. For over 22 years, Rocco has led NEBC’s business transitions clients through the fulfilling, challenging and sometimes intensely personal acquisition and divestiture process.

Rocco is a credit to his profession, having received the highly coveted Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation and named a Fellow of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). Rocco also sits on many industry boards and presents regularly to trade groups of all kinds. In addition, and perhaps key affirmation of his worth to the companies he has guided, he serves on the Board of Directors of several of those same companies. Rocco Pezza brings intellectual integrity and a proven M&A process approach to each opportunity and will be successful in helping business buyers and sellers realize their personal and professional objectives.

Edward C. Telling, JR., CBC, CBI, Fellow of the IBBA

Telling Group, LTD
Cortland, NY
www.tellinggroup.com

The Telling Group is full-service, focusing on M&A Broker or business broker transactions with business selling prices of $3,000,000 or more, business appraisal and family transfers. Ed specializes in providing professional merger and acquisition (M&A) expertise to privately held businesses. He possesses experience from hundreds of successful business transfers. He has an international network of intermediaries and is on-line with numerous national databases and information services. Ed has been a regular speaker and writer in the business brokerage industry. He received the prestigious Darrell Fouts M&A Award and is Fellow of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). He served as Chair of The M&A Source, and as a Board member, Vice President, and Membership Chair for IBBA and the M&A Source. He is a retired Captain from the US Army, holds a degree from Drexel University and an MBA from Cornell University.

Ronald V. Chernak, CPA, CBI, M&AMI, Fellow of the IBBA

First Business Brokers, LTD
Colorado Springs, CO
www.fbb.com

Prior to organizing First Business Brokers, Ltd., Ron practiced law with a 175-member firm in Chicago. He has a CPA Certificate (IL), is a Colorado Real Estate Broker, a Certified Business Intermediary Fellow status (the highest professional designation within the Business Brokerage industry), and is a Merger & Acquisitions Master Intermediary, M&AMI. He has extensive experience in business brokerage, contract and lease negotiations, financial planning, and financing. He is active in many business and community activities, such as the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce (former Chairman of the Board), the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and Rotary Club.

Ron served as Chairman or Board Director for numerous business brokerage committees and organizations, including a national advisory committee on mergers and acquisitions, M&A. Ron also served as Chairman of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the premier industry trade association, with a membership of over 1,200 intermediaries in 22 countries, and Chairman of The M & A Source, the largest association of middle market merger and acquisition intermediaries, or M&A Brokers.

Each affiliate office is independently owned and operated.

Jeffrey D. Jones, ASA, CBA, CBI, Fellow of the IBBA

Certified Appraisers, Inc.
Houston, TX
www.certifiedappraisers.com

Jeff and his staff have sold over 1,000 businesses in Texas and the Southwest United States. Jeff manages the firm’s multidiscipline appraisal practice, including the business valuations, machinery and equipment, and real estate. He frequently testifies in depositions and courts of law as an expert witness on business valuation issues. His clients include closely held firms, publicly-held businesses, the IRS and other governmental agencies. Jeff is co-editor of the Handbook of Business Valuation and Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook for Small and Midsize Companies published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. He has written many articles on valuation and business merger & acquisition issues, and is a featured speaker at many professional associations.

Jeff holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and is licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission and the Texas Securities Commission. He is a designated member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Institute of Business Appraisers (CBA), Texas Association of Business Brokers (BCB), and International Business Brokers Association (CBI). Jeff served as Chair and board member for the International Business Brokers Association. Since 1976, he has been involved in appraising and selling small to midsize businesses, including manufacturing, distribution, retail and service companies.