Our Team
The IBG team delivers results for business owners by calling on a rich history of experience, knowledge, integrity, and drive combined with people skills, perseverance, and resources. These have been continuously improved and galvanized since 1986 by hands-on, in the trenches, work, and serving business owners in acquiring and selling businesses. We learn from our failures and constantly look to refine and improve our services to our clients.
Our backgrounds are as business owners, who have walked an owner's path. We appreciate what it has taken to build your business; the sacrifices, the sweat, risks, and long hours. We have had to make payroll not knowing if cash will stretch far enough, made the tough decisions owners face, and the enjoyed the fruits of success. We understand what it takes to create those successes and know it is not always the "easy street" seen by outsiders, employees, regulators, and customers.
Education in finance, business, engineering, and economics led us to careers in Fortune 100 companies and entrepreneurial ventures where business skills in mergers and acquisitions were nurtured. This knowledge was refined and honed by training for securities registration, business appraisals, real estate licensing, and professional certifications as M&A Brokers and business intermediaries.
We are perfectly at home rolling up our sleeves to do white collar work in blue-collar businesses.
Our Owners and Managing Partners
Jim Afinowich*
A nationally honored industry leader, Jim has developed and presented classes for regional and national trade associations for nearly 20 years. He has also provided expert witness services in cases relating to brokerage practices and standards of care. He is well-known as a creative problem solver.
John C. Johnson
John's expertise has been demonstrated through professional certifications, as a Court Appointed Receiver, and an expert in business valuation and petroleum property management. He has written and taught peers in M&A Broker courses, as well as speaking on "Best Practices" expert panels.
Gary Papay
Gary Papay offers clients over 40 years' experience in the M&A arena and provides comprehensive advisory services for mid-market business owners and is the partner in charge of the IBG Pennsylvania office located in Williamsport. He is a professional intermediary and business appraiser. He has specialized in the sale and transfer of privately held mid-market companies since 1976.
John Zayac*
Mr. Zayac founded International Business Group, Ltd. in 1986 to provide mid-market business sellers the high-quality resources and sophisticated service traditionally reserved for firms valued over $100 million. Since inception, John built this firm into the merger & acquisition industry's most comprehensive provider of acquisition advisory services for mid-market business sellers.
