Our Team

Mike Saxton brings more than seventeen years of business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists (BTS).  Mike is a creative business strategist, problem solver and dynamic leader with a track record of successfully setting organizational vision and retooling, training, and motivating these organizations to achieve their full potential.  BTS has absorbed the business activity of Mike's first business venture, a financing firm, and benefits from his partnership in IntelliThink LLC, an award-winning strategic consulting firm.

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VJ Jonusas has over 22 years experience in a wide variety of disciplines and brings unique capabilities to his position at Business Transition Specialists.  VJ has owned eight businesses himself of which four had been successful business brokerages he later sold.  With over 200 transactions to his record, VJ has negotiated and structured some of the most difficult business buying, selling or partnering deals in our industry.  Solving complex issues that surround business transition and helping all parties feel comfortable, educated and empowered to make the right decision is his commitment to excellence.

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Steven Barouh is a collaborative and resourceful senior executive who brings more than 21 years of business and legal experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists.   Steven is an attorney licensed in the state of Missouri, a Mediator and a businessman.    He has run a large distribution company, helped start up a successful finance company, and owned/published the largest sports newspaper in Kansas City.  He has experience buying and selling a business through several business brokers in Kansas City.   He is personable, client focused, and ready to help you accomplish your business goals and dreams.

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Tracy brings over 30 years of business experience in business ownership, consulting, and sales and channel management. His collaborative style and focus on customer needs has consistently enabled him to increase his clients’ effectiveness and bottom line. Tracy is a personable and client focused professional who assures his customer’s needs are identified and met. His business associates attest unanimously to his business acumen, customer-first approach, learning aptitude and unquestionable integrity.

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Cheryl brings more than twenty-five years of financial management, business operations and brokerage experience to her role at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Her breadth and depth of experiences and keen general management mindset enable her to understand operational processes and business drivers across the entire business model. Engaging all levels of executive management, she and her team initiated Activity Based Costing (ABC) methodology reporting for Sprint. As the Former President of the Kansas City Business Brokers Association (KCBBA), she spearheaded a series of improvements to streamline and mature organizational processes and website enhancements, while conducting continuing professional training on business valuations and various aspects of small business brokering. Cheryl can educate and guide buyers and sellers through all aspects of buying and selling a business. Her clients trust her intimately, respect her expertise and greatly appreciate her attention to detail and ability to deliver the deal.

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Theresa is a partner at her own firm, entirely independent of Business Transition Specialists (BTS).  An expert in critical related services, however, Theresa and her firm have made themselves available to clients of BTS.  Theresa’s primary practice is within the fields of Taxation (International and Domestic), Trusts, Estate Planning, and Business Planning. Specifically, Theresa’s expertise lies in income and estate tax planning for the high net worth individual as well as the tax planning for the sale of an appreciated asset.

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Grant C. Gooding brings more than eight years of business ownership, mergers & acquisition analysis and business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC. Having experience starting and running several businesses, his first at the age of 19, Grant is familiar with several industries including internet technology, investments, mergers and acquisitions, business valuation, manufacturing and several service industries. Grant grew his first company to over 10 employees with three locations across the greater Kansas City area all before the age of 20. He then worked as an analyst for a Leawood based law firm specializing in organization and business transaction document analysis. In addition to his background and skills in starting, owning and managing multiple businesses, Grant has a diverse background in small business consulting specializing in development of strategic marketing plans and business process optimization.

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Dick Kane brings over 30 years of impressive executive business experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists.  Dick has managed numerous business integrations, mergers, business acquisitions, and sales.  Directing business transition solutions for large corporations or for the companies owned by Dick has been his passion and motivation for improving profitability for over 20 years.

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Mike Kemper brings more than twenty-five (25) years of real estate experience to his position with BTS Realty, the real estate company wholly owned by Business Transition Specialists LLC. Mike is an experienced real estate generalist who helps clients maximize profits from their real estate holdings. Mike is comfortable working with all levels of real estate developers, property managers, and brokers.

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Stephen Monaco brings over twenty (20) years of executive-level strategic business and marketing experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Stephen is an accomplished business and marketing strategist, creative thinker and visionary with a remarkable track record of success. He has the passion and drive that evokes confidence and creates clarity of purpose amongst management teams and focus throughout organizations. Stephen negotiated the acquisition of a large, multi-national corporation, has negotiated numerous international strategic alliances, partnerships, joint ventures, technology transfers and literally hundreds of licensing agreements.

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Mark brings more than seventeen years of business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists (BTS). Mark has led and managed in operational roles as well as a corporate / real estate attorney and certified public accountant trained in the “Big Eight” arena. He brings a well-rounded knowledge of business and a proven track record of helping to define and guide business success. Mark’s training and experience as an attorney and CPA transacting deals, combined with his experience as a business owner and ability to educate and care for his customers has made him a highly respected trusted advisor with a unique ability to develop creative business solutions.

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Pete brings over 15 years of executive management experience in the Hollywood Entertainment Industry to his position at Business Transition Specialists, LLC. Pete is a resourceful business strategist and leader with an established track record of profitability. He’s skilled at developing creative marketing solutions, fostering quality long-term business relationships and is a practiced contract negotiator. Pete is a personable, client focused professional, proficient at ensuring the core goals of his clients are consistently identified and met.

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Bill Toepfer is a results-oriented leader who brings to Business Transition Specialists (BTS) over 30 years of executive leadership and management experience in startup and Fortune 500 companies. Bill has assisted business owners and entrepreneurs of small to medium sized businesses in the formation, growth and success of their companies by offering the knowledge, tools and resources to build and continuously improve their organizations. Further, Bill’s expertise has helped business owners achieve their vision of success and realize the full economic value of their company. He has a great blend of business and interpersonal skills with an uncanny ability to listen, understand and develop strategies that help owners reach their goals whether buying, growing, planning their exit or ultimately selling.

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With nearly 20 years experience in banking, finance, investments and business planning, Mark Tyrrell brings a strong general management sense to his role with Business Transition Specialists, LLC. Working with business owners and managers to analyze financial statements and projections Mark has helped many new and existing businesses put together plans to obtain the funds necessary to grow and expand. Additionally, he’s helped develop and introduce several new products. Mark uses a very consultative approach to determine what a client’s needs are and how to best meet those needs.

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Bob Vanderselt brings more than 25 years of business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Bob is an experienced CEO with a proven track record in growing profitable Consumer and Industrial businesses in the Chemical, Plastics and Paper Industries. His background is finance and marketing and he has extensive experience in product/business development, acquisitions/divestitures, start ups and turnarounds in consumer products, distribution, retail, foodservice, and manufacturing. Prior to joining BTS Bob was both a buy-side and sell-side client which affords him a unique perspective on the needs of our customers. Bob has sold and purchased over 25 companies valued at over $500 Million in his career as CEO/Division President and intermediary.

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Tracy brings more than ten years of business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Having led and managed in operational roles as well as a tax attorney and business management consultant trained in the “Big Five” arena, Tracy brings a well-rounded knowledge of and ability to define and guide business success. Trained as both an attorney and businessman, Tracy earned his JD/MBA with emphasis in technology and entrepreneurship. He was selected to be a consultant in the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation where he assisted in technology transfer programs with University research centers. After working as a management consultant for two years, he founded and managed his own private law firm where he focused on corporate matters ranging from start up through sale or dissolution. Tracy is a creative problem solver with a unique ability to find solutions in all functional areas of a business.

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An experienced administrator, office manager and telemarketing specialist, Danielle has found a place we hope she calls home for a long time. She's in charge. We all know it and appreciate the organization she brings to the operation.

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Courtney brings tremendous interpersonal and analytic skills to her role at BTS. She supports client account activities, adding a different perspective and helping to program manage more complex projects.

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