The BTS Team
Driven to help businesses succeed, Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS) has defined a new industry category for growth and transition services leveraging more than two decades of experience, hundreds of transactions, a team of highly acclaimed professionals and a proven ability to develop and execute business strategy. The partners of BTS and their associates in Kansas City and St. Louis have planned and managed growth and transition activities for over 24 years and strive to make every customer a reference, maintaining a long and healthy trusted advisor relationship.
Mike Saxton
Chief Executive Officer
Overview
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
Executive Vice President and Practice Leader, Small Markets
Overview
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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Bob Vanderselt
Managing Partner, St Louis and Practice Leader, Middle Markets
Overview
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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Barry Beaver
Principal
Overview
Barry Beaver brings more than 25 years of experience as a senior leader and deal maker to his role with Business Transition Specialists (BTS). Barry is a proven CEO having served as president of two corporations in the industrial, medical, specialty gases, welding equipment and supplies business. With deep executive expertise in manufacturing and distribution he's regarded by colleagues, clients, vendors and staff as a visionary and high-energy manager who delivers results. Loyal, hardworking and highly knowledgeable in business and the transition process he's adept at identifying needs and working across the advisor team collaboratively to positively impact the bottom line.
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Bevan Brown
Principal
Overview
Bevan Brown brings over 14 years of mergers & acquisitions, project management, business development and financial management to his role at Business Transition Specialist LLC (BTS). Bevan is a seasoned leader, financial manager and deal maker having held multiple positions in companies which became industry leaders through acquisitions. His core skills focus on helping small and medium sized business grow both organically and via acquisition.
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Cheryl Davis
Principal
Overview
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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Jene' Popper Hong
Principal and Practice Leader, CFO Services
Overview
Jene' Popper Hong brings over 20 years of business strategy, mergers & acquisitions and problem solving to her role at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Jene' is a seasoned executive leader, operator and deal maker having held multiple CFO roles in growth and turnaround situations. Her core skills focus on helping small and medium sized businesses raise capital and grow both organically and via acquisition. Jene' collaborates with entrepreneurs and business owners to help define and execute vision and goals while navigating and overcoming financial and operational challenges.
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Dick Kane
Principal
Overview
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
Commercial Real Estate Broker
Overview
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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Scott McLeroy
Principal
Overview
Scott brings more than fifteen years of entrepreneurship, team development, financial management and business operations experience to his role at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). He has successfully owned and operated four businesses in his career and has a diverse background in leadership, business development, information technology (IT), human resources and accounting. An accomplished general manager and transition specialist, Scott can educate and guide buyers and sellers through all aspects of planning and executing the entry into and exit from a business.
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Clarence Perry
Principal and Commercial Real Estate Broker
Overview
Clarence Perry brings to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS) over 40 years of extensive sales, sales management, and general management experience in commercial real estate, corrugated box, medical products, and television glass operations for privately held and Fortune 100 corporations. Clarence is a highly organized professional with expertise in domestic and international manufacturing, selling, mergers and acquisitions, and negotiating skills in technology transfer, real estate transactions, and partnership agreements. He is an effective communicator with the ability to help his clients achieve their goals whether it is buying, growing or selling a business.
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Bill Toepfer
Principal
Overview
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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Brian Ulione
Principal
Overview
Brian Ulione brings more than 25 years of experience in sales, management and business solution experience to his position at Business Transition Specialists LLC (BTS). Brian is an experienced business owner and manager with a proven track record in consulting, real estate development and leasing, sports and entertainment, hospitality and facilities management, marketing, sales performance management, and retail. Prior to joining BTS Brian ran his own company Consultants Unlimited, LLC for 10 years, taking it from start-up to $13 Million in annual sales.
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Brett Vuagniaux
Principal
Overview
Brett Vuagniaux brings over 20 years of corporate finance, accounting, business strategy, mergers, acquisitions, consolidation, divestitures and problem solving to his role at Business Transition Specialist LLC (BTS). Brett is a seasoned executive leader and deal maker having held several CFO roles in growth and turnaround situations. His core skills are focused on helping small and medium sized businesses raise capital and improve profitability, organically and via acquisitions, mergers and divestitures. Brett collaborates with business owners and entrepreneurs to help define and execute vision and goals while navigating and overcoming financial and operational challenges.
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Kirk Whitworth
Principal
Overview
Kirk Whitworth is a resourceful and creative senior executive with a wide ranging background in the successful resolution of legal and business transaction matters. Kirk is an attorney licensed in Virginia and Missouri. He represented the Resolution Trust Corporation and Yellow Freight System, Inc., the nation's largest trucking company, across a range of interests and has personal experience buying, operating and selling his own business, as well as assisting in the organization, start-up, operation and sale of many other businesses as the legal advisor. He is committed to serving the best interests of his clients and assisting in the achievement of their broader goals.
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Steven Barouh
Principal (Los Angeles)
Overview
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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Courtney Chapman
Operations Director
Overview
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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Grant C. Gooding
Business Development
Overview
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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Craig Wilson
Strategy Advisor
Overview
Craig Wilson brings 20 years of global finance, treasury, business development, operations, financial and leadership to his role with the team. Craig is a dynamic, multi-lingual business professional with a demonstrated ability to lead teams of professionals to new levels of achievement across divergent industries, international markets and challenging environments.