Yasmine Jandali is new GABB Secretary
Yasmine Jandali, owner and Managing Broker at Starwood Business Group, is the new secretary of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers. The GABB board unanimously elected Jandali to the office on May 26, replacing Marla Brown, who resigned the position.
Jandali is a friendly, professional and experienced business broker who puts clients at ease from day one. She has a track record of more than 10 years of successful transactions and highly satisfied clients. Jandali founded Starwood Business Group in order to provide a boutique brokerage firm for clients seeking personalized service and specialized attention.
As a certified Master Business Intermediary, she provides professional business intermediary services to both business sellers and buyers, including high-level business valuation services to business sellers. She has worked as a foreign exchange analyst at Wells Fargo, a marketing specialist at the Bank of America Corporation, vice president of Jandali Enterprises, Inc., and was managing broker and managing director of VR Business Brokers Mergers and Acquisitions.
She has a B.A. in Business Administration Marketing from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, and also studied management at The Belk College of Business at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Read MoreEleven Ga. Business Brokers Sell $58 Million Plus of Businesses
Eleven members of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB) helped business owners and entrepreneurs sell and buy more than $58 million worth of small- and medium-sized businesses in 2014.
GABB members represent owners of Georgia businesses in extremely important transactions: the sales of their businesses. GABB members help owners determine the asking prices of their businesses, create marketing plans and strategies for selling their businesses, and identify and qualify buyers while keeping the sale confidential from employees and customers.
“In 2014, not only did the economy continue to strengthen, but business owners became more confident in their optimism about the economy,” said GABB’s 2014 President C. David Chambless. “With that increasing optimism, we believe that 2015 will be a banner year in the sale of businesses. Members of the GABB are uniquely positioned to provide professional guidance to business owners and business buyers in successfully transacting the sales of businesses.”
Topping the GABB’s 2014 Million Dollar Club is Matt Slappey, owner of the Decatur branch of Murphy Business & Financial Corporation and past president of the GABB.
Rounding out the top-five producers are Jeff Merry, owner and founder of the BUSINESS HOUSE, inc. of Gainesville; GABB Treasurer Jon Merry, an associate of the BUSINESS HOUSE, inc. of Gainesville; GABB President C. David Chambless, president of Abraxas Business Services, Inc.; and Matt Wochele, president of Preferred Business Brokers, Inc.
Multi-Million Dollar Club business brokers include Eric Gagnon, founder of We Sell Restaurants, Inc; David Still of Capital Endeavors, Inc.; J. Snypp of Preferred Business Brokers, Inc.; Steven Josovitz, vice president of The Shumacher Group; GABB Secretary Kent Reed of Murphy Business & Financial Corporation; and Art Lennig, regional director of Murphy Business & Financial Corporation of Georgia.
Mr. Wochele was honored with the GABB’s Phoenix Award, signifying that he has been a Million Dollar Club member ten times.
The Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB) is the state’s only professional organization dedicated to buying and selling businesses and franchises. The GABB maintains a web site that lists hundreds of businesses and franchises for sale throughout Georgia in a variety of fields, including automotive, business services, child care, cleaning, construction, electronics equipment, fitness, flooring, floral, food, gas stations, landscaping, manufacturing, medical, shipping, restaurants, retail, security, signs, and businesses related to the internet.
The Awardees
GABB Lifetime Multi-Million Dollar Club Member and 2013 GABB President MATT SLAPPEY is the owner of the Decatur branch of Murphy Business & Financial Corporation. Mr. Slappey has been the top broker in Murphy Business & Financial Corporation of Georgia from 2008-2013. Matt has a wide array of experience on transactions typically in the $1 million-$50 million range. Mr. Slappey, a native of Decatur/DeKalb County has a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation from the International Business Broker Association (IBBA); degrees in accounting, economics, and business from Presbyterian College; and twelve years of experience in management for a Fortune-100 healthcare company. A 7-year active duty veteran, Mr. Slappey was a pilot and military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He is an active member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church, the IBBA and M&A Source, and the Hall County Chamber of Commerce and enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, playing music, and enjoying the great outdoors
JEFFERY E. MERRY, SR., past president of the GABB, has been the GABB’s top producer numerous times, and has been a part of the Million Dollar Club since its inception in 1999. Mr. Merry, owner and founder of the BUSINESS HOUSE, inc. of Gainesville, is a member of the International Association of Business Brokers. For more than two decades, his firm has specialized in serving the manufacturing, distribution, veterinary and medical industries. As a business intermediary, Certified Exit Planner, and consultant, Mr. Merry has been involved in mergers and acquisitions that have ranged in acquisition price from $60,000 to more than $15 million. He has been an adjunct instructor for the MBA program at North Georgia College. Mr. Merry holds a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Edwardsville, and a Juris Doctorate from Atlanta Law School. Mr. Merry, a resident of Dahlonega, is a licensed real estate agent in Georgia and Florida, a senior business analyst, and a member of the Exit Planning Institute. He has three children and five grandchildren, and enjoys travelling, reading and riding his motorcycle.
GABB Treasurer JON MERRY is a senior business broker with the BUSINESS HOUSE, inc. of Gainesville. Mr. Merry has a keen understanding for the buying and selling process, and is well versed in the industry handling a wide range of deal making activities for the firm and has assisted with numerous M&A transactions. In 2012 and 2013, Mr. Merry received recognition as one of five brokers to join the Multi-Million Dollar Club for closed M&A transactions. In addition, Mr. Merry has been a Certified Machinery/Equipment Appraiser (CMEA) with the National Equipment Business Builders Institute (NEBB Institute) for more than 10 years. A CMEA is intensively trained in the legal requirements involving the USPAP standards, as well as the methodological approach employed in establishing fair market value, orderly liquation value, and force liquation value in any market condition. Mr. Merry is owner of M&E Appraisals, Inc. of Dawsonville, Ga., and is a member of the International Business Broker Association (IBBA), the International Society of Business Analysts (ISBA), and the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle (GLQC). A native of Georgia, Mr. Merry was a professional umpire for Minor League Baseball for 11 years. He and his wife, RaeLynda and their two sons, Jacob and Joseph, live in historic Dahlonega.
A lifetime member of the GABB Multi-Million Dollar Club and 2014 GABB President, C. DAVID CHAMBLESS is the president of Abraxas Business Services, Inc. Prior to Abraxas, he held various positions in sales, marketing, and executive roles in technology firms; as CFO for Aaron Rents as well as for private companies; and as a management consultant. A member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), Mr. Chambless has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. He is a certified public accountant (inactive). Active in community work, he has served as a board member of the Technology Association of Georgia, on the membership committee for the Atlanta chapter of Business Executives for National Security, and the Sporting Clays Tournament committee for the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Chambless is very involved in the All Saints’ Episcopal Church community. He was a fifteen-year board member of The Samaritan House of Atlanta and is on the Advisory Council of 24/7 Gateway, a homeless-services center under the auspices of the United Way of Atlanta. Mr. Chambless and his family live in historic Grant Park.
Matt Wochele CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) founded Preferred Business Brokers, Inc., in 1996 after a successful multi-year career as an investment banker. He is a life member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers Million Dollar Club, a Phoenix Award recipient and a member of the International Business Brokers Association. Under Mr. Wochele’s leadership, Preferred has represented numerous private business owners in the sale of their businesses. As the managing broker, he has had the opportunity to guide and train a number of successful agents in the brokerage field. Having the experience in both public business sales and the private sector has been rewarding for his firm and their clients. This dual experience has positioned Preferred to handle both the smaller main street business purchases as well as middle market acquisitions. Preferred’s geographical scope stretches to many states. Recent transactions for Georgia listings have included buyers from Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Wochele resides in Sandy Springs with his wife, Kathy, a professional artist. Kathy and Matt have five daughters and two sons-in-law.
A GABB Million Dollar Club Member for the seventh consecutive year and a former GABB President, ERIC GAGNON is the president of We Sell Restaurants and wesellrestaurants.com. He has been designated an industry expert by Business Brokerage Press. A radio personality, frequent speaker and writer, Eric co-hosts a radio show dedicated to the restaurant industry that is broadcast from the nation’s 7th largest media market. Mr. Gagnon expanded the We Sell Restaurants brand into a franchise in 2012 that is growing with offices across the country. Mr. Gagnon is the co-author of Appetite for Acquisition, an award-winning book on restaurant brokerage that was named “Best of 2012” by Small Business Book Awards. In addition to GABB, Eric is a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and has served as a speaker at its national meeting. He is also a member of the Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), the Southeast Franchise Forum (SEFF) and the International Franchise Association (IFA). Eric is licensed as a broker in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. He holds degrees from major universities in the United States and Canada.
GABB Lifetime Multi-Million Dollar Club Member and former GABB President DAVID R. STILL is the founder, designated business broker, and lead business appraiser of Capital Endeavors, Inc., established in 1995 and located in Lawrenceville, Ga. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. As a Certified Business Intermediary, he specializes in the mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies with gross sales between $1 million and $50 million. Mr. Still was a co-owner and publisher of the Gwinnett Post-Tribune newspaper. Mr. Still received the GABB Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Mr. Still is the Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Lawrenceville and active in multiple non-profit organizations. He is married and has two grown children, one daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
J. SNYPP lives in Dunwoody, grew up in Atlanta, and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in marketing. Mr. Snypp spent more than two decades in the office- furniture business before becoming a business broker and has been with Preferred Business Brokers, Inc. for eight years. He has found success selling businesses in a variety of industries, most recently selling day-care centers, a travel agency, and a cooking school. Mr. Snypp is married and has two sons. When he is not selling businesses, he is usually coaching a football or baseball team, camping, canoeing, water skiing, scuba diving, or involved in some other family activity.
STEVEN JOSOVITZ is vice president of The Shumacher Group, where he heads the restaurant business brokerage division and provides commercial retail and restaurant real estate site selection, sales and lease negotiation expertise. A former restaurant owner and trained professional chef, Steven has an extensive background in restaurant and hotel management. He also offers consulting and appraisal services. He has been retained by law firms for his expert opinion to help settle disputes. Mr. Josovitz, a resident of Norcross, earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Florida International University in 1981. Mr. Josovitz is a member of the Georgia Restaurant Association, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Retail Brokers Network.
KENT REED of Murphy Business & Financial Corporation has earned both of the prestigious designations of BCI (Board Certified Intermediary) and ABI (Accredited Business Intermediary). Mr. Reed is skilled in negotiations and an experienced advisor on management and financial issues. Mr. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management and Marketing from Western Carolina University. His previous professional career included positions in Fortune-100 and smaller companies. His experiences as a business-development executive and retail-marketing specialist have given him the necessary skills to help maximize the efforts of motivated buyers and sellers. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracey, and their 10-year-old twin boys as well as traveling, fishing, music, and the North Georgia mountains. He is a member of Rotary International-East Cobb (currently president-elect), the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (2014 treasurer), and the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). With thousands of businesses in Atlanta, Mr. Reed has access to a broad spectrum of business types and sizes and works closely with many of Atlanta’s top business leaders.
ART LENNIG is regional director for Murphy Business & Financial Corporation – Georgia, Inc. Mr. Lennig has served GABB as secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president. He earned a marketing degree from the University of Evansville. Art owned his own business for 20 years prior to becoming a business intermediary. He believes that his prior business experience has been very beneficial when representing business owners. His membership in the GABB has helped himself and also enabled him to assist other brokers as they start their careers. Mr. Lennig is a member of International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). Mr. Lennig has earned the prestigious Certified Business Intermediary (CBI®) designation. In 2003, he received the Senior Business Analyst (SBA) Award from the Society of Business Analysts. He is also a member of Institute of Certified Business Counselors (I-CBC). He is also a Life Member of the GABB Million Dollar Club. He resides in Acworth with his wife Pam, and they have two sons and five grandchildren.
Read MoreGABB Restaurant Brokers Eric and Robin Gagnon to Speak at National IBBA Convention
Restaurant brokers Eric and Robin Gagnon of We Sell Restaurants will headline a workshop on franchising at the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) Convention in Savannah.
The 2013 IBBA national conference theme is “Ready, Set, Grow!” and features a lineup of experts across the country presenting educational workshops for business brokers. The Restaurant Brokers are presenting a seminar entitled Franchise Opportunities: 2013 and Beyond on November 22.
The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) is the largest international non-profit association operating exclusively for people and firms engaged in business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions. This association provides business brokers education, conferences, professional designations, and networking opportunities. Formed in 1983, the IBBA has almost 1,000 business intermediaries across the world.
Restaurant brokers Eric and Robin Gagnon chose to spotlight franchises in their workshop based on the conference theme. According to Robin Gagnon, “Franchise re-sales are poised to explode in the coming years. This area represents a huge growth opportunity and untapped revenue stream for business brokers.” Eric Gagnon agrees saying, “Research indicates that third-generation owners coming of age are seeking new opportunities and spinning legacy franchise brands into the marketplace. That creates an untapped sales funnel for business brokers.”
During the 90 minute interactive session, the duo will share their secrets for specializing in this sales model as a business broker. They will discuss the expertise and skills needed for re-sales and negotiations along with ideas for positioning your firm with franchisors as their re-seller of choice. The pair will also answer the question of whether or not operators should specialize.
A long term member of the IBBA and past President of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB), Eric Gagnon has seen many changes in the business brokerage landscape. “Business brokerage has evolved dramatically over the past decade since we launched our firm. Specialization, advanced skills, and heavy reliance on technology are just some of the differences between this job in the nineties and today. I believe we can all continue to learn and keep improving which is why we welcome the chance to speak at this year’s national event. We are dedicated to this industry and want to see continued growth for all brokers.”
Specialists in franchising, We Sell Restaurants began licensing their own unique brand of success in 2012. They are members of the International Franchise Association and will be serving on a panel at that group’s annual convention in 2014. Franchisees of the We Sell Restaurants brand operate units in Florida, Tennessee and Colorado. Corporate operations and sales take place around the country from their headquarters in Atlanta Georgia.
Eric and Robin Gagnon are the founders of We Sell Restaurants and experts in the industry. In addition to speaking engagements, they are the authors of Appetite for Acquisition, a guidebook to buying restaurants that was named Best of 2012 by Small Business Book Awards. They also host a national radio show broadcast from Atlanta and rebroadcast via iTunes weekly.
About We Sell Restaurants
We Sell Restaurants is the undisputed leader in the sale of privately held restaurants. Our name says it all! We Sell Restaurants. Found online at wesellrestaurants.com, the restaurant brokerage firm focuses on powerhouse marketing, a systemic sales approach, their proprietary Broker’s Operating and Sales System (B.O.S.S. ©) and unmatched professionalism.
Read MoreGeorgia Real Estate Commission Updates for Business Brokers
GREC Updates and YOU
By Kathryne A. Pusch, Pres/Broker
ConsultKAP, Inc.
What’s happening at the Georgia Real Estate Commission these days that may interest you? As the Business Brokerage Industry Representative on the Education Advisory Committee to the GREC, it is my privilege to meet with the Georgia Real Estate Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, several of the GREC Investigators, educators, school leaders, and other industry representatives in working sessions. This is my opportunity to provide input on issues that affect us and to learn what is happening within our regulatory, licensing, and continuing education environments. It is my pleasure to provide the members of GABB with some insights.
- Property Management Complaints: Cases resulting from complaints/requests for investigations are being processed more quickly and are resulting in more citations at higher fees. The most problematic issues are related to property management. Ten of thirteen citations issued last month were related to Licensees improperly managing their own property. Brokers, if you have Agents who have rental property, ensure proper compliance. Agents, recall the rules on Licensees dealing as principals. Practice only in areas in which you are competent.
- Reciprocity is still being offered by Georgia to Licensees in surrounding states, but Georgia is considering moving in the direction of our surrounding states’ commissions. Most of our neighbors have begun offering limited reciprocity, requiring Georgia Licensees to take the state portion of their test.
- Continuing Education: Georgia continuing education hours are still at 24 per every 4-year renewal period, which amounts to six per year. This places us 34% below the national average of 9.3 hours, with most states having some required subjects and annual (vs. renewal term) requirements. We should look for Georgia to raise our standards for continuing education.
- Money issues: Georgia is in the bottom 20% for all states’ licensing and renewal fees. Rebates to Principals in a transaction were recently clarified with a rules revision. A Licensee may not pay any fees to anyone who is NOT licensed, as we all know. However, within a transaction, it is NOT illegal to rebate fees to a client or customer, as this is no different than cutting commissions. If one is paying anyone other than one’s client, the client must be disclosed on the amount and reason for the payment.
- Lawful Presence: If you have renewed any licenses recently, you know you must now demonstrate that you are legally present in the country to obtain or renew licenses, such as a business license or real estate license. Due to some legislative misunderstandings, the GREC was told that all Licensees had to provide the proof of Lawful Presence each time we renew. (Silly, huh?) Good news: Our Georgia legislature managed to change this requirement, so you only have to prove your status on your first renewal, if you have not done so already.
- What is Stabilized NOI? Use our Georgia Real Estate Infobase as a reference in your business life: I am one of the editors who worked on this project, and it is now hosted on the GREC site. Due to the conversion from a private server, the search capabilities are not yet fully functional, but stand by for more user friendliness.
- Internet Advertising. . . is there any other kind these days? You will remember that ALL Licensee advertising is covered by the GREC Rules and Regulations. But the many info systems on the web — especially social media, syndicated contact systems, and YouTube — can lead to some lack of control of your messages. New rules will be coming out to clarify the same intent as the old rules: proper disclosure of the Listing Brokerage’s name and contact info MUST be on every ad for property or services, and Brokers must review all advertising. Ads MUST be removed when listings are sold or expire. Think before you Tweet.
Stay out of trouble.
Kathryne A. Pusch, Pres & Broker, ConsultKAP, Inc.
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