Affiliations

Exit Strategy Planning

Steve is a member of Pinnacle Equity Solutions, which is the market leader in providing education, consulting and support to help middle-market companies design and execute comprehensive exit plans that allow owners to transition their businesses to the next owner, whether they are family, management teams, or outside buyers. Pinnacle is known for their proven six-step, exit planning process, Using the Pinnacle process, Steve focuses on helping owners get a clear picture of their personal goals with customized solutions that address a business’ perpetuation and ongoing success regarding the next level of ownership.

Pinnacle provides ongoing exit planning education for its Certified Business Exit Consultants™ through books, white papers, online videos, live events, and webinars. Pinnacle Certified Business Exit Consultants™  are all senior-level, experienced advisors that follow Pinnacle’s 6-step exit planning process in their work with owners. This unique group of advisors has access not only to Pinnacle’s content and support, but also to each other so that virtually any exit situation, in any industry, is one that our network of Members has seen before.

As part of his exit planning involvement, Steve is a member of the International Exit Planning Association (IEPA). The IEPA is the governing body responsible for establishing and maintaining the standards for the Certified Business Exit Consultants™ (CBEC™) designation.

Value Growth Consulting

Steve is a member of The Value Builder System™ community. The Value Builder System™ is a statistically proven methodology designed to improve the value of a privately held business. At the core of the system is The Value Builder Score™, an evaluation system driven by an algorithm that evaluates a business on the eight value drivers acquirers take into consideration when buying companies.

In addition, Steve is a member of the Core Value community of business growth advisors. Core Value analyzes a business’ status on eighteen operational elements, both internal and external, to identify value gaps driven by deficiencies for each of the elements and benchmarks the business against its peers in the industry. This provides a roadmap for helping the business owner strengthen and grow the value of their business.

Business Brokerage/Mergers & Acquisitions

Steve is a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). 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 members across the world.

The IBBA strives to create a professional relationship with successful business transaction advisors (i.e. CPAs, bankers, attorneys, and other related associations), to increase the image and value of the IBBA to its members and to be a leader in the exchange of business referrals. A membership in the IBBA provides "a complete package of membership benefits and services and the best networking opportunities with the most influential group of business brokers."

The IBBA concentrates on providing educational courses for the business broker profession. It awards the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) certification as well as the courses and seminars required to obtain this certification.

He is also a member of M&A Source, an organization for Lower Middle Market Intermediaries. The M&A Source is so named because it represents "the source" of opportunity and professional growth for merger and acquisition intermediaries and strategic professionals who are dedicated to the lower middle market (LMM).

Members of the M&A Source are merger and acquisition intermediaries/advisors and strategic professionals who contribute at the M&A level. Examples of strategic professionals include transaction attorneys, transaction CPAs, Private Equity Groups (PEGs), business appraisers, financial planners & wealth managers, bankers/lenders, and other service & support providers.
The M&A Source provides opportunities for M&A practitioners to learn more about the profession, improve key skills, and become more valuable to clients. Through networking, learning, mentoring, and improvement opportunities, The M&A Source is dedicated to being our members' bridge to success.

Who can benefit from using the services provided by M&A Source members: Lower middle market companies seeking corporate strategies/solutions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, exit planning, family succession, growth strategies, access to capital, risk reduction, management buy-outs, management buy-ins, and recapitalizations (sell a portion of the company).

Steve is also a member of the American Business Brokers Association (ABBA). The ABBA is a collaborative group of business brokers who share ideas and ask and answer questions from each other concerning their profession. He is a member of the International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG). The IFPG provides for continuing education about the franchise industry and access to hundreds of franchises for those interested in purchasing a franchise.

Also, included in Steve’s memberships is the Carolinas Virginia Business Brokers Association (CVBBA). The CVBBA is our regional business brokers association, which affords opportunities for collaboration and further education.

He is President of Duke Business Advisors Inc. and a Partner at The CBA Group LLC, a Southeast regional business brokerage.