Our Sponsors

Live Oak Bank

Live Oak Bank’s seasoned SBA loan experts work with brokers, intermediaries, and individuals on business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and real estate purchases with flexible SBA lending options and an innovative technology platform. We specialize in acquisition financing across the nation and in most industries. If you have a project that exceeds the SBA 7(a) $5 million loan limit, our combination financing program is a creative solution.

We pair an SBA 7(a) loan ($5 million) with a conventional loan (amount based on need) and a line of credit, tailored to your business needs.

Live Oak Bank
1741 Tiburon Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (offices in Charlotte)
Website: www.liveoakbank.com

Mark A. Pompeo
Senior Vice President – Small Business Lending
Phone (cell/office): (704) 618-6540
E-Mail:
Website: www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/sba-loans

Blake Cranor
VP – Small Business Lending
Phone (cell/office): (704) 519-6541
E-Mail:

Alex Goss
VP – Small Business Lending
Phone (cell/office): (860) 309-8479
E-Mail:

PLG Law

PLG Law works with business brokers across the southeast, and we get deals closed. Partners Tad Cook and Lisa Crandall are seasoned legal M&A experts who know how to handle complex deals and find solutions to get to closing. We have a strong legal team that works together to provide the highest level of service to our clients while making sure to provide personal attention.

Charlotte
223 East Blvd Charlotte, NC 28203

Asheville
2A Herman Ave ext. Asheville, NC 28803

Tampa Bay
3684 Tampa Rd Suite 2 Oldsmar, FL 34677

Website: www.plglawyer.com

Tad Cook
Phone : (704) 626-7503
E-Mail:

Lisa Crandall
Phone: (704) 565-0755
E-Mail:

Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. They serve 55 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, and have approximately $3.9 billion in assets. The Fidelity Bank team is dedicated to helping you find personalized solutions to achieve your financial goals. For over 114 years, Fidelity Bank has remained independent, sound and profitable, allowing them to build lifelong relationships that often span across generations. They have a 5-star “Excellent Bank” rating from BauerFinancial and have also been ranked #1 on the 2023 S&P Global Market Intelligence Report for large U.S. community banks.

Fidelity Bank’s Government Guaranteed Lending division is a U.S. Small Business Administration Preferred Lender. Their team of national lenders has over 300 years of combined experience. Additional information can be found on the company’s website, https://www.fidelitybanknc.com/ggl

Michael Byers, Director of  GGL Sales, SVP
Office: (919) 753-1109
Cell: (919) 272-4285
E-Mail:
Website: www.fidelitybanknc.com/ggl

First National Bank

First National Bank Small Business Finance is an industry leader in SBA financing, lending in 31 states throughout the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern US. Our dedicated team of Business Development Officers and Operations Staff have many decades of experience in SBA Lending. First National Bank of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is a 165-year-old bank with almost $50BB in assets, a strong balance sheet, and liquidity (NYSE: FNB).  We’re growing, here to stay, making loans every day in all economic cycles.

We know the SBA process and rules inside and out, which enables us to customize every loan structure to fit the needs of our clients and get the deals done! FNB SBF is recognized as a Preferred Lender with SBA. We take the time to learn about both the business and the buyer to champion the deal from application to closing and beyond.  FNB Small Business Finance specializes in Business Acquisitions and Partner Buyouts – including partial buyouts that are now SBA-eligible.  Over 60% of all the loans we make are for these purposes.  Our financial strength means we offer every borrower a variety of rate structures including Quarterly Variable, Three or Five-year Fixed, and even a Ten Year Fixed Rate for business acquisitions! Credit decisions normally in ten business days or less.

First National Bank

401S. Graham Street, Suite 1600, Charlotte, NC 28202

(offices also in Richmond, Raleigh, Atlanta, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Boston, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas)

Mark Moreno
VP, Senior Business Development Officer
Office: (704) 246-7886
Cell: (704) 600-7758
E-Mail:
Website: www.fnbsmallbusiness.com/mmoreno
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-moreno-098b63193/

Chuck Riker
VP, Senior Business Development Officer
Cell: (815) 545-5908
E-Mail:
Website:www.fnbsmallbusiness.com/criker
Linkedin:www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-riker

Dennis Wagner
VP, Senior Business Development Officer
Cell: (540) 850-7799
E-Mail:
Website: www.fnbsmallbusiness.com/dwagner
Linkedin:www.linkedin.com/in/denniswagnersba/

Community Bank & Trust

Community Bank & Trust is a Community-focused financial institution and leading SBA lender that is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of Business Brokers across the country with our 7a loan program.

Website: Community Bank & Trust

Stephanie Dunn
Chief SBA Revenue Officer

Deal Studio

Deal Studio is the ultimate one-stop platform for business intermediaries that automates, accelerates, and elevates deal making. We do this by bringing together best-in-class technology, cutting edge tools, industry content, four generations of industry knowledge, a team of experts, and a passion to advance the profession.

The platform is made up of nine tightly integrated components that provide our clients a complete platform for optimal business operations. It’s called Deal Studio, and we can’t wait to show you what our platform can do for you!

Ron West
Owner and Team Leader

Phone: (800) 239-5085
E-Mail:
Website: www.deal-studio.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/dealstudio
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dealstudiobbp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dealstudiobbp/

Huntington Bank

Small business is leading the way across the country.

For years, small businesses have turned to Huntington—in good times and tough ones.
Fifteen years ago, we were named #1 SBA Lender in our region† and we’re proud to have earned that title every year since.  But as small businesses have grown, so have we. And we’re now the #1 Lender in the nation in number of SBA 7(a) loans † for the sixth year in a row.  But what really makes us happy is helping people start and grow their businesses.

Our commitment to business isn’t just about the past. We are excited about the future and how we can continue to help businesses everywhere grow.

Website: SBA Loan Types & How to Apply | Huntington Bank

Bank of Oak Ridge

Established in 2000, Bank of Oak Ridge is an employee-owned community bank dedicated to delivering Spectacularly Local banking. We help premier businesses, and their owners, succeed by providing real estate and equipment financing, working capital, merger and acquisition financing, as well as cash management solutions. We are also proud to offer SBA loan options and to have been ranked #4 out of 106 SBA 7a lenders in SBA’s North Carolina District office based on total year to-date loan approvals through July 21, 2023. Whether you want to start a business, need cash flow, or are positioning your business for growth, our local decision makers can provide you with a personalized approach to financing.

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Andrew Wheeler
Senior Vice President, Director of SBA Lending
Cell: (252) 229-6555
Email:

Bank of Oak Ridge
Contact Us: 336.644.9944
Website: bankofoakridge.com

BizBen

BizBen is an online business marketplace catering to dedicated and discerning users. For the past 30 years BizBen served business buyers, business owners & sellers, intermediaries, landlords, brokers, agents, advisors, service providers, and others – in the small- to medium-sized business-for-sale market. These are people looking to find resources, learn about the process, buy a business, sell a business, or support buyers and sellers in their endeavors. Thousands of new and returning BizBen visitors review our hundreds of new and refreshed postings daily. Explore our new and refreshed postings on our website.

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Chris Chi
Senior Director of Operations
Office: (888) 212-4747
Cell: (408) 667-6406
Email:
Website: bizben.com

BizBuySell

BizBuySell is the Internet’s largest and most heavily trafficked business-for-sale marketplace, with more business-for-sale listings, more unique users, and more search activity than any similar service. We have an inventory of over 65,000 businesses for sale, one of the largest databases of for-sale and sold comparables, as well as a leading franchise directory.

Market your listings on BizBuySell for instant exposure across our entire network of sites: BizBuySell and BizQuest, the #1 and #2 business for sale marketplaces, LoopNet, the #1 commercial real estate marketplace, and our national media partners.  BizBuySell is a division of the CoStar Group, a leading provider of commercial and residential real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. Please reach out to Madison Kopecky, your account manager who can assist you with lead generation.

Madison Kopecky
Account Representative, Broker Accounts

901 Semmes Avenue
Richmond, VA 23224

Office: (804) 807-7839
Cell: (804) 543-0123
Email:
Website: bizbuysell

Cool Life

Cool Life provides cutting-edge CRM and Virtual Data Room (VDR) solutions designed to streamline business operations through a comprehensive suite of tools that enhance data security. Specializing in M&A, business brokers, and other industries, Cool Life empowers companies with seamless data management, secure file sharing, communication and marketing tools, and advanced customer relationship capabilities. Known for its reliability and user-friendly interface, Cool Life is dedicated to helping organizations thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Cool Life
Fintech CRM & VDR
Phone: (800) 988-8850
Email:
Website: coollife.io

Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending

Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, provides sound financing solutions to small businesses across the nation. Our leading SBA team has decades of combined SBA experience that they use to meet various business needs such as business acquisitions, expansions, commercial real estate ventures, and much more.

We offer a comprehensive suite of SBA products, including the SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans to help small business owners in a variety of industries achieve the financing necessary to bring their dreams to life. With a commitment to personalized service and tailored lending solutions, Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending empowers small businesses to thrive and make their entrepreneurial goals a reality.

Scott Birkner
VP, Business Lending Specialist

Phone: (704) 564-5940
Email:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sbirkner/
Website: www.dogwoodstatesbl.com

Dogwood State Bank
5401 Six Forks Road, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27609

Hopler, Wilms, & Hanna, PLLC

Peter Hanna is a Managing Partner with Hopler, Wilms, & Hanna, PLLC, a Corporate, Estate Litigation, and Estate Planning law firm, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. The Corporate Division of the Firm works with main street businesses to provide corporate, transactional, and employment counsel. With almost two decades of experience, Peter has served clients in the mergers and acquisitions field in a wide array of industries.

Peter Hanna
Managing Partner

Phone: (919) 244-2019
Email:
Web: www.hoplerwilms.com

Hopler, Wilms, & Hanna, PLLC
2314 South Miami Blvd, Ste 151
Durham, NC 27703

Pinnacle Financial Partners

Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is annually recognized as a top SBA lender in the Southeast and has a team of 40 veteran financial services professionals serving clients’ small business needs with SBA and USDA guaranteed loans.

Pinnacle is ranked among the top 40 SBA 7(a) lenders nationwide for 2021 and ranks # 2 in the Carolinas based on dollar volume. We are also among the fastest growing SBA 7(a) lenders nationwide. Pinnacle takes pride in delivering our expertise in SBA lending and creating a superior client experience throughout the SBA lending process. The bank was founded in 2000 and is headquarter in Nashville Tennessee with assets of $36.0 billion. However, its SBA operations and decisioning are located in the Carolinas. We lend primarily within our footprint of the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, however, we make SBA loans throughout the extended Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

We specialize in change of ownership and owner-occupied real estate financing including purchases, construction and tenant buildouts.

Stan Lamb
Senior Vice President
SBA Financial Advisor

Pinnacle Financial Partners
15025 Ballancroft Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28227

Office: (980) 359-1153
Cell: (803) 984-4121
Website: Pinnacle Financial Partners

SouthState Bank

SouthState Corporation (NASDAQ: SSB) is a financial services company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida. SouthState Bank, N.A., the company’s nationally chartered bank subsidiary, provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and wealth management solutions to more than one million customers throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. The bank also serves clients coast to coast through its specialty banking services including payments technology, private capital solutions, franchise finance and correspondent banking divisions.

SouthState Bank proudly offers specialized lending programs through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small business owners achieve their goals. SouthState is one of the leading regional banks in the southeast. With a national charter and Preferred Lender status, our seasoned in-house team is solely focused on providing SBA financing to entrepreneurs across the country. To learn more, visit SouthStateBank.com/SBA.

Steve Preda Business Growth – Summit OS

What is Summit OS®?

Summit OS is a business operating system, that helps owners create fast-growing, high-profit and “buyable” businesses. We do this by helping the owner or CEO: (1) Forge a Team, (2) Execute Like Hell, and (3) Dig a Moat around their business.

We start by triggering an Execution Momentum in the first 45 days, and then strive to elevate the value of each client business by 50% in the first 12 months, and 3x the business in 3 years. We help clients build a differentiated Strategy Stack along the way, to reach and sustain industry-elite profitability.

Steve Preda
Steve Preda Business Growth
Phone: (804) 332-1307
Website: stevepreda.com

Truliant SBA Lending

Truliant is a preferred SBA 7(a) lender offering business acquisition financing up to $5,000,000 nationwide. Our dedicated team of specialists help brokers get transactions to the closing table, without all the drama. Truliant Federal Credit Union is a $5.5 billion institution based in Winston-Salem, NC with SBA team members throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Truliant SBA Lending
3200 Truliant Way
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Website: www.truliantfcu.org/sba

Scott Jones
SBA Business Development Officer

Phone (cell/office): (704) 517-5960
Email:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scott-jones-sba-7a-specialist/

Turner Business Appraisers

Firm Overview
Turner Business Appraisers is a forensic accounting firm located in Matthews, NC specializing in business valuations and machinery and equipment appraisals. Team Turner is comprised of business professionals including CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), CMEAs (Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisers), and CVAs (Certified Valuation Analysts). Turner’s professionals are committed to delivering superior service with integrity, accuracy, and exemplary customer care.

Accreditation in business valuation and equipment appraisals
2 Certified Valuation Analysts on staff who have earned the CVA designation from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
1 Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser (CMEA) who earned the CMEA designation from the NEBB Institute
3 Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) on staff

Jim Turner
President

Phone: (800) 873 3040
Email:
Web: www.turnerbusiness.com

United Midwest Savings Bank

As specialists in SBA/USDA lending, United Midwest has a deep history of working with insurance agencies. Our lending team can quickly identify the real value of an agency, provide an exceptional level of expertise, and guide owners through the entire loan process to closing. No matter what the need, our team understands the nuances of SBA/USDA loans at any amount and purpose.

Our products, services, and expertise have the feel of a community bank, but with the reach of a national brand. We’re proud of the responsible, ethical way our company has operated since its opening. Our success is a direct result of meeting our customers’ needs and we continue to operate with your interests as our guide. United Midwest is one of the top 25 SBA lenders in the country because we take care of each of our customers, one by one.

United Midwest Savings Bank
955 County Line Road
Westerville, OH 43082

Scott Fanelli
Senior VP – Commercial Lender

Email:

Cell: (843) 754-5067
Website: United Midwest Savings Bank

Vertical IQ

Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Vertical IQ is a nationally recognized leader in Industry Intelligence. Whether they’re pitching a local brewery or a national biotech, successful sales, marketing, and customer success teams use Vertical IQ to better understand a prospect’s or customer’s business challenges before, during, and after meetings. Covering more than 540 distinct industries, 3,400 local economies, and more than 97 percent of the U.S. economy, Vertical IQ equips users with the confidence and credibility to make memorable first impressions and sustain enduring relationships. Learn more about how Readiness Wins at VerticalIQ.com.

GBank

GBank (the “Bank”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of GBank Financial Holdings Inc., a bank holding company. Founded in 2007, the Bank operates two full-service commercial branches in Las Vegas, Nevada, with primary lending activities focused on engaging clients in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona. GBank has key businesses in three prominent divisions: SBA Lending, Gaming FinTech, and Commercial Lending. The Bank conducts business nationally through its SBA lending activities (ranked 10th in the nation by the U.S. Small Business Administration for SBA 7(a) dollar loan volume through August 29, 2024) and its BankCard Services, LLC (“BCS”) partnership. Launched in 2016, its Gaming FinTech Division, through its contract with BCS, is empowering Sightline Payments Play+ Solution (Sightline Payments) for seamless and secure pay-and-play that is enabling cashless, mobile commerce solutions for gaming, lottery, and sports betting ecosystems – positioning the Bank as a financial leader in this new payments world. The Bank also provides general commercial banking services emphasizing serving the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and investors. The Bank offers a full complement of consumer deposit products and is focused on delivering a premium level of service. GBank has been recognized every year for the past six years by S&P Capital IQ in its Top 100 Best-Performing Community Banks. For more information about GBank, please visit its website at www.g.bank. The Company’s Common Stock is quoted on the US OTCQX Market under the symbol GBFH.

Robert Wardell
VP/Business Development Officer (Based in Charlotte NC)

Phone: (704) 458-3255
Email:
Web: www.g.bank