Archive

Year you became a Business Advisor: 2015
Current Brokerage Name: Transworld Business Advisors St Louis West
Current Brokerage Website: www.kcapex.com
Association Position Title: Owner & Senior Intermediary

Brief Career History
I started my career as many have, as a former client that sold my business with a brokerage. I have worked in finance and in real estate in the past and find those skills very helpful in the brokerage world.

Brief description of why your skills, knowledge, and experiences add value to the position you hold. What special value can you bring to your current position?
Working in real estate sales and the mortgage industry give me a broad look at a deal and finding ways to make the deal succeed. I feel my skills in these industries can help the group to think outside the box to get deals done.

What are your professional credentials?
Real Estate Broker in Missouri and a licensed Business Broker in Illinois

What are your strongest skills?
Managing the deal and clients to keep calm and make it to the finish line

Number of Years as a Business Advisor: 9+ years
Current Brokerage Name: Apex Business Advisors
Current Brokerage Website: www.kcapex.com
Association Position Title: President

Brief Career History
I love working as a business broker because it draws from all my professional experiences and personal strengths and constantly brings new challenges and opportunities to grow, learn and help buyers and sellers.

Brief description of why your skills, knowledge, and experiences add value to the position you hold. What special value can you bring to your current position?
I am educated as a research scientist and spent decades as a consultative salesperson selling high dollar solutions. This professional mix helps me to excel at the many analytical and people-oriented skills required to be a successful business broker such as understanding financial information, working well with a wide range of personalities, marketing, and sales.

What are your professional credentials?
Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary (M&AMI), Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP), MO Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

What are your strongest skills?
Building relationships, work ethic, and drive to achieve

Year became a Business Advisor: 2008
Current Brokerage Name: Iowa Business Advisers
Current Brokerage Website: www.iowabusinessadvisers.com
Association Position Title: Treasurer, Budget Committee Chair

Brief Career History
In 2008, Brian Brown founded a regional business brokerage firm affiliated with a franchise organization that covered Iowa and Nebraska.

After 2018, he pivoted into directly assisting sellers of established, profitable enterprises and business buyers through the confidential process of ownership transfer.

Over a 25-year community banking career prior to business brokerage, Brian was the president/CEO for two banks since 1992 including founding president/CEO of a de novo charter.

Brief description of why your skills, knowledge, and experiences add value to the position you hold. What special value can you bring to your current position?

Brian serves on the board of directors of one of the oldest banks in Iowa.

Among his involvement in various organizations, Brian has served on the advisory board and as Chairman of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers.

What are your professional credentials?

Brian earned the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation through the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) in 2009, Certified Merger Acquisition Intermediary (CMAI) designation in 2015, and Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) credential in 2013.

He is also a licensed real estate broker in the State of Iowa.

What are your strongest skills?

After 39 years of business-to-business experience working with small and midsized business owners as an entrepreneur and a former banker, he understands the day-to-day challenges of business owners.

He values confidentiality, integrity, and professional relationships.

Year became a Business Advisor: 2007
Current Brokerage Name: Innovative Business Advisors LLC
Current Brokerage Website: www.innovativeba.com
Association Position Title: Past President (2022)

Brief Career History
James Brinkmeyer has been a business broker, consultant and intermediary for the past 16 years and has over 40 years experience as a business owner and as a manager with several major progressive Fortune 500 national companies at both corporate and field levels, concentrating on franchise development, franchise ownership, strategic planning, creating business processes, project management, sales and marketing branded and unbranded products, production, mergers and acquisitions and training.

Brief description of why your skills, knowledge, and experiences add value to the position you hold. What special value can you bring to your current position?
Jim has performed the role of Managing Partner and owner of a $9 M company and directed the efforts of 200 employees. This day-to-day experience is invaluable in all functions of business ownership and operations. Jim’s goal is to relate with business owner clients and help them with strategic acquisitions or exiting their business.

What are your professional credentials?
Jim has owned franchise and independent businesses and performed a management role in food and beverage manufacturing as well as having been a consultant to a wide range of industries including manufacturing, wholesale, telecom, advertising information, insurance, real estate and the retail industries.

What are your strongest skills?
Relating to people, gaining an understanding of a person and helping them achieve their goals.

Number of Years as a Business Advisor: 11 years
Current Brokerage Name: VR Business Brokers of St. Louis
Current Brokerage Website: www.vrgatewaystl.com
Association Position Title: Secretary, Bylaws/Policy Committee Chair, Past President (2021)

Brief Career History
Mr. Jeff Kalil is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is the owner of VR Business Brokers of St. Louis. “VR” stands for Valued Representation. Mr. Kalil is an Army veteran with over 30 years of service and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. He has over 15 years of management experience from corporate America, including mergers and acquisitions, and he has owned and sold several of his own businesses.

Brief description of why your skills, knowledge, and experiences add value to the position you hold. What special value can you bring to your current position?
Mr. Kalil possesses a Bachelors Degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Masters Degree in Engineering Management, both from the University of Missouri S&T. He was a Cavalry Scout and reconnaissance helicopter pilot on active duty in the Army and eventually transition into corporate America to work with some of the nation’s leading aerospace and defense contractors. He is also a licensed commercial real estate broker in the State of Missouri and is an experienced and qualified Business Certified Appraiser. Mr. Kalil uses those skills and experiences to help business owners and entrepreneurs with valuing, buying, and selling businesses in pursuit of the American Dream. It is from years of leadership experience and technical business skills which he leverages to bring out the best in team work and collaboration to help foster the Association’s goals for education, networking, and professionalism.

What are your professional credentials?
• Business Certified Appraiser (BCA)
• Commercial Real Estate Broker

What are your strongest skills?
Mr. Kalil is a Business Certified Appraiser (BCA) with the International Society of Business Appraisers (ISBA), offering certified business valuations and appraisals which comply with SBA and IRS guidelines.