2023
Phone: (949) 633-1612
Email:
laurie@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
CABB, IBBA
Background/Experience:
Laurie Cole brings a varied background of experience to Business Team. After earning her degree in Business Administration and Accounting, she worked for several years in real estate investment trusts and commercial real estate lending before taking a position as accounting manager for a chain of pizza restaurants.
After taking a break to raise her family, Laurie returned to work as a legal administrator in a business litigation firm, providing the opportunity to experience a diverse assortment of business types and issues. During her 16-year tenure, she developed a depth of knowledge and appreciation for the importance of structure in a healthy business organization.
A growing real estate portfolio led Laurie to obtain her broker’s license and eventually transition into residential real estate sales. The daily tools of real estate – evaluating the needs of buyers and sellers, marketing, negotiating, writing contracts, communicating with government agencies, solving problems to facilitate closing – built a solid foundation for excellence in business sales, mergers, and acquisitions.
Phone: (310) 465-9947
Email:
patricia@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
CABB, IBBA
Background/Experience:
Ms. Jennex brings a wide range of experience to Business Team from aerospace project management to software and electronic hardware development. Patricia grew up in Southern California and earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cal State Northridge, graduating with honors. She was also an art major before attending engineering school and has completed the landscape architecture program at UCLA. After 25 years in the corporate world in various technical and management positions, she changed careers and joined a private equity group as a partner and acquisitions analyst specializing in technology, ecommerce and manufacturing companies. In that capacity, she has reviewed the financials of hundreds of businesses and interviewed dozens of business owners and business brokers across the country. As a partner, she employed her problem solving and people skills to structure and negotiate acquisitions and partnership deals. Through this experience, she has gained an understanding of the challenges both business sellers and buyers face and in her current role with Business Team, is devoted to easing the process and facilitating solutions for both.
Phone:
Email:
Wen@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
Background/Experience:
Wen is a licensed Business Broker and a Merger & Acquisition Advisor. Wen works closely with business owners of manufacturing, distribution and service companies in various industries: Property Management & Services, Garment, Auto, Medical Equipment, Freight & Logistics and etc..
No matter the size of the transaction Wen always treats each project with the same devotion, giving her best with integrity and professionalism. Her problem-solving skills and persistence allow for smooth transactions with fairness to all parties. Wen’s most recent closings include a major national brand truck/trailer manufacturer in the West Coast, a long-established Torrance auto parts distribution company, a Riverside property service firm, a LA screen printing company, and a freight trucking business near LAX.
Wen holds MBA degree from Univ. of IL at Chicago, has strong banking and accounting background both in China and the States before becoming a Business Broker in 2014, and has been helping many overseas clients in acquisition deals due to her Bilingual (English/Chinese) skills, experience in business valuations, and her understanding of Asian business culture and the overseas clients’ funding situation.
Wen loves being a business broker for not just connecting the paths of her own diversified past, but also connecting various professionals from different fields and locality. She is a believer and participant that business connects people and builds great community.
Phone: (714) 323-6662
Email:
kathleen@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
CABB, IBBA
Background/Experience:
Kathleen Jones has been a real estate broker, selling residential real estate for over 20 years. Her career includes working as an investment manager for an equity provider of residential real estate development projects where she conducted extensive market research in the Southern California and Hawaii areas. She also provided market write-ups for investor packages and managed the Irvine and Santa Ana offices. She has worked for several new home builders and owns her own brokerage, which is niched in newer homes, and keeps apprised of new developments in the area. Prior to becoming involved in real estate she owned and operated a successful graphic and web design business. Kathleen holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and management and is a member of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors and Pacific West Association of Realtors.
She is a native-Californian, living in Orange County for over 50 years. As a Business Broker with Business Team, Ms. Jones brings unmatched professionalism and understanding to people in buying or selling a business.
Phone: 619-602-9071
Email:
jcourtney@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
CABB, IBBA
Background/Experience:
James Courtney is an active real estate broker, specializing in Selling and Financing Businesses throughout California and the United States. James has extensive experience and understands the details of business evaluations, corporate structure, business acquisition, financing, Mergers & Acquisitions, Contract Structure & Negotiations. His experience with helping structure and finance the acquisition and disposition of Businesses in the Transportation & Logistics Industry brings continuity, professionalism, and confidence to any transactions he’s a part of.
James has 29 years of experience in the real estate, finance, business acquisition & disposition industry, negotiating contracts and helping his clients achieve their Business, Real Estate, and Financial goals. He is a known problem solver with the ability to create new ideas and solutions and move investors/owners to action and events to close transactions. James has owned and operated Commercial Loan Brokerage Firms that helped finance business acquisitions, Working Capital, Commercial Real Estate, Equipment, and Lines of Credit. He is committed to high ethical standards and possesses an enthusiastic, positive attitude and approach to people, circumstances, and assignments. His philosophy is “Every Investor, Buyer, Seller should have adequate representation when Selling or Acquiring a Business, Commercial Real Estate, or Investment. My goal is to offer the best opportunity for my clients to meet their financial endeavor.”
James attended San Jose State University as a student-athlete, majoring in Sociology and Business. He attained a bachelor’s degree in finance from Ashford University and has earned numerous Real Estate & Accounting Certifications, including Accounting Analysis, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online. James is an advent student of real estate investments, business mergers and acquisitions, and Commercial Real Estate Properties. He keeps on top of any market trends to ensure his clients are aware of new legislation or market conditions.
James likes to spend time with his family and travel the United States/World. He devotes a lot of his time to his business and clients but sets aside quality time for his family.
Phone: (949) 302-6990
Email:
maty@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
Background/Experience:
Maty Guiza’ has been intricately involved in the financial services industry as a liaison to business and high-net-worth clients for over 20 years. Her expertise includes executive-level C-Suite roles within the private Real Estate investment sector. Her experience includes commercial and residential portfolio management.
Ms. Guiza has also held the position of Trustee, Board President, and Financial Officer. Her experience and professionalism offer reliability and dependability to business owners through the sale or succession planning process. Ms. Guiza is a board member of the Orange County Association of Realtors, Institute of Real Estate Management, Chambers of Commerce throughout Orange County and Los Angeles, Mentor at real estate brokerages for agents a member of various councils, and additional various affiliations.
Phone: 949-227-3400
Email:
JeffreyTait@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
California Association of Business Brokers, International Business Brokers Association
Background/Experience:
Jeffrey Tait has been a business broker with Business Team for more than 15 years. He has a Bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. Before joining Business Team he was the top producing salesperson at three different staffing and technical consulting firms. He has been involved in the sale of hundreds of retail, service, manufacturing and distribution businesses. He is the Manager of Business Team’s Southern California operations. In addition to his own production, he is responsible for recruiting, training and managing our associates; ensuring that the office runs smoothly; and ensuring that every Business Team client is treated in a courteous and professional manner. He also teaches Business Team's Business Brokerage Training Course and the California Association of Business Brokers CABB 101 Business Broker Training course
2023
Phone: (408) 316-5198
Email:
ian@business-team.com
Professional Affiliations:
Professional Affiliations: IBBA (past board member), CABB (past president)
Background/Experience:
Ian MacLachlan received his B.S. in Physics from San Jose University. He founded Grand Prix, a manufacturer and mail-order business for specialty motorcycle parts as well as a chain of Kawasaki dealerships. In 1977 GPC was the largest chain of Kawasaki dealerships in the U.S. After selling GPC through a business broker, he became involved in the business brokerage industry founding Business Team -the largest business brokerage firm in the Western United States. Business Team has arranged the sale of over 7000 companies to date.
Ian is a co-founder and past chairman of the California Association of Business Brokers, has previously served on the Board of Directors of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), and is a frequent speaker at IBBA conventions. He is also a member of M&A Source.
He has been qualified as an expert witness in business valuation and standard of care by the California Superior Court.