Max Friar
Scott Nicholson
Jon Pastoor
Rudy Moeller
Matthew Baas
Rick Purcey
Michael Donnelly
Melissa Somero
Doug Yntema
Shane Kissack
Lauren Hendricks
Max Friar
Partner
Max Friar has been working in mergers and acquisitions since 2005, beginning his career as the Director of Marketing for a premier Midwest mergers and acquisitions firm. While there, he designed and managed a revolutionary marketing program for their clients. The program was instrumental in new client acquisition, and garnering interest from new, qualified buyers.
Max has a passion for entrepreneurship, technology, internet marketing and personal development. As the owner of three small businesses (M&A Firm, Web Development and Real Estate), he understands the strategic (vision/planning) and tactical (daily “fires”) challenges that small businesses face and is uniquely qualified as a pioneer in the small business transaction space. He brings energy, focus, creativity and unique ability to create order out of chaos. These abilities have been essential to Max’s success over the past 12 years.
Matthew J. Baas
Partner
Matt is a small business mergers and acquisitions specialist. He is passionate about working with small business owners to reach their goals. With Small Business Deal Advisors, Matt performs business valuations and prepares marketing materials. He works diligently to assist clients in the successful marketing and sale of their businesses. Matt began his mergers and acquisitions career with a West Michigan-based M&A advisory firm. As a financial analyst, he supported numerous aspects of M&A engagements for clients. He assisted in due diligence, financial modeling, and market valuation, as well as telemarketing and business development. Matt also has experience with a leading Chicago-based middle market investment bank. In this role, he prepared marketing materials and provided various research activities.
Doug Yntema
ASSOCIATE
Doug has extensive experience in finance, strategic planning, and business management. His background includes a 19 years’ experience selling over $130 million dollar worth of properties. He has also started several businesses and is a partner in companies that continue to grow. He is an expert at getting deals done and helping increase profits and analyzing new business opportunities for existing businesses. A graduate of Hope College in Business administration, Doug has worked with companies as large as 50 million down to main street businesses, improving their performance and increasing their value. His primary objective is assisting business owners and business buyers in making seamless and successful transitions to the next stage of their lives and careers. He is committed to taking the time necessary to understand the goals, objectives, dreams, and desires of his clients and to assessing and evaluating all available options to ensure optimal outcomes.
Scott Nicholson
Associate
Scott entered the mergers and acquisitions space in 2016, working with a Grand Rapids-based M&A advisory firm. Scott managed several unique projects that developed his business transactional experience. Scott has been in the financial services and banking industries since 1983. Most recently, he was a financial advisor and an investment advisor representative at West Michigan-based investment advisors. Scott holds his Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts,), Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law, ), Series 65 (Uniform Registered Investment Adviser Law), and Series 62 (Corporate Securities Representative) securities registrations, Life, Accident and Health licenses. Scott also has a residential mortgage license with the state of Michigan. He has written mortgages for 30+ years. Scott has an MBA from Western Michigan University and an undergraduate degree from Aquinas College where he studied Economics and Business.
Rick Purcey
Associate
Rick started his M&A career in 2015. He has an extensive background in all aspects of the qualities necessary to fill the M&A Advisor role. He began his career as a magna cum laude graduate of Grand Valley State University, earning a BBA with an emphasis in accounting prior to passing the Uniform CPA Examination in the State of Michigan. Since that time Rick has accumulated a vast knowledge of the inter-workings of all types of business entities through his experiences as a public accountant for five years and then in private sector positions ranging from financial analyst to controller. In conjunction with the financial expertise Rick has gained handling all components of the monetary affairs for many companies in a wide variety of industries, he brings to that a unique blend of sales experience not found in other Merger and Acquisition Advisors. Subsequent to his tenure in the financial arena, Rick embarked on a highly successful career in sales where he was bestowed with numerous awards for outstanding performance and achievements. Rick is an active member in the AICPA, MACPA, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and also holds State of Michigan licenses as both a CPA and Mortgage Loan Originator. The passion, enthusiasm, and energy he brings to everything he approaches has created opportunities where they may not have existed before.
Shane Kissack
ASSOCIATE
Shane joined SBDA serving Northern Illinois and Southeast Wisconsin in early 2020. He is an entrepreneurial-minded business development and strategy advisor to small and mid-market business owners. Shane has over 20 years of business experience playing multiple roles in a variety of industries. He began his career in the golf industry running operations for multiple private clubs in the Chicago area. He then shifted to business owner when he started, operated and ultimately entered the sphere of Mergers and Acquisitions on the sell-side as he sold the first of two businesses in 2012. After selling his businesses Shane became an investor and advisor in a growing retail beverage operation while temporarily living abroad in Varese, Italy. Upon return to the U.S., he served as an economic development manager. In that role, he administered development incentives for small to mid-size commercial real estate developments and guided the recruitment, retention, and expansion of local manufacturers.
Jon Pastoor
Associate
Jon is a determined professional who earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from GVSU. He is a proud native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jon has a deep understanding of the area and its people, having grown up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and currently residing in Hudsonville, Michigan.
Jon’s professional background includes 11 years in banking and has been with Small Business Deal Advisors since 2022.
When he’s not working, Jon can be found immersing himself in the great outdoors, exploring hiking trails, and taking trips to northern Michigan to experience the natural beauty and beaches of Michigan. Jon also enjoys watching sports and sampling new foods. Despite having many hobbies, Jon is most known for being a devoted family man. He’s the proud girl-dad of four daughters and a dog, and has been happily married to his wife, Alyssa, for 12 years. As a family, they enjoy riding bikes and playing golf together.
Michael Donnelly
Business Development Analyst
Michael is a financial analyst who specializes in small business transactions. With a passion for assisting small business owners achieve successful acquisitions, Michael plays a crucial role during the initial valuation and onboarding processes. He has consistently showcased his financial savviness, strong interpersonal skills, and an unwavering attention to detail during his years at SBDA. This expertise allows him to perform meticulous business valuations and create compelling marketing materials for our clients.
Michael is a Chicago native who has an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of creativity that bodes well in the M&A scene. Now living in Michigan, he enjoys exploring the outdoors and will never turn down a chance to experience a new place.
Carly Jordan
Business Development Analyst
Carly joined the team in 2023 as the Company’s Sales Analyst. Her role includes business development, valuation analysis, financial analysis, and strategic research. Carly attended Grand Valley State University where she earned her BBA in Finance and Marketing.
Carly currently lives in Grand Rapids, MI. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Rudy Moeller
M&A Advisor
Rudy brings SBDA clients over forty years of entrepreneurial and management experience from across multiple industries. In addition to owning and managing multiple award-winning advertising agencies, Rudy has trained franchise business owners in corporate cost reduction, saving his clients millions of dollars in operational costs. He also created Kentucky’s first renewable power program for a major electric power utility company.
Having spent much of his career as an owner/principal of smaller closely-held companies, Rudy has a keen awareness of the challenges small business owners face when selling their business.
He holds his BA and MBA from Vanderbilt University and is currently the editor of his high school alumni association newsletter. Rudy has been recognized as one of Louisville’s “Forty Under Forty” by Business First of Louisville. He served as chair of the North American Advertising Agency Network and the Waterford Homes Association, and he’s held seats on the boards of Louisville Forum, Lexington Forum, Better Business Bureau, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Kentucky, Kentucky Harvest, and Advertising Federation of Louisville.
Rudy is a native resident of Kentucky, where he lives with his wife Nancy and their lovable Labrador, Asta.
Melissa Somero
Listing Manager
Originally hailing from Traverse City, Melissa has always loved the calming effects of our Great Lakes. Through her studies and travel have taken her to many places around the globe, she’s always embraced returning home to West Michigan to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with her family and friends.
Melissa graduated from Central Michigan University with an undergraduate degree in International Relations and a minor in Anthropology which afforded her the opportunity to travel abroad with her studies to the American University of Rome and the University de Paul Cezanne in Aix en Provence, France.
With her background in Anthropology and a love for history, Melissa began working towards her Master's Degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University.
Before graduating Melissa, once again taking advantage of studying abroad, completed an internship with the Israel Antiquities Authority, and later interned in the archives at the University of Michigan Kelsey Archaeological Museum, and the General Motors Technological Center archives.
In 2018 she successfully opened and operated her own coffee shop, Corridor Coffee, which she decided to sell in 2020.
With her archival and business background, Melissa brings to the Calder team great attention to detail and record-keeping skills to help solidify Calder’s operational base as it continues to grow.
Lauren Hendricks
Operations Manager
Lauren joined Small Business Deal Advisors in August of 2022 as the Operations Manager. With a focus on running the pre-market process, she is responsible for creating the marketing materials and ensuring
smooth communication with clients during this phase. This role aligns well with Lauren’s skills and interests, allowing her to combine her love for writing, strong attention to detail, and her ability to connect with others.
Lauren grew up surrounded by nature in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. During her formative years, she developed a deep appreciation for the Great Lakes and spending time outdoors. Her educational journey led her to Grand Valley State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. During this time, Lauren cultivated a passion for health and wellness. While attending Grand Valley, she fell in love with West Michigan and has resided here ever since. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lauren finds enjoyment in various hobbies, including cooking, reading, traveling, and practicing yoga.