Dan Clark - Keynote Speaker

Dan Clark is the founder and CEO of an International Leadership Development Company; a HighPerformance Business Coach; New York Times Best Selling Author of 35 books; University Professor; a Primary Contributing Author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series; International Podcaster; Gold Record Songwriter; and an Award Winning Athlete who fought his way back from a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. Read More...

Scott Ashbury

Scott is a National SBA Lender based in San Diego California. With over 14 years of experience in the lending industry, he has developed a deep specialization in government lending programs in order to help support businesses in their growth strategy. Delivering a tailored solution with a service heart is at the forefront of how Scott advocates for his clients. 

Marie Askew

Marie Askew is a seasoned SBA lending expert with over 20 years of experience in the lending industry and currently driving innovation and success at Live Oak Bank. Throughout her career, Marie has demonstrated a unique ability to identify and structure SBA lending opportunities that benefit both buyers and sellers, leading to the successful closing of more than $500 million in transactions. Marie’s expertise lies in owner-occupied commercial real estate, ground-up construction and mergers and acquisitions. Her ability to cultivate strong client relationship and a fast professional network has provided her with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in SBA lending. Marie has consistently navigated complex loans to successful closures, earning her accolades as Top Producer in 2008, 2011, 2022 and 2023. She is also a proud member of the “President’s Club” and has been recognized in the “Circle of Excellence” for production. 

Melissa Bustarde

Melissa Bustarde is a transactional business attorney, focusing on working with small businesses in California. She represents the business or the business owner in the sale of the business, or the buyer, with experience in both asset sales, stock sales, owner buyouts and redemptions. She limits her M&A practice to sales under $5 million. She combines her almost 20 years of advising small businesses as outside general counsel and her M&A experience to tailor her services appropriate given the size deal she is working on. She believes in not overcomplicating the deal, but making sure that the client is properly protected. Melissa Bustarde is the managing partner of Branfman Mayfield Bustarde Reichenthal LLP, located in Carlsbad.

Scott Cisneros

Scott Cisneros started in the banking industry in 1991. For the past 10 years, Scott has specialized in SBA financing, primarily focusing on Business Acquisitions. Scott has worked for many banks over the years, recently leaving Union Bank to go to City National Bank. Scott received his real estate license in 2019 to gain more knowledge on the industry.

Ryan Clark

Ryan Clark is an entrepreneur, former college athlete, and one of the most prolific Business Brokers and Mergers & Acquisitions Intermediaries in the nation. Since its launching in 2003 with his childhood friends, Ryan as Director of Sales for The Veld Group and Veld Mergers & Acquisitions, they have facilitated over 1,000 sell-side transactions and conducted over 350 formal valuations and 5,000 informal valuations across a broad range of industries. Combining unmatched deal making talent with extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions, business brokerage and exit planning, Ryan’s goal is to enable business owners to achieve their personal, financial and transactional goals. Drawing on 23+ years of experience, they are committed to delivering tailored solutions to lower middle-market and main street enterprises. His work is grounded in a mission to support clients through complex transitions, leveraging skills in financial analysis, business valuation, and strategic consulting to obtain the desired objective. 

Will Doolittle

Will Doolittle is Vice President of Product for BizBuySell, as well as CoStar's other business for sale marketplace websites, BizQuest and FindaFranchise. Prior to joining BizBuySell in 2024, Will led software product teams at Google, SAP, and numerous startups, such as Freckle (acquired by Renaissance Learning) and BevSuite (building tools for independent wine retailers). He has a BA from Oberlin College and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and serves as a volunteer on the board of the Pinnacles National Park Foundation. 

Noah Green

Noah Green is the owner and managing attorney at the The Green Firm, P.C., with offices in Irvine and Pasadena, CA. He specializes in representing small to mid-size businesses in court and his cases cover a wide variety of legal matters, ranging from breach of contract, partnership disputes, defense of wrongful termination and wage & hours cases, real estate law, and general business litigation. Noah graduated with honors from American University law school in Washington, D.C. in 2000 and lives in Ladera Ranch, CA with his wife and their two girls.

Steven Hanson

Steven Hanson is the Co-Owner of Transworld Business Advisors San Diego North, a full-service Business Brokerage firm focusing on assisting both Sellers and Buyers of companies and franchises. As both a broker and franchise consultant we offer a broad range of products and business experience to assist clients. 

Mr Hanson leverages over 30 years of experience as a senior executive and divisional president at a Fortune 100 medical device company. He has also founded his own medical device company and served on various company board of directors’ positions. Steven is currently the president for CABB. Credentials include an MBA, CBI and CBB.

Mike Hardy

Mike Hardy is a multifaceted professional, excelling as an Ironman athlete, student pilot, real estate investor, speaker, and nationally ranked top 1% mortgage originator. With ETHOS Lending Mike leads a top-performing team who has helped over 10,000 families secure refinance or purchase mortgages over the past 20 years. His leadership is marked by a unique, holistic perspective on mortgage management, incorporating a true financial planning approach to lending. 

Beyond his mortgage expertise, Mike is a seasoned real estate investor with experience in over 100 real estate projects, and a recognized authority on Opportunity Zones. He has shared his insights at prominent national mortgage and real estate conferences, including Keller Williams Family Reunion and Todd Duncan's High Trust Academy, and his expertise has been featured in CBS News, Fortune, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, USA Today, and numerous podcasts.

Randy Hendershot

Randy began his business career with Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (Enterprise, National, Alamo Rent-A-Car). Of his 24 years career with EHI, he spent the last 11 years as an executive (Regional VP) When he left he started and sold his own business (multiple locations). Randy then wanted to go out and buy his own business and found that he enjoyed the process so much that he chose to become a Business Broker.

Rhett Kniep

Rhett Kniep, M&AMI, CM&AP, CBI, and CEPA, is an M&A advisor, exit planner, commercial real estate broker, and general building contractor, and for nearly 20 years has developed, consulted, and sold businesses and commercial real estate. He functions as a professional advisor for the mergers and acquisitions of lower middle market companies, creating exit plans and sales strategies for owners of many different kinds of businesses, including retail, marketing, construction, trucking, automotive, manufacturing, and professional businesses. His main focus is construction, manufacturing, and transportation businesses. Armed with decades of hands-on business experience and having schooled extensively in negotiation and law, Rhett is uniquely positioned to guide sellers and buyers through successful transactions. 

Daniel Lopez

Daniel Lopez is the founder of Empire Business Law ("EBL"). EBL was started with the vision of helping business owners have peace of mind while running their business. As a bi-coastal law firm, EBL assists clients in business sales and purchases, general counsel, contracts, and intellectual property matters. Daniel is originally from the east coast. Born in New York, and raised in New Jersey, Daniel is proud to be a graduate of Rutgers University. 

Ryan Ottosen

Since 2005, real estate has been Ryan's professional focus. As a broker with expertise in investment and property management, Ryan closed more than 150 REO properties between 2009-2012, managed hundreds of rental units, orchestrated 100+ investment projects from start to finish and has been a guest speaker at numerous California Association of REALTOR (C.A.R.) events. Ryan was also the MC for the 2024 CABB Annual Conference

Jim Parker

Jim Parker is a nationally recognized business broker and thought leader with nearly 25 years of experience in the industry. As the Founder and President of Boss Group International, Jim has successfully guided over 500 business owners through the process of selling their companies, consistently achieving outcomes that surpass industry averages. Jim is distinguished by his commitment to professionalism and continuous improvement. He holds all four of the industry's top certifications: M&AMI (Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary), CM&AP (Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional), MCBI (Master Certified Business Intermediary), and CBI (Certified Business Intermediary)—a combination held by fewer than 20 professionals worldwide . His leadership extends beyond his firm. Jim has served three consecutive terms as State Chairman of the Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), representing nearly 1,000 members, and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the largest global association for business brokers. In recognition of his contributions, Jim has been elected as the incoming Chairman of the IBBA for 2026 .

Bob Porter

Robert Porter began his career in SBA Lending in 1989 after graduating from California State University, Sacramento - Finance. For the past 31+ years, Robert acted as a Vice President/Business Development Officer for four banks including Sacramento Commercial Bank (7 years), Bank of the West (9 years), and Comercia Bank (3 years), Plumas Bank (13 years), and during this period successfully negotiated and funded approximately $404,000,000 in SBA 7a, 504, and non-SBA commercial real estate loans to small businesses. Robert's experience extends beyond SBA lending. An avid 40-year rock climber, Robert has climbed some of Yosemite's greatest mountains including El Capitan (7 times), Half Dome (1 time), and Washington's Column (9 times), to name a few. In 1997, Robert (and a partner) obtained an SBA 7a startup loan ($439,500) for the opening of Granite Arch Climbing Center in Rancho Cordova, CA. Granite Arch Climbing Center is one of the largest indoor climbing centers in the world. Robert has since sold his interest in the gym. Robert resides in Loomis, CA, is 28 years happily married and the father of three children (19,21 and 23). Although his office is located in Auburn, CA., the majority of his lending activity is done in Northern California extending from Monterey to Mendocino and San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. Plumas Bank offers SBA 7a and 504 loans throughout the states of CA, NV, AZ, OR and WA.

Chris Rodewald

Chris Rodewald is a Vice President at US Bank’s SBA Division headquartered in San Diego, California. Chris has been specializing in SBA financing for the last 21 years and has been with US Bank’s SBA Division for the past 15 years. He is consistently a top performer nationwide at US Bank and is a multi-time recipient of both their prestigious Legends of Possible and Pinnacle Awards for top performer in the nation. Chris has also received the coveted Financial Services Champion of The Year award directly from the United States Small Business Administration. He is an active Board Member at the North County SBDC a nonprofit that helps small businesses with financial literacy and in gaining access to capital. What makes Chris truly unique is his extensive entrepreneurial background. He is not just a banker he has been in our clients shoes as a business owner as well. He was a founder in many different start-up businesses from service, energy management, to manufacturing, and even medical device. He has a keen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities our small business clients face. He has also bought and sold a business that he built up for 6 years so he has a truly unique ability to connect with both buyers and sellers in complex transactions to help facilitate desired results. Chris has been a CABB member since 2019.

Monty Walker

Monty W. Walker is a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) and Chartered Global Management Account (“CGMA”) with a diversity of experience in the private closely-held business arena. Monty practices nationally. His advisory services to privately held business owners include support with Business Transactions, Business Structuring & Design, Business Tax Planning and Business Exit Planning. Monty’s flag ship and most sought after service from clients is his Business Transaction Advisory Services. He works with Business Sellers, Business Buyers and their various advisors, such as Business Intermediaries, Accountants and Attorneys, to manage the unique financial, tax, planning and procedural matters associated with buying and selling a business. Due to his background in the area of business transfers and business transitions he is often referred to by his clients and colleagues as a --- “Business Transaction CPA”.

George Wellmer

George is the founder of Tupelo, CRM software designed to change the way brokers work. Tupelo handles the time-consuming, manual tasks—lead sourcing, email marketing, valuations, document management, and prospect follow-ups—so brokers can focus on what matters: closing deals. Even non-technical users call it simple, powerful, and a pleasure to use. Trusted by hundreds of brokers, Tupelo saves time, cuts costs, and delivers results.

Blake Wells

Blake began his career representing Fortune 500 insurance companies in complex litigation matters and coverage disputes. He later used this litigation expertise acting as inside-outside counsel for large corporate clients, with a concentration on employment and business law, focusing clients towards compliance and, when necessary, dispute resolution. Today, Blake works as an associate attorney with The Small Business Law Firm, P.C., where he uses his experience to hedge against the myriad risks presenting in complex transactions, mergers, and acquisitions. Blake has worked with a number of CABB brokers to get deals to finish the line, keeping clients protected and brokers happy.

Scott Williams

Scott is the founder and principal attorney of The Small Business Law Firm, P.C. Their practice focuses on startups, acquisitions, and mergers for small businesses. Scott holds a B.A. in Political Science, a Master of Science in Space Operations, an M.B.A. in Aviation, and a Juris Doctor. Scott is a licensed commercial pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, and has over 3,000 flight hours. He is a Past President of the Cirrus Pilots and Owners Association. Scott recently served on our CABB Board of Directors, where he chaired our Corporate Governance. He was CABB’s 2024 Affiliate Member of the Year.