The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Effect on Business – Part 2
More in our 2 Part Series on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has become a transformative force in day-to-day business operations…
AEG's mission is to create
personal and business growth
through trusted relationships.
More in our 2 Part Series on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has become a transformative force in day-to-day business operations…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in day-to-day business operations and is revolutionizing how tasks are accomplished. Through…
Now that we’re in post-pandemic mode, business owners are tasked with defining the optimal approach for returning to the office,…
The role of a business owner demands a perpetual commitment to developing new skills and putting in place a personal…
Attorney for buying and selling businesses
Financial Services Professional and Insurance
Vehicle Resale/Acquisition, Fleet Mgmt, Residential Auto Repair
Brand & Content Marketing and Strategy, Advertising, SEO
Financial and technology staffing, financial management
Creates communications strategies
Personal attorney and estate planning
Forward-thinking accounting, tax, and advisory services
Wealth management and exit planning
Information Technology (IT) solutions provider
Strategic Operations
Executive
Exec Coach, Podcast Host, Author & Speaker
Wealth Management & Retirement Planning
Leverage technology to improve business processes
Cybersecurity risk and compliance assessment
Accounting and
tax litigation
Financial services for owners, executives, and families
Accounting, tax, audits and financial reviews
Strategic branding and fractional CMO
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Commercial banking, business growth planning
Business owners, CEOs, and investors turn to Aaron Ghais when they need an attorney who can help them get a deal done, whether it’s buying, selling, or financing a business. Aaron specializes in representing mid-market companies that aspire to grow through acquisitions, while also helping business owners maximize value when they sell their companies.
Aaron’s clients benefit from his ability to lead them successfully through the M&A process using his creative problem-solving skills, well-honed business sense, and results-oriented style. As a former “big firm” lawyer who now serves as Chair of Shulman Rogers’ M&A Practice and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Business and Financial Services Department, Aaron leverages the knowledge gained through almost 25 years of successfully completing complex transactions to accomplish his clients’ objectives and overcome their legal and business challenges.
Aaron has a national practice representing corporate, venture capital, and private equity clients in connection with a variety of transactional and securities matters across a wide range of industries. These include mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, exchanges, and joint ventures, as well as venture capital financings, securities offerings, debt financings, recapitalizations and other strategic transactions.
Please review the following resources about Aaron and Shulman Rogers’ services, including NEXT, the fixed fee legal service for startups
Blair Brylawski is an automotive and mechanical expert specializing in all aspects of the Automotive Market including vehicle resale and acquisition, pre-purchase inspections, off lease inspections and protocols, fleet management and residential automotive repair. In 2013, he founded Revitalization Automotive, LLC (Revit Auto), which focuses on creating custom tailored fleet management plans, representing aftermarket warranty companies, and freeing up organizations’ internal resources.
Along with being the founder and owner of Revit Auto, Blair is also a content creator, on-camera talent, and former producer of the hit television series, Junkyard Empire. He runs the Revit Auto YouTube channel that gets ~150k views per month and is growing 30% annually. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Blair is a driven business owner with a passion for helping others succeed. According to Blair, “When you love your job, it never feels like work!”
Mr. Craig Oldham is a seasoned senior executive renowned for his consistent prowess in driving profitable revenue growth through cutting-edge digital marketing technologies. Currently, he spearheads a dynamic marketing consulting practice, guiding enterprises and CEOs in unlocking incremental value from their marketing endeavors. Recognized as both a transformative catalyst and a digital marketing authority, Craig’s extensive background includes key leadership roles in diverse sectors such as consumer, B2B, finance, telecom, insurance, software, advertising, and non-profit. With a strategic focus, he is available for exclusive CMO, private equity, and Board of Director opportunities.
Commencing his career in the telecommunications realm at Ameritech Corporation (now AT&T), Craig garnered extensive B2C and B2B marketing expertise. His journey led him to Allstate Insurance Company as Marketing Director, where he navigated the evolving retail insurance landscape by harnessing the power of Allstate’s expansive agent network. Remarkably, he pioneered a $600 million online revenue stream within just 18 months. His achievements caught the attention of Zurich Financial Services, where he was entrusted with building their inaugural integrated B2B marketing team. At Zurich, Craig orchestrated substantial revenue growth and transformed the global paid marketing landscape.
In a remarkable transition, he joined the prestigious American Red Cross, overseeing their digital marketing and commerce group. Tasked with consolidating 730+ local chapter websites into a cohesive national platform, Craig’s efforts drove a 40% increase in online donations, notably during significant events like Hurricane Sandy. His transformative touch extended to Tessco Technologies, where as Senior VP Marketing and Corporate Officer, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, breathing new life into the company’s 30-year legacy. As the force behind Mahdlo Marketing, he currently empowers B2B and B2C CEOs through pioneering eCommerce and Marketing advisory services, collaborating with Chief Outsiders on impactful marketing ventures.
Craig holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Indiana University. A distinguished member of The Marketing Leaders of DC, his thought leadership has graced publications like CIO Magazine, Internet Retailer, and the Business Journal. He delivered a keynote address at the National Retail Federation, sharing the stage with Al Gore. Beyond his professional pursuits, Craig finds solace in the Washington DC area with his family, indulging in his passion for golf and technological innovations. Notably, he holds four patents, including three in design and one in business processes, all integral to enhancing the eCommerce experience.
Don has over 30 years of professional experience, including nearly 20 years as a leading hotel and real estate industry financial executive. He served as CFO and Corporate Controller of two of the nation’s largest publicly-owned hotel Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). His experience has included numerous capital market transactions, and several major corporate restructurings in addition to establishing and building several highly successful accounting and finance organizations. He has deep knowledge regarding capital raising (including IPO’s), financial reporting, effective organization structures, budgeting and forecasting, strategic planning and governance. He has industry experience with companies in the hospitality, real estate, government contracting, telecommunications, and technology industries, among others.
Gary Altman, Esq. is the founder and principal of the estate planning law firm, Altman & Associates, where he has been serving the Washington metropolitan area for more than 20 years.
A nationally recognized estate, legacy and business planning authority, Gary’s “outstanding expertise, trustworthiness and commitment to his clients’ needs” has earned him recognition by Washingtonian magazine as among the DC region’s “Best Estate Planners”. He has also been repeatedly honored as a “Top 100 Attorney” by Worth magazine and likewise recognized as a Maryland and Washington, DC “Super Lawyer”.
A trusted legal analyst, Gary has lent his expertise and authored articles for a wide range of media outlets including: The Washington Post, The NY Times, The Journal of Financial Advisors, The Wall Street Journal, Boomer-Living.com and CNN. As an industry leader, Gary has also taught various estate planning courses to attorneys, accountants, and financial planners, served as the President and former Chairman of the National Capital Area Financial Planning Association, and is currently on the Investment Committee of two local charities.
Gary graduated from NYU Law School (JD, 1980) and Georgetown University (LLM (Tax), 1990). He writes an estate planning blog, Altman Speaks, which can be found via the firm’s web site:www.altmanassociates.net. Altman & Associates has two offices – one in Rockville and one in Columbia, MD.
Gen Oraa is a partner who specializes in providing clients with transaction advisory services. Gen has led and executed due diligence for over 120 merger and acquisition transactions for strategic and private equity buyers and sellers. She has advised middle market clients on M&A transactions with purchase price ranging from $10 million to over $700 million.
She has worked on transactions in various industries, including professional services, industrial/manufacturing, government contractors, aerospace and defense, distribution/logistics, corporate housing, media/online advertising, education, textile, retail, life science and health services, and business/staffing services.
In addition to financial due diligence, she advised clients on transactions involving letter of interest, net working capital peg, purchase agreements, purchase price adjustments, debt and debt-like items, closing statements and other related assistance.
Prior to joining CohnReznick, Gen served in the transaction advisory services teams of BDO, KPMG, and Grant Thornton in the US. Her professional career began at Arthur Andersen, Philippines (now Ernst and Young), as an auditor and later worked on finance, accounting, and internal audit at a small conglomerate.
BS Accountancy, Cum Laude, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
MBA, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
John is an experienced financial services expert who works with Business Owners to help them align business and personal goals. He is a Certified Exit Planner who helps owners map out the best path to grow and create value in their business and exit on their terms. As a co-founder of The Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG), John has an extensive network of both Business Owners and Professionals that he can access and connect you to as needed.
John’s career has spanned more than three decades working with leading investment firms including Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, UBS and Shearson Lehman Brothers.
A recognized expert and authority, John is a sought out speaker for educational seminars and a trusted advisor who provides Wealth Management, Insurance, Retirement Plans, Corporate Cash and Key Employee Retention Services. John has worked with Executives from major corporations and organizations, such as The International Monetary Fund (IMF), The World Bank, The Organization of American States (OAS), Chevron, The Discovery Channel, The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), General Electric/NBC, Charles E. Smith Companies, The Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) and many others. He has also hosted Mid-Day Money Talk on WRC Radio and Executive Leaders Radio.
John received a Certified Investment Management Analyst ® (CIMA ®) certification from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in accounting.
For the last 20 years, John has been a Co-Chairman of The House – A Place for Youth Golf Tournament that supports High School Students in Anacostia, DC. John resides in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Dina and his sons Jack and Jamie.
Areas of Expertise: Wealth Management, Corporate Cash Management, Exit Planning, Insurance, Stock Options, Executive Benefits and Key Employee retention, Tax and Estate Planning, Retirement Plans and Hedging Strategies.
President, Xebec Enterprises
Keith B. Perry is the President of Xebec Enterprises, Inc. Mr. Perry has more than 35 years of IT experience in the public sector. Prior to starting Xebec Enterprises, Inc. in 2005, he served in the United States Army and then later the United States Navy Reserves which he retired from in March 2009 with 22 years of service.
Keith’s greatest strengths are his drive, determination and leadership. He thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand a client’s reach and mission. One of his proudest achievements involved providing IT support and solutions to the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), a 501©3, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement and voter participation in Black and underserved communities.
Xebec Enterprises, Inc. is an Information Technology (IT) solutions provider based in the state of Maryland, providing high-quality IT solutions to the private sector and several state, federal, and local government agencies. His hobbies are golf and watching his favorite football team. Go Steelers!
LaTonya Jackson is the Founder & Chief Consultant of L. Jackson Associates LLC. Friends and colleagues, fondly call her “LJ”.
LJ is a results-oriented and growth-focused Strategic Operations Executive with nearly 30 years of combined experience in the Hospitality Industry as well as Corporate America with a proven history of expanding revenue, improving operations, leading and developing large teams, and driving core mission and objectives of any organization. LJ loves working in operations which is a great combination of Business, Sales, Technology and Human Resources which allows for many vast experiences and creativity as no team or client is the same.
For 20+ years, LJ has worked in the Global Outsourcing Industry providing Strategic Outsourcing Solutions from end-to-end Business Processes to Document Processing Services to various businesses and organizations such as Higher Education, Investment Banks, Hospitals, Non-Profits, Luxury Brands/Designers, Beverage and Cosmetics Companies, Media, Legal and, Financial Services Firms. She has managed large and small teams and all levels of employees and managers. She has demonstrated the ability to drive growth and manage operations across a multitude of service lines such as Business Services, Office Services, Administrative Services, Hospitality, Conference Center and Facilities Management.
LJA’s vision is to inspire excellence in business that empowers the community and create career and growth opportunities for others. She looks forward to bringing her unique brand of service to your business and organization and helping you to achieve operational excellence!
Mark Silverman is an executive coach, speaker, podcaster and author. He helps fast rising leaders manage overwhelm, leverage their teams and resources to maximize their impact on the organization and their careers.
Mark came to coaching and speaking after a successful career in technology, where he generated over $90,000,000 for fast-growing startups by bringing together executives, technical leaders and stakeholders to close complex multi-million dollar sales.
He is no stranger to overcoming adversity and mastering his own overwhelm. When he was 27, he was homeless, 135lbs, and living in his truck. By the time he was 33, he was a millionaire. Mark is on a mission to take the lessons he learned along the way, paired with his business acumen, to help others define and achieve their own successes.
Mark is the author of Only 10s 2.0 – Confront Your To-Do List Transform Your Life, which has sold over 75,000 copies to date. He is the host of Mastering Overwhelm – How to Thrive in Business, Relationship and Life podcast and is currently working on his third book, The Rising Leader Handbook.
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Michael Ghanem is a Financial Strategist at PS&G Financial Partners. He helps Business Owners, Professionals, Real Estate Investors and Families implement cash value life insurance into their current retirement portfolio to reach financial freedom faster. Michael is a firm believer in the PS&G motto, “making lives better because we care,” and it is one of the many reasons he transitioned to financial planning.
Before joining PS&G, Michael worked in a sales role for 11 years in the health insurance and IT industry. Michael’s ideal clients are real estate investors, business owners, young families, and people approaching retirement in the next ten years.
Michael is a Business Partner Member of ALA NOVA, a member of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers for his high school football team.
When Michael is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and friends. He loves watching and playing football and reading books about personal development and business. Michael’s dream is to go skydiving one day.
Mike has a passion for serving clients and growing consulting practices. Leveraging his 30 years of experience in Information Technology and Financial Operations, Mike works with 1Rivet clients to leverage technology to improve business processes.
His prior experience includes serving as Managing Director of consulting services with Allegro Development, a leading global Commodities Trading and Risk Management (CTRM) software company. Prior to Allegro, Mike was a Partner with SunGard Consulting Services for 13 years with a focus on energy, financial services, and healthcare clients in the Northeast US. Mike’s global client experience includes work with clients in the UK and Ireland, and with IT operations in India and the Philippines.
Mike started his consulting career with Accenture which spanned 15 years. As an Accenture Partner, he led several enterprise IT implementations for Fortune 500 clients; and as part of the business strategy practice delivered IT synergy savings for client mergers and acquisitions.
Mike has an MBA from Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC), and a BA from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA). He is active in two Washington, D.C. area professional business associations: Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG), and ProVisors. Mike has also served on a local Little League board of directors.
Ola Sage is the founder and CEO of CyberRx, a cybersecurity risk and compliance assessment company, that works with growth-minded companies to protect themselves from the costly and sometimes unrecoverable impact of cyber theft, disruption, and damage. CyberRx equips companies with software tools and services to assess, mitigate, and continuously monitor cybersecurity risks. Clients can also subscribe to CyberRx’s distinctive concierge service that educates them about the options they have, provides technical cybersecurity resources on an as-needed basis, and connects them with qualified and vetted suppliers of a range of cybersecurity hardware and software products at discounted rates.
Prior to founding CyberRx, Ola spent over 18 years leading an IT professional services company that she founded and grew until a successful exit in 2018. Notable accomplishments included advising government CIOs on cybersecurity issues of strategic importance, spearheading over $150 million in funded contract wins with large U.S. federal agencies, and positioning the company to rank four times on the Washington Technology Fast 50 and Inc. top companies lists. In 2016 her former company was chosen as one of the top 100 companies in the country by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Of significance, her company played a key role in providing technical expertise for investigative efforts that contributed to the identification and subsequent arrest of a cyber-criminal responsible for a large government agency breach.
A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Ola holds the Federal Chief Information Officers (CIO) certificate and earned the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification through ISACA., an international association of IT professionals involved in information security, assurance, risk management, and governance. She obtained her master’s degree in Technology Management from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. This experience enables Ola to help your company quickly identify what assets you need to protect and develop a plan for how to protect them in a cost-effective way.
I work with business owners, key executives, and families to help clarify their objectives and take action.
While helping thousands of people over the years, I developed an integrated approach to financial success – much like the strategy and tactics a champion quarterback utilizes to win the game!
Pete co-founded Ryan & Wetmore, P.C. with Michael Wetmore in 1988, and is a wealth advisor at Alikos Wealth Management, LLC.
Ryan & Wetmore is a full-service assurance and tax practice, providing a wide array of traditional and non-traditional consulting services that help their clients grow and prosper. Over three decades, Ryan & Wetmore has grown to employ over 45 people with three offices across the Greater Washington region. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Ryan & Wetmore is also located in Vienna, Virginia and Frederick, Maryland.
Extensively experienced in many industries, Pete’s accounting and consulting specialties include technology companies, construction, manufacturers, government contractors, healthcare, and entrepreneurial growth companies.
With clients across the US, Ryan & Wetmore has vast experience in financial statement audits, corporate tax return preparation and planning, litigation support services, M& A support, and employee benefit plans.
In 2018 Pete was honored as the Real Estate & Construction CPAs Member of the Year for his industry excellence and commitment. Pete has presented at major conferences on multiple topics throughout the United States.
Pete obtained an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Baltimore and a B.A. in Accounting from the Catholic University of America. Pete has served on the Board of Directors for a number of successful for-profit and nonprofit organizations. He is currently an active member of the Villanova University Parent’s Program.
Pete is on the leadership board for the local chapter of the Alliance of Mergers and Acquisition Advisors and an active member of the AICPA-Tax Practice Section, Maryland Association of CPA’s, Virginia Society of CPA’s, Greater Washington Society of CPA’s among many other professional organizations.
Rich DiPippo works with business owners, key executives, and families to help clarify their objectives and take action.
While helping thousands of people over the years, Rich developed an integrated approach to financial success–much like the strategy and tactics a champion quarterback utilizes to win the game!
Rich’s successful team includes hand-picked attorneys, CPAs, and wealth management advisors.
Rich is from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and graduated from The George Washington University in 1979. Following graduation, he served as the Academic Coordinator for GWU athletics and as an assistant baseball and wrestling coach.
In 1985, Rich joined New York Life as an agent and became a member of the NYL Chairman’s Council, representing the top 1% of all agents. Thirteen years later he formed RCD and Associates, a full-service insurance and planning firm, that he joined with The Meltzer Group in 2008.
Rich resides with his wife Molly in Ashton, Maryland, along with their lovely daughter Carmen. He is still an active supporter of GWU athletics, and enjoys golfing and following football. He is a 30-year member of the Washington Wrestling Officials Association as a Board Member and Official Evaluator. And Rich serves on the George Washington University Business School Board of Advisors. He is also the VP and President Elect of the Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C., a 90-year-old organization that raises scholarship money for Italian-American students.
Robert D. Huey, CPA graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1981 from the University of Delaware. Rob first worked for several years with Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) before joining his father and grandfather at Huey and Associates in 1985. He brings a current understanding of sophisticated tax and estate planning as well as a broad knowledge of accounting and tax laws as they apply to businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals today. Huey and Associates, P.C., with offices in Bethesda and Herndon, serve over 2,000 clients. We holds ourselves to the highest professional standards of service, advocating for our clients and have passed the peer review program of quality control standards as established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
For individuals or companies looking for trusted and personalized tax advice and preparation, bookkeeping, audits, financial reviews or compilation services, estate planning, or general business advice, Huey and Associates, P.C. with a professional staff of over 12 CPA’s (and growing) will gladly meet your needs and more. For over 90 years we have provided valuable services at reasonable fees to help our clients achieve their goals. The firm takes great pride in helping our clients grow, prosper, and become successful in their fields. Give us a call or send us an e-mail if you would like to learn more about how we may be able to be of service to you.
Shevy is a graduate of University of Maryland, University of Baltimore School of Law, and Institute of Police Science in Washington D.C. Growing up the son of a businessman, Shevy’s entrepreneurial spirit has always driven him to pursue new and exciting business ventures. As the past CEO of various local businesses & the current Chief Marketing Officer of Marstudio, he truly enjoys finding solutions that help businesses get off the ground, continue their growth, and maintain their competitive edge. Shevy is an experienced cross-functional C-level executive with outstanding successes in healthcare, marketing, e-commerce, creative arts, legal services, education, safety & security. Dedicated to his community, Shevy sits on multiple Board of Directors as well as engages in multiple other philanthropic activities. Once engaged, Shevy will act as your off-site CMO essentially putting the wheels of the project in motion and making sure the right mix of strategic and creative resources are in place to execute and deliver your project as it is planned.
Todd Sherbacow is a Partner at Clarefield Partners and Co-Founder and President of Suite Matters. His focus is tenant representation, never landlord representation. It’s the most transparent and effective model to build trust and lower his clients’ leasing costs.
With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, Todd’s unwavering dedication to aggressively advocate for his clients begins with a deep dive to understand their needs. Todd, then, educates clients about the market and provides a strategic approach to negotiations—from identifying the ideal space to negotiating the most favorable lease terms and navigating complex transactions. His objective is to secure the optimal outcome with the lowest cost.
Todd empowers tenants to make informed decisions and maximize their advantage in every transaction. His unique practice enables tenants to take into account all aspects of their physical workspace for cost savings and overall effectiveness. What is the client’s total cost of occupancy and how can it be reduced?
His services do not end when a lease is signed, in tandem with helping clients find a great location Todd assists with the smooth transition into the new space, as well as provides long-term office management needs to fully utilize the resources dedicated to the workplace.
Todd is relentless in exceeding expectations as he builds solid relationships that speak to his decades of experience in tenant advisement and representation.
Education & Licenses:
George Washington University, B.A., Elliott School of International Affairs
Real Estate Broker’s Licenses – Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Tom Durrer is a Senior Vice President who is a commercial loan officer providing financial solutions to businesses in the Washington D.C. area. Tom knows who he wants to serve – mid- sized businesses, real estate developers and investors, as well as consumers in the mid-Atlantic market. By staying focused on our market, our customers, and our products, Atlantic Union knows we will be better than anyone else at the things that help our customers prosper. There’s nothing wishy-washy about our mission and that is what makes us unique.
How can we help you build your company and achieve
more than you thought possible?