Our Business Brokers are the Difference Makers
We are seasoned professionals with decades of entrepreneurial and corporate experience and the passion for taking businesses—between wall street and main street—to heights they never imagined. If you are a business owner and technical expert in your field, but lack the resources and knowledge that larger organizations take for granted, we can help. Our valuation tools, business advisory consultations and training are designed to help you so that you can spend time doing the things you love.
Innovative Business Advisors works with private company owners throughout the midwest who want to learn what their business is worth. Once they know the current value, business owners often want to learn what they can do to grow the worth and value of their company. We teach them how to grow the business worth over time.
When the time is right to sell to employees, family or friends, or to an outsider, our business advisors work with business owners to position the company to be ready for transfer. IBA requires that the business possess three primary characteristics: 1) at least five years (5 yrs) of continuous operation; 2) complete set of financial documents compiled by an accounting professional; 3) a price expectation that is in-line with the current market place.
Our team consists of experienced professionals in the St. Louis Metropolitan area (both Missouri and Illinois). Learn more about each of us below and contact us to set up a consultation.
Steve Denny
Steven Denny co-founded Innovative Business Advisors in 2018 and serves as a Managing Member of the firm. Steve has been actively engaged in M/A activities in a wide variety of industries for the last 14 years and has developed specific products to assist clients in growing their profitability and enterprise value. His specialty is working with established private companies in the lower middle market with annual revenues from $1 – 50 million.
Prior to founding his own firm in 2005, Steven spent 25 years as a senior executive in the hospitality management business working with two Fortune 25 companies. During this time, Steven distinguished himself as an exceptional business development and leadership professional, perennially appointed as member of the “Chairman’s Club”. This led to his appointment to lead the formation of a common platform used to manage customer relationships globally.
Born and raised in California, Steven paid his own way through college beginning at the University of North Carolina and culminating at High Point University. As a lifelong learner, Steven has completed executive training with Six Sigma (green belt), Xerox PSS, Karrass Negotiation, Miller Heiman and several others throughout his corporate career. Today he is recognized as a business and valuation expert in the Hospitality industry. Steven has also served in public office as a member of the Board of Education and continues to serve his community including several years as Chairman – Finance for the ~4,500 member household Community Association overseeing a multi-million dollar annual budget. He is active in the local Chamber, his church and various other civic organizations.
Terry Lammers, CVA
Terry Lammers grew up watching his parents run their own company in the fuel & lubricants industry, and eventually came on as a full-time employee in the early 90’s and took over as President of the company.
In just 18 years, TriCounty Petroleum had purchased 11 different companies, growing Terry’s family business from $750,000 annual sales to over $40 million when the company was sold in 2010.
Today, as Co-Founder and Managing Member of Innovative Business Advisors, Terry taps into his financial expertise and hands-on business experience to advise and guide business owners who are interested in learning the value of their business, the process of acquiring new businesses, or knowing when and how to sell their business.
Terry received his designation as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), which is an accreditation through the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA). He also holds a Real Estate Brokers License with the state of Illinois.
In Terry's book, "You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Everything You Need to Know to Buy or Sell a Business," he provides an in-depth examination of the process of buying, growing, and eventually selling a business. No matter what stage of business ownership you’re in, Terry will help you understand how to navigate the twists and turns of the business cycle and steer your enterprise toward success.
To purchase Terry's book or to download the ebook, click here. For Terry's speaking event schedule and links to podcasts and articles, click here.
Joe Behnken
Joe Behnken is a senior advisor for Innovative. Joe is a serial entrepreneur owning businesses involved in transportation, contract mining, mortgage and commercial banking, financial consulting, and manufacturing. Joe has a professional designation as a Certified Public Accountant.
Joe’s manufacturing background consists of being a part owner of a manufacturing plant that manufactures avian and animal protection insulator and cut-out covers for the poser utility industry. He was the CEO and general manager of the company from 2008 to 2019. Further experience in the industry includes being on the board of directors of a $40 million dollar manufacturer of ¼” horsepower electric motors. He also has experience in the industry as a financial consultant in fabrication and assembly sectors of the industry.
Joe’s transportation background consists of owning a group of three motor carriers that was involved in specialized bulk truck load transportation. One of the companies also transported heavy equipment and truck load dry van and flatbed transportation. He was a principle in the industry for seventeen years. Further experience includes financial consulting in the industry.
Joe’s mining background consists of owning a company that reclaimed abandoned coal mines. Also, Joe was a consultant to Doe Run Mining, one of the largest iron ore mining companies in the world, for a full-time thirteen-month project.
Joe’s distribution background consists of owning a company that was involved in the distribution of fertilizer, fuel oil, rock and decorative gravel and coal. In this business, he bought, warehoused, and resold the products.
Joe’s mortgage and commercial banking background includes co-founding two mortgage companies and one commercial bank.
Marquita Wiley
Marquita Trenier Wiley is a Business Broker for Innovative and a Business Executive with over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. She is President of Trenier Enterprises, LLC, a multi-business holding company. Marquita established Trenier Enterprises, LLC in 2005 and has grown the business through both acquisition and de-novo start-up.
Terri LaCroix
Terri LaCroix is the Office Manager for Innovative Business Advisors and has over 30 years of Administrative experience, as well as 17 years of Paralegal experience. She has worked as a Paralegal at several law firms in the St. Louis area and has extensive administrative, database management, marketing and bookkeeping experience working as a virtual Executive Assistant and Office Manager.
Terri has also owned several successful Etsy shops selling handmade products. She enjoys assisting business brokers and clients so that business owners can get their desired results from their businesses from valuations, coaching, and M&A transactions. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and other outdoor activities, and spending time with family.
Brenden Barone
Brendan Barone is a Business Broker with Innovative Business Advisors and a Commercial Real Estate Broker with Kunkel Commercial Group, Inc. He has real estate licenses in both Illinois and Missouri. His focus is on St. Clair, Madison and St. Louis counties. Brendan works with landlords and buyers/tenants in the sale and leasing of commercial and multi-family real estate. Brendan also works with business owners looking to sell their businesses with or without the real estate included. Before becoming a commercial real estate broker Brendan worked as a community outreach specialist on 12 electoral campaigns and 8 land-use disputes around proposed development projects. In 2020 Brendan launched his consulting firm, Front Runner Campaigns. Front Runner Campaigns is political and land-use consulting firm that provides support to electoral, issue, and land-use campaigns. Currently Front Runner Campaigns has been providing strategic support for a candidate for Governor of Indiana.
Brendan graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Brandyn Simmons
Brandyn Simmons began his small business experience at age 12 while working for his grandfather's excavating company. He soon started many entrepreneurial endeavors at this age and that has been a theme in his life as he has owned a management consultancy, a geriatric care management company, and a leadership development firm.
Brandyn holds an MBA, a masters in geriatrics, and a doctorate in community organizing. He is also a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation.
Beginning his M&A career in Japan as a consultant, Brandyn worked on numerous deals with Japanese companies getting established in the U.S. He has worked with many business owners to coach up the valuation of their companies before going to market.
Brandyn is passionate about working with business owners who have put so much into their companies to ensure that the sale process is a smooth one. He knows there are many reasons why owners choose to sell and keeps this in mind as he guides them to a successful sale for both the owner and the employees.
In his spare time, you will likely find Brandyn reading or writing books and short stories, hiking mountains, at the gym, or spending time with his kids.