IBA has been an engaged advocate and professional resource for entrepreneurship and the small business community in the Pacific Northwest for 47 years. We STRONGLY recognize the benefits and resources provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA), including the wonderful mentorship provided by its SCORE component to the community. In support of their mission, IBA is a Gold Sponsor of the Greater Seattle chapter of SCORE (https://seattle.score.org/).
May 4, 2022, Greater Seattle SCORE hosted the 2022 Small Business Awards for the region. SCORE Chapter Chair, Tom Hughes, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhugheswts/) should be applauded for his exceptional execution of the event in the phenomenal venue of the Museum of Flight. Region 10 Administrator, Mike Fong (https://www.sba.gov/person/mike-fong) and Seattle District Director, Kerrie Hurd (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrie-trogdon-hurd-870b4433/) also deserve recognition for the wonderful job they have done supporting entrepreneurship from the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic to the nurturing of the green shoots seen in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, & Alaska as the storm receded and historical opportunity returned in our wonderful economy that lifts all boats with equal opportunity regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
It was wonderful for the IBA team, two tables in force, to see old friends, meet new people in the community, and hear the inspirational stories that are the focus of the event. As an organization, IBA applauds Efrem Fesaha, SBA Small Business Person of the Year, Jessica Atkinson, SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and Brooke & Same Lucy, SBA Rural Small Business of the Year, for the area. Their stories were told by video and through speeches at the event and the SBA website has press releases about the entrepreneurs worth reading ((https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/wa/seattle).
I would also like to personally thank Janie Sacco (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janie-sacco-877b0078/) for the invitation to participate in a SBA lender training session panel discussion earlier in the day as an expert on the market valuation of privately held companies and family businesses. I strongly believe that “win-win” transactions start with a properly valued business. The successful sale of a business requires endorsement of the deal by the Seller, Buyer, CPA’s/CFO’s, Attorneys, and Bankers/Investors. It is IBA’s job as a professional M&A intermediary firm to get all these parties to a “thumbs up” position. We could not do that consistently without the deep and talented group of SBA loan bankers in the region. As all of you know, I am always available as a sounding board or resource. We have seen most everything at IBA through the successful completion of over 4200 transaction involving businesses in virtually every industry and geographic location in Washington & Oregon.
