Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”.  This is a message that periodically gets lost in the political conversation and as a priority by Presidents, Governors, and Mayors. Happiness is often found in personal productivity and the financial independence achieved through following a path of hard work, education, and a desire for continual improvement throughout one’s life.

One demographic group that appears to have woven this message into the tapestry of their American identity is the Indian community, a significant and growing component of society that is increasingly assuming leadership roles across the nation.

Evidence of the increased voice of this demographic group in the political discussion can be found in the selection of Kamala Harris, as Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential running mate, and the rise of Nikki Haley, as a voice in the Republican party.  Ms. Haley’s comprehensive knowledge and understanding of economic conditions and policy from small business entrepreneurs, like her mother who owned a clothing boutique (She is also the former President of the National Association of Women Business Owners),  to large publicly traded companies like Boeing which opened a 1.2 million square foot manufacturing facility in South Carolina while she was Governor, unfortunately migrating good paying jobs from Washington to South Carolina, has the possibility of contributing positively nationally to increased employment and domestic business vitality for many years.   Her contribution to this discussion and policy implementation is welcome.

Indian leadership has also become prevalent in the business community from Main Street to the companies traded on Wall Street. The success stories of business executive leadership by people with Indian heritage in the Pacific Northwest include the phenomenal job Satya Nadella has done as the CEO of Microsoft since taking the helm of the company in 2014 (https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/04/after-5-years-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-has-transformed-more-than-the-stock-price/) and extends down to the community businesses found in every neighborhood.

IBA, as a forty-five year old business brokerage company, has a long history of working with both first generation immigrants desiring to convert their life work as entrepreneurs into retirement resources through the sale of privately held companies and family owned business and people with business acquisition objectives to fulfill leadership and financial goals.  Many of the transactions we facilitate involve people of Indian heritage.  These transactions included the acquisition of American Retail Supply (https://www.americanretailsupply.com/) by two former technology industry employees from entrepreneurial families who desired the opportunity to lead and reap the benefits of their abilities without having to navigate corporate culture and hierarchy for advancement.   Innovative entrepreneurs with vision, today the company is a national provider of sneeze guards and social distancing floor signage helping to facilitate the transition of the retail and hospitality industries in the new dynamics required in a COVID-19 world.

IBA, as a firm that facilitates transactions with six, seven, and eight figure enterprise values, also proudly transitions ownership of businesses on Main Street in Washington and Oregon.  One of our recent Main Street transactions involved the sale of Barbara’s Floral (https://barbarasfloral.com/), a community favorite business in the Mukilteo area for decades.  This business, in a retirement sale by IBA’s client, was purchased by two Indian entrepreneurial partners who lived in the community who desired to carry forward the proud reputation of the business for product quality and superior customer service that has been involved in people’s lives from birth to marriage to death for over thirty years while offering continued employment opportunities for the wonderful staff of the flower shop.

All members of IBA’s business brokerage team are happy to work with Indian community entrepreneurs.   However, the firm is unique in that it has a broker, Vishal Punj, on staff specifically focused on helping business owners in the community.  Mr. Punj can be contacted directly at (425) 454-3052 or vishal@ibainc.com.  In addition to helping parties with business sales or acquisitions, he is happy to serve as a resource for information or introductions to other professionals in the community including bankers, CPA’s, and attorneys.

Immigrants have come to America for 100’s of years to take advantage of the freedom and opportunity offered in the nation. The last 20 years have seen an increase in the talent arriving in the Pacific Northwest from India. It will be exciting to see the contribution these people make to our society and the high elevations they climb up the limitless ladder of opportunity provided to all equally in our free market economy.

IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s premier business brokerage firm since 1975, is available as an information resource to the media, business brokerage, mergers & acquisitions, and real estate communities on subjects relevant to the purchase & sale of privately held companies and family owned businesses.  IBA is recognized as one of the best business brokerage firms in the nation based on its long track record of successfully negotiating “win-win” business sale transactions in environments of full disclosure employing “best practices”.