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Merger and Acquisition Advisors - Experts in Lower Middle Market
Trusted Advisors Guided by Integrity and Passion
Our professionals have decades of experience selling companies across diverse industries. We take a hands-on approach to understand every business, specific industry trends, the market landscape, and our client’s competitive advantages.
LEADERSHIP
Scott L. Sharp
Managing Partner / Founder
Scott is the founder of S. Lawrence & Company and has nearly 40 years of experience as a business owner as well as serving as an advisor to family-owned and privately-held businesses since 2006. He is passionate about helping lower middle-market and middle-market business owners choose the right path of transition as they prepare to sell their businesses because he has been in their shoes. Scott is a Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA). He also has professional training in Turnaround Management, Six Sigma, Operational Analysis, Financial Analysis, and Project Management (PMP).
In addition to his merger and acquisition expertise, Scott has served as an adjunct professor of business management, financial analysis, and marketing. He also participates in a number of industry associations including Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA), Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Stevens Center for Family Business, Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), GLBR Conscious Capitalism Chapter and their CEO Roundtable.
Larry Baumgart
Founding Partner - Advanced Business Brokers Business Intermediary & Analyst MBA, CMA® (Certified Management Accountant)
Larry has built a unique insight to business transactions with almost 30 years of business appraisal experience. His background in finance and business appraisal allow him to help business owners traverse the obstacles in selling their business and help take the worry out of the process.
Larry earned his undergraduate degree in finance and Masters of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. He is married with three grown children and lives in Portage Michigan. He is active in his church as well as several outdoor activities.
Larry specializes in manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics companies.
E. Brad Scoffin
Founding Partner - Advanced Business Brokers Business Intermediary Director of New Business Development
Brad has over 30 years of experience in business to business sales, working with business owners and corporate officers. Building connections and relationships with consultants and trusted advisor professionals, he brings a unique skill set that helps our clients navigate the ever changing business climate. Brad has a diverse background in financial services and insurance sales & marketing. Brad also gives back to the small business community through volunteer work with SCORE.org and SBDC of Michigan. Brad is the current president of the Michigan Business Brokers Association (west) as well as the president of the State Association.
Brad earned his degree in Quantitative Economics and Decision Sciences from the University of California San Diego. He, relocated to Michigan in 2005, and became active with many business advocacy groups serving on several boards at both local and state levels. He enjoys an active lifestyle with his wife and kids in the Vicksburg area, supporting youth sports, playing golf, kayaking, working on home improvement projects or exploring the great state of Michigan.
Brad specializes in business to business service companies, computer & IT companies, and construction/skilled trades.
M&A TEAM
Mark Urbonas
Managing Director
Mark is a Managing Director on the S. Lawrence & Company mergers and acquisition team. He has compiled a diverse professional background over nearly five decades, including experience in product engineering, manufacturing, material systems, shipping, warehousing, domestic and international logistics, procurement, customs, safety, and quality. Mark has experience in the automotive, airline catering, custom manufacturing, and consulting industries.
Frank Cobb
Business Intermediary
Mark is a Managing Director on the S. Lawrence & Company mergers and acquisition team. He has compiled a diverse professional background over nearly five decades, including experieFrank covers the West and Northern Michigan. Frank is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker in Muskegon where he has served over 1000 residential and commercial clients over 22 years and has earned the Lifetime Hall of Fame Award. He has now turned his focus to helping the small business community
Frank is a graduate of Aquinas College in Community Leadership; he has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity and is currently active on the Pointe Marina Association Board. He is also a member of the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors Professional Standards Committee and the Muskegon Career Tech Center Construction Advisory Committee. Frank enjoys sailing on Lake Michigan with his family and racing their classic sailboat “Minnie”nce in product engineering, manufacturing, material systems, shipping, warehousing, domestic and international logistics, procurement, customs, safety, and quality. Mark has experience in the automotive, airline catering, custom manufacturing, and consulting industries.
Doug De Jonge
Business Intermediary
Doug has been engaged in market making activities for businesses in the West Michigan area for over 25 years. Doug earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University with areas of study in finance and economics. He is an active member of the Michigan Business Brokers Association as well as numerous trade associations and business specific groups to keep up to date on the latest trends in various industries.
Doug was born and raised in the Grand Rapids and Hudsonville area. He enjoys baseball and golf here in Michigan.
He has experience in many industries and has worked closely with businesses in manufacturing, B2B service, professional practice, recreational and leisure.
Nichol Garnsay
Information Systems and Marketing Design Director of Main Street Market Maker
Nichol earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University with areas of study in general business and Spanish. She has a 10-year professional background that includes experience in sales and management. Nichol uses her vast skill set to help clients with top quality marketing pieces to attract buyers, works with routing buyer interest and has recently stepped into the role to support growing demand for our Main Street Market Maker Platform.
She was born and raised in Michigan and she and her husband briefly moved their family to Alabama for 4 years for an opportunity to focus on their family. They relocated back in MI and reside in Portage, Mi as a family of 5. Nichol finds joy in spending time with her 3 young children, camping as a family, reading the latest fiction novel, and binge watching the latest shows with her husband.