Sunbelt of San Jose

Christopher Balthasar received his B.A. in Philosophy from Haverford College in 1987. He worked in film and television production in Hollywood for several years, before receiving his law degree from Loyola Law School in 1995. As a lawyer he worked in business and toxic tort litigation, and once wrote a court medical brief that helped establish causation in a case known as Anderson vs. PG&E, later made into a motion picture called Erin Brokovich. He also has experience writing patents.

In 1998 Chris and his wife, Grace, launched Nirvana Candle Company
(www.nirvanacandles.com) out of a garage, and grew it to over $1 million in annual sales in just over two years. The experience of running and growing a small manufacturing operation with up to 20 employees – along with his legal expertise – provided the perfect background for Chris’ current work as a business broker, first with Business Sales Consultants, and now with Sunbelt Business Advisors.

Chris is a member of the California State Bar Association and the California Association of Business Brokers (C.A.B.B.), and holds a broker’s license from the California Department of Real Estate.

His favorite pastime is training and competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and he has won gold and silver medals in the U.S. Open, bronze in the American Cup, and has even competed in the World Championships. He is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Switzerland, and happily married with two precious children.

Lynnae Howard is a highly motivated and energetic business broker and franchise consultant with Sunbelt of the Bay Area. With a diverse range of industry experience including retail sales and management, human resources, business services, marketing and business development she has significant expertise in food and beverage procurement, personnel management and performance assessment. Lynnae is a focused individual who is committed to providing a signature experience for her clients, maintaining exceptional client relationships. By combining her business ownership experience with her love of entrepreneurship, she is able to bring an enthusiasm and streamlined focus into each deal.

Before coming to Sunbelt Lynnae started and ran a highly successful restaurant and corporate catering business. As a former restaurant owner it is her philosophy that everything a person needs to learn to be a success, can be learned by working in the food and beverage industry. A self proclaimed food and wine junkie, Lynnae enjoys living so close to San Francisco and takes advantage of the proximity every chance she gets.

After the sale of her restaurant Lynnae earned her real estate license and began working as a residential agent for Coldwell Banker in her neighborhood of Willow Glen. As an experienced entrepreneur, in both the restaurant and real estate industries, Lynnae can understand the attraction of independence and control business ownership. She is particularly skilled at listening to her clients goals and then building a business profile that they can use as a roadmap to a success.

Since moving to the Silicon Valley almost 10 years ago from Southern California she now considers herself a native of Northern California. Currently Lynnae lives in the Willow Glen area of San Jose with her two adorable dogs, Emmitt and Roux. For leisure, she enjoys wine tasting, fencing, yoga and riding horses.

Kevin-Quang Lam, a licensed business broker, utilizes his wealth of diverse business experience in both corporate and small business to assist in the business transaction seamlessly for both sellers and buyers. He is a member of the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB), and he has a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Marketing with a minor in Economics. Let Kevin-Quang assist you in achieving your goal of selling or buying a business. With 16 years of business experience in electronics assembly, manufacturing, and testing; inspection; contracted manufacturing services, and the semiconductor industry, Kevin-Quang Lam is a sales, marketing, business development, and management specialist who has held senior and management level positions in some respected international companies such as Siemens, Marubeni, etc. During this period, he traveled extensively to conduct domestic and international business by bringing solutions including capital equipment, software, material and tool, and manufacturing process to his customers in various automotive, computer, consumer electronics, medical and health, telecommunication, and fiber optics industries. In addition, Kevin-Quang has been a co-owner of family businesses including restaurant, mini grocery store, dry cleaning, and vending machine services for over 15 years. He has bought and sold numerous businesses enabling him to put himself in the positions of both the seller and buyer. Also, he has prior experience as a California real estate agent and loan consultant assisting both sellers and buyers to achieve their goals in the real estate and mortgage market. He speaks and writes fluent Vietnamese and is involved with various activities in the Vietnamese community. During his free time with the family, Kevin-Quang enjoys traveling, shopping, and working out at the gym.

Joe Monte, a San Francisco native, brings over 35 years of business experience to Sunbelt. He is uniquely qualified as a business broker. Since 1973 he has owned and operated several small businesses including The Santa Clara Swim School and Car Color Express, an automotive paint and supply store. During the last 17 years he has provided financing to many small business owners. He is a licensed California Real Estate Broker operating: Joseph Monte, Business and Commercial Financing. Mr. Monte operates Rush Funding LLC, a commercial loan investment group, founded in 2004, which has never taken a loss or write-off on a loan. The investors have profited even during this depressed economy, due to Joe’s diligence, good instincts and ability to assess businesses.

Joe has financed a variety of unique businesses including, a flea market, a live theater and a billboard company, that were unable to obtain financing on their own. Mr. Monte understands the complexity of small business and is able to bring out the hidden values overlooked by most.

Joe Monte can provide business owners advice on how to execute the best exit strategy and package and effectively market the business. His finance background will assist in evaluating, screening and qualifying potential buyers as well as expediting there loan process.

Mr. Nielsen brings to Sunbelt a comprehensive business background of over 25 years. As an entrepreneur, he started and operated a mid-market communications company that was successfully merged with a regional competitor. He understands the buying and selling of businesses from the owner's perspective and the intricacies of a successful exit strategy. His understanding of the M&A process and the marketplace, combined with experience on both sides of the table have provided him with the unique ability to understand the complexities, opportunities and pressures involved with each aspect of a business sale transaction. Mr. Nielsen has evaluated hundreds of companies and business opportunities. He has the insight and knowledge to assist business owners in determining the most appropriate and profitable time to exit their businesses. In addition to experience as a business owner and facilitating numerous business sales and acquisitions, Mr. Nielsen has a background in real estate development and property management. Mr. Nielsen is a licensed California business broker, a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and the California Association of Business Brokers (CABB). Mr. Nielsen is a San Francisco Bay Area native and currently resides with his family in Morgan Hill, California.

Donn Reinin has extensive experience in process design, operations management, marketing, sales, and business strategy development. Until March of 2005, Donn was the President and owner of The Clear Choice Group, Inc., a multi-million dollar remodeling company located in Livermore California. He oversaw the purchase and sale of the company twice, before he bought it from an investor group. Under his leadership the company grew rapidly and secured a spot on the Qualified Remodeler Magazine "Top 500" list. Donn ultimately sold the company in early 2005 in order to pursue new opportunities. After taking a well deserved break, Donn determined that his fascination with the business of business and the transactional process, drew him back to embark on a career as a consultant and business intermediary. Donn brings 27 years of wide ranging business experience to his clients that includes small business sales as well as finance, business development, sales and sales management. He excels in contract negotiations, presentations, and financial analyses, which help his clients evaluate business opportunities with confidence. When not busy facilitating deals, Donn enjoys world travel, tennis, and spending time with his wife and three children. Credentials: Member California Association of Business Brokers B.S. Marketing San Francisco State University Currently holds three California State Contractors Licenses B1, C17, C61/D12 California Licensed Real Estate Agent

John (JD) has over 30 years experience in real estate in a multitude of capacities. He is a graduate and licensed architect (inactive) and maintains a license as a general contractor in California. In 1972, he was an Air Force pilot commanding large transport aircraft and crews. After the Air Force, John began a career in real estate development and has owned or operated several construction companies over the years. In the 1980s, he received his real estate agent's license in Texas and in 1989 was licensed in California. While in real estate development, John was responsible for packaging and securing over $150 million in loans for projects from $15 million to over $30 million. Simultaneously, he managed the development of the same projects throughout the Country, negotiating contracts with suppliers, venders, and subcontractors. He has been instrumental in dealing with building departments and city councils to design, organize, and build both commercial and residential projects. Over the years, John has owned and operated a health-related professional company and two construction companies, involved in commercial tenant improvements and residential building and remodeling. While doing so, he has become intimately familiar with the financial needs and structures of businesses for growth and profitability. Since 1990, John has been involved in FRANNET, one of the largest franchise consulting firms. Since 2000, he has taken his years of business experience to become co-owner and Vice-President of Sunbelt Business Brokers, in Campbell, California, successfully working with buyers and sellers to structure the sales of numerous businesses. John is a proven deal maker and intermediary, bringing buyers and sellers together in win-win situations. Though not specializing, John has dealt successfully in numerous industries, quickly coming to understand the underlying business model and the needs of all parties involved. He has dealt with companies ranging in size form $100,000 to $2,000,000 in industries such as manufacturing, automotive, construction, and service.