Sunbelt of Milwaukee Team

Ed graduated from Marquette University High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His diverse background comes from years of working in corporate America and entrepreneurial experiences. Ed was in charge of domestic and international divisions for the largest natural gas distribution contractor in the country. He was responsible for a construction OEM division and was Vice President of Sales for a contract manufacturer. His entrepreneurial experience consists of starting two companies and acquiring a third.

Since 2003, Ed has been the Managing Partner of Sunbelt Midwest in the Brookfield, WI office. He understands the challenges of owning a business and has become an expert in the details of selling them. He has been involved in hundreds of transactions gaining proficiency in lower middle market and main street deals. Ed is currently on the board for the Wisconsin Chapter of the MBBI (Midwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries) and has been President of the Wisconsin Chapter.

Ed has become an excellent resource to business owners through his vast network and professional experience advising hundreds of business owners in preparation to take their companies to market.

Broker Name: Stacie Krajcir

Title: Managing Director & COO

Direct number (this is their cell): 262-844-9971

Bio info: As Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Valens M&A, Stacie is responsible for the day-to-day operations and managing the company’s KPIs.

She started her career with a Fortune 500 insurance brokerage firm where her focus was on the aerospace industry. She quickly sharpened her negotiating skills with the responsibility of negotiating with Governments around the world on behalf of large US defense contractors. Stacie then left Corporate America to become a business owner, which has given her unique perspective in assisting people in buying or selling a business.

In addition to her internal company responsibilities, Stacie provides M&A advisory and value-enhancement services to lower-middle market businesses.

Stacie has 4 children, enjoys playing golf with her husband and friends and enjoys watching a lot of club volleyball!

Industry Experience: Stacie has advisory experience in various industries; however, her focus is the healthcare industry.

Association Memberships: MBBI

Broker Name: Ken Demske

Title: M&A Advisor

Direct number (this is their cell): 262-939-2080

Bio info: Ken is an experienced M&A Advisor with scores of successful mid-range business transactions. He has closed several Multi-Million Dollar transactions as well, all in diverse industries such as manufacturing, service, distribution and retail. Ken has numerous contacts in various fields such as the Banking, Accounting, Consulting and Legal arenas. These contacts serve to assist buyers and sellers in accomplishing their goals. Ken has a diverse background from working on startup companies to being the general manager of a manufacturing company. In addition, he has worked in multiple sales capacities all the way up to International Sales Manager of a Fortune 200 company.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Ken brings real life experience, which provides valuable insight into the complexities and process of the negotiations required to successfully complete business transactions. Ken is annually recognized as the top contributor in the Milwaukee Sunbelt office.

Industry Experience: Ken has over 17 years of M&A advisory experience.

Association Memberships: MBBI

Mark brings more than a decade of experience working with small businesses, ranging from retail to manufacturing. Mark worked exclusively on closing the top deal ever recorded for a small manufacturing concern, the buyer being a Fortune 500 company. He also worked hand-in-hand with the top executive in design and implementation of new product lines. Additional past experience includes national sales management and execution of national marketing strategies for retail and manufacturing companies.

Mark brings a level of creativity to the process of buying and selling a business that is often required in complex transactions. In 2005 and 2006, Mark earned the Sunbelt President’s Award for attaining the rank of Million Dollar Achiever. Mark is a member of Sunbelt Midwest, with offices in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin, helping people buy and sell businesses in Wisconsin and the greater Midwest area.

Broker Name: Bob Wood

Title: M&A Advisor

Direct number (this is their cell): 608-208-4502

Bio info: Bob Wood is an experienced businessman who has joined Sunbelt Business Brokers-Milwaukee as a certified business broker. He works under the Milwaukee office, but is based in Madison to negotiate deals in the Central Wisconsin area.

Bob brings a wealth of experience from a variety of industries. After attending several years of college, he began working in the electrical industry in Chicago, for Steiner Electric Supply and Frontier Electric Supply. Bob has experience being a truck driver, purchasing agent and inside salesman. Upon relocating to Wisconsin, he worked as an outside salesman for BJ Electric Supply as well as Interstate Electric Supply.

While working in the electric industry, he pursued his hobby of building houses on the weekends. This turned into a full-time job when he started a company in the home remodeling and building arena.

During this time, he developed strong relationships with a variety of tradesman and was given the opportunity to purchase Complete Drywall Services, a company that had been in business 25 years. While under his leadership, Complete Drywall doubled sales from $800,000 to $1.8 million. He has a true Entrepreneurial spirit.

Bob is an avid outdoors man, solves the occasional crossword puzzle, makes a mean homemade deep-dish pizza, and stays involved in construction by assisting family and friends.

Industry Experience: Bob has over 5 years of M&A advisory experience as well as business ownership experience.

Association Memberships: MBBI

Broker Name: Jim Gaulke

Title: M&A Advisor

Direct number (this is their cell): 414-617-9847

Bio info: Jim Gaulke joined Sunbelt in 2005 after owning his first business and was with Sunbelt until 2010. In 2010 Jim left Sunbelt after buying his second business. After the sale of his second business in 2019 Jim re-joined Sunbelt. Jim has owned both franchise and non-franchise businesses and brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge of business buying and selling.

Jim brings years of broker experience, twenty-eight years of business ownership experience and a unique perspective of being personally involved in buying and selling two of his own businesses.

During Jim’s time as a business owner he took two businesses from the brink of bankruptcy back to profitability. Jim owned a retail power equipment business that went from insolvency to the top 2% in sales volume in the industry.

Jim likes to spend time volunteering with the VA hospital in Milwaukee, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, spending time with family and grandchildren, and church activities. Jim is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys downhill skiing, bicycle riding, and bow hunting.

Industry Experience: Jim has over 8 years’ experience as a business advisor and twenty-eight years of business ownership experience.

Association Memberships: MBBI

Broker Name: Matt Breselow

Title: Finance Director, M&A Business Advisor

Direct number (this is their cell): 920-344-4545

Bio info: Mathew has extensive experience in financing M&A transactions with over 15 years of banking experience and business ownership. Having financed hundreds of deals over the years, he has experience in the manufacturing, fabrication, welding, agriculture/farming, and real estate industries. His contacts in the banking, accounting, consulting, and legal arenas help assist buyers and sellers in accomplishing their goals.

Mathew brings a wide range of business consultative ideas to the table. Being a multi-business owner, he has significant experience in business operations, owner’s mindset, goals, and exit planning strategies to maximize a seller’s potential. He is a true resource to his clients, helping them package their asset purchase loans to maximize their deal and ensure bankability of their purchase.

He is a volunteer certified USA youth wresting coach and spends his free time working his family’s hobby farm with his sons.

Industry Experience: Mathew is an experienced Commercial Lender with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in M&A Lending, CRE Lending, Entrepreneurial Lending, Veteran SBA Lending, Business Planning, Sales, Management, Refinance, and Business Relationship Management. Strong business development professional with a finance focused in Accounting and Finance from Madison College.

Association Memberships: MBBI