Mergers and Acquisitions Advisors
Piper Group International is a team, utilizing the unique talents of members and others. The firm is affiliated with a nationwide marketing organization and regional networks. We customize and combine these resources in a manner that best meets our clients' needs. Collectively, the organization takes pride in offering a broad range of skills and experiences. We are pleased to present the members of our team.
Rick Piper
Profile: Rick Piper is a recognized expert in the field of merger and acquisitions, divestitures, strategic searches, valuation and business consulting. His three decades of experience as a 'deal maker" encompasses positioning for exit strategies, all phases of a transaction from preparing effective offering memorandums, creative marketing techniques, to managing the due diligence and closing process. Mr. Piper's letters of reference tell it best. His experience has no geographic limits including international transactions- Mr. Piper has created and presented numerous seminars including "How Buyers Value Closely Held Companies - Finding the Street Value" and "50 Ways To Improve The Value Of Your Company" and is a Contributing author to The Secrets of Positioning Your Business For Sale. The Seminars are accredited with various State Bar Associations for "CLE" (continuing legal education) credit and have been presented to organizations such as U.S. Bancorp, Miller Nash, Stoat Rives and Others. Mr. Piper has long been active in the community supporting such organizations as Marshall Union Manor retirement home, the Boy Scouts of America. Catlin Gabel School, Lincoln High School, Willamette University and other activities
Professional Experience: Over 30 years of Merger and Acquisition Experience. Recognized speaker on calculating street value of businesses
Education: B.S. Portland State University & Various Executive Development Programs
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Bill Billingsley
Profile: For the last six years has successfully established himself in the practice of selling closely held companies. He has a proven track record in all phases of a mergers, acquisitions and divestiture.. His people skills in working with principals and advisors is very professional yet he is sensitive to the emotional and subjective issues that tan make a difference in keeping a transaction together and on track. He is also very task oriented and his ability to organize and prioritize the components of a transaction clearly enhance the progress and timing of a closing. Persistence is a trait one must have to be successful in this field and this is clearly a strong point for Mr. Billingsley.
His historic work experience has also contributed to his success in merger and acquisition field. Bill Billingsley has over 17 years of experience in retail management. He has a solid background in accounting, inventory control, production scheduling, purchasing, marketing and delivery. Mr. Billingsley has a complete knowledge of the process within a variety of industries from operations to sales. He understands all facets of wholesale/retail in the transportation industry, hence his extensive experience enables him to understand the issues of concern to business owners and implement strategies to maximize his client's interests.
Prior to entering the business brokerage industry, Mr. Billingsley was owner of Bedding Equipment Distribution, Inc., a multi-store retail operation. Previous to this, Mr. Billingsley served 8 years as the manager of Tom Peterson's, Inc., a prominent Portland retail chain store.
Education: Mr. Billingsley attended Portland State University and majored in Management and Accounting. He has been active in the administration and coaching of girls softball in his community in addition to various civic and business organizations.
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Brent Freeman
Profile: Brent Freeman brings 30 years of Senior Management experience in the Financial Services industry to Piper Group International. Prior to joining PGI, Mr. Freeman served as Chief Operating Office for NestWorth Inc. a closely held real estate investment company located in San Francisco, California. Mr. Freeman has held Senior Management level positions at Bank of America, ITT, GMAC and GE Capital. Having served on acquisition teams for Bank of America, GMAC and having personally bought, built and sold several businesses, Mr. Freeman brings his extensive personal, corporate experience and expertise to the purchase and sale of middle market business interests.
Education: Mr. Freeman holds a BS in Business from Arizona State University.
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Chuck Atkins
Profile: Chuck Atkins - Broker – ABI, CMEA, and SBA is licensed in California, Oregon & Washington. Chuck has over 28 years of experience as a mergers and acquisitions consultant, entrepreneur and real estate broker. Chuck has owned and operated several successful businesses in various fields. Due to his creative and solution based business acumen he has demonstrated a continual aptitude to close complex and difficult transactions. When presented with challenging issues, Chuck uses his effective communicating and negotiating skills to arrive at a win-win solution. When it comes to financial analysis he also demonstrates an impressive analytical expertise. In addition to his vast experience in the mergers and acquisitions of closely held businesses, his experience and knowledge of investment properties, such as motels, mobile home parks, golf courses and resorts, is impressive. He is considered by others in this field as a highly knowledgeable expert. He is also a certified machinery and equipment appraiser (CMEA). Chuck is a tireless worker to his clients and takes pride in his years of success and his strong code of ethics.
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Tyler Piper
Profile: Tyler is a goal-oriented person who comes from a sales background. He majored in History and Business Administration, while being a community leader, such as teaching in Thailand and later being in charge of a Wildlife Refuge, which he helped transition from a Super Fund Pollution Area to sustainable wildlife habitat. Tyler successfully concluded his civic and NGO leadership to work in sales as a manager.
Tyler joined the PGI team in 2009. Tyler brings a host of experience from his successful sales and marketing work in a variety of fields. This experience is contributing to the efficiency of the firm and has brought some new ideas to PGI's practice in mergers and acquisitions. His proven experience as a "deal maker" and caring attitude exemplify our core value of "We Truly Care." He takes time to carefully understand the dynamics of client's companies and its market specific factors, using both to develop a successful strategy factor to create a position of strength for selling your business or maximizing an acquisition opportunity. Holding himself to the high standards of PGI’s time-tested methods, Tyler, like the entire PGI team, aims to produce results beyond clients’ expectations for each engagement to realize a successful result and rewarding future.
Pacific Lutheran University - Business and History
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Bruce Juhola
Profile: A former Silicon Valley CEO, Bruce brings over 40 years of management experience in technology companies to PGI. He has also had 4 years as a partner in Rimrock Partners, an M&A intermediary firm. He has also had significant international experience at Raychem including 3 years as Regional VP headquartered in Singapore; and significant M&A experience at Raychem.
Bruce has demonstrated an ability to raise money from major financial entities and has a significant amount of experience with venture capital firms and investment banks.
Bruce is also the local chairman of Vistage International - a worldwide CEO membership organization.
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Victoria Howard
Profile: Victoria Howard is the Asia Director of Piper Group International. She specializes in business-to-business transactions between the United States of America and countries in Asia, especially the People’s Republic of China. She brings international business networks, mandarin language skills, cross-cultural and cross-border views, and faculties that help with our international transactions. Ms. Howard worked for over five years in the Financial Services Industry where she analyzed stocks and investment portfolios for large investment banks such as Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo and valued various financial derivatives for hedge funds and credit unions. Ms. Howard uses her skills to forge cross-border alliances, improve the PGI brand, and expand PGI's network of buyers and sellers.
Education: Victoria Howard has a M.S.-Finance Degree from University of Denver and a First-class Degree in Marketing from University of Bedfordshire in the U.K.
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Dennis Moffitt
Profile: Dennis Moffitt has a proven record of M&A planning and implementation with experience in transactions from the lower end of the middle market to transactions in excess of $100 million in enterprise value. With a background as a CPA Dennis works with clients’ own advisers to develop the structure and tax mitigation necessary to maximize the clients' after-tax value from the sale or transfer of their business.
His unique background lends itself strongly to developing comprehensive, easily understood solutions for the owner of a privately held business, incorporating the resolution of business, personal and familial issues that often arise from the sale or other transfer of a major family asset. Working with top business and estate planning attorneys nationwide, Dennis has represented many wealthy individuals and families during his 30-year career.
Dennis has spoken on planning matters with private companies and their owners, industry groups, major brokerage firms, and banks.
Dennis achieved his CPA in California in 1983, although he focuses on problem solving for business and private clients. His tools include his own experience and knowledge, the Internal Revenue Code, and a spreadsheet.
Dennis is set in his ways; specifically, putting the client first, and with the goal of giving the client as much information as possible, enabling the client to make the most informed decisions for themselves. Dennis has often described himself as a 'puzzle solver', saying, 'Bring me a problem you can’t solve and I'll solve it'.
Professional Experience: Over 30 years of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Estate Tax Planning and Business Logistics.
Education: B.A. Accounting, Sonoma State University, California, 1980; Certified Public Accountant, 1983
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The Team