IBBA Member Excellence Awards 2018

Best in the business broker industry awarded by International Business Brokers Association

(INDEPENDENCE, OHIO – May 20, 2018) The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) presented awards of excellence to forty business brokers from around the world on May 4. Winners were presented with their awards during the 3rd Annual Member Excellence Awards Gala at the IBBA’s annual conference in New Orleans.

“These recipients are true leaders in the industry,” said Warren Burkholder, IBBA Board Chair. “We’re pleased to honor their high standards of skill and excellence which the IBBA strongly promotes.”

Awards were given in the following seven categories: IBBA Outstanding Producer, IBBA Chairman’s Circle, IBBA Deal Maker, IBBA Top Global Producer, IBBA Top Deal Maker of the Year, IBBA Closing of the Year and IBBA Advocate of the Year.

This year’s honorees by category include:

IBBA Outstanding Producer Award: Given to those individuals who closed one or more business deals totaling at least $1 million in total purchase price during the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Cress V. Diglio: Orlando, Florida
April Femrite: Mankato, Minnesota
Steve Fylypchuk: Calgary, Alberta
Eric Gagnon: Flagler Beach, Florida
Kyle Griffith: Woodbury, New York
Rhett Kniep: Rocklin, California

John McLeod: Vancouver, British Columbia
Thomas Milana: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Bill Patten: Vancouver, Washington
Lisa Riley: Scottsdale, Arizona
Michael Tobian: Lehi, Utah
Steve Zimmerman: San Rafael, California

IBBA Chairman’s Circle Award: Given to those individuals who closed one or more business deals amounting to $3 million and above in total purchase price during the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Faraaz Ali: Washington, District of Columbia
Emmet Apolinario: Columbus, Ohio
Mark Austin: Austin, Texas
Pino Bacinello: Vancouver, British Columbia
Steven Beal: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Erin Bean: West Palm Beach, Florida
Sean Brelsford: Melbourne, Florida
Randy Bring: Boca Raton, Florida
Scott Bushkie: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Russell Cohen: Davie, Florida
Lidia Couzo: Amherst, New York
Jeffrey Elder: Austin, Texas
Al Fialkovich: Denver, Colorado
Peter Goodman: Sudbury, Massachusetts

Randy Hendershot: Roseville, California
George Hicks: Canyon Lake, California
Ian Houghton: Vancouver, British Columbia
Joseph Magnotti: Wilmington, Delaware
Michael Mensch: Melbourne, Florida
Diana Miles: Charlotte, North Carolina
Joe Mota: Brampton, Ontario
Rochelle O’Brien: Dallas, Texas
Houmehr ‘Mike’ Panoussi: Palmdale, California
Aldrin Raphael Fernandes: Mississauga, Ontario
Amanda Reale: Vancouver, British Columbia
Scott Simons: Orem, Utah
Andrew Smith: Annapolis, Maryland
Ken Wither: Calgary, Alberta

IBBA Deal Maker Award: Given to those individuals who sold at least 10 qualified businesses during the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Faraaz Ali: Washington, District of Columbia
Steven Beal: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Erin Bean: West Palm Beach, Florida
Sean Brelsford: Melbourne, Florida
Randy Bring: Boca Raton, Florida
Russell Cohen: Davie, Florida
Cress V. Diglio: Orlando, Florida

Al Fialkovich: Denver, Colorado
Joseph Magnotti: Wilmington, Delaware
Houmehr ‘Mike’ Panoussi: Palmdale, California
Aldrin Raphael Fernandes: Mississauga, Ontario
Scott Simons: Orem, Utah
Ken Wither: Calgary, Alberta
Steve Zimmerman: San Rafael, California

IBBA Top Global Producer Award: Given to the individual who has the highest total purchase price from all of his/her deals combined in the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Joseph Magnotti: Wilmington, Delaware

IBBA Top Deal Maker of the Year Award: Given to the individual who sold the greatest number of qualified businesses in the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Joseph Magnotti: Wilmington, Delaware

IBBA Closing of the Year Award: Given to the applicant who closed the single largest business deal in the 2017 calendar year. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Scott Bushkie: Green Bay, Wisconsin

IBBA Advocate of the Year Award: Given to the one industry professional who has gone above and beyond to not only help the IBBA continue to be successful and grow as an organization, but also help individual members grow and continue to be successful as well. The IBBA is pleased to congratulate:

Dr. Bart A. Basi: St. Louis, Illinois

About the International Business Brokers Association
The IBBA provides business brokers with education, conferences, professional designations and networking opportunities. As an exclusive education opportunity, it offers coursework and seminars required to obtain its prestigious Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) certification.

The IBBA also strives to create professional relationships with successful business transaction advisors to increase the value of the IBBA to its members and to be a leader in the exchange of business referrals. Membership in the IBBA includes these excellent networking opportunities, as well as a complete package of other benefits and services. Formed in 1983, the IBBA has members around the world. For more information about the IBBA, visit the website at www.ibba.org


Media Contacts:
Cole Buergi
Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.
920-965-7750 ext.168
[email protected]

Susan Finco
Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.
920-965-7750 ext. 158
[email protected]

Related Content

woman reading ibba magazine spring 2023 issue on a tablet IBBA Magazine

IBBAinsights: Spring 2023

IN THIS ISSUE: “Defining Moments” Letter from the 2023 IBBA Chair. Plus, Information on the Inaugural Master’s Program, Preparing for Buyer-Seller Meetings, SBA Financing, and more!

person viewing ibba insights winter 2022 magazine on tablet IBBA Magazine

IBBAinsights: Winter 2022

IN THIS ISSUE: Remembering Tom West, “What a Flight It’s Been” Letter from the 2022 IBBA Chair. Plus, Marketing Opportunities for Business Intermediaries, Best Practices in Specialization, Establishing Realistic Asking Prices, Working with Brokers, Legislative Updates, and more!

business people clapping Press Releases

IBBA Announces Certified Business Intermediary® Scholarship Winners

Independence, OH  – December 7, 2022 – The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the world’s largest trade association for the business brokerage industry, is pleased to announce the individuals selected to receive this year’s Certified Business Intermediary® (CBI) Scholarships for 2023. “The IBBA scholarships are a great way for us to help support newer intermediaries […]

Join Our E-Magazine

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.