Newton Enterprises, Inc.
March 23, 2005
To whom it may concern:
I wish to provide a letter of reference for Ray Hanson.
I owned a food distribution business in 1994 when I met Ray Hanson.
I had contemplated selling my business for two or three years
and had contacted (and been contacted by) a number of business
brokers. I was shocked at the universal lack of ability and integrity
common to all of them. Ray Hanson was very different.
Ray evaluated my business and gave me his opinion of my prospects
for sale. The news was very disappointing. Most brokers had been
giving me artificially optimistic opinions, but Ray’s, although
sobering, was accurate.
Given the bad news, I expected that would be the end of my relationship
with Ray. But it was just the beginning. Over the next two years,
Ray helped me groom my business for sale. He helped me organize
my business structure with the help of “The Priority Manager.”
He encouraged me to seek other small distributors for advice.
This resulted in our joining the buying group “Golbon.”
In 1995, my company was Golbon’s “New Distributor
of the Year.” He helped with employee relations issues,
including the very successful adoption of a profit sharing plan.
In 1996, my company sold for more than its list price. The proceeds
have allowed me to invest in commercial property. The sale has
given me the freedom to do what I really want to do.
With his former business experience, Ray Hanson brings far more
to the negotiating table than his considerable ability with numbers.
He has an empathy for the experience of the business owner that
most brokers will never know. And it is clearly evident in his
active participation in community activities that he is a man
of character and integrity.
I highly recommend Ray Hanson as a business broker.
Sincerely,
David C. Newton
President
|