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