Why Choose Us?

Karen Schorkopf, founder, has reached the top of her profession with the designation of Certified Business Intermediary. You can be assured that she and her team can assist you in determining and taking the best course to obtain and keep the most value for your business. Trust is one of the key ingredients in bring a transaction to completion; therefore, Karen asks her clients to hold her accountable to the Core IBBA Code of Ethics and principals so that you can be assured of the highest level of trust. Code of Ethics found here. Testimonials

Jim Shaub is an experienced business sales intermediary, M&A Advisor, and bank and private capital sourcing specialist, having been involved in all aspects of a business’s life cycle. This experience includes starting, selling, buying, mergers, family, and management ownership transitions, restructuring and bankruptcy reorganizations. He is a published journal author on the subjects of financing a business, and investment business analysis.

Jim has an understanding and empathy of a business owner’s challenges and issues when facing the transition of a business, one that often embodies the owners themselves. This is often the first and only time the owner will be going through this process, which makes it critically important to engage a partner who has the experience and understanding of how this transition will affect all the parties involved with the sale, or a purchase. Confidentiality, Trust, Experience and Diligence are required for any successful completed transaction. Jim will bring all of these to the table for you, your company, and your stakeholders.

Clayton Fields With over 25 years of experience bringing buyers and sellers together for successful transactions, Clayton is dedicated to helping business owners realize the full value of what they’ve built. Drawing on a unique blend of operations management expertise and go-to-market leadership, Clayton provides a results-driven, strategic approach to selling businesses.

Early in his career, Clayton spent five years managing front-of-house operations in the restaurant industry for small and large brands, developing a hands-on appreciation for service excellence, team leadership, and customer relationships—the same principles that now guide his approach to client service.

Before becoming a business broker, Clayton spent 15 years leading go-to-market operations for software, SaaS, and professional services companies—partnering with CEOs and executive teams to streamline operations, identify growth opportunities, and position businesses for acquisition and expansion. This deep understanding of what makes companies valuable in the eyes of buyers allows Clayton to expertly prepare and present businesses for maximum return.

Tracy Scrima is bringing over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, business consulting, and business development. She has a comprehensive background in managing and expanding businesses, with particular expertise in the retail, hospitality, medical, and service sectors. Previously, Tracy founded and grew Medical Spas, multi-location Lash and Brow and beauty education business in Boston, where she demonstrated a strong aptitude for driving business growth and maximizing shareholder value.

In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Tracy has served as a consultant, advising small to mid-sized companies on strategic growth initiatives, operational efficiency, and market positioning. Tracy has specialized in mergers and acquisitions, providing invaluable insights to businesses navigating the complexities of the marketplace. 

Tracy is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct in all business dealings. With strategic communication skills and rigorous approach to client service Tracy is a trusted advisor to business owners seeking to buy, sell, or expand their enterprises.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music and a former professional singer, she brings a disciplined and creative approach to her work. She is dedicated to leveraging her extensive industry knowledge to facilitate successful transactions for Tennessee Business Broker clients.

Paul Schorkopf has over 30 years’ experience in the Financial Markets, starting as a specialist on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and continuing into the futures markets in New York and Chicago, and in Mortgage Back Securities and Asset Backed origination on Wall Street. Paul also worked as an award-winning engineer for Dell and Verizon. In 2002 Paul and his family moved to Brentwood, Tennessee. To teach their three sons how to run their own business, Paul worked with them to restore a 1969 Good Humor Ice Cream truck. Paul is customer focused, and believes integrity is at the core of all successful transactions.

David Newell has over 40+ years of financial experience in commercial and investment banking. Initially trained as a commercial lender, David gravitated to the Asset/Liability side of a major regional bank and dealt with the buying and selling of the bank’s loan portfolio. Subsequently he was asked by the Union Planters Bank (NYSE: UPC) to develop and manage the bank’s Trust business within its community bank network. David was the only officer outside of the Memphis headquarters authorized to accept fiduciary business for the bank in both personal and corporate trust matters. In this role he became very familiar in dealing with business owners exit strategies and the proper management of the sales proceeds post transaction. He served as Trustee for several large leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and in all cases was asked to make presentations to the employees on the rights, benefits, and importance of employee ownership whether the transaction be qualified or non-qualified.