Meet The Experts Behind Your Business Success
Terry Collins
Shane Keegan
Terry Espy
Rick Piper
Antonio Johnson
Larry Bono
Travis Newman
Rick Freeman
Maddy Grejarte
Adam Bassett
Terry Collins
Terry’s philosophy centers on a simple but powerful principle: Business owners deserve the same level of sophisticated preparation and marketing that Fortune 500 companies receive when divesting divisions.
His approach combines institutional-grade preparation, technology-enabled networks reaching 100,000+ pre-qualified buyers, strategic industry partnerships with specialized lenders and private equity groups, systematic process excellence achieving up to 90% success rates, and a dedicated team of 15 full-time employees.
Most business owners get one chance to sell their life’s work. They deserve advisors who understand both the numbers and the emotions, who combine proven systems with genuine relationships, and who have the infrastructure to compete with anyone in the market.
Shane Keegan
Three decades of entrepreneurial excellence. Shane Keegan brings over 30 years of proven entrepreneurial success as Principal Business Advisor, having personally started, built, bought, and sold several multi-million dollar companies.
Born and educated in Ireland before immigrating to the United States in 1992, Shane combines international business perspective with deep American market knowledge — operational excellence, transaction mastery, strategic positioning, and communication leadership.
Shane’s hands-on experience as both buyer and seller gives him a unique perspective on every aspect of business transactions.
Terry Espy
Premier national authority in hospitality business sales. With over three decades of specialized expertise in restaurant transactions, Terry Espy has established herself as the nation’s premier authority in hospitality business sales and financing solutions, achieving an exceptional success rate exceeding 90% on restaurant listings through her comprehensive understanding of industry complexities and unparalleled ability to navigate financing challenges that typically derail restaurant transactions.
Terry’s distinctive expertise lies in her mastery of restaurant-specific financing structures and her proven ability to overcome the unique obstacles inherent in hospitality transactions. Her deep knowledge of SBA restaurant lending, equipment financing, liquor license transfers, and lease negotiations enables her to guide transactions to successful completion where other brokers encounter insurmountable barriers.
Industry Leadership & Recognition
Terry’s visionary approach to business brokerage has earned recognition from prestigious publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Triangle Business Journal, and AARP Magazine. Her strategic focus on developing exceptional restaurant concepts and facilitating successful hospitality transactions has helped transform multiple markets into premier culinary destinations.
Community Impact & Innovation
During the pandemic, Terry pioneered innovative community revitalization programs, working with municipalities to create flexible dining solutions that enabled restaurant expansion into sidewalks and public spaces. These groundbreaking initiatives not only saved dozens of restaurants nationwide but generated their best revenues to date, establishing new models for restaurant sustainability.
Strategic Development Expertise
Terry has been personally selected by major development groups to lead commercial components of mixed-use projects, where she has secured renowned chefs and hospitality concepts as anchor tenants. Her boutique development approach includes the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic properties into premier hospitality venues that serve as community anchors.
Professional Recognition
- Triangle Business Journal’s “Women in Business Award”
- Raleigh Chamber of Commerce “Pinnacle Award”
- Leadership positions in business development organizations
- Board Member: Historic preservation foundations, business development councils, cultural arts organizations
- Industry speaker and consultant on restaurant development and community revitalization
Beyond Business
When she’s not transforming communities, Terry rocks out as a member of THE HOT FLASHES, an 8-woman band “of a certain age” recently featured on the cover of AARP Magazine!
Select Restaurant Transactions
Recent restaurant sales & developments: New Anthem Brewery, Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria, Pinpoint Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Castle Street Kitchen, Rum Cow, Floriana’s, Platypus & Gnome, Tarantelli’s, JohnnyLukes, Pour TapRoom, Peppered Cupcake, Bonita, Topsail Steamer, The Vine, Yosake/Husk, Michael’s Gastropub, Angus Grill, Three10 Restaurant, Tequila Comida, Station No. 2, South Front Tavern, Ida Thai, Havanna’s Deck House, Don Luca’s, Gelarto, and Coco Pipa.
Rick Piper
Four decades of proven middle-market M&A excellence. Rick Piper brings exceptional depth and sophistication as Executive M&A Advisor. As founder of Piper Group International, Rick has established himself as a premier authority in complex business transactions.
Rick is the developer of the proprietary “Deal Point” and “Roadmap to Closing” methodologies that maximize value through ethical limited auction processes, and is an expert in creating 200+ page offering memorandums for premium valuations.
Rick’s “caring approach” philosophy ensures clients receive not just transaction expertise, but genuine guidance through what he recognizes as a life-changing event.
Antonio Johnson
Transaction leadership & capital solutions expert. Antonio Johnson brings extensive dual expertise in business brokerage and financing solutions as Business Advisor & Financing Specialist.
His financing mastery includes SBA 7A and 504 program expertise, alternative financing sources, deal structuring, and pre-qualification services that maximize approval probability.
Antonio’s philosophy centers on honest communication and real-world strategy, avoiding industry jargon in favor of clear, actionable guidance.
Larry Bono
40+ years in transportation business transactions and route-based operations. Larry Bono is founder of Lawrence Associates, specializing in FedEx Ground M&A.
Larry brings cross-regional market expertise across NY, NJ, CT, PA, and NC, along with comprehensive financing solutions including franchise funding and equipment finance, and personal buy-side and sell-side experience with regulatory approval expertise.
Travis Newman
Lower market business transaction expert with specialized expertise in the $100K–$1M business segment — the majority of the American business sales market.
Travis brings innovative buyer acquisition strategies for individual investors and owner-operators, creative marketing approaches for Main Street businesses, and expert coordination of SBA loans, seller financing, and alternative funding.
Rick Freeman
Strategic business intelligence & client relations specialist. Rick Freeman serves as Client Relations Director, bringing over a decade of collaborative experience working directly with founder Terry Collins since 2014.
As the primary liaison between business owners and the advisory team, Rick conducts initial business assessments, serves as strategic communication point of contact, and gathers critical business data to optimize positioning and valuation strategies.
“Rick’s expertise in financial analysis and his natural ability to connect with business owners creates the foundation for every successful transaction.”
Maddy Grejarte
Operational excellence & client success leadership. Maddy Grejarte serves as Chief Operations Officer, leading the comprehensive operational infrastructure that enables the team to consistently deliver exceptional client outcomes.
Maddy’s leadership spans strategic process management, advanced valuation support coordination, communication systems, CRM & technology integration, and quality assurance across every client interaction.
“Maddy is the operational leader who makes complex processes look effortless.”
Adam Bassett
An experienced entrepreneur who successfully built and exited his own company before transitioning into business brokerage. This firsthand experience gives Adam a unique perspective — he’s been in the owner’s seat and understands both the financial and emotional complexities of selling a business.
Adam developed deep expertise in business valuation, strategic marketing, and complex deal negotiations. He partners closely with each owner, taking time to understand their unique goals, concerns, and vision for their company’s future.
General Questions About Our Services
What makes Next Level Business Brokers different from other business brokers?
Selling a business is about preserving your legacy and securing your family’s future. Your dedicated advisor brings deep industry expertise, strong relationships with 220+ specialized lenders, access to over 100,000 pre-qualified buyers, and a proven track record — success rates reaching up to 90%, well above the industry average of 20%.
Do you really sell up to 90% of the businesses you list?
Yes. Our success rate is dramatically higher because we only work with sellers who invest in professional preparation through our evaluation process. This creates a commitment foundation that separates serious sellers from casual inquiries, while funding the comprehensive preparation that makes businesses irresistible to buyers.
What size businesses do you work with?
We handle businesses from $500K to $100M+ across all industries: $500K–$5M (mid-market), $1M–$10M (multi-state), $2M–$15M (manufacturing), and up to $100M+ (large complex deals).
What industries do you specialize in?
We have specialized advisors for manufacturing, restaurants & hospitality, healthcare & professional services, retail & e-commerce, waste management, logistics, service businesses, and more.
How many people work on my business sale?
A team of fifteen full-time professionals supports the advisor facilitating your transaction — specialized advisors, marketing experts, financial analysts, and support staff.
Ready To Talk?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with a Next Level advisor today.
BOOK A CALL →Your Next Chapter Starts With The Right Partner
You didn’t build your business to settle for “good enough” when it’s time to sell. Your life’s work deserves industry specialists who understand both the numbers and the emotions, who respect your legacy while maximizing your value.
Don’t let another day pass wondering “what if?” Every month you delay is another month of carrying costs, market uncertainty, and emotional stress. Your family’s future is too important to leave to chance.