Meet the Team

His team is focused on the sale of main street and lower middle market businesses.

Since starting Transworld Business Advisors of Houston in 2014, he has sold over 350 businesses. His organization has consistently ranked as one of the top 2 performing organizations in Transworld’s 300 office global network. Gerry is a past president and state board member of the Texas Association of Business Brokers and is currently the President of Transworld Business Advisors’ National Franchisee Council. He was elected to the Transworld Business Advisors Hall of Fame in 2015.

Prior to starting Transworld Business Advisors of Houston, Gerry cultivated thirty years of global business experience which included managing international business units, directing global marketing, and leading a global strategic procurement organization. Gerry has been involved in hundreds of negotiations across 5 continents. He has held executive leadership positions in 3 Fortune 500 companies covering 50+ countries across North America, Latin America, Central America, The Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Gerry's uniquely diverse global business experience includes M&A negotiations, Small Business sales, contract and lease negotiations, retail network development, new business development, global and local marketing, global retail brand management, retail revenue stream development, contract & lease negotiations, strategic global procurement, franchise development, general and operational management, and global franchise development.

Gerry is thrilled to have the opportunity in his current capacity to leverage his extensive business experience to assist others in realizing their business & life goals.

President of Transworld Business Advisors of South & West Texas, Wyoming, and New Mexico
President of Transworld Business Advisors’ National Franchisee Council
Past President Texas Association of Business Brokers Houston Chapter (2021-2022)
Past Texas Association of Business Brokers Board of Directors Member (2021-2022)
Transworld Business Advisors Hall of Fame Member (Elected 2015)
Certified Business Intermediary (CBI)
Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP)
Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary (M&AMI)
Member of the International Business Broker Association (IBBA)
Member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Source (M&A Source)

in corporate finance, venture capital, and non-profit management, and has been an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurial ventures in the U.S. and emerging markets.

As a former investment banker, Carmen has extensive experience in buying and selling businesses and has executed several transactions including mergers & acquisitions, initial public offerings and private equity placements. She is well versed in valuation techniques to determine the best entry and exit price for an investment.

Carmen holds an MBA in management from Imperial College Business School, London, UK, where she specialized in corporate finance and customer-focused strategy. Carmen is a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Source where she has earned both a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation and a Merger and Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designation. Carmen also holds a Texas Real Estate License.

CFO and right hand to CEO's and business owners ranging from $5M to $850M across several industries including technology, services, construction and light manufacturing.

Bobbi is well versed in the management of all areas of an organization including operations, legal, HR, IT, systems and FP&A. As Senior Business Advisor, Bobbi brings direct hands on experience in the negotiation, acquisition and integration of small and medium sized businesses globally. Bobbi is known for problem solving, creative business structuring and a unique approach to deal completion for the benefit of both the seller and buyer.

Bobbi has a BS in Accounting from Florida State University. Her passions include jeeping off-road, international travel, animal advocacy, and time outdoors with her five large dogs.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Austin College where she double-majored in Business Finance and Psychology. Elizabeth is primarily responsible for creating and driving the company’s marketing and community relations initiatives. She also directly supports the Houston M&A team along with manages vendor relations for the office. She is a Texas Real Estate Licenses Agent and her hobbies include dancing, fishing, spending time with family, watching crime shows/movies. She is also the proud owner of a pavement princess oIIIIIIIo.

of the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston and a founding board member and the International Committee Chair of Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Houston Chapter.

Austin has more than 30 years of experience in international business with an extensive background in conducting business in both China and the U.S. His expertise includes:

• Business sales and M&A
• Real estate investment
• Sourcing, outsourcing, import and export trade
• Setting up distribution networks and identifying markets for established and introductory products

Austin has been an executive officer for several Chinese and U.S. companies. Formerly he was General Manger of A & G Toys, Inc., Houston, Texas; Executive Vice-President of DL America, Inc., Houston, Texas; and General Manager of Shunlida Company, a unit of The Import and Export Corporation of Dalian Development Zone, which was a state-owned international trade corporation ranking in the top 500 companies in the foreign trade industry in China. He was also one of the eleven Board Directors of the Paraffin Wax Committee for China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters in 1995 and 1996.

Austin speaks Chinese, English and basic Japanese, and has extensive cross cultural experience in business communication between China and America. He is also a Certified Business Intermediary, Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Professional, and a Business Certified Appraiser.

over 15 years. His experience spans many industries including transportation, oilfield services, waste management, equipment rental, fast food, pharmaceutical, reverse/forward logistics and pool services. Steve is the former Director of Finance for a large publicly traded company where he managed the investment portfolio with a collective valuation in excess of $200M. Within that role, he was a board member and advisor to many of the portfolio companies, creating deals that promoted growth and innovation. His extensive experience as an owner/operator of a multi-unit nationally recognized fast food franchise brings a unique perspective that will help his clients achieve their business objectives. Steve’s exposure in building a business from the ground up brings a beneficial perspective to his clients. He is versed in finding solutions to challenges that were not otherwise visible to others. Steve is a Certified Public Accountant with a BBA from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. Steve is a native Texan and lives in Houston with his wife of 20 years, and two teenage daughters. His hobbies include watching sports, boating, wake surfing, and spending time with family and friends.

She has several years of experience working in various Marketing and Public Relations roles and has excellent problem solving, project management and system development skills. Ana has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Trinity University, where she specialized in Marketing. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, discovering new restaurants around the city, working out, traveling and cooking. Ana is fluent in English and Spanish.

include industry research, market analysis, financial analysis, creating executive summaries, strategic buyer identification, buyer management, and due diligence process support. Karissa plays a major role on our M&A Intermediary team.

Prior to joining the TBA of Houston team, Karissa worked in the financial services industry for 7 years in increasingly sophisticated positions. She graduated from NYU's Stern School of Business with a bachelor's degree in finance and from University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctor. Continually seeking to expand her professional horizon, Karissa is currently a CPA candidate. Her hobbies include watching football, hiking, reading, and solving logic puzzles.

Ron's prior experience includes assisting hundreds of new franchisee candidates with opening their own businesses. He also facilitated dozens of franchise resales and has purchased and sold businesses ranging from $200K to $20M. His strengths include problem-solving, creative solutions, and “win-win" transactions.

Ron has a BBA in Finance from Texas Christian University. He is also a licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas. Ron was born and raised in Houston and enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, traveling, and playing tennis.

as a licensed banker and assisted in roles such as management, investments, lending and mentoring. Through the ownership of multiple dry clean stores, Quoc has developed tremendous business acumen. He prides himself in his creativity and strong problem-solving capabilities. These skills have helped him flourish as an entrepreneur and as a professional business advisor, prior to joining Transworld Quoc owned and operated his own business brokerage. Quoc has a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston. He is also a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and licensed Texas Real Estate Agent. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out, traveling, fishing and spending time with his wife and two kids. Quoc Pham is fluent in English and Vietnamese.

$14 Billion in successfully closed transactions and drove the strategic growth of his clients across the globe. He has extensive experience structuring deals of all sizes and excels at getting his clients the right deal at the right price. His hands on approach and proactive engagement with both buyer and seller creates a win-win scenario that ultimately delivers success to all parties. Gerald is a native Houstonian who received his Finance degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.

having owned and managed multiple locations. Wayne has personally sold multiple of his own businesses bringing this unique perspective to the selling process. His background also includes investments in single-family and multifamily properties. Wayne earned his BBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston’s Bauer School of Business. He also served as a volunteer for many nonprofit organizations, including the Houston Rotary Club, the Spring Klein Chamber of Commerce, Katy Business Network International, and Tri-County Business Associates. Wayne served as president of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship Alumni Association, as well as on the board of the University of Houston Bauer College of Business Alumni Association. In addition, Wayne served as an advisory board member for the Katy chapter of the National Hispanic Professional Organization. In his spare time, Wayne enjoys traveling, gardening and hiking.

and published stock recommendations for institutional investors before moving into institutional equity sales where he helped mutual funds, pension funds, hedge funds and money managers choose their stock investments. As a generalist in equity sales, he was required to have a working knowledge of most industries including manufacturing, restaurants, retail, business services, banking, technology, energy, healthcare, real estate, etc. Among his client base, Rusty was known for his honesty, prompt service and his passion for his clients’ success. During his career he acquired and divested of a franchise in the education space and ran the investor relations department for an oil and gas company. Rusty is a native Houstonian who worked in construction before receiving his BBA and then an MBA from the University of Houston. He is a member of the International Association of Business Brokers and the Texas Association of Business Brokers. His interests include cooking, camping, hiking and snow skiing.

small business allows him to understand the dynamics of your business. His experience in acquisitions, financial analysis, and market assessments make him a great asset to buyers and sellers. He serves on several advisory committees for various companies where he applies his extensive global business expertise. Past positions over the last thirty-plus years have provided him with a broad range of skills, from accounting to business management. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati with a business degree in accounting and management. He is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant and has an Executive Leadership Certificate from Rice University.

private equity and public sector. While serving as CEO for building product manufacturers DECRA Roofing Systems and Royal Manufacturing he fostered business growth by creating value, making transformational business process changes, and providing exceptional leadership. As an “entrepreneurial” executive, he thrived on the daily involvement with business operations and sales while spearheading product development initiatives which included the granting of 6 different patents. His background provides complete insight into the daily workings of organizations both large and small. Business Brokerage provides Bo with an opportunity to continue being a successful team builder while delivering a win-win situation for all parties involved. He received a BS Degree in Psychology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama and an MBA from the University of Dallas. His spare time is usually spent with family and travel, but he is always up for the challenge of a woodworking project.

with 45 employees, 750 customers, and $1.5 million in revenues. She is currently the owner of a successful salon franchise, a Franchise Advisory Council Member, a Franchise Marketing Council Member, and was recently selected as a Multi-Unit Franchise Partner of The Year. With her small business and franchise experience, Katie is well-positioned to support sellers in the sale of their businesses and at communicating with buyers. Katie’s favorite part of her job is the people—meeting and working with sellers and buyers who want honesty, clear communication, and full support through the selling and buying process. Katie is a native Texan and proud Texas A&M graduate (Class of 97) with two boys, who she will tell you are the best reflection of her character, Stephen (22) and Jackson (18). In her free time, she loves spending time with her friends and family, indoor cycling, and traveling anywhere there is sand.

Andres has been a franchise owner, real estate developer, CEO and project manager for several construction companies. Prior to becoming a seasoned entrepreneur, Andres was also an international banking executive for a BBVA bank and a financial advisor to several technology companies in the early stages of his career.

Andres has a BBA in Economics and International Business and Finance from the University of Miami, Florida reinforced by an MBA. He speaks Spanish and has an extensive cross-cultural marketing and management experience in Latin America.

Mr. Ghersi’s been a leading figure in various business and professional associations both inside and outside the Houston community leveraging his wealth of knowledge and network to benefit his clients here at Transworld.

She has held executive leadership roles in large management groups, start-up entities, and publicly traded organizations. In addition, Molly’s experience as a lawyer and small business owner gives her a hands-on approach and a practical perspective in bringing deals to a successful close for all parties involved.

Over the years, Molly has earned a reputation as a well-respected and recognized leader in for-profit medicine across the country, providing consulting services and much needed legal structure, focused not only on risk management and compliance, but also on creativity and innovation. Since moving to Houston and starting her own business in 2010, Molly has focused on providing exceptional leadership and direction to clients from a variety of industries, providing her expanded focus and insight. Her experience, business acumen, and ability to think “outside the box” have allowed Molly’s clients to achieve success in business investment, acquisition, and de novo development.

Earlier in her career, Molly was an established figure on Capitol Hill, leading political advocacy efforts, fundraising, membership recruitment, and public relations, while operating a non-profit national trade association. She has also served as a board member and advisor for various business entities and public commissions, including three terms as a Governor appointed member of the SD Healthcare Commission. Molly received her Juris Doctorate with honors in 1997 from the USD School of Law, where she was awarded the prestigious Gavel Award as the most promising graduate, and served as the Editor in Chief of the Law Review.

Molly enjoys spending her time with her husband and three children, and shares her passion for music and the arts through various volunteer and philanthropic opportunities.

clients with all commercial real estate marketing needs including lease assignments, lease renewals, broker price opinions, market comparable reports, commercial real estate negotiations, and general real estate support.

Prior to joining Transworld, Mr. Gaines served as Vice President of Brokerage Services at Caldwell Companies where he specialized in the marketing, acquisition and disposition of commercial land and industrial product.

Mr. Gaines’ real estate backgro und and education aid him in his primary focus at Clark Gaines Properties, which is to cultivate new business and pursue development opportunities through impeccable client support and interaction. Through financial analysis and market research, Mr. Gaines assists investors and clients in site selection, development, property acquisition, and disposition. He currently works with new and existing clients to maximize the value of their real estate transactions.

In 2013 and 2018, The Houston Business Journal named Mr. Gaines one of Houston’s Top 20 Real Estate Brokers. Mr. Gaines earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas. Mr. Gaines has also obtained the distinguished Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation (SIOR) – a designation that only 2,900 practitioners hold worldwide.

Mr. Gaines is the Admissions and Membership Chair on the Board of Directors for the SIOR Houston Gulf Coast Chapter. He is also an active member of the Aggie Real Estate Network and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA – Northwest Houston Chapter), and had served as an Assistant Captain for the Gatekeepers Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He is a graduate of the 2012-2013 Leadership North Houston class and an active member of Houston’s First Baptist Church in Cypress.

Mr. Gaines pursued his career in Commercial Real Estate after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Master’s Degree in Real Estate from the Mays Business School. Prior to his post-graduate work, Mr. Gaines received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, also from Texas A&M.

clients with all commercial real estate marketing needs including lease assignments, lease renewals, broker price opinions, market comparable reports, commercial real estate negotiations, and general real estate support.

Prior to joining Transworld, Mr. Clark served as Vice President of Brokerage Services in the Industrial division at Caldwell Companies. He specialized in the full range of both tenant and landlord representation services - including sales and purchase transactions, relocations, marketing, and build-to-suit opportunities. With a strong and well-developed background in sales, Mr. Clark works with new and existing clients to identify ways to add to their bottom line and maximize their real estate transactions.

Prior to pursuing his career in commercial real estate, Mr. Clark worked in an alternate industry where he sharpened his marketing and sales skills with Bell and McCoy by calling on electrical distributors, contractors, and engineers. The time Mr. Clark spent in this industry has given him a greater awareness of his clients’ real estate needs by understanding the operations of their business as he continues to exceed their expectations. In 2020 Mr. Clark was named as one of Houston Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40. In 2013 and 2018, the Houston Business Journal also named Mr. Clark as one of Houston’s Top 20 Real Estate Brokers. He is a graduate of the 2011-2012 Leadership North Houston class and served as the President of the Alumni Association in which he is still actively involved as a board member. Mr. Clark also currently serves on the board of directors for the Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce and has been with the ICC since 2013. He earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), as well as obtained the distinguished Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation (SIOR) – a designation that only 2,900 practitioners hold worldwide. As a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Mr. Clark serves as the Chairman of the Gatekeeper Committee where he personally oversees and is responsible for over 1700 volunteers. Mr. Clark is an active member at his church, The Foundry Methodist.

As a graduate of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, Mr. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Distribution.

businesses. He is a Certified Executive Leadership and Business Coach. In Austin’s Prepare2Sell business coaching role, he helps business owners prepare their business for an eventual successful business sale at maximum value. He conducts monthly Prepare2Sell webinars, focused entirely on improving business marketability and value. His Prepare2Sell business development program is designed to improve the marketability and value of a business within 6-12 months. In conjunction with his webinars, he also coaches business owners on a one-on-one basis to provide personalized business coaching directed at specific business improvement needs.

He produced a weekly TV segment "Better Business Results – with Coach Austin Tenette" sharing insights with the business community on how to improve organizational performance. As an entrepreneur-in-residence at Houston Community College, Austin co-created and co-delivers the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling. He works annually with over 3,000 aspiring and existing business owners to start, grow, and optimize their enterprises. Austin holds an MBA from UCLA and serves on various boards throughout the greater Houston area.

of industries such as restaurants, gyms, and travel agencies.

Maddie is responsible for enhancing our brand and maximizing exposure to our inventory of listings through newsletter communications, social media, business material packaging, and general marketing support for our agents and the office. Maddie has a bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Journalism and Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going on dog-friendly adventures with her Australian Shepherd, catching up on her favorite tv shows, and traveling to Europe and Walt Disney World any chance she gets.

She has owned and operated multiple small businesses in various industries. Through her entrepreneurial work and experience in finance, she has an in-depth understanding of service companies, oil & gas, manufacturing, entertainment, equipment rental, medical clinics and restaurants.

Prior to Transworld, Caroline was a partner in a $150 million, mixed-use commercial real estate development in Dallas as well as the head of land sales, where she specialized in complex land entitlement and development projects.

He started his career in the Military as an Army Officer where he received the Kuwait Liberation Medal for his participation in Desert Shield/Storm. After fulfilling his military obligation, Raul started his civilian career in manufacturing operations for one of the big three automotive companies. He continued his career in automotive manufacturing for numerous years before moving to a top medical device manufacturing company. Throughout his 30-year career he has worked in the automotive, aerospace, medical devices, electronics, and oil and gas service industries. Raul has held numerous positions in these Industries from Director of Manufacturing and Product Engineering to Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations in small to medium sized companies.

For over 29 years, he worked in the Petrochemical industry managing Supply Chain asset portfolios in excess of $1B, and completing Supply Chain projects in the US, Europe and Asia. Darrin's expertise and professional demeanor resulted in multi-millon dollar savings and efficiencies on multiple projects over his career.His "can-do" attitude helped progress complicated projects with multiple stakeholders, at times across different continents. Having worked on many deals with a variety of cultures and businesses, it was a natural transition into the business advisory field.

These positions included developing business strategies and evaluating and recommending technologies and strategic acquisitions that enhance company’s product lines. Leslie’s education not only included an MBA, but he also holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering with a tech focus. He also has 20 years’ experience as a design engineer and engineering manager for the O&G and Industrial Markets.

Ryan has a proven track record of successfully leading and closing multi-billion dollar deals in the energy sector. He has been a key member of deal teams that have closed over $10 billion in divestitures, acquisitions, and mergers. Ryan's expertise in the energy industry is unparalleled, and he has a deep understanding of market trends and dynamics. He has worked with both sellers and buyers within the sector, providing them with strategic guidance and solutions to help them achieve their business goals. Ryan's understanding of business operations and financial management, combined with his excellent communication skills, enables him to develop customized strategies that meet the unique needs of each business owner. His expertise in managing complex transactions and navigating regulatory requirements also ensures that the process of selling a business is seamless and stress-free for small business owners. Aside from his professional accomplishments, Ryan is a devoted family man. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for over 25 years, and they have three beautiful daughters. Ryan and his family enjoy spending time together, exploring new places, and experiencing different cultures. They are passionate about travel and have visited numerous countries around the world. Ryan is also an active member of his community, and he enjoys giving back by volunteering and participating in his children's extracurricular activities. He is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those around him. In his free time, Ryan loves to indulge in some good Texas BBQ, watch college basketball and high school and college football, and listen to Jimmy Buffett's music. His passion for sports is evident in his enthusiastic support for his favorite teams. Overall, Ryan's commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those around him and his passion for helping businesses realize their worth make him an ideal partner for small business owners looking to sell their businesses. His vast knowledge and experience in the energy industry, combined with his ability to think strategically and problem-solve, make him an invaluable asset to any small business owner seeking to sell their business in San Antonio and/or other markets.