The Calder Associates Team

Calder Associates is driven by its people. With a diverse group of professionals, all possess the same common objectives; passion for their work and continual service and concern for our clientele. Select a member of the team from the list on the left to learn more about them.

Stephen Wain, CBI, M&AMI, CBB

President

Steve is the founder of Calder Associates. He brings over 30 years of experience and leads with a passion for assisting business owners and buyers with practical, quality and ethical professional services which are not easy to find. As a past owner of a number of companies, Steve understands first-hand the complexities of ownership, the financial and legal hurdles particular to a business owner, and the difficulties and uncertainties a buyer faces when trying to make a decision on acquisition. Under Steve's direction, the company has continually grown as both business owners and buyers appreciate the unique dedication Calder Associates is known for.

Steve's previous experience includes companies such as EDS, Deloitte & Touche, and Sharp Electronics. His experience in both start-up's and business sales has allowed him to sell two of his companies to publicly listed organizations. Steve is also experienced in working with private equity and venture capital firms, and has raised over $20 million in venture funding.

Steve is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and Certified Business Broker (CBB). Steve has also achieved the Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designation, a certification held by less than 100 people worldwide, and issued only to M&A intermediairies and advisors who've reached high levels of success and distinction.

Steve sits on the Board of Directors of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) which is the premier professional organization for Intermediaries and Business Brokers. The IBBA operates in the USA, Canada, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. and provides high level education, legislative suport, and professional certification. Steve also is a member of the Board of Directors with various private organizations.

Steve is the past President and founder of the Mid-Atlantic Business Brokers Association, which brings together professional brokers, intermediaries, lawyers, financial planners, accountants, insurance professionals, and lenders in an effort to provide continual education and allow business owners and buyers to have access to most highly qualified professionals. MABBA covers professionals in the New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware region.

With experience in a wide range of business disciplines, Steve has spoken at numerous professional conferences over the years. These have included, among others, IBBA, BBN National Conferences, and Comdex.

Steve also holds certifications in information technology as a CDP, and CSP and has held leadership positions in industry groups such as BISAC (Book and Publishing industry). Steve is also a licensed real estate agent in New Jersey.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baruch College of the City University of New York, and currently resides in New Jersey with his wife and three children.

Back to Intro

Susan Rosner, CBI

Managing Partner, Pennsylvania Division

Susan is in charge of all of Calder’s Pennsylvania operations. Susan manages intermediaries throughout the region, and acts as the primary broker for a variety of clients. Her unique strengths as a strategic thinker and business leader coupled with her expertise in mergers and acquisitions of mid-market privately held businesses, as well as corporate operations make her in high demand by business owners and corporate executives who want experienced and high quality professionals to assist them in their sale or acquisition process. Susan has completed transactions ranging in value from $1M to $35M in construction, retail, distribution, manufacturing, and service sectors.

Susan brings thirty years of broad-based experience leading sales and professional service operations in the consulting, publishing, and technology industries. Her demonstrated success in building entrepreneurial teams, implementing transformational change, and achieving breakthrough results, has culminated in dramatic improvements in quality, innovation, sales growth, and operational efficiencies for her clients. Susan has worked with public and privately held companies to re-engineer business processes and implement e-business solutions to lead business turnarounds.

Susan has been recognized in the business community for her expertise and leadership at a local and national level. Susan was invited by the United States Chamber of Commerce to serve as an Executive Coach to the CEO’s of the top 100 Business Associations in the United States. She has also been invited to Chair selected Executive Think Tanks in the Philadelphia region by an international association dedicated to supporting CEO’s and Business Executives.

Susan is a member of IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) and is the immediate Past Preseident of the Mid-Atlantic Business Broker’s Association, a regional affiliate of the IBBA. Susan is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI).

Susan is also an active member of the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce where she is on the Board of Directors and on the Board of Advisors for Leadership in Bucks County.

Susan has an MBA in Marketing from The George Washington University and has conducted over 200 seminars on leadership, entrepreneurship and business strategy. Most importantly, Susan has built a reputation on her integrity, results orientation, and a focus on achieving her client’s goal.

Susan also is a member of Calder’s Board of Directors.

Back to Intro

Joe Kerr, CBI, CMEA, SBA

Director of Sales, South Jersey

Joe heads up Calder’s South Jersey operations, as well as the Machinery and Equipment Valuation service division. He brings many years of experience not only in M&A, business brokerage, and valuation, but additionally in corporate operations. Joe has been working as a Business Intermediary since 1999 and joined Calder because, “I found Calder Associates’ business philosophy to be completely aligned with mine. We deal with good business clients that want rational transactions allowing us to build strong relationships.” Joe is always complimented for employing Calder Associates’ primary objective of creating a win-win situation for our sellers and buyers by placing our energy, experience, and professionalism into every transaction.

Joe is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), a Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser (CMEA), and a Senior Business Analyst (SBA). Over the years, Joe has sold and consulted with hundreds of businesses from retail to multi-million dollar manufacturing concerns. Additionally, he has completed many equipment valuations for business owners, attorneys and accountants. Joe is the area representative for one of the premier business appraisal companies in the United States.

Joe’s past experience includes 30 years of management with Prudential Financial Services and HealthAmerica. His areas of expertise include claims processing, quality assurance, and contract bids, and he has been involved in three successful start-up ventures managing 100+ people. Joe attended Atlantic Community College and Glassboro State College (Rowan University) and completed a rigorous management training course at the American College. He is a Fellow of the Life Office Management Association and holds a New Jersey Real Estate License.

Joe lives in Galloway Township with his wife and has two children.

Back to Intro

Richard Stopa

Managing Partner, Metro Washington, D.C. Division.

Richard Stopa is a business intermediary specializing in information technology, business to business services, and franchises. He has been involved in mergers and acquisitions work as well as franchise sales since 1984. Because Richard believes so sincerely in entrepreneurship, he has a keen desire to match up buyers and sellers and see both parties meet their business goals.

Richard’s credentials include over 30 years of business ownership as well as working in senior level management, sales and marketing positions in the IT industry. During that time, he has been involved in many entrepreneurial ventures in addition to helping many others get a start in the business world. He is experienced in computer distribution, computer reselling, e-commerce and software.

As president of a major national computer franchise organization, Richard was instrumental in building a 600 unit franchise and reseller network across the United States. He served as a senior executive of the company and reported to the CEO. The company’s revenue growth during his eight year tenure went from $25 million to over $2 billion.

Richard has had computer reseller experience through opening and running a 20,000 square foot computer superstore and through serving as a founding board member of one of the first computer superstore chains. He has also spent over six years as a CEO and COO of two Internet and e-commerce companies overseeing operations, sales, marketing, and software development.

Richard has been an active member of CompTIA, the computing technology industry association. He currently serves as an Ambassador for the association as well as a member of the special interest group on Cloud Computing. He has the distinction of having served the association as its chairman of the board as well as a board member for a number of years. CompTIA is the largest international computer trade association in the world.

Richard is a member of the International Business Brokers Association and served as president of the Mid-Atlantic Business Intermediary Association. He has a BS in Management from Davenport University and has taken courses and earned a certificate from Harvard Business School, Executive Training Program.

Richard lives in Reston, VA with his wife.

Back to Intro

William (Bill) Hyland, CBI

Director of Business Sales

Bill is a Director of Sales for the Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware region for Calder Associates. He brings over 25 years of experience and leads with a passion for assisting business owners and buyers with practical, quality and ethical professional services which are not easy to find. As a Fortune 100 Financial and Technology consultant, and as an owner of 2 companies, Bill understands first-hand the complexities of ownership, the financial and legal hurdles particular to a business owner, and the difficulties and uncertainties a buyer faces when trying to make a decision on acquisition. With Bill's assistance, the company has continually grown as both business owners and buyers appreciate the unique dedication Calder Associates is known for.

Bill's previous experience includes 17 years with Accenture (Andersen Consulting), and Delaware Valley Business Network. Bill is also experienced in working with private equity and venture capital firms. Bill is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI). Bill is currently working towards achieving the Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designation, a certification held by less than 70 people worldwide, and issued only to M&A intermediaries and advisors who've reached high levels of success and distinction.

Bill is a founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Business Brokers Association, which brings together professional brokers, intermediaries, lawyers, financial planners, accountants, insurance professionals, and lenders in an effort to provide continual education and allow business owners and buyers to have access to most highly qualified professionals who understand the intricacies of business sales and mergers and acquisitions. MABBA covers professionals in the New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware region.

With experience in a wide range of business disciplines, Bill has spoken at numerous professional conferences over the years. Bill is also a licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania.

Bill holds a Bachelors of Administration degree with Honors from Harvard College, and currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.

Back to Intro

Chon Lintakoon, CBI, MBA

Director of Sales, Central Jersey

Chon heads up Calder’s Central Jersey area and is the lead professional in Calder’s Asia Acquisitions and Sales group. Chon has more than 20 years of experience ranging from management in Fortune 50 organizations to small business advisory, to Higher Education. Chon’s approach to assisting business owners and buyers assures his clients of the best experience when dealing with the complex area of business acquisitions and transfers.

Chon’s past experience with organizations such as IBM, allowed him to provide professional and management services to such top organizations as AT&T and Merrill Lynch. His experience in areas such as information technology, finance, and e-commerce provide a key element in assisting business owners in preparing their company for eventual sale.

As one of Calder’s most personable Director’s, Chon’s experience in working with Fortune 1000 organizations and small enterprises, have allowed him to help companies in organizational issue management, operational consulting, and corporate training. His experience in dealing with all levels of management allow him to gain insight into ways to improve a company’s potential for sale, and ways to improve their eventual financial return to shareholders.

Chon is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), and is an active member of the International Business Brokers Association, Mid-Atlantic Business Brokers Association, and New Jersey Chinese Chamber of Commerce (NJCACC). Chon is also a licensed Real Estate salesperson in New Jersey and assists business owners in selling their property as it relates to the sale of their business, and has also completed his coursework towards his CCIM certification in commercial real estate. Chon is also a Lecturer in the MBA program at Rutgers University. He is also fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Chon lives in central New Jersey with his wife and two teenage daughters.

Back to Intro

Susan Wain, CBI

Director of Business Sales

Sue has been working in Business Brokerage since 2005. She has been active in all communications with Buyers and Sellers. She comes to us with a background in small business, working in close cooperation with CEO’s and upper management. Her experience at Calder Associates has given her first hand knowledge of the ins and outs of both selling and buying a business. Her attention to detail and thoroughness are major assets in a business where every detail, whether on a tax return or a contract, is important.

Sue is a member of IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) and of The Mid-Atlantic Business Broker’s Association, a regional affiliate of the IBBA. Sue is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI).

Prior to joining Calder Associates, Sue worked as Administrative Manger in a software company. She was responsible for all Human Resources functions, including contracts and benefits. She was also responsible for customer contracts, all insurances, and Accounts Receivable functions. Sue served as the operational liaison to the company's immigration lawyers and the accountants. Prior to this experience, Sue served as an accountant for a jewelry manufacturing business.

Sue has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baruch College of the City University of New York, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, National Business Honor Society. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and three children.

Back to Intro

Deborah Steinkohl

Director of Business Sales

Debbie has been working as a business broker since 2005. Her hands-on experience at Calder Associates has given way to an understanding of the intricacies of buying and selling a business. She is familiar with the inner workings of small to medium-sized businesses.

Debbie has worked closely with CEO’s and business owners in different arenas assisting in the marketing, insurance, research, and operations departments within closely-held companies. Debbie has experience working for such companies as Western Union and Insurance Sales Support Systems. Prior to her work in the private sector, she taught nursery school for several years.

Debbie is currently a member of MABBA and IBBA.

She graduated from SUNY Oneonta where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Educational Psychology. Debbie currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Back to Intro

Thomas Kent, JD

Thomas Kent is a business advisor to Calder Associates. Tom is a Partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP, a leading full-service law firm in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, California, and Nevada. Mr. Kent received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Villanova University in 1992 and graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1995. Previously, Mr. Kent served as in-house counsel for an international franchise corporation. In this capacity, he was involved in complex commercial litigation matters, the negotiation and drafting of various contracts and oversight of the corporation's real estate department. Mr. Kent concentrates his practice in the area of commercial law, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, franchising and corporate and partnership matters.

Back to Intro

Steven Sewald, CPA

Steven Sewald is the tax and accounting advisor to Calder Associates and the Managing Partner of Steven Sewald & Company, an accountaing and tax advisory professional corporation with offices in New Jersey. Mr. Sewald has been involved in public accounting with various New York City Certified Public Accounting firms since 1981. In 1991, he founded his own CPA firm of which he is a senior partner. Mr. Sewald provides provides adisory services to many companies in the area of financial reviews, tax advisory services, as well as providing quasi chief financial officer services to small and medium-sized companies in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticuty regional area.

Back to Intro