Along with his seven siblings, Jimmy Span watched his father work hard every day at a steady job to provide for the family. As a result, he learned the value of consistency, staying the course, and avoiding risk. Meanwhile, he saw his dad’s brother approach the world quite differently. Jimmy’s uncle was a lifelong risk-taker who became a Navy fighter …
The Right Exit Strategy – How Viking Mergers Helped Karen Enloe Sell Her Business
When Karen Enloe began considering selling her Asheville- based pottery distribution business, The Pottery Market, she knew she needed the right exit strategy. She had worked hard for many years in the business and was looking forward to a new chapter in her life. Karen turned to Eric J. McKeehan and Jeff McKeehan of Viking Mergers & Acquisitions of Asheville to develop the right plan to accomplish her …
Advisor Feature: David Bogart in Richmond, VA
David Bogart spearheads Viking’s efforts in the Virginia market and brings with him over thirty-five years of entrepreneurial and business development expertise in a wide range of industries. David’s earliest foray into entrepreneurship began shortly after college when he was close to acquiring a restoration company that he worked for in the area. After that experience, he spent the next …
Advisor Feature: Jackson Payne in Greenville, SC
As a former college basketball coach and the CFO of a small business, Jackson Payne has always had a passion for helping others achieve their goals. This passion has led him to his current role as a Senior Advisor at Viking M&A in Greenville, SC, where he specializes in helping small business owners navigate the complex world of selling a …
Advisor Feature: Robert Lugo in Tampa, FL
Born and raised in Florida, Robert Lugo grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. After obtaining degrees in both Finance and Accounting, he went on to earn his Master of Science Degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida. Throughout his career, Robert has been deeply involved in all aspects of a business from operations to finance, HR, and …
Advisor Feature: Eric McKeehan in Asheville, NC
Very early in his career, Eric McKeehan developed a passion for working with small businesses and entrepreneurs. Today, he lives out that passion as an Advisor with Viking Mergers & Acquisitions in Asheville, NC, driven by values learned through a decade of working with small to midsize businesses. Eric began his professional career working in business development with …
Business Advisor Highlight: Raleigh, NC
At age 14, Devak Patel began working for his father. Their family owned multiple Dairy Queen franchises, and Devak recalls the high expectations that came with working with his dad. While challenging, it also afforded him the opportunity to learn, not just from an employee perspective but also from his dad’s experience as the business owner. Devak developed an interest …
The Power of the Pivot: Is Your Business Recession-Proof?
I speak regularly these days with business owners and buyers who have concerns about the market, and specifically, about how their business might fare in a potential recession. I have many examples I can share with them about the businesses Viking is currently selling and what makes them recession-resistant; but in addition to that, I can share from my own …
Division Highlight: Viking M&A is Growing in Nashville, TN
With the amount of growth happening in Nashville, TN, the Viking M&A team is pleased to have Rich Kurkowski on board. Rich was born and raised in Chicago, IL, and he began his career as an accountant with Deloitte before attending law school. He spent the next 10 years working in tax law for two of Chicago’s largest law firms …










