H. Barry Goodman, CEPA, CPA, CMAA, CVGA
Barry grew up in a business-owning family. His father was a distributor of electrical supplies and lighting fixtures in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Through the experience of working in his father’s business, at a very young age, the challenges of being a family in business are ingrained in his soul.
Having chosen not to go into his family’s business, he became a Certified Public Accountant and owned a CPA firm for over 20 years. Barry facilitated his own transition to be a founding partner in a firm that grew to become one of the most successful middle-market firms in Chicago. The lessons he learned from the business-owning families he served, grew a reputation for recognizing a business’ strengths and challenges and identifying what could hold it back or push it to the next level. Seeing business owners make good and poor business and transition choices fueled his passion for families-in-business.
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Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) in 2010, Certified Merger Acquisition Advisor (CMAA), and Certified Value Growth Advisor in 2016 (CVGA) and in 2014 received an Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising bestowed from the Family Firm Institute.
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Managing Director of Birkdale Transition Partners, thought leader as an Advocate for the Outcome® and Can I Afford to Sell?™
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Author, “Is that All My Company Is Worth? Eight Steps to Take Now for a Higher Valuation,” and guest contributor to the Family Firm Institute Publication, The Practitioner.
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Speaker, Business Value Acceleration and Transition-Readiness
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Speaker, Family Business. What Stands in the Way of Your Business Transition.
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Certified Moderator LXCouncil in partnership with Growth-Drive LLC

I invite you to call me for any reason related to the Value Acceleration and Transition-Readiness, but especially
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Creative and methodical solutions to issues in your family or closely-held business.
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Transition issues between generations
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Governance in your family or closely held business
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You are considering a transition or sale, due to family issues or a sudden unexpected event
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Need information or education to become better acquainted with transitioning or value acceleration
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Are stuck or just need help on solving complex business issues.
Contact us to book your free strategy call.