Michael Whitesel

Dan is a Business Broker for Transworld Business Advisors of Portland. He has over 30 years of Sr leadership experience in small, medium, and large companies that serve a variety of business industries. Dan has extensive experience in client relationships, leadership, financial analysis, project management, service delivery, sales, business development, continuous improvement and customer retention. Dan’s principal objective is to build strong relationships with his clients, and draw upon his integrity, knowledge and experience, range of skills and resources that remove any barriers to deliver favorable results. Every day creates a new opportunity to learn and help to create a positive outcome.

Transworld Business Advisors is the world leader in the marketing and sales of businesses, franchises and commercial real estate. Whether you represent an acquisition-minded corporation, or are personally interested in owning your own company, Transworld offers the professional services that successfully bring buyers and sellers together. From business brokerage, franchising to mergers and acquisitions; we are the business sale specialists. Michael has been with Transworld Business Advisors of Portland since late 2017. As the brokerages most Senior Broker, he is the firms top seller. From Restaurants to Franchises, from Towing companies to Manufacturing companies, from HVAC companies to Cleaning companies, and from Massage Therapy to Home Repair and more, Michael has sold many businesses across a multitude of industries. Michael is a born and raised Oregonian. His family has deep roots in the state, with a family history in the logging and accounting industries. Michael attended the University of Oregon from 2000-04, and has used his education to build a sales career mainly in the vacation ownership and personal development fields. Michael is also a small business owner as well as a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Oregon, and Transworld Business Advisor. Michael, up until now, has had an award winning 19 year career as a commissioned sales professional. His sales background is extensive. From person to person, person to business, international business sales, phone sales, event sales, sales trainer and coach, Michael is experienced and knowledgeable in a variety of services and industries. Michael has held sales positions internationally, nationally and locally. Michael is an attentive listener who cares about his clients needs and desires, and a creative strategizer that can adapt to various business models, and focuses on meeting the unique needs of each client. Michael is focused on serving the neighborhoods of the Portland Metro, as well as the surrounding areas, and excels at understanding the needs of each business owner whether it be helping them to understand the value of their business, developing an exit strategy to sell their business or to grow their business through franchising or identifying acquisition opportunities and commercial real estate. As a husband and father of 3 young boys, Michael enjoys all the adventure the NW has to offer and takes great pride in serving both the Portland and Oregon business communities. He enjoys meeting owners, hearing their stories, learning about various businesses and provides various resources to help business owners achieve their goals. Feel free to give him a call.

Fellow Restaurateurs and Entrepreneurs   After many wonderful years working as a Chef and a restaurant owner in the Portland market, I recently went through the process of selling my restaurant business with Transworld.  I have decided to direct my passion for the food and beverage industry in another way and have joined the team at Transworld to share my experience and facilitate bringing buyers and sellers together. As a Business Broker at Transworld Business Advisors I will work professionally, confidentially and strategically to facilitate the very best outcomes for our clients. Having been a restaurant and business owner myself who has gone through the Transworld process, I look forward to utilizing my experience and share our process to make a business transition seamless.  I especially am tuned in to the needs of entrepreneurs and look forward to serving the business community.   For Business Sellers, I have been trained and have access to the vast array of resources and tools Transworld’s provides and the expertise of members on our team to locate and vet potential buyers during the confidential sale of their company. I  work closely with sellers through every step of the process, including valuation, financial review, marketing, asset sales, inventory management, contract negotiations, closing, and follow up. I focus on marketing the business with the best possible light shone on the features of the business to attract the highest number of qualified buyers and then work hard to get the deal closed, addressing all barriers to a sale.   For Business Buyers, I utilize every tool at my disposal to find businesses best suited to meet the buyer’s criteria whether it be a small, local business or a national franchise.  I strive to listen carefully to my clients and makes sure I understand their needs and goals then focus on making their desires come to fruition.   For owners that are ready to take the next step in growing their company, I have the resources available to complete a Franchise readiness assessment and  specialize in helping to determine if a business is ready to franchise.  Once ready, I collaborate with franchise experienced franchise experts who will complete every step of the franchise process.   If you are thinking about selling your business or buying a business/franchise I welcome the opportunity to work with you.  You can reach me best at jblair@tworld.com or 503-820-0063.

Lyf’s small business experience began in early childhood as the youngest member of his family’s fish market and restaurants in Sandpoint, Idaho. He built on this experience in college, followed by work in marketing and sales, including two businesses he built and then sold. He currently owns and operates Flying Fish Company, a high volume fish market and restaurant in Southeast Portland, where he lives with his wife, two kids, and two dogs. You can find them on the mountain bike trails in the summer and on the ski slopes in the winter.

Bringing over thirty years of extensive expertise in sales, finance, and entrepreneurship, Matt Verga offers a wealth of knowledge in his capacity as an M&A Advisor and Business Broker at Transworld. Electing to reside amidst the stunning scenery of the Oregon Coast, he is ideally situated to cater to the business communities of the region. In addition to his primary role as a Business Sales Facilitator, Matt adeptly manages a local business alongside his wife, a venture acquired through Transworld. His firsthand experience as a client of Transworld Business Advisors uniquely positions him to empathize with and effectively anticipate clients' needs. Committed to enhancing community well-being, Matt actively participates in programs aimed at fostering the economic growth of local businesses. He eagerly anticipates assisting you in navigating your journey into or out of business ownership.

Scott brings deep industry knowledge and technology expertise to bear on behalf of his customers. Scott’s early career was spent building data analytic capabilities for Fortune 500s. With the experience gained as a practitioner, Scott pivoted into technology sales helping enterprise customers select and implement analytic software for business intelligence. He has worked both for large multinational corporations and as an early hire at several small disruptive startups. While leading sales for the Pacific Northwest, Scott helped his company grow from under $10M in annual revenue to over $200M and prepared for a successful IPO. The common thread across these experiences is a laser focus on client satisfaction guided by understanding his customers’ vision, challenges and desired business outcomes. Scott’s ability to foster strong client relationships, coupled with a deep understanding of their unique business challenges has positioned him as a trusted advisor. Scott currently acts as an advisor and investor in several local early-stage startups.

A retired engineer with degrees from top universities, Philip brings to the table strong analytical skills. Furthermore, he combines the artistry and discipline of a concert pianist, the determination of a long-distance cyclist, and the business and relationship acumen of an experienced real estate agent. It's worth noting that Philip is also an aircraft owner, pilot, FAA-certified flight instructor, and nationally known speaker.

A life-long local, Michael was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Oregon and, while working full-time, he earned his MBA at Portland State University.