Ben Locke

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses across the Southeast since 1996. This ranks us the #1 M&A company in our space in the Southeast, and in the top 2% nationally. We sell 85% of the businesses we list, which is almost 4x the national average. With our strong support staff in place, we sell those businesses at an average 96% of list price.

Roger is a seasoned finance professional, with over 25 years of international experience in leading Consulting, Corporate Finance, M&A, Treasury and Corporate Banking functions. He is a Certified Treasury Professional, CFA level 1, and MBA, who had the opportunity to work for multinational corporations in Americas and Europe. He is a Certified Franchise Broker, a licensed Real Estate Agent in Texas, and also an Entrepreneur who started two businesses on his own in the past, which sold successfully. Roger is an avid learner whose real passion is about advising and helping other people to pursue their dreams and succeed. He loves traveling and usually spends his free time with family and friends.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. Since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Raised in an Army family, I went on after college to serve as an Army Aviation officer, serving most of my time in Germany. Upon exiting my service, I moved to Minnesota with the intention of getting an MBA in finance. I took a position with a small start-up that sold refurbished IBM enterprise servers tasked with developing and building-out their tech center. For the first two years, I was responsible for all back-end operations of the company. The owners offered me a position as a computer broker, which I accepted. What started as a job to pay the bills while in grad school led to a 20+ career with the company. I was the IBM Power systems product manager when I left, responsible for all IBM sales and inventory management.

Rob is the Managing Partner of Viking’s Baltimore, MD office. With over 30 years of experience, he has played a key role in numerous M&A transactions ranging from $1 million to $125 million. He primarily worked with both strategic and private equity-backed buyers, assisting in both platform and add-on acquisitions. Having a strong buyside perspective, Rob brings unique insights to sellers, helping them maximize their business's value. Rob is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record in operations, sales, and business development across diverse industries, including manufacturing, distribution, technical services, software, consulting, and digital marketing. Previously, Rob served as CEO of IndySoft, where he drove value creation initiatives, and as VP of Service at Transcat (TRNS), where he led the growth of the service division from $48 million to $84 million. Additionally, through his consulting firm, he has advised middle-market private investment firms on thesis development and acquisition strategy. He also currently serves as a board member for a private equity-owned platform. Rob holds an Executive MBA from Loyola University’s Sellinger School of Business.

Choose to work with Viking Mergers & Acquisitions when acquiring a business, and team up with the Nation's premier firm. Viking provides specialized Intermediary business services and representation throughout the merger, acquisition, and divestiture process. Our tradition of bringing qualified buyers and committed sellers together is the cornerstone of our organization. About Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 75 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Choose to work with Viking Mergers & Acquisitions when acquiring a business, and team up with the Nation's premier firm. Viking provides specialized Intermediary business services and representation throughout the merger, acquisition, and divestiture process. Our tradition of bringing qualified buyers and committed sellers together is the cornerstone of our organization. About Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Phil has over 30 years of experience as a real estate broker, entrepreneur and intermediary. Phil started a real estate company, building it into a successful business with three offices and over 60 agents. He has proven success in commercial and residential real estate as well as in running a business. Since joining Viking Mergers & Acquisitions in 1999, Phil has helped clients find unique combinations of value that truly maximize the benefits to all parties involved. He brings his enthusiastic, creative, and professional approach to every business sale opportunity, large or small, and has consistently been a top producing broker. Phil specializes in mergers & acquisitions, customized exit strategies, succession planning and commercial real estate and with expertise in the childcare, logistics & supply chain, property management (including HOA), and manufacturing industries. Specialties: Business valuations, mergers and acquisitions, property management firms, logistics and supply chain, business development, business sales, childcare, and HOA companies.

Kevin joined Viking in 2015 after they successfully sold his company. His varied career includes 25+ years in corporate sales and product management at Corning and Rubbermaid before moving to Charlotte to work in various executive-level positions at Springs Global in Fort Mill. More recently, he was the 10-year owner/operator of a marketing services business offering graphic design, printing, direct mail, and website design services. He is also a licensed Realtor® in North and South Carolina. A graduate of Lafayette College with a BA degree in Economics & Business, Kevin went on to obtain his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. At Viking, Kevin looks for opportunities to apply his experience and knowledge of large and small business for the benefit of his clients. Analytical by nature, he approaches every opportunity or challenge with personal integrity, hard work, a strategic perspective, and is guided by the Golden Rule. Combining Kevin’s “next step” mentality with Viking’s disciplined selling process help him achieve maximum value for his clients’ businesses. While not at work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife of 45 years and visiting their grown children in Jacksonville, Winston-Salem, and Seattle. He’s an avid investor and loves travel, tennis, and anything outdoors. He’s also a licensed real estate broker in NC and SC and is Board President of his Uptown Charlotte condominium association.

Andrew has spent most of his 20 year career working on both sides of the M&A table. From assisting business owners in the sale of their businesses or in representing buyers in roll-ups or bolt on acquisitions, he has a unique prospective to support sellers today. Andrew joined Viking in 2024 and his current and former clients extend across various industries including technology, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, and professional services. Most recently, Andrew served as portfolio company CEO for Pure Wellness & senior director of portfolio management for a publicly traded asset management & advisory firm. He helped oversee the turnaround of the portfolio during the pandemic and supported the expansion of the portfolio companies through bolt-on and platform expanding transactions. In addition to this role, he has served as senior advisor to various metal fab, construction, and logistics businesses through his former advisory business. While focusing on value accretive systems and processes, he worked closely with his clients on strategic planning, cash flow management, and operations optimization to maximize owner value in preparation to sales processes. Andrew earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & History from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and a Masters of Arts in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1999, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Keenan brings over 35 years of successful business management experience to Viking with over 25 years in Senior Leadership positions including CEO, President, COO and EVP. Keenan has extensive experience and expertise in both the buying and selling of businesses. Having spent over 25 years in the Franchise Industry, he’s also very adept at working closely with entrepreneurs. His experience and skill set enables him to develop productive working relationships with both business owners and buyers. Keenan is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a B.S in Psychology/Business Administration.

Since 1996, Viking’s team of professional advisors have successfully closed on sales of more than 900 businesses. That’s more than any other firm in the Southeast in our space. With headquarters in Charlotte and offices strategically located throughout the Southeast, our team is uniquely positioned to help you navigate through a successful transaction. The majority of our advisors are former business owners themselves. We have been in your shoes and we know the unique challenges of buying and selling a business. For over two decades, Viking’s proven process has reliably helped business owners like you secure their future!

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. Since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Robert joins Viking Mergers & Acquisitions with 30+ years of business experience and a successful entrepreneurial career. At the age of 29, driven to build his own business, he left a prosperous career in hardware and software sales to start a distribution business in his garage supplying engineered parts to the OEM and MRO market. His vision was to bring high quality engineered parts and technical services into niche markets and to raise the bar on the customer experience. After nearly 22 years of developing the people, the processes, and the strategies to grow, the business was acquired by a $4 billion global Swedish company on February 1, 2017. Since that time, Robert has invested in multiple start-up companies and is an Advisory Council member and Board Observer with CoPeace, a Public Benefit Corporation / holding company focusing on ESG growth companies. Robert brings his entrepreneurial mindset to each discussion and is committed to putting his passion, energy and experience to work for our clients. Robert and his wife Susan have been married 30 years and live in South Charlotte. He has a B.A. in Business Management from NC State and is the youngest of five children from his family. They have two grown boys, one an NC State graduate and the other a Senior at the University of South Carolina. Robert enjoys playing golf, tennis, traveling and spending time with his family.

Trevor comes to Viking Mergers & Acquisitions with over 19 years of operational leadership experience in Corporate America, where he was a management executive for the Lash Group, one of the nation’s largest reimbursement services firm under a parent Fortune 24 Company. While working for Lash Group, Trevor developed and executed business strategies for a large profile of patient management programs. These programs are designed to address reimbursement and patient access issues for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and biotechnology firms. Trevor’s extensive experience in negotiation, project management, problem solving and communication enables him to have terrific insight on the process of selling your business. Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded 1996 and has grown and succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

In business for 23 years, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 500 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. Viking has sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the Southeast. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions, we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future. With a success rate 3X higher than the average business brokerage and an average cycle time of seven months, Viking offers best-in-class service to business owners seeking to sell their company for the highest price in the shortest length of time. With more than 25 years experience in business, Jeff joined Viking Mergers & Acquisitions as the Managing Partner for Western North Carolina (based in Asheville) and East Tennessee (based in Knoxville). His prior experience includes a long and successful career with Tyco Electronics (a Tyco International Company) where he lead the post-acquisition integration of several purchased companies. He later served as a Vice President of Business Operations at Allegis Group / Aerotek where he teamed with corporate resources to acquire companies in the automotive and engineering industries. Most recent and prior to joining Viking, Jeff was the co-owner of EHD Technologies a nationally recognized fast growth provider of services to the automotive, industrial, commercial and utility industries. EHD Technologies received recognition by Inc. magazine three consecutive years for rapid growth. In his role as President, Jeff was responsible for sales, operations, quality systems management and business execution. EHD Technologies was acquired in 2017 by Groupe Crit SA (CITT.PA). Jeff offers his wealth of experience and trove of knowledge to business sellers and buyers throughout the transaction process.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. Since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Since 1996, Viking’s team of professional advisors have successfully closed on sales of more than 900 businesses. That’s more than any other firm in the Southeast in our space. With headquarters in Charlotte and offices strategically located throughout the Southeast, our team is uniquely positioned to help you navigate through a successful transaction. The majority of our advisors are former business owners themselves. We have been in your shoes and we know the unique challenges of buying and selling a business. For over two decades, Viking’s proven process has reliably helped business owners like you secure their future!

David joins to launch and help lead Viking’s M + A efforts in the Southeastern Virginia market. He joins the team with 35+ years of entrepreneurial leadership in the technology field (23 years as a business owner) with expertise in business development, finance and operations. David’s experience owning, operating and selling his own business and commercial real estate property gives him a unique and first-hand perspective in assisting other business owners as they consider and plan their exit strategy. David’s experience through the years, during both strong and weak markets, makes David uniquely qualified to guide entrepreneurs across Virginia with the most important financial transaction of their lives – selling their business. David’s reputation aligns especially well with our core value of Integrity: We strive to uphold the highest level of professional behavior and ethical standards so that our clients are treated respectfully and fairly each and every time. A native of the region, David is very familiar with the business climate, geography and regional economic market engines that drive business growth. David and his family call Chesapeake, Virginia home.

Reed grew up in Dyersburg TN and graduated from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Upon graduation he began his career as a Financial Advisor and enjoyed a 30-year career in the Wealth Management business with roles including Divisional management with responsibilities for over 200 direct reports and over 100mm in annual revenue. Reed had stints in Nashville, Knoxville, Charlotte, and Richmond. After leaving the Wealth Management business, he started managed, grew, and sold a commercial kitchen ventilation systems and fire suppression systems company. Reed and his wife, Polly, have 4 grown children that they are extremely proud of. Two boys serving in the US Marine Corps and two girls, each employed by Fortune 500 companies. Reed brings many great qualities and a wealth of knowledge to our dedicated team as he is also a Certified Finance Planner (CFP) and enjoys everything about his role, but most especially consulting with business owners on all the aspects of transitioning their business. Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. Since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Mike brings over 30 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience in accounting and finance, operations, and sales to the Viking team. He has a broad background across a variety of businesses, in nature and in scale, as well as extensive merger and acquisition experience. He has been successful in industry consolidation, turnaround, and start-up situations. Soon after beginning his career as a CPA for a major accounting firm, Mike was recruited into a client’s corporate accounting group, where he quickly determined that his interest – and value – was with the company’s operations. That led to a series of divisional CFO roles for a number of different businesses, culminating in Mike becoming the corporate CFO. In that role Mike played a key part in developing and executing the growth strategy for the business, focusing on industry consolidation. Over the ensuing 8 years, the company completed more than 40 deals and was itself later sold at a substantial market premium. Mike then went on to run an industry-leading, multi-site manufacturer, where he led a dramatic turnaround in profitability. Following Mike’s exit from the corporate world, he chose to focus on more local and entrepreneurial ventures, first in consulting and later starting his own distribution business in Charleston, SC. Through that experience, he came to appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities of business ownership. Those insights along with his extensive management and deal experience are ideally suited to assist Viking’s clients. Throughout his career Mike has come to be known for his objectivity in making important business decisions, his innate analytical skills, and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Mike aligns well with all of Viking’s core values, in particular integrity, innovation and collaboration. Mike is the youngest of seven and the only family member to earn a college degree, a BS in Accounting from the University of Scranton. He has three grown children and, after many relocations earlier in his career is happy to call Charlotte his long-time home. Away from work Mike is often with his kids and following the Panthers, or boating, playing tennis, or learning to cook.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Mark leads Viking Mergers & Acquisitions for the Washington, DC-metro area supporting business owners with sell-side and valuation advisory services. With a vast experience in corporate finance across domestic and international markets, Mark brings over 25 years of experience providing valuation, finance and transaction advisory services. Before launching Viking, Mark was with Bank of America, focused on the healthcare sector specializing in commercial and investment banking services for middle market clients. Prior to that, he led the Valuation and Business Analytics Group at BDO in the D.C. metro area, overseeing business combination analyses, goodwill impairment assessments, and other bespoke valuation engagements. Earlier in his career, Mark held leadership roles in the Transaction Advisory, Valuation, and Business Modeling groups at EY and PwC, where he advised on a diverse range of transactions across various industries and deal sizes. His career began in the biotech sector, where he led teams in genetic mapping and protein purification. Mark holds an MBA in Finance and International Management from the Kogod School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Maryland.

Michael joins the Charlotte office of Viking Mergers & Acquisitions. Prior to joining Viking, Michael was an Investment Lead and Operating Partner for a private equity group focused on acquiring and managing complex, multi-national corporate divestitures. With this group, Michael originated and acquired non-core divisions & geographies from Fortune 500 companies across the US, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, he led operations and go-to-market strategy for a talent assessment software company prior to the company’s exit in 2023 to a private equity group. Michael started his career at a secondary private equity group focused on purchasing limited partner interests in fund-of-funds & tail-end funds from institutional investors with exposure across all asset classes. In addition to being on the investment team, Michael attended global investor annual meetings for private equity groups, led capital raising efforts, and helped launch a B2C home furnishings company. Michael grew up in Traverse City, MI and attended the University of Michigan where he was a member of the club hockey team. After many cold Michigan winters, Michael and his wife, Allyson, moved to Charlotte to enjoy golfing, boating, and playing tennis for more than 4 months in the year.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses across the Southeast since 1996. This ranks us the #1 M&A company in our space in the Southeast, and in the top 2% nationally. We sell 85% of the businesses we list, which is almost 4x the national average. With our strong support staff in place, we sell those businesses at an average 96% of list price. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, we have 17 offices strategically located across the Southeast to serve you.

In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. Viking has sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the Southeast. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions, we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future. With a success rate 3X higher than the average business brokerage and an average cycle time of seven months, Viking offers best-in-class service to business owners seeking to sell their company for the highest price in the shortest length of time.

Viking Mergers & Acquisitions was founded by Brad and Jay Offerdahl in 1996, and they, along with an experienced staff of 70 professionals, have succeeded in taking the business to the top 2% of all business brokers nationwide, according to Business Brokerage Press. In business since 1996, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions has sold over 900 businesses, averaging 96% of asking price. We have sold more businesses for more dollars than any firm in the southeast. Selling your business is our only business. At Viking Mergers & Acquisitions we are dedicated to helping business owners position their businesses for sale now or in the future.

Jimmy Span has been assisting business owners with the sale of their businesses since 2010 and joined Viking Mergers & Acquisitions in 2022. His current and former clients traverse various industries including technology, manufacturing, transportation, construction, light industrial, professional services, automotive, and specialty retail. Prior to his current role, Jimmy accumulated a broad business background of over 25 years in both the technology and manufacturing sectors. His experience includes working with large publicly traded engineering/technology companies, small privately owned businesses, as well as several government entities. During his tenure at Michael Baker International, an ENR Top 50 Design Firm, Span served as a General Manager in the geospatial services and software division overseeing some of the largest projects in the industry. Jimmy’s experience in the manufacturing sector includes various positions including General Manager of Operations and Dealer Sales, with responsibilities involving streamlining manufacturing workflows through automation as well as dramatically increasing sales volume through aggressive channel development. Beyond his managerial strengths, Span worked closely with his clients in the areas of Strategic Planning, Change Management and Workflow Optimization to ensure successful implementations of a variety of business initiatives to increase revenue while reducing operating costs. Jimmy earned his MBA from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Jimmy was a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute and a certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) from the GIS Certification Institute.

Since 1996, Viking’s team of professional advisors have successfully closed on sales of more than 900 businesses. That’s more than any other firm in the Southeast in our space. With headquarters in Charlotte and offices strategically located throughout the Southeast, our team is uniquely positioned to help you navigate through a successful transaction. The majority of our advisors are former business owners themselves. We have been in your shoes and we know the unique challenges of buying and selling a business. For over two decades, Viking’s proven process has reliably helped business owners like you secure their future!