About Us

THE BLACKTHORNE DIFFERENCE

Different Perspective: It is now early 2010. Some people still think and act like we are only in an economic “squall”. We do not agree. We believe this is a prolonged and uncharted economic era, a dangerous time. The days of predictable planning scenarios that will last three to five years are gone.  Proposed new taxes, unionization threats, healthcare policy, cap and trade legislation, trade restrictions, employment regulations and other factors can obsolete the best plan overnight, greatly impacting on business value and marketability. Blackthorne clients are guided and informed to see the effects of these “land mines” before they go off and to make the right decisions.

This is a time that requires very flexible business exit planning often with multiple “what-if” triggers and options at various check-points, a living plan that can adapt to rapid fire change. Every business is unique in this environment and that is how we will treat you as a client.

Experience and Independence: Blackthorne Group is comprised of true professionals in the fields of Business Valuation and Exit Planning.  These are not separable skills when it comes to exit planning. Inaccurate valuations of the business and projections of value will inevitably lead to poor planning assumptions. Very few exit planning firms have our technical depth in business valuation and our 30 year’s experience. We have performed over 1100 valuations alone.

We also have owned and sold businesses ourselves, and can anticipate what owners are going through in planning an exit or related transaction. It can be an emotional time where experienced coaching and clear presentation of options can relieve the stress.

We work independently in our own company, not as a franchisee or part of some slick on-line marketing network.  We are also NOT insurance agents marketing what you likely don’t need while pretending to be knowledgeable about what you do need.

WHO WE HELP

Business Owners/ Significant Shareholders: Blackthorne Group’s typical client is a high net worth business owner who has built his or her business from the ground up. Many are actively involved in the business on a day-to-day basis, while some have hired professional management and are limiting their time in favor of other pursuits. In either case they are looking at exiting the business on the most favorable terms they can, preferably on terms and timing of their own choosing.

Our geographic focus is in the Southeastern U.S. and Texas; with much experience in the industries of this region, both services and manufacturing.  We can service the region with minimal travel cost and time to spend adequate time with each client. Valuations can often be done through electronic exchange of information with no travel. Clients from outside the region normally come through referrals, and we welcome them.

BLACKTHORNE HISTORY

Blackthorne Group, LLC is a financial advisory company tracing its roots back 33 years to when David Wimberly, our Founder and CEO, opened a small CPA office in Florida. The CPA office subsequently became First Financial Group LLC which operated from 1985 through 2007, when it was re-formed as Blackthorne Group LLC. Just prior to that, David took on a dual role as Managing Director of Valuation Services at the prestigious NY firm of Scott-Macon, helping to expand their business volume and expertise with a diverse and demanding set of clients and many competitors.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

David S. Wimberly, Founder, CEO, and Principal Client Advisor

Now in his 35th year as a CPA, Mr. Wimberly has served hundreds of companies throughout the US. Mr. Wimberly is a highly sought after advisor to high net worth business owners in the areas of business valuation, exit planning and risk management/asset protection. He is a former Managing Director at Scott-Macon, the prestigious NY based investment banking firm.  He holds multiple certifications such as Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), Certified Merger & Acquisition Professional (CMAP), and Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA).

He has personally conducted over 1,100 business valuations, numerous exit plans and recapitalizations, and has been an expert witness in several valuation disputes including one for the City of Los Angeles. He has also advised countless companies implementing employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).

He is a double alumnus of Florida State University (B.S.), (M.Acc.) in accounting, and an alumnus of the University of Florida (M.S.) in Industrial and Systems Engineering, with a major in Operations Research and a concentration in Financial Engineering. He became a Florida Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 1975.

David has also achieved the following additional designations: Certified Senior Business Analyst, Machinery & Equipment Analyst, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Fellow Life Management Institute, Registered Financial Planner, Registered Financial Consultant, Associated Professional Member, Accredited Estate Planner and Certified International Financier.

Robert K. Ferguson, Managing Director - Client Services, and COO

Robert has over 30 year’s business experience as a corporate leader, Fortune 100 management consultant, and entrepreneur. He held policy level responsibility with Bristol-Myers Squibb NY, NY; delivered management consulting for ten years to DuPont, Xerox, International Paper and others; and founded the industry’s first web integrated valuation software and consulting firm in 2000.

Mr. Ferguson can quickly glean where a Blackthorne client has been and wants to go, having launched several businesses of his own, and having been through the experience of building and transacting businesses that he founded or co-founded.

He has direct experience with management and owners of companies in pharmaceuticals, foods, software, automotive manufacturing, general manufacturing, auto dealerships, chemicals, wood building products, reprographic services, professional consulting firms and corporate training.

Robert can be very effective in offering a comprehensive view of the hidden points of value that a client firm may have, especially in sales and marketing, having recently co-authored a guidebook in late 2008 on sales process improvement using Six Sigma and Kaizen techniques.

Robert’s Industrial Engineering degree as well as formal MBA business education helps gives him special insight into the value of technology, intellectual property, and the physical assets of any business.