Jeff Kraai, Exit Strategies, Inc., Vancouver, WA

Wanted to pass along a great big THANK YOU for the course content and the quality of the advisors you've hired to teach the CM&AA course. (And, the timing on this is for real.)

About 6 weeks ago in Chicago (the Friday afternoon afternoon we finished our CM&AA exam) my wife Laurie and I were just beginning our walk around downtown Chicago, and ready to celebrate having the exam behind us. My phone rang and it was the owner of a company who had just been approached by a PEG for acquisition purposes. Not a large transaction by M&A standards, approx. $7M, but growing quickly, next year $11 - $12M. He heard me speak 2 months earlier and asked if I could help. I indicated that I could, but that I was downtown Chicago after completing some "M&A Coursework" and asked if I could call him Monday from my office so he would have my undivided attention. He agreed.

On our Monday phone call I sounded very educated with the new AM&AA education fresh in my mind. :-) Fast forward 6 weeks- After re-reading a few chapters, flipping through my notes a dozen times, and a brief phone call with Mike Adhikari to double-check an adjusted Operational Balance Sheet, my confidence was climbing. Monday I was in IN to deliver a comprehensive Valuation & Analysis on the company, then passed (with flying colors) a 6.5 hour meeting with 3 owners, a VP of Operations and a Controller. They asked me dozens and dozens of questions about the pro's and cons' of selling to a PEG, timing, future growth, culture change, stock and cash exchanges, etc. I successfully answered about 69 of 70 questions.....on 1 I indicated that I would have to get back to them upon my return to the office....which I did yesterday.

Looks like I'll land this deal shortly after the first of the year. The timing couldn't have been more ideal.....and the CM&AA information couldn't have been more relevant. Thanks to both of you for creating an organization that will change this industry, one office at a time.