Speakers

Sean Bunner - Raymond James Investment Bank

Sean Bunner joined Raymond James in 2021 as a Director in the Professional Partners group. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. Bunner served in senior executive roles across consumer and retail brands including WW Intl, Qurate Retail Group and HSN leading business development, M&A and innovation teams seeding businesses that led to $1B+ in new revenue. Mr. Bunner also led marketing and compliance for a high growth FinTech that powers digital DAF platforms for large banks and wealth management organizations. He began his career in corporate finance and investment banking for Honeywell as well as with a boutique, corporate finance consulting firm serving early to mid-stage growth companies in software, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and financial services. Mr. Bunner received his undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of South Florida, has a CPA and serves on the local board for Habitat for Humanity.

Adam Fox - Brown Fox

Adam Fox is a co-founder of Brown Fox, PLLC, a business boutique law firm specializing in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), labor and employment law, litigation, appellate matters, and intellectual property. Adam’s practice primarily focuses on M&A, private equity financing, business formation, start-up counseling, contract negotiation and drafting, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters. He also serves as outside general counsel for Texas-based companies, providing legal, advisory, and compliance support, advice, and assistance.

Adam has been a resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area since moving to Richardson in 1979. He grew up in Canyon Creek and attended Plano schools before earning his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1996, where he also played on the UNT Men’s Soccer Team. He then attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) for law school, graduating cum laude while serving as an editor for the International Law Review. Adam began his legal career at Strasburger & Price (now Clark Hill) before co-founding Brown Fox with his partner, Russ Brown. Since its founding in March 2010, Brown Fox has grown under Adam and Russ's leadership, expanding to a team of 24 lawyers with offices in Dallas and Frisco.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Adam Fox.

Shaun Buckley - Armanino
Managing Director, Transaction Advisory Services – Dallas

Shaun has been providing TAS to clients for the past 28 years. Prior to joining Armanino, Shaun was a Partner in the TAS practices at both Deloitte and BDO. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Texas. He currently provides financial due diligence and structuring, deal process management, advisory services regarding transaction documents, and closing and post-closing services to private equity and private/public strategic clients.

Shaun has provided assistance on acquisitions, divestitures and recapitalizations covering a broad range of industries including retail & consumer products, manufacturing & distribution, technology including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), oil & gas services, construction, food processing & distribution, healthcare services, and business services, among others.

Shaun received his M.B.A in Finance and Operations Management from the Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester and his B.S. in Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Jennifer Steele or Shaun Buckley.

Dennis Coker - Founders Advisors

Dennis is a Managing Director in Industrials Group with Founders Advisors based in Dallas. Dennis has been involved in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and strategic planning and implementation for more than 20 years. Dennis earned his MBA from the University of Memphis while working in the transportation industry. He transitioned to the construction materials sector in Dallas, working in various operational roles, eventually moving to an M&A focused position in Corporate Development. Dennis has worked for large multi-national corporations and private companies such as Heidelberg Materials, Texas Industries, and Natural Resource Partners throughout his career, focusing almost exclusively on M&A transactions.

Before joining Founders Dennis was a Managing Director for Vantage Strategic Advisors, a specialist advisory firm focusing on the construction materials industry. At Vantage Dennis led sell-side and buy-side advisory, debt and equity financing and strategic growth consulting efforts for clients.

Dennis grew up in Memphis, TN and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.B.A. He holds his Series 79 and Series 63 securities licenses. Dennis has served on the Executive Council and Board of Directors for the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association, and on the Managing Board of OCI Resources a manufacturer of natural soda ash based in Green River, Wyoming. Dennis lives in Plano, TX with his wife Virginia, and his two college age children Anna Kate (TWU Masters Program), and Judson (Texas A&M Mays School of Business).

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Dennis Coker.

Bezan Morris - Raymond James
Financial Advisor

Bezan began his career as an artillery officer in the US Marine Corps. After honorably serving his country, which included two tours in Iraq, Bezan moved to the E‐Commerce industry where he worked for Amazon.com and Chewy.com, rising to senior management positions.

Bezan joined Raymond James in 2018. In 2022, Bezan joined Volition Advisory of Raymond James. He understands the joys and challenges that clients face during the “sandwich” stage of life, raising children while caring for aging loved ones. Bezan helps our business owner clients establish retirement plans, including 401(k) and executive compensation.

Bezan is a graduate of the Naval Academy with a degree in Political Science.

Bruce Dunham - Raymond James
Vice President, Wealth Management

Bruce spent a decade as a banker, working primarily with small business owners, helping them to become more successful on both sides of the balance sheet. He then managed a business unit with over 120 employees for a large global company, meeting budgets and providing a superior quality end‐user experience.

In 2006, he became a Financial Advisor. In June 2022 he founded Volition Advisory of Raymond James with the goal to empower his clients to make the best choice for them of their own volition. His business owner client focus includes a variety of companies including manufacturing, retail, engineering, healthcare, real estate, and professional services industries.

Bruce received his BA from UCLA in psychology and business administration.

Jennifer Steele - Armanino
Partner, Tax – Privately Held Business

Jennifer plays a vital role in the success of her clients. She understands their business, provides proactive client service, and delivers solid tax planning, forecasting and analysis. She has more than 27 years of public accounting experience and works with a variety of companies, ranging from small entrepreneurial ventures to large enterprises in the manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, real estate and professional services industries. Jennifer is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Jennifer Steele or Shaun Buckley.

Joseph Collins - Haynes Boone

Joseph Collins is an associate in the Estate Planning Practice Group in the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone, LLP.

Joseph’s practice focuses on designing and implementing comprehensive estate plans and business succession techniques, while minimizing estate, gift, generation-skipping and income tax consequences; forming and administering family business entities; representing clients in probate matters; developing and implementing plans for protecting clients’ privacy; and advising clients on trust and estate administration matters.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Joseph Collins.

Bruce Dunham - Raymond James
Vice President, Wealth Management

Bruce spent a decade as a banker, working primarily with small business owners, helping them to become more successful on both sides of the balance sheet. He then managed a business unit with over 120 employees for a large global company, meeting budgets and providing a superior quality end‐user experience.

In 2006, he became a Financial Advisor. In June 2022 he founded Volition Advisory of Raymond James with the goal to empower his clients to make the best choice for them of their own volition. His business owner client focus includes a variety of companies including manufacturing, retail, engineering, healthcare, real estate, and professional services industries.

Bruce received his BA from UCLA in psychology and business administration.

Sean Bunner - Raymond James Investment Bank

Sean Bunner joined Raymond James in 2021 as a Director in the Professional Partners group. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. Bunner served in senior executive roles across consumer and retail brands including WW Intl, Qurate Retail Group and HSN leading business development, M&A and innovation teams seeding businesses that led to $1B+ in new revenue. Mr. Bunner also led marketing and compliance for a high growth FinTech that powers digital DAF platforms for large banks and wealth management organizations. He began his career in corporate finance and investment banking for Honeywell as well as with a boutique, corporate finance consulting firm serving early to mid-stage growth companies in software, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and financial services. Mr. Bunner received his undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of South Florida, has a CPA and serves on the local board for Habitat for Humanity.

Gene Bazemore - Founders Advisors

Gene is Head of the Industrials Group with Founders Advisors based in the firm’s Dallas office. Gene has over 20 years of experience acting as both a principal and advisor to companies executing mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and debt and equity financings. Gene began his career as a process controls engineer and transitioned into investment banking at UBS in New York, where he specialized in industrial technology areas such as automation, instrumentation, sensors and electronics. Gene developed significant transaction expertise while working for Houlihan Lokey in New York and other organizations such as Cooper Industries in Houston and AZZ Incorporated in Fort Worth.

Prior to joining Founders, Gene served as Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations for Enovation Controls, Inc based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Gene grew up in the Florida panhandle and graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Gene was a Stern Scholar and graduated with an M.B.A. from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business. His securities credentials include Series 79 and 63 securities licenses.

Gene previously served on Auburn University’s Research Advisor Board and has been a member of the Strategic Planning & Development Council of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation. Gene resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with his wife Lynn and their four children Jessica, Eugene, Oliver, and William.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Gene Bazemore.

Adam Fox - Brown Fox

Adam Fox is a co-founder of Brown Fox, PLLC, a business boutique law firm specializing in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), labor and employment law, litigation, appellate matters, and intellectual property. Adam’s practice primarily focuses on M&A, private equity financing, business formation, start-up counseling, contract negotiation and drafting, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters. He also serves as outside general counsel for Texas-based companies, providing legal, advisory, and compliance support, advice, and assistance.

Adam has been a resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area since moving to Richardson in 1979. He grew up in Canyon Creek and attended Plano schools before earning his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1996, where he also played on the UNT Men’s Soccer Team. He then attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) for law school, graduating cum laude while serving as an editor for the International Law Review. Adam began his legal career at Strasburger & Price (now Clark Hill) before co-founding Brown Fox with his partner, Russ Brown. Since its founding in March 2010, Brown Fox has grown under Adam and Russ's leadership, expanding to a team of 24 lawyers with offices in Dallas and Frisco.

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of any of the guests for the Business Owners Summit. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Adam Fox.