About
PARADISE [ par-uh-dahys, -dahyz ]: A place or state of pure happiness. A condition that fulfills one’s desires.
You're A Real Person
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With real emotions. You're not just selling a company; you're moving on from an important chapter in your life.
Understanding you and your goals is the cornerstone of the service we provide to every business owner we work with.
Many companies offer merger and acquisition services. But have they started and run their own companies? Have they gone through the emotions of selling their life's work?
Drawing on our business owner's experience and mindset, we help you achieve the financial and emotional results you desire. With No Regrets!
Approach
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We are an advocate for the business owner. We start by listening and asking questions. What makes your business unique? Who is the perfect partner to acquire your business? Why?
It's all about getting to know you and your goals! In fact, we act more like a marketing firm than investment bankers.
Our highly confidential process is key to finding you just the right buyer for your company.
Beyond Valuations
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The team at Paradise Capital knows what it takes to grow, prepare, and package your business for sale. We know that each company is as unique as the goals of the owner.
Your Team
We've walked in your shoes. We've started companies, secured capital, managed growth and prepared for the exit of our own businesses.
Our team of experienced business professionals brings 50+ combined years of marketing, communications, finance, business planning and acquisition services working with a variety of brands.
Paul Niccum
Strategy
Business Strategist and author of No Regrets, How to Grow and Then Exit Your Business, Emotionally and Financially Strong! and GrowNOW! Your Fast Path to Growth.
After building six businesses and selling numerous companies to large publicly held companies, Paradise Capital CEO Paul Niccum has faced the same fears and emotional concerns that all sellers face. He’s both a seller and a buyer—Paul has also acquired eight businesses for his own companies and has been involved in the sale of over 100 companies during his career.
Paul has held many Strategic Sales and Marketing leadership positions with both large corporations and high growth mid-market companies. He is passionate about sharing what he’s learned to help sellers maximize the sale of their business, so they don’t walk away with emotional regrets.
Paul and his wife Sandi have three children and four granddaughters and love doing anything outdoors, especially water sports, hiking and skiing.
Tony Nermyr
Finance
Tony has owned, grown, and sold several businesses and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing valuations, financial structuring, ad day-to-day operations.
His expertise and intuition in working with financials helps our clients be fully prepared for a successful sales. Tony also applies his finance and leadership skills to Customgraphix Printing.
He is a Gustavus Adolphus graduate and lives in Plymouth, MN with his wife Kim. Tony has four sons, two at home and two just out of college. Their whole family are avid downhill skiers and enjoy outdoor activities of all kinds.
Ann Smallman
Marketing and Client Experience
With a background in business marketing and relationship management, Ann has worked with some of the nation’s biggest brands and helped to drive millions of dollars in revenue.
Bringing together the best experience and education from over 25 years working with both large and small companies she has found that partnering with owners and leaders to create an actionable plan to help grow and sell their business. Her experience managing the Paradise Capital sales process helps clients navigate the ins and outs of selling their company and lets her apply her marketing experience in positioning companies for sale.
Ann received a degree in communications from Concordia University and co-authored GrowNOW! Your Fast Path to Growth. She lives with her family in Minnesota.
Sandi Niccum
Operations
Sandi is a skilled leader holding a finance degree from the University of St Thomas, located in St. Paul, MN. She plays a crucial role in ensuring Paradise Capital complies with federal and state laws and manages human resources and other company departments. Sandi has held series 7 and series 24 and real-estate licenses.
Sandi is passionate about helping others and owns her own business, Seniors Helping Seniors, where she leads her company's finances and operations. Sandi and her partner have grown the firm over 15% annually for the past
ten years.
Sandi and her husband Paul have three children and four granddaughters and love doing anything outdoors, especially water sports, hiking and skiing.
Jennifer Mitchell
Finance
Bringing passion and experience in identifying and delivering growth, Jennifer leverages her analytical skills and broad experience in finance and operations to help businesses set strategy, drive execution, and optimize processes to deliver profitable growth.
After being on both sides of the table for over 50 M&A transaction negotiations, she knows what questions are asked and where value is found to assist both sellers and buyers.
Jennifer received her BS in Finance and Accounting from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and maintains an active CPA license. Jennifer co-authored GrowNOW! Your Fast Path to Growth. She and her family reside in southwest Ohio.
Steve Gerten
Advisor
Steve brings a professional background working with many of the world’s largest retail, consumer packaged goods, SaaS, and real estate businesses.
His diverse background helps him identify business opportunities and build and maintain successful relationships with partners, prospects, and clients. He excels at identifying partner and client needs and aligning them with the right Paradise Capital service and partner to achieve a No Regrets outcome.
Steve graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, where he majored in Economics and Finance. He resides in Edina, MN, with his rockstar wife, Jen, and their daughters, Nora, Hazel, and Lillly.
Jon Butkovich
Advisor
Jon has owned and operated a successful family manufacturing company for over 30 years.
After partnering with Paradise Capital for a successful sale, Jon joined the team to share his experiences with other owners wanting to sell their businesses.
Jon’s deep expertise in business ownership and management delivers to his clients firsthand working knowledge of what it takes to run and sell a thriving business. In addition, he understands and helps guide others through the emotions involved in selling a family business.
A University of Minnesota graduate, Jon is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing,and boating, and is an avid fan of all Minnesota sports teams. He lives with his wife and children in Rogers, MN.
