Our Team

Lawrence (Larry) Schumann

Managing Director, CBI

As he ascended to CEO of a NYSE listed company, Larry participated as the buyer or seller in nineteen merger & acquisition transactions, of companies with sales from $2,000,000 to $250,000,000. With over 25 years of actual deal-making experience, Larry brings an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the merger & acquisition process to his sell-side engagements, resulting in maximum value to the business owner. Larry is a former Executive Vice President for the Texas Association of Business Brokers, and is an active speaker on mergers and acquisitions.

Larry is a Series 7, 66 and 79 Registered Securities Representative, licensed through Statesman Corporate Finance,  LLC,  a FINRA member firm. (www.statesmanbiz.com)

Phillip Wilhite

Managing Director, CBI

As an entrepreneur who built and sold a successful wholesale distribution business serving the grocery industry in 16 states, Phillip understands the business sale transaction from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspective. His “Big 8” public accounting experience, coupled with experience in completing transactions in the manufacturing, distribution, printing, service, and numerous other industry sectors over his career provide him with insight into the merger & acquisition process. He is an active speaker and writer on business transaction and valuation topics, and received the industry’s highest designation, Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary, held by less than 80 professionals, in 2005. Phillip is also a Certified Business Intermediary, and holder of a Texas Real Estate Salesperson’s License.  

Phillip is a Series 7 and 66 Registered Securities Representative, licensed through Statesman Corporate Finance,  LLC,  a FINRA member firm. (www.statesmanbiz.com)

John Fincher

Senior Associate, CBI, BCB

As an entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience, John relates well to owners/shareholders and is motivated by helping others achieve their success through business divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. John was a founder in a startup company that grew to 50 million dollars in revenue in a five year period and he managed five of the business locations in the southwest. After the business sold to a Fortune 500 company, John provided sales and marketing consulting. John then bought a business from Corporate Investment and later merged the company with a larger entity that served clients in over forty states and several foreign countries. His experience in business operations, marketing, sales and business divestiture, merger and acquisition earned him knowledge useful for business owners considering selling their companies.

Rob Smithson

Senior Associate

With an exceptionally broad 34-year business background spanning aerospace, automotive, restaurant, construction, and manufacturing industries, Rob is well equipped to help business owners position themselves for the best possible exit through a deep understanding of how their business works. Rob has been involved in M&A activities ranging from $10MM to over $1B in his career. He has also played key roles in raising over $150MM in private equity from angel investors, venture capital, and strategic investors, and has advised both companies and investors on numerous investment opportunities.  

As an entrepreneur, Rob has built a company from two people and an idea into an industry leader with sales in over 30 countries and strategic relationships with multiple Fortune 500 companies. He has held VP and division CEO positions with publicly traded international companies as well. As a small business owner, Rob started and ultimately sold a restaurant. As an engineer, Rob was recognized as a Fellow of the Global Society of Automotive Engineers, an honor achieved by fewer than 800 of the Society’s members in the past half century.  

At Corporate Investment, Rob helps his clients as a business broker and consultant to achieve maximum value for their businesses when it is time to sell.