Hello friends and family! Just wanted to let everyone know that Katie and I are moving next month! We will be headed about an hour south to Fort Smith, AR.

As most of you know, I have been working as a Business Broker for the last year with CBI Sunbelt in Lowell. CBI (confidential business intermediary) is part of the Sunbelt Business Adviser network & owned by Carl Grimes (my boss). Fifteen years ago, Birnie Harper started the Sunbelt Franchise for Fort Smith. Recently, he announced the desire to move on to be closer to his kids and grandkids. This opened up an incredible opportunity for our company and about 3 weeks ago, Carl asked me to consider joining with him as a partner in the company and moving our family to Fort Smith to take over current operations and provide our services to the greater Ft. Smith region.

At first, Katie and I were hesitant, because that is a big change (and we just finished unpacking all of our boxes from 2 years ago! LOL). We visited Ft. Smith that weekend and saw amazing oportunities to grow our business and to help the growing small business community in the Fort Smith/River Valley area. They are really in need of our services and professionalism! We were inspired after the first trip and every trip since then has been a treat.

Last week, CBI acquired SBA, Ft. Smith and Carl and I finalized our thoughts on the partnership agreement. There are still somethings that need to be signed, but I wanted everyone to know ASAP that we are MOVING!

This is such a blessing for our family. I’ve always wanted to run my own business and own my own company and this partnership with Carl makes that possible. This puts us about five years ahead of where we thought we would be, but there is a lot of hard work left to do!

ALL: If you know of any schools that need a great teacher, please let us know! Katie has applied at every district, but as we have already experienced, much of getting hired is knowing the right people! If there is an opportunity outside of teaching, that is a possibility.

Also, if you need a place to rent for a good deal (2br, 1bth, big fenced in yard), contact me and I will put you in touch with our land lord, Robbie.

To friends in NWA: It is only 45 minutes! We will come visit NWA and any trip you make to LR, please drop by to see us!

To friends in LR: We are 45 min closer than we ever have been! Please come visit! OR, if you need some free room and board during football, basketball, or baseball season, let us know! We’d love to have you!

To Family: Thanks for keeping us in your prayers through out the process, & please continue to pray as we get settled in to a new area!

To Clients in NWA: I am still working for you & doing working in NWA! Don’t worry! This will only increase our exposure and open up all of our current business listings to more and more buyers in other markets!

Please keep these things in your prayers for us:

• Katie’s job: Pray that she will find a good job, with a good principal/boss, at a good school/company.
• Ray’s business: We are rebuilding the company. Pray that we can keep cost down and help the small business owners sell their businesses!
• Housing: Currently, we have no where to live. Where we are going has to be ok with two well trained pups. We are looking for 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 baths, in an ok area for $400 – $500 ideally. Our thougths are to rent for a few years and then look at buying.
• Church home: we have some ideas about where to go, but we don’t have a church home yet.

Thanks for your prayers and support. We will keep you posted when everything is finalized and will also let you know of a few minor changes in the works (new addresses, new website developments, new business website, more video posting, etc…) Don’t forget to follow me on twitter!