Sunbelt Atlanta

Mission Statement | Our Brokers | Directions

Mission Statement
The mission of Sunbelt Atlanta is to offer professional expertise and reliable service to our clients in areas of Buying and Selling privately held businesses, Mergers and Acquisitions, affiliated Financial Support Services, including Loans, imaginative methods of Raising Capital and Cash Flow, Tax Reduction Strategies and related Real Estate services. We assist both Sellers in preparing and packaging their business for marketing and Buyers looking for a specific acquisition or merger. The company is a fully licensed Real Estate and Business Brokerage operation with only trained professionals, all holding Real Estate Salesperson or Real Estate Broker licenses in compliance with the Georgia Real Estate Commission Rule #520-1-19 for business brokers and intermediaries. The Sunbelt Business Broker Network has been established since 1979 and is the largest business brokerage network in the world.

Our Brokers

Ray Boreham, CBI
Mr. Boreham, CBI (Certified Business Intermediary), owner of Sunbelt, Atlanta is a Certified Business Intermediary as designated by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and is a Diversified Cash Flow Specialist (DCFS) as certified by the American Cash Flow Association. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia. He was Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 1965 to 1985 of Xomox Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio, a $100 million division of Emerson Electric and manufacturer of industrial flow control equipment and traveled extensively throughout North America and the world in this position. In 1985 he left Xomox Corporation to start his own manufacturing company of industrial products, which after one merger, a subsequent buy-back and relocation to Atlanta, he sold to Tyco International in 1991 and stayed on with Tyco for a five year period to assist with further engineering development; manufacturing; sales and marketing. He is owner and president of Sunbelt in Atlanta, which he has operated since 1998 and in this capacity, has sold in excess of 150 privately held companies. Ray also owns Master Stone Crafters, a metro Atlanta granite and marble fabrication company, which was one of his own listings that he purchased in 1999 and oversees through a general manager who handles the day to day activities. Mr. Boreham has in depth experience in all facets of business including general management; P&L responsibility; engineering; manufacturing; sales and marketing as well as the valuation process to determine fair market value of businesses and facilitating financing for buyers. Also, extensive knowledge in all business sectors with particular expertise in manufacturing, distribution and service companies.

De Gassman

De Gassman brings to the table over 19 years in business ownership and management, with experience in restaurants, marketing, education and real estate. In 1983, De and a partner started, owned and managed a full service waterside family restaurant in Louisiana that remains successful today. Twenty five years after opening, it is still using much the same systems that were effectively put in place during De’s ownership. She went on to earn her degree in Education at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She taught for several years before starting a successful marketing business in Georgia - selling and designing effective and appropriate advertising and working with a wide variety of small businesses including, among others, restaurants and hotels. She has consulted in everything from start-ups, to marketing and process improvement for a variety of small businesses. As president of a 501c3 organization, De redesigned and implemented an entirely new financing structure such that prior issues for not only funding, but also for manpower, were all but eliminated. The success of the system spread, and similar organizations have requested information on implementing it. De is a Realtor licensed in Georgia since 1999, a Certified Life Coach, Certified Public Speaker. She lives in Sugar Hill with her husband, Nelson.

David Lyon

David Lyon began his career with Hallmark Cards, and was actively involved in product management and new product development. He joined a national privately held building material manufacturer and held various senior marketing and sales management positions. His responsibilities included growing the company both by organic internal growth as well as by acquiring other private and family owned companies. David's background includes experience with process and procedure improvement, advertising and sales promotion, new product development and introduction, sales force organization and alignment, and strategic planning. He has extensive experience with distribution, and served two terms as Chairman of the Industry Advisory Council of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors. David received his undergraduate degree in Advertising and his M.B.A. from Oklahoma State University. He is a licensed realator in the State of Georgia. David and his wife reside in Roswell, Georgia.

Jim Ratteree

Jim Ratteree has more than 30 years experience in business ownership and management; having owned five companies involved in sales, manufacturing, distribution and real estate. He has an in-depth understanding of all areas of managing a successful small business. After receiving an education in engineering and business, Jim began his career as a manufacturers' rep selling nationally recognized lines of machinery and supplies to the automotive aftermarket. In the late 70's the business expanded to include an automotive machine shop and parts distribution. That business grew rapidly into one of the largest in the Southeast with three locations. Through the years, Jim has consulted with and assisted many small business owners in business valuations and asset sales. Jim's many years of experience in sales and marketing, finance, manufacturing and distribution allow him to understand the unique challenges and great opportunities of owning a business. His commitment to you is honesty and integrity throughout the buying/selling process. Jim holds a Georgia real estate license and resides in Gwinnett County with his wife Teresa.

Hoyt Blackwood

Hoyt has 36 years in sales and marketing. He began his career in commercial / industrial chemical and coating contracting where he provided services to numerous businesses in those environments. In 1982, his interests turned to Real Estate and over the following 26 years, he closed hundred of sales and millions of dollars in production. While the majority of his sales were in residential Real Estate involving both resale and new home construction, he also represented clients in many commercial ventures. They included land sales for commercial development, small business sites for entrepreneurs wanting to own their own facilities, and lease transactions for many office and office warehouse oriented businesses. Hoyt has been licensed as a Real Estate sales person since 1982 and as a Broker since 1986.

Directions To Office:

From the West:

I 285 East (on north side of Atlanta) to Exit 30 (Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.).
Left onto Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
Go over overpass to Georgetown Shopping Center on left.
Turn into shopping center beside Guthrie’s and swing around to the access road on the left side.
Turn right onto the access road to the 5 story beige office building (address 4470) and park in the open parking across the road from the office building.
Take elevator to the fourth floor and turn right to suite 445.

From the East:

I 285 West (on north side of Atlanta) to Exit 30 and continue to the third traffic light (Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.).
Turn right onto Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
Turn left, beside Guthrie’s, into the Georgetown Shopping Center and Swing around to the access road on the left side.
Turn right onto the access road to the 5 story beige office building (address 4470) and park in the open parking across the road from the office building.
Take the elevator to the fourth floor and turn right to suite 445.