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Benson Earns Investment Banking Designation
Benson Earns Investment Banking Designation Orchard Park, New York– Thomas P. Benson, CPA, CVA, CFFA, CMAP, has successfully completed the certification process with the Middle Market Investment Banking Association (MMIBA) and its affiliate, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) to earn the Certified Merger and Acquisition Professional (CMAP) designation. The CMAP certification is conferred by MMIBA and administered by NACVA. Mr. Benson is the founder and Managing Director of the Vineyard Group, LLC, a multi-faceted consulting firm, established in 2004 that offers a wide range of services to middle market companies, individuals and organizations. In his announcement, NACVA Chief Executive Officer, Parnell Black, MBA, CPA, CVA, noted, “The Certified Merger and Acquisition designation is an indication to the professional community that Mr. Benson has met the Association’s rigorous standards of professionalism, expertise, objectivity and integrity in the field of mergers and acquisitions.” Long-time NACVA member, Dennis Roberts, CPA/ABV, CVA, Chairman of the Middle Market Investment banking firm, the McLean Group, partnered with NACVA to develop MMIBA and the CMAP training program. According to Roberts, “the rigorous training program is the first totally comprehensive M&A training course to contrast and compare the buy side and the sales side perspectives of middle market M&A. Understanding the dynamic process that fuses the two contrasting views is what makes the course unique.” In addition to passing the comprehensive certification exam, requirements to earn the Certified Mergers and Acquisitions designation include holding a credential from a recognized institution demonstrating a high level of training and accomplishment in a field of business, finance, accounting, economics or business management and furnishing a number of professional references, among others. To maintain his CMAP designation Mr. Benson will be required to periodically obtain continuing professional education in areas related to the dynamic field of mergers and acquisitions. “This CMAP designation is an impressive addition to Mr. Benson’s accomplishments and knowledge base,” said Jack Whipple, CPA, CVA, Director of the Vineyard Group, LLC. “Our firm is known for being imaginative, creative problem solvers and for our specialized training and credentials. The Vineyard Group has extensive experience in providing consulting services related to mergers and acquisitions and divestitures. This certification clearly differentiates us as experts in this area,” added Whipple. The middle market is made up of businesses with revenues of between $2 million and $500 million with values ranging from $4 million to $1 billion and middle market businesses comprise about 18% of all US businesses but represent about 90% of all merger and acquisition transactions. “Our focus is on the lower end of the middle market- on companies valued between $2 and $100 million”, said Benson. “Our skill set and experience make us perfectly suited to serve these companies that are way too small for Wall Street or large investment banks. The M & A activity level in the lower middle market has been strong over the past several years, but significant increases in activity levels are expected over the next 5 to 10 years as the Baby Boomer business exit hits full stride, the consolidation of many industries continues, and technology and information continue to drive change and innovation. We are uniquely suited to play a major role in this exciting and dynamic process”, added Benson. The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) is a global, professional association that delivers training from the nation’s leading experts in consulting fields such as business valuation, financial litigation forensics, forensic accounting, business fraud, mergers and acquisitions, business and intellectual property damages, fair value reporting, healthcare consulting and exit strategies. NACVA’s two business valuation credentials, the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Accredited Valuation Analyst (AVA), are the only business valuation designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) through its affiliated organization, the Financial Forensic Institute (FFI) and, NACVA also sponsors the Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) designation. Along with its training and certification programs, NACVA offers a range of support services, reference materials, software and customized databases to enhance the professional capabilities and capacities of its members. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, it has trained more that 18,000 financial professionals. The Vineyard Group’s service offerings encompass five distinct focus areas: Management Advisory Services, Ownership Transition Services, Virtual and Transitional Executive Services, Litigation Support Services, and Fraud Deterrence and Investigation. The firm maintains offices in Jamestown, Olean and Orchard Park, New York.
