John P. Murphy, ASA, MCBA, CVA – President
As President, John coordinates the firm’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), merger and acquisition, and ownership transition activities.
John is instrumental in providing valuation and financial advisory services in connection with the implementation of ESOPs. He also represents buyers and sellers of middle market companies, and has negotiated and structured complex recapitalizations, leveraged and management buyouts, corporate acquisitions, and family business transfers, to include the placement of senior and subordinated debt.
John conducts valuations in connection with business succession, ESOPs, estate and gift tax matters, marital dissolutions, purchase price allocations, goodwill impairment studies, and mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.
John teaches courses for business owners, attorneys and accountants on business valuation and business succession issues and is a frequent panelist at seminars sponsored by the ESOP Association. Before joining Atlantic Management Company in 1989, John was affiliated with McLaughlin Research Corporation. Prior to that, he was a military intelligence analyst with the United States Air Force Electronic Security Command and served in the United States, Japan, and Greece.
Brady T. Finney – Managing Director
Brady coordinates the firm’s valuation activities. He specializes in the financial analysis of closely held companies and the industries with which they are allied. His analyses generate a multi-dimensional financial profile and provide an insight into the economic environment in which the companies operate. Brady has participated in a variety of valuation engagements including those conducted for ownership transition, stock options, corporate planning, and ESOPs.
Brady has been a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) certified by NACVA. He has over 20 years of experience in operations, financial strategy, technology, consulting, and marketing.
Prior to joining Atlantic Management Company, Brady managed the budget and analysis process for a $10 billion retail office supply chain. Later he became the Director of Operations for the New Orleans Technology Council where he consulted with over 200 technology companies on their marketing strategies, strategic plans, and product delivery processes. Brady served as interim controller for a $40 million publicly held manufacturing company, and raised over $8.5 million in both angel and venture capital funding for a technology startup.
Sandra S. Smith, CPA, CGMA, CVA – Director
Sandra specializes in financial analysis and uses valuation research to provide valuations by assessing corporate risk, evaluating industry trends, and analyzing budgets and cash flows. She works primarily with closely held companies across a diverse array of industries, including manufacturing, professional services, retail, and high technology.
Prior to joining Atlantic Management Company, Sandra spent 15 years in public accounting, focusing almost exclusively on commercial enterprises, where she worked with clients on matters including financial reporting, understanding and implementing changes in accounting guidance, assessing and strengthening internal controls, and succession planning.
Sandra also assists companies and business owners with the intricacies of ESOP transactions and related accounting, in which she works with management to understand the post-transaction impacts to financial statements, debt covenants, and forecasts, as well as to provide ongoing financial consulting for existing ESOPs.
Sandra is a frequent author and presenter on topics including synthetic equity and deferred compensation, correcting retirement plan errors, ESOPs, business valuations, and updates to US GAAP.
Matt Courtnage, CFA, MBA – Manager
Matt is an experienced financial manager with an extensive background in valuation analysis, private equity, investments, and corporate finance. He has performed the following types of valuation analyses: closely held businesses, mergers and acquisitions, tangible and intangible assets, and financial instruments.
Matt has overseen a variety of valuation services for purposes that include corporate planning, ESOPs, property tax, investment fraud, third party advisory engagements, and litigation due diligence. His valuation experience has included numerous industries, domestic and international, and for both public and private companies.
Matt’s private equity experience includes oversight of multiple portfolio companies from both a financial perspective and operations management. He advised on several transactions with both buy and sell-side parties.
Prior to joining Atlantic Management Company, Matt spent 7 years as a Valuation Manager at a west coast-based valuation firm where he performed valuation analyses across a broad range of companies and industries.
Cory Melnick, CVA – Senior Associate
Cory’s financial analyses examine financial data, macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions, and company-specific risk to help business owners make decisions. He also works with business owners to position and market their companies for sale, working closely with them from planning through execution.
Prior to joining Atlantic Management Company, Cory worked as a fund accountant at the top ranked hedge fund administration firm in the country where he was instrumental in the onboarding and implementation of new funds.
Cory also participated in the university honors program at the University of New Hampshire, where he was awarded third place for his senior thesis paper. As part of the university honors program, Cory also acted as a business consultant for a local business and conducted financial research alongside his university’s professors.
Since joining Atlantic Management Company, Cory has performed a variety of business valuation engagements, spanning virtually all industries from manufacturing to high-tech disciplines. Cory has also assisted business owners in their ownership transition from consulting on management buyouts to sell-side advising for a third-party sale.
Diego Smith – Analyst
Diego brings a unique blend of macroeconomic expertise and global perspective which also stems from his international upbringing across multiple continents.
A Seattle native and University of New Hampshire graduate with a degree in Analytical Economics, he won his Senior Capstone Thesis.
At UNH, Diego was a leader, serving as the Chief Economist of the Atkins Investment Group and Captain of the Club Rugby team.
Before joining Atlantic Management, Diego worked as a Market Research Analyst with a focus on IT companies in the Public sector.
At Atlantic, Diego has successfully led various business valuation projects across industries and advised business owners in ownership transitions, from management buyouts to third-party sales.
Outside of the firm Diego also enjoys travelling to new places and DJing in his free time.