Growth Opportunities

Accounting & Valuation Advisor

Marigold and its clients are fortunate to have the insight of CPA and valuation expert Bill Karben on our team. Bill Karben graduated from Iowa State University in 1987 and has taken additional undergraduate and graduate level classes from Western Illinois University and the University of Iowa. Karben has been in public accounting for over 15 years including 11 years with a national accounting firm before joining a locally owned Quad Cities accounting firm in 2008. Karben has been instrumental on valuing and packaging effective acquisition strategies for both sellers and buyers. He is actively involved in the accounting profession, including being the past president of the local CPA and IMA associations and currently serves on the boards of two local non-for-profits.

Strategic Growth Advisor

Often clients are ready to sell, but need to grow profits before they will achieve the exit that's right for their future. Marigold's team that helps would-be seller's plan for and execute that growth is led by Tony Morales. Tony is a business development pro focused on profitable growth strategies. An engineer by training, Morales spent over three decades at Alcoa in sales, product management, and marketing, including the last seven years directing a global aerospace and defense marketing team. Innovation is in Tony's DNA. He earned a half dozen US patents during the 25 years he directed new product development programs across aerospace, automotive, industrial lighting, defense, and railcar markets. Accountable for strategy and profitability, Tony negotiated and partnered with clients of all sizes around the globe, including Boeing, Airbus, SpaceX, Spirit Aero, LMI, Bombardier, and Alenia. This proven team leader also has a passion for problem solving in his own backyard. From directing competitive youth hockey leagues and charitable scholarship foundations, to ministerial food pantry gardening and refereeing high school varsity soccer, Morales cultivates measurable successes in every project he tackles. With his corporate era career behind him, Tony enjoys teaching International Marketing at St. Ambrose University and sharing his penchant for fine wines in group classes across the Quad Cities.

Brand Advisor

Farming has evolved more than most other industries in the last one-hundred years. With a rapidly diminishing number of food producers, fewer people than ever truly understand modern agriculture. Which is why the Marigold advisory team is fortunate to include Larry McDonald, a writer, designer and businessman, who also happens to manage several hundred acres of Midwestern farmland. He grew up on a farm, earned a couple of degrees at Northern Illinois University and has been of professional service to John Deere, Case IH, Cornelius Seed, Hertz Farm Management and Diamond V, among others. After 20 years of operating a successful design and communications firm in downtown Moline, Larry relocated his business practice to a converted corn-crib near his home in Orion, Illinois, inches from the nearest row-crop field.

Digital Media Advisor

Sharing a compelling story and producing effective media and marketing are critical to successfully selling any business. Marigold clients benefit from Justin Holstein's experience in the communications and entertainment space. Holstein has been working in entertainment and media production 20+ years with experience as a news writer, broadcast news journalist, web developer and film producer. From ABC News, Warner Brothers, PBS, Showtime, Yahoo Originals and A&E Network, Holstein has produced various types of programming at the top levels and brings the same level of professionalism to Marigold. When it comes to Marigold's ability to help our clients effectively package their story and brand, Holstein's experience adds exceptional value.

Managing Partner

Marigold Resources' co-founder Todd McGreevy excels at distilling and distributing relevant data that expedites transactions.

McGreevy was running two media & advertising companies, plus a real estate holding company when managing partner Chris Barnard invited him to create the high-touch midwestern M&A firm in 2011.

McGreevy's decades of independent publishing, sales & marketing experience, software start ups, urban pioneering, and civic activism enrich the customers he advises on growing and selling their business.

As one of the managing partners at Marigold Resources, McGreevy manages all actionable deal flow including offers, due diligence, and closing requirements. In addition, McGreevy is proficient at navigating financial records, complex re-casting and working capital formulas.

He's exhibited his mixed-media art works in galleries and universities, helped found MidCoast Fine Arts, and was on the board of directors that established the Figge Art Museum.

Todd's been a valuation expert witness in federal proceedings, and led several local and state campaigns for public office. He enjoys supporting a vibrant local music and art scene and in his spare time raises bonsai trees.

Managing Partner

Marigold Resources' founder Chris Barnard is an expert at identifying and connecting successful transition and acquisition partners.

Barnard's extensive business development experience serving Fortune 100 companies has served Marigold's customers very well since founding the independent midwestern M&A firm in 2011.

Thanks to Barnard's decades of incentive travel sales and motivational speaking audience development, his connections to the region's industry leaders are extensive and multi-generational.

As one of the managing partners at Marigold Resources, Barnard leads business development and referral partner relations. He is active on the local Big Brothers Big Sisters board of directors, and supports additional charitable organizations including Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA.

He's a leader of the Iowa Racquetball Association's annual Quad City Open and continues to work on his bucket list of golf courses to be played world-wide.

Chris enjoys making a difference with the kids he mentors, and helping local start ups get creative. His current obsession is acquiring all the profitable iconic Quad Cities' brands for an exclusive investment lab.