Brian M. Middleton, CLU, Certified Family Business Specialist
In 1983, Brian co-founded Dealer Planning Services, Ltd. (DPS) – a financial planning firm committed to estate and succession planning for owners of automobile and truck dealerships.
Since graduating from La Salle University in 1979, Brian has worked with over 400 family businesses in the area of Succession Planning.
In 1997, Brian started Brian Middleton & Associates, Ltd. (BMA) – a consulting organization committed to helping owners of family businesses through the succession-planning journey. Brian Middleton & Associates’ focus is working with business families offering them a clearly defined succession planning process that prepares the family, the next generation leadership and the business itself for the challenge of succession. Brian has worked closely with Family Business Forums and has presented the Succession Planning Journey to Estate Planning Councils, Financial Planning organizations, and national trade organizations.
In 2005, Brian teamed with Keith Krenz to start Teleos Partners. Teleos Partners combines the consulting firm of BMA with the business engineering expertise of Mr. Krenz to offer a complete succession/exit planning offering. Teleos Partners is dedicated to the successful comprehensive succession of privately owned businesses.
Keith Krenz
Keith Krenz was born in Kalispell, Montana in 1957, is married, has three grown children, and graduated from Lehigh University in 1979 with a degree in engineering. Following a stint in industry coupled with graduate engineering studies, in 1983 Mr. Krenz joined Lehigh University to develop and lead its Manufacturing Systems Engineering research program. In 1986, Mr. Krenz launched an independent for profit industrial research and engineering firm (Technology Systems Corporation – TSC). TSC took on challenging business issues conducting advanced business and engineering projects in the automotive, pharmaceutical, construction equipment, aerospace, consumer appliance, light metals, plastics, and industrial electronics sectors throughout North America, Europe and South America.
Mr. Krenz retired from active management of his firm in 2001 while staying on as an active member of the board of directors through 2004. Since retiring from TSC Mr. Krenz has helped launch a radio frequency identification (RFID) company, supported various company acquisition and divestiture efforts, sits on the board of directors and advisory board of various companies, is a member of the board of a private school, is Chairman Emeritus of Lehigh University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering Advisory Board, and is a founding Partner and in Teleos Partners (a business succession group).
Jeff Smith
Originally from Melrose, MA, Jeff graduated from Alvernia (College) University in Reading PA with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. He spent 5 ½ years in market research and institutional advancement prior to joining the financial services industry.
For the past 20+ years, Jeff has served as an insurance and investment professional in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His practice is focused on business owners and philanthropic planning. He has earned the Certified Long Term Care (CLTC) designation and is completing his Certified Family Business Specialist (CFBS) designation in 2015.
He and his wife Donna reside in Sinking Spring and are the parents of 5 grown children. He has served on numerous non-profit boards. Currently, he is board President for Habitat for Humanity of Berks County, as well as a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Alvernia University and the finance committee at the John Paul II School for Special Learning.
