OUR TEAM
Small Business Development Group, Inc. is led by a Team with years of cumulative experience, having participated in over 100 transactions with tombstone values from $150,000 to $65,000,000.
Roy Y. Salisbury
CEO and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Salisbury, CEO/Chairman, brings over 40 years of professional experience including as CEO of privately held and publicly traded companies. He has demonstrated proven success in complete deal-making, including public offerings, private placement, M&A transactions; turnarounds, restructuring and bankruptcy; dealing with financial institutions, investors, stock exchanges and the SEC.
A Marine veteran, he has participated as an investor and principal in numerous transactions in multiple industries, including; construction, recycling and renewable energy, logistics and distribution, e-commerce, food and hospitality, investment banking, management consulting, technology and telecommunications, timber, and travel. Mr. Salisbury has also functioned as a turnaround specialist for company shareholders and creditors in a number of bankruptcies.
Paul Murray
Director
Mr. Murray brings over 25 years of professional and entrepreneurial experience. His experience includes sourcing, vetting, and negotiating M&A transactions as well as assisting with the ownership transition process. He is a trained geologist and a natural gas consultant, and his diverse industry experience has been instrumental in building and operating an exotic woods furniture line, and refinishing materials businesses.
His significant network is representative of his strong interpersonal and business communication skills, with an emphasis on mutually beneficial relationships. His industry experience includes building materials, consumer packaged goods (CPG), investment banking, nutraceuticals, oil an gas, private equity, publicly traded companies, renewable energy, and venture capital.
Brian Jue
COO and Director
Mr. Jue, COO/Director, has over 30 years of professional experience, including as CEO and COO of publicly traded and privately held companies. As a partner, principal, primary investor, and consultant, he has exceptional capabilities sourcing, negotiating, structuring, and closing transactions. He has directed private and public capital formation efforts, IPOs, APOs, spin-offs, and M&A transactions for companies in multiple industries.
He embraces high pressure environments with high proficiency skill sets to close transactions. Over the years he has built an immense, high level, global network through his efforts in the private equity, investment banking, venture capital, technology, cross border trade, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, manufacturing, marketing, digital media, professional sports, entertainment, and Esports industries.
Steven Louie
Director
Mr. Louie brings over 30 years of corporate and financial services experience where he held various executive and leadership roles at Marsh & McLennan Companies (Mercer) and MetLife. As a Partner at Mercer, he was the Southern California Office Leader for Mercer’s Health, Wealth, and Human Capital Consulting Practices. Prior to Mercer, he worked for MetLife where he was a Market Leader overseeing their institutional sales division. He was also FINRA licensed for over 16 years.
He began his career as an insurance underwriter and graduated with a finance degree. Mr. Louie is founder of a commercial real estate investment firm where he focuses on acquisitions, sourcing capital and building key relationships. He also serves as the asset manager on the firm's current portfolio.
James Jenkins
CFO and Director
Mr. Jenkins, CFO/Director, offers over 40 years of diversified experience in senior management including in publicly traded companies, as CEO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board. His professional experience includes SEC public company reporting and compliance, manufacturing operations, investment banking, real estate and commodities markets. He has over 25 years of experience in raising capital and structuring financial transactions.
He has complete deal-making experience including public offerings, private placement, M&A transactions, bond offerings, and commercial real estate construction. Mr. Jenkins has managed multiple functions including manufacturing, finance, operations, due diligence, and has experience with financial institutions, investors, stock exchanges and the SEC.
Jenny Gou
Director
Ms. Gou offers over 14 years of professional experience in the corporate and entrepreneurial world. She was a Sales Director at Procter & Gamble, managing cross functional teams and setting national sales strategies for brands like Dawn and Cascade. She has industry experience working with top retailers in Mass, Club, Food and Dollar channels as well as launching successful new products into the marketplace.
Ms. Gou is a founder of a real estate investment firm that focuses on acquiring and operating real estate assets. She focuses on property strategy, execution and investor relations. Her success comes from the ability to generate and foster strong relationships in all her projects. Ms. Gou has a BA in Business Management from the University of Arizona, and a MBA from the University of Minnesota.
David Emery
Vice President of Communications
Mr. Emery has over 45 years of private enterprise and government sector experience. He was a four-term United States Congressman representing Maine, rising to become the Chief Deputy Republican Whip. His government experience included serving under President Reagan as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, with oversight of the Agency, its 200 employees, and their activities.
He served as the Interim President of Thomas College in Maine, and on its Board of Trustees. He founded the consulting firm “Scientific Marketing & Analysis” to provide public opinion polling and analysis, public policy guidance, political consulting and strategy development for market-oriented candidates and for non-partisan referendum issues, and legislative and government relations.
Gary Merten
Vice President of Business Development
Mr. Merten has over 25 years of management and operational experience with a focus on creating and developing successful business relationships. Through his years of prep, college, and professional football, he developed an on the field understanding of teamwork, and the necessity of collaboration and accountability.
His background includes management experience in branding, event production, licensing, logistics, manufacturing, marketing, operations, and product development. He has been a CEO and COO of privately held enterprises, with experience in numerous industries. His experience in licensing includes working directly with MLB, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, as well as directly with entertainment, celebrities, and professional athletes.
William Gay
Outside Counsel
Mr. Gay has more than 35 years of exemplary experience as a business, corporate, and securities attorney. Of Counsel at Wilson Elser, his specialties include securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, licensing agreements, technology transfers, real estate, intellectual property, franchising, cannabis law, investor immigration, and fluency in Japanese. He is currently the Chair of the International Law Section for the State Bar of California.
His accolades include selection as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the Corporate Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law areas for 2006-2021. Also as Corporate Lawyer of the Year for Orange County, 2009, 2013, 2015. Mr. Gay has his BA, MBA, JD, and LLM from the University of Washington.
Scott Bosley
Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor
Mr. Bosley has over 30 years of private enterprise professional experience. He is a business development specialist who excels at identifying investments in businesses and real estate investments on behalf of his clients. Over the years he has built long-term relationships by finding scenarios that benefit both buyer and seller. He has industry experience in the leisure industry, real estate, telecommunications, and the financial services industries.
He developed his organizational and communications skills at the University of Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Programming and Management. He applies his unique storytelling ability and love of humor to build relationships, expand his business network and creatively source new opportunities for his clients.
Ronnie Gou
CPG Advisor
Mr. Gou brings 15 years of corporate experience at Procter & Gamble, leading market and sales strategy across multiple teams and business units. He has led market strategy development for some of P&G’s largest brands, including Charmin, Bounty, and Puffs, and managed the multi-functional go to market team for those brands.
He has worked extensively with major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, Home Depot, Dollar General, and Costco, across all retail channels in formulating relationships to build organic sales growth. He has leadership level expertise in sales, finance, logistics, and business analytics. Mr. Gou has a BA in Economics from the University of California Irvine, and a MBA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Mark Brodson
Commercial RE Liaison
Mr. Brodson has over 30 years of professional experience, and is currently a commercial real estate broker and the President of Resource Commercial Advisors. He specializes in tenant rep leasing and the sale of private, off-market assets including medical office properties, industrial buildings and net leased assets throughout the U.S.
His expertise includes navigating the ties between commercial real estate and M&A transactions, as most deals require back-end real estate work including lease negotiations, asset acquisition, expansion, disposition or sale and leasebacks. His deep real estate connections with company and property owners are a source of high quality acquisition opportunities. Mr. Brodson has a BA in History and a MBA in Marketing both from the University of Michigan.
James Chan
Venture Advisor
Mr. Chan brings over 15 years of progressive experience in finance and operations management within start-ups, global Fortune 500, hyper-growth and turn-around organizations. He is highly accomplished, with a results-driven approach to corporate finance, corporate financial planning, financial and investment analysis,and is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley.
He has had senior roles with ASSA ABLOY, Pure Growth (CFO), Quirky, Beats by Dr. Dre, Zodiac Aerospace, Stanley Black & Decker, and Deloitte, after beginning his career with Broadcom and Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Chan is a CPA, and has his BA/BS from UCLA, and a MS from USC and is an Official Member of the Forbes Finance Council.
Edmond Wong
Product and Innovation Advisor
Mr. Wong brings over 25 years of executive management, entrepreneurial and investment experience in the technology and consumer products sectors. His expertise includes branding, product innovation, global operations, sourcing, supply chain, customer experience, M&A transactions, partnership development and licensing.
He is an operations, product and strategy executive focused on delivering great customer experiences while scaling VC and PE backed growth stage companies. He currently advises growth stage companies in consumer products, eCommerce, SaaS and subscription-based services and is an angel investor and co-founder of the Asian American Investors Group (AAIG). He is also an innovation advisor at UCI’s Beall Applied Innovation and the UCI Paul Merage Business School’s MBA and Masters of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MIE) Programs.
Charles Giannetto
SEC Counsel
Mr. Giannetto has over 40 years of business and legal experience, including SEC public company and investment banking experience. He has extensive transactional experience, including: public offerings, private placements, M&A transactions, commercial real estate, construction, bankruptcy, restructurings, turnarounds, and new ventures.
His practice of law is concentrated in corporate and securities law: compliance, finance, operations, and SEC securities filings such as S-1 registrations, Form 8Ks, Form 10Qs & 10Ks, and spin-offs. Mr. Giannetto also has expertise with publicly traded 1940 Act Business Development Companies, having been Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and a Director of 2 BDC’s. His JD is from William Mitchell College of Law (1980), and he is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator (2010).
Robert Lau
Project Manager - Asia
Mr. Lau has over 22 years of financial and engineering experience with degrees in mechanical engineering (materials) and a Masters Degree in Financial Engineering from universities in Malaysia and Singapore. He has held senior management positions in family offices, private equity and asset management companies throughout Asia. He has first-hand expertise in expansion of existing glove manufacturing facilities, including the adoption of packing automation technology, glove sourcing and quality control.
As a private equity fund manager, he has invested in private and public technology companies in the areas of examination glove manufacturing, metal and electronics component manufacturing, and real estate investment and development. His experience includes IPOs, M&A, spin-offs and privatizations in Singapore, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.