Anna Halaburda

Founder
CPA, CBEC^®, CFP^®, CVGA^®, CGS^®, C3D

Anna Halaburda is the founder of BeReady Advisors and BeReady Exits. She has over 20 years of experience in business exit strategy and planning, as well as over 40 years in accounting, financial planning, tax, auditing, and consulting. Anna combines her knowledge with a passion for empowering smaller advisory firms to maximize their clients' business value.

Throughout her career, she has guided countless business owners through successful transitions, whether selling to family, employees, or outside buyers. She’s also a dynamic public speaker, frequently presenting on exit strategies at various industry events. Her holistic approach and innovative techniques have made her a sought-after expert in the exit planning field.

Under Anna's leadership, BeReady has become a trusted partner for advisory firms and business owners nationwide, providing the tools, support, and expertise needed to navigate successful exits. Her dedication to client success drives the firm's mission, helping owners and advisors maximize business value.

Kelly Malaga-LaCarter

Principal Planner
MBA, CBEC^®

Kelly is a seasoned finance leader with over 30 years of experience across Finance, Control, and Human Resources. She has held a wide range of roles, including leading HR and Control functions for a Fortune 50 company, and is known for developing and delivering strategic initiatives that create value and improve both the client and employee experiences.

Kelly’s expertise lies in understanding the financial and human factors that drive business success. She spent 18 years in traditional finance roles, including planning and analysis, capital and sales forecasting, new business investment, and contingency planning.

She also led Control & Compliance for eight years, successfully integrating two companies into a larger business model. Later, she transitioned into Total Rewards and Human Resources, where she focused on delivering a better employee experience through technology, training, and cultural transformation.

Kelly is passionate about leading change and helping business owners navigate transition planning. She supports owners in understanding where they are today and helps them build practical, goal-driven plans for the future. A trusted advisor and respected collaborator, Kelly has a unique ability to connect financial insight with leadership vision, engaging stakeholders across functions and hierarchies to build enterprise value and reduce organizational risk.

John Carter

Principal
JD, CM&AA, CVGA^®, CExP

As a certified business exit planning and acquisition advisor, John helps business advisors and owners maximize company value and choose the best transfer options. With over 20 years of experience, he has guided hundreds of owners through transitions to family, employees, or outside buyers.

John earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College (Economics, Cum Laude) and his law degree from the University of Miami, specializing in International Business Transactions.

Before joining BeReady, John was the principal owner of Absolute Succession and worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney, advising clients on transactions including co-owner buyouts, family succession plans, employee transitions, and external sales. He now serves as a Principal Advisor, leveraging his deep expertise to support business owners and advisors nationwide.

He is an active member of the International Exit Planning Association, the National Alliance of Mergers and Acquisitions, and the Business Enterprise Institute. He is also involved with the Detroit chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and other professional associations.

A frequent speaker, John presents at events hosted by the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Construction Association of Michigan, the American Mold Builders Association, Vistage Michigan, EO, and other industry groups. He also supports non-profits focused on Michigan’s advanced technology and human services sectors.

Bruce A. Beickman

Principal
CM&AA^®, MBA, CPA, CBEC^®, CVB^®

Bruce is a trusted Private Advisor to Business Owners and for over 40 years has been successfully guiding his clients through their business transition by providing insights, expertise and unparalleled knowledge into the strategic planning, growth and value building that is needed in creating a transferable business. His in-depth knowledge comes from real world experience as a business owner who has “walked the talk”.

Bruce has extensive experience with the complicated planning needs of business owners and has partnerships with diverse professionals and networks across the United States to meet the specific needs of his clients.

Bruce is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor, Master Business Advisor, CPA, Certified Value Builder and Certified Business Exit Consultant. He is also the author of Navigate Your Business to Achieve Your Ultimate Dream! which addresses the 10 myths every business owner must know to achieve their financial and lifestyle goals.

Bruce’s Commitment to excellence in Exit Planning earned him the 2024 “Excellence in Exit Planning Award” from the International Exit Planning Association.

Bruce is also Chairman of The Board of Cedar Lake, Inc. a non-profit organization that serves over 250 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and employes over 350 with an annual operating budget of $36 million dollars.

Ron Clausen

Consulting Advisor & Popeye Plan Architect

Ron Clausen is a corporate attorney with a long-standing focus on mergers, acquisitions, and advising emerging growth companies. Known for his entrepreneurial mindset and strategic insight, Ron brings a business-first approach to legal counsel, helping owners and executives navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence.

Before entering private practice in 1986, Ron served as General Counsel to Nanco Enterprises, overseeing legal strategy and long-term planning for subsidiaries including Carrows Restaurants, Elephant Bar and Restaurants, Rayne Corporation, and Santa Barbara Aviation. He later stepped into operational leadership as President of Rayne Corporation, where he successfully doubled the company’s client base through acquisitions and strategic growth initiatives.

Ron earned his B.A. with departmental honors from the University of California, Davis, and received his J.D. from the U.C. Davis School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the U.C. Davis Law Review. He is a member of the State Bar of California.

A longtime advocate for conservation, Ron served on the boards of both the Montana Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation, leading successful national fundraising campaigns and contributing to organizational development. Today, Ron continues to advise business owners, attorneys, and exit planning professionals as part of the BeReady network, bringing decades of experience in law, strategy, and leadership to every engagement.

Russ Gorman

Affiliate
CFA^®, CFP^®, CM&AA^®, CBEC^®, CVGA^®

As a managing member of Commercial Consulting Services, LLC (CCS), Russ helps closely held businesses evaluate past performance and optimize organizational structure, asset efficiency, and financial results. CCS supports clients in identifying and implementing sustainable, scalable strategies to maximize cash flow and increase enterprise value.

Before founding CCS, Russ held senior roles at Merrill Lynch, Moody's, and Barclays Capital. He served as CFO and COO of a California electrical contracting company and has worked in commercial banking at City National Bank, The Bank of New York, Société Générale/SG Cowen, Metrobank, and Union Bank. Russ also served on the advisory board of a VC firm.

Russ holds the CFA^®, CFP^®, CM&AA^®, CBEC^®, and CVGA^® designations. He has FINRA Series 66, 7, and 79 licenses and is a Massachusetts-licensed life and health insurance producer. As an Enrolled Agent (EA^®) with IRS Circular 230 approval, he has 13 years of tax experience. Russ is also a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts.

Adam Bott

LPL Financial Advisor
AAMS^®, CPFA^®, CBEC^®, CM&AA^®

Adam Bott is the owner and founder of Crescendo Wealth Strategies. With over a decade of experience, he delivers comprehensive financial strategies tailored to the complex situations and unique opportunities his clients face. He specializes in helping retirees, business owners, executives, families, and medical professionals work toward their financial goals.

Adam’s greatest strength lies in the relationships and trust he builds with clients. With a background in teaching and coaching, he helps clients fully understand their financial picture and gain confidence in their future. He is sought out for his expertise in charitable giving, values-based planning, and advanced tax strategies.

Before becoming a financial advisor in 2012, Adam had a successful career as a surgical consultant. His transition was inspired by a personal experience, watching his widowed mother’s savings erode due to unsuitable investments recommended by a self-interested advisor. This drives his commitment to always act in his clients’ best interests.

Adam holds credentials as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS^®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA^®), Certified Business Exit Consultant (CBEC^®), and Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor (CM&AA^®). He earned his bachelor’s degree in International Business from Azusa Pacific University, with minors in Economics and Marketing. With a heart for giving, Adam donates 10% of firm profits to charity and is a member of the Windsor Community Foundation, a nonprofit serving causes across the greater Windsor area.