Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregg Ficery.
Gregg, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The business valuation consulting sector grew substantially in the early 2000’s after a period of generally bad business behavior in the U.S. with major accounting fraud situations at pillars of our economy, such as Enron, Fannie, Mae/Freddie Mac, and WorldCom, as well as a flood of stock option fraud associated with management backdating option issuance dates to earlier dates with lower strike prices. I may be the only person in the world who worked for both Freddie Mac and WorldCom, though both before their issues came to light. Still, there were many lessons learned from that period in terms of the destruction of business value due to a lack of ethics and integrity, which is ultimately why my firm is called Integgra. After nearly 10 years at three other valuation practices, including the Analytics group within Silicon Valley Bank, I started Integgra in 2011. The firm has grown every year and serves all industries for all types of valuation issues, with a niche in valuing early stage private companies for IRS 409(A) option pricing and other needs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The value proposition of offering national firm experience at a small firm with reduced fees and faster turnaround time has been very effective. But finding time to continue to focus on business development to grow the firm while also delivering client work in a timely manner can be a challenge.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Integgra Valuation & Advisory Services – what should we know?
My experience at SVB Analytics provided a wealth of experience in valuing hundreds of early stage private technology companies. This is a specific skill that even many other valuation practitioners and firms either don’t know how to do, or prefer not to do them due to the associated lower price points. However, I enjoy being exposed to developments in technology and understanding what drives their valuations. Also, I like to think that I possess a somewhat rare skill set in terms of being able to effectively market the firm, execute the work, and communicate the results, either to clients, their advisors, or in court as an expert witness.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Each of the three valuation firms at which I worked before starting Integgra observed something in me or my background that led them to believe that I could take the next step in becoming a valuation professional. The first, DoveBid Valuation Services, recognized that I had the ability and comfort level to sell technical financial consulting work to help grow the firm, which is uncommon in a profession with a generally technical mindset. Another, Taylor Consulting Group, saw that I had enough experience in other types of financial analysis to make the technical transition to also execute the business valuation analyses. Then, SVB correctly decided that my experience at a .com startup circa 2000 would make me a good fit to focus on valuing tech companies. Each of these three skills provided the foundation for me to be able to start my own firm.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Hardin Building
1380 West Paces Ferry Rd.
Suite 2220, Atlanta, GA 30327 - Website: http://www.integgra.com
- Phone: 404-398-3462
- Email: gregg@integgra.com
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