About IA Business Advisors

We’ve helped small businesses grow and thrive in their industries since 1996.

Our Mission:

At IA Business Advisors, our mission is to unlock the potential of individuals and organizations through expert management consulting. Rooted in our core values and the S.M.A.R.T. Management principles, we empower clients to achieve significant, measurable results.

Our Core Values:

Individual Value: We celebrate the unique contributions of every individual.

S.M.A.R.T. Approach:  Our methodology emphasizes Specificity, Measurability, Attainability, Relevance, and Timeliness to drive excellence.

Empowerment and Transformation: We foster an environment of empowerment, leading to transformative improvement and success.

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People Make Profits

IA Business Advisors has a passion for seeing small businesses succeed. When the Great Recession hit in 2008, we worked with struggling businesses that were challenged to afford vital consulting services. This sparked one of our most popular services, which we still offer to this day: Over-Your-Shoulder Advising. Our clients can pay only for the time they work with us on an hourly basis at an affordable rate. Putting people first and treating them as human beings rather than objects is the foundation of a profitable business and a positive business culture.

BizVision

BizVision™ takes a holistic approach to the integration of people, processes, and technology. This tool provides insight into the operational components of how a business is managed, the unique company culture, and how that culture was created, and shines a light on opportunities that may have previously been overlooked. By considering the intricacies that make your entire team tick, we can identify the gaps.

Everything our team does is done through the lens of S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely). This ensures that all communication, goals, strategies, and tactics are aligned and understood and create value for our clients. We teach our clients about S.M.A.R.T. as not only a noun (S.M.A.R.T. Goals) but a verb (S.M.A.R.T. Management™). 

Personality Assessments

One of our key advantages over other advisory firms is how we integrate human assessment into our overall BizVision™ Management System. We embed both DiSC and Kolbe assessments with our BizVision™ process to analyze the individuals within the organization and understand better the influence they have on each other while they interact and work together for the betterment of self and team.

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Global Reach. Local Touch.

Our team has helped clients on all seven continents, including Antarctica. We have team members who specialize in nuanced areas of business, and we will select the right partner for each client. When you work with the IA team, you have lifetimes of experience at your disposal and advisors who care about the personalized needs of their clients.

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Our Leadership Team

Brian Smith

Brian Smith, PhD

Managing Partner – Practice Lead Culture & Leadership

Since 1988, Brian has helped over 19,000 business owners and managers on all seven continents (yes, Antarctica, too). Coming from companies of all sizes, he has helped them make decisions to help them grow personally and as an organization. Brian is a lifelong learner; he has a Ph.D. in organizational psychology, a master’s degree in management information systems, a master’s degree in occupational safety, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and is a certified Six Sigma master black belt consultant. He was also a Microsoft MCSE and has completed many certification courses supporting his work as an advisor.

What is the meaning behind your logo?

The three rings symbolize our core philosophy that business is built on three interconnected things: People, Process, and Technology. The occasional addition of the six and σ to the rings demonstrates our belief in a consulting methodology known as Six Sigma and our commitment to error-free consulting.

First, I got to fly around the world to complete what we now call BizVision. Then, I got to design an ERP system and all its infrastructure for a company in 14 states and 12 countries. The entire time, I was tasked with being a member of the executive team that raised over $100 million from two IPOs, and I helped to integrate six new acquisitions into the company family. It was a wild 18 months that set the stage for who we are today.

There is nothing more important than what you are doing at this moment; it’s the time you have to make your best decision!

My family has always been and always will be my passion. I have been blessed with three amazing children and a beautiful wife who never ceases to amaze me. René and I have been married since 1992, and since then, she has been the glue that holds my life (and this office) together. Beyond my family, I also have a love for cooking, baseball, and reading.

  • Always be responsible for my influence.
  • Stay positive in all I do.
  • Live in the present to be my best for myself and others.
René Smith

René Smith

Practice Lead - Administrative

What do you love most about working at IA Business Advisors?

There are two things I love about working for IA. First, and foremost, would be my coworkers. They’re fun, enthusiastic, hardworking, and all-around good people. It makes going to work fun.

The second thing I love about working for IA is the variety of clients we help. From construction companies to pet care companies, I enjoy the various tasks I’m asked to help with.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received came from my dad. He said, “When given a choice, choose kindness.” I feel those are wise words.

If I had a superpower, it would be to wiggle my nose and *POOF!* my chores would be done!

One of my favorite TV shows as a kid was Bewitched. I loved how Samantha could wiggle her nose, when an unexpected guest arrived, and *POOF!* her house was clean and a cake was in the oven! How awesome would that be!

Some of my personal goals include our home landscaping. I’ve been working on improving our yard for a couple of years now and I am hoping to be at the “It’s done, now I only need to pull weeds” phase by 2023. How handy would my superpower be for that goal?!

My personal motto comes from Oscar Wilde. He said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” You are the only you on the whole planet; embrace it!

Gregg-Brooke Koleno

Gregg-Brooke Koleno

Partner & Practice Lead Marketing

What do you love most about working at IA Business Advisors?

Having the ability to help clients and team members become the best they can be.

The best advice I have received was from my mom when I was in high school. She told me it is a small world and not to burn bridges as you never know when someone will come back into your life.

My superhero power would be to freeze time.

Continue to become the best human I can be for myself, my family, friends, our clients, and our team.

Timing is everything and everything happens for a reason.

Bema Mametjanova

Bema Mametjanova

Practice Lead - Accounting Advisory ​

What do you love most about working at IA Business Advisors?

I love helping our clients realize their potential and grow their impact. And I love working alongside strong and highly capable teammates.

The best piece of advice I live by is that my attitude is my choice. My parents have taught me to always bring my personal best regardless of how other people show up or act. And a dear friend instilled in me that “your attitude determines your altitude”.

I’ve always wanted to fly! It’s something about being completely free and weightless. 

My number one goal is to be true to myself regardless of where I am in life, and I do that by listening to my heart and intuition.

I also aim to get outside of my comfort zone and expand myself in all areas of my life.

And I’m working on becoming a better tennis player.

– Always be true to yourself.

– Everything is a choice.

– If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.

Shahn Latif

Shahn Latif

Practice Lead - Finance Advisory

What do you love most about working at IA Business Advisors?

What I cherish most about working at IA Business Advisors is the collaborative ethos that permeates the organization. There’s a genuine emphasis on fostering not just business growth but also individual development. The company’s commitment to innovation, ethical practices, and creating lasting client relationships aligns seamlessly with my personal and professional values. I deeply admire how IA transforms complex challenges into opportunities for meaningful impact.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is encapsulated in the phrase, “You get out what you put in.” This principle has shaped my approach to life and work, reminding me that success is rarely serendipitous but instead a product of deliberate effort, perseverance, and resilience. It has guided me to remain intentional and to always give my best, no matter the circumstance.

If I could choose a superpower, it would be the ability to inspire understanding. This would go beyond simply bridging communication gaps—it would allow people to empathize, connect, and work together harmoniously, even in the most challenging circumstances. In a world where so much is lost in translation, fostering true comprehension could drive transformative change.

My personal goals are rooted in continuous learning and meaningful contribution. I aim to deepen my expertise in financial analysis and strategic management. On a broader scale, I aspire to support initiatives that enhance financial literacy and sustainability within communities. Outside of work, I am committed to personal growth through travel, writing, and maintaining a balanced, mindful lifestyle.

My personal motto is: “Lead with purpose, and the rest will follow.” It’s a reminder that intentionality and authenticity in action create a ripple effect, whether in professional endeavors, personal relationships, or broader societal contributions. By staying true to one’s core values and striving for impact, success becomes a natural byproduct.

Bruno Hilgart

Bruno Hilgart

Practice Lead - Franchise Advisory

What do you love most about working at IA Business Advisors?

The Culture. It is very aligned with what I am all about which is all about the people. As I mention in my new book, “French Fry Leadership: How to Attain Profits Through Serving People”, “when we take care of our people properly, the “#’s” take care of themselves”.

To listen. Actively listen. It is and most likely will always be a work in progress for me. Actively listening is very challenging for me as I enjoy sharing my thoughts and ideas with others because I love to coach. But to be a “best in class” coach, we have to actively listen so that when we do get a chance to coach, we have made the best positive impact by knowing as much about the person(s) or subject that we are coaching

Everything about Captain America. I love what he stands for, his morals, ethics, patriotism and freedom that he protects. And being able to heal fast, run fast, jump high, fight strong and be fearless in the face of fear would be amazing too!

1. To be mentally and physically healthy. Health is wealth. It is something that WE can control at least on some level.

2. To be able to continue to help others be all they can be.

3. Lastly, to continue to be financially “free” by living within my means and being proud of doing so.

Be confident, not cocky, while being humbly proud.