Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor, CBI, M&AMI
John P. Kelly, CBI, M&AMI
John P. Kelly brings a lifelong background in manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and mergers and acquisitions to every client engagement. What sets John apart is simple: he has personally bought, built, and sold businesses, and understands firsthand how personal and complex these decisions are for owners.
John’s first teacher in business and manufacturing was his father, owner of the Bond Pickle Company in Oconto, Wisconsin. From an early age, John learned the fundamentals of owning, managing, acquiring, and improving a business. Lessons that continue to shape his practical, owner‑focused approach today.
After college, John co‑founded a moving and storage company, later buying out his partner and growing the business to nearly $1 million in revenue before selling it. He then returned home to pursue his goal of working alongside his father, ultimately purchasing the family business. There, John built a strong management team, launched new product development, and implemented lean manufacturing, automation, and continuous improvement. Over the next decade, the company grew from $3 million to $10 million in revenue before being sold to the industry leader.
A specialist in manufacturing and distribution businesses, John founded Kelly Business Advisors to help owners overcome challenges that limit productivity, profitability, and enterprise value. He expanded his education through the IBBA, MBBI, and M&A Source, and further developed his deal experience with a regional investment banking group. Today, John is a dedicated M&A Advisor who has closed approximately 40 of the 45 transactions he has taken to market.
John holds the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation from the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and the M&A Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designation from M&A Source. He is an active member of IBBA, M&A Source, MBBI, and a board member of Green Bay Sail and Paddle (GBSP), a licensed Wisconsin Real Estate Broker, and a registered Business Broker in Illinois.
John and his wife of more than 25 years, Kimi, are empty nesters with their children Paul, Kiely, and Thomas. When not advising clients, John enjoys spending time with his family sailing, skiing, golfing, or working on one of their many projects.
