Alex Merturi

Pete Harrison understands firsthand what it means to build, grow, and sell a business.

His entrepreneurial journey began at an early age and evolved into owning a successful chain of wireless retail stores while becoming part of the early internet mail-order movement in the wireless communications industry.
In 2003, Pete sold his business to a hedge fund.
While the sale was successful, it also became one of the most valuable lessons of his career. Looking back, he realized he had accepted an offer that significantly undervalued the business he had spent years building. Like many entrepreneurs, he learned that selling a business without the right representation can leave substantial money on the table.
That experience became the foundation for his career as a business broker.

Pete made it his mission to help business owners avoid the same mistakes by providing honest advice, accurate valuations, strategic marketing, and skilled negotiations designed to maximize business value.

Today, after helping facilitate more than 500 successful business sales, Pete has helped countless entrepreneurs retire, transition into new ventures, and realize the full value of their life’s work.

Rene Ayala is a business consultant, strategist, and co-founder of PUEDE Business Consulting, specializing in helping owner-operated businesses increase operational maturity, profitability, and overall business value through the Built to Exit Method.

With more than 15 years of leadership and operational experience across industries including construction, healthcare, telecommunications, professional services, and retail, Rene works closely with business owners to transform companies that depend heavily on the owner into scalable, transferable organizations that are more attractive to buyers, investors, and successors.
His approach combines strategic planning, financial clarity, KPI development, process documentation, leadership alignment, and operational systemization to help businesses improve performance while preparing for long-term sustainability or eventual transition. Rene is known for bringing a practical, hands-on perspective rooted in real business ownership experience, with a strong focus on helping owners understand the difference between operating a job and building a transferable asset.
Through the Built to Exit Method, Rene helps clients identify operational gaps, improve decision-making visibility, reduce organizational dependency on ownership, and create stronger foundations for valuation growth and exit readiness. His work frequently supports business owners who may be considering a future sale, succession planning, partnership transitions, or simply building a healthier and more resilient company.
Rene Ayala
Jeri

Jeri is a highly experienced business broker at Tampa Business Broker, Inc. specializing in helping entrepreneurs and business owners successfully buy, sell, and transition their companies. With a rare combination of deep financial expertise and real-world small-business ownership, she brings both analytical precision and practical insight to every transaction.

She holds a Master’s degree in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago. Jeri spent 20 years as a small-business owner, successfully operating and growing companies in food service, home care, residential real estate, and auto glass repair. This hands-on experience gives her an intimate understanding of the day-to-day realities, challenges, and opportunities that business owners face every day.
Equally important is her 20-year corporate finance career with large organizations in technology, data services, and medical device manufacturing. She also provided specialized financial support to physicians practicing under the University of Minnesota Medical School. These roles sharpened her skills in valuation, financial modeling, due diligence, capital structuring, and strategic planning — all critical when guiding clients through complex business sales and acquisitions.
Jeri is known for her integrity, clear communication, and ability to translate sophisticated financial concepts into practical advice that business owners can trust. Whether you are preparing to sell, looking to acquire, or planning a smooth ownership transition, she delivers personalized guidance backed by decades of both entrepreneurial and corporate experience. Outside the office, Jeri is the proud mother of three daughters and one son. Three of her children are still at home and nearing high-school graduation, while her oldest daughter is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Her strong family values and work-life balance reflect the same dedication and discipline she brings to her clients. If you are considering buying or selling a business in the Tampa Bay area, Jeri is ready to put her unique background to work for you. Contact Tampa Business Broker, Inc. today to schedule a confidential consultation.