Doug Southard founded Southard Financial in 1987 and has more than 23 years of business valuation and advisory experience. He holds Doctor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Indiana University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Southard has also held teaching positions as assistant professor in finance at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

His professional background includes: Founder and Principal, Southard Financial, Memphis TN Partner, Mercer Capital Management, Inc., Memphis TN (1984-87), Consulting Associate, Mercer Capital Management, Inc., Memphis TN (1983-84), and Principal, Douglas K. Southard, Financial Consultant, Memphis TN (1982-83) His educational and professional credentials include: Doctor of Business Administration, 1981, Indiana University Master of Business Administration, 1976, Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts, 1975, Rhodes College (formerly Southwestern at Memphis), Chartered Financial Analyst, 1987, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (now CFA Institute).

Mr. Southard is a frequent Speaker on business valuation topics, expert witness in local, state and federal courts, on the Board of Directors of Plymkraft, Inc., Newport News, VA, and on the Board of Directors of the Columbian Rope Company, Auburn NY. He is a Former Officer of West Tennessee Chapter, American Society of Appraisers.

His publications include: "Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model to Determine Capitalization Rates: Adjusting for Differences in Financial Structure, " with Severin C. Carlson, Business Valuation Review, June 1991,"Business Valuation Can Serve in Lifetime Planning, " with Z.C. Mercer, Memphis Business Journal, April 1-5, 1985,"Valuation Process Holds Keys to Executive Wealth," with Z.C. Mercer, Memphis Business Journal, March 25-29, 1985, and "What IRA's Are Worth," with Z.C. Mercer, The Southern Banker, June 1984.