Mr. Connors' professional focus has been geared toward providing business and securities valuation services to enable clients to make better decisions and reduce their exposure to compliance issues. Jim has over 20 years experience in business valuation and financial and marketing consulting. Jim joined The Pinnacle Group in mid 2008, following eight years with Quist Valuation. At Quist, he led the transactions services group, providing middle market clients with valuation analyses performed for mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance, fairness opinions, purchase price allocations as well as goodwill and intangible asset impairment. Additionally, he performed valuations for executive compensation, gift and estate tax compliance, and employee stock ownership plans. During the past eight years, Mr. Connors has managed and/or reviewed over four hundred valuation engagements. He has written articles on valuation techniques and analyses on SEC, FASB and IRS rulings and regulations. Jim earned his BA in Economics from the University of Virginia and his MBA with an emphasis in finance from the University of Colorado - Denver. He has also earned credentials as a Charter Financial Analyst and as a certified senior appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers.