SIMMONS & ASSOCIATES - Key Persons

With a portfolio of experience that includes hospital ownership, business and real-estate education, and academic honors, Dr. Farquer offers insightful advice to clients who are buying or selling practices. He has received training in accounting, business practices, appraisals, business assessment, and corporate management. Dr. Farquer holds veterinary licenses in California, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming. Graduating with a doctorate in veterinary medicine with honors from Colorado State University, Dr. Farquer also was a Boettcher Scholar. He has completed advanced research projects in equine orthopedics, an externship in equine surgery and medicine, and academic program development in swine production medicine and bovine herd health analysis. Dr. Farquer frequently lectures at veterinary conferences, is a charter member of the Association of Veterinary Practice Management Consultants and Advisors now know as VetPartners, and belongs to several veterinary associations. He originally received his certification in business appraisals from NACVA earning the Certified Valuation Analyst. He's currently a member of the International Society of Certified Veterinary Appraisers and has completed over 1000 veterinary practice appraisals over the past two decades.

Job Titles:

• Your Advisor
• VP, Southeast Sales

Growing up in the industry and officially joining Simmons in 2010, Carly has been exposed to a wide range of appraisal and transition nuances as well as ownership transition trends. Alongside Dr. Watson and Sheila Collins, Carly is on the forefront of each listing, working with sellers and prospective owners to help each achieve their next career goal, while simultaneously overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Simmons Southeast team. Clients compliment her patience, friendliness, sincere honesty, and innate ability to mediate a prudent solution for both parties. Upon first contact with Carly, you will see that she is business-oriented, attentive to detail, and genuinely interested in meeting your needs. In her free time, Carly enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, their children George and Grace, two dogs Bubba and Mikey, and extended family.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Association of Veterinary Practice Management Consultants & Advisors

As an owner of two veterinary hospitals and a working ranch, Dr. David King understands the success factors necessary to operate thriving businesses. He founded Crossroads Pet Hospital, Golden Opportunity Veterinary Rescue Organization, and Bar King Ranch. He also co-founded the North Texas Pet Emergency Clinic in Carrollton, Texas. Crossroads Pet Hospital won dual national awards, honored by Veterinary Economics with Hospital Design and Practice of Excellence Awards. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. King earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1987. He is a licensed veterinarian and real estate broker in Texas. In addition to veterinary association memberships, Dr. King is a charter member of the Association of Veterinary Practice Management Consultants & Advisors and serves as a Trustee for our Simmons & Associates Educational Trust Foundation. Dr. King is often requested to share his expertise in the field of practice sales by lecturing at veterinary conferences on both the national and state levels.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President
• Your Advisor

Dr. Doyle Watson provides the vision and leadership for Simmons & Associates' corporate office and operates our Southeast regional office. He is well respected among veterinary colleagues as an expert in appraisal and brokerage. Dr. Watson earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Georgia and established two small animal practices in Georgia. In 1985, he purchased half interest in Simmons & Associates and established and managed our East Coast office. Dr. Watson later fully acquired Simmons & Associates nationwide in 1990 and set up our regional network of 10 offices to serve veterinarians coast to coast. To share the latest clinical and management information with our profession, Dr. Watson founded Veterinary Forum, a national veterinary journal. After leading the publication as its president and CEO, he sold the journal in 1996. Dr. Watson is a licensed real estate broker in seven Southeastern states and a licensed veterinarian in Georgia and Florida. In addition to veterinary association memberships, Dr. Watson belongs to the American Society of Appraisers and Institute of Business Appraisers. He lectures on veterinary practice sales and valuations nationwide. Dr. Watson prides himself in the assemblage of a professional, talented, multi-functional staff and is confident in their ability to perform every function and service we provide. His primary job is the initial contact with prospective sellers and personally performing each practice appraisal to ensure an accurate value, price (which may often be different figures), and terms of financing. Additionally, he is in direct contact with every buyer who has visited a practice and expresses an interest in the pursuit of ownership. He spends hours over the telephone, detailing the precise methodology of his appraisal process and how he arrived at the value or price. In that discussion, he also details the various terms available and what the buyer can expect as personal income after all expenses have been made. Although you will find him often with a sense of humor, most often you will appreciate the sound business advice and unofficial tax and legal advice he offers in all aspects of the business of contract creation, practice sale, purchase, ownership, and management.

Job Titles:

• VP of Business Development

Meg has been in the veterinary industry for over 20 years. She started her career with a small manufacturer covering New England, then spent 10 years in distribution covering MA, NH, and southern ME. Most recently she has worked for various corporate consolidators in the New England area. She started her career helping veterinarians build and open hospitals and now she is helping them plan an exit strategy - it has really come full circle! Meg grew up on the south shore in MA, graduated from Assumption College and currently resides in Hanover with her two kids, Henry and Harper. Fun fact- the only pet she has ever had in her house is a hermit crab!

Job Titles:

• Certified Management Accountant
• Certified Public Accountant

Inspiring and empowering, Nikki Nitz brings over 25 years of business consulting experience to her clients and all those she is in contact with. Her life purpose is to positively impact the world by empowering others and herself to generate inspired income and live an inspired life. She passionately inspires others to ethically increase their personal and professional value while she does the same herself. Why does she do what she does? Because through her years of working with the veterinary profession, she sees the difficulty people have in understanding the business side of veterinary medicine. She has witnessed far too many practice owners pour years of blood, sweat, and tears into their businesses only to find that they don't own a valuable business when they are ready to sell. Nikki is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. Having started a veterinary practice and working in the trenches of that practice, Nikki realized her passion was to help more veterinary business owners achieve their financial and lifestyle goals. She founded The Veterinary Business Expert™ to fulfill this passion.

Job Titles:

• Veterinary Broker

Sean brings a decade of experience working with Veterinarians. Having previously spent his entire professional career in banking Sean started working with Veterinarians exclusively when he went to work for Bank of America's Practice Solutions Group. There he focused on the New England and New York Veterinary lending market. He focused on helping associates become owners via either acquisitions or through start-ups. From this role, he left to join a Fintech start-up that specialized in lending to doctors. In his role at Provide, Sean was tasked with building the brand for Provide in the Veterinary lending market. During this time, he continued his working relationship with Simmons & Associates. Jim approached Sean regarding his own transition plan. And in 2021 Sean took over the Simmons & Associates market for New England and New York. Sean is excited to bring his experience on what he has learned on the buy-side of the transaction to help owners navigate their transition. He has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars in his career. And there is a high probability you have attended one of these seminars or have met him at a trade show over the last decade. Sean was born in Connecticut and grew up in Central New York. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. He currently resides in Milton, MA just across the line from Boston. With family spread throughout all New England and New York, there is not a part of his territory that he hasn't traveled to. When Sean is not traveling you can find him spending time with his wife, son, and crazy lab. If he can occasionally sneak in 18 holes of golf, he is very happy.

Job Titles:

• Your Advisor
• VP, Southeast Sales

Having worked with Simmons Southeast for 21+ years, Sheila prides herself in multi-tasking in all facets of our services. She is very knowledgeable and experienced in the industry. One very important function is to dovetail with Dr. Watson in contract negotiations. However, her most challenging function comes into play at the point of contract, getting financing together and orchestrating all closing details amongst both parties, their professional advisers, and the lender all the way to the closing table. Unpredictable, unique, and apparently insurmountable challenges surface with almost every transaction. She is the ramrod, foreman, and problem solver and is great at it. For this reason, we just do not lose our contracts once made. Sheila also manages the day-to-day structure and operations of the Southeast office. If anyone needs assistance, Sheila is the helper. Sheila is very business-oriented and knowledgeable yet buoyant, personable, and approachable. Married with two sons and a daughter-in-law, she enjoys family time. She spends her free time in her church, entertaining family and friends, and traveling in the family's motor home (especially to Athens for football games and to their 2nd home in the Blue Ridge Mountains). Regardless of which service we are providing you, Sheila is in the mix; you will get to know her very well.

Job Titles:

• CBI
• Real Estate Agent in Texas

Working with Dr. King in the Southcentral territory, Stacy builds harmonious buyer/seller working relationships. She has extensive experience in business negotiating and will work hard for both buyers and sellers to make sure the journey to the closing table is as smooth as possible. Stacy appreciates that the transition of a veterinary practice is very sensitive, where the dollars and cents are often just as important as the emotional connection to the owner's pride and joy-the legacy they have created. Clients compliment her on her ability to keep a transaction moving forward while dealing with the complexities in a friendly, professional manner. Stacy works to distinguish herself by providing the highest level of ethical business services and professionalism to each of her clients. Stacy is a licensed real estate agent in Texas, a member of the IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) and holds the designation of CBI (Certified Business Intermediary). With her experience in sales, marketing, and business, Stacy brings a wide range of knowledge and expertise to the Simmons Southcentral office.