Our Great People

Brendon Crabtree has been a qualified professional business broker for ten years and bought Coastal Business Brokers in January 2008 and is now the Principal and Licensee. Brendon has had an intensive sales and business development career that has equipped him to professionally advise business operators on marketing, sales negotiation, business development, staff motivation and managerial skills. Brendon’s primary goal is to help everyone concerned get the absolute best possible result achievable through Coastal Business Brokers.

Email: brendon@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile:

Email: richard@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0408 743 313

Leanne Petherbridge’s twenty plus years of sales and business management skills have proved invaluable to her clients since she commenced at Coastal Business Brokers in January 2005.  Leanne joined the company after working in partnership with her husband, Kim in their own computer and IT business in Sydney and building it up to 17 staff before successfully selling and moving to the Sunshine Coast. 

With now over 230 completed sales of businesses at Coastal, Leanne has a huge depth of experience in dealing with the myriad of issues that can arise however large or small the sale.   Leanne’s first sale was in the earthmoving industry since that time she has sold businesses in nearly every industry on the Sunshine Coast including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, wholesale and distribution, services, trades.   Leanne’s many past clients would attest to her ability to provide top customer service and excellent communication.  They have seen her powerful problem solving skills in action and experienced the benefits of her knowledge of business and profit making strategies. 

Whether you're selling your business and just want to fine-tune it before-hand, or whether you're looking to buy a business with real potential for growth, Leanne is a great ally to work with.

Email: leanne@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0409 677 711

After spending 13 years in the corporate IT world both here and in London, Kim started his own computer consultancy business in Sydney in 1980 which was aimed at supplying small to medium-sized companies with complete system solutions. The company, Accolade, initially specialised in PC & network systems before diversifying into accounting software.  This included the hugely successful Attaché accounting program and the company became Australia's leading consultancy on this. Kim's wife, Leanne, (see above) joined him in the business in 1991 and together they worked rapidly on a growth strategy that included several business acquisitions and a number of mergers. Their business was sold after building it up to a client base to over 500 companies, a staff of 17 and increasing sales many tens of times over. The family then took to the water spending two years sailing around Australia before finally settling on the Sunshine Coast.Kim brings many years of business experience to Coastal Business Brokers, including a deep, personal understanding of computerised accounting and business systems. You can call on Kim for down-to-earth help on buying or selling a business, backed by his own real knowledge and experience!

Email: kim@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0408 440 570

Craig's experience in buying, improving and selling his own small businesses over the past 20 years is invaluable.  Successfully running franchises, establishing new businesses and re-inventing others has provided him with a unique skill set.  Being degree qualified in marketing, coupled with hands-on experience in business development, provides him with a broad range of management, marketing and communication skills across various sectors, such as manufacturing, education, software, financial services and automotive. This first-hand knowledge of business from both the buyer and seller perspective ensures clients get the real deal. As Managing Director, Craig established a large plastic manufacturing organisation which he part owned.  He re-invented production and distribution techniques and established marketing strategies which led to rapid growth and market share acquisition within the industry Australia-wide. Also consulting in marketing and business development, he worked closely with owners and managers in financial services, software development and the training industry.  Most recently Craig re-established a business within the automotive industry which he co-owns. He believes "the ‘organisational alignment' of all stakeholders, continuous improvement and correct product/service positioning is imperative to business success".

Email: craig@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0419 747 709

Mario entered Coastal Business Brokers with extensive experience in sales, including real estate and business sales, and many successful years owning and managing his own businesses in finance consulting and management rights. He understands the day-to-day running of businesses.

This, coupled with his strong people and organisational skills gained during his years in sales and consulting, gives him the confidence to build rapport with both buyers and sellers. Mario is a people person, friendly and easy to talk to.

Email: mario@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0418 221 199

Prior to business broking, Grant spent 8 years in the commercial lending arm of a major bank where he saw exactly what makes a good, successful small business.

With this accumulated experience, he then bought and operated two Capt’n Snooze franchises (one here on the Coast and the other in Townsville) for 9 profitable years, with both outlets winning State and National Titles for Store of The Year. He has also owned and operated vending machines, various food and restaurant venues along with a major chain motel and conference centre.

This wide-ranging financial and business background means Grant is a source of real knowledge and advice to anyone either buying or selling a business.

Email: grant@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0407 002 318

Marilyn has an extensive and diversified background in sales, marketing and business management. She has successfully established several businesses herself ranging from clothing boutiques, soft furnishings and curtain manufacturing, a house and garden store; has been a partner in a family automotive & engineering business, and was the owner/licensee of an Irish hotel in Brisbane’s CBD.

Prior to moving to the Sunshine Coast in 1994 she managed a 49 acre timber treatment plant in Canberra for 5 years for one of BHP’s Softwoods Divisions. She has also negotiated with government departments, unions, contractors, stockists etc.

The wealth of experience and knowledge that has been gained by her career background brings to the buyers and sellers in today’s market, a person who is skilled in negotiating and communicating on many levels with people from all walks of life. She knows what it takes to own and run your own business, and what you experience when you become a seller.

She also has empathy and an understanding from the buyer’s perspective of all that one goes through when they make that decision to take control of their own lives and buy a business. She can assist you both in making your transitions into, and out of, businesses as smoothly as possible and is dedicated to assist you in achieving a successful outcome.

She lives by the motto of, “making it happen; not waiting for it to happen” and with that as her objective she offers you a high level of customer service with a very down to earth approach.

Email: marilyn@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0458 418 110

Business Broker with Coastal Business Brokers since September 2010.Geoff established his first business—a ladies casual wear boutique— at just 19 years of age. Following on from this venture Geoff bought into, established from scratch and then onsold businesses including an automotive parts retail and wholesale freehold, tourism leisure complex and event party hire.

The holder of a Diploma in Hospitality (Business Operations), Geoff has over 30 years of extensive managerial, business structural and administrative experience in varied fields including farm horticulture, retail clothing, automotive parts, health and safety, tourism and hospitality industries.

Geoff brings vast practical experience and a solid understanding of a diverse range of businesses to Coastal Business Brokers and its many clients. A results-focussed management professional, Geoff focuses on high quality client and customer service. His desire to set clients and customers on the road to success—whether moving into or out of business ownership—makes him a broker in which you can have full confidence.

Email: geoff@coastalbrokers.com.au
Phone: 07 5479 0055
Mobile: 0409 554 138