Our People & Leadership

Mike Mensch is the CEO and founding partner of Agency Brokerage Consultants, a leading advisory firm serving independent insurance agencies.  ABC’s work focuses on helping agency owners maximize enterprise value by providing them with free educational content, offering consulting services, and representing them through M&A transactions.

As the principal of ABC, Mike has advised on more than 500 M&A transactions and over 3,000 valuations of independent agencies across the country. He has personally represented clients small and large (up to $50M+ revenue) and across the spectrum of retail agencies, MGAs/program administrators, networks, and even service providers to insurance brokerages.

Mike’s presentations on agency management, succession planning, valuation, and M&A have been heard by thousands of agency principals over the years. He helped Oak Street Funding launch its educational webinar program, which has been on-going since 2012, and has contributed numerous industry articles and appeared on a variety of industry podcasts including the “Insura-Preneur” podcast with host Michael Jans, “Spot on Insurance” with hosts Ted and Arlene Tavares, “Fix My Agency” with Dr. Billy Williams, and “Agents Growth Academy” podcast with host Jim Schubert, and the “Bricks and Risk” podcast with Sean Mooney and Tim Garity.

Under his leadership, ABC has won the “Top Firm” award from the M&A Source association multiple times and rose to one of top 3 M&A advisors in the insurance industry according to S&P Global. For more than a decade, Mike has won numerous awards within the M&A industry including the “Chairman’s Circle Award”, “Deal Maker Award” and “CBI of the Year” award, and was named to the prestigious National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts “40 Under Forty” list of brightest emerging leaders in the business valuation profession in 2017.

Mike is a lifetime Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and lifetime Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI), and holds real estate broker, Property & Casualty, and Life & Health licenses in Florida.  He has a master’s degree in science from Virginia Tech, where he continued through Ph.D. candidacy.

John is the Chairman and Founder of The Merrymeeting Group (“MMG”), a Cleveland based family office, and is a partner of Agency Brokerage Consultants. He has more than 35 years of insurance industry experience and before he founded MMG, John was the President of several insurance companies and a private equity group.

During the past 20 years, John has been the CEO of MMG and MMG has owned multiple insurance agencies, several large insurance claims administrators, multiple franchisors, a broker dealer and an insurance software company. MMG currently owns a dozen companies including Sunbelt Business Brokers, the largest business broker in the US, and Ally, the association management company that manages the International Business Brokers Association.

John’s professional credentials include being a CPA (inactive), CPCU, CLU and ChFC.  He lives with his wife, Allyn, in Cleveland, OH.

Colby Allen is the VP of Valuation & Consulting at Agency Brokerage Consultants, where he advises insurance organizations on financial strategy, operational efficiency, growth planning, and succession initiatives. Since joining ABC, Colby has worked with retail agencies, MGAs, FMOs, and insurance networks on consulting engagements involving budgeting, benchmarking, producer compensation, financial modeling, and organizational scaling.

Colby brings more than a dozen years of insurance industry experience spanning agency finance, analytics, M&A integration, operational reporting, and fractional CFO consulting. Prior to joining ABC, he held analytical and strategic consulting roles with organizations including McGriff, LWCC, and AgencyFocus, where he focused on agency operations, acquisition integration, and financial performance improvement initiatives.

In addition to his consulting work, Colby regularly contributes to industry discussions through speaking engagements, educational presentations, and podcast appearances. He has presented for organizations including PIA state chapters and AAIMCO on topics related to agency finance, analytics, and operational strategy.

Colby holds a Property & Casualty producer license and several industry designations, including Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Associate in Insurance Data Analytics (AIDA), and Customer Experience and Analytics Professional (CXAP).  He earned his bachelor’s degree in Insurance & Risk Management with a minor in Finance, along with an MBA in Finance, from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Caleb Lyons is a Relationship Manager at Agency Brokerage Consultants and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).  He works with owners across the country to introduce ABC’s services and help them understand the importance of value creation and exit planning.

Prior to joining ABC, Caleb worked in business development within the legal services industry, where he focused on strategic partnerships and client outreach initiatives. He is known for his energetic communication style, networking abilities, and win-win approach to building relationships.

Before beginning his professional career, Caleb played college football and remains a passionate sports enthusiast. His team-oriented mindset and competitive drive carry over into his work helping agency owners connect with the firm’s advisory team.

Brenda Sali is an M&A Advisor with Agency Brokerage Consultants and has been with the firm since 2018. She works closely with agency owners on exit planning and business sales, bringing decades of business ownership and sales experience to the advisory process.

Over the course of her career with ABC, Brenda has advised more than 50 clients through the sale of their agency, which includes a variety of specialty P&C firms and employee benefit firms.  Her firsthand experience buying, growing, and selling a business gives her a practical perspective that resonates with owners navigating important transition decisions.  Brenda is loved and respected by clients and buyers alike for her hard work, attention to detail and dedication to client service.

Brenda is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI), Certified M&A Professional (CMAP), Business Certified Appraiser (BCA), and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with concentrations in Finance and Marketing and maintains an active real estate license.

Sean Brelsford is an M&A Advisor with Agency Brokerage Consultants and has been with the firm since 2014. He advises insurance agency owners on valuations, acquisitions, sales, and succession planning, helping clients navigate transactions from initial planning through closing.

Sean has advised more than 80 agency owner clients through sale transactions, representing P&C, surety bond and Medicare agencies nationwide. His background in finance, banking, and entrepreneurship provides clients with both analytical insight and practical business perspective throughout the transaction process.  His success rate and ability to connect with people has converted many buyers into seller clients as well.

Before joining the firm, Sean operated his own business while completing his studies and later gained additional experience in banking and real estate.  Sean is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI). He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Central Florida and maintains an active real estate license.

Erica Lewandowski is an M&A Advisor with Agency Brokerage Consultants and has been with the firm since 2018. She works with agency owners throughout the M&A process, helping clients evaluate opportunities, navigate negotiations, and successfully transition their businesses.

Since joining the firm, Erica has advised on more than 50 insurance agency transactions and has become known for her professionalism, organization, and client-focused approach to transaction management.  She is active in numerous trade associations and is a member of the LAAIA Central Florida chapter Board of Directors.

Prior to joining ABC, Erica spent more than a decade in banking and financial services, serving in analytical and client relationship roles with several of the world’s leading financial institutions. She also spent five years living abroad in France with her family, an experience that strengthened her communication skills.

Erica is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI). She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and maintains an active real estate license.

Brad Smart is an M&A Advisor with Agency Brokerage Consultants and brings more than 20 years of insurance industry experience to the firm. His background includes work with retail agencies, MGAs, and large insurance organizations, giving him broad insight into agency operations, growth strategies, and industry trends.

In addition to his insurance industry background, Brad has firsthand experience building and selling his own business and has participated in multiple mergers involving both retail agencies and MGAs. His combination of operational experience and entrepreneurial perspective allows him to relate closely to agency owners evaluating growth or transition opportunities.

Brad is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Professional (CMAP).  He also holds the CIC designation and has been actively involved with organizations including IIANC, PIA, and WSIA throughout his career.  Brad graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management & Insurance and has maintained insurance licenses since 2003.

Adam Drews is a Consultant at Agency Brokerage Consultants, where he helps insurance agencies improve financial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic planning initiatives. Throughout his career, Adam’s passion has been in helping business leaders connect day-to-day operations with financial outcomes.

Before joining ABC, Adam worked within Acrisure’s finance division, supporting more than 100 acquisitions annually. His role at Acrisure included managing earnout processes, coordinating with accounting leadership, supporting financial reporting and ensuring that earnouts and employee bonuses were paid in accordance with company obligations.  Through this role, Adam held monthly calls with dozens of agency leaders discussing the financial performance of various divisions within the firm.  He has also held finance and accounting roles with organizations including Howmet Aerospace and Eaton Corporation, where he focused on forecasting, budgeting, process improvement, and operational analysis, and aided in hiring and training new staff.

Adam earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Caitlin Scalzi is a Senior Analyst with Agency Brokerage Consultants and has been with the firm since 2017. She specializes in insurance agency valuations, financial analysis, and acquisition due diligence, supporting agency owners, buyers, and lenders throughout the transaction process.

Since joining ABC, Caitlin has assisted with more than 1,000 valuation engagements and over 150 due diligence projects involving insurance agencies and brokerages nationwide. She also works directly with SBA lenders and financial institutions across the country on valuation assignments supporting acquisition financing transactions.

Caitlin graduated Cum Laude from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology and is a Business Certified Appraiser (BCA) through the ISBA.

Josh Katz is a Senior Analyst at Agency Brokerage Consultants, where he supports the firm’s valuation, consulting, and M&A advisory engagements. Josh assists with financial analysis, due diligence, and transaction support activities for insurance agency clients.

Before joining the firm, Josh worked in Deutsche Bank’s investment banking division, where he managed onboarding and due diligence activities for commercial real estate transactions and served as a resource for banking compliance and transaction support initiatives.

Josh holds both an MBA and BBA in Finance from the University of North Florida and is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) through NACVA.

Ria Shoesmith is an Analyst and M&A Assistant at Agency Brokerage Consultants and has supported the firm in multiple capacities since 2021. During her time with ABC, she has contributed across administration, marketing, valuation support, and transaction coordination functions.

Ria works closely with the firm’s advisors and analysts on valuation projects, due diligence activities, and transaction management initiatives. Her broad exposure across departments provides her with a strong understanding of the firm’s operations and client service process.

She graduated from the University of Florida and is a Business Certified Appraiser (BCA) through the ISBA.