Executive Team
Dennis R. Guse
Dennis Guse has served in several strategic and financial advisory roles to Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. As a select participant of the Leadership Excellence through Accelerated Development (LEAD) program at CH2M Hill, he was tasked with managing a special strategic mission project for the CEO. He was instrumental in establishing a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology department at The Schwan Food Company to improve decision making and enhance efficient and effective use of resources. Dennis has held various leadership roles in non-profit organizations.
Dennis Guse successfully helped found the Students in Free Enterprise (now Enactus) local chapter at Southwest Minnesota State University. He also served as President of the local business club. With a passion for serving, he delights in helping others learn, grow, and realize their potential. He enjoys solving problems and is intrigued by learning new ideas and building relationships with individuals.
Robert C. Benson III, CGMA, CMC
Bob Benson is an accomplished entrepreneur, having co-founded and built seven businesses. He co-founded American Business Advisors in 1984, following 10 years as Managing Partner of Benson Wells & Co., CPA’s (now Corne Jantz & Associates). Bob, a Certified Management Consultant who specializes in strategic planning and finance, heads up our Building Cash Cows™ and Improving Quality of Life™ services. As creator of The 14 Dynamics of Building a Cash Cow™ model, he is a specialist in wealth creation through business ownership and has assisted hundreds of businesses in effectively accomplishing their objectives.
Bob is a member of The Institute of Management Consultants and the AICPA (he holds an inactive license and he does not hold himself out as a CPA) and serves on the Board of Love & Logic Institute and past Trustees of Dakota Wesleyan University. He has also been actively involved in the community through local chambers of commerce, Elder Emeritus – Cherry Hills Community Church, COMPA Food Bank, Global Connections International, Project C.U.R.E., and others. Mr. Benson has been named the Who’s Who in America and is a life member of The National Registry of Who’s Who.
Matt King
Known for his strategic, collaborative approach, Matt’s career encompasses a unique blend of technical and business acumen and a history of success in developing innovative solutions to drive efficiency, performance, cost savings and profitability.
His global general & project management experience is coupled with a strong background in turning around operations and driving new product development.
He is adept in building strong cross functional relationships, directing high performance teams and bridging communication across diverse populations. His financial management experience includes managing projects and operations in fortune 100 organizations.
Joan Stoneking
Joan is a Business Optimizer with deep expertise in all aspects of accounting, finance, and administration. She helps small & medium size business owners develop their financial knowledge, bringing disciplined financial management into their business in accessible, manageable ways.
She enables clarity and insight about the financial condition of your business so that you understand your numbers, results, and what’s possible now and in the future. As a result of working with her, you’ll have a clear strategy, an actionable roadmap, along with well-designed processes, systems, and controls so you know the health of your business at any given time.
Additionally, she helps private equity investors by adding real-world work experience to buy/sell processes. She adds insight to your acquisition due diligence because she knows what to look for to make sure you’re aware of potential challenges once you take over. She strengthens the sale process for your portfolio company by helping them get ready to sell and working alongside them through the process. The time she spents working for portfolio companies means she knows what it’s like to be in a process and run the business at the same time.
Over the last 20+ years, she’s helped grow, buy, and sell companies, working with investors, lenders, and employees at all levels of the places she’s been. Her favorite kind of people are passionate about what they do and the value that they bring to those they serve. Her favorite question is “Why?” and she is relentless in seeking answers.
David P. Pyle
Mr. Pyle, who specializes in team building and management development, brings significant value to ABA’s clients as a seasoned executive business manager, operations manager, sales manager, and sales trainer. He has a proven track record and exceptional ability to develop sales, build teams, and manage teams, in both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses.
Dave was national field operations manager for Big Sur Waterbeds, and over an 11-year period, he created the sales and operations management system to help transition from a one store operation to multiple stores. While at Big Sur Waterbeds, the company averaged over 50% per year growth for a ten-year period. He has also successfully grown and managed one of Denver’s top non-profit organizations. Mr. Pyle has significant experience in consulting with small and mid-size companies.
Dave is an accomplished musician and has performed in over 20 countries throughout the world. He has also been actively involved in various non-profit organizations, including COMPA Food Bank.
Jon K. Y. Hokama, MA
Jon Hokama is Senior Vice President at American Business Advisors®. Mr. Hokama has extensive experience in serving the middle market business owners. A certified 3to5 Club facilitator, Mr. Hokama has provided the tools essential to getting scores of business owners off the business owners’ treadmill to achieve Quality of Life™.
Mr. Hokama started his own executive coaching firm, Jon Hokama and Associates, in 2004 while serving in marketing, sales operations, and organizational development/executive coaching roles in Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 companies. As a founding leader of the HP Coaching Network, Jon developed a cadre of internal coaches for Hewlett Packard (HP).
Christine Lancaster
