About Your Presenters
Michael A. Holbrook
Senior Management Counselor
Michael Holbrook joined the staff of the Clark University SBDC in May of 1985 as a Management Counselor. Since then he has advanced to the positions of Training Director and Senior Management Counselor. He assists clients with the full range of services from feasibility analysis, business plans, loan proposals, marketing plans and business acquisition analysis. Some of the clients he worked with 15-20 years ago are getting ready to retire and are now working with him to determine best strategies to maximize the selling price of their companies.
Michael has utilized the skills he acquired working in private industry and small businesses to assist more than 3,000 clients. He has helped clients to receive over $15 million of financing, and has coordinated over 200 seminars with thousands of attendees. He received the Outstanding Counselor Award in 1993 from the Clark University SBDC and a Special Service Award in 2001 from the Massachusetts SBDC program. He has given presentations on a variety of topics at the National ASBDC Conferences in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and now in 2005. He also gives numerous speeches to local business organizations as well as interviews on local radio and in print publications.
Currently Michael is a member of the adjunct faculties of both the Anna Maria College MBA program and the Graduate School of Management at Clark University. He attended Fairfield University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and then a Master’s Degree in Corporate and Political Communication. Much later in his career, he received his MBA Degree from Anna Maria College. He has also served on his local Zoning Board of Appeals as well as being elected to the Planning Board twice.
John E. Rainey
Senior Management Counselor
John E. Rainey joined the staff of the Clark University SBDC in March of 1995 as Senior Management Counselor and Financial Specialist. He assists clients in developing feasibility studies, business plans, marketing plans and loan proposals. His consultation services have resulted in over $60 million in loan approvals, since joining the SBDC. He was recipient of the Star Performer Award for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network in both 2000 and 2001.
John has over 25 years of financial and accounting experience in small business environments, including senior level positions at Wright Line, Inc. (Worcester), Associated Testing Labs (Burlington) and Fenwal Electronics (Milford).
In addition to extensive experience in business plan development, financial analysis, cash flow, acquisitions and strategic planning, John has taught courses at Northeastern University, Merrimack College and Bentley College and currently teaches at the Clark University Graduate School of Management.
Mr. Rainey has both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Babson College. He is also a
Certified Management Accountant. Mr. Rainey is active in town government and is presently serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals in Westborough, MA.