Transworld advisors win IBBA’s top production award

Steve Merritt and Wayne Blease of Transworld Business Advisors of South & West Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming earned the IBBA’s Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award after closing more than $10 million in qualified business deals during 2025. The honor, presented at the IBBA Annual Conference in Minneapolis, recognizes top producers in business brokerage and M&A advisory.

Why it matters: - The IBBA’s Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award is its highest production honor. - The recognition signals strong dealmaking in business brokerage and M&A advisory. - The award reflects verified transactions that can influence business ownership transitions, employee continuity and local market activity.

What happened: - Steve Merritt, MCBI, CM&AP, M&AMI, CPA, and Wayne Blease, CBI, CM&AP, of Transworld Business Advisors of South & West Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming, received the IBBA’s Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award. - The award was presented at the 2026 IBBA Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. - The IBBA honored both brokers for closing qualified business deals totaling $10 million or more during the 2025 calendar year.

The details: - The Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award is the top tier of the IBBA’s production-based recognition program. - The award goes to professionals who close one or more qualified business deals with a combined purchase price of at least $10 million in a calendar year. - Only a select few professionals across the association reach that level each year. - Merritt and Blease earned the distinction through complex, high-value transactions in the South and West Texas markets. - The IBBA bases the award on verified business transactions completed in the prior calendar year. - For more information about Steve Merritt, Wayne Blease and Transworld Business Advisors of South & West Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming, visit more information, call (281) 769-4277, or email infoswtx@tworld.com.

Between the lines: - Transworld is using the award to showcase deal volume and advisor credibility in competitive regional markets. - Tony Keane, vice president and CFO of Transworld Business Advisors of South & West Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming, said the result reflects transactional expertise and a commitment to business owners. - Emily Bowler, executive director of the IBBA, said the association’s award winners set high standards and have a lasting impact on entrepreneurs, employees, families and communities. - The recognition also reinforces the role of business brokers in helping owners exit and transfer companies successfully.

What’s next: - Merritt and Blease are likely to use the award as a credential in future client outreach and dealmaking. - Transworld Business Advisors will continue promoting its brokerage, M&A and franchise advisory services across its markets. - The IBBA will keep recognizing annual production performance through its Member Excellence Awards program.

The bottom line: - The award puts Merritt and Blease among the IBBA’s top-producing business brokers for 2025 and highlights Transworld’s strength in high-value transaction work.