Bluestem is led by highly experienced business executives and successful entrepreneurs who can both commiserate with the challenges a business owner undertakes in executing a successful placement, while at the same time being uniquely positioned to provide advice navigating the path forward. With decades of experience in directing organizations, facilitating transactions and providing M&A guidance, we invite you to examine our capabilities in managing your offering.
It is often said there is no substitute for experience, and while we are confident this is not only true but certainly applicable to our competencies, we also believe it is equally important to select an advisor who operates with integrity and honesty for all parties. We encourage you to validate all of these important attributes with our prior clients.
CONTACT US today to discuss our capabilities.
About Us
Matt Frye
Managing Partner, M&A Advisor and Business Broker
Matt Frye
Managing Partner, M&A Advisor and Business Broker
MFrye@Bluestemusa.com
(918) 749-6016
Matt is the Managing Partner of Bluestem Resources Group, LLC (Bluestem USA). A native-Tulsan, Matt joined Bluestem following twenty-one years in Executive Management roles for multiple energy-based technology companies in Houston, Texas. Matt started his career in Tulsa in the domestic exploration and production business and migrated into commodity trading with Tulsa-based The Williams Companies. He then advanced to a series of executive level positions with technology start-ups and enterprise-wide software development ventures. His last ten years as a corporate executive culminated in the launching of the U.S division of the Natural Gas Exchange, an online energy commodity exchange and clearinghouse, which is now a subsidiary of the Intercontinental Exchange Group (ICE NYSE).
Experience
Matt’s vast leadership experience base spans from private-equity based technology startups to publicly held energy companies and commodity exchanges. He has launched multiple new ventures that introduced new products and services both domestically and internationally. A “deal maker” by trade, with years of M&A/joint venture expertise, Matt applies his financial experience with project management and client service skillsets to execute timely and profitable results for all Bluestem clients.
With over thirty years of deal making experience, Matt’s primary roles at Bluestem include: buyer and seller representation, pre-sale consultation, market segment analysis and company valuation.
Education & Awards
- BS in Finance from Oklahoma State University
- MBA from the University of Tulsa
Areas of Expertise
- Energy
- Information Technology/Software
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale Trade
- Construction
- Professional Services
Professional Certifications
- Licensed Realtor
- Merger and Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI)
- Certified Business Intermediary (CBI)
- Member of IBBA & M&A Source
Interests
When not serving the needs of Bluestem clients, you can find Matt and his wife at their hobby ranch south of Tulsa or serving at their church.
If you are considering selling a business, today or in the future, now is the time to contact Matt to confidentially discover how, together, you can achieve your business sale objectives.
John C. Johnson
M&A Advisor, Counsel
John C. Johnson
M&A Advisor, Counsel
JJohnson@bluestemusa.com
(918) 749-6016
John founded BluestemUSA in 1987 and sold the firm to Matt Frye in 2021. He remains active, providing direction, guidance, and managing business sales for his business owner clients.
John has devoted full-time focus on professional mergers and acquisitions for over three decades as advisor, advocate and intermediary for business owners. He has managed scores of business sales – giving counsel, analyzing strategic value, preparing to go to market then leading clients through their acquisition or business sales.
Experience
Educated as an engineer, John also earned an MBA and gained strong experience with Fortune 100 companies and through personal businesses owned, built and sold. He appreciates and respects business owners’ sacrifices, effort, stresses, and risks. He also knows the unburdening, release and exhilaration that owners feel as they successfully complete a sale of business exit to live their “life after business.”
John’s career began with large firms where he worked and managed professional staff in investment assessments, feasibility studies, operations analysis, strategy plans, and mergers and acquisitions. He then owned, managed and grew a distribution company before exiting through a strategic sale.
John is a founder and active managing partner with IBG Business, a national M&A firm with eight offices across the U.S.A. plus dozens of M&A professionals internationally. IBG’s founding partners each bring over thirty-five years of M&A experience and have successfully overseen over 1,100 transactions.
Professional Credentials
- BS in Petroleum Engineering (The University of Tulsa)
- MBA (Texas Christian University’s Neely School of Business)
- Certified Business Intermediary (Lifetime CBI & Fellow)
- Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary (Lifetime M&AMI & Fellow)
- Founding member, Board of Directors & Chair of The M&A Source,
M&A Source Darrel Fouts Award for visionary leadership in M&A
- International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) President, Board of Directors, Chairman’s Award, Tom West Award for outstanding contributions in developing the profession and its ethics
- S. Small Business Administration’s Award – Oklahoma Financial Services Advocate of the year
- Past President and Board Chair of the Tulsa Executives Association
- Tulsa Metro Chamber – Small Businessperson of the Year Finalist
If you are considering selling a business, today or in the future, now is the right time to contact John to confidentially discover how together you can achieve your best business sale.
Keeton Frye
Vice President, M&A Advisor and Business Broker
Keeton Frye
Vice President, M&A Advisor and Business Broker
kfrye@bluestemusa.com
(918) 749-6016
Keeton is a Vice President and is responsible for managing client engagements and operations of the Oklahoma City office for IBG/Bluestem Resources Group, LLC. Keeton joined IBG/Bluestem after working in corporate development for a software company based in Virginia. He has more than 10 years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and analysis.
Experience
Most recently, Keeton worked on merger and acquisition activities for an enterprise resource planning software company that is owned by Roper Technologies (NASDAQ: ROP). During his time there, he worked on a variety of deals ranging from $50mm to over $450mm. Keeton was responsible for financial modeling, investment board presentation materials, financial due diligence, and ad-hoc analysis. Keeton also has investment due diligence experience supporting the Merchant Banking and Special Situations divisions of Goldman Sachs through real estate investment modeling, analysis, and investment memo preparation.
Keeton also has exposure to the energy and logistics industry through several roles at Sunoco LP. Before Sunoco LP, Keeton worked on financial derivative valuation at J.P. Morgan. At the beginning of his career, Keeton worked on the commodity trading desk of Deutsche Bank.
Education & Awards
- BS in Finance from Oklahoma State University
- MS in Finance from the University of Oklahoma
Areas of Expertise
- Energy
- Information Technology/Software
- Logistics and Transportation
- Real Estate
Interests
Outside of work, Keeton enjoys traveling with his wife Lanie and spending time with family and friends. Keeton also likes to fly-fish and go to his family’s ranch in Henryetta, OK. He and his wife attend Frontline Church in downtown Oklahoma City.
If you are considering selling a business, today or in the future, now is the time to contact Keeton to confidentially discover how, together, you can achieve your business sale objectives.