Our Team
RD King | Broker of Record
RD King joined California Business Advisors (CBA) at inception as the Broker of Record with responsibilities of contract oversight and administration. RD brings a wealth of professional experience with over 50 years in Real Estate, Business Brokerage, Finance, General Contracting and Architecture.
Prior to becoming part of California Business Advisors, RD owned a design and construction company in Ventura, California with over 500 completed projects throughout California. Acquiring his real estate license in 1973, RD joined a local Real Estate company and soon lead in listings and sales of residential properties and business opportunities. He ultimately became the managing broker with supervision over 20 agents.
Moving to San Diego in 1991, RD further broadened his career in becoming an Industry Expert in Construction Defect litigation while remaining active in Real Estate and construction. Providing discovery and testimony for various law firms in Southern California his involvement helped to a combined case settlement of over 150 million dollars.
RD is honored and proud to be a part of California Business Advisors and he looks forward to providing quality fiduciary representation to and for all clients.
DRE LIC #00579513/02138945
Aaron Thom | President
Aaron Thom is an experienced entrepreneur who has created, built, and sold multiple businesses in Real Estate and Business Brokerage. Thom has been a part of 350 transactions in a variety of industries including manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, technology, service, and the trades.
Thom started Peak Development to serve leading business brokerages with deal generation and marketing services. The Peak Formula delivers relationships with business owners who are ready to sell their businesses now or soon. By 2019, Peak sourced $1Bil in deals for brokers across the US. Peak was sold to a Midwest-based private equity firm, True North Equity Partners.
Thom received his MBA from St. Thomas University and his undergraduate degree in Economics and Management from Hamline University. Thom is a member of the IBBA, an international community of business brokers leading best practices. Thom has presented at the national IBBA conference on numerous occasions and has contributed to multiple webinars and courses available within the IBBA training program: The Deals You Missed, Find and Stop the Leaks in Your Business, How to Get 10 Great Listings, and Ask the Right Questions: Help Advisors Win Better Engagements. Thom also presented at the Annual CABB Conference (California Association of Business Brokers). Thom’s presentation focused on Recruiting and Retention of Agents, along with most recently as a panel speaker with Things I Wish I Knew When I Started.
Thom has deep running business brokerage and M&A experience with transactions ranging from $1 Million up to $55 Million with a typical transaction range between $2 and $10 Million ($5 to $20 Million in revenues). Thom was a part of the True North/Sunbelt Midwest office transacting 100 deals annually from 2012 to 2019.
DRE LIC #02132030/02138945
Brian Ciuchta | Business Broker
Brian is a San Diego native who joined California Business Advisors to help local business owners exit their companies. Before joining CBA, Brian enjoyed a 12 year career in the fire service industry. He served the communities of El Cajon as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Rancho Santa Fe as a Fire Apparatus Engineer/Operator.
Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start a niche farming business where he gained experience in business start up and development. He also has a background in real estate investing. He has bought and sold several residential properties including single family homes and a mobile home park.
Brian’s career in the fire service ingrained in him the ability to work efficiently with a team in order to achieve a common goal. His ability to think outside the box and manage complex problems is an asset to California Business Advisors and business owners alike.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys competing in rugged ultramarathon races through the mountains at varying distances up to 100+ miles. He thrives in challenging environments and applies a “never quit” attitude to everything he does.
DRE LIC #02158158
Loron Pikofsky | Business Broker
Loron Pikofsky is a Midwesterner who graduated from University of California San Diego and received his degree in management science. After graduation, he moved back to Chicago to pursue a career as an options trader on the floor of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange for ten years. He then decided to join the family retail furniture and appliance business as the fourth-generation successor. There, he developed skills in selling, operational planning, business economics, and management. He gained recognition for his exceptional vendor and community relationships.
His mantra: “Allow others to speak first, the important factor is not who talks—it’s who listens” – Ilana Eberson
Loron’s company had been a family legacy for 80 years; however, in 2021 interested buyers started approaching him. Loron ended up selling to a buyer who shared the same vision of the company’s future. That sale presented an opportunity for Loron to explore new ideas and new surroundings and to translate his skills to assist other business owners with their exit plans. Loron joined the California Business Advisors team with the enthusiasm to blend inspiration, passion, and discipline to the process of linking buyer to seller, most importantly with sincerity and integrity.
Loron enjoys hiking with his wife and spending time with their dogs, Ziggy and Betty.
DRE LIC# 02163542
Justin Beth | Senior Analyst
With a degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, Justin's academic foundation has provided him with a solid understanding of the business world. With a focus on sales, Justin successfully applied his skills in the payroll/HR industry. His attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to exceptional customer service have consistently contributed to his professional success. Justin's ability to navigate complex sales processes and build strong relationships with clients made him a valuable asset in driving business growth
Originally from Chico, CA, he combines his academic achievements with his experience playing college baseball at Butte Community College for two years, showcasing his dedication and teamwork. Outside of his career, Justin enjoys exploring nature through hiking, maintaining an active lifestyle with regular workouts and running, and expanding his knowledge through reading. In addition, he appreciates the craft beer scene and takes pleasure in discovering local breweries.
Scott Hagel | Legal Counsel
Scott is CBA’s fractional General Counsel. Prior to joining CBA, Scott spent 15 years as an attorney in private practice representing public and private companies, private equity firms and management teams in mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions, corporate finance transactions and securities matters across numerous industries. Scott graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law with honors and received his CPA designation (currently inactive).