John R. Ezell, CPA, CEPA
Founding Principal and President
333 W. El Camino Real, Suite 210
Sunnyvale, CA 94087-1969
Phone: (800) 729-3242
Fax: (800) 874-4532
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John R. Ezell, CPA, is the President of ProHorizons Network, Inc. (“ProHorizons”). ProHorizons is a national brokerage and consulting firm specializing in the acquisition, sale, and merger of accounting and tax practices. John has advised hundreds of clients in the merger and acquisition of accounting and tax firms since founding the company in 1995.
John is the principal author of the book, Successful Practice Sales: The Complete Guide to Buying, Selling or Merging Your Accounting, Consulting or Tax Practice. This 200 page book serves as a guide through every nuance of the potentially daunting business transactions, including financing your acquisition to exploring the complete lifecycle of a sale and much more.
He is also a frequent speaker and presents seminars on How to Buy, Sell or Merge Your Accounting Practice throughout the country. This seminar is designed to help owners of accounting and tax practices understand the core issues as they begin to contemplate the sale or purchase of a business.
Previously, John operated his own CPA practice in the Washington, DC area that he successfully sold in 1994. Prior to starting his practice, John worked with two CPA firms in Washington, DC, including BDO Seidman, an international accounting and consulting firm.
John is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California. He has earned the designation of Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) from the Exit Planning Institute® for completion of their Spring 2009 Program. He is also a licensed California Real Estate Broker. He holds a BS in Accounting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
John served in the US Marine Corps and was an embassy guard in Moscow and Berlin.
John is married to Jennifer and they have four children. He coaches youth baseball and soccer, and serves his community in a variety of volunteer leadership positions.
Brian Costa
Senior Sales Consultant
181 Granada Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90803
Phone: (877) 459-2936
Fax: (866) 486-8321
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Serving Orange County and Long Beach.
Brian Costa is a ProHorizons Senior Sales Consultant working with accounting and tax owners in Orange County and Long Beach, California.
Prior to joining ProHorizons, Brian was the Sales Manager at Lobby Traffic Systems, a company specializing in facility security equipment and installations.
Brian’s sales career started when he began a route sales position with a fast-growing consumer goods company while still in school and quickly took on a management role for a facility in Brooklyn, NY. He eventually came to California where he became a partner in the business and was offered a position as a Regional Sales Manager for the western United States. Brian was able to develop and hone his training, coaching and managing skills as the sales force grew to 35 salespeople. His proudest accomplishments during this time were his integral involvement in developing a web-based reporting and tracking system and his time spent delivering classroom and field-based training programs to support his team.
Brian currently holds a California Real Estate license, a Realtor designation and is a member in good-standing of the local multiple listing services. He attended Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts where he was also a member of the college soccer team.
Brian is married to Melissa and they have two fantastic boys who keep them busy with activities. Together they spend their free time outdoors camping, hiking, boating and participating in sports and community activities.
Rick Harrison, CPA
Regional Director
6725 Estates Court
Auburn, CA 95602-9271
Phone: (888) 295-3716
Fax: (530) 653-2074
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Serving the California Central Valley.
Rick Harrison is a sales, mergers, and acquisitions consultant serving the Sacramento and Central Valley area of California and the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
Rick spent many successful years in finance, advising and guiding business owners in preparing for and transitioning their businesses for sale.
Prior to joining ProHorizons, Rick was active in the Sacramento area as a business broker and mergers and acquisitions advisor. He has also served in senior management positions with several companies. As Chief Financial Officer for a multi-million-dollar manufacturing company, he was responsible for human resources and information technology in addition to finance operations. As Corporate Treasurer for an Internet communications company, he successfully aided in obtaining several millions of dollars of additional financing and was liaison to outside investment bankers and venture capitalists.
As an entrepreneur, Rick operated his own CPA practice for several years in Silicon Valley and during that time bought and sold several CPA practices.
Rick is licensed both as a Certified Public Accountant and Real Estate Broker in the State of California. He holds graduate and under graduate degrees from Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, and Golden Gate University.
Rick is married to Valerie, and they have one grown son. In his free time, Rick enjoys photography, reading and downhill skiing.
Ruth Vera-Cedro
Executive Sales Associate
333 W. El Camino Real, Suite 210
Sunnyvale, CA 94087-1969
Phone: (800) 729-3242
Fax: (800) 874-4532
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Ruth Vera-Cedro joined ProHorizons in 2004 and has grown into the role of Executive Sales Associate. In this position, she provides service and support to our clients and prospective buyers. Her primary role is as a member of John Ezell’s team supporting our activity in California and the Mid-Atlantic states. Prior to this promotion, Ruth was ProHorizons' Executive Administrative Assistant and Marketing Coordinator. Previously, she was a Marketing Services Coordinator at Sun Microsystems Inc.
Ruth graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Marketing. While attending Santa Clara University, Ruth played an active leadership role in the multi-cultural community on campus. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Women.
Ruth is married to Chris and they have two sons.
