Awards and Distinctions

Awarded only when warranted, no more often than annually, the prestigious Darrell Fouts Award recipient is selected for exceptional leadership and personal contributions to expanding the vision of the M&A profession. John C. Johnson, founder and M&A broker with The Oil & Gas Advisor was presented this prestigious award as its third recipient, and Gary Papay, also a founder and M&A Brokers with the oil & Gas Advisor was presented the award in 2016.

The M&A Source is the world’s largest international organization of experienced M&A intermediaries dedicated to representing middle market companies. Members include top M&A brokers, merger and acquisition intermediaries and advisors from approximately twenty countries around the world.

The “Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor” (CM&AA) designation serves to maintain the highest recognized standards of professional excellence for middle market corporate financial advisory and transaction services, and to provide a benchmark for professional achievement within that overall body of knowledge. Don Hankins, founder and M&A broker with The Oil & Gas Advisor has earned this national certification.

AM&AA serves educational and resource needs of middle market M&A brokers and other professionals. It was formed to draw upon combined expertise to better serve middle market clients worldwide. Members represent business sellers and buyers of middle market businesses. Services are seller representation as business brokers, buyer representation, due diligence, accounting, financing, business valuation, tax, legal, strategic advisory and many other M&A services.

Certified middle market M&A expertise earned through proficiency, documented middle market transactions experience and upper level professional education. A prestigious designation known to be “The Professional Standard in Mid-Market Transactions” is offered through the M&A Source, the leading professional association of hundreds of top middle market business intermediaries from around the world. M&AMI is regarded as the world’s premier professional designation for M&A professionals. Founders Gary Papay, Keith Chapman and John C. Johnson have earned this certification. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Papay earned their M&AMI in the first selection of ten such designations ever awarded.

The Tom West Award is the business brokerage profession’s highest honor. The Oil and Gas Advisor founders Gary Papay and John C. Johnson are Tom West Award recipients. It is awarded annually to one member to recognize exceptional contributions in promoting the goals and ethics of the IBBA and the business brokerage profession. The award is named after founder, first president and long-time leader Thomas L. West, who is credited with the profession’s early growth, creating a group of founders for IBBA, developing IBBA and the stature of the profession.

IBBA is the world’s premier association for professionals in business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions. It has members across the USA and more than fourteen other countries around the world. As the leading association for business intermediaries, it advances professional development, educates, provides resources and promotes high ethical conduct. It sponsors national educational programs and collaborates in grass roots programs benefiting business communities across the country.

The United States Small Business Administration annually recognizes one member of the Oklahoma business community for valuable contributions through advocacy in the area of financial services. The selection is from nominations submitted statewide by chambers of commerce and business and community organizations. The Oil & Gas Advisor is pleased that founder and M&A broker John C. Johnson was selected for this award by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Oil & Gas Advisor founder and M&A broker, Mr. John C. Johnson, was selected as a finalist in Tulsa Metro Chamber’s annual competition to recognize the Small Business Person of the Year.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber values its almost 3,100 reputable members – the best and brightest companies in the region – who are investing in their businesses and the region’s communities. The Chamber transforms resources into results. Members surround themselves with successful, forward-thinking leaders who provide valuable connections to grow businesses. They engage ideas and transform leadership capacity into impactful community collaboration.

Awarded by the Board of Directors of the International Business Broker’s Association to recognize tenured commitment to the profession and its leading professional association. The Oil & Gas Advisor’s founders, Don Hankins, Keith Chapman, Gary Papay and John C. Johnson, are passionate leaders in the profession. Each has been selected to receive this prestigious honor.

IBBA, the world’s largest association for professional business brokers and mergers and acquisitions intermediaries, has grown to more than 1,200 active intermediaries across Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe and the United States. This group is the leading association for business brokers and intermediaries providing resources, education and professional development.

Business Brokerage Press designates industry experts in its annual Business Reference Guide. Gary Papay and Don Hankins are designated Liquefied Petroleum Gas & Propane Experts.  Keith Chapman and John C. Johnson are designated as Experts in Oil & Gas Industry Businesses.  Gary is also designated as an Expert in Convenience Stores / Minimarts, Propane, and Heating Oils & Fuels Dealer Businesses.

The Tulsa Office of The Oil & Gas Advisor founder and M&A broker, John C. Johnson, and his Bluestem Resource Group were honored with the 2014 Best of Tulsa Awards for Business Brokers as determined by the Tulsa business recognition program. The Tulsa Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Tulsa area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown ability to use their best practices and have implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Tulsa Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the Tulsa, Oklahoma community. It works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. The mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

John C. Johnson, principal and M&A broker in The Oil & Gas Advisor’s Tulsa, Oklahoma office, was pleased to announce BluestemUSA was selected by Acquisition International as the “M&A Broker of the Year – USA.” This award is based on industry research and a vote of global M&A professionals, M&A advisers, peers and industry insiders. It is merit-based and is presented to the most deserving firms representing the mergers and acquisitions business. Acquisition International recognizes industry leaders in the “dedicated, forward thinking, and determined” M&A award winners.

Society of Business Analysts members pledge to provide superior professional ethics and impeccable business practices through continued education and improvement of existing business skills as well as the standards set forth under USPAP.

It is impossible to be “all things to all clients.” At times, the business consultant’s role requires referral of the client’s business needs to others better positioned to address the specific issues. ISBA provides a dynamic and vast network of qualified, knowledgeable and credentialed business valuation professionals.

In addition, business valuation courses and instruction centers around the International Glossary of Business Valuation Terms … the business valuation standard.

International Business Brokers Association’s (IBBA) esteemed President’s Award is selected annually for that member who was the key leader and contributor to the profession’s association. It recognizes exceptional leadership in the view of the IBBA’s president and was awarded to Gary Papay and twice to John C. Johnson, founders and M&A brokers with The Oil & Gas Advisor.

IBBA, the world’s largest association for professionals in business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions, reached more than 1,200 active intermediaries across Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe and the USA. As the leading association for business intermediaries, it advances professional development, educates, develops resources and promotes the highest ethical conduct. It is a group that sponsors national educational programs and collaborates in grass roots programs benefiting business communities across the country. Top brokers and intermediaries around the world belong to the IBBA.

The Tulsa Metro Chamber awards this honor annually to one leading financial services professional who exhibits leadership in activities impacting the business community by advocacy in financial services. It was awarded to John C. Johnson, M&A business broker and founder of The Oil & Gas Advisor.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber is a group of almost 3,100 reputable members – the best and brightest companies in the region – who are investing in their businesses and the region’s communities. The Chamber transforms resources into results. Members surround themselves with successful, forward-thinking leaders who provide valuable connections to grow businesses. They engage ideas and transform leadership capacity into impactful community collaboration.

IBBA awarded John C. Johnson life member status for exceptional leadership and service to the business brokerage profession.

IBBA, the world’s largest association for professionals in business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions, reached more than 1,200 active intermediaries across Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe and the United States. It is a group for leading professional business intermediaries and brokers, creating education, resources and development for business intermediaries.

Keith Chapman, Gary Papay, John C. Johnson and Don Hankins hold the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation. Earning and maintaining a CBI is a clear commitment to performing at the profession’s top levels. It is held and maintained by the industry’s top ten percent of business broker professionals. Requirements include education, tenure, experience and comprehensive testing; maintaining the CBI demands continuing professional education, plus professional activities and development designed to keep intermediaries informed and performing at peak professional levels. It is the most recognized credential for business brokers and intermediaries, nationally and internationally.

Gary Papay, Keith Chapman, and John C. Johnson have been awarded the honor of Fellow of The M&A Source.

Fellowship is a lifetime award that is one of the highest honors bestowed by the M&A Source. The Fellow Award recognizes and honors M&A Source members who have made sustained and significant contributions to the Association. The key words for this award are “sustained and significant.” The Fellowship is awarded to members who distinguished themselves sufficiently to warrant prestigious recognition. The criteria for consideration are membership in the M&A Source for 10 consecutive years or longer and made significant contributions to the Association.

The annual Finance Awards recognize and reward excellence, best practice and innovation in finance, by individuals and firms active in  finance, accountancy and financial management worldwide.

Being named a Finance Award winner is a “stamp” of professional excellence, as a badge of merit, integrity and leadership, bringing together some of the biggest and most influential names in the financial world.