Meet the Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor Behind TAMBAY
A Boutique M&A Firm Where Owners Work Directly With the Founder
TAMBAY Mergers & Acquisitions is a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Tampa, Florida. When you engage TAMBAY, you work directly with Tom Brubaker. Not an associate, not a junior broker. Tom personally handles every engagement from the first call through closing.
Why Owners Choose TAMBAY
Most business owners only sell once. That single transaction often represents the largest financial event of their lives, and the difference between a strong outcome and a disappointing one usually comes down to who is sitting across the table during negotiations.
TAMBAY was built around three principles that shape every engagement:
Principal-led from start to finish. Tom Brubaker is the founder, the lead advisor, and the person who handles your file personally. There is no hand-off to a junior associate after the contract is signed.
Appraisal-grade valuation discipline. Tom is a state-certified appraiser, license RD2130. Every opinion of value TAMBAY produces is grounded in the same methodology used by lenders, courts, and the IRS, not a casual broker estimate.
Confidential by design. Business sales fail when word leaks to employees, customers, or competitors. Every engagement is structured to protect the seller's identity until a qualified buyer has signed an NDA and proven the financial capacity to close.
Meet Tom Brubaker, Founder and Lead Advisor
Licensed Real Estate Broker | State Certified Appraiser #RD2130
Tom Brubaker founded TAMBAY Mergers & Acquisitions to give Tampa business owners something the larger brokerages stopped offering: a senior advisor who personally handles every step of the engagement.
Before launching TAMBAY, Tom built and ran Tampa Bay Appraisal for sixteen years, completing thousands of commercial and business valuations across Florida. That appraisal foundation is what separates TAMBAY from a traditional brokerage. When Tom delivers an opinion of value, it is built on the same methodology lenders and courts rely on, not a number pulled to win a listing.
Tom is a state-certified appraiser (license RD2130), a licensed real estate broker, and a licensed real estate instructor (license ZH1003617). He is the former President of the Florida Gulf Coast Commercial Association of Realtors (FGCAR), sits on the State Board of Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), and is a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA).
He has also served as Vice President of the M&A Source Gulf Coast Chapter, a certified mediator for broker-to-broker disputes, and a hearing chairman for arbitration and ethics cases.
Industry Leadership & Professional Affiliations:
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President, Florida Gulf Coast Commercial Association of Realtors (FGCAR) (2024)
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Vice President, Gulf Coast Chapter – M&A Source (2023)
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Board of Directors – Business Brokers of Florida (BBF) (2023)
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Member – IBBA (International Business Brokers Association)
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Certified Mediator for Broker-to-Broker Disputes
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Hearing Chairman for Arbitration & Ethics Cases
Meet Kristin Phillips, Licensed Business Broker
Kristin Phillips joined TAMBAY in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of Florida's top-performing business brokers, earning a place among the top 50 brokers in the state by 2023.
Outside of work, Kristin is a proud mom to two active boys who excel in violin, ice hockey, and chess. Her commitment to balancing a thriving career with family life reflects her discipline and passion for everything she does.
Kristin came to brokerage from a background in medical sales and as the owner of a pharmacy marketing business. That entrepreneurial experience gives her a perspective most brokers do not have. She understands what it feels like to build something from the ground up, and she brings that understanding to every owner she works with.
She works under the direct guidance of Tom Brubaker, supporting client engagements with the same standard of confidentiality, preparation, and discipline that defines every TAMBAY transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes TAMBAY different from other business brokers in Tampa? TAMBAY is a boutique M&A advisory firm, which means every engagement is handled personally by Tom Brubaker, the founder and lead advisor. Tom is a state-certified appraiser (license RD2130), so every opinion of value the firm produces is grounded in formal appraisal methodology rather than a casual broker estimate. Owners work directly with the senior advisor from the first call through closing.
Where does TAMBAY work? TAMBAY is headquartered in Tampa and serves business owners across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and the broader Tampa Bay region. Tom also handles engagements throughout Florida and selectively beyond the state when the transaction fits the firm's focus on the lower middle market.
What size businesses does TAMBAY typically work with? TAMBAY specializes in the lower middle market, generally working with businesses valued between $500,000 and $50 million. The firm handles owner-operated companies, multi-location operators, and family-held businesses across industries including industrial and manufacturing, medical and healthcare, technology, construction and contracting, and professional services.
Will my information stay confidential? Yes. Confidentiality is built into every TAMBAY engagement from the start. Buyer inquiries are screened, NDAs are signed before any identifying information is released, and the firm structures the marketing process to protect the seller's identity from employees, customers, competitors, and the broader market until a qualified buyer has demonstrated the capacity to close.
How do I get started with TAMBAY? The first step is a conversation with Tom. There is no fee for the initial consultation, and nothing about the call commits you to a sale. Call 813-493-2913, email tom@tambaymail.com, or use the contact form on the contact page to schedule a time. Tom personally returns every inquiry.
Ready to Talk?
Schedule a Conversation With Tom
The first call is the most important one. Tom personally takes every initial inquiry, reviews the business, and gives you a candid read on where you stand and what the next step looks like. There is no fee, no obligation, and no junior associate in the middle of the conversation.
Tom Brubaker - Managing M&A Broker
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