Meet Our Team

New South Business Ventures' professionals represent a unique blend of financial, operational and management expertise gained from successful histories in investment banking, private equity, marketing, business brokerage and operating fields.

Thomas R. Barr, CEO

Tom is a long-time resident of Asheville and founded an environmental services firm here in 1986. That company has grown substantially since then, both organically and through acquisitions. He has successfully purchased, with the support of investors, nearly 40 companies and assimilated them. Also as part of the strategic plan, certain divisions were sold successfully. He has left the day-to-day duties of the company he founded, but still remains active as a consultant, Board Member and stockholder. In addition, he has formed Santa Fe Capital Partners, which seeks acquisitions as well as provides corporate services. New South Business Ventures was purchased by Santa Fe Capital Partners.

He holds an MBA and a Masters of International Management

Gary Brown, Managing Director

Gary Brown has been a "True Entrepreneur" since graduating from Arizona State University by developing a residential and commercial security company (FSS/later merged) with college roommate and then became the founder and co-founder of multiple companies – the fast food industry-patented the drive thru timing systems - for McDonald's and developed the first wireless communications system for drive-thru (U.S.C.) – telecommunications industry – high speed access to malls across the United States (SNI) – beverage industry – developed high speed feeding systems for beverage cans-fastest in the world (GFS) etc. Gary truly enjoys the development stage and the mergers and selling of companies. That is why he is committed to professionally assisting entrepreneurs in packaging their companies to the market, in obtaining necessary capital or helping buyers find the most profitable companies in the maze of products on the market.