Register with FNBC Affiliated Offices

William T. (Tom) Buckley, Jr.

Tom is the owner and CEO of FNBC and its affiliated companies based in Springfield, MO.

Tom has a varied background, rich in both franchised and independent business ownership. 

From 1975 to 1985 he owned and operated a chain of dry cleaning plants in the greater Kansas City area.  In addition he owned the Coit Drapery and Carpet Cleaning franchise and the Home Rug Cleaning Co. from 1983-1988.  He successfully sold these businesses during the 1980s and is proud to report that the buyers were also successful in the businesses.  Good sales make everyone happy.

Tom purchased and operated as a franchisor the Dr. Vinyl and Associates, Ltd. franchise company from 1986 to 2001, growing the system from 60 domestic units to over 200 units in 40 plus states and 10 master licenses in additional countries.  A Dr. Vinyl franchise owner offers a wide range of appearance repair and reconditioning services to auto dealers, for boats, medical applications and much more.

He sold a Master License for four countries in Europe in 1999 and subsequently sold the entire company to that Master Licensee in 2001, staying on with the company in administration and sales and to insure a smooth transition for several years thereafter.

Tom has continued to offer franchise consulting services and operated other businesses as well, such as an auto dealership, business to business direct marketing, and much more.

He is a firm believer in owning your own business; it is the surest path to wealth and more importantly, the satisfaction of being somebody who is making a difference.

Tom believes that FNBC has all the systems and personnel in place to continue its impressive growth, offering proven methods to help its licensed offices prosper and to satisfy the expectations of business buyers and sellers alike.

Dian Buckley

Dian received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia.  It was there she met Tom and they married in 1971.  She received a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.  Dian taught from 1971 until 1977 when their first child was born.  By 1984 there were four children keeping Dian busy at home, Ragan now 30 (Atlanta), Natalie 28 (New York) with new husband Jason, William III “Tommy” 26 (Excelsior Springs), and Madison Edward 24

( Independence).

Dian served in many positions in the PTA becoming President of her children’s school PTA from 1990-1992. During this time she traveled around the state of Missouri presenting parenting workshops for other PTA’s.  She became President of the Independence Council of PTA’s in 1994 and served in that position for two years.

Dian returned to teaching when Ragan decided she wanted to attend college at an Ivy League School.  In 1999 Dian left teaching and went to work at Dr. Vinyl with Tom.

Always involved in the community, Dian served as President of Independence Young Matrons, organized in 1940 for charitable and educational purposes and for community service, from 2004-2006.

After selling Dr. Vinyl both Tom and Dian took some time off to travel.  In 2005 they formed Buckley Business Services dba Street Dreams Auto Sales with their two sons.  Dian currently keeps the books for that company as well as WTB Rentals, LLC, LMBM Properties, LLC and Buckley Commercial Properties.

Larry Williams

Larry Williams is Vice-President and General Manger of First National Business Corporation and Vice-President of Telespond USA. He previously served as Affiliated Offices Marketing Coordinator for FNBC, including providing training and marketing assistance to agency owners, sales managers, and agents.

Larry also is a successful business broker with First National Business Corporation in Springfield, Missouri. He has listed businesses and brokered deals as small as $25,000.00 and as large as multi million dollar transactions. Larry previously served as General Manager of First National Business Company of Columbia, South Carolina, a full service business brokerage affiliate of FNBC.

Working with people and finding ways to make a positive difference and be supportive is a consistent theme of Larry’s career. His work experience includes military service, teaching, church work, sales, executive management, and business ownership.

After three years in the US Army, including a tour of duty in the First Infantry Division in Viet Nam, he returned to academic studies. Following his undergraduate degree, he took advantage of an academic scholarship offer and earned a Master of Arts Degree from Wheaton Graduate School and was given the Merrill C. Tenney Award as the outstanding student for the year. More graduate studies and ten years as a tenured professor at a university was followed by years of service in local churches.

Many productive years were spent in sales and sales management, as National Director of Church Resource Specialists with a church directory company. In this position Larry had twelve regional managers as direct reports ( each regional manager had responsibility for ten to twenty five sales representatives ) as well as a telemarketing department. He also was National Sales Manager with an educational book and media distribution company. Along the way he has owned and operated businesses, including a vending company, a deli franchise, investment properties, a specialty printing business, and other franchised restaurants.

An uncle who was a professional musician bought him a guitar before Larry was born. Music has been an on and off again love affair through out his life. There were several years where snow skiing was more than a passion. Reading, learning, watching and playing sports, traveling ( around this great country and many other countries ), motorcycling, and making new friends have been enjoyable and rewarding hobbies.

“I love business brokerage. Applying my life and work experience, and my personal dedication to helping others to the wonderful activity of business brokerage and franchise representation is exciting, challenging, and very rewarding.”

William B. Martin

William (Bill) Martin was the founder of FNBC and has been involved in the operations of business brokerage offices since 1982, including owning and operating several successful business brokerages and commercial real estate agencies over the years. During that time, Bill has been involved in the sale of over 4,000 different business acquisition transactions.

In 2008 Tom Buckley purchased FNBC from Bill, with Bill continuing with FNBC and its affiliated companies in an advisory capacity. 

Bill is also founder and owner of First National Business Corporation (FirstBiz) of Springfield, MO and Quality Real Estate Services, LLC, which are fully accredited affiliates of FNBC. 

Bill comments…”My only regret is that I didn’t discover business brokerage earlier in my life. Helping business buyers and sellers participate in “The Great American Dream” of personal ownership of business enterprises, and being a part of these incredibly important events in our customers’ lives, is a career that is forever fascinating, satisfying and rewarding”.

“Just as interesting is FNBC's involvement in helping entrepreneurs start and operate their own business brokerage offices. Over the years, through our Licensing and Consulting program, we have assisted Licensees in establishing successful brokerage offices of their own in cities throughout Missouri, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. And, we are presently engaged in partnerships with other entrepreneurs/licensees for opening additional offices, throughout the U.S.A., on into the future”.

“I have owned a variety of businesses over the years, including several different advertising and marketing consulting agencies, a produce trucking company, a janitorial service, a multi-state gifts, clothing and variety products distributorship, an oil specialty products distributorship, a direct mail processing service, and a laminated plastic I.D. card distributorship. But, the most challenging, exciting and interesting part of the journey has been my 26 years in small business brokerage”.

Bill is a long time member of the International Business Brokers Association, and has hundreds of credit hours of continuing education with the IBBA, on a wide variety of topics regarding the evaluation, listing, marketing, sale, packaging and financing of business acquisitions. He has had articles and opinion memo’s published in trade publications, and is a nationally recognized trainer and mentor in the business brokerage industry.

Bill is also a member of "M & A Source", the premeir industry association of middle market business brokers.

“Every year, every decade, I’m reminded of the incredible blessings we enjoy in the U.S.A., and am a proud and energetic participant in the American free enterprise system”.

Josh Strong

Josh currently manages Internet services, including the management of FNBC’s vast operation of Internet lead generation, management of the FNBCUSA.com website, and of FNBC’s unique in-house and network data transferring systems.

Josh’s previous experience began with the regional supervision of the expansion and remodeling of Wal-Mart stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. With his passion of the opportunities the Internet had to offer, Josh changed careers and assisted with the growth and development of a small internet web hosting start up company for two years as well as website development, before moving into the mortgage business. Josh then established and operated a Leads Management Division for a mortgage company, focusing its efforts on Internet and outbound Call Center lead generation before relocating to Springfield, MO and later bringing his experience to FNBC.

Josh has become fascinated by the amounts of both business buyers and business sellers from all around the world. Being the first stepping stone in the process of individuals who have lived the Great American Dream and passing it on to someone who passionately desires to live it, is what brings out the excitement in the Business Brokerage industry for him