Click here for Part I, Part II, Part III, Part V & Part VI

Providing financial valuation services with unparalleled experience, focus, objectivity, and responsiveness

Dennis Murray is the president of Murray Devine, a financial valuation advisory firm. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Murray Devine possesses decades of experience assessing companies, ventures, and transactions in various industries. The firm has participated in and facilitated deals whose value has ranged from $10 million to over $10 billion. Private equity clients include Bain Capital, Kelso & Company, The Jordan Company, The Blackstone Group, and many others. In recognition of its work, Murray Devine has been named USA in Finance Monthly’s Valuation Firm of the Year (2015) and an M&A Advisor Awards Valuation Firm of the Year (2013). Most recently, the firm was a finalist in the 2016 ACG New York Champion's Awards.

EDWIN WARFIELD: What advice would you give to young people entering your field?

DENNIS MURRAY: Certainly in our area, I look for the willingness to work within a corporation that will train you and provide some good background and good training. What we look for in younger people first is self-discipline, self-motivation, the ability to work as part of a team, and a good work ethic.

Q. What motivates you personally as an entrepreneur?

A. I think it’s part of my upbringing. My father had his own business. Watching the way that he worked and operated, and with having a large family—I’m one of five—having the flexibility to spend time with family, to balance both work and family, was key. But I think there was an internal motor that I had, that was passed down to me, of wanting to succeed and build something on my own.

There’s the ability to be in business for over 25 years, to employ people and see them grow and flourish and develop. To me, it comes from my younger days of playing sports, and playing as part of a team. I played lacrosse, mostly. I played in high school football, basketball, and initially baseball—until I realized lacrosse was a lot more fun and a lot more active. I think being part of a team during my youthful years was key that drive of wanting to build something and build a team that could accomplish something together.

Q. Did you have any role models growing up, besides your rather?

A. Certainly, there are role models during the different levels of development in your life. Coaches were certainly a key part of my development.

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ABOUT NEWMARK GRUBB KNIGHT FRANK

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) is one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently-owned offices, NGKF's 14,100 professionals operate from more than 400 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.

With roots dating back to 1929, NGKF's strong foundation makes it one of the most trusted names in commercial real estate. NGKF's full-service platform comprises BGC's real estate services segment, offering commercial real estate tenants, landlords, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing; capital markets services, including investment sales, debt placement, appraisal, and valuation services; commercial mortgage brokerage services; as well as corporate advisory services, consulting, project and development management, and property and corporate facilities management services. For further information, visit www.ngkf.com.

NGKF is a part of BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcpartners.com/.

Edwin Warfield, CEO of citybizlist, conducts the CEO Interviews.

If you're interested in reaching CEOs, please contact edwin.warfield@citybuzz.co

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