Who We Are

Thomas J. Martin, Founder and President

In 1974, Thomas J. Martin formed YourBusinessLibrary.com‘s parent company, MW Business Solutions, Inc. Three years later he started a newsletter for the owners and executives of smaller and middle-market businesses, which he then customized for accountants, banks, and accounting firms. Martin developed and wrote The Business Library®, a series of manuals and reports on such topics as: Tax Planning and Reduction, How to Value a Business, How to Finance a Business, How to Set Compensation Levels, How to Prepare for Business Continuity, and How to Sell a Business.

He also has written more than 900 articles and advisories and published customized business and personal finance newsletters for financial institutions and business associations and is the author of four books. Martin has presented hundreds of seminars and educational workshops on many of the topics in The Business Library for thousands of business owners and the professionals who advise them. He also has developed and conducted training courses for banks, accounting firms, and insurance companies. He is an investment banker, valuation specialist, expert witness, and adviser to numerous businesses on raising capital, valuing, buying and selling businesses, and succession planning. He also has taught investment and finance courses at the college level. A graduate of Adelphi University, Martin has done post-graduate work in finance and economics at City University towards a Doctoral Degree. Prior to founding his company in 1974, Martin was an investment banker on Wall Street and a lending executive at Prudential Insurance Company.

Executive Summary

• Founded MW Business Solutions, Inc. in 1974.
• Was a consultant and then launched a national publication dedicated to meeting the information needs of business owners, executives, individuals and the professionals who advise them.
• Worked as a lender at Prudential Insurance Co. and an investment banker on Wall Street.
• Authored 4 books and 6 seminar programs, including How to Finance a Business, Value a Business, Protect a Business, Sell a Business, Plan for Succession, Save and Defer Taxes, and Cash Flow Management.
• Developed and wrote The Business Library®, a collection of manuals and reports containing more than 2,000 pages of how-to information.
• Conducted hundreds of workshops for business owners and dozens of Valuation and Finance Seminars for large accounting firms, banks, and business associations.
• Taught Investment and Finance courses at the college level.
• Prepared customized newsletters for business associations, franchisers, and banks on the subjects of retirement, taxes, investments, and personal finance.
• Valued hundreds of companies for business owners and executives who were buying and selling their businesses, establishing buy-sell agreements, and planning their estates; testified as an expert witness in valuation cases.
• Assisted companies in raising capital and refinancing debt.
• Developed and conducted educational courses for banks and accounting firms to use in training their employees on the business owner market.
• Wrote more than 900 articles and advisories detailing practical solutions to operational, financial, and management problems common to businesses.
• Helped more than 300,000 business owners, executives, and individuals who have purchased millions of copies of his company’s reports, advisories, books, manuals, seminar workbooks, and newsletters.

Tricia Walsh, Executive Vice President, MW Business Solutions, Inc.

Tricia Walsh joined MW Business Solutions, Inc. in 1979 and is a principal owner and board member. She assists in the company’s investment banking and consulting activities, and has served as publishing director – managing all of the company’s editorial and publishing activities, including production schedules, quality control, order fulfillment, budgets and accounts, and customer service. She also has worked closely with the editorial staff in researching, writing, editing, and cataloging the extensive inventory articles, advisories, and reports in The Business Library and our other publications. Walsh also was the Publishing Director of our newsletters, managing all back-of-the-house editorial and production operations for the magazine.

Karolyn Schuster, Managing Editor, The Business Library®

Karolyn Schuster is an award-winning reporter, writer, and editor with more than 30 years experience working for newspapers and magazines. She was a staff reporter for daily newspapers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, and Binghamton, NY. She also has written for major business publishers, including Mc-Graw-Hill, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, R.S. Means Co. and Penton Media; and for such business magazines as Purchasing Week and Architectural Record. She was managing editor of our newsletters and publications for 20-plus years. Schuster has won numerous editorial awards, including the Jesse H. Neal Award, the top national award of the American Business Press, and four regional and national awards for editorial excellence from the American Society of Business Press Editors. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University’s College of Journalism, in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Mary Lou Martin, Associate Publisher, The Business Library®

Mary Lou Martin has worked for the company in various capacities since it was founded in 1974. She is a principal owner, vice president, and board member of the parent company, MW Business Solutions, Inc. Her many editorial functions have included sales and marketing, list management, fulfillment, research, distribution and customer service. Mary Lou  also has been heavily involved in the non-editorial operations of the parent company and has helped plan, promote, market, schedule, and conduct seminars, workshops, and training programs. She also provides support services for the consulting side of the business. Mary Lou is also our principal Copy Editor and in that role assists in the processing and production of all editorial copy.

John P. Arseneault, Director of Marketing and Sales, MW Business Solutions, Inc.

It is with great pleasure that we announce that John Arseneault has joined our company as Marketing Director and Associate Publisher. John has more than 30 years experience in sales, communications, and marketing and has received many awards and certifications in Sales, Management, Leadership, and Training.

John’s area of expertise include: Strategic Planning, Trends and Industry Technology, Corporate Sales Training, Regional Sales Management, Budget Forecasting, Customer Liaison, Presentation and Negotiation Skills, Commercial Sales Management, Hiring and Training Sales Forces, and New Business Development and Retention. His technical skills include: Statistical Analysis and Tracking, Salesforce and Multiple DMS Systems, and the Development of Sales Training Manuals and Programs.

John has a BA Degree in Business Management from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.

Steve A. Hopfenmuller, CPA, Tax Editor

Steve Hopfenmuller is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who has worked as a tax and business consultant to small and mid-size companies for more than 25 years. He also serves as a real estate valuation consultant for several publicly traded real estate investment trusts and banks. Hopfenmuller is a widely published writer in tax and business publications. He founded The Small Business Tax Review in 1980, which he published and edited until 1996, when he launched Small Business Taxes & Management. He also authored “Guide To the New Tax Law.” Hopfenmuller has been Tax Editor of our publications for more than 25 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Finance from New York University.

Melvin I. Feit, CPA, Estate Planning Editor, The Business Library®

The late Mel Feit was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who  lectured and wrote extensively on the subjects of estate and pension planning. He worked with MW Business Solutions, Inc. and The Business Library® since its founding. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, which he served as a member of the Estate Planning Committee. He was author of “Introduction to Estate and Gift Taxation” and “Introduction to Fiduciary Taxation,” and  conducted workshops for the American Bar Association, American Legal Institute, Foundation for Accounting Education, and other organizations. He also taught tax and accounting courses at the post-graduate level. Feit was our Estate Planning Editor for 24 years and a contributing editor of The Practical Accountant. Feit received his undergraduate degree in economics from Brooklyn College and completed post-graduate studies in accounting at Baruch College of the City University of New York. He was an officer of the New York Tax Study Group and a member of the Tax Institute of C.W. Post College, Brookville, New York.

Mary Ellen Mueller, Design and Graphics Director, The Business Library®

Mary Ellen Mueller joined The Business Library® in 1988, and has been in the graphic design and custom publishing business for 24 years. She is owner of New Jersey-based MPubCo., specializing in design and production of publications, newsletters, advertisements, and brochures. She previously worked as a reporter and managing editor for weekly newspapers in New Jersey. Mueller received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Journalism from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.

Bernie Willett, Director of Public Relations & Advertising, The Business Library®

Bernie Willett is president and owner of B&B Enterprises, a Jericho, N.Y. advertising agency he founded in 1971. His clients cover a wide range of consumer, retail and industrial businesses. Prior to starting his company, Willett held various advertising and marketing staff positions at American Broadcasting’s Paramount Theatres, Schenley Distillers, and Metromedia’s outdoor advertising division, Foster and Kleiser. He started a job-printing business while still in his teens and later worked as a reporter for the Bergen Evening Record, a New Jersey daily newspaper. He was in charge of advertising and graphic design for our publications. Willett received his Bachelor of Letters degree in Journalism from Rutgers University, and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from New York University.

Molly Cantrell, Webmaster, YourBusinessLibrary.com

Molly Cantrell is the owner of Plaid Pants Media, a firm specializing in web design, electronic production and online marketing for small to mid-sized businesses. She joined the company in 2009 as webmaster for YourBusinessLibrary.com, Molly oversees the overall design, development and technical support for the site. In addition, she manages the online marketing programs for Your Business Library. Previously, Molly worked in the printing/fulfillment and publishing industries. Molly received her Bachelor of Science in Technology degree in Visual Communication from Bowling Green State University.