Our Story
Phoenix Business Collective was founded with a singular purpose.
Most business owners overspend by default. Margins bleed. Vendors count on it. Phoenix is the correction — an invitation-only group of serious operators turning procurement into profit.
This isn’t collective buying.
It’s shared leverage, executed with discipline.
Our mission is simple.
We work with companies doing $10M+ in annual revenue—most average over $30M. We negotiate enforceable contracts, clean up pricing, and align all parties — sharing savings with members, supplier partners, and audit teams.
Beyond just purchasing power, The Phoenix Business Collective fosters a trusted environment where collaboration, innovation, and shared success thrive.
Together, we’re redefining what it means to be part of an elite business community.
Words from
our founder
“We create wealth, impact, and freedom at scale. And we do it without asking permission.”
I started Phoenix because I got tired of hearing “you can’t do that.” Corporate America is full of people who survive by playing politics and avoiding risk. That world teaches you to follow rules written by people who’ve never built anything real. I left that game to build a platform that does the opposite—one that gives power back to the people who actually create value: business owners. Phoenix was born as a rebellion against bloat, mediocrity, and the belief that someone in a corner office knows more than you do. They don’t. You’ve earned your leverage. We help you use it.
But this isn’t just about cost savings—it’s about purpose. It’s about surrounding myself with people who are smarter than me in their lane, and building something that rewards execution, not politics. Phoenix is designed to be a vehicle for growth—for our members, our partners, and for the people on this team who are bold enough to bet on themselves. If we do this right, we don’t just fix procurement—we change how founders think about what’s possible. We create wealth, impact, and freedom at scale. And we do it without asking permission.
Meet our Founders
CEO & CRO
Entrepreneur. Operator. Father of Five. Beard guy.
Dan Buehrle is the founder of Phoenix Business Collective, a company built on a simple idea: business owners shouldn’t be overpaying for stuff just because no one’s watching the invoices. With a background in finance, leadership, and what can only be described as a lifelong tolerance for chaos, Dan created Phoenix to bring data, trust, and collective buying power to the people who actually run the world—entrepreneurs.
Before launching Phoenix, Dan built and led Union Financial, served as Senior Regional Managing Director at Principal Financial Network, and co-founded Elevate by Principal, where he scaled a national advisory platform while still remembering most of his kids’ names on a daily basis.
A longtime member of YPO, Dan served 8 years on the Wisconsin Board and was Regional Champion for YPO Mid-Americas, where he learned the fine art of herding Type A visionaries. He also spent 8 years on the Children’s Hospital Board, and currently co-chairs the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation for Mental Health Awareness—because changing the world requires more than spreadsheets and Zoom calls.
Dan has a degree in Organizational Communication and Business Management from UW–Whitewater, where he started as an art major before realizing that business majors also get student loans. He splits his time between Milwaukee and Madison, and his heart between his five incredible kids, R&B playlists, heavy lifts, wild birds, and even wilder ideas.
If you can’t find him, he’s probably deep in a Google Sheet, halfway up a trail, or explaining gain share economics to a ten-year-old.
Brett Novey is a dynamic, results-driven CEO with a proven track record of scaling operations and driving sustained growth in highly regulated industries. As the chief executive of one of the largest privately held, vertically integrated companies in the U.S. health and wellness sector, Brett led the organization from a pre-revenue startup to a $425 million revenue enterprise with $65 million in EBITDA—establishing it as a national category leader.
Renowned for his strategic vision and operational discipline, Brett has raised over $500 million in capital, including a $110 million strategic investment from a Fortune 200-affiliated partner. He has executed over a dozen M&A transactions totaling more than $600 million, expanded the company’s footprint to 10 retail locations and 10 manufacturing facilities across 8 states, and led transformative restructuring initiatives to drive positive cash flow and long-term sustainability. Under his leadership, the company reached its peak valuation of $1.8 billion.
Before assuming his current role, Brett served as Global Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at GSC Holdings, where he played a key role in GETCO’s $1.4 billion reverse-merger acquisition of Knight Capital Group. He implemented enterprise-wide re-engineering strategies that generated $30 million in annual savings and led the development of the company’s capital management plan.
Earlier in his career, Brett held senior finance roles at Sears Holdings, where he oversaw $2 billion in annual merchandise operations, and at Denali Capital, where he managed a $350 million leveraged loan portfolio during the financial crisis. He began his career in corporate restructuring with Arthur Andersen and KPMG.
Brett holds an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a B.S. in Finance and Accounting, magna cum laude, from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
President & CFO
Numbers guy. Spreadsheet whisperer. Weekend chef. Reluctant golfer.
Managing Partner – EOS Integrator
Ashley has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in holistic financial management solutions for individuals and strategic solutions for business owners. She helps clients navigate insurance, investing, retirement plans, executive benefits, and group and voluntary benefits.
Ashley holds designations that bring deep expertise to both individual and business financial planning including: Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC)
Ashley's career spans sales, sales leadership, and operational leadership, focusing on driving growth and efficiency in financial services. In recent years, she has been part of an innovation effort focused on developing a platform that combines technology with human support to serve business owners better.
Ashley has an undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in Spanish, Portuguese, and Inter-American Studies. She holds a Master's in Management with an emphasis in Leadership and Training from the University of Phoenix.
COO
Operator. Fixer. Spreadsheet whisperer. Master of controlled chaos.
Mike Chodil is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience driving strategic growth, financial planning, and operational excellence across diverse industries—including cannabis, automotive distribution, fintech, and enterprise services. He is the Founder and Principal of Zielen, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in finance, operations, and growth strategy for emerging and regulated markets. Through Zielen, Mike has served as a trusted advisor and acting CFO for multiple startups, leading operational and finance buildouts, investor communications, and system implementations.
Previously, Mike held C-suite roles at PharmaCann, one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis companies in the U.S., where he led corporate strategy, operations, and technology across six states. His leadership was instrumental in scaling infrastructure, launching new product lines, and executing merger integrations.
Mike also co-founded Parts Direct Warehouse, where he spearheaded the launch of a new powertrain product line, modernized digital infrastructure, and drove revenue growth despite industry-wide supply chain challenges.
Earlier in his career, Mike held strategic finance and operations roles at KCG Holdings (formerly Getco), a pioneering electronic market maker, and began his professional journey at Aon Hewitt and Comdisco in finance and technology leadership roles.
He holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa. Mike is recognized for his analytical rigor, cross-functional leadership, and ability to build scalable processes and systems that support long-term growth.
Board Member – Culture & Lead Generation
Connector. Culture builder. Mascot guy. Probably on a plane.
Brian Adam is the President and Owner of Olympus Group, a leading large-format printing company specializing in large format graphics for tradeshows, events, sports teams, and amusement parks. Under his leadership, Olympus Group has grown to employ approximately 250 team members across production facilities in Milwaukee, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Denver. The company also operates two distinct divisions: a graphic design agency in Grand Rapids and the nation’s largest mascot costume manufacturing operation.
A passionate leader with a strong focus on workplace culture, Brian was recognized as one of Glassdoor’s Top 25 CEOs to Work For in 2017. In 2020, he authored Rules of Engagement, a book exploring best practices for employee engagement and has delivered a dozen keynotes on corporate culture.
Beyond his role at Olympus Group, Brian is actively involved in industry and leadership organizations. He serves as an Executive Committee Member for Printing United Alliance, Vice President of YPO-Graphic Source, held numerous YPO-Wisconsin Chapter Leadership positions, contributes as an Advisory Council Member for Big Picture Magazine and an Advisory Board Member for Briohn Building Corporation and volunteers at Junor Achievement and as a Little League coach.
Brian resides in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, with his wife Cindy and two children Chase & Maya. A proud University of Wisconsin alumnus, he has a unique connection to his alma mater—having donned the fur of Bucky Badger as the university’s mascot.
Head of Sales
Deal maker. Relationship builder. Spreadsheet meets handshake. Texas proud.
Thomas Kane’s career has spanned the intersecting worlds of finance, consulting, and real estate, shaped by more than two decades of experience in capital markets and strategic advisory. With leadership roles at Infinium Capital Management, KLR Group, Kane Capital Group, and Clay and Company, he brings a disciplined, data-driven approach, grounded in institutional experience.
He began his career in proprietary trading, managing risk across fixed income, commodities, and equity markets. As the industry shifted, so did his focus—toward consulting and capital strategy for early-stage and growth companies, raising over $300 million in equity and debt capital from a wide range of investors, including family offices and institutions. His work extended into payments infrastructure and digital asset markets, giving him insight into both traditional and emerging sectors.
At Clay and Company, Kane applied this experience to real estate—sourcing investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and advising buyers, sellers, and investors on complex transactions. Today, at Sotheby’s International Realty, he brings the same strategic mindset to residential real estate, providing clients with thoughtful guidance informed by deep market knowledge and financial fluency.
He holds an MBA in Finance & Investment Management from DePaul University and a BBA in International Business from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. His background in valuation, deal structuring, and asset management gives clients a clear advantage in Houston’s competitive real estate market.
Outside of his professional work, Kane is active in the local community. He has volunteered for nearly ten years with West University Little League, including eight years as a coach and continued service on the board. He and his wife, Jennifer, a private wealth manager at Merril Lynch Bank of America, are involved parents at St. John’s School, where their children, Teddy and Vivienne, are students. They spend time outdoors, travel often, and enjoy hosting friends and family at The Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas.
Founder, TruStory Logistics | Partner, Phoenix Business Collective
Data storyteller. Logistics strategist. Husband, dad, explorer. Always curious.
Duane Nelson is the founder of TruStory Logistics and a founding partner of the Phoenix Business Collective — a modern buying group built on truth, data, and the simple idea that transparency pays. With degrees in Finance, Economics, and an MBA, Duane has spent more than three decades leading companies through growth, transformation, and the occasional well-calculated leap of faith.
A strategic operator with an entrepreneurial heart, Duane has guided organizations to hundreds of millions in first-year growth by connecting vision to execution — and spreadsheets to real-world outcomes. His curiosity and analytical mind make him the go-to for turning complex challenges into clear strategies that actually work.
At Phoenix, Duane leads the logistics and freight optimization vertical, helping members turn one of their biggest operating costs into a measurable advantage. He brings the same philosophy to Phoenix that inspired TruStory itself — that trust and truth aren’t marketing buzzwords, they’re operating principles.
Outside the data and deal flow, Duane splits time between Milwaukee and family adventures with his wife, Meg, and their three grown kids. He’s an explorer at heart — always chasing new ideas, new trails, and the next big story worth telling.
If you can’t find him, he’s probably deep in an audit report, sketching the next big system idea, or reminding someone that transparency isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business.