Transworld Knoxville Team
TRANSWORLD BUSINESS ADVISORS
MEET OUR TEAM
Doug Kose
President
Doug Kose is the President of Transworld Business Advisors of Knoxville and Chattanooga. He is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) with the IBBA and has his real estate license through the TN Real Estate Commission. Kose is also a member of the Rotary Club of Bearden. Kose works diligently to help business owners navigate the challenges involved in selling their companies.
Transworld Business Advisors has received local recognition including being named the City View Magazine Best in Class in the business broker category for the last three years. Transworld has over 100 ‘5-Star Google Reviews.’ Previously, Kose was a CEO of a non-profit agency for five years and an Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Sales at the University of Tennessee. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two girls, Anabel and Adeline.
Drew Rutherford
Senior Business Advisor
Drew Rutherford is a Senior Business Advisor and has extensive experience in the Knoxville market and a well-known reputation for developing and maintaining outstanding client relationships. Drew previously served as General Manager of All Occasions Party Rentals. He established and ran Tailgate Tennessee since its inception in 2012. Drew was also a former Media Relations Graduate Assistant with the University of Tennessee Athletic Department from 2010-12.
Drew is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Random Acts of Flowers and a board member at Three Rivers Market. Drew was recently named one of Knoxville’s ’40 Under 40′ honorees for his service to the community.
Sheila Hansen
Senior Business Advisor
Sheila Hansen’s mission is helping buyers find good businesses and/or franchise opportunities, and helping sellers find good buyers. She focuses her efforts in the Sevier County area – which is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. It’s also the birthplace of Dolly Parton (a national treasure and her business role model) and Dollywood. Sevier County includes the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Kodak, and Seymour. This tourist area sees over ten million visitors every year and it’s also a lovely place to live and raise a family. Attractions, restaurants, resorts, and every business you can imagine is located here.
As a small business owner herself, Sheila brings the experience of being on all sides of the transaction (startup, purchase, owner/operator and sale). She understands what the buyer and seller need to complete the business sale transaction. She and her husband, Bob, live in Sevier County, have two sons and five grandchildren. So come on down, whether you’re from the lakes of Minnesota, the hills of Tennessee, or anywhere from sea to shining sea; call her! Let’s make your dream of owning (or selling) your business come true. Sheila works closely with the Knoxville/Sevier County team and our amazing Transworld (worldwide) team! Wherever you come from, wherever you may wish to go, she can help.
Chris Whitehead
Business Advisor
Chris Whitehead is a Business Advisor serving clients primarily in the Knoxville metro area. His focus is helping sellers get the best deal for their businesses and helping others achieve their dream of ownership. Chris is a native to the Knoxville area and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2014. He previously served as Program Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee from 2015-2020. He then went on to do work for Emerald Youth Foundation, where he continues to serve as the East/South Area Sports and Recreation Director. Chris has also served on committees for the YWCA and the Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals group.
Adam Bassett
Business Advisor
Based in Sevierville, TN, Adam offers business owners and astute buyers a distinctive combination of local expertise and a wide network of opportunities. As a seasoned business owner who has achieved an exit, Adam understands the complexities involved in selling and purchasing businesses. “My favorite part of the selling process is getting to know my clients on both a professional and personal level,” Adam says. “I genuinely care about my clients, their families, and their future. So, it’s not just about selling or buying a business, it’s about advising them on whats best for their future.”
Adam and his wife Nancy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in September 2023. They have a thirteen-year-old son, Alex. When not working, Adam loves chasing brook trout in the headwaters of the Smoky Mountains and spending time with his family in the outdoors.
Kelly Kasper
Vice President of Operations
Kelly Kasper joins Transworld Business Advisors after more than a decade of experience in higher education. She focuses on supporting the Knoxville and Chattanooga teams to ensure efficient operations and works with the teams to develop and achieve organizational goals, execute strategy, and oversee communications and marketing.
Kelly relocated to the Knoxville area from Indiana, where she earned her PhD in 2021. She chose this area for her love of the outdoors and the cities proximity to many outdoor adventures. “This is the perfect combination of an excellent company in a beautiful part of the country to live and work,”Kelly said. “I’m thrilled to be part of such a positive, motivated, hard-working team, and help entrepreneurs take such a big step in their lives.”
