The People Behind the Scenes
Meet the Valcor Executive Leadership
Valcor’s executive team brings decades of experience in business restructuring, creditor negotiations and capital acquisition for small and mid-sized businesses.
At the helm are Founder & CEO David Sussman and Executive Director Brent Kahlen, who oversee Valcor’s internal team as well as its nationwide network of consultants, advisors, and financial professionals.
David leads company strategy and consultant development. Brent directs operations and case support. Together, they provide practical training, case reviews and guidance for Valcor’s independent Licensees.
Explore consultant training and support or Valcor’s business restructuring services.
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David Sussman
Founder & CEO
As Valcor’s Founder and CEO, David Sussman leads the organization’s overall direction, strategy, and consultant development. Since establishing Valcor in 1994, he has grown the firm from a small boutique consultancy into a respected international network with consultants across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
David’s work focuses on business restructuring, commercial debt mediation and capital acquisition. As Valcor’s principal trainer, he helps consultants develop practical skills for evaluating cases, communicating with creditors and exploring funding options.
David also pioneered DebtAuction, a groundbreaking online platform for institutional non-performing debt portfolios that reached over $1 billion in listed assets before being sold in 2000. The platform attracted strategic relationships with Goldman Sachs, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and other major financial institutions.
David has been featured on Fox Business Network, CNN/Money, and in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Entrepreneur Magazine. View Valcor’s media appearances and coverage. He has spoken at SBA, SCORE, and business leadership events and hosted the SMB Roundtable radio program, where he interviewed influential business leaders and policymakers serving Presidential administrations.
Originally from London, England, David holds a Master of Arts in Business and Organizational Management and has an academic background in psychology. When not working, he enjoys mountaineering, watching football and hockey, playing piano, and spending time with his two grown sons.
Brent Kahlen
Executive Director
As Executive Director, Brent Kahlen oversees Valcor’s national operations and consultant support systems, ensuring each Licensee receives expert guidance on real-world restructuring and capital acquisition cases.
Brent brings more than 30 years of experience in creditor communication, contract negotiation, conflict resolution and business restructuring. His work centers on evaluating commercial debt situations and developing practical approaches to creditor negotiations.
His distinguished career in the financial services sector includes collaborations with major institutions including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, Barclays, Citibank, and PNC, as well as the SBA.
Brent joined Valcor in 1994 and has since trained and mentored consultants throughout North America, helping them master the art of negotiation and financial turnaround. He draws on this case experience to guide Licensees through creditor communications, restructuring strategies and client case reviews.
In addition to his leadership role, Brent frequently conducts seminars and workshops, sharing practical insights drawn from decades of hands-on restructuring experience. His continued collaboration with Valcor ensures Licensees receive both the strategic direction and operational expertise needed to succeed.
When not working, Brent enjoys mountain biking and working with terrestrial radio stations.