Know Your Officers: WM Warren Burkholder

Warren was born and raised in south Florida. His father was a building contractor and his mother, a schoolteacher. He was a Boy Scout, played sports, football and track. He met Jan, his wife of 55 years, at UC Berkeley where he earned his degree in Chemical Engineering. After serving 2 years on active duty as an US Infantry officer he worked for several large companies; Procter & Gamble, Cadbury Schweppes, and Standard Brands. At Cadbury He rose to become Division President and in a move to Standard Brands- Curtiss Candy, (the makers of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger then the 3rd largest US chocolate confectionary company) he also was Division President. While in Chicago, Warren was invited to join the volunteer Board of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse where he met many of Chicago’s VIP’s and was also elected Treasurer.

After a dozen corporate moves, Warren and Jan settled down for 32 years in Andover, Massachusetts. This started with a leveraged buyout of Bartons Chocolate which subsequently failed. They then started a business brokerage business that led to Jan becoming a Volunteer leader with several organizations: YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, Andover Housing Authority, and others. She attracted the attention of State Senator Tucker, who invited Jan to join her staff in Boston and lead the Senator’s community contact operations. Jan and Warren were both active in Christ Church, where Warren was Treasurer of its Vestry for 14 years and Jan participated in many church activities.

Warren, was involved in several start-ups of small high-tech businesses and ultimately settled into consulting as a business appraiser as well as a broker. He was active in both the New England Business Brokers Association and the International Busines Brokers Association where he was active in education and training. After many years of service with the IBBA he was elected to the Board of Directors and then to Chair of the Association. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Instituted of Business Appraisers and was Co- chair of its Qualification Review Committee. He currently holds multiple professional credentials in business valuation and specializes in providing expert testimony around the country on the value of ownership rights in small and midsize businesses.

In high school Warren was a DeMolay. At UC Berkeley, he was a member of Acacia Fraternity which until 1915 limited its members to Master Masons. In 2005 Warren was raised a Master Mason in Pentucket Lodge in Lowell, MA. He later affiliated with St. Matthew’s Lodge in Andover and became its Master and then Secretary. He was also active in Scottish Rite as Head of Body for its Lodge of Perfection in Haverhill, MA.

In 2014 Warren and Jan moved from Andover to Portland to be nearer their daughters, one of which is in Portland and the other is now in Seattle. Warren affiliated with Washington Lodge No 46 and with Portland Lodge No 55. He also affiliated with the Scottish Rite in Portland.

Warren is often found at a local golf course in the early morning hours. He notes that his game has improved over the last few years but is still in need of work to keep up with the younger golfers.