Simmons Southeast

Dr. Doyle Watson provides the vision and leadership for Simmons & Associates’ corporate office and operates our Southeast regional office. He is well respected among veterinary colleagues as an expert in appraisal and brokerage. Dr. Watson earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Georgia and established two small animal practices in Georgia.

In 1985, he purchased half interest in Simmons & Associates and established and managed our East Coast office. Dr. Watson later fully acquired Simmons & Associates nationwide in 1990 and set up our regional network of 12 offices to serve veterinarians throughout the United States and Canada.

To share the latest clinical and management information with our profession, Dr. Watson founded Veterinary Forum, a national veterinary journal. After leading the publication as its president and CEO, he sold the journal in 1996. Dr. Watson is a licensed real estate broker in seven Southeastern states and a licensed veterinarian in Georgia and Florida. In addition to veterinary association memberships, Dr. Watson belongs to the American Society of Appraisers and Institute of Business Appraisers. He lectures on veterinary practice sales and valuations nationwide.

Dr. Watson prides himself in the assemblage of a professional, talented, multi-functional staff and is confident in their ability to perform every function and service we provide. His primary job is the initial contact with prospective sellers and personally performing each practice appraisal to ensure an accurate value, price (which may often be different figures), and terms of financing. Additionally, he is in direct contact with every buyer who has visited a practice and expresses an interest in the pursuit of ownership. He spends hours over the telephone, detailing the precise methodology of his appraisal process and how he arrived at the value or price. In that discussion, he also details the various terms available and what the buyer can expect as personal income after all expenses have been made.

Although you will find him often with a sense of humor, most often you will appreciate the sound business advice and unofficial tax and legal advice he offers in all aspects of the business of contract creation, practice sale, purchase, ownership, and management.

Growing up in the industry and officially joining Simmons in 2010, Carly has been exposed to a wide range of appraisal and transition nuances as well as ownership transition trends. Alongside Dr. Watson and Sheila Collins, Carly is on the forefront of each listing, working with sellers and prospective owners to help each achieve their next career goal, while simultaneously overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Simmons Southeast team. Clients compliment her patience, friendliness, sincere honesty, and innate ability to mediate a prudent solution for both parties. Upon first contact with Carly, you will see that she is business-oriented, attentive to detail, and genuinely interested in meeting your needs. In her free time, Carly enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, their children George and Grace, two dogs Bubba and Mikey, and extended family.

Having worked with Simmons Southeast for 21+ years, Sheila prides herself in multi-tasking in all facets of our services. She is very knowledgeable and experienced in the industry. One very important function is to dovetail with Dr. Watson in contract negotiations. However, her most challenging function comes into play at the point of contract, getting financing together and orchestrating all closing details amongst both parties, their professional advisers, and the lender all the way to the closing table. Unpredictable, unique, and apparently insurmountable challenges surface with almost every transaction. She is the ramrod, foreman, and problem solver and is great at it. For this reason, we just do not lose our contracts once made. Sheila also manages the day-to-day structure and operations of the Southeast office. If anyone needs assistance, Sheila is the helper.

Sheila is very business-oriented and knowledgeable yet buoyant, personable, and approachable. Married with two sons and a daughter-in-law, she enjoys family time. She spends her free time in her church, entertaining family and friends, and traveling in the family’s motor home (especially to Athens for football games and to their 2nd home in the Blue Ridge Mountains). Regardless of which service we are providing you, Sheila is in the mix; you will get to know her very well.