Microcap Moments

In this episode, Marc Insul, president and chief operating officer of Commercial Asset Preservation (CAP), and Pat Bowe, head of corporate development and strategy at Maintera, share how a founder who had already sold one company chose a partner the second time around. Marc explains how driving past vacant buildings in Cleveland during the 2008 downturn led him to found CAP, and why he and his bus...

In this episode, I talk with Jamie Cusack, CEO of Keystone Access Partners, Shore Capital's entrance and access control platform built on Dillard Companies and The Ritchie Group, with operations across Memphis, Tupelo, the Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana. Jamie came to the CEO seat in an unusual way: he watched the Shore model work from the inside as a board member of another Sh...

In this episode, Josh Allen, founder of Companion Baking in St. Louis, Missouri, shares how he turned a love of baking discovered in the Bay Area into a frozen artisan bread manufacturer shipping custom products across all 48 contiguous states. Guided by his grandfather's advice to listen to his customers, Josh built the business one customer and one product at a time, pivoted from wholesale to fr...

In this episode, Keith Caldwell, CEO of H2O Care Partners, and Sarah Longstreet, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, share the story of building a national water treatment platform. It began in 2021 when Keith met Mark St. Hilaire, founder of H2O Care in Massachusetts, and saw an opportunity to combine doing good with the growth potential of a fragmented, family-run industry. Today the platform...

In this episode, Joe Rice, CEO of CXponent, shares how watching his father run a business sparked a lifelong pull toward entrepreneurship and building something of his own. He describes how CXponent cuts through the overwhelming noise of technology vendors and AI tools to help mid-market companies make better decisions, and why trust, not technology, remains the foundation of every client relation...

In this episode, Ryan Burke reflects on his journey from selling roofs in Colorado Springs to founding Bulldog Roofing at 23 and partnering with Shore Capital to help build Skycrest Roof. He shares how frustration with bad actors in the industry and a belief that customers and employees deserved better pushed him to take the leap and start the business out of his living room. Ryan discusses the ra...

In this episode, Ben Hayes, Nick Baxter, and Austin Bockwinkel share how Freestone Insurance Group is building a nationally recognized insurance platform rooted in relationships and entrepreneurial drive. Ben reflects on his journey from professional golf to founding a full-service brokerage, and how an unplanned conversation with Shore Capital opened his eyes to what Freestone could become. The t...

In this episode, Carsten Bick shares his path from building healthcare services businesses to leading PhaseWell Research. He reflects on what drew him to clinical research, the opportunity to expand patient and physician access in a fragmented industry, and why people remain central to creating a successful platform. Carsten discusses scaling clinical trials through thoughtful partnerships, why cu...

In this episode, Jordan Baltimore reflects on his unlikely path from volunteering to rake a baseball field to founding New York Empire Baseball and leading RISE. He shares how passion, curiosity, and a belief in what young athletes deserve shaped his vision for elevating youth sports. Jordan discusses why culture, coaching, and community sit at the heart of his model, how transforming coaching fro...

In this episode, Devenee Schumacher shares her journey from her grandmother’s kitchen to founding and building SDC Nutrition into a leading manufacturer in the health and wellness industry. She reflects on how her love of food, curiosity for science, and commitment to quality turned a homegrown idea into a company built on integrity and innovation. Devenee discusses how honesty and persistence gui...

In this episode, Ken Meyer shares his journey from growing up on a family farm to leading at Whole Foods and beyond. He reflects on how hard work, humility, and a people-first mindset shaped his 24-year career and guided him through major transitions from building teams to leading Whole Foods’ sale to Amazon. Ken discusses how trust, transparency, and empowerment drive lasting culture, why great l...

In this episode, Tara Conger reflects on her journey from athletics to executive leadership and how the lessons of great coaches shaped her approach to business. She shares how building trust, investing in people, and leading through change helped her guide Tandem HR through growth and a successful exit. Tara also discusses what makes private equity leadership unique, the importance of balancing i...

In this episode, Amy Madden, Chief People and Culture Officer, and Suzanne Norman, Vice President of Patient Services at PRO-spectus, share how the company is evolving from a patient first culture to a people first growth strategy. They reflect on PRO’s rapid expansion, founder led roots, and the importance of staying scrappy while scaling. Amy and Suzanne discuss how investing in leadership devel...

In this episode, Dr. Corey Waller traces his path from emergency and street medicine to leading systems change in behavioral health. He reflects on how saying yes to new challenges shaped his mission to build structures where the easy thing is the right thing. Corey shares insights on the evolving field of addiction treatment, the balance between ethics and business, and how real impact comes from...

In this episode, Kathy Wanner reflects on a career built on excellence, empathy, and entrepreneurship. From her start at Morgan Stanley to building Adams Street Partners into a global investment firm, she shares lessons on ownership, trust, and the power of putting capital in the hands of great founders. Kathy discusses what drew her to Shore Capital Partners, how investing in searchers aligns wit...

In this episode, Jimmy St. Louis, CEO of Agentis Longevity, reflects on the company’s first year of growth and the lessons learned along the way. He shares how building a mission-driven, values-led team has shaped Agentis, why partnerships and cultural alignment are critical to success, and what it takes to balance long-term vision with the urgency of execution. Jimmy also highlights the role of S...

In this episode, Bob Carlson, Operating Partner at Shore Capital, and Michael Burcham, Chief of Strategy, Research, and Talent Development, reflect on their experience serving on the board of Point C, a Shore portfolio company that completed a successful recapitalization. They share how the early investment thesis came together, how the founding partner was identified, and how the executive team,...

In this episode, Cameron Perkins shares how a family legacy of both entrepreneurial success and failure shaped his approach to leadership, risk, and resilience. He reflects on co-founding FastMed and leading Anutra Medical, a venture-backed startup, and what those experiences taught him about scaling with intention. Now a Partner at Shore Search Partners and Executive Partner at Shore Capital, Cam...

In this episode, Charlie Talbot shares how two decades in brand leadership and operations paved the way for his success as a multi-time CFO and now Executive Partner at Shore Capital. He reflects on scaling companies like Potbelly, Athletico, and Tend, building strong CEO partnerships, and learning to lead with both numbers and empathy. Charlie discusses the value of culture, the mindset shift fro...

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Cassidy shares his journey from mowing the lawn at his father's orthodontic practice to joining the team, eventually buying the business, and scaling it over the next two decades. He discusses the decision to partner with Southern Orthodontic Partners, the mindset shift that came with stepping back from daily operations, and the challenges of leading his team through cha...

In this episode, Jim Forrest shares his journey from bagging groceries at age six to becoming Chairman of multiple high-performing companies. He reflects on formative lessons from his father, early career missteps, and the customer-first mindset that shaped his leadership style. Jim discusses building great teams, the importance of process and strategic focus, and his role in mentoring rising lead...

In this episode, Michael Aubrey shares his unconventional path—from investment banking to his family’s parking business—before using a search fund to acquire StatLab Medical Products. He discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, including nearly running out of capital, and lessons from scaling businesses. Mike also reflects on leading Mission Veterinary Partners (MVP), transforming it from a s...

In this episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journeys and strategic partnerships that drive Dynamic Connections, with insights from CEO Steve Frenkiel and partners Jonas Beallor and Lynden Hennessy. Steve discusses his transition from a naive entrepreneur to the leader of a rapidly growing logistics company, and the pivotal decision to partner with Shore Capital. Jonas and Lynden provide pers...

In this episode, Michael Burcham joins Ryan Kelley and John Hennegan to explore the stories behind Point C’s remarkable growth. From Ryan’s discovery of a transformative opportunity to a pivotal hotel lobby phone call that unlocked new revenue, they recount the moments—including the story behind the company’s name—that defined Point C’s journey. Now entering its next chapter with the Advantage Fun...

In this episode, Jimmy St. Louis, CEO of Agentis Longevity, talks about how his passion for sports sparked his interest in health and wellness, ultimately motivating him to launch a platform for optimizing men’s health. Jimmy shares his perspective on longevity, where quality and length of life intersect, and explains how the discipline honed through his sports career has influenced every aspect o...