Poised for Exit

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Umut Kaplan , co-founder of Coccinella , shares his entrepreneurial journey from Turkey to Minnesota and how unexpected experiences, family values, and a passion for sharing Mediterranean culture led to the creation of a unique and growing business. What began with an exchange student experience that brought Umut and his brother to the United States eventually...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Jon Tichich of Calhoun Companies and Garrett Gillen , Partner at 31 Partners, share an inside look at what business buyers look for when evaluating an acquisition and what owners can do to make their companies stand out. Drawing from their experience working together on the acquisition of Preferred Tool, Jon and Garrett discuss what made the company an attracti...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Renee Russo , business coach, exit planner, and Exit Planning Institute's Exit Planner of the Year, shares why even the best exit plans can fall short without the right execution. Renee knows firsthand what it feels like to be trapped in a business you worked so hard to build. After navigating her own challenging entrepreneurial journey, she discovered how...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Lisa McEllistrem , CEO of Modern Foundation and President of EO Minnesota , shares how strategic marketing can drive business growth, strengthen company value, and help owners prepare for a successful exit. Lisa's journey into business ownership followed nearly two decades in the advertising industry and a personal experience that reshaped her priorities. S...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jaryd Krause , founder of Buying Online Businesses , shares how buying an existing business can open up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, whether they’re looking for a new venture or a faster way to grow a business they already own. Jaryd’s own path into business ownership started with a simple realization: instead of building something from scratch, why not...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Todd Krough , President of the EPI Twin Cities Chapter discusses why some of the most valuable insights for business owners can come from other owners who have already faced the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that come with preparing for what’s next. Todd shares how the Twin Cities Chapter has evolved over the past decade and why collaboration among b...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Andy Knutson of John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP and Zach Freeman of Christensen Group Insurance explore what can happen after a business transaction closes and why business owners and their advisors need to be prepared for issues that may surface after the deal is done. The conversation covers the post-closing process, including working capital true-ups, closin...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Peter Pluimer of Old National Bank shares insights from the bank’s latest State of Business Report and what business owners across the Midwest are saying about today’s opportunities, challenges, and economic uncertainty. The conversation explores how business owners are moving forward despite uncertainty, from investing in their workforce and accessing capital...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Andy Schwandt of True North Mergers & Acquisitions offers a preview of the 2026 M&A Summit , an annual event bringing together business owners and advisors for a day focused on preparing, positioning, and planning for successful business transitions. The conversation explores what attendees can expect from this year’s Summit, including discussions aroun...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , father-and-son team Joe Strazzeri and Sal Strazzeri of Strazzeri Mancini explore succession from a perspective they know both professionally and personally. After years of helping successful business owners and families navigate complex transitions, Joe is now applying many of those same lessons as Sal builds his role within the family firm. The conversation ex...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Amy Wirtz and Andrew Wirtz of Family & Business Success unpack what makes family business succession so complicated and why the biggest challenges often have very little to do with the numbers. Family relationships, ownership, leadership, and expectations around the next generation can all shape whether a transition moves forward smoothly or gets stuck. Amy...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Bob Morse , VP Community Business Banker with MidCountry Bank , joins the show to discuss what lenders look for from business owners preparing for a sale and from buyers seeking financing for an acquisition. A business can be profitable and still create headaches when it comes time to finance a sale. Bob explains why owners should be talking with their banker l...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Kari Voorhees , founder and president of Voorhees Law Group , estate planning attorney, and fellow CEPA, explains why estate planning must be integrated into the broader exit planning process. Kari shares how her father’s brain cancer diagnosis led him to sell his successful trucking company in a panic, without a valuation or a qualified advisory team, and how...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Dr. Michael Filosi , dentist, exited business owner, and entrepreneur, shares how he transformed a worn-out dental practice with possums in the walls into the largest dental practice in Adelaide, Australia. Ten years after purchasing the struggling business, Michael sold it in just 81 days after receiving offers from four different private equity firms, with no...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Justin Goodbread , Founder and CEO of Relentless Value Coaching , shares how he built a financial advisory firm from the ground up, grew it to an eight-figure valuation in just 49 months, and ultimately exited the business. Drawing from his experience as an advisor, entrepreneur, coach, and business owner, Justin explains why intentional growth begins with think...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Kristin Nordling , Founder and CEO of Lakeside HR Group , joins the show to discuss why HR should be viewed as a strategic business function—not simply a source of compliance support. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in HR, recruiting, private equity, and acquisitions, Kristin shares how overlooking the people side of a business can create costly pro...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Matthew Kulp , Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at HUB Retirement and Wealth Management , shares why time is one of the greatest advantages an owner can have when preparing for succession. Drawing from both his advisory work and his own firm’s five-year transition process, Matthew explains how early planning gives owners more options, stronger buyer r...

In this solo episode of Poised for Exit , with the Fourth of July approaching, host Julie Keyes reflects on freedom, entrepreneurship, and the responsibility that comes with building something of value. As America nears its 250th birthday, Julie shares a personal message about what freedom means to her as a business owner, advisor, and entrepreneur. Julie looks back on her own entrepreneurial jour...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Ann Marie Liotta , CPA and U.S. Wealth Strategist with Gallagher, and Mike Winn , CEPA and Financial Advisor with Chartered Wealth Partners, join the show to discuss POLI, or Partnership-Owned Life Insurance, a planning strategy designed for high-earning business owners, partners, and leadership teams. The conversation explores why this strategy is sometimes de...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Jen Roth , Founder and CEO of Blue Sparq Marketing , joins the show to discuss how intentional marketing systems can drive sustainable growth and increase business value. Drawing from her experience building and leading marketing agencies, Jen shares how business owners can stop guessing at marketing and build a clear plan that supports growth. The conversation...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Brian Cox , Partner at Traction Capital , joins the show to discuss what private equity buyers are really looking for when evaluating founder-led businesses. Drawing from his experience as both an entrepreneur and investor, Brian shares practical insights into how business owners can better position themselves for a successful exit. The conversation explores th...

In this milestone 300th episode of Poised for Exit , we celebrate six years of conversations with business owners, advisors, and industry experts. Since launching in 2020, the podcast has grown from a local audience to listeners around the world! In this episode, we sit down with Janice Miller , Managing Partner of Miller Haga Law Group and author of Coopertition . Janice joins the show to discuss...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Anna Coskran , President of NTH, Inc. joins the show to discuss why commercial real estate can play a major role in business transitions and exit planning. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience in commercial real estate and construction management, Anna shares practical insight into how real estate decisions can either support or complicate a successfu...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , John Ammann and Tim Urban , CPAs with John A. Knutson & Co. , join the show to explain how R&D tax credits work and why many business owners may qualify without realizing it. They discuss the fundamentals of the federal R&D tax credit, including the types of activities that may qualify and why these credits are not limited to large corporations or t...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Mariano Jurich , Senior Product Leader at Making Sense , returns to the show to share insights on how private companies are navigating the rapid evolution of AI and enterprise technology. With deep experience across product strategy, software development, and business transformation, Mariano offers a practical perspective on what’s changing and what actually ma...