Create The Next From ProCFO Partners

A lot of has happened in the world of transactions in the last 24 months, notably because there's a lot of money flowing in business right now. Is your company ready to sell or acquire? In today's episode Dan Bartley talks about some crucial aspects to explore when considering buying and what a business should straighten out before preparing to sell. Dan shares the critical and relativel...

In this client story we talk with Baker Kearney, owner of GES-AGM , providers of of carbon and graphite products. Baker shares candidly about what his involvement with a company his grandfather started more than 50 years ago, how the company has innovated and grown, and some of the unique challenges GES-AGM manages and how he as a leader fits in. It's a fascinating conversation for any owner,...

The ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning platform, helps power the logistics, data, and even productivity in your business. Do you have one? Do you need one? Some smaller businesses have devised their own "ERP" without even realizing it through systems like Google Docs or Quicktime, while others are fully engaged with robust platforms like SAP or Oracle. In today's episode Tom McNif...

40% of the US Population is within an eight hour drive of Philadelphia. As one of America's oldest cities, Philadelphia has rich, storied tradition and a business culture that follows, with high premiums on relationships and authenticity. Juxtaposed to this is an invigorating, innovative business set where small businesses and incubators are driving tomorrow's advantages. 20 year Philade...

Despir Logistics Network has worked hard - and smart - to thrive with a blue ocean strategy , being largely uncontested in their market with a unique service offering of carrying ultra high value freight. In today's episode we meet DeSpir CEO and Managing Partner John Carr, who has incredible insights on the value of bootstrapping a business, what drives him as a leader and serial entrepreneu...

Maybe the only thing worse than cash flow issues are being surprised by cash flow issues. In today's episode Jeffrey Wollman shares his Advanced Warning System - specific actions, benchmarks and processes for you to put in place right now that'll help you avoid the pain of cash flow problems. This powerful expert insight is required knowledge for every business leader - plus, learn how y...

The Alford Group in Chicago helps non-profit and non-for-profit organizations advance their goals, advance their missions and deepen their impact in communities. CEO Brenda Asare describes the consultancy as "architects", helping small and large organizations figure out how to advance their dreams and agendas. In today's episode, explore the unique dynamics Asare and her team are fa...

Craig Buckstein is the CEO of Geneva Worldwide , a language service provider delivering interpretation, translation, transcription, and over 200 different languages for their clients and partners worldwide. In today's Client Story,  Craig shares how he went from internship to leadership in his family business, what challenges and opportunities have emerged, and how technology (and the pandemi...

The construction companies that are the most profitable right now are succeeding because they have made it a point to push financial understanding down to the field level. In this episode Tom Sherman shares his four best practices for construction companies, leaders and executives - and first among his tips is training the team to be financially in tune with how the the company operates. You don&a...

This week Gerry Quinn shares his insights on how small and mid-market manufacturing companies can develop better strategies for intentional growth, including - what do you do when everybody's doing their job but the job's still not getting done? Gerry's advice: Start with the right people, develop the best processes, and empower the necessary technology to support them. This means c...

When Justin Tomney , President and CEO of Ultra Bright Lightz , founded the company he was doing it all, including assembling products, handling inventory and managing distribution. Today the retailer of lighting supplies for emergency vehicles boasts over a dozen employees and is a global operation. In the 15 years since he's started, Tomney has learned to apply his determination and ingenui...

Change in business is inevitable. If we're fortunate we get to assume some control in change. Other times we can feel like we're just at the mercy of change. In today's episode Tom Kenter from ProCFO Partners lays out thoughtful, calculated strategies for managing change and transition - starting with how the two concepts are different. In addition to conceptual ideas about change,...

Michelle Frame is the Founder and CEO of Victus Ars , who "helps companies make better snacks." It might sound like the sweetest job in the world, but the challenges Frame and her team of candy scientists face involve sophisticated lab equipment and processes, considerable research & development to benefit their clients, and perfecting a client-first approach. One way they manage all...

The value of your business network is not, in fact, the sum of your LinkedIn followers. With so many ways to connect today, it can be easy to confuse those often anonymous connections with meaningful business relationships. Join us as Marty Latman from ProCFO Partners shares the keys to building relationships, including the AIR framework and how the most valuable relationships start with giving. L...

Every business, no matter how big or small, needs expert financial perspective. Whether it's someone you call a CFO who's giving you that perspective or just a financially minded advisor or partner, this skillset helps align the goals of the company with the financial operations  and structure necessary for financial management and growth. Yet: most organizations simply do not need a ful...

For business leaders, creating a meaningful budget and plan requires collaboration. Different perspectives from different stakeholders have to be considered to align on expectations, get buy-in and create ownership and accountability. In today's episode Brian Fern takes an honest look at what leaders can do better to develop plans that work. Learn some best practices for budgeting and plannin...

Scenario planning for Not For Profits involves looking at financial likelihoods or possibilities and planning around them. "If this happens, and this, then that becomes possible." Contingency planning, on the other hand, involves being prepared for the unexpected or unlikely. Today Raji Kalra shares her expert advice on how Not For Profits should strategically position each approach and...

Chicago is a special city, steeped in history and tradition but on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. In today's episode of Create The Next ProCFO Partners' Managing Partner and Co-Founder Haleh Fardi talks about why she's chosen Chicago for its quality of living and its good business. Haleh talks about the diverse and unique challenges facing Chicago business leaders to...

Whether you're considering the acquisition of a company for strategic advantage, are considering selling your company or looking to combine entities - all that glitters isn't always gold. Beyond the financial preparation and diligence are key questions you must explore, especially for mid-marketing companies - why does the opportunity make sense? Who will be most impacted? What new issue...

The unique challenges companies have faced with the pandemic have been met with unique opportunities for assistance. Join Tom Sherman fro ProCFO Partners as we explore the latest round of assistance available, including how the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) has a simpler approach than past iterations, making it easier for companies to take advantage. Tom takes concepts that can sometimes seem ov...

Professional athletes talk about how games change as players move from amateur to college to professional levels. It's not just skills development that's needed, but an ability to manage advanced competition, faster or more aggressive situations, new challenges and changing dynamics. It's a good analogy for business leaders except for one important aspect: Growth in business can cre...

SAAS (Software As A Service) and startups, especially in technology, have a lot of tea leaves to read. In order to attract investors and funding you need to have a strong handle not just on the quality of your product but on the quality of your market. Leading and lagging indicators show you the viability of your product, and forecasting shows you what the path ahead really looks like. Kathleen Re...

Banks choose not to lend for a number of reasons, from uncertainty about your business or industry to discomfort about your solvency. Fortunately there are a number of ways to get funding for your business outside of conventional business relationships. In today's episode Jeff Franklin discusses why banks sometimes say no (and what you might be able to do about it), different types of outside...

Manufacturing involves a complex network of materials, labor, sales, distribution and more. Managing your financials for profitability requires a keen understanding of costs, inventory, overhead and more. In today's episode Tony Spina delivers a powerful masterclass in managing financials in manufacturing, including the dangers of overstating inventory, the importance of margins, and why you...

Profitability in your business doesn't just happen. It's not inevitable, and it shouldn't be a happy accident. In this episode Byron Kanaley talks us through some of the key performance indicators and essential reporting required to plan for and achieve profitability. Among the essentials: understanding the revenue side of profitability, the hidden costs you might be miscalculating...