Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman

In the realm of exit plans, things don't always go as planned. Sometimes they happen smoothly the first time, other times they face delays. But that's the thing: there's no one right way. Each exit is its own journey, with its own ups and downs. Join Mark Doman as he sits down with Craig Sturgill, COO, and Co-founder of Excel™, a company at the forefront of the InsureTech space. Craig, a U.S. Army...

Many believe that SBA loans are only for startups or fraught with bureaucratic red tape. However, this week's guest, Tara Murphy debunks these myths, demonstrating the power of SBA lending in aiding successful business exits and transitions. Join Mark Doman and Tara Murphy, SBA Business Development Officer and Vice President of Huntington National Bank as they delve into SBA lending. They unveil h...

Are you ready to secure your legacy and ensure your business thrives beyond your exit? In this enlightening episode, Mark Dorman is joined by Jim Erben, president of Erben Associates and a sought-after exit and succession planning specialist. Together, they delve into the crucial, yet often daunting, process of planning for business exit and succession. Tune in for invaluable strategies and action...

Many entrepreneurs start their exit journey with a partial sale to de-risk from a substantial portion of their wealth being tied up in the business. Doing so sets them up for an eventual full exit. In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Jim Doyle, who founded and sold Jim Doyle and Associates (now JDA.Media). Jim shares his experience of navigating ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans) and even...

Are you ready to transform the way you run your business? Today on the Finish Big Podcast,  Mark Doman introduces Joni Fedders, President of Aileron, and explores the unique nonprofit organization based in Dayton, Ohio. Together they explore how Aileron helps business owners and their teams embrace professional management to elevate their lives and organizations. Follow along to hear Joni's passio...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to scale a family business into a multi-location, multi-million dollar empire? In the latest installment of the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Dorman talks with Ron Nagy, a successful second-generation business owner, about his journey of transforming a single-location body shop into a multi-location thriving enterprise, the challenges faced along the way, and the st...

Are you a business owner standing at the crossroads of change, wondering what to do next?  You're not alone. In this episode, Mark Dorman and founding member of the Legacy Advisors Network, Joe Scheid tackle the often-overlooked but critical issue that business owners face: the complex challenge of financial planning during pivotal transitions. Together they unravel the emotional and technical lay...

With a rapidly evolving marketplace and the persistent talent shortages in the accounting industry, the need for expert guidance in succession planning has never been more critical In this insightful episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Rich Craig, Managing Partner at 415 Group. Together, they discuss the intricacies of growing an accounting firm and the broader challenges that the industry faces. Ric...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run and operate a successful business? How about doing it over multiple generations spanning nearly a century? In the latest installment of the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Dorman sits down with Chuck Ellis, recently retired president and CEO of the renowned Pearl Valley Cheese Company in Ohio. Listen as they delve into the rich history, challenges, and expansio...

Do you need help with developing sales functions in your business?  Well, don't go anywhere because you've come to the right place! This week, guest Melanie French, a fractional VP of Sales, joins Mark Dorman to discuss the importance of developing and improving sales functions in mid-size companies. Melanie shares her journey from a Sales Contributor to a VP of Sales, highlighting the challenges...

If you're a business owner wrestling with the idea of passing the torch or expanding your family's business footprint, take heart—you're in good company. In the latest edition of the Finish Big Podcast Mark Dorman talks with Mike Catan, the former CEO who propelled Pat Catan's and Darice Incorporated from a humble family craft store to an impressive empire with 35 retail outlets and a comprehensiv...

Do you understand the true value of your company? In today's enlightening conversation, Mark Dorman talks with Chief Valuation Officer at BizEquity, Scott Gabehart to shed light on the complexities of business valuation. With Scott's extensive experience and insight, this episode demystifies the valuation process and illustrates how BizEquity's innovative platform is making accurate valuations acc...

What do you need to make the most of your succession plan? What strategies and information could exit planners provide? Join Mark Dorman and his guest Steve Hopkins, Owner of Charter BTA, in exploring the critical nature of devising contingency plans for business owners. Together they touch on the advantages of having a CEPA credential and the contributions of the Exit Planning Institute.  Mark an...

Are you working in a family business? Do your values align with the company values and trajectory?  Mark Dorman speaks with Mike Swiatkowski, VP of Corporate Development at Gordon River Partners, about his journey through his family business. From starting at the company, to promoting growth after his father passed, to leaving the family business behind, Mike shares his emotional journey through t...

Private equity firms have evolved since they first started growing in the eighties. What role do they currently play in M&A procedures and business planning? Listen in as Mark Dorman and his guest Paul Carleton, founder and managing partner of Carleton McKenna, share stories from Paul's initial steps in the field. Explore how investment banking has evolved and become more specialized, and reflect...

Are you ready to exit your business? Maybe you are financially, but what about emotionally? Join Mark Dorman and his guest Jerome Myers, host of the Dreamcatchers Podcast, in discussing how he transitioned from engineering to real estate and coaching. Jerome dives into the challenges that founders often face after exiting their businesses, stressing the need for emotional preparation during this p...

Ever wondered how a family business navigates leadership transitions?  In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Tanya DiSalvo, CEO of Criterion Tool, on the history of Criterion Tool, a family business focused on precision manufacturing started by her grandfather, and her own unexpected journey into the manufacturing industry. She shares how the business transitioned from her father to her, why it...

Are you planning your business exit for yourself or your potential buyers? That small shift in perspective could increase your chances of a successful exit. In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Dr. Craig West, founder and executive chairman of Succession Plus, on his nine-step exit plan and how he helps business owners achieve their optimal exit strategy. Dr. West shares how Capitaliz revoluti...

One of the key strategies to exit planning is selling a business. But how can business owners ensure they get the best return while their business has the best value? In this episode, Mark Dorman is joined by Diane Thomas, President and designated broker at Premier Sales, Inc., in discussing the importance of strategic planning and value maximization for businesses. Diane shares success stories of...

Preparing to exit your business starts with understanding where your business's value currently sits and how that value will impact your exit. How could market shifts impact that valuation? In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Robert Brant Hammer, a finance professor at West Virginia University, on the current economic environment, focusing on interest rates, inflation, and growth. Brant explo...

When you want to exit your business, you want to know you're doing it right. Learning from someone who not only exited their own business successfully but also developed a strategy easily replicated for other business owners is a great step to exiting successfully. In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Scott Snider, President of the Exit Planning Institute, on his entrepreneurial journey, start...

When looking to exit a business, selling it can be a great option for some entrepreneurs. But how can you ensure your business is sellable? Is there an emotional aspect to selling your business? In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Scott Duke, founder of OpnRoad, on his experience in building many businesses and selling them, discussing the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along...

When you think about exiting a business, you are planning for more than passing on a title and money. You need to consider the physical assets and your own personal goals as well. In this episode, Mark Dorman is joined by David Shealy, managing principal of HW&Co., Mansfield OH, in discussing the challenges and importance of succession planning in the agribusiness industry, as well as the unique f...

Business owners are experts at running businesses. They aren't experts at selling them and they most definitely aren't experts at sourcing people who would want to buy the business. In this episode, Mark Dorman interviews Craig Kohrs, one of the founding partners of Velocity Capital Partners. Craig shares his experience of selling his previous business, and how he and his business partner Ryan Mif...

It can be nerve-racking to leave a company you built, sell it off and start something new, but the experiences you gained from past careers can help you along your entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Edmond Walters, Founder and CEO of VillanovaTech, LLC, about his journey as an entrepreneur. From building eMoney Advisors to the sale of that company and building anothe...