Poised for Exit

How to become Poised for Exit in 2022: Advice from a CPA We welcomed back Kyla Hansen today as our featured guest to talk about planning for 2022!  So much to consider in that loaded topic, but we focused on budgets, projections and what to do with excess cash from PPP funds.  Kyla recommended investing in your business in several ways: * Technology : how can you become more efficient and producti...

Our show guest featured Sam Eicher , partner with CRE Partners . A firm specializing in commercial real estate representation for buyers and tenants. Sometimes business owners aren't sure if they should lease, buy or move on when it comes to location and expansion decisions. Sam shared some great advice and stories of what he's seeing in the market today, as well as what his crystal ball...

Our #PoisedforExit episode today featured the host of Poised for Exit, Julie Keyes !  Interviewed by Bob Sansevere, Julie highlighted her picks for 2021's best interviews. Among the most notable: Wahi Water's Peter and Sam Blankenship, Manufacturer's Alliance President, Kirby Sneen, HR Consultant Amy Crews and many more.  What's she up to in 2022? Well, Julie's online cour...

What do we Need in 2022? Leaders & Problem Solvers! I had the privilege of interviewing Kirby Sneen in this #PoisedforExit episode, who is the president of Manufacturer's Alliance in the Twin Cities. Kirby leads a large membership of manufacturing firms with various specialties who seek to develop and grow their companies and their next generation of leadership .  To that end, Manufacture...

Our show today featured Sandy Hansen Wolff , founder and owner of several companies, including a consulting and speaking firm.  Sandy shared the story of how she and her husband, Randy battled his Leukemia just after they got married. Randy owned a feed business that Sandy knew nothing about, but after his passing, she had to learn it, turn it around and all while grieving the loss of her husband....

What if Your Top Sales Person Became Disabled from COVID? This episode featured Dave Toeben , Founder and Owner of Insight Insurance Services .  Dave's firm specializes in coverage for business owners , their partners and key personnel. If there's one thing that's caused his phone to ring lately, it's the onslaught of COVID cases creating disability situations for his clients....

Business Owners and Divorce: A Valuation Conversation. Our guest today on #PoisedforExit featured Corey O'Connell , CPA and Business Valuation specialist at Boulay Group . Corey helps owners of businesses determine Fair Market Value of their companies in dispute and divorce situations . Corey's background in Finance and Accounting suited him well for doing this kind of work, and he becam...

This #PoisedforExit episode featured part two of our series with guest interviewers from Sunbelt Business Advisors ! Today's interviewer was Mike Slater , a long time M & A adviser and former business owner, who specializes in the hospitality industry. Mike interviewed his client, Jim Armstrong , who sold  his numerous Subway restaurants over the course of 3 years, with Mike's expert...

Poised for Exit produced a special edition show and  invited Randy Krivo of Sunbelt Business Advisors to be a guest interviewer and feature a client of his who successfully sold her business during COVID!   Amy Frischmann and her brother Dan, took over the Wild Mountain Ski Resort from their parents in 1995, who bought the business in 1972. Amy and Dan sold the business to an owner operator in Mar...

How Do You Make Uncomfortable Situations Comfortable This episode of #PoisedforExit we featured Mike Gregory, who specializes in conflict resolution , using a method he calls  " The Collaboration Effect ".  Mike is also a national speaker, instructor, consultant and professional Mediator, who has worked with families, communities and shareholders in resolving disputes of various types . ...

Today's #PoisedforExit episode features  Andy Tellijohn , Editor and Publisher of UpSize MN Magazine . UpSize is a magazine for entrepreneurs , with content that focuses on growth and improvement strategies, how-to tips, professional advisory and other matters relevant to business owners.  UpSize was founded 20 years ago by Wes Bergstrom and two other partners. Unfortunately, Wes died suddenl...

In this episode we interviewed Russ Fleming , a partner at Baker Tilly , who runs their Real Estate and Construction division in Minneapolis. Russ and I talked today about Private Equity as a viable option, and specifically what he and his clients are experiencing with that type of exit strategy. Some of the Private Equity trends he's noticed are really trends that concern all business owners...

Today on #PoisedforExit we talked with Tim Reed , a business consultant and podcaster, specializing in services for owners in the fireplace sales and manufacturing industry. A very niche market, for sure.  Tim's podcast show " The Firetime Podcast " provides listeners with valuable content specifically for people in the fireplace industry! Tim is also very focused on the marketing a...

Our guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Kit Welchlin . Be prepared with a notebook when you listen to the show!  We've all had to deal with very tough situations over the past year and a half. It could be that some of your relationships which ordinarily would have been counted as your closest, are now strained due to emotions running higher than normal, with opinions and world views that...

In this episode of #PoisedforExit , we interviewed Bret Erickson, President of Passkey Technology , a managed IT services firm. Bret has been on the show before, and we brought him back because we know by the number of downloads from the previous episode, he was a popular guest speaking on a hot topic. Bret talked about how things have changed in technology since his last interview with us! Ransom...

Contingency Planning: In Case of Emergency -Break-Glass- Do This! Business owners and individuals alike have been well acquainted with the need for a Back-up plan in these times! Our guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Cindy Reid-Shelton , partner, co-founder and adviser with the Ready For Next brand of companies. Cindy has been advising business owners and other advisers for 30 years. She&ap...

In today's #PoisedforExit episode, I interviewed a true Long Term Care expert , Ruth Fay , of Versatile Insurance Services . Ruth has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years; 20 of them in Long Term Care. "It's come a long way" she said. "With the types of products and options available now, you can really customize a product that suits your needs vs the cookie cu...

Today's #PoisedforExit episode featured Marcia O'Connor , CEO and Founder of the award winning firm, The O'Connor Group based in Philadelphia. Marcia humbly told her success story of how she has built her company over the last fourteen years on referrals and treating people well, or "spoiling them" as she puts it.  The O'Connor Group, a 60 person firm of recruiters an...

It was a blast spending time with today's #PoisedforExit guests, Sam and Peter Blankenship , owners and founders of Wahiwater . When we first met in 2018, I was one of the speakers for an event they attended and afterwards we chatted. We worked together for a while as they assembled their start up team, took a break as they raised capital, and now as guests on my show, I got to catch up and h...

On this #PoisedforExit episode we had the pleasure again of hosting Aleesha Webb, President of Village Bank . We talked a great deal about the times being ripe for acquisition ! Whether you are looking to sell or buy a business, it's a great time to do it and Village Bank has the expertise and loan programs to help make it happen.  Financing a business through the SBA can be one very smart wa...

For this #PoisedforExit episode we are taking it back to nearly a year ago and reprising episode 13 - All in the Family (Business) Our #PoisedforExit show today focused on family business success tips with Jon Keimig , Director of the Family Business Center at the University of St. Thomas. Jon's been a family business advocate for many years and his programs are known and respected across the...

For this #PoisedforExit episode we are taking it back to over a year ago and re-featuring episode 6 - Marketing: Metrics that Drive Revenue If you're like most business owners, you're wondering how to gain a better return on your Marketing spend. For owners who are preparing their company for a future sale, it's even more vital to have a clean, consistent brand message and marketing...

My guest today is Todd Krough, a Senior Wealth Adviser with Tealwood Asset Management . Tealwood is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) group who specializes in working with business owners.  Todd is a CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Adviser) like me and helped me launch the Twin Cities EPI Chapter in 2016. We talked today about the importance of business owners having a 3 pronged plan: Personal P...

This episode of #PoisedforExit featured J. Forrest , a Principal of Employee Strategies , a firm providing Organizational Leadership services to low-middle market companies.  We've talked about Culture development before on the show, but never from the standpoint of a future merger or acquisition. That we learned, is a different animal! To provide a bit of background, J. has always had a love...

Our guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Emma Gergen , Principal with Carlson Private Capital .  Emma's role is to find investments among privately held businesses whose owners are looking to scale back, recapitalize or grow beyond what the current team is capable of, and then become the owner's trusted liaison and adviser within the firm's professional team. Emma and her team u...