Succession Stories

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with David Spray, Founder and President of Export Advisors, which serves the owners of privately-held, U.S. exporting companies. Over the past 20 years, the firm has created more than $400 million in wealth for hundreds of entrepreneurs and their families from the IC-DISC tax savings program.  They discuss value building and how David buil...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Mike Malatesta, CEO of LJP Waste Solutions. Over the past 30 years, Mike's experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. He built and sold two waste recycling companies that grossed more than $500M. He's also an author, podcaster, and advisor to business owners. Mike talks about the unexpected death of one of his business partne...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, sits down with JV Crum III, founder of the Conscious Millionaire Institute and Conscious World Foundation Inc.–a global non-profit that trains youth to become conscious leaders. What happens when you're asked to join the family business but then discover there are BIG financial challenges? JV shares his experience how he help...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, is joined by Meghan Lynch, the driving force behind Six-Point Creative, a marketing services firm dedicated to empowering family-owned and closely-held businesses. Meghan's mission is to help family businesses compete against industry giants. Listen in as they explore: The challenges that family businesses face in balancing s...

Welcome back to the Succession Stories podcast. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe, and if you enjoy the show, please leave us a review! Go to RateThisPodcast.com/successionstories .  Host Laurie Barkman welcomes Max Lewis, entrepreneur and author of "Who Is Max Lewis?" Max shares what led to the eventual sale of his company for $37 million.  From selling mangos as a child to amassing mi...

Ralph Ward is the editor of the Corporate Board Magazine and an expert in corporate governance. He's the author of six books on corporate governance and board issues. I asked him to join me on the show to talk about best practices for private company boards. It's about governance and strategic guidance. Boards aren't just for large public companies. Even newer, privately held firms can benefit fro...

Welcome back to the Succession Stories podcast. If you're not already, please give me a follow on LinkedIn and Instagram @lauriebarkman. Be sure to subscribe, and if you enjoy the show, please leave us a review! Go to RateThisPodcast.com/successionstories .  Today we welcome Alex Neist, a serial entrepreneur and former professional athlete. Alex is the founder of Hostage Tape, a health enhancement...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa™, welcomes Cesar Quintero, a serial entrepreneur in the foodservice industry. At age 24, Cesar moved to Miami given the economic turmoil in Venezuela to pursue his dream of starting a business and helping others achieve a healthier lifestyle by founding Fit2Go - the first corporate healthy meal delivery service in Miami.  Nearl...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, welcomes Jane Hanson, a nine-time Emmy award winning correspondent. She has an amazing resume as a network co-anchor in New York, and has covered events ranging from the tragedy of 9/11 to the joy of the Yankees victory parades. She has interviewed presidents, business leaders, prisoners, and celebrities. She's currently a mu...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, welcomes David Newman, author of the business bestseller "Do It! Marketing" and his new book, "Do It! Selling." He's the founder of the Do It! MBA mentoring program and the host of The Selling Show, a top-rated business podcast.  Laurie and David discuss his take on how business owners can avoid a common succession pitfall re...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, welcomes Matt DiFrancesco, Principal of HighLift Financial, and host of the "Your Business, Your Life" podcast.  Laurie and Matt discuss navigating complex family dynamics for business succession planning. How to have difficult conversations with family members, especially children, about their roles in the business and poten...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, welcomes Ross Brannon, Tax Shelter and Private Equity Consultant at CoastalOne. Ross joined Laurie for a conversation about tax strategies business owners should consider when selling a business. Listen in to learn more about tax deferral and tax mitigation strategies including opportunity zones, installment sales, and divers...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(™), welcomes Elliot H. Kallen, President of Prosperity Financial Group, a financial planning and advising firm. Elliot is a three time CEO with a passion for working with family businesses to achieve a meaningful life beyond financial measure. Listen in as they discuss the emotional aspect of family businesses and the hypotheti...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(™), welcomes Rocco Cozza, Founder and Managing Partner of Cozza Law Group, for a conversation spotlighting a topic owners may be starting to think about, but not yet talk about – business legacy and succession planning.  Learn key framing questions to help you think about business legacy and implications for planning your succe...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(™), welcomes John Denny, Principal of Denny Civic Solutions and the first client Laurie brought onto the show. In this episode, Laurie and John tackle a topic close to Laurie's heart – succession planning and ownership transition. Listen in as they explore the keys to successful exits without regrets, the nuances of envisioning...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(™), welcomes Chuck Goldblum, Founder and Financial Strategist of Hurley Capital. Today's episode is critical if you're planning to sell your business. Laurie and Chuck discuss a topic many owners want to know more about – maximizing net proceeds after a sale.  Listen in as they explore tax strategies when you're planning to sel...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa™, welcomes Shawn O'Malley, Chief Editor and Financial Writer for "We Study Markets" at The Investor's Podcast Network.  "We Study Markets" financial newsletter has quickly gained traction with 36,000 daily readers at the time of this recording. The essence of this episode is about organic growth and intrapreneurship – building...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa™, welcomes Ken Rusk, founder of Rusk Industries.  Ken's journey is a blueprint for blue-collar entrepreneurship. He's on a mission to redefine the narrative around blue-collar jobs in his book, "Blue Collar Cash."  Laurie and Ken explore the topics of ownership succession, sale to an ESOP, and the legacy hopes to leave on the c...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(™), welcomes Heather Pearce Campbell, The Legal Website Warrior. Heather equips entrepreneurs with tools to champion positive change and safeguard businesses.  Her passion for working with entrepreneurs extends to her popular podcast "Guts, Grit, and Great Business.". Laurie and Heather discuss protecting the transferability of...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa(TM), welcomes Tim Scannell, Managing Director, Partner at Hightower Great Lakes. Tim is the Managing Director at Hightower Great Lakes and host of "The Wealth Stream Podcast."  As an expert in proactive wealth management and tax planning, Tim guides families and business owners toward their financial aspirations. Laurie and Tim...

Succession Stories host, Laurie Barkman, is joined by Pat Ennis, Founder of Ennis Legacy Partners. With decades of experience in financial services, Pat has extensive understanding of the challenges business owners face. Because 100% of owners will eventually exit, it's important to understand the 6Ds– risks that can derail a business like death, divorce, and disasters. Understandably these risks...

A majority of small businesses that intend to exit don't actually sell. A big reason is owner-dependency. A business that can't thrive without its owner will likely be less desirable to buyers. Listen in as Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Christine Nicholson, an award-winning business mentor in the UK. An expert on exit and succession planning in...

Pete Walsh is a Master Coach and a trusted advisor who brings real-life lessons to his family business and executive clients. Pete is the first guest on Succession Stories who turned down next generation succession. In 1919, Pete's great uncle and grandfather started Walsh Bros. as a typewriter repair company in the times of the US wild west. As the 3rd generation, Pete joined the business and slo...

Christopher A. Panagiotu is a respected financial author, podcaster, and trusted wealth manager. His financial planning business in Washington state, CAPitalize Your Finances, led him to create a podcast and book of the same name, "CAPitalize Your Finances: The How-To Financial Framework That Takes You from Compoundingly Clueless to Monetarily Magnificent."  Chris joins Succession Stories host Lau...

Rick Vanasse advises CEOs and rising leaders as Chair with Vistage, a global membership organization. He's like a CEO whisperer, creating space for leaders to address strategic questions from an organizational, personal, and business standpoint. Rick chairs Vistage groups in DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis, Maryland. Listen in as Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman talks with Rick about growth and...