Succession Stories

Host Laurie Barkman talks with John Warrillow, best selling author of Built to Sell, Built to Sell Radio, and Founder of The Value Builder System, a company that provides business owners with a proven process for improving value and preparing for an exit. Prior to starting Value Builder, John started and exited four companies. John shares relatable stories - including his own - about personal read...

How can a services business drive recurring revenue? Andy Cabasso co-founded JurisPage, a marketing services company with a niche audience- specializing in technology and practice management software for law firms . After three years they were bought by a strategic acquirer for 7-figures. Andy's story will be interesting to anyone wondering how to package their services as products and develop a r...

In the US, there are 32 million family owned businesses. Popular media often depicts family businesses in a less than favorable light…think Arrested Development, Dallas, Succession, and of course, House of Gucci. As the Executive Director of the Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University, Daniel Van Der Vliet is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the network of owners, leaders,...

Every business owner will leave their company one day. Laurie Barkman talks with Mark Kravietz, award-winning Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Managing Partner of Aline Wealth. Listen in as they discuss why not having an exit plan presents risk to your business, finances, and your future. Mark advises how to assemble a team of advisors to support a successful exit. It's an insightful conversati...

Finding time wealth means having the ability to choose how you spend your time. On this episode, Laurie Barkman talks with Craig Clickner and Carrie Bohlig. They're the married co-founders of Tandem Consulting and other companies. Their businesses, which initially started as side hustles, allowed them to step away from their corporate careers, and developed 8 income streams bringing in over $3 mil...

Given today's talent wars, have you considered virtual assistants? Danielle Cuomo is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Assist USA - the largest VA company in the United States. Danielle shares how she took an entrepreneurial leap from bootstrapping the company to growing to $4.5 million in revenues today. This insight-packed episode provides fresh ideas for scaling small businesses. Listen in to lear...

Looking to enhance and grow your business in 2022? This week on Succession Stories, Stephanie Scheller joins Laurie Barkman to discuss success in the face of disruption. Stephanie is the founder of Grow Disrupt, a marketing agency in Texas that grew by nearly 50% in 2020. How? By optimizing recruitment, offering packages that address customer needs, and improving the agency's positioning. In addit...

We kick off 2022 with a spotlight on business transitions. Why maximizing your business today can help you prepare for an exit on your terms tomorrow. This episode features an insightful presentation from Laurie Barkman in a webinar with Chris Brodman, President of Metz Lewis Brodman Must O'Keefe, a Pittsburgh PA, law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions and business transactions.  If you...

100% of business owners will leave their business someday. Whether a business thrives after an owner leaves depends on your succession plan to ensure a smooth transition. How do you create a succession plan? What are the dos and don'ts? How can a well planned succession improve your business value? Listen in as Beth Miller returns to Succession Stories to discuss her book Replaceable: An Obsession...

In the M&A deal ecosystem different types of buyers have different motivations. Family offices are known to have a long time horizon and offer flexibility during acquisition.  Alex Panosian is a co-founder of CW Growth Partners, a family office focused on acquiring and growing small businesses in the Midwest. Laurie Barkman and Alex discuss his family business legacy, core values, and how that sha...

If a high percentage of your company's revenue is undertaken personally by you or your fellow equity holders, you're a Rainmaker. You've got a strong ability to influence customers, but you may be lowering your company's value. Amy Franko is a strategic sales expert and author of The Modern Seller . Listen in as Laurie Barkman and Amy talk about the challenge of The Rainmaker's Dilemma, traps to a...

Explore how ESOP management buyouts can be a great succession plan as a way to transfer your family-owned business to your children and employees. Laurie Barkman and Darren Gleeman, an ESOP expert and Partner at MBO Ventures, discuss why you might consider an ESOP over selling to a private equity firm . In addition to substantial tax incentives, your children can get warrants to buy back a large c...

How can employers retain people in the face of The Great Resignation job market phenomenon? Alisa Spector Angelo is the Owner and President of Compass Business Solutions, an HR consulting firm that takes a people first approach in driving organizational performance. Listen in as Laurie Barkman and Alisa talk about why it's more important than ever to put your company values into practice to drive...

All entrepreneurs will leave their company someday. What's your path to increasing your company's value? Steve Peplin, CEO of Talan Products, a $50 million manufacturing company, has achieved impressive growth. Listen in as Laurie Barkman and Steve discuss his secrets to success using enterprise value as a scorecard to improve the business. And how he thinks about the entrepreneurial journey, succ...

Have you thought about who potential buyers of your company might be in the future? This week on Succession Stories, Laurie Barkman is joined by David Wible, CEO of Work. Software and former CEO of Industry Weapon, a company he sold in 2020. David shares his experience of selling his business, what made the sale successful, and why he started conversations five years prior to the actual sale. The...

It's never too early to have conversations on exiting your business. Whether you're looking to retire or pass the mantle to the next generation, it's important to understand the merger and acquisition process sooner than later. Listen in as Laurie Barkman and Miche Jean, CEO of Grotte Business Partners, discuss how to make your business ready for transition while readying yourself for your next ch...

How can business owners focus on enterprise value rather than short-term profits? Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Kevin Trout about preparing your business for sale. Kevin built Grandview Medical Resources with the intent to sell one day. Revenue growth was strong, but created too much risk in the business. Kevin shares some key decisions that he made to drive enterprise value and his refle...

Tricia Staible raised her hand to join the family business, Robinson Fans, and eventually became its sixth generation President. Tricia joined Laurie Barkman to discuss the importance of diversification for long-term growth, and how a culture of curiosity promotes innovation in a manufacturing environment.  While the company has grown and expanded with an acquisition, there was a time when its pro...

How acquisitions fuel growth at a multi-generational company. Ben Grossman is the Co-President of the Grossman Marketing Group, a fourth generation business he co-leads with his brother. With sustainability as a key priority, they employ acquisition strategies as a platform for expansion. Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Ben about their approach to M&A, including how they source deals, build...

Did you know that 80% of mergers and acquisitions fail? An often overlooked yet critical aspect of M&A deals and transitions is the people factor. Jennifer Fondrevay, Founder of Day1 Ready, advises senior executives on how to plan for expected challenges . Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Jennifer about the emotional aspect of business transition, and how those emotions come into play for a...

Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with John Brown about taking an owner-centric approach to exit planning to achieve your financial goals and be rewarded with the lifestyle you desire. Only 20% of business owners have a formalized plan to transition ownership, but 100% will exit their company one day. John Brown, best selling exit planning author, started BEI in 1996 for the purpose of helping own...

Reignite growth in your company by doing this one thing: Be curious. Rethink your assumptions about why people buy from you-- and why they don't. On this episode, Laurie Barkman talks with Dr. James Richardson, a professionally trained cultural anthropologist turned business strategist, about the importance of customer research. Understanding customer needs is a critical part of strategic planning...

In Africa, private businesses have just a 2% succession rate to the second generation, compared to 40% in the US. Helping owners achieve business success and lead their family organizations to long-term impact and legacy is a core focus for Nike Anani. With over a decade of family business expertise in Africa, Nike is creating a multinational network to help reverse this trend. Listen in as Laurie...

How does exit planning differ from succession planning for business owners? Laurie Barkman and Mike Silverman, Shareholder of Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, discuss the strategic benefits of business transition planning to maximize enterprise value and exit options. Listen in to learn more about the differences between exit and succession planning and importance for your business. Be sure to learn more...

Business succession isn't easy, especially when it's unexpected. Listen in as three 3rd generation siblings share their personal and professional challenges of dealing with the death of their father, Kurt Lesker III, CEO of Kurt J. Lesker Company.  With support from their family and executive team, KJLC successfully transitioned to the next generation of leaders including Kurt Lesker IV, Kristin L...