Think Like an Owner

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, Alex Bridgeman sits down with homebuilder and content creator Matt Risinger to discuss how the builder-supplier relationship is evolving and how technology is reshaping the construction industry. Matt shares the story of founding Risinger Build and Build Show Network, detailing how content creation transformed his business and his approach to education withi...

In this episode, Alex Bridgeman sits down with Kyle Baer to reflect on his journey from Accruent to Datacor and now leading Crystal. Kyle shares the lessons he learned sourcing acquisitions, scaling a software business, and ultimately transitioning into his first CEO role. Their conversation highlights the importance of patience, building trust, and embracing the challenges of leadership, while al...

In this episode, Alex Bridgeman talks with Janelle Heuton about her decade-long journey helping transform a small GIS company into a scaled software business serving local governments nationwide. Janelle shares how she joined GIS Workshop by chance, quickly rose to COO, and partnered with CEO Joe Heieck to drive strategic change, including shifting from custom development to SaaS products, complet...

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, host Alex Bridgeman sits down with John Peterson for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a service business from the ground up. John traces his path from professional golf—where he saw firsthand the parallels between sports and entrepreneurship—to flipping houses during COVID and ultimately founding Westoplex Garage, a...

Alex ( @Aebridgeman ) is joined by Richard Emery ( @Richardemery2 ). In this episode, my guest is Richard Emery, who has held various notable positions in business aviation sales at brands like Canadair, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft. Richard shares his experiences in different sales cultures, managing high-performing teams, and participating in brand turnarounds. The discussion co...

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Delray Dobbins, Director of Sales at Engine Assurance Program (EAP), to dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential components of business aviation: jet engine maintenance programs. With a career spanning Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and now EAP, Delray brings a deep and practical perspective on the engine lifecycle—and what operators...

Watch the full episode with Dave Whorton here - https://youtu.be/KPcgK3lm-mw

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I sit down with Dave Whorton, founder of Tugboat Institute and author of Another Way , to explore a different path for entrepreneurs—one built on permanence, purpose, and long-term thinking. After an early career in venture capital and tech startups, Dave walked away from the high-growth, high-exit model to focus on what he calls "Evergreen companies." We t...

My guest today is Henry Schuck, founder and CEO at ZoomInfo, one of the most successful data businesses in recent times with a market cap today around $12B. I've been looking forward to this podcast for a long time because Henry has proven to be an effective founder, acquirer, and public CEO capital allocator, which is a rare combination of skills to find in a single CEO. He's thought very deeply...

From Episode 265 with Erika Armstrong. Watch the full video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Nc2vgTLhbYA

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Erika Armstrong, a pilot, author, and aviation expert whose career has taken her from corporate jets to major airlines to the university classroom. Erika shares stories from her early days in aviation, from sleeping on crash pads with seven other pilots to flying charter flights into some of the most challenging airports in the country. We di...

Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/GTxWeRXap9Q

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Kathryn Poehling Seymour, President and CEO of First Supply, a fifth-generation, family-owned distribution business with over 700 employees and 53 locations across the Midwest. We cover everything from leading a 128-year-old company through generational transition to building one of the largest distribution centers in company history. Kathryn...

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/UTNl0xeSgZY

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I sit down with Hill Hamrick , Co-CEO of Central Storage & Warehouse , to explore how he and his team run a complex, high-volume cold storage business that ships hundreds of millions of frozen food products across North America every year. We dive into how Hill and his co-CEO, Sam, transitioned from first-time owners into strategic leaders of a 24/6, labor-...

From Episode 262 of Think Like an Owner. Watch the full episode here.

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I sit down with Trey Bryson , an aviation industry veteran with deep experience across business aviation, commercial MRO, and aircraft completions . Trey shares how his career has spanned everything from customizing luxury VIP jets —including designing in-air hot tubs and modular gyms —to founding Jet Works , an independent MRO business. We dive into: The m...

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I sit down with Eric Legvold and Trey Darr of Davinci Jets to explore the business of private aviation management and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services . We dive into how Davinci Jets was built from the ground up , the evolution of private jet management, and why the company has remained profitable every year since its founding . Eric shares...

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I sit down with David Neeleman , one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in aviation history. With a track record that includes founding five airlines —Morris Air (sold to Southwest), WestJet, JetBlue, Azul, and now Breeze Airways—David has built transformative companies across three different countries and reshaped the industry at every step. Given my w...

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bmq6URHPLJ0

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, we're tackling one of the most critical elements of scaling a business—building a world-class talent engine. Joining me are Jake Dancyger and Cyrus Symoom, co-CEOs of Clariti, who have spent the last five years growing their company from 20 employees to over 120. We break down the entire talent lifecycle, from sourcing and hiring top performers to coaching,...

In this episode of Think Like an Owner , I'm diving into one of the most crucial aspects of scaling a business—building and optimizing high-performing sales teams. To bring you the best insights, I've pulled together wisdom from past conversations with some of the sharpest minds in the game, including Tim Strickland, Mahesh Rajasekharan, Michael Coscetta, Dennis Dresser, and Ben Tagoe. We're break...

From Episode 257. Watcht the full episode here: https://youtu.be/x1utcQzmxjI

Ep.257: Alex ( @aebridgeman ) is joined by Steuart Botchford ( @Botchford ) and Sam Hyde. In this episode, I sit down with Sam Hyde and Steuart Botchford to dive into their journey of acquiring and growing Northstar Fertility, a leading surrogacy and egg donation agency. Sam and Steuart share their insights from building and managing the business, including how they identified value levers early o...

From Ep.256 with Corgy Bengtzen. Get the full episode here.