Tag: Entrepreneurial Journey
Pivoting as a Business Owner With Craig Sturgill (Ep. 43)

Pivoting as a Business Owner With Craig Sturgill (Ep. 43)

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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 veteran and successful entrepreneur, shares his journey from starting an insurance agency at 18 to co-founding Excel™. Follow along to learn about the challenges and strategic pivots he made, including an unsuccessful exit attempt, recalibration for growth, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people in order to execute a successful exit.

Mark and Craig discuss: 

  • Craig’s journey from door-knocking insurance sales to co-founding an InsureTech company
  • How his business model shifted toward digital customer acquisition
  • Insights into the InsureTech space and Excel’s innovative lead-generation strategies
  • Valuable lessons learned from an attempted business exit and how diversification and a strong leadership team can make all the difference 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Craig Sturgill:

About Our Guest: 

At the age of 18, Craig Sturgill founded his first business. He built his Medicare-focused insurance agency, however, he was unable to find lead-generating vendors that met his standards for quality and high performance so in 2013 he partnered with 2 like-minded individuals to found Excel™ which he now acts as COO. He has since started multiple other businesses such as TruRidge, LLC and ​​Stealth Ventures, LLC.

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The Remarkable Journey of The Pearl Valley Cheese Company With Chuck Ellis (Ep. 35)

The Remarkable Journey of The Pearl Valley Cheese Company With Chuck Ellis (Ep. 35)

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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 expansions of the cheese industry, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of family businesses and the cheese production process.

Guest discusses: 

  • The Swiss immigrant influence on the cheese industry in Ohio
  • The journey of Pearl Valley Cheese from the early nineteen hundreds to the present day
  • The impact of regulatory pressures and expansions on the business
  • Cheese pricing, milk markets, and margins in the industry
  • Family dynamics in business
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Chuck Ellis:

About our Guest: 

Chuck is the recently retired president and CEO of the Pearl Valley Cheese Company. A company that for nearly 100 years has been making an assortment of cheeses in Fresno, Ohio.

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More Than Just A Carpenter – Building A Great Family Business with Nate Sublett, President/Owner of Benchmark Craftsmen, Inc. (Ep. 18)

More Than Just A Carpenter – Building A Great Family Business with Nate Sublett, President/Owner of Benchmark Craftsmen, Inc. (Ep. 18)

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Ever wonder how an entrepreneur can lead a company to growth, dodge the curveballs of a pandemic, and still find time to venture into boat manufacturing?

In this episode, Mark Dorman interviews Nate Sublett, the innovative President and Owner of Benchmark Craftsmen, diving into the complexities of successful business transitions and creative reinvention. Drawing from Nate’s first-hand experiences, they explore the journey of business succession and creating a legacy for future generations.

Mark and Nate discuss:

  • The successful transition of ownership at Cyclonics from Nate’s father to Nate and his partner
  • The remarkable growth and sale of Cyclonics to a venture capital group and Nate’s subsequent founding of Benchmark Craftsmen 
  • The resilience and adaptability of Benchmark Craftsmen during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a successful pivot to virtual platforms for trade shows
  • The diversification of Benchmark Craftsmen into building boats in collaboration with Lyman Boats
  • Nate’s vision for Benchmark Craftsmen as a legacy business for his children
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Nate Sublett:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

About our Guest: 

Nate Sublett is the President and Owner of Benchmark Craftsmen. He is an accomplished entrepreneur with a remarkable knack for business transitions and reinventions. In 2002, Nate launched his own venture, Benchmark Craftsman. Starting with just four employees, the company rapidly grew to 65 by 2023. Beyond this, Nate led Benchmark to diversify into boat manufacturing, reviving the boat line of Lyman Boats and manufacturing high-end mahogany boats. His adaptability and resilience make Nate Sublett a standout figure in the world of entrepreneurship and business transitions.

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