Tag: Retirement Planning
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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Exploring Opportunities Through SBA Lending With Tara Murphy (Ep. 42)

Exploring Opportunities Through SBA Lending With Tara Murphy (Ep. 42)

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Many believe that SBA loans are only for startups or fraught with bureaucratic red tape.

However, this week’s guest, Tara Murphy debunks these myths, demonstrating the power of SBA lending in aiding successful business exits and transitions.

Join Mark Doman and Tara Murphy, SBA Business Development Officer and Vice President of Huntington National Bank as they delve into SBA lending. They unveil how they work, changes that have happened to the process, and how they can be a powerful tool in your exit planning strategy. Whether you’re contemplating selling your business or simply curious about the options available for a future transition, this episode is packed with insights and practical guidance to help you lead your business down the right path even after you leave.

Mark and Tara discuss: 

  • What SBA lending is and how it works
  • How business owners can leverage SBA loans for exit planning
  • The impact of careful succession planning on the value and saleability of a business
  • Common myths about SBA lending and how to utilize it effectively 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Tara Murphy:

About Our Guest: 

Tara Murphy is the SBA Business Development Officer and VP at Huntington National Bank with over 20 years in the finance industry. She possesses a strong focus on M&A financing and small business succession planning. Additionally, Tara brings years of experience in business expansion, commercial real estate, and debt consolidation to her role. She boasts a proven track record of success and harbors a deep passion for small businesses.

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Packing the Parachute: Navigating Exit and Succession Planning with Jim Erben (Ep. 41)

Packing the Parachute: Navigating Exit and Succession Planning with Jim Erben (Ep. 41)

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Are you ready to secure your legacy and ensure your business thrives beyond your exit?

In this enlightening episode, Mark Dorman is joined by Jim Erben, president of Erben Associates and a sought-after exit and succession planning specialist. Together, they delve into the crucial, yet often daunting, process of planning for business exit and succession. Tune in for invaluable strategies and actionable insights on how to prepare for a smooth transition.

Jim discusses: 

  • Why business valuation is a crucial starting point in planning your exit
  • The importance of aligning your business exit strategy with your personal wealth and estate planning
  • Keys to a successful executive retention plan
  • Contingency planning in case something unexpected happens to the business owner
  • What makes Erben Associates different from other firms
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Jim Erben:

About Our Guest: 

Jim Erben is a highly sought-after exit and succession specialist, keynote speaker, and President at Erben Associates. Under his leadership, Erben Associates earned a spot multiple years running on the INC. 5000 list for one of the fastest-growing companies in the country and is a highly sought-after exit and succession planning firm. As an international speaker, Jim shares his 30+ years of experience with thousands of business leaders annually. He is well-known for his straightforward approach to succession or exit planning, business continuity, and executive retention.

A distinguished advisor to clients and organizations, Jim is one of 500 senior American business leaders representing the private sector in Business Executives for National Security, an invitation-only think tank to help our national security become more efficient and effective. Jim’s proprietary process helps business owners navigate the complexities of succession and exit planning to help create an everlasting legacy.

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De-Risking Your Business: Jim Doyle on Partial Sales and Full Exits (Ep. 40)

De-Risking Your Business: Jim Doyle on Partial Sales and Full Exits (Ep. 40)

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Many entrepreneurs start their exit journey with a partial sale to de-risk from a substantial portion of their wealth being tied up in the business. Doing so sets them up for an eventual full exit.

In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Jim Doyle, who founded and sold Jim Doyle and Associates (now JDA.Media). Jim shares his experience of navigating ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans) and eventually selling his business to a strategic buyer.

Jim discusses: 

  • The process of making his business “sellable”
  • How the ESOP helped his employees develop an ownership mindset, enhancing the company culture
  • Leveraging consultants, mastermind groups, and new executive leadership in the firm
  • The emotional side of exiting a business (and how he dealt with it)
  • Why you should always be thinking about “What’s next?”
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Jim Doyle:

About Our Guest: 

Jim Doyle loves sales, and he loves salespeople. He’s been selling and leading salespeople for almost fifty years. In 1991, he founded Jim Doyle and Associates, which is now the leading training and revenue development company in the Television and digital advertising business. During his 30 years with JDA, Jim presented workshops on sales and marketing to audiences all over the United States. Jim stepped away from the day-to-day leadership of what is now called JDA.media in 2020. But he’s quick to say he is a long way from being retired. He is still frequently speaking to salespeople and leaders about the principles in his new book, Selling with a Servant Heart.

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Professional Management and Business Legacy with Joni Fedders (Ep. 39)

Professional Management and Business Legacy with Joni Fedders (Ep. 39)

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Are you ready to transform the way you run your business?

Today on the Finish Big Podcast,  Mark Doman introduces Joni Fedders, President of Aileron, and explores the unique nonprofit organization based in Dayton, Ohio. Together they explore how Aileron helps business owners and their teams embrace professional management to elevate their lives and organizations. Follow along to hear Joni’s passion for professional management, and how it empowers businesses and their owners to articulate a vision, align their organization towards it, and successfully navigate ownership transitions.

Joni discusses: 

  • The importance of having an exit plan and how it affects the future success of your business
  • Aileron’s DOC System of professional management and its impact on business success
  • The challenges of creating a thriving business and navigating transitions
  • How Aileron supports business owners in different ways to achieve long-term success
  • Aileron’s mission and involvement in the community
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Joni Fedders:

About Our Guest: 

Joni Fedders is the President of Aileron, a nonprofit organization that helps business owners and their teams embrace professional management to elevate their people and organization. Joni directs strategic vision, culture, and operations, inspiring both the team and the community to elevate private businesses.

Recipient of the “Forty Under Forty” award, Joni holds a business bachelor’s from Miami University and an MBA from Xavier University. With her husband Jim, she values family time, her dogs, and enjoys skiing, tubing, running, fishing, sports, and vacations with their three children.

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From Growing Pains to Profit With Ron Nagy (Ep. 38)

From Growing Pains to Profit With Ron Nagy (Ep. 38)

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to scale a family business into a multi-location, multi-million dollar empire?

In the latest installment of the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Dorman talks with Ron Nagy, a successful second-generation business owner, about his journey of transforming a single-location body shop into a multi-location thriving enterprise, the challenges faced along the way, and the strategic decisions that led to their successful growth and eventual sale.

Ron discusses: 

  • How Nagy’s Auto Collision came to be and how it evolved over time
  • The challenges faced during the business’s expansion phase 
  • Market shifts and exit planning
  • Post-exit ventures
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Ron Nagy:

About Our Guest: 

Ron Nagy is a second-generation business owner. Ron served as the President of Nagy’s Collision Center before selling the business to Caliber Collision in 2019. Ron grew up in Doylestown, Ohio. He graduated from Chippewa High School in the Automotive Management Institute and has since won numerous chamber awards and industry awards. He has sat on many nonprofit boards and an industry advisory board. Ron is an active member in his church and in his spare time, helps his wife at their horse farm.

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Navigating the Emotional and Practical Aspects of Business Transitions With Joe Scheid (Ep. 37)

Navigating the Emotional and Practical Aspects of Business Transitions With Joe Scheid (Ep. 37)

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Are you a business owner standing at the crossroads of change, wondering what to do next? 

You’re not alone.

In this episode, Mark Dorman and founding member of the Legacy Advisors Network, Joe Scheid tackle the often-overlooked but critical issue that business owners face: the complex challenge of financial planning during pivotal transitions. Together they unravel the emotional and technical layers of financial decisions, drawing on Joe’s involvement with the Legacy Advisors Network and the Exit Planning Institute. By exploring the capabilities of the Capitalize software and discussing the emotional journey of business owners, you will gain valuable insights and actionable strategies for preparing for business transitions.

Joe Scheid discusses: 

  • His journey to the private and family business owner marketplace
  • The Exit Planning Institute (EPI)
  • Challenges of financial planning during business transitions
  • How the Capitaliz software aids financial planning
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Joe Scheid:

About our Guest: 

Joe Scheid, AIF®, CEPA®, CFBS®, CLTC® has transformed the lives of clients for nearly 28 years. With a unique and down-to-earth approach to financial planning, he empowers individuals and families to make sound decisions. Joe excels in guiding small and mid-sized business owners towards measurable and attainable financial objectives. Recognized for his capabilities as a financial advisor and small business resource, he prioritizes principles of character, integrity, excellence, and service.

Joe Scheid is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC (www.sipc.org) 17550 N. Perimeter Dr. Suite 450, Scottsdale AZ 85255. (480) 538-2900. CRN201911-221364

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Executing A Successful Exit Plan With Rich Craig (Ep. 36)

Executing A Successful Exit Plan With Rich Craig (Ep. 36)

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With a rapidly evolving marketplace and the persistent talent shortages in the accounting industry, the need for expert guidance in succession planning has never been more critical

In this insightful episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Rich Craig, Managing Partner at 415 Group. Together, they discuss the intricacies of growing an accounting firm and the broader challenges that the industry faces. Rich imparts his wisdom on the vital topic of succession planning for business owners, underlining the significance of strategic foresight and the support of trusted professionals. By exploring the 415 Group’s approach to fostering advisory boards and their dedication to consistent client collaboration, you will learn how to navigate the complex exit process confidently and strategically.

Rich discusses: 

  • The history, growth, and expansion of the 415 Group
  • Challenges and solutions to the talent shortage in the accounting industry
  • Succession planning
  • Collaboration with other firms
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

Connect with Rich Craig:

About our Guest: 

As managing partner at 415 Group, Rich Craig manages a portfolio of client accounts, while also being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm. For over 30 years, he’s brought a wealth of accounting and consulting expertise to the firm with a focus on business valuation, forensic accounting, merger and acquisition assistance, as well as corporate tax and structured growth planning.

Having served as an expert witness in hundreds of court cases, Rich has a deep understanding of business valuation, forensic accounting, and economic damages as they relate to the law. Beyond litigation, Rich shares his expertise as a nationally requested speaker at many legal CLE and accounting CPE educational events.

Rich brings a unique background to 415 Group’s clients, allowing them to go beyond tax planning and compliance to entrepreneurial growth and success. He has previously used his skillset to work in the National Tax Department in Washington D.C. at Ernst & Young and on the Accountant Advisory Council for Intuit, Inc., based in Mountain View, California.

As a leader in the firm, he has a keen eye for matching clients with the right team to best serve their needs. He values collaboration, knowing that a team with a diverse skill set is a stronger advocate for clients than just one individual. That culture is embraced by both clients and staff and has helped the firm grow from 15 to over 100 associates during his time at the firm.

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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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Maximizing Sales Strategies With Melanie French (Ep. 34)

Maximizing Sales Strategies With Melanie French (Ep. 34)

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Do you need help with developing sales functions in your business? 

Well, don’t go anywhere because you’ve come to the right place!

This week, guest Melanie French, a fractional VP of Sales, joins Mark Dorman to discuss the importance of developing and improving sales functions in mid-size companies. Melanie shares her journey from a Sales Contributor to a VP of Sales, highlighting the challenges and growth strategies she implemented. The conversation delves into key topics such as the significance of sales strategy, process, CRM utilization, sales team management, and the impact of structured sales management on business value. 

Melanie French discusses: 

  • Her journey to becoming a fractional VP of Sales
  • The importance of studying metrics for both results and activities
  • Utilizing CRMs and structured sales processes
  • Emphasizing the need for a structured hiring process and a hiring manager who knows what to look for in prospective salespeople
  • Tracking KPIs and cultivating a culture of accountability
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mark Dorman: 

 

Connect with Melanie French:

About our Guest: 

Melanie French founded French Sales Solutions in 2020, following a decade-long journey within a company that underwent remarkable growth, from $50M to $230M. She ascended within the company, securing multiple promotions until reaching the position of Vice President of Sales. In this role, she managed over 75 sales and service professionals across 5 teams, showcasing her expertise in business development, scaling sales processes, people management (including hiring, firing, and accountability), and refining operational sales and business practices.

Drawing from her extensive experience in Sandler sales training, both as an individual contributor and in leadership positions, Melanie now leverages her skills to enhance sales performance through consulting and fractional VP of Sales engagements.

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