In this episode, host Thad Miller sits down with Bill Bussick, founder and President and CEO of DuraMark Technologies, a company he built into a national leader in high-performance, durable industrial labels for brands like Toro, Terex, Toyota Forklifts, JLG and General Motors.
After graduating from the Miller College of Business at Ball State, Bill launched DuraMark from the ground up, driven by an instinct for opportunity and a commitment to solving real problems in the manufacturing world. In 2021, he sold the company to Cardinal Equity Partners and continued as CEO with a focus on strategic growth. In 2023, he led DuraMark through its first acquisition under new ownership.
Bill also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Center, where he helps guide the next generation of innovators and business builders.
💡 In this episode:
• What first sparked Bill's idea for DuraMark and how he spotted an underserved market
• Lessons from the early, scrappy years of building a manufacturing company from zero
• How Bill's marketing background shaped DuraMark's brand and go-to-market strategy
• The turning points that helped DuraMark become a trusted partner to major industrial manufacturers
• When and how Bill knew it was time to consider selling the business
• Why he chose to partner with Cardinal Equity Partners
• What owners often miss when preparing for a sale
• The leadership lessons Bill learned through the exit process
• How he developed teams, talent and culture through each stage of growth
• What consistency, clarity and communication really mean for a CEO
• The biggest shifts happening in manufacturing and industrial branding today
• Where Bill sees the next wave of opportunity for entrepreneurs in the industrial space
• What he is focused on now and how he continues to support future founders through Ball State's Entrepreneurship Center
If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or operator in manufacturing or industrial services, this conversation will give you a clear look at what it takes to build a market-leading company, scale smartly, earn client trust, and navigate a successful transition.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more episodes of MATCHplay.
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