What if the right room could change the arc of your business? We sit down at the Ritz Carlton during the 10-year milestone of Board of Advisors and open the playbook on how a small Tampa gathering of twelve pros grew into a national engine for collaboration, capital, and clarity. Jimmy shares the path from member to CEO alongside a seasoned C-suite, and why replacing a heroic-solo model with defined lanes is unlocking the next level of member value.
This conversation doesn’t romanticize “networking.” It’s concrete outcomes: a hostile takeover reversed with a member attorney’s help, long-term capital and counsel through a founding member, and a cadence of curated introductions that actually move deals forward. We get real about what makes membership work—show up, state your aims, and contribute—and how founder Mike Calhoun’s superpower as a connector turns intent into motion with relentless follow-through. The plan ahead blends controlled growth with higher selectivity, plus a surge of regional one-day events to widen access while protecting culture.
Hugo brings an operator’s lens from mergers and acquisitions advisory: why culture fit is a value driver, how equity rollover can multiply outcomes, and why exit planning should start three to four years before a transaction. Weekly calls and member-led sessions sparked authority marketing initiatives, new content with fellow member Marja Simon, and an expansion into formal exit planning. The throughline is simple and repeatable: when you gather ambitious owners who help each other win, the compounding effects are real.
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