Shows
Acquiring MindsHow to Buy a Generational Brand with $20m in SalesRespected consumer brands are not common in lower middle market acquisitions, but Philip Hussey and Chenmark bought one.Topics in Philip’s interview:Chenmark’s acquisition of Thomas MoserLeading a furniture business as a non-craftsmanChenmark’s hold-forever intentionWait times for custom, hand-made furnitureLong tenure of craftsmenCommitment to world-class qualityGetting away from offering discountsBuilding talent through their woodworker schoolRunning a company with a strong legacy behind itDownside to owning your manufacturingReferences and how to contact Philip:LinkedInThos. MoserChenmarkGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business:Email Nick Akers at nick@inzote...
2025-12-181h 17
Career Coaching SecretsPurpose Meets Profit: Lessons from Entrepreneur Trish HigginsIn this episode of Career Coaching Secrets, our guest is Trish Higgins, Partner at Chenmark and a passionate advocate for building businesses that blend purpose with profit. Trish shares her journey as an entrepreneur and investor, leading a family of small businesses focused on long-term growth, people-centered leadership, and operational excellence. From navigating the challenges of scaling with intention to redefining what success looks like in modern entrepreneurship, Trish offers grounded, insightful advice for purpose-driven leaders.You can find her on:https://mtnlac.com/trish.higgins@mtnlac.com https://www.linkedin.c...
2025-10-2927 min
The Intentional OwnerThe Realities of Leading and Scaling Multiple Businesses - Palmer Higgins - Partner at ChenmarkPalmer Higgins joins co-hosts Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati to discuss building Chenmark, lessons from operating small businesses, and maintaining a long-term approach to leadership. Palmer shares his early career in finance and a startup, the path to acquiring multiple companies with family members, and the importance of agency in shaping his career decisions. He reflects on the challenges of hiring operators, stepping into a CEO role without prior management experience, and the operational intensity of turnaround situations. The discussion also covers Chenmark's philosophy on growth, capital allocation, and supporting CEOs for sustainable success. They discuss:
2025-08-141h 23
Acquiring MindsHow to Become an Independent SponsorRegister for the webinars: Where Searchers Go Wrong - Thu Nov 14 - https://bit.ly/3O0im2aLegal Office Hours: Understanding the Waterfall - Thu Nov 21 - https://bit.ly/3O3zqo2Sam Rosati & partners built the Sunbelt's largest commercial fencing contractor in 3 years. But the origins were modest.Topics in Sam’s interview:His background in accounting and lawBeing inspired by Chenmark and Brent BeshoreAcquiring Alpha Dumpsters with his brotherBirth of SMBashOrigin story of SMB LawHow an independent sponsor differs from a self-funded searcherInvesting in a commercial fencing bus...
2024-11-141h 43
The Travel Marketing PodcastMulti-Brand Marketing with Jamie StorrsEver wondered how to effectively market multiple travel brands? Jamie Storrs, VP of Marketing at Chenmark, shares his expertise on managing diverse marketing strategies across various travel companies. Learn from his innovative approach and boost your marketing game!
2024-07-0427 min
Growth Powered by FareHarborBuying and Selling a Business: What Every Tour Operator Needs to KnowAre you thinking of buying a business or selling one? Or maybe you are just curious what that process looks like? Then this episode of Growth is just for you. Since 2015, Trish Higgins and the Chenmark team have acquired 30 to 40 different businesses including many in our experiences sector. In this episode, Trish reveals some of the lessons learned that will help you buy or sell your experience business. Trish also) provides insight into the deal process as well as the important questions to ask yourself before making the decision to buy or sell. This session wa...
2024-01-0552 min
POWERS#312 - Alex Bridgeman - Host @ Think Like An Owner - Studying CEO's, Data Businesses, & Chief of Staff RolesAlex Bridgeman is the host of Think Like an Owner, a podcast focused on how the most ambitious CEOs grow great companies. He started the podcast in 2018 while still in college, and the show has led to exciting opportunities like becoming Chief of Staff at HW Media in March 2022 which evolved into a Director of Data Strategy role at Altos Research, a data company acquired by HW Media in December 2022. Alex has a deep passion for content and data and how each can propel a creator into amazing opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise had. ...
2023-10-051h 03POWERS#312 - Alex Bridgeman - Host @ Think Like An Owner - Studying CEO's, Data Businesses, & Chief of Staff RolesAlex Bridgeman is the host of Think Like an Owner, a podcast focused on how the most ambitious CEOs grow great companies. He started the podcast in 2018 while still in college, and the show has led to exciting opportunities like becoming Chief of Staff at HW Media in March 2022 which evolved into a Director of Data Strategy role at Altos Research, a data company acquired by HW Media in December 2022. Alex has a deep passion for content and data and how each can propel a creator into amazing opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise had. ...
2023-10-051h 03
Think Like an OwnerEdward Coady - Value in Repetition as CEO - Ep.188Ep.188 - Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Edward Coady (@EdwCoady). My guest on this episode is Edward Coady, CEO of Mainely Grass, a Chenmark-owned company he is taking over leadership for from former CEO and past podcast guest Palmer Higgins. Edward joined Chenmark through their GVP (Generalist Vice President) program, the same way past guests Sean Joy and Philip Hussey joined their Chenmark companies as CEO. The GVP program is Chenmark's CEO accelerator program to get folks first experience in a portfolio company and then as CEO of a new acquisition or current company. Edward...
2023-09-1257 min
How2Exit: Buy, Don't Build - M&A of Small BusinessesE140: Building A Diverse And Resilient Holding Company: Lessons From Trish Higgins"This episode was brought to you by Reconciled.com. Helping M&A Entrepreneurs just like you with Bookkeeping, CFO & Controller Services, Outsourced Enterprise Accounting and Tax Services. Reconciled.com"Also Sponsored by www.SmallBizAcquisitions.com/exit - Expert 1:1 mentorship program to help you buy your first U.S. Based Small Business. From training, then funding, and post acquisition support.About The Guest(s):Trish Higgins is a partner at Chenmark Holdings, a family-run business that specializes in acquiring and managing small to medium-sized businesses. With a background in finance, Trish...
2023-09-0858 min
Scaleup Valley Podcast301 30+ SMB Acquisitions with Free Cash Flow | Trish Higgins, Partner at ChenmarkIn this episode of the Scale Up valley Podcast, Mike Dias speaks with Trish Higgins, Partner at Chenmark
Building a holding company model
How to grow with a small business acquisition model
Working with businesses to preserve legacies and position companies for long term success.
The importance of having a pipeline of CEOs to lead the portfolio of companies
Buying, owning and operating exciting businesses
Back to basics: radical focus.
2023-06-201h 01Think Like an OwnerPhilip Hussey - Designing a Luxury Service Experience - Ep.175Ep.175: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Philip Hussey (@philipdhussey). My guest on this episode is Philip Hussey, CEO of Outerland, a landscape maintenance, new build, and snow removal business in Cape Cod, owned by Chenmark. Philip took the CEO role through Chenmark's GVP program in January 2022. A concept he spends a lot of time thinking about that we discuss in detail is their focus on their internal customer, i.e., the Outerland team. They believe by serving and delighting their internal customers, they will do the same towards their external customers. I...
2023-06-1353 minThink Like an OwnerChenmark Series 3: Recruiting CEOs and Future Planning - Ep.165This is the third and final episode in our three-part series on Chenmark, a highly successful small business holding company founded in 2015. Today they have acquired 11 operating companies, completed 30+ acquisitions when including add-ons, and have over 600 employees today. This third episode takes a deep dive into their CEO recruiting function and what has to happen to keep Chenmark on its growth trajectory. We discuss their GVP program where they recruit young hungry leaders to eventually be placed in CEO roles, their GA program for associate-level recruiting, and earning the right to take risks and what that means for...
2023-04-041h 11Think Like an OwnerChenmark Series 2: Ethos and Incentives - Ep.164 Please take 2 minutes to complete this audience poll and give feedback on the podcast This episode is the second in a three-part series we are running on Chenmark, a highly successful small business holding company founded in 2015. Today they have acquired 11 operating companies, completed 30+ acquisitions when including add-ons, and have over 600 employees today. This second episode focuses on their operating ethos, culture, and incentive structures. We discuss meeting cadence and formats across the company, the use of debt, CEO incentive models, broad incentives beyond CEOs, and lessons learned from building and maintaining good cultures. I hop...
2023-03-281h 03Think Like an OwnerChenmark Series 1: Founding Ideals - Ep.163 Please take 2 minutes to complete this audience poll and give feedback on the podcast This episode is the first in a three-part series we are running on Chenmark, one of the most well-known and studied holding companies in the entrepreneurship through acquisition world. And for good reason! Since its founding in 2015 they have acquired 11 operating companies, completed 30+ acquisitions when including add-ons, and has over 600 employees today. This series is not meant to be a one-stop-shop for everything Chenmark. The Higgins' have appeared on Invest Like the Best, there is a fantastic case study by A.J...
2023-03-211h 06
Acquiring MindsGrowing a Small 1st Acquisition into a Holdco PlatformAndrew Hitchings bought a $250k SDE cooling biz. It has grown 3x and will now fund a 2nd acquisition, with more to come. Topics in Andrew’s Interview:Andrew and his wife bought a home ventilation business in April 2020How 7 months on a motorcycle prepared them for running a business togetherHis history in the Army, business school, and McKinsey & CompanyHow his business partner Max improved employee trainingWhy he looks at the P&L every dayExpanding their seasonal business to a year-round businessHow they mitigated the risk of buying a business with a single employeeThree things a bus...
2023-03-061h 26
Awkward Watersport Guys PodcastCreating A Crisis Plan With Jamie Storrs - Episode #105In this episode, the Greg and Kevin chat with Jamie Storrs, the director of marketing for Chenmark, a company that invests in and advises small businesses. With years of experience in crisis management and marketing, Jamie shares his insights on how to develop a crisis plan that will help your watersport business navigate unexpected challenges.Jamie walks us through the steps of creating a crisis plan, from identifying potential risks to developing response procedures and communication strategies. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive in crisis planning and taking a comprehensive approach to risk management. By doing...
2023-02-2239 minThink Like an OwnerNick Buchanan - Company Data Dashboards at BUCS Analytics - Ep.154My guest on this episode is Nick Buchanan. Nick and his father founded a data software business called BUCS Analytics in 2006. BUCS builds deep analytical dashboards for CEOs that pull from internal data sources like ERPs, inventory systems, and more. Long-time customer Trevor Flannigan, COO of the Flint Group, introduced us after hearing about my deep curiosity of data companies. Nick and I talk about building the company with his father, building momentum in product development and sticking close to customers, hiring a talented team, and how to find groups and peers to help guide your entrepreneurial...
2023-01-1746 minThink Like an OwnerSean Joy - CEO Journey within Chenmark - Ep.152My guest on this episode is Sean Joy, CEO at Buccaneer Pirate and Southern Star Dolphin Cruise, a company owned by Chenmark in Destin, FL that provides seasonal boat tours. Sean was a part of Chenmark's GVP, the Generalist Vice President program that provides a career track to becoming a CEO at a Chenmark company. Individuals start by working on a couple of projects within the portfolio, then take a non-CEO operating role in a company, before moving to a CEO role. Sean's background was in control workouts and restructuring, which we talk about to kick off...
2023-01-0351 min
Tourpreneur Tour Business PodcastPreparing your Tour Company for SalePreparation is essential if you are going to maximize the chances of selling your tour company at the best possible price. Experienced buyer Trish Higgins explains what she looks for when buying experience companies.Trish Higgins in LinkedInChenmark
2022-11-0248 min
Views From the MarketEpisode 58: How One Firm's Unique Investment Strategy Creates Value and Growth for Small BusinessesMario Nigro’s guest in this episode is Trish Higgins, Co-Founder and Partner of Chenmark. Chenmark is a Maine investment firm with a goal of acquiring, growing and holding on to small-to-medium sized businesses. Mario and Trish discuss Chenmark’s long-term investment perspective as it looks for steady businesses with a durable demand for their goods or services and a history of profitability that generates cash flows. Despite current uncertainty in the market linked to inflation and the possibility of reduced demand, Trish still sees lots of opportunity out there from a deal perspective.
2022-10-2022 min
David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMBLive- Buy A Business And Put Someone Else In Charge With Palmer Higgins Of ChenmarkNew Livestream guest- Palmer Higgins from Chenmark
I’m happy to have Palmer join me on a live broadcast.
Palmer and his partners have built up a holding company with multiple small business operating units in two countries from their home base in Portland, ME.
Tune in and as we’ll be discussing how they buy businesses and put someone else in charge of running them.
This is one of the biggest topics I’m asked about all the time and we’ll get to hear some of the challenges and the reality of what it’s like to oversee someone el...
2022-09-2352 min
Awkward Watersport Guys PodcastAcquiring a Multi-Passenger Boat Tour Business with Sean Joy, CEO of Southern Star Cruises - Episode #80The AWG guys chat with Sean Joy, CEO of Southern Star Dolphin Cruises in Destin, FL, which was just recently acquired by Chenmark. Southern Star is one of Destin's longest running tour businesses in the Florida Panhandle. Sean walks us through his experience of running a large volume tour business, and his advice for what he wish he knew before jumping in![SPONSOR] - This show is sponsored by AAMP Agency. Check out their digital marketing services at https://aamp.agency[2022 WATERSPORT CONFERENCE] Make sure to join us for this year's watersport conference in Orlando...
2022-07-1337 min
Acquiring MindsWhy Chenmark Bought a Boat Tour BusinessSeasonal. Nonrecurring. Key person risk. Trish Higgins recounts how Chenmark got excited about an unlikely acquisition. Topics in Trish's interview:Building a holdco versus taking a job in private equityWhat Chenmark does, why it's specialChenmark's founders' goals: impact, interestingness, financialWhy isn't the holdco model taught in business schools?The story of Cap'n Fish CruisesUnit economics of a boat tour businessIs seasonality really so bad?Managing seasonalityAre boat tour businesses attractive generally?Finding differentiation in a crowded industryBait & tackle shop frameworkChenmark's second boat tour acquisitionHow Chenmark approaches learning an industry where they've acquired a businessReach T...
2022-07-121h 14
Buy and BuildHow to Utilise Free Cash Flow to Acquire 30+ Companies in 7 years – Trish Higgins [Chenmark Capital]This week, we speak with Trish Higgins, who, along with her husband and brother-in-law, left Wall Street and set up Chenmark Capital in Portland, Maine. Chenmark is focused on the acquisition and long-term ownership of small businesses. In this excellent episode, Trish explains how 3 Wall St. professionals found their way into SMB acquisitions, their current platform companies and portfolio construction, how they utilise free cash flow to fund future acquisitions, and their approach to developing in-house talent to run their portfolio companies. Enjoy!
2022-05-0950 min
Acquiring MindsLessons from a Founder Who Then Started AcquiringMike Loftus started his landscaping business from scratch, then began buying others to accelerate growth to $4m/yr. Themes from Mike’s interview:Growing a landscaping business organically from the ground upAcknowledging your weaknesses and handing them off as soon as you canThe advantages familiarity with technology bring despite a lack of experienceFinding acquisition opportunities through unconventional methodsThe importance of recurring revenue in landscapingThe potential exit opportunities for landscaping ownersConnect with Mike:Twitter: @signthefrontsLinkedIn: Michael LoftusConnect with Acquiring Minds:Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterLin...
2022-04-2557 min
Acquiring MindsHow & When to Make Changes at Your AcquisitionThis is the rebroadcast of a panel that Acquiring Minds recently moderated at the annual ETA Summit at MIT. MIT's panel description:"First do no harm, then pull on the growth levers." Should you wait to make changes? Or take every opportunity you see? How and when should you make changes to your team or to your organizations that will help you get the most out of your organization?Speakers:Trish Higgins - Partner, Chenmark Holdings; CEO, Cap’n Fish Holdings. Trish Higgins is...
2022-03-2453 min
Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operatingA travel agency where you can garnish wages to collect?! | A travel agency and a landscape management business for sale - Acquisitions Anonymous e72Want to receive this listing in your inbox? Signup for our weekly newsletter:https://landing-newsletter.acquanon.com/-----Michael Girdley (@Girdley), Bill D’Alessandro (@BillDA) and Mills Snell (@thegeneralmills) are joined by James and Palmer Higgins, Partners at Chenmark (Twitter: @chenholdco) to examine a travel agency/financer deal and a landscape management business.-----* Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.* Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!* Follow us on twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions an...
2022-02-2556 min
Acquiring Minds7 Years Later: Leaving Wall Street to Buy Small BusinessesThe 3 founders of Chenmark left promising corporate careers to pursue a multi-decade path of acquiring small businesses. Themes from the interview with James & Palmer Higgins:Why the Chenmark founders decided to do thisLessons learned from 30+ acquisitionsHow the founding thesis is performing 7 years inThe value of an "extreme delayed gratification muscle"Intellectual stimulation in corporate life vs. small businessBuying big vs. buying smallHow has competition in search evolved over the last 5 yearsChenmark’s diversification strategyOther recommend podcasts where Chenmark has appeared:Invest Like the Best: Trish and James Higgins of Chenmark Capital - Permanent Equ...
2022-01-311h 15
Top M&A EntrepreneursE: 41 Top M&A Entrepreneurs - Trish Higgins, 30+ Acquisitions Partner at Chenmark Capital Mgmt. Take the Business Buyer Readiness Assessment → 00:11 Our First Podcast Sponsor DueDilio00:53 Intro to Trish Higgins01:23 What Chenmark Capital Mgmt. does...and how05:38 Clarifying the Ebidta requirement07:09 Are Investors throwing money at Chenmark?09:48 Who / what idea or company are you modelling - 20 year horizon?12:59 How many companies have you acquired, who was first? 15:44 1st Acquisition - Seabreeze Properties - How did you find it, where, how was process, offer, broker deal, financing stack?26:01 Seller financing - how was that structured?27:14 How did you make...
2022-01-0958 min
Awkward Watersport Guys PodcastTransitioning Out Of Your Business With Trish Higgins, Founding Partner of Chenmark - Episode #61Kevin and Greg interview Trish Higgins, founding partner of Chenmark , who answers some great questions about what to consider when retiring/selling/transitioning out of a business. [SPONSOR] - This show is sponsored by AAMP Agency. Check out their digital marketing services at https://aamp.agencyShow Links:Website: https://www.watersportpodcast.comFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/awgpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1155418904790489Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awg_podcast/
2021-12-2346 min
Acquiring Minds5 Takeaways from Harvard's ETA ConferenceHarvard's acquisition entrepreneurship conference took place last week. Organizer Michael Ledecky shares 5 takeaways. Themes from Michael's interview:Buy a good business in a great industry4+1 Model for searching3 industries for acquisition entrepreneurs to considerMental health in searchWomen in searchThai Lee, acquisition entrepreneur who became a billionaireDiversifying paths of searchPredictions for search in 2022 & 2023Tons of names & resources cited in this episode. Here they all are:Michael Ledecky2021 ETA ConferenceEntrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club at HBSThe book that inspired Michael, HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own CompanyThe authors and H...
2021-12-1335 min
Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast#20 - Trish Higgins and How to Start a Micro-PE FundTrish is a partner at Chenmark Capital, a small permanent equity firm she founded with her husband and brother in law.Chenmark has acquired and runs 6 different businesses some of which have grown through acquisitions to the tune of buying about another 25 deals.At Wilson Companies, we’re just starting to ramp up our acquisition processes and Trish gave us the secrets and barriers we will likely encounter in the near future.If you’re interested in what it looks like when two permanent capital companies brainstorm some strategy, you are going to love...
2021-08-251h 00Think Like an OwnerPalmer Higgins - Removing Sales Roles at Mainely Grass - Ep. 61This is the second episode of an experiment I did on a new episode format that was shorter, 20-30 minutes, and focused entirely on ideas and challenges operating small companies. The first episode in this experiment was last week's episode with Jason Hill on adding food to the office and some of these interesting benefits there. On this operating focused episode, I talk with Palmer Higgins of Mainely Grass and Chenmark on why he's getting rid of sales roles and doesn't operate on a commission structure. We talk about the positive and negative unintended consequences of...
2021-04-2729 minThink Like an OwnerPalmer Higgins - Moving to the Operating Side - Ep. 43My guest on this episode is Palmer Higgins, a founding partner of Chenmark along with Trish and James Higgins. I've had Trish on the podcast twice before, episodes 1 and 23, and in those episodes we talked about Chenmark as a whole and what they look for in companies. In this episode with Palmer, we talk about his move to one of their operating companies, Mainely Grass, as CEO. We go over lessons learned as an operator, how he thinks about acquisitions differently now being in the seller's shoes, how they are making Mainely Grass more efficient, tu...
2020-12-2251 min
The Circle of Competence PodcastEpisode #14 - Trish Higgins, Partner at ChenmarkThis week's episode is a conversation I recorded with Trish Higgins who is the co-founder and a partner at Chenmark, a holding company that focuses on acquiring small businesses looking for a permanent home. We explored a great many topics about her experience in the SMB space, including:
- Trish's background on Wall Street and her transition to Main Street
- The 'why' behind starting Chenmark
- The first Chenmark purchase and thesis behind the investment
- The Chenmark playbook for businesses post-close
- How Chenmark structures transactions
2020-11-291h 10Think Like an OwnerTrish Higgins - Chenmark Five Years Later - Ep. 23Trish Higgins was the guest on my very first podcast episode and was kind enough to share her time with me when I had no downloads, no show, and no website. Funny enough, that first episode is still my most downloaded episode to date. A lot has happened since then and I'm very excited to have Trish on the show for a second episode. In this episode, we cover Trish's recent move to the operating side, how Chenmark has evolved including what's become easier and more difficult over time, and we dive briefly into landscaping. For those l...
2020-08-0440 min
Big Time Small BusinessOwen McCarthy of MedRhythmsOn this episode, I speak with Owen McCarthy, Co-founder and President of MedRhythms, a Maine-based digital therapeutics company that uses music to help drive clinical outcomes for people following neuro injury or disease. The idea for the company was born when Owen's co-founder, Brian, utilized auditory techniques as a clinician at Spaulding Rehab to help people recover from walking deficits twice as fast as traditional physical therapy. Now, MedRhythms is working towards FDA approval so they can reach patients across the globe. Owen talks about what it's like to lead a start-up where failing fast and failing cheap is not an opti...
2019-03-1548 minBig Time Small BusinessPaul Stringer of DHM LandscapingOn this episode, I talk to Paul Stringer, owner of DHM Landscaping, a commercial maintenance landscaping company in Phoenix Arizona. Paul purchased DHM almost three years ago with the idea of putting his tech and marketing experience to work in a company of his own. His focus on delighting the customer with technology and service far above what is considered normal in the industry has propelled DHM to grow upwards of 45% per year. Paul admits those rates are unsustainable indefinitely but remains committed to investing in his team and in technology to stay ahead of the competition.
2019-03-0150 minBig Time Small BusinessJames Morin of FlowfoldOn this episode, I speak with James Morin, co-owner and COO of Flowfold, an outdoor company that makes minimalist gear for everyday adventures. James admits to initially selling wallets for beer money for almost five years while he and his partners prototyped their designs and raised some seed money, before going full time three years ago. Since that time, they have been near doubling sales annually, thanks in part to collaborations with companies like LL Bean and entering international markets as far away as Japan. Now, with revenues in the low 7-figures, James and his co-owners have their sights set on...
2019-01-251h 05Big Time Small BusinessJeff Small of Strategic MediaOn this episode I speak with Jeff Small, founder of Strategic Media, a radio advertising company based in Maine that has a client list featuring the likes of Vistaprint, FanDuel, and eharmony. Jeff has built the company around a core competency in traditional radio and his company has doubled over the last five years thanks to that focus. Now, Jeff is looking out to 2025 with two goals in mind: to build expertise and business in the exponentially growing podcast sector and to donate $1 million dollars to local charities–the combination of which give Jeff and his team both purpose and driv
2019-01-1156 minBig Time Small BusinessPhil Coupe of ReVision EnergyOn this episode, I speak with Phil Coupe, Co-founder of ReVision Energy, a full-service renewable energy contracting company in Maine that was ranked the #1 in New England – and #14 nationally – for rooftop solar in 2016. Started in 2003 by two guys in a garage, Phil and his partners have grown ReVision to a 250-employee company spanning five locations in three states. In 2017, Revision sold itself to its employees via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) so we dive deep into this program, the founders’ reasons for pursuing it, and why they think it will set the company up for the next 100 years.We...
2018-12-1459 minBig Time Small BusinessPeter Handy of Bristol SeafoodOn this episode, I speak with Peter Handy, CEO of Bristol Seafood, a seafood processing and distribution company. Originally a research analyst on Wall Street, Peter bought Bristol four years ago and spent the first two learning the business under the previous owner before taking over as CEO in 2016. Since then, Peter has focused on adding talent to the organization and putting in processes that will allow the company to “go fast.” Peter is on a mission to make seafood America’s favorite protein and he shares what the past four years have been like as a 32 year-old CEO of a small s...
2018-11-301h 03Think Like an OwnerTrish Higgins, Chenmark Capital - Ep. 1For the first conversation of the podcast, I'm meeting with Trish Higgins who, along with her husband James Higgins and brother-in-law Palmer Higgins, run Chenmark Capital in Portland, Maine. Chenmark Capital acquires and operates small companies for the long term using their own capital, with no intention of selling - a perfect example of permanent equity. What makes Chenmark unique is they look for slow growing, steady, and boring businesses and seek to operate them as efficiently as possible. Trish is the perfect first guest for Think Like An Owner because she has experience being both the...
2018-11-2637 minBig Time Small BusinessJeff Buckwalter of Holy DonutOn this episode, I speak with Jeff Buckwalter, CEO of The Holy Donut, a Portland, Maine based retail and wholesale donut company whose hand-cut, hand-glazed potato donuts have developed a crazed following both locally and beyond. With demand far exceeding supply for his donuts and persistent inquiries for expansion and even franchising, Jeff talks about his efforts to build the infrastructure necessary to support a growing company, the value of trust and accountability in developing his workforce, and the importance of conflict in a healthy organization.
2018-11-0958 minBig Time Small BusinessColin Campbell of Stratosphere ConsultingOn this episode, I speak with Colin Campbell, founder and CEO of Stratosphere Consulting, a national consulting company with an expertise in case management which made it to #488 on the INC 5,000 list thanks to their 1,000% growth over the past three years. Operating as an entirely distributed company with no corporate office, Stratosphere has doubled their workforce for the past three years in a row.Colin shares what it is like managing what he calls “constant organizational change management” in such a fast-growing company, how he works on the businesses while still staying relevant to those working in the busin...
2018-10-2656 minBig Time Small BusinessBob Smith of Sebasco Harbor ResortOn this episode, I talk with Bob Smith, owner of Sebasco Harbor Resort, a 405-acre seasonal family vacation destination located on the coast of Southern Maine. The self-proclaimed Keeper of the Lighthouse – a title in homage to his promise to preserve the 90-year legacy that came before him – Bob has spent his 21 years as owner setting the resort up to last another 90 years.Bob shares what it was like to live through the Financial Crisis – a setback that he is only now, some 11 years later, completely through–and his three-legged vision for the property to attract a long-term employer...
2018-10-1256 minBig Time Small BusinessBob Garver of Wicked Joe & Bard CoffeeOn this episode, I talk with Bob Garver, co-founder of Wicked Joe, a wholesale roasting company and Bard Coffee, a retail coffee shop both located in Maine. After falling in love with the connections coffee can foster as an Army Captain stationed in Turkey, Bob has spent the past quarter-century sourcing, roasting, and brewing the best coffees he can find from around the world.From living on a boat with no kitchen or bathroom and plowing driveways on the side for supplemental income, Bob has remained focused on two things: relentlessly iterating on the perfect cup of coffee...
2018-09-2855 minBig Time Small BusinessMary Allen Lindemann of Coffee by DesignOn this episode I talk with Mary Allen Lindemann, co-founder and community builder of Coffee By Design ("CBD" if you are a local), a Maine-based community coffee house and wholesale roastery that will roast over 550,000 pounds of coffee this year. Approaching their 25th anniversary, CBD has been through three waves of coffeehouse competition and has learned how to start, grow, and sustain a successful organization along the way.Mary Allen is steadfast in her company's commitment to steady, sustainable, and responsible growth – to the point where she says "No" more than "Yes" and is comfortable no longer being th...
2018-09-141h 01Big Time Small BusinessLuke Livingston of Baxter BrewingOn this episode, I talk with Luke Livingston, founder of Baxter Brewing, a craft brewery that has grown to the third largest brewer by volume in Maine since its founding 8 years ago. Once the 16th brewery license in the state, Baxter was the first in New England to produce beer exclusively in a can or a keg — in part for the environmental benefits and in part to serve its mission of accessibility and portability. Luke talks about competition as an incumbent in an industry that locally is seeing supply outstrip demand and his company's focus on product consistency to...
2018-08-3155 minBig Time Small BusinessBarrett Takesian of Portland Community SquashOn this episode, I talk to Barrett Takesian, founder and executive director of Portland Community Squash, a nonprofit focused on community engagement and youth development in Portland, Maine. Over the past 6 years, Barrett has pioneered a hybrid business model that blends a for-profit division into a nonprofit structure and in 2017 was recognized as the United States Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year for his work in growing the sport of squash.Barrett and I talk about what it’s like developing human capital as a precursor to financial capital, the entrepreneurial struggles of starting an untested business mo...
2018-08-171h 06Big Time Small BusinessSeth Page of Misfit AthleticsOn this episode, I talk with Seth Page, co-founder of Misfit Athletics, a fitness company that does everything from operating CrossFit gyms to running an apparel brand, to remote coaching for high-level Crossfit Games athletes and everything in between. Since starting their business from a garage gym almost 10 years ago, MisFit Athletics has grown to a tribe (their term) of 40,000 'MisFits' who look to Seth and his team to help them get healthy, fit, and engage with a community of like-minded people. For those that follow the sport of CrossFit, you can see their athletes all over the competition floor...
2018-08-031h 02Big Time Small BusinessJohn Rooks of RapportOn this episode, I speak with John Rooks, co-founder and CEO of Rapport, a software-as-a-service company helping small and medium-sized businesses capture and quantify their environmental footprint while saving them money along the way. Since winning an investment from Steve Case during his Rise of the Rest tour, Rapport is on a mission to democratize sustainability. I talk with John about one of my favorite topics, authenticity, through the lens of a data-centric software company, how blockchain has made its way into the sustainability space (you read that right), and the outlook for sustainable business models in a post-consumerism world.
2018-07-1951 minBig Time Small BusinessJordan Milne of Hardshore Distilling CompanyOn this episode, I speak with Jordan Milne, Founder and CEO of Hardshore Distilling Company, a craft distillery based in Portland Maine that recently won the title of best craft gin in the US by USA Today. While only two years into production, Jordan and I talk about the four year lead up to starting Hardshore, the difference between being a gin maker versus an alcohol professional, and the importance of authenticity in creating a differentiated brand. I came away impressed with the focus and vision Jordan has for his company and appreciative of his candor discussing both the good...
2018-06-2759 min
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'ShaughnessyTrish and James Higgins of Chenmark Capital - Permanent EquityMy guests this week are Trish and James Higgins, who run Chenmark Capital Management. In this episode we continue to explore a style of investing I call Permanent Equity. Returns in permanent equity come first from the ongoing cash flows of portfolio companies, not from reselling businesses down the line. The partners are Chenmark are pioneering this style of small business investing and share their experience with us thus far. For comprehensive show notes on this episode go to http://investorfieldguide.com/chenmark For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast. Sign...
2017-03-141h 04