Shows
Poised for ExitHow the M&A Summit Helps Business Owners Plan Their Next MoveIn this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Matt Silasiri, Vice President of Business Development at True North M&A, to talk all about the upcoming 3rd Annual M&A Summit, happening September 17th at the JW Marriott at Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.This exclusive event is designed for business owners, advisors, and industry professionals who want to deepen their understanding of the mergers and acquisitions process...2025-08-0619 minPoised for ExitJulie Talks about her Game Changing Programs for Advisors!In this episode, Julie shared the content of her popular virtual programs for advisors.But why? As Julie says “when you lack a process for this work, you will lose opportunities to generate additional revenue. Not only that, but your client also misses out.”She says "Your clients need you to know how to navigate the exit planning process and for you to direct them along the way. If you plan to execute any part of the exit planning process, this course will help you understand practical applications a...2024-11-0621 minPoised for ExitSold over 330 Businesses and He's just getting Started!Sold over 330 Businesses and He's just getting Started!On the #Poised for Exit podcast this week we had the honor of hosting Manoj Moorjani today, who's a Dealmaker at Calhoun Companies. Manoj has sold over 330 companies since starting his career as a business broker. He's about as well known as they come in the Midwest, and for good reason. He's got a network of former clients and professional advisors that's larger than most corporate directories.Manoj has a memorable style and philosophy uncommon among his peers. He likes to take more...2024-09-0324 minPoised for ExitSLATs, CRTs, and IDGTs, Oh My! Utilizing Trusts to Optimize Estate Planning and Business Sale ProceedsSLATs, CRTs, and IDGTs, Oh My! Utilizing Trusts to Optimize Estate Planning and Business Sale ProceedsOur episode today featured Christine Schmidt and Julie Westbrock, advisors with Trust Point. Both are heavily involved with business owner clients; one from the Family Office area and the other from the Wealth Management area. Today's topic was not one we've covered at such length, so we felt that it was time for us to dive into it a bit deeper. We spent our time discussing s...2024-07-1123 minPoised for Exit"Stephen Covey was Right!"Stephen Covey was Right!"We had the honor of featuring a long time colleague of Julie's, Ken Saddler, with B2B CFO. Ken's expertise in building enterprise value and helping owners understand their numbers and how they correlate to value was the topic of our conversation. Ken is a partner with B2B CFO, a firm that specializes in fractional CFO services for small to mid size companies who need the extra pair of eyes monitoring their budgets, income projections and overall financial situation on a regular basis. So of...2024-01-0327 minPoised for ExitDigital Transformation Strategy: Creating Digital Solutions to Scale Your BusinessDigital Transformation Strategy: Creating Digital Solutions to Scale Your BusinessWe featured a returning guest in this episode; Dr. Theresa Ashby, who is and author, podcaster and the co-founder of Kaleidoscope Media Services. Kaleidoscope specializes in producing digital content and courses that work to scale your business, regardless of industry! Theresa (Dr. T) says that in this digital age, it's imperative that business owners and professionals take the influx of Artificial Intelligence technology seriously, and figure out how to best utilize it. When implemented well, AI has the capability t...2023-12-1324 minPoised for ExitHow to Break Through Your Plateaus and Scale Your Business!How to Break Through Your Plateaus and Scale Your Business!Our guest in today's show is Zarir Erani, Partner with StratWiser, a firm which specializes in helping owners break through their growth plateaus and scale to their potential. Zarir's background was built over years spent in numerous industries, giving him a background that's so unique, yet so valuable. One of his many stops was as an executive at Sun Country Airlines. Before and in between, he held numerous C-Level and specialized consulting positions in the technology and manufacturing industries, i...2023-12-0626 minPoised for ExitYou Can't Scale Your Business without a Proven Sales SystemYou Can't Scale Your Business without a Proven Sales SystemOur guest today was Mike Huey, President of Scalable Sales Solutions, a company that builds sales systems and processes for companies looking to scale and set their sales people up for success. If there's one thing we know, not all sales people actually sell much, and that's not always the fault of the sales person. Mike talked about the fact that most companies have no process for selling or metrics in place to measure success,. which is why their sales aren't g...2023-11-2923 minPoised for ExitThe Birthday Show!The Birthday Show!Julie Keyes is interviewed on her birthday in this episode! Bob stepped up to ask the questions; here's what they covered. Julie talked about a couple of client success stories that occured recently. One was a family owned transition to the 3rd generation that's near completion. The 2nd gen owners are taking a lot of time off and allowing the 3rd Gen to run the business, and they're doing so very well. The other is also a family business, that was intended to be sold externally, until 3 years ago when t...2023-11-2121 minPoised for ExitSerial Entrepreneur-Chasing the Hard ProblemsSerial Entrepreneur-Chasing the Hard ProblemsWe had the pleasure of interviewing Gordy Meyer, CEO of Dayta in this episode. Gordy had a very interesting entrepreneurial journey that he shared a summary of, with an unbelievable story about his company and the New York Times at the very end; you'll have to listen to the episode to get it!Gordy said he was entrepreneurial even as a child, with his own paper route and lawn mowing business. He knew he'd be the founder of his own organization someday, but he cut his teeth first...2023-11-1627 minPoised for Exit"Evangelist" for Business Owners gives Advice Beyond Investing"Evangelist" for Business Owners gives Advice Beyond InvestingWe were thrilled to feature James Jack on today's episode, who is the head of Business Owners and Multigenerational Client Segments at UBS Wealth Management. James calls himself an "Evangelist to business owners" and advisors as a frontline advocate championing the best outcomes for owners of privately held and closely held companies across the country. For James, it's all about providing great service before all else. As he puts it "advice beyond investing". He has spent his entire career at UBS in...2023-11-0931 minPoised for Exit165 - MN State of Owner Readiness Survey Results with Brent Engelbrekt! MN State of Owner Readiness Survey Results with Brent Engelbrekt! Our show today featured some of the most telling results of the recent State of Owner Readiness Survey conducted by the Exit Planning Institute and spearheaded by Brent Engelbrekt, Senior M&A Advisor at the national award winning firm, True North M&A. As a former business owner, Brent has been through many exit situations himself, both as an owner and an advisor to clients. His expertise is as much experience based as it is knowledge based, making him the perfect c...2023-10-1821 minPoised for Exit163 - The Impact of $80B and 87,000 Additional IRS Employees on Business ValuationThe Impact of $80B and 87,000 Additional IRS Employees on Business#PoisedforExit interviewed Michael Gregory today, who's background includes working for the Treasury department and as a financial analyst for several companies, both public and private. Mike launched his own practice in 2011 and specializes in mediation and negotiations with the IRS. In addition, he's written 11 books and delivers approximately 60 speeches per year to various professional advisory firms and their trade associations. We focused today on how business valuation will be affected by the addition of all the new IRS a...2023-10-0430 minPoised for ExitSelling Companies Since 1908: It's all about Relationships#PoisedforExit interviewed Andy Kocemba, President and CEO of Calhoun Companies in today's episode. Andy and his father, Wally bought Calhoun Companies in 2009 during the peak of the Recession, and have turned it into a successful, client-centric firm that specializes in representing buyers and sellers of companies in the lower middle market and main street as well. When I asked Andy the status of the "Silver Tsunami" and why we're not seeing as many Boomers selling as predicted, he said he thinks owners in that category are more prone to s...2023-09-2726 minPoised for Exit161 - Partners Making it Work: Yard Creations' 20 years of Success!Partners Making it Work: Yard Creations' 20 years of Success!#PoisedforExit had the pleasure of interviewing Wayne Arndt and Adam Dewey, founders and owners of Yard Creations from the Brainerd Lakes area that specializes in lake home and large estate landscaping design and fine gardening.Adam and Wayne have had a love for landscaping for many years and met as co-workers for another firm before joining forces and starting their own business. Here they are 20 years later with well earned success and a reputation that keeps the phone r...2023-09-2127 minPoised for Exit160 - How does Insurance fit in with Exit Planning?How does Insurance fit in with Exit Planning?#PoisedforExit had the good pleasure today of interviewing Derek Gruber, Managing Director for Cox Insurance. Derek has an impressive IT background that comes in handy when he counsels his clients in Cyber Liability coverage. Derek said that Cyber Liability terms and coverages change regularly, in order to keep up with the rampant cyber crime we're all trying to avoid. The truth is that it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when. The criminals don't tend to discriminate when it comes to...2023-09-1327 minPoised for Exit159 - What Sellers need to know about Net Working CapitalWhat Sellers need to know about Net Working CapitalToday #PoisedforExit met up with Joe Hellman, partner at Redpath and Associates and leader of their M&A services area. Joe works on a lot of business transactions for clients, both from the buy side and the sell side. We focused on Working Capital today, since it can be a confusing and sometimes touchy subject for sellers. Net Working Capital, according to Joe, is calculated simply by taking current assets and subtracting current liabilities from the balance sheet a...2023-09-0724 minPoised for Exit158 - The Ready for Next Cities Program!"The Ready for Next Cities Program!"Today's #PoisedforExit guest featured Guillermo Mazier, an advisor for the Ready for Next Cities Program that provides transition planning training for cities and communities to strategically support small business health in those areas! Guillermo spends a great deal of time working collaboratively with Chambers of Commerce. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC's) and Economic Development Agencies across the country, to plan and provide educational resources for the businesses and owners who operate and employ people in their municipalities. As we all know, the effects of a good or p...2023-08-3126 minPoised for Exit157 - A Lesson on Business Valuations: What Owners Need to KnowA Lesson on Business Valuations: What Owners Need to KnowWe interviewed Kyla Hansen, partner at JAK CPA's today, who's also one of our esteemed show sponsors!Kyla gave us a lesson on different types of Valuation, when they apply and what owners need to know about how their current business Valuation can affect their future outcome. Methods of Valuation apply in certain situations, like when an owner plans to give a large gift, a full blown Valuation is important to utilize. Conversely, when an o...2023-08-2423 minPoised for Exit153 - How to Groom Awesome People LeadersHow to Groom Awesome People LeadersOur guest today featured Heather Polivka, Founder and CEO of Awesome People Leaders and HeatherP Solutions. Heather is an award winning business leader, speaker and change agent for privately held companies looking to grow their bottom line by growing their teams and leaders.Heather's methodology is wrapped in neuro-science, with a focus on how beliefs affect behavior, positive or negative. Building upon the emotional intelligence of team members through effective step by step learning creates environments where people and businesses flourish...2023-07-2026 minPoised for Exit152 - Value Acceleration meets HR Strategy: How they work hand in handValue Acceleration meets HR Strategy: How they work hand in handIn today's episode, we talked with Steve Schad, President and CEO of Optima HR Solutions, which is a fractional HR services organization. Steve's firm specializes in helping owners grow the value of their business through HR strategies that drive enterprise value and goes well beyond the basics of benefits, hiring practices and performance reviews. Steve got his start in Organizational Development, but focused on both the people side and the business side. Having a two-way thinking process gives h...2023-07-1326 minPoised for Exit145 - Structuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing TableStructuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing TableWe delivered a Special Edition of Poised for Exit today and had the privilege of interviewing two experts on how collaboration works and why it can make or break a deal. Brett Larson, M&A Attorney with Messerli Kramer and Colin Johnson, Managing Director at Wipfli Corporate Finance were our guests and talked about how they work together structuring deals, putting out fires and getting their clients to the closing table. When it comes to achieving the best outcome for...2023-05-1835 minPoised for Exit144 - From Teacher to Financial Founder: The Inspiring Journey of Stacey Stelter and GTS Financial ServicesFrom Teacher to Financial Founder: The Inspiring Journey of Stacey Stelter and GTS Financial Services#PoisedforExit met with Stacey Stelter, Co-Founder of GTS Financial Services. Stacey is a former Elementary School teacher and learned some skills that were quite transferable from that career into becoming a founder of a financial services firm. Stacey, Tyler and Grant are the co-founders of GTS Financial. Grant and Tyler have been in the industry 15+ years and are CFPs. Stacey has been in the industry 8 years and is the Director of Client Services. Stacey is not a stranger to...2023-05-1125 minPoised for Exit143 - The Great LeadHERship Awakening" with special guest Linda Fisk, CEO of LeadHERship GlobalThe Great LeadHERship Awakening" with special guest Linda Fisk, CEO of LeadHERship Global #PoisedforExit was honored to have Linda Fisk as our guest, who has founded several companies, most notably "LeadHERship Global" of which Julie Keyes is a proud member!Linda is a multi award winning woman in business, a national keynote speaker, best selling author and enterprising entrepreneur. LeadHERship Global is an organization that provides a Power Tribe for women who blaze their own trails in business, entertainment, and politics from all over the world. The foundation of LeadHERship Global is to 2023-05-0427 minPoised for Exit142 - African Family Firms Founder, Tsitsi Mutendi on how Family Business is like "Raising the Baobab"African Family Firms Founder, Tsitsi Mutendi on how Family Business is like "Raising the Baobab"#PoisedforExit had the honor of interviewing Tsitsi Mutendi, Founder of African Family Firms, Nhaka Legacy, and host of "Enterprising Families" podcast! Tsitsi grew up in family business; in her immediate family and among her extended family and friends. Many of those companies did not survive generational transfers, so Tsitsi dove into the world of family business to found her own companies, become an adviser herself and change the outcomes. First, she founded Nkaha Legacy, an...2023-05-0132 minPoised for Exit141 - Leadership can be lonely: C9 Builds Your TribeLeadership can be lonely: C9 Builds Your TribeOn #PoisedforExit we had the good pleasure of featuring Aaron Eggert on the show today! Aaron is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Coalition 9, a Peer Group organization that seeks to create communities of trust, diversity and growth for leaders of companies and executives in various industries from a span of backgrounds. In just three short years, he's grown his organization to 21 groups with 200 members, and by referral only. That means something must be working!To...2023-04-2025 minPoised for Exit140 - Transitions: When is it time to bring in outside leadership?Transitions: When is it time to bring in outside leadership? In today's episode of #PoisedforExit we talked with Scott Sustacek, who is a "Free Agent CEO". Scott has run and built several businesses as well as facilitated and grown several CEO Roundtables. His perspective on bringing in outside leadership comes at a time when many founders of companies are pondering that very thing. The timing of bringing in outside leadership has a lot to do with what the owner wants to do with their time (and their bu...2023-04-1326 minPoised for Exit139 - When should you engage a Family Office?When should you engage a Family Office? Our show today featured the Managing Director of the Trust Point Family Office, Christine Schmidt. Christine got her start as a CPA, working in the insurance industry. From there she spent 16 years working as an accountant for a large Family Office with many types of holdings. She learned a lot and decided it was time to find a new endeavor. She found Trust Point, and became a financial adviser. Just 5 years ago, she launched their Family Office department and has be...2023-04-0625 minPoised for Exit138 - From IRS Agent to Entrepreneur: One Woman's Compelling StoryFrom IRS Agent to Entrepreneur: One Woman's Compelling Story#PoisedforExit had the honor today of interviewing a client of KeyeStrategies, Peggy Hedgpeth, who is the founder and CEO of Golden Rabbit Enamelware. Peggy had a very interesting journey to entrepreneurship, first working as an IRS Agent for 10 years and earning her CPA credential during that time, and then earning her MBA before founding her first start up. When making a trip to Indonesia (that takes 40 hours) to find teak furniture for her shop, she came upon enamelware a...2023-03-3022 minPoised for Exit137 - Tax Liability in your Future? Consider a Charitable Land DonationTax Liability in your Future? Consider a Charitable Land DonationWe interviewed Scott Jackson of Sandy Bay Partners today, who's background as a former Navy Commander has served him well in his leadership role at Sandy Bay. Scott's job is to build a network of private investors for their land development opportunities that utilize a tax mitigation strategy called Charitable Land Donation. Most of the land investment opportunities are parcels with oil and coal reserves yet to be mined. The value of the land with these resources increases the value of...2023-03-2227 minPoised for Exit136 - Rollover Equity: What Sellers Should KnowRollover Equity: What Sellers Should KnowIn this episode we featured a very seasoned M & A advisor, whose background as a serial entrepreneur proves to serve his clients in a big way, especially when the deal structure gets a bit complicated. Michael Hubsmith, Senior Advisor with True North M & A joined us to talk about Rollover Equity; what it is and why sellers should consider it as a viable option to a future exit. Say for instance, you've run a profitable, growing business in the lower end of the lower middle market2023-03-1629 minPoised for Exit135 - There's More Than One Way to Structure Your Exit!There's More Than One Way to Structure Your Exit!Today's #PoisedforExit guest featured Mary Merrill, Principal of Heritage Capital. Mary brings so much knowledge and so many lessons to share, that we decided she has to come back to the podcast!From Buy Side, Sell Side, investor financing, bank financing and every possible way to structure a deal, Mary has the knowledge and skills to create a win win situation. Family business transitions are a specialty of hers and she shared several stories of how...2023-03-0229 minPoised for Exit134 - What to do about your 401K in a SaleWhat to do about your 401K in a SaleIn today's episode of #PoisedforExit we talked about what happens to the seller's 401K in a sale. Our expert guests were none other than the 401K experts at Trust Point; Jon Marquet and Allyson Krause. If you are thinking of selling your business, it's essential that you discuss this with the firm who manages your 401K plan well in advance of the closing, so you know the timing recommendations of when to roll over and in what instances you need t...2023-02-2330 minPoised for Exit133 - 3rd Generation and Going Strong with a "People First" Focus 3rd Generation and Going Strong with a "People First" FocusOur show today featured John Curry, a repeat guest of Poised for Exit. John is the CEO of Knutson Construction and is doing impressive things at the helm in the two years since his appointment. John is the 3rd Generation in his family owned business and he's made some great strides in growing the infrastructure of the business the past few years by hiring LEED certified professionals and by really having the whole team focus on who best to position the co...2023-02-0330 minPoised for Exit132 - Build a High Value Authentic BrandBuild a High Value Authentic Brand#PoisedforExit had the pleasure of talking today with Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic Brand, a Fractional Marketing Leadership firm. Jennifer has CMO's for hire, who work with the internal leadership team of companies to quarterback the marketing strategy and implementation and provide resources and insights to build the company's brand through measurable and effective marketing tactics. Jennifer has been in sales and marketing for many years, and it was through a job loss that she founded her start up! Authentic Brand is celebrating i...2023-01-2629 minPoised for Exit131 - Seller WhispererSeller WhispererWe had the pleasure of interviewing Denise Logan today, who is a national speaker, author and specialist in working with sellers of companies to determine and plan what's next for their life after business!Denise calls herself the "Seller Whisperer" and wrote a book in fable form called "Seller's Journey" that tells the story of a seller and his advisers on a trek through Glacier National Park after the sale of the business closed. Sounds like an intriguing read, doesn't it? Denise has been an 2023-01-1929 minPoised for Exit129 - Merchant Processing: Let's Cut the Expense in 2023!Merchant Processing: Let's Cut the Expense in 2023!Our #PoisedforExit guest in this episode featured Marnie Ochs Raleigh, Co-Founder and President of Evolve Payment and Evolve Systems. Marnie and Julie focused on Evolve Payment, Marnie's Merchant Processing company, to give business owners some ideas on how they can improve cash flow by utilizing a company with the right expertise and a client centric mindset. Evolve Payment has been in the Merchant Processing business for 20 years! The industry has truly 'evolved' from the old fashioned "knuckle buster" machines ("cha-ching!") to high speed terminals t...2023-01-0528 minPoised for Exit125 - Julie Keyes Recaps 2022 and Looks ahead to 2023!Julie Keyes Recaps 2022 and Looks ahead to 2023!In this #PoisedforExit episode, Julie is interviewed by her producer, Bob Sansevere. Let's start by highlighting the hefty discount on the BRT course for Small Business Week! You get the complete course for only $199! That is a 60% savings over the regular price using promo code SMALLBIZ2022. So don't delay, this deal expires Saturday, December 3rd. Now back to the podcast. Bob and Julie cover a bit about her work as an exit planner, and then move on to talk about some of her ...2022-11-3024 minPoised for Exit121 - Growing up in an Entrepreneurial Family: Julie and her sisters tell their storyGrowing up in an Entrepreneurial Family: Julie and her sisters tell their storyToday's show is an extra special edition of #PoisedforExit! I invited my sisters, Connie and Wendy to talk about being raised in an entrepreneurial home and how it impacted our lives as entrepreneurs. The lessons shared were many, but one that stood out for all three of us was how self motivation and belief played essential roles in the success of the business each parent ran. Knowing you can do it and h...2022-11-0329 minPoised for Exit90 - Launching the 2nd Edition of Poised for Exit!In this episode, Julie was interviewed by her producer, Bob Sansevere and announced the launch of the 2nd edition of "Poised for Exit"!So much has happened since the book first came out in May of 2020! In the 2nd Edition there are new legal resources for business owners from the Best & Flanagan Law Firm and Dunlap Seeger. Both firms will be featured guests on the show in upcoming episodes and will talk about their collaborative work with Julie and her book. Sunbelt Business Advisers remains a...2022-03-2322 minPoised for Exit76 - Julie Highlights the Best of 2021, our Show Sponsors, and what's coming in 2022!Our #PoisedforExit episode today featured the host of Poised for Exit, Julie Keyes! Interviewed by Bob Sansevere, Julie highlighted her picks for 2021's best interviews. Among the most notable: Wahi Water's Peter and Sam Blankenship, Manufacturer's Alliance President, Kirby Sneen, HR Consultant Amy Crews and many more. What's she up to in 2022? Well, Julie's online course called "Business Transition Readiness" is now available as a licensed product for advisory firms to use in helping educate their clients and prospects on the basics of exit planning. If you want more information contact ju...2021-12-1522 minPoised for Exit64 - What the Tech!In this episode of #PoisedforExit, we interviewed Bret Erickson, President of Passkey Technology, a managed IT services firm. Bret has been on the show before, and we brought him back because we know by the number of downloads from the previous episode, he was a popular guest speaking on a hot topic.Bret talked about how things have changed in technology since his last interview with us! Ransomware is running rampant and the cyber criminals are getting more savvy, Bret said. He's hearing almost daily how companies...2021-09-0824 minPoised for Exit63 - Contingency Planning: In Case of Emergency -Break-Glass- Do This!Contingency Planning: In Case of Emergency -Break-Glass- Do This!Business owners and individuals alike have been well acquainted with the need for a Back-up plan in these times! Our guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Cindy Reid-Shelton, partner, co-founder and adviser with the Ready For Next brand of companies. Cindy has been advising business owners and other advisers for 30 years. She's an expert on planning for contingencies and I had the honor today of picking her brain on the topic.As owners, we can't...2021-09-0127 minPoised for Exit62 - Think You Don't Need Long Term Care Insurance? Think AgainIn today's #PoisedforExit episode, I interviewed a true Long Term Care expert, Ruth Fay, of Versatile Insurance Services. Ruth has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years; 20 of them in Long Term Care. "It's come a long way" she said. "With the types of products and options available now, you can really customize a product that suits your needs vs the cookie cutter options of the past". Ruth knows first hand how devastating it can be when Long Term Care insurance is missing from financial planning. Her father i...2021-08-2625 minPoised for Exit61 - Work From Home Employees Need a Buddy SystemToday's #PoisedforExit episode featured Marcia O'Connor, CEO and Founder of the award winning firm, The O'Connor Group based in Philadelphia. Marcia humbly told her success story of how she has built her company over the last fourteen years on referrals and treating people well, or "spoiling them" as she puts it. The O'Connor Group, a 60 person firm of recruiters and HR professionals, provides Human Resources and Recruiting Services for medium and large size firms across the country. Their claim to fame is "Do the Right Thing" and they do. A g...2021-08-1928 minPoised for Exit60 - A Second Swing at Entrepreneurship: The Story of WahiwaterIt was a blast spending time with today's #PoisedforExit guests, Sam and Peter Blankenship, owners and founders of Wahiwater. When we first met in 2018, I was one of the speakers for an event they attended and afterwards we chatted. We worked together for a while as they assembled their start up team, took a break as they raised capital, and now as guests on my show, I got to catch up and hear about everything that's happened. Being brothers, Peter and Sam knew in their college days that they'd be partners i...2021-08-0425 minPoised for Exit59 - Buying or Selling a Business in a Hot MarketOn this #PoisedforExit episode we had the pleasure again of hosting Aleesha Webb, President of Village Bank. We talked a great deal about the times being ripe for acquisition! Whether you are looking to sell or buy a business, it's a great time to do it and Village Bank has the expertise and loan programs to help make it happen. Financing a business through the SBA can be one very smart way to make a deal work; specifically through SBA 7a loans and SBA 504 loans. B...2021-07-2928 minPoised for Exit58 - (Reprise of Ep. 13) All in the Family (Business)For this #PoisedforExit episode we are taking it back to nearly a year ago and reprising episode 13 - All in the Family (Business)Our #PoisedforExit show today focused on family business success tips with Jon Keimig, Director of the Family Business Center at the University of St. Thomas. Jon's been a family business advocate for many years and his programs are known and respected across the country. Here are a few key takeaways from our show:1. The biggest issue facing family b...2021-07-2129 minPoised for Exit57 - (Reprise of Ep. 6) Marketing: Metrics that Drive RevenueFor this #PoisedforExit episode we are taking it back to over a year ago and re-featuring episode 6 - Marketing: Metrics that Drive RevenueIf you're like most business owners, you're wondering how to gain a better return on your Marketing spend. For owners who are preparing their company for a future sale, it's even more vital to have a clean, consistent brand message and marketing strategy. The content of today's show with Marnie Ochs Raleigh, CEO of Evolve Systems discusses these issues and more; you'll want to take notes!Find...2021-07-1429 minPoised for Exit56 - Have a Plan! Financial Planning for Business OwnersMy guest today is Todd Krough, a Senior Wealth Adviser with Tealwood Asset Management. Tealwood is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) group who specializes in working with business owners. Todd is a CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Adviser) like me and helped me launch the Twin Cities EPI Chapter in 2016. We talked today about the importance of business owners having a 3 pronged plan:Personal Plan (a life plan) Financial Plan Business Plan Most owners struggle with the Financial Planning part because most of their weal...2021-07-0826 minPoised for Exit55 - Planning to Merge or Acquire? Here's a Step You May be OverlookingThis episode of #PoisedforExit featured J. Forrest, a Principal of Employee Strategies, a firm providing Organizational Leadership services to low-middle market companies. We've talked about Culture development before on the show, but never from the standpoint of a future merger or acquisition. That we learned, is a different animal! To provide a bit of background, J. has always had a love for baseball and had a job out of college with the MN Twins in the ticket office. After the baseball Strike in 1994 he got called back to his o...2021-07-0128 minPoised for Exit54 - Private Equity of a Different Kind- What is Family Capital?Our guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Emma Gergen, Principal with Carlson Private Capital. Emma's role is to find investments among privately held businesses whose owners are looking to scale back, recapitalize or grow beyond what the current team is capable of, and then become the owner's trusted liaison and adviser within the firm's professional team. Emma and her team understand privately held business very well; in fact she and her partners all came from family businesses. They've been there and understand better than traditional Private Equity firms. Carlson Private Capital seeks companies with EBITDA of around $5M, wi...2021-06-2325 minPoised for Exit53 - Types of Employee Ownership and Why They're Good for BusinessIn today's #PoisedforExit episode we interviewed Sue Crockett, who is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO.org).If you thought ESOP was the only form of employee ownership, think again. Sue talked about two other forms, that depending on the company size and goals of the owners and employees, can be great alternatives. The focus is on helping the owners achieve a lasting legacy while retaining and rewarding the company's employees. MNCEO is education focused. Unlike other membership based organizations...2021-06-1621 minPoised for Exit52 - Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap: From Employee to Co-founder of a New BankOur episode on #PoisedforExit today will inspire any listener, regardless of whether you own a business. Melissa Johnston, a long time business banking executive, tells the story of how she made the leap from being a loyal, job-loving employee to co-founding a bank holding company. Melissa grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota with a love for math. She pursued a degree in Math, and found she loved the finance classes she took, then added an emphasis in Economics. All of this generated an interest in working in the banking i...2021-06-1027 minPoised for Exit51 - The 1 Year Anniversary Show Featuring Guest Host Heather Keyes! The 1 Year #PoisedforExit Anniversary Show Featuring Guest Host Heather Keyes!Hard to believe it's been a year since we launched the show, but it's true. I thought it would be fun to change it up and have my daughter Heather be my guest host. She's been an integral part of the success of the show; handling all of the behind the scenes work and Social Media too, so I wanted to give her some exposure to our audience and see what kind of questions she had for me. As it turns out, her que...2021-06-0213 minPoised for Exit50 - The Power of Conscious CultureThis week on #PoisedforExit we featured Jaime Taets, CEO and Founder of Keystone Group International. Her firm delivers business consulting services with an emphasis on team development and accountability. Jaime said that her background in facilitating growth and improvement plans has helped her to forge her own way as an entrepreneur. Building Culture in a company takes a process, and it's one she's created and refined over the years. Culture is something you feel or don't feel in a business. Asking your employees int...2021-05-2626 minPoised for Exit49 - Guess Who's Center Stage in Business Today? HR!Guess Who's Center Stage in Business Today? HR!That's right, Human Resources, one of the most neglected aspects of running a business is taking over as the main focus for many employers. Our episode today with Amy Crews, of Crews HR Consulting tells why. Here we are (almost) post-pandemic and what is happening with our small business employees? They're leaving; in droves. It's called "The Great Reshuffle". People are leaving their current firms and going to places where they think they'll be happier and have more job satisfaction. Some were planning t...2021-05-1925 minPoised for Exit48 - The Three Things that Motivate Owners to get Transition ReadyOur guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Sean Hutchinson, partner of Ready For Next, a family of companies that caters to successful business transition. Ready For Next Academy provides education and peer groups for advisors and owners to learn how to enhance enterprise value and a process to prepare for a future exit. Ready For Next Advisors provides individual consulting and group advisory services to business owners with a focus on growth and value enhancement.Ready For Next Cities serves smaller communities at ri...2021-05-1227 minPoised for Exit47 - ESOP's: Are They For You?This week on #PoisedforExit we featured Nina Hale, a pioneer in the world of digital advertising, who sold her company Nina Hale to an ESOP in 2014. The company has been renamed Collective Measures and is growing strong, with many of the same employees who worked for Nina. She now sits on several non-profit Boards and helps educate business owners on what ESOP's are and are not. ESOP is an acronym for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. We certainly could have extended this interview longer; there's so much to talk about. Wh...2021-05-0525 minPoised for Exit46 - The Family Business of Knutson Construction: Building for the Next 110 YearsThe Family Business of Knutson Construction: Building for the next 110 yearsOur featured guest for this episode is John Curry, 3rd generation owner of Knutson Construction, a commercial construction company that boasts 110 years in business! Before joining the company, John spent some time playing hockey as a Goalie; in high school, college and for the pros! He started his construction career on the job site and over time, moved his way into an executive position, where he manages the primary customer accounts and business development. John's gra...2021-04-2927 minPoised for Exit45 - Getting 'Poised for Exit': Understanding Buyer StrategiesGetting 'Poised for Exit': Understanding Buyer StrategiesOur #PoisedforExit episode today featured Russ Fleming, partner at Baker Tilly in Minneapolis. Russ grew up with an interest in accounting and gained a great deal of exposure to it from his father (a CPA) whose clients were real estate and construction industry business owners. Thus, Russ acquired many clients in these industry sectors and is sought often for his expertise. We talked a great deal about deal structure in today's environment, and how different structures can impact a seller's ou...2021-04-2126 minPoised for Exit44 - Entrepreneurs Make Great Philanthropists!Our guest for this episode is Derek Weatherford, Market Executive with BMO Private Bank. Derek's long standing background in wealth management, especially in the area of philanthropy made him the perfect guest for this topic!There are many options and directions a business owner can take when it comes to making donations. We can give to our church or other favorite charity, but for many of us, it doesn't stop there, and for many business owners, being involved with how the money is used at some level is an appealing way to move...2021-04-1426 minPoised for Exit43 - Let's Elevate Your Business Value!Our show today featured Chris Jones, President and co-owner of Sunbelt Business Advisors, a business brokerage firm with a long track record for helping both sellers and buyers of companies. Chris joined the firm in 2001 after several years working as a Mergers and Acquisitions adviser for a Fortune 200 private company. He loves putting deals together and helping sellers achieve their hard won goals. We talked about value drivers and value detractors; what drives value in an enterprise and what depletes it? Chris said the number one value detractor in his opinion is owner centricity. Wh...2021-04-0828 minPoised for Exit42 - Wellness Works! How to Deliver Health Programs for your Employees at No Cost.Profile by Sanford is a health and wellness service provider whose holistic approach is being sought after by employers everywhere. Why? First, because their programs come at no cost to the employer (unless you want to provide it as an employee benefit) and second, employers are looking for ways to enhance their company culture and increase productivity at the same time. My guest for this episode is Danette Peterson, a Lead Dietician for Profile by Sanford. She truly believes that 'you are what you eat' and cited t...2021-03-3123 minPoised for Exit41 - What Do a Family Business, Eating Dog Food and PR Have in Common?There's a documentary out there about a guy who ate dog food for a month to prove his company's pet food products were safe and healthy. This same guy, Mitch Felderhoff, happens to co-own the company with his brother, Chad. They are 4th Generation owners of the Muenster Milling Company in Muenster Texas. And their company is growing like crazy. It wasn't always that way, though. Mitch joined the company out of college to help his parents manage the business. He had some great ideas for growth and i...2021-03-2422 minPoised for Exit40 - Award Winning Columnist, Lee Schafer on Mergers & AcquisitionsOur guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is a media celebrity; Lee Schafer with Star Tribune. Lee has been a Business and Economics Columnist for the paper these past 9 years, and is the winner of a couple national awards as well. But what you probably didn't know, is that Lee spent many years in the world of Mergers and Acquisitions as a partner, an adviser, and a deal maker. Lee's first taste of entrepreneurism came from growing up on the family cattle farm. After college he was recruited to be an Analyst for Attrium. With no e...2021-03-1825 minPoised for Exit39 - The Three R's: Repression, Resilience, ResolveFor this #PoisedforExit episode, we interviewed Lynne Robertson, CEO of Fame, a national Advertising and Branding firm. Lynne got her start in an ad agency as an office assistant and eventually worked her way to a C level leader. She ended up becoming the CEO of Fame when the original leader left abruptly. She did so well that she eventually ended up buying the company from its Private Equity owners; that was back in 2015. Since then she's built the firm from being retail focused to expanding its reach into other industries, especially the health and...2021-03-1028 minPoised for Exit38 - Risk Management Insurance: An Effective Tool for Buying or Selling a BusinessOur guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Joe Housman, Vice President for Hays Companies and Brown & Brown Insurance. Joe has held a variety of roles with privately held companies, from CPA, to Private Equity adviser; he's worked with many companies in various stages of growth, acquisition and exit. He recently added Commercial Insurance to his areas of expertise and talked about how insurance can be used when buying or selling a business. One thing that Joe recommends sellers do is to make sure and tell their insurance agent or broker th...2021-03-0423 minPoised for Exit37 - Delegation is an Energy Management SystemToday's guest on #PoisedforExit is Emily Morgan, the founder and CEO of Delegate Solutions, which provides Virtual Assistant services to entrepreneurs. Emily grew her firm from scratch out of a need to expand the services she was already delivering, and over 13 years has built it into a 40 person team of Virtual Assistants and support staff. We entrepreneurs tend to have issues with delegating well. The content and advice from Emily will likely impact many of our listeners who struggle with how best to delegate. She says that entrepreneurs operate i...2021-02-2525 minPoised for Exit36 - A Fresh Perspective: Why Your Business Needs a Brand AND a Reputation StrategyOur guest today is Rose McKinney, Founder and CEO of Pineapple RM, a Brand and Reputation Management firm. Rose has been doing the work of managing her clients' reputations for many years. You'll want to listen to this show, because she offered some great insight into why reputation is so vitally important to a company's overall brand. When you think of your company's brand and its message, would you say it's synonymous with your company's values and vision? When you consider whether a co...2021-02-1722 minPoised for Exit35 - The Role your Financial Adviser plays in a Successful ExitWe talked today with Joel Seleskie, Founder and Principle of Seleskie Financial. Joel's team consists of 4 other advisers and 8 support staff, and work primarily with owners of privately held and closely held companies. Joel said he knew from a young age that he wanted to be a financial adviser. His first boss when in High School taught him the concept of earning interest on your money, and from then he went on to higher education in Finance, eventually becoming credentialed in financial advisory and insurance. Joel works with a great number of...2021-02-1027 minPoised for Exit34 - Preparing Your Financials Ahead of a SaleOn this episode of #PoisedforExit, we featured Kyla Hansen, partner at JAK CPA's. Kyla's firm works with privately held companies and they're very busy helping their clients prepare for a future acquisition. Kyla says that a business owner should get their financials cleaned up at least 3 years ahead of a sale, but even better to do so 5 years ahead of a sale in the wake of COVID. She said that many buyers are now looking back 5 years, where they are careful to scrutinize how the business did before and a...2021-02-0325 minPoised for Exit33 - Entrepreneurs: How to Make 2021 A Strong Year!Our episode today featured the President of Village Bank, Aleesha Webb. Aleesha is a Second Generation successor to the bank, started by her father, Don 28 years ago. Growing up, Don was involved in several entities and Aleesha learned a lot about entrepreneurship at an early age, which propelled her to continue in that direction herself. Village Bank has learned to compete with larger banks through their focus on building strong relationships with their customers and offering automation and technology that rivals some of what their larger counterparts are doing. This not only frees u...2021-01-2625 minPoised for Exit32 - Identifying & Protecting your Intellectual PropertyOur guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is Steve Baird; shareholder and practice area leader for his Intellectual Property team in the Minneapolis office of global firm Greenberg Traurig. Steve's interest in the law did not follow a straight line. Being from a family of educators (his parents and siblings are all teachers of some kind) he naturally gravitated toward wanting to educate people, just not as a teacher. He spent some time in college in a Pharmacist program and through that experience met several patent attorneys. It was then that his path to pra...2021-01-2129 minPoised for Exit31 - From being "Everything to Everybody" to "Something for Somebody"This episode features Darin Lynch, a well known and respected digital marketing expert, who is the Founder and "Chief Liberation Officer" of Irish Titan.Darin came from a hardworking start as an Iowa farm boy. His dream of owning his own business as a boy, with its own Bat Pole, came true! Along his career journey he spent time in the IT departments and Ecommerce departments of various publicly held companies, when one day, he decided it was time to see what he could do on his own. Irish Titan was born. 2021-01-1428 minPoised for Exit30 - Cybersecurity & Enterprise Value go Hand in HandToday's episode featured CEO, Tyler Olson, owner of Shyld Academy, a firm who specializes in cybersecurity education for businesses and their employees. Did you know that 95% of all Data Breaches are caused by individuals in your company who 'don't know any better' and don't understand the basics of cyber security? Even home offices are being hacked and many people mistakenly think that it's OK not to change the default password it came with. Another common mistake people make is to use the same passwords for all of their devices and accounts, or...2021-01-0721 minPoised for Exit29 - Taking Leaps: Serial Entrepreneurship and DiversificationOn this #PoisedforExit episode, we feature entrepreneur, Nicole Anthony who tells us all about her latest endeavor called "COYABLU Tequila Cocktails" ! Premium tequila cocktails in a can, in 8 flavors! Personally, I can't wait!Before she became CEO of COYABLU, Nicole had her hand in starting, running and selling 3 other companies. We talked about the diverse skill set it takes to launch and build a successful business, and while no one has everything it takes, it's important to be smart and assess where you're strong and where you need to plug in expertise outside o...2020-12-3125 minPoised for Exit28 - The Mini Media Approach to Building a BusinessToday's show featured Sheryl Plouffe who's been in broadcasting media for many years. She owns Sheryl Plouffe Media and knows a thing or two about why video is a powerful way to build your brand and how to go about doing it. Sheryl got her start as a TV broadcaster in Canada and spent 25 years growing her expertise in the world of media. Her entrepreneurial spirit lead her to launch her own media business and in 2017 was completely on her own building her media empire. You can find her on LinkedIn conducting livestream ev...2020-12-1625 minPoised for Exit27 - 104 and Many More!CEO and Chairman, Paddy McNeely of Meritex Company was our guest on the show, sharing his long earned wisdom on family business success and succession. Paddy's family has owned Meritex for 104 years and he is the third generation of family members who are now working to transition to the fourth generation! Family business comprises a significant portion of the Gross Domestic Product; upwards of 50%, and they employ millions of people across the country. It's vital for owners of family businesses to attract top talent, especially now. When yo...2020-12-1029 minPoised for Exit26 - Creating Messages that Connect and MatterOur guest for this #PoisedforExit episode is the Founder of "A Simple Message", David Mann. David's background as an actor, director and playwright serve him well in the work he does with his clients. He focuses on creating a message that attracts the right kinds of clients and customers, through relating to their emotion over logic. In theatre, your entire focus is on the audience..."will they know what we're trying to convey? Can they see me from that angle of the stage? How will they react if we try this or that?" C...2020-12-0328 minPoised for Exit25 - Business Disruption from COVID 19 & How to Break ThroughThis episode of #PoisedforExit features the Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of St Thomas, Diane Paterson. Diane's extensive business acumen included 13 years owning her business. She's been a small business advocate and instructor for many years, teaching entrepreneurs how to succeed by setting up well in the beginning, with the "Smart Start for Business" program, now offered online. She's advised and instructed business owners of all sizes, stages and industries, making a long lasting positive impact on every business she helps. 2020-11-2525 minPoised for Exit24 - Julie Keyes Interviews "The BS Show" Host Bob SansevereIn this #PoisedforExit episode we featured a long time journalist and radio personality, turned Podcast Producer, Bob Sansevere. Bob has had quite the career over the years, spanning several different US publications and landing at KQRS in Minneapolis back in 1987. As a big part of the KQ Morning Show for 30 years, Bob grew quite an audience of fans. Now as a podcaster and producer, he's taken his expertise and expanded it for the benefit of Hosts like me.When Bob was released from KQRS along with several others after COVID hit, he had t...2020-11-1829 minPoised for Exit23 - She Went from Blogger to Publisher: Meet Amy Quale of Wise Ink!This episode of #PoisedforExit features Amy Quale, Co-founder and owner of Wise Ink Creative Publishing in Minneapolis. Amy shared how she and her partner, Dara Beevus built Wise Ink from the ground up, starting with a blog for writers and working their way towards publishing 60 - 70 books per year!She got her entrepreneurial bug from her parents who taught her that risk pays off when you do it right. The sacrifices they had to make when she was growing up have helped her continue to believe in her dream, build her empire and m...2020-11-1127 minPoised for Exit22 - Putting 'Care' back into Healthcare for Business OwnersThis episode covers a very timely topic that concerns all of us. We featured Mary Dynes, a licensed healthcare insurance expert, who specializes in healthcare programs for business owners; individual or group. When employers and employees no longer have access to a group plan, Mary can help. When employers have had to reduce their employees hours, Mary can help with alternatives to group insurance the employees may no longer qualify for. Shopping for healthcare coverage for 2021 is upon us and enrollment periods have started. Mary discusses alternatives employers can use in li...2020-11-0425 minPoised for Exit21 - Exiting a Business the Hard Way: Horror Stories from a Business LawyerThis #PoisedForExit episode features prominent business attorney, Jeff O'Brien, partner at Chestnut Cambronne in Minneapolis. Jeff shared some horror stories with us (just in time for Halloween!) about some cases he's working on where partner disputes occurred. Some fell between 50/50 owners and some between majority and minority owners. We talked about a provision for Buy Sell Agreements called a "Texas Shootout", which resembles a marital Prenuptial Agreement, so that 50/50 partners can dissolve and buy one or the other out if "things don't work out". We also talked about minority shareholders and some of th...2020-10-2928 minPoised for Exit20 - Commercial Insurance "Cocktails": Hybrid Solutions for Business OwnersWe visited today with Chris Steffl, Co-Founder of Versatile Insurance Services. Chris is what I would call an expert for the experts. He works with insurance and financial advisers in selecting the right products or mix of products that assist the adviser and their clients with customized insurance solutions. They happen to specialize in privately held companies, so you'll want to listen if that's you!Business insurance solutions are not one-size fits all, especially in today's environment! A very hot topic for the times is in funding Buy Sell Agreements. Another is on i...2020-10-2122 minPoised for Exit19 - Julie Keyes' Entrepreneurial JourneyToday's show featured yours truly, Julie Keyes, being interviewed by my producer, Bob Sansevere on my entrepreneurial journey, why I wrote the book and what I'm seeing in the world of entrepreneurship today.When I got my start in business it wasn't as an entrepreneur, but eventually I realized it was the ideal way for me to achieve my goals and live the life I knew would make me happiest. Being a business owner definitely has its highs and lows. I share my struggle with the long learning curve, especially when it came...2020-10-1427 minPoised for Exit18 - Introducing, Scott Snider of the Exit Planning InstituteOur guest for this episode is none other than Scott Snider, who with his father, Chris Snider are the owners of the Exit Planning Institute in Cleveland, OH. EPI has a credentialed certification process for advisers to become CEPA's; there are over 2000 in the United States and around the world. Exit Planning became 'a thing' as Scott would say in the early 2000's and has taught and fostered professional collaboration among advisers from various disciplines ever since. As a faculty member for EPI, I can tell you that the curriculum is extremely relevant a...2020-09-3027 minPoised for Exit17 - Tax Planning for the Sale of a Business: Plan Early, Save More!This #PoisedforExit episode featured two of my trusted colleagues in Exit Planning, Joe Strazzeri and Shelley Lightfoot. Joe and Shelley are partners in several firms in San Diego. Joe has a prominent legal practice in Estate Planning and Tax Planning. The conundrum business owners have when in tax and estate planning, is actually taking the time away from the business to advocate for themselves and their own future, because they are usually so focused on the business instead. Do you feel like you are already paying more than your fair share of income t...2020-09-2230 minPoised for Exit16 - Know your Worth: A Conversation about Business Valuation Post COVIDIn this #PoisedforExit episode we spoke with Dan Korsman, who is a CPA, JD and partner at Boulay Group in the Twin Cities. We focused our conversation on what he's been seeing among his clients who are preparing to or have sold their companies in the past few months, and what owners can do right now to strengthen the appeal of their businesses for buyers who are much pickier than before. He has noticed that buyers and sellers have become re-engaged since the pandemic hit and are putting their hats back in...2020-09-1629 minPoised for Exit15 - Gandalf or Gollum? The Role of Your Business Attorney in Transition PlanningToday's Poised for Exit Show featured Chris Cuneo, an attorney with Ballard Spahr, whose long-standing reputation and expertise in Minneapolis is rivaled only by his own sense of humor! Chris compared a relationship with your attorney to be like Gandalf or Gollum from Lord of the Rings; both being different species of 'Guide'. Listen to the show to get the gist of the analogy and learn why "Gandalf" is preferable....According to Chris Cuneo, an Attorney's most important attributes when guiding an owner through a Transition are:1. Technical Expertise2...2020-09-0929 minPoised for Exit14 - From Harlem, to Healthcare, to candidate for CongressOur guest in this #PoisedforExit episode is US Congressional Candidate, Kendall Qualls. Kendall literally came from Harlem, went through the Military as an Army Officer, became a Healthcare Executive. From there, he decided to run for congress and won the Republican endorsement. His family is starting its fourth generation of service in the US Military and Kendall couldn't be more proud.Kendall's healthcare startup uses AI technology to track data on cancer patients for the benefit of those who need guidance after a new diagnosis. We'll be sure to have him on the show again...2020-09-0417 minPoised for Exit13 - All in the Family (Business)Our show today focused on family business success tips with Jon Keimig, Director of the Family Business Center at the University of St Thomas. Jon's been a family business advocate for many years and his programs are known and respected across the country. Here are a few key takeaways from our show:1. The biggest issue facing family business today is poor communication. Jon recommends families "normalize their communication"2. Successful Family Businesses use Governance as a powerful tool to build upon their family legacy.3. Successful Family Businesses use outside advisers to facilitate c...2020-08-2628 minPoised for Exit12 - Coping with 2020: A Conversation with Walk Talk TherapyOur guest for this show is Tammie Rosenbloom, a licensed therapist who founded a practice called "Walk Talk Therapy" where she meets with her clients outside and they walk during their therapy sessions! Tammie says that getting past the negative thoughts and feelings you have can sometimes require the help of an outside guide to help provide clarity and set you on the right path towards wholeness and health. Providing therapy services outdoors takes healing to a whole new level!In our Poised for Exit podcast, the well being of business owners is always2020-08-1927 minPoised for Exit11 - Not Your Typical Architect: Constructing Shareholder ValueThis episode features Rick Brimacomb, Founder of Brimacomb & Associates, and Club Entrepreneur. Rick's interview focused on strategies business owners can utilize to build value in their companies and how to prepare well for a future exit, especially in light of the pandemic. Tune in and learn why now is the time for owners to diversify their customer list and delegate authority, among other things to make their businesses resilient and transferable.Find Rick here: https://brimacomb.com/Find Julie here: https://www.poisedforexit.com/Connect with 2020-08-1130 minPoised for Exit10 - Design your Network for Business Results. Building an IMPACT 100™This episode features Cathy Paper, Founder and CEO of Rock Paper Star. Cathy is a professional speaker, trainer, coach and book promotion specialist for the likes of Harvey Mackay and many others. Cathy talks about a program she's running called IMPACT 100™, and the importance of building a strong professional network, especially if you are a business owner or professional adviser. Building a strong network founded on strong, lasting relationships was the main subject of this show. You won't want to miss it. Find Cathy Here: https://www.rockpaperstar.com/Find Julie Here: ht...2020-08-0528 minPoised for Exit9 - Being a Woman-Owned Business in a Male Dominated IndustryIn this episode, we visited with President and CEO of Climate Makers, Inc, Lori Bauer. Lori has grown her commercial HVAC company exponentially from it's humble roots when she bought it in 2006 from the founder. The company does business statewide as a union shop provider of HVAC services. Lori shares a few secrets of her success, pitfalls of being in a male dominated industry, and finally how she's earned the ability to exit on her own terms!Find Lori here: https://climatemakersinc.com/Find Julie & Poised for Exit here: https://www.poisedforexit.com/2020-07-2919 minPoised for Exit8 - What the Tech is Going on?!Our topic today with Bret Erickson, President at Passkey Technology, covered best practices in IT for business owners, especially in a merger or acquisition situation. If you're planning a business exit in the near future, you'll want to listen to this episode. Working from home, cybersecurity and remote access were also discussed. A lot to digest, but worth the listen!Find Bret Here: https://www.passkeyinc.com/Find Julie's info here: www.PoisedforExit.comConnect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLCFounder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and...2020-07-2322 minPoised for Exit7 - Everyone Needs a Friend in Law-Making Legal Help EasyToday's show featured Erin Turner, Co-Founder and managing partner at Johnson Turner Legal. Johnson Turner is a law firm that specializes in family law and estate planning, among other practice areas. Erin shares the story of how her mindset shifted from owning a law firm, to owning a business. She also shares some anecdotes and action items that any business owner can use and apply right away; from the use of Dashboards, to Forecasting, you won't want to miss this super engaging episode of Poised For Exit! Find Erin here: www.johnsonturner.comFind...2020-07-1428 minPoised for ExitConsultant and author Julie Keyes debuts her podcast.In her debut episode, consultant and author Julie Keyes shares her thoughts on exit strategies and chats with BS Show host Bob Sansevere about her new book, “Poised for Exit.” https://www.poisedforexit.comConnect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLCFounder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor2020-06-0421 min