Shows
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitThe Rebuild Mindset: Brandon Kraupp on Turning Setbacks into a Multi-State Service MachineAfter losing his first fortune to a Ponzi scheme in his late twenties, Brandon Kraupp didn’t lick his wounds—he grabbed a clipboard. Today, his Utah-based Romex Pest Control spans four states, fields nearly two hundred teammates, and runs on an EOS-powered culture that blends door-knock grit with relentless data-tracking. Brandon sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to share how maxed-out 0 % credit cards and a “just make more tomorrow” mindset turned a single truck into a regional platform. You’ll hear:
FBI Wake-Up Call – why losing everything crystallized a fearless approach to risk and...2025-07-1040 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitBuilding Axel: Sean DeDeyn’s Path from D-1 Wrestling to a Staffing PowerhouseFormer Rutgers heavyweight Sean DeDeyn turned a hard-charging wrestling mindset into The Axel Group, a niche staffing firm that now supplies talent across every stage of major construction projects. Sean joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the six-year sprint from a two-desk office to a 30-person team, a tech-driven recruiting engine, and side ventures ranging from tiki party boats to college-wrestling commentary.
You’ll hear:
Fired on Monday, Founder by August – how a commission dispute became the push to launch Axel in 2017.Why “One Rep, One Bo...2025-06-0533 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitFrom Candy Bars to Cleaning Empires: Dom Williams on Systems, Mindset & Multiple Revenue StreamsSerial entrepreneur Dom Williams sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to reveal how a kid running county-wide candy routes now leads a 200-employee cleaning company, owns drive-thru “drink barns,” flips HUD rentals, and is launching a lounge—while coaching other service-business owners past the six- and seven-figure ceiling.
You’ll hear:
Early Hustle → Corporate Wake-Up – the Wall Street layoff that pushed Dom full time and helped CNC Cleaning hit $1 M in six months.Play Business for Life – treating strategy like a game and using daily “pulse meetings” to keep the scorecard...2025-05-2934 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitOceanside Service: Scott Nelson’s 36-Year HVAC Journey from One-Man Shop to 10 Million in RevenueThe Blue-Collar Twins sit down with Scott Nelson, founder of Central-Jersey’s iconic Oceanside Service—the turquoise-truck HVAC firm he bootstrapped for 36 years before handing the keys to private equity earlier this spring. Scott unpacks the branding bets, “golden-handcuff” culture, and 20 %-margin playbook that turned a $600 van into a top-1 % contractor (and a life-changing buyout).Buzz EP 203 Scot N Mix …
You’ll hear:
Branding on Wheels – why he painted every truck Caribbean blue (and wrapped the last two).25-Minute Rule – slashing windshield time to keep service profit-positive.Earn While You L...2025-05-221h 01
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitFrom Wall Street to Water-Damage Warrior: How John Majeski Scaled Four SERVPRO Franchises—and Aims to Top the Northeast by 2034Lifeguard buddies turned blue-collar founders Jason & Jeremy Julio reconnect with longtime friend John Majeski—once a Manhattan finance analyst, now the force behind four thriving SERVPRO franchises across New Jersey. John breaks down the gritty first three-year slog, the culture playbook that powers his team, and the BHAG that keeps everyone rowing: “Be the #1 SERVPRO in the Northeast by 2034.
You’ll hear:
Career 180° – ditching Wall Street for sewage back-flows and never once looking back.Buying, Not Building – why acquiring an eight-month-old franchise beat starting from scratch.The ‘World’s Stron...2025-05-1543 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitFrom Side-Hustle to Eight-Figure Exit: The Blue Collar TwinsMeet Jason & Jeremy Julio—the Blue-Collar Twins—as they trade gym whistles for board-room banter and join producer-turned-host Dylan Seals behind the mic. In their debut as co-hosts they unpack:
Side-Hustle Genesis – the late-night kitchen-table brainstorm that birthed Last Bite Mosquito & Tick.Scaling While Clocked-In – juggling lesson plans, beach-club shifts, and 55 techs by reinvesting every dollar.The Potomac Playbook – how CIMs, buyer psychology, and a discipline 90 % of sellers flunk drove an eight-figure deal with Viking Pest / Anticimex.Seller Blind Spots – retention metrics, seasonality...2025-05-0855 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitPaul Giannamore Unfiltered: Hustling Out of Chicago, Cracking Wall Street, and Building POTOMAC M&AMeet Jason & Jeremy Julio—the Blue-Collar Twins turned eight-figure sellers— as they step in as your new co-hosts of The Boardroom Buzz. In their maiden voyage they flip the script, putting mentor Paul Giannamore in the hot seat to uncover the back-alley hustle that took him from inner-city Chicago to building Potomac M&A into a middle-market powerhouse.
You’ll hear:
How the twins scaled a New Jersey pest-control roll-up while teaching full-timePaul’s early days flipping farm gear, tech-banking in the dot-com frenzy, and spotting gold in fragmented service marketsWhy CEOs should o...2025-05-011h 14
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 197 — Leveraging Fire Protection Sell-Side M&A with Paul Giannamore and Nick BartoloAn audio rebroadcast from POTOMAC.TV.
Nick Bartolo turns the mic on Paul Giannamore to discuss his strategy for selling fire protection businesses. Paul reveals how a formal sell-side process, combined with competitive leverage, drives transaction multiples to new highs.
Learn how you can maximize the value of your fire protection business in the growing M&A market and cut taxes on the transaction.
Recorded at NFPA 2024 in Orlando, Florida.
In this episode:
Importance of competitive auctions in fire protectionWhy sell-side representation mattersTips for preparing years ahead of saleCommon challenges in...2024-11-2837 min
Pest Control MillionairePCM 100 | Paul Giannamore of The Potomac CompanyPaul Giannamore is the managing director of The Potomac Company (https://potomaccompany.com/) servicing 141 countries. Listen to his podcast ‘’The Boardroom Buzz’’: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iEvyrP6VfzPQ5UlR5Wf7lGorilla Desk Free Trial: https://gorilladesk.com/?fpr=jonas-12The Pest Control Millionaire Podcast is all about helping small business owners scale their lawn and pest companies by talking to experts in the service industry.For business coaching and mentorship, visit pestcontrolmillionaire.com.Send your business and entrepreneurship questions to info@pestcontrolmillionaire.com and we'll answer them on the s...2024-10-291h 35
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 185 — Why Execution Matters More Than IdeasPaul Giannamore, Mat Rogers, and Patrick Baldwin begin the episode by paying tribute to Andrew Beck, the CEO of Aruza Pest Control, who passed away last week. They share personal stories, remembering him as a devoted business leader, father, husband, and friend. If you knew Andrew or would like to help his family in this unimaginably difficult time, Paul has set up a GoFundMe page at 4AndrewBeck.com
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Fat Pat and Chase Hazelwood break down why ideas alone aren't enough to guarantee success this week in The Boardroom - it’s all about execution. He...2024-08-221h 35
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 183 — Summer Heat: Rentokil Speculation and Private Equity DealsPaul Giannamore is back in The Boardroom this week joining Patrick Baldwin to cover the surprisingly bustling pest control M&A market. You’d expect transactions to slow down due to summer vacations, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Paul shared that Potomac has “closed more transactions than we have in a two-month period, except in Q4 of 2020." Private equity firms are at the forefront, driving many of the recent transactions. Unlike strategic buyers, these firms often operate under the radar, leading to many deals happening without public fanfare. With big names like Rentokil, Rollins, and Anticimex staying relati...2024-08-0842 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 178 — Paul’s Ultimate Guide to Pest Control Success in 2024 from POTOMAC TVYou can watch Paul’s presentation in its entirety on POTOMAC TV here: https://youtu.be/OiY68KAOIC8?si=UK-Tcq2GA7b1Ec4v
In an insightful speech at the AZPPO Great Western Pest Control Conference in March 2024, Paul Giannamore, the industry’s foremost authority on business valuation, shared valuable strategies for growing, managing, and valuing pest control businesses. He emphasized staying focused on core pest control services for better performance and higher valuations. Paul stressed prioritizing cash flow over revenue and building a strong base of recurring revenue to attract private equity firms. Are you focusing on y...2024-07-0458 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 169 — Why World-Class Dealmakers Avoid NegotiationsThis keynote speech by leading M&A advisor, Paul Giannamore, was filmed at the AZPPO Great Western Conference in Mesa, Arizona, on March 27, 2024.
The presentation revolves around the key decision-making processes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), focusing particularly on the choice between negotiation and auction when selling assets. Paul Giannamore, with over 20 years of experience in M&A advisory, emphasizes that understanding and choosing the right selling process—negotiation or auction—is crucial, not only in M&A but in any asset sale.
Illustrating this, he shares a personal story about selling a valuable fami...2024-05-0251 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 104 — What's next for The Buzz?Paul Giannamore and behind-the-scenes Producer, Dylan Seals discuss the past, present, and future of The Boardroom Buzz as well as the introduction of POTOMAC | TV, a YouTube Channel that seeks to delight, entertain and inform Service Industry owners and their families.
Watch now at WWW.POTOMAC.TV
Produced by Verbell.Ltd2022-09-2212 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitOff The Record With Paul Giannamore - Episode 3Join us for a new segment of The Boardroom Buzz where Paul gives direct market commentary as well as answers your questions.
Please write in your questions to thebuzz@potomaccompany.com2022-04-2017 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitOff The Record With Paul Giannamore - Episode 2Join us for a new segment of The Boardroom Buzz where Paul gives direct market commentary as well as answers your questions.
Please write in your questions to thebuzz@potomaccompany.com2022-04-1234 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitOff The Record With Paul Giannamore - Episode 1Join us for a new segment of The Boardroom Buzz where Paul gives direct market commentary as well as answers your questions.
Feel free to write in your questions to thebuzz@potomaccompany.com2022-04-0526 min
Colony Confidential PodcastThe Pest Management Professional’s Round UpJoin Ed and Joe as they discuss a few current events affecting business. After our talk with Paul Giannamore, Ed made some changes and gets into his new purchases and what he’s looking at. Some of the talk around NYC is how it’s changing from a mass transit city to a driver’s city - 500 thousand new cars have been added to the roads in New York City alone. Jill Chapman and our friends from Insperity are coming by to answer some listener questions - If you have a question for the Experts - Send us an email col...2021-09-2821 minColony Confidential PodcastLet's Talk Money Matters and Finances for Pest Control Owners and OperatorsThe final installment from our interview with Paul Giannamore who explains what's happening in the Financial Markets. Why he thinks we're moving from crisis to crisis and avoiding a recession. Why recessions serve a purpose and so much more. Joe compares the U.S government to Blackberry and the guys all share a little insight into how they're investing their money - Joe's advice - play with the house's money and Remember!! The views stated in this podcast are opinion only and should not be taken as financial advice. 2021-09-1431 min
PLSJ PodcastPaul Giannamore InterviewOut and About with Paul Giannamore the Assignment Editor and Producer of WTOV News 9.
2021-08-2515 min
Colony Confidential PodcastFinancial Outlook in Pest ControlAnytime we speak with Paul Giannamore, it gets better. Understand what's going on in the world as it relates to running your small or not so small business. It takes more than hard work, to be successful, entrepreneurs need to make sound financial decisions on a daily basis. This is a great place to start. 2021-07-2317 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 40 — Expect the Opposite: The Sell-Side M&A Discussion ContinuesThe U Group held its semi-annual meeting in Tampa, and called on Paul Giannamore to present. Call it a press pass or Paul’s paparazzi; Patrick managed to find his way into the meeting. Even the Senator Scott Stevenson made the drive to hang out with Paul, Patrick, and his U Group colleagues. While in Tampa, Paul made time to visit Seth Garber’s Pest Daily studio for some buy-side lessons.
What happens when a potential deal stalls in due diligence? It gets interesting when it’s not one of Paul’s deals and a prominent strategic acquirer...2021-02-0452 min
Talking Pest ManagementMergers and Aquisitions updates 🎙️ Talking Pest Management with Paul GiannamoreThe addition of Certus in the US to the acquisitions market is discussed. Operating only since spring 2019, this company has a declared intention of growing by acquisition so as to reach a top 10 position in the PCT top 100 company listing in the next few years. But as Paul highlights, this is a tough call when pitching against the existing four majors with their deep pockets. Regarding more practical advances, Paul predicts the use of digital technology will continue to grow albeit slowly and steadily by the smaller companies. He acknowledges that many of the activities of the pest control c...2021-02-0355 min
Colony Confidential PodcastFinance Talk with the FellasAfter spending the last few weeks learning from Paul Giannamore we're all in the mood for more finance talk. This episode is one of the fan favorites and for good reason. A lot of great nuggets in here for you on investing and how we pick stocks. 2020-12-1027 minColony Confidential PodcastQ&A with Paul Giannamore from The Potomac GroupEd and Joe bring some questions to the table and Paul gives us his honest and in - depth feedback on hot topics like competitive locations, stocks, what he thinks about politics and so much more!2020-12-0820 min
Colony Confidential PodcastThe Business of Pest Control with Paul GiannamoreThis episode covers more current events with the man behind multiples of million dollar deals in the Pest Industry. We're talking setting up your business, PCT Top 100 Sales , what's coming up in 2021 and enough to keep your heads spinning. Buckle in for this one.2020-12-0322 minColony Confidential PodcastTalking Business with Paul GiannamorePaul is back in the hot seat and we waste no time talking about covid, business impacts and his new podcast.2020-12-0121 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 31 — The Stevenson Sessions, Part 1: Scott Stevenson, the Modern AmbassadorIf Scott Stevenson is the Senator, then Paul Giannamore is the Brother Whisperer. Paul has an epiphany moment as Scott turned the tables and questioned him about his custom communication methods.
As a third generation co-owner with brothers Doug and Rich, Scott takes us back to Modern's early days. Who knew it would involve repairing a toaster of all things?
In his twenties, Scott visited with Harvey Massey at Massey Services and Joe Thomas at Arrow Exterminators. These learning opportunities helped shape Modern's branch manager-centric structure. The Stevenson Brothers furthered their development by joining the...2020-11-251h 34Talking Pest ManagementInsights from the world's leading M&A Company in the Pest Control Industry with Paul GiannamoreMergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the Pest Control Industry This week’s interview is essential listening for all those interested in what’s happening in the global pest control company mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, especially if you yourself are contemplating the sale of your own business. So, settle down and listen to what Paul Giannamore, the managing director of the Potomac Company (www.PotomacPest.com), has to say. With offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Philadelphia, USA, the Potomac Company specialises in global mergers and acquisitions, with special expertise in the pest control sector. Paul first explains that t...2020-08-2423 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 17 — A Sell-Side M&A Discussion Puts Patrick Under the Interrogation Lamp - Part 1Paul and Patrick start the show by celebrating The Buzz’s #1 business podcast ranking in Seychelles.
Episode 14 — Buy-Side: “The Opposite” tipped the scales with listener questions. Patrick thought the he could one-up Paul by blindsiding him with a question or two from the mailroom, but Paul rope-a-doped with an extended sell-side role play scenario.
Sell-Side Sensei and M&A Master Paul Giannamore took Patrick to school. Patrick may have made a fool of himself (again), but he’s recovering after tapping out. There is a lot more at play than...2020-08-201h 19
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 7 — Certus CEO Mike Givlin on Building a Private Equity-Backed Pest Control Company… from ScratchWhen he’s not making maple syrup snow candy, sipping barely-drinkable coffee at Tim Horton’s, or waiting in a long line at Health Canada for his flu shot, Mike Givlin, CEO of Certus, is building the next US national pest control firm. In this episode, Paul Giannamore and Patrick Baldwin find out what it’s really like to raise private equity funding to build a business. In this interview, Mike holds nothing back, discussing his career trajectory and how he and his team are striving to put people first as they execute a buy-and-build strategy in the pest contro...2020-06-1155 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 6 — A Rare, First-of-its-Kind Conversation with Independent Wall Street Equity Research Analyst Jamie Clement on Pest Control Industry Valuation and M&AJamie Clement has worked on Wall Street for investment banking and research institutions for over two decades, providing actionable insight to hedge funds and institutional investors on pest control and other industries.
He is an important part of Paul’s inner circle and one of his go-to guys for insight on pest control and other industries. For many years, the two have debated valuation, value creation and M&A in the pest control industry privately, and today you’ll listen in on one of their discussions.
In this new segment, Patrick Baldwin and Paul Giannamore Step...2020-06-041h 27
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 5 — The King of Route Density and PCT Top 100 CEO Tony Sfreddo Steps Into the BoardroomThe Boardroom Buzz kicks off a new segment, Step Into the Boardroom, with former CEO of Triple S Services, Tony Sfreddo. Prior to selling Triple S to Anticimex, Tony and his brother Phil built the business into a commercial powerhouse in the Washington, DC metro area generating $267,000 in revenue per technician per year. Servicing accounts such as the Pentagon, the CIA, and the US Supreme Court, Triple S reached number #68 on the PCT Top 100 list prior to the sale. In this hard-hitting interview, Paul Giannamore and Patrick Baldwin get schooled by Tony on route density, commercial sales, technician compensation, com...2020-05-281h 33
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 3 — Valuations, Benchmarking, and KPIsPaul Giannamore and Patrick Baldwin respond to "What makes a firm more valuable?" question submitted from the AFTERMATH presentation. They also take a step back into how they first met eight years ago when Patrick called on Paul to do a valuation (appraisal) for his pest control business.2020-05-1551 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 2 — COVID-19 effects on Pest Control InvestmentsPaul Giannamore and Patrick Baldwin discuss where money will end up after the COVID-19 pandemic. How will essential service businesses look for investors in the long-run? Pest control is an essential business. Will investors shift their portfolios to 'de-risked' industries because of Covid-19?
How will the pandemic affect future pest control acquisitions? Will this shift valuations on residential vs commercial segments?
Will the DOW return to its pre-COVID-19 high?2020-05-0826 min
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or ExitEpisode 1 — Deals, Contingencies, and GotchasPaul Giannamore and Patrick Baldwin chat about how pest control transactions are structured differently.
What happens after the sale... after Paul's first pest control deal in 2003, what happened after the close?
Patrick and Paul also talk about "taking a lump sum in a duffle bag and the proper way to 'make it rain' when you're at an underground Romanian rave".2020-04-3025 min
Colony Confidential PodcastWhat Now? Paul Giannamore's Financial OutlookPaul Giannamore of The Potomac Pest Control Group joins us to talk about what's to come in Financial Matters. Paul pretty much talked about $2.5 billion losses in the industry in the beginning of March. Now he answers your questions and gives his advice on how Coronavirus will affect global markets, different ways that small business can pivot and so much more. Listen to the Pro's like we do!2020-04-1635 min
Colony Confidential PodcastMoney Talk with Paul GiannamoreThis Series packs a college level education. Paul Giannamore of The Potomac Company does not disappoint. He tells us about his early start with entrepreneurship, starting a business selling used farming equipment throughout Europe while a student at Cornell University. Here's a few of the Top Things we learned... Latin America and Eastern Europe are the new frontiers in Pest Control Business Owners looking to break past the $1M Mark - Focus on Marketing, customers and discipline. Ready to Blow it out the park? Hire someone with strong internal accounting and bookk...2019-09-1221 min
Colony Confidential PodcastMoney Talk with Paul Giannamore the Industry Boss of Mergers & AcquisitionsSeptember is the month most businesses start working on budgets and forecasting. We get it going with a bang thanks to our Incredible guest Paul Giannamore, the kind of person who makes you feel smarter after a single conversation. Don't take our word for it, get into this conversation and hear his take on what sets top earning companies apart, how to build a rock solid foundation for your business and the recession.2019-09-1025 min