In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with serial entrepreneur Dee Vaidya.

Born in Bombay and raised in Pune, Dee's journey spans continents, industries, and decades — from rubber and plastics to electronics, Dell manufacturing, geospatial intelligence, and building a $50M+ government contractor before a successful exit.

From starting with just $5,000 and a dream in Mary's family home, to winning a $200M global geospatial intelligence contract for the U.S. government, Dee's story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and long-term thinking.

This is a powerful conversation about immigration, entrepreneurship, family, culture, federal contracting, scaling, and giving back.

Mark and Dee discuss:

• Early Roots & Education – Growing up in India, IIT Bombay, and following his father's entrepreneurial path.

• Family & Partnership – Building businesses with Mary and raising three children through multiple relocations.

• Reinvention – Moving from rubber & plastics into electronics, then into digital mapping and defence work.

• The Dell Years – Building PCs for Michael Dell in the early days of Dell Computer.

• Technographics Growth – From a small acquisition to a $50M+ company and 400+ employees.

• Geospatial Intelligence – Mapping the world for defence, navigation, and national security.

• Advisors & Mentors – The impact of Don Noble and building a world-class advisory team.

• The Exit – Selling Technographics to CACI and navigating a complex data room process.

• Giving Back – Launching the Wayne County Economic Forum to bring world-class speakers to Wooster.

• Life After Exit – Golf, table tennis, community leadership, and staying active.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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Dee Vaidya is a serial entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and sold multiple businesses across manufacturing, electronics, and geospatial intelligence. Born in India and educated at IIT Bombay, the University of Akron, and Purdue University, Dee moved to the U.S. to pursue entrepreneurship and the free-market system.

He is best known for founding and growing Technographics, a geospatial intelligence company that won a $200M global contract and grew to over 400 employees before being sold to CACI. Dee is also the founder of the Wayne County Economic Forum and a recipient of the Wooster Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Award for his contributions to the community.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Michael Carter — serial entrepreneur, venture investor and founder of BizEquity, and now founder & CEO of Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI).

Michael has built platforms used by hundreds of thousands of businesses, created large shareholder value, and now aims to democratise entrepreneurship with an AI-driven roadmap and founders' co-pilot.

BizEquity origin — why business valuation needed democratising and the early insight that launched BizEquity.

Democratisation — making knowledge faster, cheaper and more accessible for entrepreneurs.

EMG.ai & the Roadmap — the 73-step Entrepreneurs Roadmap and the vision to be a coach/agent for founders.

Digital Agents — what an entrepreneur's agent is, how it's built on LLMs and why every company will want one.

Who EMG serves — solopreneurs, first-time founders and early-stage teams that lack VC networks.

Monetisation & product path — free entry via Ben (the agent), moving to pro/agent subscriptions and community.

Mission Capitalist Club — a non-partisan crew, think-tank for entrepreneurs, and community experiments.

Big picture — entrepreneurship as the new athletic profession: coaching, repeatable playbooks and scaled mentorship via AI.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

Michael (Mike) Carter is a serial entrepreneur and founder of BizEquity (the world's largest online business valuation platform) and now Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI). Mike has helped platforms used by c.400,000 businesses, created substantial shareholder value, and now focuses on building tools (roadmaps + AI agents) that democratise entrepreneurship — giving founders an accessible coach, playbook and business brain. He also founded the Mission Capitalist Club, a philanthropic, apolitical entrepreneurs' community in Philadelphia.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with food industry executive and entrepreneur Pat Viancourt, owner and CEO of Herman Pickle Company in Garrettsville, Ohio.

With decades of leadership experience across Seagram, Nestlé Waters, Hospitality Mints, Paragon Foods, and multiple private-equity-backed businesses, Pat shares how he went from corporate CPG and private equity to owning a family-built pickle company with both beloved legacy brands and major national partnerships.

For listeners thinking about buying a business, exiting corporate life, or scaling a niche manufacturing company, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons on leadership, humility, and growth.

• From Corporate to Ownership – How Pat moved from big consumer product companies and private equity into owning his own business.
• The Entrepreneurial Leap – Why he walked away from a secure executive role to search for a company to buy during COVID.
• Finding Herman Pickle Co. – The serendipitous story of revisiting a company he first saw 10 years earlier and turning it into his own.
• Checking Your Ego at the Door – What it really means to wear every hat in a small/mid-sized business, from "presidential to janitorial".
• Brand & Product Strength – The story behind Don Herman's half-sour and full-sour pickles and why customers say, "That's what a pickle should taste like."
• Nathan's & Private Label – How Herman Pickle Co. became the exclusive licensed manufacturer for Nathan's Famous pickles and a major player in private-label refrigerated pickles.
• Growth & Automation – Balancing labour challenges, automation, and operational efficiency while expanding distribution across the U.S.
• Vision for the Future – How Pat plans to make Herman Pickle Co. "bigger, faster, stronger" without losing its quality, culture, or roots.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US

• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

Pat Viancourt is an experienced CEO, food industry executive, and business owner. Over his career, he has led and grown companies in food manufacturing, foodservice distribution, secondary packaging, and custom printing, working with respected private equity groups such as Linsalata Capital Partners, Odyssey Investment Partners, and others.

In 2021, Pat purchased Herman Pickle Company in Garrettsville, Ohio, a family-founded business known for its Don Herman fermented pickles and its role as the exclusive licensed manufacturer of Nathan's Famous refrigerated pickles. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its branded, licensed, private-label, and foodservice business while investing in automation and operational efficiency.

Pat brings together corporate discipline, entrepreneurial courage, and a deep respect for legacy brands—showing how a well-run niche manufacturer can grow, innovate, and still stay true to its roots.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Chris Cooper, Director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) at Kent State University.

For over 25 years, Chris has helped business owners across Ohio explore the power of employee ownership — guiding them through successful transitions, building strong ownership cultures, and creating legacies that last.

The OEOC Mission – How the Ohio Employee Ownership Center helps business owners transition their companies to employee ownership.

The Human Impact – Real stories of employees who built life-changing wealth through ownership.

ESOP Advantages – Why employee ownership creates win-win outcomes for owners, workers, and communities.

Succession & Legacy – How founders can exit while preserving culture and jobs.

EOT vs ESOP – The differences between Employee Ownership Trusts and ESOPs, and when each fits best.

Collaboration & Support – How the OEOC partners with advisors, foundations, and business owners to make transitions possible.

Success Story – A Cleveland company that became 100% employee-owned, creating over 200 new owners.

The Future – Why Ohio leads the way in employee ownership and what it means for the next generation of business owners.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US

• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

About the Guest:

Chris Cooper is the Director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) at Kent State University. With over two decades of experience, Chris has worked with hundreds of business owners to explore employee ownership as a succession solution. He leads programs focused on succession planning, ownership culture, and employee-owned startups, and coordinates Ohio's Employee-Owned Network, which includes more than 100 companies.

Chris has spoken at national and international conferences across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Bermuda, and is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) through the Exit Planning Institute. His work bridges research, education, and real-world impact—helping business owners finish strong while keeping their companies and communities thriving.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with Professor Kimberly Eddleston of Northeastern University and Cornell University's Smith Family Business Initiative. Professor Edelston is one of the world's leading scholars in family business and entrepreneurship—ranked among the top 2% of scientists by Stanford University and recognized by Family Capital as one of the world's Top 25 Family Enterprise Academics.

Mark and Kim discuss:

The Fredo Effect – What it means, how it appears in real family businesses, and why it's so hard to talk about.

Family Dynamics – How loyalty, guilt, and generational expectations can turn a strength into a weakness.

Research Findings – 33% of families admit to having a "family impediment" member—and why the real number is likely much higher.

Nepotism vs Accountability – What happens when roles aren't clearly defined and bad behavior goes unchecked.

Prevention & Governance – Practical tools to reduce risk: rules of entry, clear job descriptions, and outside boards of advisors.

Culture & Communication – How open dialogue, fairness, and transparency can keep both relationships and revenue healthy.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

About the Guest:

Professor Kimberly Eddleston is a globally recognized expert in family business, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She serves as a Research Fellow at Cornell University's Smith Family Business Initiative and teaches at Northeastern University in Boston. Her groundbreaking work explores how families can be both a resource and a constraint in their companies.

Kim has authored award-winning papers, delivered workshops around the world, and helped countless families navigate the complex emotions of succession and leadership transition.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Roger Atkins, President of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA). Roger shares his remarkable journey—from sweeping floors in his father's Houston machine shop to leading a national organisation of over 1,000 small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Mark and Roger discuss::

• Manufacturing Roots: Growing up in the shop, discovering purpose, and falling in love with the craft.

• Resilience in Business: Navigating oil downturns, 9/11, and economic uncertainty while keeping businesses alive.

• Community Power: Why peer groups and associations like NTMA are lifelines for owners.

• Precision & Innovation: How small shops quietly power rockets, aircraft, and national security.

• Succession & Legacy: Why every business owner needs a plan, and how failing to prepare risks employees, families, and the future.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

About the Guest:

Roger Atkins is the President of NTMA, representing small and medium-sized manufacturers across the U.S. With decades of leadership experience, he is dedicated to helping owners grow, sustain, and transition their businesses with purpose.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes back Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), for Part 2 of their conversation on alternative ownership structures—specifically, the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

Following their earlier discussion on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Mark and Corey explore how EOTs differ, their origins, and why some business owners may choose them over ESOPs. They cover the practical, cultural, and philosophical factors driving this emerging succession strategy in the U.S.

Mark and Corey discuss:

• EOT Origins & Growth: How the model evolved in the UK (inspired by the John Lewis Partnership) and its rapid adoption overseas.

• Key Differences from ESOPs: Costs, complexity, tax implications, and the flexibility to set custom rules for ownership and profit distribution.

• Ideal Candidates: Why smaller companies (often under 50 employees) and owners committed to long-term independence may benefit most.

• Purpose Trusts: How some companies, like Patagonia, use ownership trusts for social and environmental missions.

• Succession Planning Considerations: When an EOT makes sense versus a management buyout, phantom stock, or other equity models.

• NCEO's Role: Resources, research, and networking opportunities for companies exploring employee ownership.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

• Facebook: Succession Plus

• (330)-416-9271

• [email protected]

Corey Rosen is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). A former Capitol Hill staffer and political science professor, Corey helped draft early ESOP legislation in the 1970s and has since authored numerous books and research papers on employee ownership. Today, he leads NCEO's mission to educate and support businesses considering employee ownership as a sustainable, wealth-building alternative to traditional exits.

In this episode of Finish Big the Podcast, Host Mark Dorman is joined by Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and one of the world's leading experts on employee ownership.

Corey shares his decades-long journey—from drafting the original ESOP legislation on Capitol Hill to helping thousands of business owners implement employee stock ownership plans. He and Mark explore the massive impact ESOPs can have on succession, company culture, employee wealth, and long-term legacy.

• From Policy to Practice: How Corey transitioned from political science professor to Capitol Hill staffer, eventually founding the NCEO in 1981.
• ESOP Growth & Tax Advantages: The rise of employee ownership, how ESOPs work, and why their tax advantages make them a powerful tool for succession.
• Bipartisan Appeal: Why ESOPs remain one of the rare ideas with support across political lines—from Elizabeth Warren to Tommy Tuberville.
• Succession Planning Realities: Why ESOPs offer flexible exit options for baby boomer business owners, while preserving legacy and rewarding employees.
• Section 1042 & Tax Deferral: A deep dive into how sellers can defer capital gains taxes through reinvestment, and the lesser-known wealth-building benefits of ESOPs.
• Who Should Consider an ESOP?: The financial, managerial, and structural conditions that make a company ideal for employee ownership.
• Culture and Engagement: Why communication, open-book management, and employee involvement are the key to successful ESOP-driven transformation.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US
• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman
• LinkedIn: Succession Plus
• Facebook: Succession Plus
• (330)-416-9271
• [email protected]

Corey Rosen is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). A former Capitol Hill staffer and political science professor, Corey helped draft early ESOP legislation in the 1970s and has since authored numerous books and research papers on employee ownership. Today, he leads NCEO's mission to educate and support businesses considering employee ownership as a sustainable, wealth-building alternative to traditional exits.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman is joined by Sigi Loya—an entrepreneur with a remarkably diverse background spanning corporate America, real estate finance, healthcare entrepreneurship, and business coaching.

Sigi Loya shares his evolution from a corporate employee benefits expert to founding multiple businesses, including a holistic medical practice and TAB Pittsburgh, a peer-to-peer advisory board franchise. He also discusses launching Affordable Business Valuations with his son to empower business owners with accurate and actionable insights into their company's worth.

• Corporate to Entrepreneurial Shift: Leaving a successful corporate career to build new ventures from the ground up.
• Resilience in Business: Overcoming near-failure experiences with grit and the support of peer networks.
• The Power of Peer Advisory Boards: How TAB helped CG and others navigate critical decisions through shared wisdom and accountability.
• Succession & Legacy Planning: Why making yourself less central to your business increases its value.
• Business Valuation Insights: The importance of knowing your business's worth before a sale and how Biz Equity helps demystify this process.
• Family Business Collaboration: Working alongside his son to build a valuation business grounded in education and long-term strategy.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US
• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman
• LinkedIn: Succession Plus
• Facebook: Succession Plus
• (330)-416-9271
• [email protected]

About the Guest:

Sigi Loya is a seasoned entrepreneur and TAB Pittsburgh franchise owner. With roots in corporate insurance and employee benefits, he transitioned into real estate finance and healthcare entrepreneurship before finding his true passion in business coaching and valuations. His mission today is helping small business owners scale smartly, plan successful exits, and realise the true value of their life's work.

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Brian Zawada—a seasoned business continuity and operational resilience expert, entrepreneur, author, and now boutique winemaker.

Brian shares his incredible journey from serving as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force to co-founding Evolution Consulting, scaling the business, and navigating a successful private equity-backed exit. Today, he's living a new chapter as the co-founder of Violet Vines, crafting exceptional Oregon wines.

This episode is packed with insights on risk management, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after business ownership. Brian's story is one of intentional decision-making, continuous learning, and the courage to reinvent yourself.

• Military Precision in Business: Lessons from strategic intelligence and risk management.
• Bootstrapping to Success: Scaling Evolution Consulting without debt.
• Breaking Growth Barriers: How private equity and strategic partnerships fueled expansion.
• The Exit Journey: Challenges, lessons, and the importance of cultural fit with investors.
• Life After the Exit: Finding passion and purpose in winemaking at Violet Vines.
• Family, Freedom & Legacy: Balancing career ambitions with personal priorities.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

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• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman
• LinkedIn: Succession Plus
• Facebook: Succession Plus
• (330)-416-9271
• [email protected]

• LinkedIn: Brian Zawada
• Website: Violet Vines

Brian Zawada is a resilience strategist, business advisor, and winemaker. With nearly 30 years of experience in business continuity and operational resilience, Brian has worked across industries including manufacturing, pharma, biotech, and consumer goods. He is the author of The Business Continuity Operating System and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Business Continuity Institute. Today, he channels his passion into Violet Vines, a boutique winery in Oregon, alongside his family.