Poised for Exit

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Lisa McEllistrem, CEO of Modern Foundation and President of EO Minnesota, shares how strategic marketing can drive business growth, strengthen company value, and help owners prepare for a successful exit.

Lisa's journey into business ownership followed nearly two decades in the advertising industry and a personal experience that reshaped her priorities. She shares how those experiences led her to Modern Foundation, where she helps businesses connect their marketing efforts to measurable results. She explains why sales, marketing, and finance need to work together, how data can reveal new growth opportunities, and why building a repeatable sales engine is especially important for owners planning an eventual transition.

The conversation also explores what makes a strong brand, why customer trust and human relationships matter more than ever in an AI-driven world, and how a manufacturing client grew from “Main Street to Wall Street” with the help of a focused marketing strategy. Lisa also discusses the value of connecting with fellow business owners through Entrepreneurs' Organization and shares her advice for finishing the year strong by focusing on the priorities that matter most.

Connect with Lisa McEllistrem here
Learn more about Modern Foundation here
Learn more about EO Minnesota and upcoming events here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jaryd Krause, founder of Buying Online Businesses, shares how buying an existing business can open up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, whether they’re looking for a new venture or a faster way to grow a business they already own.

Jaryd’s own path into business ownership started with a simple realization: instead of building something from scratch, why not buy a business that was already working? He shares how that decision led him to buy several online businesses and eventually help other entrepreneurs do the same. Along the way, he breaks down how buyers can narrow their search, understand what they can afford, and find a business that actually fits their goals and strengths.

The conversation also gets into one of the biggest challenges for buyers: knowing whether a promising opportunity is really as good as it looks. Jaryd shares what to look for during due diligence, why getting emotionally attached to a deal can cloud your judgment, and how existing business owners can use acquisitions to add new capabilities, revenue streams, and growth opportunities.

Connect with Jaryd Krausehere
Learn more about Buying Online Businesseshere
Listen to the Buying Online Businesses Podcast here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Todd Krough, President of the EPI Twin Cities Chapter discusses why some of the most valuable insights for business owners can come from other owners who have already faced the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that come with preparing for what’s next.

Todd shares how the Twin Cities Chapter has evolved over the past decade and why collaboration among business owners and their advisors is such an important part of successful exit planning. From building enterprise value to assembling the right advisory team, the conversation explores how better preparation can benefit not only the owner, but the long-term future of the business.

Todd also previews the 2026 Owners Forum on October 7, an interactive event designed around business owners learning from other business owners. Attendees will hear directly from a panel of owners about their experiences, take part in small-group discussions, and have the opportunity to connect with owners and advisors facing many of the same questions around growth, transition, and what comes next.

Connect with Todd Kroughhere
Learn more about the EPI Twin Cities Chapterhere
Register for the 2026 Owners Forum here 

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Andy Knutson of John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP and Zach Freeman of Christensen Group Insurance explore what can happen after a business transaction closes and why business owners and their advisors need to be prepared for issues that may surface after the deal is done.

The conversation covers the post-closing process, including working capital true-ups, closing balance sheet adjustments, tax deadlines, and financial discrepancies that can affect both buyers and sellers. Andy explains how seemingly small accounting issues can become significant when they affect EBITDA and the purchase price, and why having advisors who know the business involved throughout the transaction can help identify potential problems earlier.

Zach breaks down reps and warranties insurance, how it can protect buyers when unknown issues surface after closing, and why it can also help reduce friction between buyers and sellers. Andy and Zach also discuss the importance of thorough due diligence, strong communication among advisors, and taking a proactive approach to reducing post-transaction surprises.

Connect with Andy Knutson here
Learn more about John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP here

Connect with Zach Freeman here
Learn more about Christensen Group Insurance here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Peter Pluimer of Old National Bank shares insights from the bank’s latest State of Business Report and what business owners across the Midwest are saying about today’s opportunities, challenges, and economic uncertainty.

The conversation explores how business owners are moving forward despite uncertainty, from investing in their workforce and accessing capital to addressing growing cybersecurity risks. Peter also discusses what he’s seeing in the lending environment and why waiting for the “perfect” interest rate can sometimes hold businesses back from making investments that support growth and long-term value.

Peter also shares what the survey revealed about AI adoption, including how many businesses are still in the early stages of putting AI into practice. He discusses how Old National Bank is incorporating AI internally and shares a real-world example of how one business used AI to analyze financial data, identify underperforming equipment, and make more informed operational decisions.

Connect with Peter Pluimerhere
Learn more about Old National Bankhere
View The State of Business Survey Report 2026 here

Learn more and register for the 2026 M&A Summit here

🎟️ Complimentary registration code: PFE2026

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Andy Schwandt of True North Mergers & Acquisitions offers a preview of the 2026 M&A Summit, an annual event bringing together business owners and advisors for a day focused on preparing, positioning, and planning for successful business transitions.

The conversation explores what attendees can expect from this year’s Summit, including discussions around owner readiness, mitigating risk, and understanding what can go wrong during a transaction. Andy also shares why preparing a business well before an exit is on the immediate horizon matters, from reducing owner dependency and customer concentration to building the right team of advisors.

Andy also previews several highlights from the 2026 M&A Summit, including keynote speaker Walter Bond, an economic update from Goldman Sachs, the Grow or Go panel, lessons from owner exit readiness, and the live QuietAuction™ experience, where private equity firms evaluate the same business and submit competing offers.

Connect with Andy Schwandt here
Learn more about True North Mergers & Acquisitions here

Learn more and register for the 2026 M&A Summit here

🎟️ Complimentary registration code: PFE2026

Interested in sponsorship opportunities or hosting a VIP table for your clients? Contact Nicole Magandy at [email protected]

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, father-and-son team Joe Strazzeri and Sal Strazzeri of Strazzeri Mancini explore succession from a perspective they know both professionally and personally. After years of helping successful business owners and families navigate complex transitions, Joe is now applying many of those same lessons as Sal builds his role within the family firm.

The conversation explores why successful succession planning requires more than getting the legal, financial, and tax pieces right. Joe and Sal share what they have learned from working with families across generations, including how family dynamics, communication, and trust can shape whether a transition ultimately brings a family together or drives it apart. They also discuss the value of creating space for better conversations, learning from other families who have been through similar transitions, and moving beyond the “first draft” conversations that can prevent people from saying what they really mean.

Joe and Sal also offer a candid look at their own transition, from the importance of letting the next generation develop real experience to recognizing that taking over the family business should be a choice, not an expectation. For business owners preparing to pass a company to the next generation, and for the advisors helping them do it, this episode is a reminder that a successful transition is not simply about transferring ownership. It is about preparing the people, relationships, and business for what comes next.

Connect with Joe here
Connect with Sal here
Learn more about Strazzeri Mancini here
Learn more about Care to Know here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Amy Wirtz and Andrew Wirtz of Family & Business Success unpack what makes family business succession so complicated and why the biggest challenges often have very little to do with the numbers.

Family relationships, ownership, leadership, and expectations around the next generation can all shape whether a transition moves forward smoothly or gets stuck. Amy and Andrew share what they see behind the scenes when families avoid important conversations, make assumptions about who will take over, or struggle to make decisions together.

They also share real examples of how family meetings, advisory boards, education, and outside guidance can help bring more clarity and alignment to the process.

One of the biggest takeaways is simple: never assume the next generation wants the business. Amy and Andrew explain why those conversations need to happen early, what families should be talking about, and how better planning can help protect both the business and the relationships around it.

Connect with Amy Wirtz here
Connect with Andrew Wirtz here
Learn more about Family & Business Success here 

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Bob Morse, VP Community Business Banker with MidCountry Bank, joins the show to discuss what lenders look for from business owners preparing for a sale and from buyers seeking financing for an acquisition.

A business can be profitable and still create headaches when it comes time to finance a sale. Bob explains why owners should be talking with their banker long before a buyer appears, and what lenders are actually looking for when they evaluate the business, the buyer, and the deal itself.

He shares the story of one buyer who came to him carrying four separate loans, expensive debt, and no line of credit. By restructuring the financing and creating more breathing room, Bob helped improve the company’s cash flow by more than $70,000 a year and put the owner in a position to buy the real estate he was operating from, moving him several years closer to his eventual exit.

Bob also gets into SBA versus conventional financing, what buyers should expect during underwriting, and an issue many owners overlook: the same tax strategies that minimize taxable income can make it harder to demonstrate the earnings needed to qualify for a loan. It’s a practical look at why the right banking relationship, and involving that banker early, can make a meaningful difference when it’s time to buy, sell, or prepare for what comes next.
 

Connect with Bob Morse here
Learn more about MidCountry Bank here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Kari Voorhees, founder and president of Voorhees Law Group, estate planning attorney, and fellow CEPA, explains why estate planning must be integrated into the broader exit planning process. Kari shares how her father’s brain cancer diagnosis led him to sell his successful trucking company in a panic, without a valuation or a qualified advisory team, and how the poorly structured transaction left him facing significant legal and financial consequences.

Kari discusses how exit advisors can help business owners identify gaps between their estate plans, corporate documents, and long-term transition goals. She explains why advisors should review trusts, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, stock ownership, and business real estate together, while also considering how family members, trustees, and business partners will work together if the owner dies or becomes incapacitated.

The conversation also explores the risks of delaying these decisions until a health crisis or unexpected death forces action. Through real client examples, Kari illustrates why business owners need plans for incapacity, access to company finances, leadership continuity, and the eventual transfer or sale of the business. She emphasizes that effective estate planning is not simply about creating documents. It requires thoughtful conversations and coordination among the owner’s trusted advisors.

Connect with Kari Voorhees here
Learn more about Voorhees Law Group here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor