Second Bite Podcast

In the second installment of the Agency Growth Advisors series, seven agency experts share what owners should consider when preparing their agency for growth.  

What does it take to propel an agency to the next stage? How can agency founders transform their current strategies into high-performing growth trajectories?

Bruce Eckfeldt, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Ian Garlic, Tim Kilroy, Aaron Levenstadt, Jason Swenk, and Joshua Johnston discuss the inquiries pivotal to improving agency performance. With host Todd Taskey, they offer insights like delegating unproductive tasks, identifying your company’s revenue drivers, and strategic planning for your growth goals.

Mitch Meyers is a Partner at the medical cannabis firm BeLeaf Medical and the CEO of The BeLeaf Company, which produces high-quality CBD oils to treat epilepsy patients. Mitch is also the Co-Owner and Partner at Nature's Care Company, a Chicago-based dispensary that provides premium medical cannabis. With over 25 years of experience in the marketing and communications industries, she has built, launched, and consulted for Fortune 100 companies, startup businesses, advisory boards, and nonprofit organizations. 

Selling your agency to a public holding company can be a huge risk. How can you ensure you structure the transaction to your benefit?

Mitch Meyers, a Partner at BeLeaf Medical and the CEO of The BeLeaf Company, talks about selling her creative boutique to a public holding company. With host Todd Taskey, Mitch shares how she acquired brands in the alcohol industry, the roadblocks she experienced scaling her first agency, and how to navigate transactions. 

In this introduction to the Agency Growth Advisors series, Todd Taskey sits down with seven agency owners who share how they help founders accelerate growth.  

When it comes to scaling an agency, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Strategies often depend on size, revenue, and operational structure. What insights can you learn from agency owners who work all across the spectrum?

Jason Swenk, Joshua Johnston, Bruce Eckfeldt, Tim Kilroy, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Ian Garlic, and Aaron Levenstadt talk about their methods for agency growth. With host Todd Taskey, the founders share insights like driving strategic growth, how to attract clients, and how to build an eight-figure agency.

Aaron Levenstadt is the Founder of Join Agency Alliance, an advisory board composed of former agency owners who have exited their businesses. He has built and sold multiple agencies, including Pedestal Search, which emerged from his experience as one of the original members of Google’s Search Analytics team. As an investor, Aaron supports agencies and entrepreneurs through coaching, connections, and advisory board development. 

Sometimes, selling your business gives you a higher risk tolerance, especially if you execute a profitable transaction. What criteria should you focus on when evaluating the perfect deal for your company?

Aaron Levenstadt, the Founder of Join Agency Alliance, talks about his agency’s strategic exit. With host Todd Taskey, Aaron shares the deal’s inner workings, why selling his company increased his risk tolerance, and his endeavors with Join Agency Alliance.

Adam Hanin is the Head of Business Development at eHouse, which builds and optimizes e-commerce sites for shoppers. He is also the former Founder and Operating Partner at Commerce12, which was acquired by eHouse in 2024, and the former Founder and President of Skye Associates, a full-service e-commerce company specializing in fashion brands and retailers.

Entrepreneurship requires playing the long game and anticipating failures. However, introducing innovative business models and reinventing the wheel are no easy tasks. What does it take to create value, sell multiple companies, and survive industry changes?

The Head of Business Development at eHouse, Adam Hanin, talks about his entrepreneurial wins and losses, including multiple company acquisitions. With host Todd Taskey, Adam describes how his failures created profitable new ventures, the lessons he learned when negotiating transactions, and how he transformed a licensing deal into an e-commerce fashion business.

In the final segment of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives weigh in on what drives value in a transaction. 

What factors drive true value in a private equity transaction? How can you position your company as a profitable fit for investors?

Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the top value drivers in transactions. With host Todd Taskey, they explain the importance of high-growth structures, culture and leadership, industry expertise, and product-market fit in investors’ final decisions.

In this episode of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives talk about the primary sources of friction in deal negotiations.

Disagreements occur in many deal negotiations, but they can collapse if these disputes aren’t resolved appropriately. What causes the most friction during the negotiation process, and how can you eliminate strife to ensure a smooth transaction?

Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the common sources of friction during transactions. With host Todd Taskey, they discuss the value of attorney involvement, disputes around representation and warranties, and how comprehensive LOIs and due diligence reduce these friction points.

In the third installment of the PE Insight Series, Todd Taskey’s guests offer a behind-the-scenes look into investment committees.

Most entrepreneurs aren’t familiar with investment committees, so it can be quite daunting to approach them during a transaction. What is an investment committee, and how do they facilitate the transaction process?

Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay demystify investment committees. With host Todd Taskey, the guests discuss the inner workings of these committees, how they assess companies and deals, and how they differ between large and small firms.

In the second edition of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives discuss the #1 factor in failed deals. 

Imagine being on the brink of closing a major transaction and having it fall apart unexpectedly. What causes a deal to crumble following the LOI, and how can you prevent a failed deal?

Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the most common deal killers. With host Todd Taskey, the executives discuss the importance of transparency, how to align expectations before signing an LOI, and how visibility and performance impact deal closure. 

In the first installment of the PE Insight Series, Todd Taskey interviews eight private equity executives about how they make their initial assessment of a company.

Private equity executives often sift through thousands of investment decks each week. So what are their criteria for evaluating them, and how can business owners structure their pitches to capture interest?

Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, William Dyer, and John Findlay share their first impression requirements. With host Todd Taskey, the private equity executives talk about their elimination criteria for investment decks, the number of investments they evaluate each week, and how to craft a compelling pitch that resonates with investors.