Shore Capital Podcast Network

In this episode, Devenee Schumacher shares her journey from her grandmother’s kitchen to founding and building SDC Nutrition into a leading manufacturer in the health and wellness industry. She reflects on how her love of food, curiosity for science, and commitment to quality turned a homegrown idea into a company built on integrity and innovation. Devenee discusses how honesty and persistence guided her through the challenges of scaling a new market, why investing in people and doing what’s right creates lasting impact, and how true growth comes from staying grounded in purpose and passion.

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose and passion often begin with humble roots where love for craft and family spark lifelong curiosity and drive.
• Integrity and quality build trust in products, partners, and people and form the foundation of lasting success.
• Resilience and innovation thrive when leaders stay true to their values, adapt to change, and keep improving what they create.
• True fulfillment comes from doing what’s right, investing in others, and leading with honesty, purpose, and heart.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Introduction
2. 05:16 - Humble Roots and Lifelong Curiosity
3. 07:40 - Turning Passion into a Product
4. 14:07 - Integrity and Innovation in Manufacturing
5. 22:10 - Growth, Partnership, and Purpose

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Ken Meyer shares his journey from growing up on a family farm to leading at Whole Foods and beyond. He reflects on how hard work, humility, and a people-first mindset shaped his 24-year career and guided him through major transitions from building teams to leading Whole Foods’ sale to Amazon. Ken discusses how trust, transparency, and empowerment drive lasting culture, why great leaders learn through failure, and how success comes from focusing on purpose, staying curious, and never losing sight of what matters most.

Key Takeaways:

• Lasting leadership begins with hard work, humility, and curiosity that keep growth grounded in purpose.
• Empowering people through trust, transparency, and context creates a culture where teams thrive and leaders emerge.
• Successful transformations happen when leaders build trust, communicate openly, and stay true to shared values.
• Fulfillment comes from focusing on what matters most, helping others grow, and creating impact that endures.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Introduction
2. 03:45 - Lessons from the Farm
3. 09:30 - The Power of Trust and Empowerment
4. 15:11 - Leading Through Transformations
5. 22:44 - Purpose and Fulfillment

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Tara Conger reflects on her journey from athletics to executive leadership and how the lessons of great coaches shaped her approach to business. She shares how building trust, investing in people, and leading through change helped her guide Tandem HR through growth and a successful exit. Tara also discusses what makes private equity leadership unique, the importance of balancing impact with effort, and why resilience and culture are at the heart of every great team.

Key Takeaways:

• Lessons from the field to the boardroom show that teamwork, preparation, and accountability turn potential into lasting success.
• Investing in people and culture creates the foundation for growth, where engagement and purpose drive performance.
• Great leadership grows from trust and resilience, guiding teams with clarity and empathy through transformation and uncertainty.
• True impact comes from focusing energy on outcomes that matter, not just the effort behind them.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Introduction
2. 04:40 - Lessons from the Field to the Boardroom
3. 09:41 - Building Culture Through Clarity and Connection
4. 13:51 - Leading Through Change with Empathy and Resilience
5. 22:53 - Focusing on Impact, Not Effort

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Amy Madden, Chief People and Culture Officer, and Suzanne Norman, Vice President of Patient Services at PRO-spectus, share how the company is evolving from a patient first culture to a people first growth strategy. They reflect on PRO’s rapid expansion, founder led roots, and the importance of staying scrappy while scaling. Amy and Suzanne discuss how investing in leadership development, performance management, and shared ownership is helping PRO grow by growing its people, and how an intentional, values driven culture remains the foundation of everything they do.

Key Takeaways:

• Culture becomes a catalyst for growth when a patient first mission expands into a people first mindset that empowers performance and purpose
• Intentional connection sustains culture in a remote world, where engagement, transparency, and care keep teams aligned through rapid growth
• Leadership development drives scale when managers grow with intention, build consistency, and create environments where others can succeed
• Shared ownership turns accountability into motivation, aligning personal success with the company’s mission and collective results

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Introduction
2. 06:22 - Culture as a Catalyst for Growth
3. 11:46 - Intentional Connection in a Remote World
4. 14:02 - Leadership Development That Drives Scale
5. 22:54 - Shared Ownership and Accountability
6. 30:09 - Preserving Culture Through Growth

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Dr. Corey Waller traces his path from emergency and street medicine to leading systems change in behavioral health. He reflects on how saying yes to new challenges shaped his mission to build structures where the easy thing is the right thing. Corey shares insights on the evolving field of addiction treatment, the balance between ethics and business, and how real impact comes from creating systems that outlast any one person.

Key Takeaways:

• Saying yes opens doors to growth and purpose, helping leaders discover new paths and create lasting impact through curiosity and action
• Lasting change comes from building systems that make doing the right thing the easy thing and endure beyond any one individual
• Ethical healthcare thrives on good tension between medicine and business, where collaboration and accountability drive sustainable impact
• Humility and openness fuel continuous learning, allowing leaders to set aside ego, listen deeply, and grow alongside their teams

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Saying Yes to Every Opportunity
2. 05:10 - Building Systems That Make the Right Thing Easy
3. 09:04 - Balancing Heart and Business in Healthcare
4. 14:11 - Finding Balance Through Ethical Tension
5. 16:24 - Staying Grounded While Striving to Grow

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Kathy Wanner reflects on a career built on excellence, empathy, and entrepreneurship. From her start at Morgan Stanley to building Adams Street Partners into a global investment firm, she shares lessons on ownership, trust, and the power of putting capital in the hands of great founders. Kathy discusses what drew her to Shore Capital Partners, how investing in searchers aligns with her passion for mentoring, and why leading with kindness remains her guiding principle. She offers perspective on grit, humility, and staying true to yourself, and why success and kindness can go hand in hand.

Key Takeaways:

• Excellence begins with trust and consistency, built through attention to detail and a commitment to doing every job with pride
• Entrepreneurial success depends on humility, grit, and adaptability, allowing leaders to pivot and persevere through uncertainty
• True fulfillment comes from helping others grow by sharing knowledge, mentoring emerging leaders, and investing in people with purpose
• Kindness and competitiveness can coexist, and the most effective leaders lead with empathy while maintaining the drive to win

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 06:24 - Grit and Adaptability
• 10:48 - Mentorship and Growth
• 17:29 - Resilience and Authenticity
• 20:57 - Leading with Kindness

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Jimmy St. Louis, CEO of Agentis Longevity, reflects on the company’s first year of growth and the lessons learned along the way. He shares how building a mission-driven, values-led team has shaped Agentis, why partnerships and cultural alignment are critical to success, and what it takes to balance long-term vision with the urgency of execution. Jimmy also highlights the role of Shore Capital in helping him navigate challenges and accelerate growth while staying true to the mission of redefining longevity healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• Mission-driven leadership takes root when values are lived daily and reinforced through culture, not just words
• The right partners bring expertise, credibility, and culture that strengthen the platform beyond financial outcomes
• Strategic planning becomes a catalyst when paired with flexibility, helping leaders balance long-term vision with near-term execution
• True growth comes from treating acquisitions as partnerships where both sides learn, adapt, and build together

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 04:22 - Building a Values-Led Team
• 07:46 - Partnerships and Culture
• 09:52 - Learning from Shore
• 14:34 - Develop the M&A Playbook
• 23:26 - Vision and Execution

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, I talk with Alison Shekman, Chief of Staff at PhaseWell Research and a member of the CXO Fellows Program. Alison shares her journey from consulting into operations and what it has meant to step into an early-stage, acquisition-driven business. She reflects on slowing down to go fast, listening to frontline experts, and creating systems for prioritization. Alison also discusses lessons from the Shore Resource Team and why embracing iteration over perfection has shaped her approach as a CXO.

Key Takeaways:

• Go slow to go fast by taking the time to understand what motivates people and plan for change so it can be implemented more effectively
• Listen first and spend time in the field with the people who know the work best to close knowledge gaps and build credibility
• Create a system for relentless prioritization to bring clarity to the noise and stay aligned with leadership on what matters most
• Call it version one, move forward, and keep iterating rather than waiting for perfection

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:57 - Go Slow to Go Fast
• 05:01 - Closing the Knowledge Gap
• 09:35 - The Value of Networks
• 13:03 - Prioritization and Integration
• 19:47 - Lessons for Young Leaders

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Preethi Menon, Senior Vice President of Integrations and Partnerships at Empower Aesthetics. After nearly a decade in consulting, Preethi joined the CXO Fellows Program and stepped into the challenge of building Empower from the ground up. She reflects on lessons from scaling the company, including overcoming perfectionism, embracing accountability, and moving fast to create value. Preethi also underscores the importance of humility, strong relationships, and the CXO peer network in her growth as a leader.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning to value progress over perfection helps leaders in young companies move with speed, capture opportunities, and create meaningful value before the moment passes
• Taking full ownership means recognizing that every choice and relationship matters, and leaders are directly accountable for the outcomes that shape the business
• Earning trust with founders and partners comes from humility and being willing to roll up your sleeves, especially when transitions bring uncertainty and change
• Leaning on a network of peers gives young leaders the perspective and encouragement they need to navigate the challenges of building a company from the ground up

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 07:42 - The Early-Stage
• 11:16 - Operational Learning Curves
• 18:15 - Building Great Companies
• 23:24 - Lessons Learned

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Will Cook, Chief of Staff at Skycrest Roof Co. Will shares his unique path from consulting to serving as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army before joining the CXO program. He reflects on his first year helping to launch Skycrest, where the role meant doing everything from marketing to operations while learning the business from the ground up. Will highlights the importance of humility, listening, and building relationships with founders and frontline teams, especially in a people-driven industry. He also discusses evaluating talent in fast-moving environments, practicing relentless prioritization, and leaning on the CXO peer network to navigate the inevitable highs and lows of growing a young company.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning the business from the ground up builds credibility, deepens relationships, and ensures leaders make informed decisions that create lasting value
• Relentless prioritization helps executives focus on the highest-impact initiatives, avoid distractions, and drive meaningful results in fast-moving environments
• People are at the center of every decision, and knowing your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations is key to building trust and driving performance
• Steadiness through highs and lows is sustained by leaning on peers and mentors, creating a support system that strengthens resilience and perspective

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 07:56 - What Makes a Good CXO
• 12:05 - Building Relationships with Founders
• 14:36 - Advice for New Leaders
• 17:24 - Best Advice Ever Received

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.