Succession Stories

Business succession isn't easy, especially when it's unexpected. Listen in as three 3rd generation siblings share their personal and professional challenges of dealing with the death of their father, Kurt Lesker III, CEO of Kurt J. Lesker Company. With support from their family and executive team, KJLC successfully transitioned to the next generation of leaders including Kurt Lesker IV, Kristin Lesker Eisel, and Jenna Lesker Lloyd.

Listen in to learn more about:

• Successful transition across different generations
• The crucial role of family and business values in moving business forward amidst transition
• Why it's important to have frequent, open conversations on succession
• The value of succession planning in safeguarding a business and its stakeholders

Show Links:

https://www.lesker.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kurtjleskerco/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kurt-j--lesker-company

https://twitter.com/kurtjleskerco

The Succession Stories podcast is hosted by Laurie Barkman, Business Transition and M&A Advisor/Founder of SmallDotBig, a strategic advisory firm for closely held businesses anticipating a leadership or ownership transition in the future.

For more info, or to connect with Laurie visit https://smalldotbig.com or [email protected]

Sixteen years ago, Nelson Anderson bought a small printing franchise from his father-in-law. And for 10 years, he did it all - from sales to operations and more. With the helpful guidance of trusted advisors, Nelson built a team and processes that enabled him to step back, a hard thing to do but has enabled their growth through acquisition. He shared how these strategic acquisitions fit within their organization as tuck-ins. This approach has helped Full Sail Media grow from a small $400,000 print shop to a multifaceted marketing company that's over $8 million in revenue. If you want to make your business more attractive to a potential buyer, make sure to listen to Nelson's suggestions for what you should start doing today.

Show Links:

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Laurie Barkman on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

Lauries' website:

https://www.smalldotbig.com

If you're interested in exploring your succession options, take the next step to request a confidential meeting with Laurie:

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call

Here's to your success!

On this "What's Next" episode, Laurie Barkman is joined by Jon Dwoskin, business coach and author of the Think Big Movement. Jon shared his experience selling his first company, and the cancer diagnosis that changed not only his career, but his outlook on life. Facing death head-on made Jon realize how his biggest fears were holding him back. Instead, he turned it into a mission helping people get unstuck. Be sure to listen for Jon's actionable ideas for trusting your intuition and taking action on small things for big results in your life.

Listen in to learn more about:

• The value of your gut quotient and the importance of listening to your intuition
• Finding your unique abilities and tapping into them for success
• Critical specific, measurable leading activities to prevent burnout and achieve fulfillment
• Getting unstuck and moving past fear
• Little things that steer you to your big goals

Show Links:

Jon's website:

https://jondwoskin.com/

Laurie Barkman on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

Laurie's website:

https://www.smalldotbig.com

If you're interested in exploring your succession options, take the next step to request a confidential meeting with Laurie:

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call

Here's to your success!

Laurie Barkman Host, Succession Stories Podcast

Business Transition and M&A Advisor

[email protected]

For many business owners, selling your company is typically a once in a lifetime transaction. But it's hard to know how it all works until you're in it. On this episode, Laurie Barkman talks with M&A and boutique investment banker, Dave Eichenlaub from Confluence Advisors, about deal dynamics and what makes a business ready for sale. They explore what can make or sink a deal, and the role of trusted advisors to help bring it all together.

Listen in to learn more about:

• What deal dynamics emerged during the pandemic and potential impacts on activity this year
• Timing considerations for a typical merger and acquisition process and what can sink a deal
• The role of trusted advisors in a potential M&A transaction and when they should be consulted
• What makes a business ready for sale
• Forward thinking and pre-planning for a future transition to be successful

Show Links:

Confluence Advisors website:

http://www.confluenceadvisorsllc.com/

Confluence Advisors on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/confluence-advisors-llc/

Laurie Barkman LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

SmallDotBig website

https://www.smalldotbig.com

If you're interested in selling your business, or acquiring a company, take the next step to request a confidential meeting with Succession Stories Podcast host, Laurie Barkman:

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call

Here's to your success!

Laurie Barkman Host, Succession Stories Podcast

Business Transition and M&A Advisor

[email protected]

Laurie Barkman is joined by Kevin Urrutia, CEO of Voy Media, and co-founder of Maid Sailor, a NYC cleaning services company that he sold last year. Kevin details his experience in building the business from scratch, running it for six years with his brother, and having an exit amidst the pandemic.

Listen in to learn more about:

• How a fearless, willing-to-learn mindset can fuel success
• Why you should use a scalable training model when building your business
• Benefits of productizing your service
• How recurring models can boost your cash flow and help scale your business faster

Show Links:

Kevin Urrutia Twitter:

https://twitter.com/danest

Laurie Barkman LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

SmallDotBig website

https://www.smalldotbig.com

If you're interested in selling your business, or acquiring a company, take the next step to request a confidential meeting with Succession Stories Podcast host, Laurie Barkman:

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call

Here's to your success!

Laurie Barkman Host, Succession Stories Podcast

Business Transition and M&A Advisor

[email protected]

Successful M&A deals begin with a deal making mindset. Find out the measures you need to take to make a winning deal. Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, deal-maker, attorney and consultant. He shares how his background in law ultimately led to his success in helping clients iron out the most critical aspects of business deals. What does it take to truly build value and get offers that match your expectations?

Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Corey about the mindset you need to adequately prepare for successful M&A deals.

Listen in to learn more about:

• The importance of having a deal-driven mindset
• What entrepreneurial freedom truly means and how it can create value for your company.
• Common pitfalls to avoid as you go about creating business value
• Factors that can lead to buyers making lower offers than anticipated
• How digital assets are valued when a deal is under evaluation

Show links:

Corey Kupfer website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/

Corey Kupfer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer

Connect with the show host, Laurie Barkman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

If you're interested in selling your business, or acquiring a company, take the next step to request a confidential meeting with Laurie Barkman, Business Transition and M&A Advisor, here:

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call

Laurie Barkman announces a new partnership with Stony Hill as a mergers and acquisitions advisor. Laurie talks with Paul Visokey, Founder and President of Stony Hill Advisors, about guiding entrepreneurs how to exit their business in the future and access the wealth they've created.

Listen in as they discuss:

• Supporting business owners in the lower middle market, $5 million revenue to $50 million in revenue
• Why exit value and transition planning is important to maximize potential
• If the business can't survive without its current owner, then it's not worth very much to the next owner
• Supporting growth by acquiring other companies to make your business more valuable
• Getting an estimate of value helps you understand what your business could be worth in the market before the merger and acquisition process starts

For more information, visit: https://stonyhilladvisors.com/ https://smalldotbig.com/

Follow Succession Stories YouTube channel

Do you know the value of your company and the potential net proceeds of a transaction?

Understanding these numbers now means more time to close the gap if there is one.

Take the next step by requesting an initial meeting to begin planning for your business transition and strategic exit today.

https://smalldotbig.com/schedule-an-initial-call/

Listen in to this special "What's Next" episode as Laurie Barkman talks with Hal Riley, team captain for the World's Toughest Race Eco Challenge in Fiji 2020.

Hal led a team of disabled veterans and civilians who competed against 65 other teams to go across 400 miles of dense jungles, steep mountains, winding rivers, oceans and dangerous swamps. An incredible experience full of extra challenges.

Hal shares many life, business and leadership lessons from the journey:

- looking for moments to take chances even if you won't win

- how not to pack your fears

- decision making under stress and ambiguity

Show Links:

https://ecochallenge.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/halriley/

Succession Stories Podcast is hosted by Laurie Barkman, CEO of SmallDotBig. Bringing entrepreneurs and business owners insights to grow your company and develop exit transition strategies.

Learn how we can help you maximize enterprise value, create succession plans, and identify M&A strategies, visit: https://smalldotbig.com

Follow Succession Stories on social media:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/succession-stories-podcast

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQIsTkq5fwerkhEovBUiJJA

Karen Norheim is the President of American Crane and Equipment Corp, a specialized manufacturing company, founded by her father. Karen shared her story as the next generation and how she's taking the company to the next level. In early 2020, the company launched an Innovation Lab and has started to implement digital transformation technologies like IoT and virtual reality. One of Karen's favorite sayings is to "Be comfortable being uncomfortable," which has helped her find her way in challenging times. Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Karen about the importance of embracing disruptive change not only because of the pandemic, but as a way to invest in your future.

Listen in to learn more about:

• Driving transformation by embracing and learning from disruption and change
• Aligning your sense of self, your beliefs and your profession
• Enhancing communication, collaboration, and productivity in today's new normal
• Integrating digital transformation into business process

Show Links:

Karen Norheim on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karennorheim

Youtopian

https://youtopian.world/

Connect with the show host, Laurie Barkman on:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

https://www.smalldotbig.com/

Subscribe to the show and follow Succession Stories on social media for more episodes: LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/succession-stories-podcast

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQIsTkq5fwerkhEovBUiJJA

Laurie Barkman talks with Dr. JT Kostman, CEO of ProtectedBy.AI and global expert in Artificial Intelligence and Psychology. JT's unique story began as a homeless nine year old in New York City. During the early part of his career, JT dedicated his life to rescuing others as a paramedic, deep-sea diver, police, and US Army Special Forces. Eventually, that led to a career using data intelligence to protect lives. As a Data Scientist, Mathematician, and Psychologist, he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts in applied artificial intelligence and cognitive computing. In the corporate sector, JT developed solutions for large companies like Digitas, Time Inc, and Samsung. Now as a global entrepreneur, his focus is enabling small and mid-size companies to use data to protect and transform their businesses. It's an incredible "what's next" story that is sure to inspire.

Show links:

• Dr JT Kostman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtkostman/
• ProtectedBy.Ai Website: https://protectedby.ai/
• Laurie Barkman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

Stay connected with Succession Stories, and follow us for content updates and events:

SmallDotBig.com

Succession Stories on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Succession Stories Podcast and please share a rating and review!