Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/

Guest

Gar Whaley  linkedin.com/in/garwhaley/ Don Sauer linkedin.com/in/donsauer Reid Johnston linkedin.com/in/reidjohnston/ Company:  TealTech tealtech.com

Hosts

Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylemetathinq/ Robb Rogers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robb-rogers-07415251/ Tim McNeil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmcneil3/

Sponsors

vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com OSR Manage: https://osrmanage.com

Don Sauer 

Took a more direct path to acquiring nearly 35 years of IT expertise. It began in the US Navy, where he first worked on computer-controlled weapons systems.

From there he amassed diverse IT experience in every kind of industry and organization, public-sector and private, startup to large-scale enterprise. Each presented unique challenges and allowed Don to develop a rare diversity of perspectives when it comes to designing and deploying IT solutions, and it never obscured Don’s focus on learning what’s best for a specific business, agency, or organization.

Gar Whaley 

Gar Whaley, Aligned cofounder, always knew he wanted to run his own business. As technologically savvy as he is today, he honed his customer-centric business philosophy in the restaurant industry. Though he found satisfaction in owning a successful franchise, this experience introduced him to computer systems. Gar realized how beneficial appropriate IT solutions could be for other small businesses. This realization led him into the technology sector over 25 years ago, during the dot-com boom.

Reid Johnston

TechGen Consulting, Inc. was founded by Reid in 2000 as a sole proprietorship and later incorporated in 2002. Before starting TechGen, Reid worked as a web application developer, with a passion for problem-solving and working with people.

A technology enthusiast from a very early age, Reid dismantled and rebuilt computers before finishing elementary school. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

1:33 Gar Whaley kicks things off by sharing how he, Don, and Reid started working together and what their current projects are. Then, Reid speaks on why choosing to merge was a game-changer, not just for him personally but for their company too. And Don chimes in, explaining how their teamwork is a win-win, allowing them to serve their clients even more effectively."

12:05 Tim throws a curveball, asking, "What caught you off guard during the merger?" Don doesn't hold back and spills the beans about a client bailing just four days before the settlement. It was a gut punch, but thanks to their strong bond, they saw it as a mere speed bump on their journey.

16:33 Reid chimes in with his response to Tim's query. He admits that navigating the varying communication styles and practices between their merging companies posed a real challenge. They knew it would be par for the course, but they're committed to smoothing out these wrinkles as they move forward.

18:10 Gar delves into why and how their merger hit the bullseye. The fact that they had remarkably similar tech stacks and product offerings was a major win. What's more, sharing nearly identical core values, makes the merger feel like a walk in the park.

23:29 Reid gives a bit of advice to those who are planning on doing a merger or acquisition to have partners you can trust. Gar says that having an entrepreneurial mindset is also one of the keys which Brian agrees.