Think Like An Owner
The Think Like an Owner podcast seeks out conversations with small company owners and investors to learn how to acquire and run small companies, with a focus on search funds, micro private equity, and permanent capital.
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Eric Friend – A Conversation About the 100+ Year Old Friend Family Business of Print – Ep.98
My guest on this episode is Eric Friend. I reached out to Eric after seeing him talking on Twitter about his family’s printing business Friend Paper, which was founded in 1908 in Zion, Illinois, by Eric’s great grandfather. As a print publisher through our quarterly publication called the Operator’s Handbook, I was curious to hear what ideas he had on using print as a content medium. It turns out he’s
John Puskar – A Journey of Growing and Selling a Professional Services Company – Ep.97
John founded a professional services company in 1984 focused on energy conservation, inspections, and design work for large companies. He eventually grew the company to 43 employees and $13 million in sales and sold to Eclipse Combustion for $10 million in 2011. Since selling the business, he has taken on specific consulting projects to keep himself active and in the loop. I met John at a happy hour gathering in
Jordan Evans – Acquiring and Growing a Family Business in the Industry of Language Services – Ep.96
My guest on this episode is Jordan Evans. Jordan grew up in an entrepreneurial family in California. His parents started a language translation and interpreting business when he was two years old, and it grew over the course of his childhood. It grew enough that he actually acquired it from his parents in 2019 and has since been growing the business organically and through strategic bolt-on acquisitions of other language
Chris Williams – Running a Search and Acquiring and Operating a Small Business – Ep.95
My guest on this episode is Chris Williams. I was introduced to Chris via Justin Vogt about a year ago. And since then, Chris and I have talked monthly about his search, thoughts on running a small company, the podcast, and all things work and life. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him, and I’m thrilled to have him on the podcast finally. Chris recently bought a bookkeeping and accounting
Austin Hall & Palmer Higgins – Lessons Learned Operating in Lawn Care – EP.94
Eric Friend shares his journey from investment banking to his fourth-generation family printing business, challenges inherent in family businesses, the rebranding effort, and how companies today can use print to stand out from their competitors with customers and create unique experiences.
Ryan DeCaire – What Rapid Growth in Small Business Looks Like – Ep.93
Ryan DeCaire joined a private equity firm called Ashbridge Partners in Toronto Canada and became the president of the portfolio companies, Geroline, in February 2019.
Sandro Mina – From Camera World to Relay Investments: Capturing the Early Days of a Search Fund – Ep.92
Sandro is a co-founding partner of Relay Investments, a search investment fund based in Boston that began in 2015. Prior to Relay, Sandro and his partner, Martin launched their own search fund after graduating from Stanford’s MBA program in 1991, acquiring and eventually exiting three companies.
Timi Okah – Kingsway’s First Acquisition in CEO Accelerator Program – Ep.91
Timi is the first CEO in Kingsway Financial CEO Accelerator Program, having acquired an HR and accounting business called the Ravix group in October this year of 2021.
Collin Hathaway – What You Learn Acquiring 12 Home Service Companies – Ep.90
Collin joins me again to more deeply discuss lessons learned through his career of buying and building HVAC and plumbing businesses across the country.
Jason Jackson – Rebuilding a Profitable Dental Care Business – Ep.89
Jason searched and acquired Unified Dental Care, a collection of dental practices in the Detroit Metro in April 2017.
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Letters
Each year I write an annual letter to readers and listeners to reflect on the evolution of the podcast and my personal growth.
2020 Annual Letter: It’s Business Time
While 2020 was turbulent to say the least, it was the best year of my life. I married my lovely wife in late August, adopted a corgi, and began working on the Think Like an Owner podcast full-time.
2019 Annual Letter: Gaining Traction
Before getting to the podcast, 2019 was a tremendous year personally. I flew to DC for a FinTwit gathering hosted by Jamie Catherwood, graduated college with a new job, and got engaged.
2018 Annual Letter to Readers and Listeners
As a fun goal for myself, I’ve decided to start writing annual (and possibly quarterly) letters for the Think Like an Owner project to reflect on the growth of the podcast, discussion around the micro private equity market, and my personal learning.
