Pro Serv Podcast by Collective 54

In this session, discover the inside track on how small service firms can punch above their weight and land lucrative government contracts. Join Collective 54 Member Paul Karch, Founder at Gardant Global, as he guides you through strategic partnerships with large contractors, providing the roadmap to navigate the complexities of government procurement processes. Learn the secrets to leveraging these alliances for growth, stability, and success in the public sector marketplace. www.collective54.com

In this insightful case study, we delve into the remarkable journey of a nimble 10-person professional service firm as they navigate the complexities of selling their business to a 300-strong industry leader. From leveraging their specialized expertise to fostering a culture that resonated with their larger counterpart, Bart Mroz, Engagement Lead at ITX Corp., shares the key steps their small firm has taken to position themselves as an indispensable asset, paving the way for a merger that promises to be a win- win for all parties. www.collective54.com

In this session, join Collective 54 member John Kearney, Founder at The Buyer’s Way, as he discusses how to build compensation plans for the sales function inside a boutique pro serv firm. He will share how the comp plans need to change as a firm migrates from founder-led sales to a part-time sales force to a mature fully function commercial sales team. Learn how to figure out how much to pay, the proper split between salary and commission, the measures to pay commission on, and the costly mistakes to avoid.   https://www.collective54.com

Embarking on the journey of selling your firm can be as complex as it is exciting. In this session, join Collective 54 member Jay Smith, Vice President of Sales at Integris IT, as he helps demystify the due diligence process, ensuring you navigate these critical waters with confidence. From legal audits to financial analysis to customer references and employee satisfaction reviews, we delve into the essential steps every seller should undertake to secure a transparent and advantageous deal.   https://www.collective54.com

Attend this session as Collective 54 member Tony Amador, Co-Founder & Chief Client Officer at Proxxy, outlines the crucial steps for a small service firm to reposition its value proposition based on actual client needs and desires. This session discusses the importance of listening to client feedback, extracting actionable insights, and then applying them to refine the firm’s strengths and offerings.   https://www.collective54.com

Many professional service firms foolishly think the path to scalability is to become a software company. However, founders of service firms make more money than founders of software firms, generate more wealth for themselves at exit, and succeed much more often. Attend this session and learn from Collective 54 member Nathan Kievman, Co-Founder and CEO at Linked Strategies, on how you can avoid making the devasting mistake of trying to become a software company. https://www.collective54.com

Stephen Straus, Managing Director at KUNGFU.AI, and Numa Dhamani, Principal Machine Learning Engineer, discuss the importance of prompt engineering in obtaining accurate responses from generative AI systems. They explore strategies for improvement, the role of probabilistic language models, integrating prompt engineering into workflow, and potential future applications of the skill.

Explore the potential risks of key person risk in small firms. Learn from Phil Acosta on how to navigate the unexpected departure of a key employee. Discover the challenges of handling this situation and how to develop a talent supply chain. Find out how to pitch the job, trust talented individuals, and structure employee relationships.

Your brand matters. In the professional service industry, Founders need a brand for the firm, the service offering, themselves, and their talent. Attend this session and learn from Collective 54 member, Chad Prinkey, Owner at Well Built Construction Consulting, about how brands are built inside small service firms, and how they help boutiques punch above their weight class. https://www.collective54.com

The personal lives of the Founders evolve as a firm advances. And the professional lives of the Founders morph as a firm matures. How can partners stay in harmony with themselves, and with each other, along the entrepreneurial journey? This session with Collective 54 members Matt Jenkins and Nick Moretta, Partners at Other.,  shares how partners work well together and use a tool called The Commitment Letter.  https://www.collective54.com