Second Bite Podcast

Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partnership marketing agency. He is also the former Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of BrandCycle, which was acquired by Stack Commerce in 2021. As a serial entrepreneur, award-winning executive, best-selling author, and keynote speaker, Robert helps individuals and organizations elevate their performance.   In this episode… Every entrepreneur wants to believe their business is special, but to private equity firms, it’s often just another company in the market. How can you identify and present your company’s value proposition? Robert Glazer, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, talks about his experience getting acquired by private equity. With host Todd Taskey, Robert shares how he collaborated with board members to expand his service capabilities, how to partner with private equity, and how he transitioned into a new role post-acquisition. 

Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partnership marketing agency. He is also the former Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of BrandCycle, which was acquired by Stack Commerce in 2021. As a serial entrepreneur, award-winning executive, best-selling author, and keynote speaker, Robert helps individuals and organizations elevate their performance.   In this episode… If given the option to do a rollover with private equity, would you take it? How can you structure the deal to ensure a profitable earnout? Robert Glazer, the Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, talks about his private equity rollover. With host Todd Taskey, Robert shares how he selected a private equity firm and structured his rollover, why he partnered with private equity to accelerate growth, and the aftermath of his company’s transaction.

Jamie Birch is the Founder of JEBCommerce, a digital marketing agency specializing in affiliate program management. As a serial entrepreneur, he is also the Co-founder of Renewed Horizons, a day program for adults with developmental disabilities, and EquineRevShare, which helps equine professionals generate revenue from product recommendations. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jamie established and managed affiliate, email, and SEO campaigns at Coldwater Creek. He also hosts The Profitable Performance Marketing Podcast. In this episode… If you want to exit your business quickly, you might consider selling to your employees. How can you structure this type of deal, and what does it involve? Jamie Birch, the Founder of JEBCommerce, shares how he sold his agency to his employees. With host Todd Taskey, Jamie explains how he initiated the transaction, how he adapted to its outcome, and the sale structure.

In the second installment of the Agency Growth Advisors series, seven agency experts share what owners should consider when preparing their agency for growth.   In this episode… What does it take to propel an agency to the next stage? How can agency founders transform their current strategies into high-performing growth trajectories? Bruce Eckfeldt, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Ian Garlic, Tim Kilroy, Aaron Levenstadt, Jason Swenk, and Joshua Johnston discuss the inquiries pivotal to improving agency performance. With host Todd Taskey, they offer insights like delegating unproductive tasks, identifying your company’s revenue drivers, and strategic planning for your growth goals.

Mitch Meyers is a Partner at the medical cannabis firm BeLeaf Medical and the CEO of The BeLeaf Company, which produces high-quality CBD oils to treat epilepsy patients. Mitch is also the Co-Owner and Partner at Nature's Care Company, a Chicago-based dispensary that provides premium medical cannabis. With over 25 years of experience in the marketing and communications industries, she has built, launched, and consulted for Fortune 100 companies, startup businesses, advisory boards, and nonprofit organizations.  In this episode… Selling your agency to a public holding company can be a huge risk. How can you ensure you structure the transaction to your benefit? Mitch Meyers, a Partner at BeLeaf Medical and the CEO of The BeLeaf Company, talks about selling her creative boutique to a public holding company. With host Todd Taskey, Mitch shares how she acquired brands in the alcohol industry, the roadblocks she experienced scaling her first agency, and how to navigate transactions. 

In this introduction to the Agency Growth Advisors series, Todd Taskey sits down with seven agency owners who share how they help founders accelerate growth.   In this episode… When it comes to scaling an agency, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Strategies often depend on size, revenue, and operational structure. What insights can you learn from agency owners who work all across the spectrum? Jason Swenk, Joshua Johnston, Bruce Eckfeldt, Tim Kilroy, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Ian Garlic, and Aaron Levenstadt talk about their methods for agency growth. With host Todd Taskey, the founders share insights like driving strategic growth, how to attract clients, and how to build an eight-figure agency.

Aaron Levenstadt is the Founder of Join Agency Alliance, an advisory board composed of former agency owners who have exited their businesses. He has built and sold multiple agencies, including Pedestal Search, which emerged from his experience as one of the original members of Google’s Search Analytics team. As an investor, Aaron supports agencies and entrepreneurs through coaching, connections, and advisory board development.  In this episode… Sometimes, selling your business gives you a higher risk tolerance, especially if you execute a profitable transaction. What criteria should you focus on when evaluating the perfect deal for your company? Aaron Levenstadt, the Founder of Join Agency Alliance, talks about his agency’s strategic exit. With host Todd Taskey, Aaron shares the deal’s inner workings, why selling his company increased his risk tolerance, and his endeavors with Join Agency Alliance.

Adam Hanin is the Head of Business Development at eHouse, which builds and optimizes e-commerce sites for shoppers. He is also the former Founder and Operating Partner at Commerce12, which was acquired by eHouse in 2024, and the former Founder and President of Skye Associates, a full-service e-commerce company specializing in fashion brands and retailers. In this episode… Entrepreneurship requires playing the long game and anticipating failures. However, introducing innovative business models and reinventing the wheel are no easy tasks. What does it take to create value, sell multiple companies, and survive industry changes? The Head of Business Development at eHouse, Adam Hanin, talks about his entrepreneurial wins and losses, including multiple company acquisitions. With host Todd Taskey, Adam describes how his failures created profitable new ventures, the lessons he learned when negotiating transactions, and how he transformed a licensing deal into an e-commerce fashion business.

In the final segment of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives weigh in on what drives value in a transaction.  In this episode… What factors drive true value in a private equity transaction? How can you position your company as a profitable fit for investors? Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the top value drivers in transactions. With host Todd Taskey, they explain the importance of high-growth structures, culture and leadership, industry expertise, and product-market fit in investors’ final decisions.

In this episode of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives talk about the primary sources of friction in deal negotiations. In this episode… Disagreements occur in many deal negotiations, but they can collapse if these disputes aren’t resolved appropriately. What causes the most friction during the negotiation process, and how can you eliminate strife to ensure a smooth transaction? Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the common sources of friction during transactions. With host Todd Taskey, they discuss the value of attorney involvement, disputes around representation and warranties, and how comprehensive LOIs and due diligence reduce these friction points.