

Second Bite Podcast
Todd Taskey
This is the Second Bite Podcast where we talk with top entrepreneurs and CEOs about creating valuable companies through creative transactions.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2021 • 41min
"Open Book Management:" The Key to Winning the Game of Business
Steve Baker is an author, speaker, and Vice President of The Great Game of Business, a management consulting firm that's all about action. Steve spent over 20 years struggling to help company owners reach their goals without access to key business metrics. Learning the principles of this game we call business changed his work and inspired him to co-write the updated, best-selling book, The Great Game of Business. In this episode… Are you losing money and morale among your employees? Are you constantly stressed because you're the only one in your company dealing with your financial situation? Do you wish there was a way to spread the workload and boost transparency? Author, speaker, and Vice President of The Great Game of Business, Steve Baker, shares the revolutionary idea of open-book management. Steve sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss why teaching your employees the fundamentals of business will boost their involvement and work ethic, how to begin implementing principles from the book, The Great Game of Business, and why a clear picture of your financial situation is essential during a transaction.

Oct 14, 2021 • 31min
Understand and Profit from The Entrepreneur's Paradox
Curtis Morley is an entrepreneur, thought leader, patent holder, and the Author of The Entrepreneur's Paradox. Curtis has started five different companies, including his latest, The Entrepreneur's Paradox, where he helps entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. Curtis has had 96 of the Fortune 100 as clients and earned multiple accolades, including Entrepreneur of the Year, 40-Under-40, and Inc. 500/5000. In this episode… Are you tired of countless sleepless nights, waking up with keyboard imprints on your face? Does your life feel like all work and no results? Do you wish there was a better way to build a business? Entrepreneur and Author of The Entrepreneur's Paradox, Curtis Morley, shares his expertise for building startups successfully. Curtis sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the common challenges for entrepreneurs, how to give up control in order to grow your business, and the importance of maintaining focus on your company goals and culture.

Oct 7, 2021 • 40min
From Entry Level Strategist to Company CEO to 2X Private Equity Success Story
Erin Cigich is the CEO of Perform[cb], a premier digital customer acquisition solution based in Florida. Erin has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including "40 Under 40" and "Business Woman of the Year" by Tampa Bay Business Journal and the Florida Women's Conference "Glass Ceiling Award." With Perform[cb], Erin has cultivated a company that has received Florida Trend magazine's "Best Florida Companies to Work For" for seven years in a row and mThink's Blue Ribbon Panel's "Best CPA Network" for five consecutive years. In this episode… Do you know what you need to do before you even start the process of selling your business? How can you differentiate between offers and find the best fit for the future of the company? CEO of Perform[cb], Erin Cigich, shares her expertise after two successful acquisitions with the same company. Erin sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss her 15-year journey from an entry-level position to CEO, the best ways to involve your top executives during an exit, and how to figure out which offer is best for your company.

Sep 30, 2021 • 45min
College Entrepreneur to Inc 500: Insights From A Seller Turned Buyer
Scott Bell is the CEO of High Level Marketing, a fully integrated agency dedicated to the growth of their clientele. Scott has more than ten years of digital marketing experience, outdoor and indoor media development, new product implementation, and team leadership. Throughout his career, he's become an expert at driving growth and profits through the diversification of product lines, financial management, and strategic thinking. Before starting High Level Marketing, he was the CEO of Bell Media. In this episode… Are you thinking about selling your business but don't know where to start? What are the most important aspects to prepare for in an acquisition? CEO of High Level Marketing, Scott Bell, gives an insider's look at acquisition from both the buyer and seller perspective. Scott sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the process of selling his first business, what buyers look for in a business, and why he decided against partnering with a private equity firm.

Sep 23, 2021 • 45min
Insider View of Private Equity for Family and Founder Businesses
Jamie Elias is a Partner at Trivest, one of the oldest private equity firms in the US. Jamie leads the firm's non-control investment strategies through the Trivest Growth Investment Fund and manages transaction execution. He is also a member of Trivest's Investment Committee and sits as a Chairman or Board Member at numerous Trivest companies, including GetixHealth and Northfield Industries. In this episode… Do you know how to handle a merger or acquisition smoothly? What if there was a company that wanted to partner with you for a successful transaction — would you know what it takes? Partner at Trivest, Jamie Elias, shares exclusive details about private equity for family and founder businesses. Jamie sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss what sets Trivest apart from other private equity firms, how their team grows companies for a successful merger or acquisition, and the secret to Trivest's success.

Sep 9, 2021 • 37min
How Managing Industry Complexity Creates Niche Expertise and Valuable Agency [Going it Alone Series]
Alex Porter is the CEO of Location3, a Denver-based digital marketing agency. Location3 was founded in 1999 to provide global direct response results to clients by leveraging search engine marketing and display media. During his 15-year tenure with Location3, Alex has also served as Vice President, President, and Chief Strategy Officer. His insight as an influential thought leader has been featured in publications such as BizReport, MediaPost, Adotas, and more. In this episode… With an increasing number of digital marketing agencies cropping up, how do you stand out? How do you decide exactly who you are and what you do as a business? Alex Porter, CEO of Location3, shares how narrowing your agency's niche can bring exponential growth. Alex sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss why the team at Location3 decided to focus on franchises, why client performance is top of mind for the agency, and why he chooses to continue growing the business on his own without selling it.

Sep 2, 2021 • 34min
How This Founder Survived Near Death Before Mastering "The Game of Business" to Create (and Share) Outsized EBITDA [Going it Alone Series]
Alex Membrillo is the CEO of Cardinal Digital Marketing, an agency with strong SEO strategies for finding quality leads. Cardinal Digital Marketing has been named one of Inc. 5000's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. Alex has made his way to the Top 40 Under 40 list by Georgia State University and the Top 20 Entrepreneurs of Metro Atlanta list by TiE Atlanta. Alex is also an Official Member of the Forbes Agency Council, an Honors Program Mentor and Guest Lecturer of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University, and on the Leadership Council for Junior Achievement of Georgia. In this episode… Do you feel like you're backed into a corner with nowhere to turn when it comes to running your company? Has your business plummeted without a clear path to redemption? Alex Membrillo, CEO of Cardinal Digital Marketing, shares how he bounced back from failure to create a nationally renowned agency. Alex sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the ups and downs of creating Cardinal Digital Marketing, what he learned during his lowest moments, and why integrity and quality talent are essential for agency growth.

Aug 26, 2021 • 43min
Sold Twice, Bought Several: The Remarkable Story Behind a $100M Digital Business
Matt Wilson is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastport Holdings, a strategic full-service marketing agency for global brands. Matt's career spans 30 years of ownership-level management positions before launching Eastport's acquisition and start-up model, including 10 years at J. Walter Thompson as Vice President and Account Director. At Eastport, Matt is a shareholder and board member heading Eastport's growth, client retention and development initiatives, training, and new business development. In this episode… You've built up a great business, but now you're thinking it's time to sell. What should you know before talking to sellers so you can get the best value for your business? Matt Wilson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastport Holdings, shares his story of selling his business to join a $100M digital agency. Matt sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the importance of understanding the legal language of a transaction, why you should always trust your gut, and how the team at Eastport Holdings decides which companies to acquire.

Aug 19, 2021 • 39min
How an Unexpected "Knock at the Door" Resulted in a Fortune for Two First-Time Entrepreneurs
Korby Wright and Mark Covrig are Senior Advisors at Coforge, a global IT solutions company with a focus on AI, cloud, and insight-driven technologies to turn businesses into valuable enterprises. Korby and Mark were the Co-founders and Enterprise System Architects of RuleTek before selling the company to become Coforge. Korby and Mark are both skilled PRPC Lead System Architects. Before joining forces, Korby was a Technology Consultant at BPM Specialists and a Managing Consultant at Accenture. Mark was a Consultant at Accenture and the Owner of Covrig Enterprises. In this episode… Are you ready to sell your company, but aren't getting any bites? How can you get the most valuation out of your transaction? Should you continue business as usual after a transaction? Korby Wright and Mark Covrig are here to give you some advice. Senior Advisors at Coforge, Korby Wright and Mark Covrig, talk about the successful valuation formula that earned them millions from their transaction. Along with host Todd Taskey, they discuss the signs that tell you to sell your company, how to get a second bite, reaping the benefits of a transaction for years to come, and much more.

Aug 12, 2021 • 44min
From Bootstrapped Agency to a Trusted Growth Accelerator for Global Brands [Going it Alone Series]
Reid Carr is the CEO of Red Door Interactive, a data and insight-driven advertising agency helping to optimize brand and performance marketing through paid, earned, and owned channels. Reid founded Red Door Interactive nearly 20 years ago with an extensive career in advertising and multi-channel, integrated marketing. Reid is also the host of The Marketing Remix podcast. In this episode… What steps should you take to successfully grow your company? Why might private equity create value and growth? How can you find the most successful social channel for your digital advertising? CEO of Red Door Interactive, Reid Carr, talks about his experience growing a multi-million dollar agency from the ground up. He and Todd Taskey discuss navigating the evolving digital market, building revenue through client retention, focusing on top talent, and much more.


