Second Bite Podcast

In the third installment of the PE Insight Series, Todd Taskey’s guests offer a behind-the-scenes look into investment committees. In this episode… Most entrepreneurs aren’t familiar with investment committees, so it can be quite daunting to approach them during a transaction. What is an investment committee, and how do they facilitate the transaction process? Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay demystify investment committees. With host Todd Taskey, the guests discuss the inner workings of these committees, how they assess companies and deals, and how they differ between large and small firms.

In the second edition of the PE Insight Series, eight private equity executives discuss the #1 factor in failed deals.  In this episode… Imagine being on the brink of closing a major transaction and having it fall apart unexpectedly. What causes a deal to crumble following the LOI, and how can you prevent a failed deal? Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, Bill Dyer, and John Findlay talk about the most common deal killers. With host Todd Taskey, the executives discuss the importance of transparency, how to align expectations before signing an LOI, and how visibility and performance impact deal closure. 

In the first installment of the PE Insight Series, Todd Taskey interviews eight private equity executives about how they make their initial assessment of a company. In this episode… Private equity executives often sift through thousands of investment decks each week. So what are their criteria for evaluating them, and how can business owners structure their pitches to capture interest? Casey Swercheck, Joshua Bilmes, Nick Moritsugu, Bill Sommerschield, Trenton Sisson, Brian Schmidt, William Dyer, and John Findlay share their first impression requirements. With host Todd Taskey, the private equity executives talk about their elimination criteria for investment decks, the number of investments they evaluate each week, and how to craft a compelling pitch that resonates with investors.

Kevin Buerger is the CEO of Labelium, a digital marketing and performance agency. In his role, he drives the company’s growth strategy and positioning for the US market. Before Labelium, Kevin spent nearly 13 years as the Global Chief Growth Officer at Jellyfish, where he built its US presence.  In this episode… What differentiates successful companies in the market? Strategic partnerships can create valuable companies and contribute to exponential growth. How can you identify the proper fit? Kevin Buerger, the CEO of Labelium US, talks about profitable acquisition strategies. With host Todd Taskey, he shares how he aligns values and culture for acquisition targets, his transition from an equity analyst to a digital marketing leader, and his strategic growth strategies.

Jamie Shanks is the CEO of Get Levrg, a community mastermind helping founders and CEOs navigate offshoring talent. As a serial entrepreneur, he is also the CEO of Pipeline Signals, the #1 sales methodology for account-based sellers. Jamie was previously the CEO of Sales for Life, the leading social selling training company, which he scaled to 600 global customers and 250,000 international sellers. Additionally, he is the best-selling author of Outsource To Profits. In this episode… Imagine having an influential business with 600 global clients and robust intellectual property only to discover you’re $1 million in debt. How can you transform your company’s infrastructure to emerge stronger than before?  The CEO of Get Levrg, Jamie Shanks, explains how he restructured his business to escape from debt. With host Todd Taskey, Jamie discusses the significance of recurring revenue, the power of strategic outsourcing, and how to cut costs without compromising service quality.

Bruce Eckfeldt is a Strategic Coach and Master Facilitator at Eckfeldt & Associates, where he works with CEOs and leadership teams to scale their businesses. As a former Inc. 500 founder and CEO, he successfully scaled and sold his business. Bruce focuses on developing leadership skills, optimizing companies for transactions, and navigating mergers and acquisitions.  In this episode… If you’re wondering what comes next after strategic growth, you may want to consider transitioning from a hands-on founder to a strategic CEO. How can you navigate this transition and prepare yourself — and your business — for an exit? Strategic coach and facilitator Bruce Eckfeldt talks about his high-level coaching process for founders and CEOs. With host Todd Taskey, Bruce addresses the challenges founders face when shifting to CEO and how he helps companies scale and exit.

Kevin Wilhelm is the Founder and President of POD Marketing, a digital agency specializing in industry-specific marketing services. With a decade of experience, he has successfully led the company through dynamic growth. Kevin is also the President of several other marketing firms, including Marketing4ECPs, CITIZEN Marketing, and Lift Aesthetic Marketing.  In this episode… What’s involved in negotiating a fair partner buyout in a high-value company? How can you ensure a process rooted in respect and strategic thinking? Kevin Wilhelm, the Founder and President of POD Marketing, shares how he bought out his partner. With host Todd Taskey, Kevin talks about the value of investment risks, how to navigate complex business negotiations, and how he founded a partner-led company. 

Lindsay Frey is the Co-founder and President of demandDrive, an industry leader in building sales development programs for B2B tech companies. She is also the Co-founder of Data Fuel, demandDrive’s former data offering providing actionable sales data.  In this episode… Strategic acquisitions are an effective way to fast-track business growth, but how can entrepreneurs transition from the role of a seller to a buyer? Lindsay Frey, Co-founder and President of demandDrive, talks about how she gained equity ownership through a strategic acquisition. With host Todd Taskey, Lindsay shares demandDrive’s founding story, how she grew the business through creative deals and strategic partnerships, and her most significant learning curves throughout the process.

In the fourth and final episode of the Founder Question Series, nine founders answer the common question of how to determine the ideal time to sell your business.   In this episode… Entrepreneurs and CEOs are often caught in the conundrum of selling now or holding out for greater value in the future. How do top business minds navigate this decision? Jon Morris, Matt Sunshine, Mike Vertal, Lance Hollander, Erin Cigich, Lindsay Frey, Peter Stavisky, Andrew Kolidas, and Kevin Biondi talk with host Todd Taskey about determining the right time to sell your business. Together, they emphasize considering market conditions and growth trajectories and the importance of capital, resources, personal aspirations, and employee welfare in timing the sale.

In the third edition of the Founder Question Series, Todd Taskey asks his nine guests when to disclose a transaction to the entire company, how to relay it to customers, and when to announce it to the public.   In this episode… One of the most crucial steps in any transaction is disclosure. When and how you communicate your transaction to your team, customers, and the public can make or break the deal. What can you learn from seasoned M&A founders? Jon Morris, Matt Sunshine, Mike Vertal, Lance Hollander, Erin Cigich, Lindsay Frey, Peter Stavisky, Andrew Kolidas, and Kevin Biondi talk with host Todd Taskey about when and how to disclose transaction details to your team, customers, and the public. Together, they discuss the impact company culture has on transaction disclosures, how to communicate a transaction to various stakeholders, and how to balance transaction disclosure timing between parties.