Think Like an Owner

Janelle Heuton, co-founder of Heiton Partners and former COO at GIS Workshop, shares her remarkable journey transforming a small GIS company into a thriving SaaS business. She discusses pivotal moments like shifting from custom development to cloud-based solutions and completing nine acquisitions. Janelle highlights the intricacies of the COO-CEO relationship and the importance of nurturing future leaders. Her insights reveal how successful transformations are built on vision, strategic integration, and a strong company culture.

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, host Alex Bridgeman sits down with John Peterson for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a service business from the ground up. John traces his path from professional golf—where he saw firsthand the parallels between sports and entrepreneurship—to flipping houses during COVID and ultimately founding Westoplex Garage, a garage door and epoxy floor company based in Fort Worth, Texas. With honest pricing and a service-first mentality, John shares how he grew the business from a two-man team in his garage to a multi-division operation poised for expansion into new markets. We discuss: How John’s early golf career shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and approach to financial risk Why a $2,200 garage door quote sparked the idea for a new business The importance of interpersonal skills over technical experience in hiring technicians Lessons learned from starting a service company from scratch versus acquiring an existing one The strategic decision to expand into Baton Rouge and the advantages of using private aviation for business A must-listen for operators and builders interested in the intersection of blue-collar service and entrepreneurial scale. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn. Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/ Links: John on X Alex on X Westoplex Garage Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:10) - John’s career as a pro golfer (00:14:53) - Pivoting into the garage door business (00:23:48) - Epoxy vs. concrete floors (00:25:36) - Latest tech innovations in garages (00:27:53) - The self-storage market (00:33:05) - Building a new customer funnel (00:36:48) - Training new technicians (00:37:55) - Recruiting talent (00:40:31) - What to look for in hires (00:43:38) - Why people leave the industry (00:48:02) - Opening a Baton Rouge office (00:52:35) - Growing pains (00:55:17) - What are you most excited about in the next year?  

Richard Emery, a seasoned expert in business aviation sales with a rich background at top companies, shares his insights on building high-performing sales teams. He discusses effective leadership philosophies and how to identify ideal customer profiles. Emery emphasizes the importance of discipline and communication in sales and tells captivating stories about unique aircraft clients. He also highlights strategies for CEOs to enhance their sales teams' effectiveness, blending experience with a touch of humor in this engaging conversation.

Delray Dobbins, Director of Sales at Engine Assurance Program (EAP), dives into the intricate world of jet engine maintenance. With experience at Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, he outlines how post-COVID supply chain disruptions are reshaping engine program economics. Delray emphasizes the value of AOG support and proactive planning to avoid costly surprises. He also discusses challenges such as rising engine overhaul costs, technician shortages, and the importance of adapting business models in the aviation sector.

In this engaging discussion, guest Dave Whorton, a seasoned CEO and author of "Another Way," shares insights on governance and harmony in family businesses. He emphasizes the importance of strong relationships and effective tools like outside board members and family councils. Whorton also discusses strategies for creating multi-generational firms, the transition from venture capital to family ownership, and how various industries nurture evergreen businesses. His anecdotes highlight the critical balance of leadership, planning, and emotional dynamics in achieving lasting success.

In this conversation, Dave Whorton, founder of Tugboat Institute and author of Another Way, shares his insights on building evergreen companies that prioritize permanence and purpose. He discusses why he transitioned from a career in venture capital to focus on long-term, sustainable growth. Dave highlights the seven core values of evergreen businesses and the importance of family governance. He also explains how purpose-driven companies can outperform others and offers strategies for fostering multi-generational success in business.

My guest today is Henry Schuck, founder and CEO at ZoomInfo, one of the most successful data businesses in recent times with a market cap today around $12B. I’ve been looking forward to this podcast for a long time because Henry has proven to be an effective founder, acquirer, and public CEO capital allocator, which is a rare combination of skills to find in a single CEO. He’s thought very deeply about building high performing organizations, sales functions, and how his own role needs to evolve as the company grows. We talk through lessons learned building vs acquiring capabilities, M&A and integration lessons learned, fixing problems with a process vs culture approach, and how data businesses will succeed in the future Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.  Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/ I want to tell you about the audience survey we are currently running. These surveys help us create the best content for listeners and better understand your needs and interests. Thank you in advance for sharing your feedback, we greatly appreciate it.  Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/3QLBB1N Links: Zoominfo Henry on X Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:49) - What would you focus on if you were running Boeing? (00:07:26) - How have you seen other CEOs solve culture vs. process problems? (00:12:47) - How do you approach hiring? (00:20:28) - How can you incentivize employees to buy into company values? (00:23:11) - What have you learned working with investors and other CEOs to be a great founder and M&A executive? (00:26:52) - How do you incorporate new tools or partners into Zoominfo? (00:33:53) - What have you learned about integrating acquired companies? (00:36:24) - How do you get a conviction when doing due diligence on a potential acquisition? (00:38:49) - What skills around M&A are you looking to improve? (00:41:19) - How will data companies in the future succeed? This episode was originally released on April 9th, 2024

In this engaging conversation, aviation expert Erika Armstrong reveals the hurdles facing new pilots, including high washout rates and evolving training methods. She shares insights into the declining respect for pilots due to low pay and lack of amenities. Armstrong emphasizes the need for mentorship in nurturing the next generation, particularly women. The discussion also highlights strategies to rekindle community interest in aviation through fun, family-friendly events, while addressing the environmental challenges facing the industry today.

In this engaging discussion, Erika Armstrong, a seasoned pilot and aviation expert, shares her captivating journey from corporate jets to major airlines. She highlights the evolution of aviation safety and training, emphasizing the shift towards real-world decision-making skills for pilots. Erika also discusses the impact of technology on flying, the need to inspire future aviators, and how simple community initiatives could reignite interest in aviation. Her passion shines through as she sheds light on the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of pilots.

The podcast delves into how AI is revolutionizing the distribution sector, enhancing efficiency and decision-making with tools like ChatGPT. It emphasizes the necessity for agile responses to market changes. Additionally, it examines AI’s role in simplifying software needs while pushing for rapid assessments. Wearable technology is also discussed, showcasing its advantages in unobtrusive data collection, which boosts personal awareness and decision-making.