Second Bite Podcast

Michael Finnegan is the President of Bradley Media Holdings and Atlantic Media, integrated publishing companies producing journals, including National Journal and The Atlantic. National Journal delivers insightful journalism to help organizations navigate policy and politics effectively. In this episode… If you’re considering selling your assets, how can you position them as attractive options to potential buyers? What role can you take on to facilitate these transactions? President of Bradley Media Holdings and Atlantic Media, Michael Finnegan talks about how he facilitated asset sales. With host Todd Taskey, Michael shares how he transformed Bradley Media Holdings’ financial operations, three ways you can prepare for a business sale, and how to increase asset value.

Todd Taskey is an M&A Advisor for CEOs and Entrepreneurs at Potomac Business Capital. He has been an entrepreneur, business owner, investment banker, and business finance advisor for more than 20 years. In addition to providing M&A advice, Todd has been a founding investor, board member, or part of the management team of several business ventures. He helps CEOs and entrepreneurs develop a successful exit strategy by understanding the mid-market investment banking process. In this episode… There are tremendous opportunities for growth outside the realm of your business. However, many entrepreneurs are hesitant to relinquish control of their company to another. How can you select the perfect partnership? Todd Taskey, the M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, discusses the benefits of partnership acquisitions. With guest host Chad Franzen of Rise25, Todd shares the process of business acquisitions, the external forces impacting transactions, and the companies qualifying for partnership transactions.

Robyn Siers spearheads the M&A practice at JonesSpross, representing strategic and financial buyers and sellers of all sizes, pioneering a distinctive specialization branded Speed M&A™. This method-driven approach to M&A employs cutting-edge technologies and strategic playbooks to streamline the M&A process to be more efficient and cost-effective. In this episode… Whether you’re ready to retire or looking for a strategic partner to grow your business, the M&A process is intricate and diverse. What should you consider before structuring a transaction? Robyn Siers, a Partner at JonesSpross, shares the key components of a strategic M&A process. With host Todd Taskey, Robyn explains how to navigate an earnout while maximizing equity, the purpose of a letter of intent, and why you may want to consider representation and warranty insurance.

Paul Ollinger is a writer, comedian, speaker, and host of the Crazy Money Podcast, which explores the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. His commentary on business and work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Funny or Die. As one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul served as the VP of Sales for the Western United States. In this episode… You can be a top executive making multiple six figures a year, but if you’re unhappy, that money is meaningless. How can you identify the connection between money and happiness to attain personal fulfillment? Paul Ollinger, the host of the Crazy Money Podcast, talks about his transition from a Yahoo and Facebook executive to a professional comedian. With host Todd Taskey, Paul shares his favorite books about money, the lessons he learned from his early days at Facebook and Yahoo, and why he became a comedian.

Dan Khabie is the Co-founder and Partner at CourtAvenue, one of the fastest-growing digital transformation companies in its industry. He began his career as the Co-founder of Digitaria, an award-winning digital agency with clients including DreamWorks and the NFL. As a LinkedIn influencer, Dan speaks frequently about innovation and marketing. In this episode… Is it possible to start over as an entrepreneur after leaving a lucrative career behind? In this part two episode, hear how a seasoned M&A executive built a digital business through strategic transactions. The Co-founder and Partner of CourtAvenue, Dan Khabie, reveals his decision to leave a public company to launch a business. With host Todd Taskey, Dan talks about how he engaged in a risky deal to transition companies, the key criteria for getting acquired, and CourtAvenue’s future M&A and growth plans.

Dan Khabie is the Co-founder and Partner at CourtAvenue, one of the fastest-growing digital transformation companies in its industry. He began his career as the Co-founder of Digitaria, an award-winning digital agency with clients including DreamWorks and the NFL. As a LinkedIn influencer, Dan speaks frequently about innovation and marketing. In this episode… If you’re considering a transaction, it’s vital to assess your business and identify your end goal. In this part one episode, learn the ins and outs of an unconventional transaction from an expert in the digital space. Dan Khabie, the Co-founder and Partner of CourtAvenue, talks about his decision to sell his public company. With host Todd Taskey, Dan reveals how he navigated low valuation during due diligence, his journey into entrepreneurship, and how he approached his transaction.

Todd Taskey has been an entrepreneur, business owner, investment banker, and business finance advisor for over 20 years. He is currently the M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, where he helps CEOs and entrepreneurs maximize their company’s value and develop a successful exit strategy. His specialties include M&A, strategic acquisition, divestitures, and more. In this episode… According to the Wall Street Journal, private equity only raised half the money last year than it did the year prior. Yet companies with $1-5 million of EBITDA can find valuable opportunities in the market. How can agency founders leverage private equity to accelerate growth? Todd Taskey, the M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, shares the various opportunities in private equity. With guest host Jeremy Weisz of Rise25, Todd discusses how to capitalize on market opportunities for growth, the private equity criteria for agencies, and why founders shouldn’t worry about the decline in private equity money.

Jeff Reynolds is the CEO of Agital, an integrated marketing agency backed by $100 million of capital. He is also the Founder of Human Growth Systems, which helps middle-market service companies develop sustainable business models to drive growth. Before Agital and Human Growth Systems, Jeff spent nearly 20 years leading a 10x growth journey for a marketing services business. In this episode… Preparing and executing an acquisition requires experience and due diligence. Hear how a strategic acquirer analyzes businesses and their leaders for tuck-ins. Jeff Reynolds, the CEO of Agital, walks through his process for acquiring businesses. With host Todd Taskey, Jeff shares his business acquisition and integration processes, entrepreneurs’ most difficult adjustments following an acquisition, and how to acquire businesses effectively.

Jeff King is the CEO of Barkley, an independent creative company that builds brands. In 2022, the company was named to W shortlist. With over 25 years of experience in advertising and marketing, Jeff began as an intern at Barkley before becoming a respected executive and CEO. In this episode… If you’re considering conducting a transaction, private equity may be a viable option. How can you identify and select a suitable partner for your business? Jeff King, the CEO of Barkley, describes the process of finding a private equity partner. With host Todd Taskey, Jeff shares the benefits of partnering with private equity, how to communicate transactions to your team, and his journey from an intern to the CEO of Barkley.

Patrick Briggs is the CEO of Semify, a white-label partner for SEO, PPC, and Facebook Ads. He is also the Principal and Operating Partner at Broadtree Partners, a lower-middle market PE firm that acquired Semify. With expertise in marketing and growth, Patrick has held various leadership positions at companies, including Yumble, Jetty, and Zazzle. In this episode… Is it possible to become a CEO without founding a company? With private equity acquisitions, you can transition into the role of CEO seamlessly. Patrick Briggs, the CEO of Semify, shares his trajectory to CEO following an acquisition. With host Todd Taskey, Patrick explains how he maximized Semify’s value after the transaction, the qualities of an exceptional CEO, and how he discovered Broadtree Partners.

Lance Loveday is the Chairman of Closed Loop, a boutique digital advertising agency. The company has managed over $1 billion in digital ad spend for clients, including AWS and Intercom. As an angel investor, Lance serves on the boards of both the Sacramento Angels and Placer Robotics, a regional non-profit teaching STEM skills to local students. In this episode… If you want to escape from the day-to-day and transition out of your business, consider acqui-hiring. This strategic transaction allows you to acquire a company’s talent and take the burden off yourself. So what else is involved, and how can you benefit from this transaction? Lance Loveday, the Chairman of Closed Loop, shares his trajectory from CEO to Chairman. With host Todd Taskey, Lance shares how Closed Loop acquired a creative team through acqui-hiring, why he has declined opportunities from private equity, and how to integrate new employees following an acqui-hire.

David Slenzak is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Broadtree Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm. With extensive experience in the search fund management process, he has both managed and exited an acquired business. David specializes in government contracting, healthcare, and technology companies. In this episode… As a lower middle market company with less than $2 million of EBITDA, is it possible to get acquired more than once? When you partner with a strategic private equity group, you can secure the second — and even third — bite of the apple. David Slenzak, the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Broadtree Partners, talks about how he builds and scales platform companies. With host Todd Taskey, David explains how he constructs and invests in sales teams, Broadtree Partners’ ideal companies, and how he navigates management transfers during growth and acquisition.

Lance Hollander is the CEO and Managing Partner of From the Future, an agency that creates sustainable growth for businesses. He is also a Co-founder and Partner at The Agency Shop. With 25 years of experience, Lance has built and sold four digital agencies, including merging Delphic Digital with Hero Digital. In this episode… If you’re considering engaging in a transaction, how can you negotiate favorable terms and conditions to enhance business value? Learn best practices for structuring a transaction from a seasoned agency founder. CEO and Managing Partner of From the Future, Lance Hollander, talks about the conditions of his merger. With host Todd Taskey, Lance explains how agency owners can navigate a non-compete agreement, how he capitalized on post-transaction opportunities, and his tips for maximizing the value of each transaction.

Ned MacPherson is the Founder and Growth Lead at Endrock, a consumer analytics and growth experimentation firm serving DTC, e-commerce, and retail brands. In his role, he leads cross-sector technical growth efforts. Before Endrock, Ned held roles including CMO, Head of Growth, and Head of Revenue at multiple e-commerce businesses. In this episode… When considering growth opportunities, you can either grow organically through transactions or by partnering with private equity. If choosing to scale through the latter, how can you position your company in front of potential buyers? Ned MacPherson, the Founder and Growth Lead at Endrock, talks about the due diligence process of his recent transaction. With host Todd Taskey, Ned describes how to assess value and structure deals, how building a relationship with his buyer helped accelerate his company, and what you should know about partnering with private equity.

Andrew Kolidas is the Founder and CEO of Digital Impulse, a Boston-based web design and digital marketing agency. As a solutions-driven, media-savvy marketing specialist, he focuses on identifying and leveraging marketing opportunities in emerging technologies. In this episode… Contrary to standard beliefs, business exits aren’t always final. Instead, acquisitions allow you to grow and take part in a significant mission. How can you partner with the right company? Founder and CEO of Digital Impulse, Andrew Kolidas, talks about his acquisition journey. With host Todd Taskey, Andrew shares how he structured his transaction, why he leveraged a banker to navigate his acquisition, and his involvement in future deals.

Ken Fahmy is the Founder and President of Fahmy & Associates, where he has helped families, individuals, and small businesses achieve financial security since 1985. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), he has experience in a host of insurance and finance sectors. Ken has been recognized as a top financial and insurance advisor by Washingtonian magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and many more. In this episode… Many entrepreneurs build companies to leave a monetary legacy for themselves and their loved ones. Yet when the time comes to exit, business owners aren’t always adequately prepared. What tax efficiency strategies can you leverage to maximize your company’s value? Founder and President of Fahmy & Associates, Ken Fahmy, shares tax benefit opportunities for small business owners. With host Todd Taskey, Ken discusses investment plans for tax deductions, how to manage your finances to prepare for an exit, and the value of business beneficiary plans.

Mike Perez is the President of iLaywerMarketing, a law firm marketing company. He is also the CEO of 1Point21 Interactive, a full-service data visualization and content marketing agency. Mike specializes in SEO, SEM, web design, website video production, and video optimization. In this episode… Selling your business requires consideration for implications like job security, asset ownership, and operational changes. How can you evaluate an ideal company for the transaction, and what should you prioritize during your due diligence? Mike Perez, the President of iLaywerMarketing, shares how he navigated the legal ramifications of his business sale. With host Todd Taskey, Mike explains how he partnered with private equity companies, how to collaborate with stakeholders during a transaction, and advice for enhancing company value.

Nat Berman is the CEO of Uncoached Corp, where he works with motivated individuals and teams to reach peak performance levels. As a multi-million dollar entrepreneur, he helps CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs gain clarity. Over 17 years, Nat grew a portfolio of 25 sites that reached millions of visitors each month. In this episode… Have you reached an impasse in your career? Are you feeling unfulfilled in your professional life? Learn business and life lessons from an entrepreneurial coach who built a portfolio from scratch and attained financial freedom. Business coach and CEO of Uncoached Corp, Nat Berman, talks about entrepreneurs’ standard career conflicts. With host Todd Taskey, Nat shares how to leverage acquisitions to grow a portfolio, the definitions of financial freedom and mountain top syndrome, and the most common inflection points for professionals.

Adi Klevit is the Founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, which identifies, creates, and documents processes to help businesses scale. She has 25 years of experience as a trained industrial engineer, management consultant, and business executive. With this knowledge, Adi helps organizations and companies improve efficiency and performance. In this episode… Companies preparing for a sale often encounter inefficiencies and disorganization. Learn how implementing systems and processes can streamline operations and boost your company’s valuation. Founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, Adi Klevit, explains the importance of processes and procedures to an organization’s value proposition. With host Todd Taskey, Adi explains the dangers of inefficient processes, how to integrate separate processes during a merger, and how to systemize a business for a transaction.

Felix Laboy is an Advisor and Executive at Shift Digital, a leader in digital marketing program optimization. In his role, he helps develop teams, manage hospitality resources, and provide strategic focus. With three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, he founded one of the first digital marketing agencies in the hotel industry. Prior to Shift Digital, Felix served as the Founding President of Sabre Hospitality Solutions, CEO of WayBlazer, and the Executive Chairman of NextGuest. In this episode… Are you considering selling your business? Learn insights from a seasoned hospitality executive about the particulars of an exit and life post-transaction. Shift Digital’s Advisor and Executive, Felix Laboy, shares the details of his first business transaction. With host Todd Taskey, Felix divulges how he structured and managed sale agreements, the practical components of a business transaction, and how to position yourself as a knowledgeable executive.