Poised for Exit

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Shaun Jackson, business broker with Calhoun Companies, steps in as guest host to interview his client, Dale Doriott, former owner of Injection Molding Solutions. Together, they walk through Dale’s real exit story and the key factors that led to a premium outcome.

Dale shares how he built the business over decades, including navigating the 2008 financial crisis and growing through disciplined opera...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jennifer Vickerman Akaolisa, Gift Planner at Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, joins us to discuss how philanthropy can become a powerful part of business exit planning. With a background in financial services and more than a decade of experience in philanthropy, Jennifer helps individuals, families, and business owners create giving strategies that align with their values and long-term goal...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Stacey Bartelson, Financial Advisor at Edward Jones, discusses why business owners should start planning their exit from day one. She shares how many owners focus on growth but overlook the long-term strategy needed to successfully transition or sell their business.

Stacey explains that enterprise value goes far beyond financials, highlighting the importance of building a strong team, creating sys...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Steve Storkan, Executive Director at The Employee Ownership Expansion Network, discusses how employee ownership is gaining traction as a business exit strategy. He shares the growth of employee ownership across the U.S. and explains why more business owners are considering it as part of their transition planning.

Steve breaks down how increased awareness, new sources of capital, and impact investi...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Darin Lynch, Founder and CEO of Irish Titan, shares what it really takes to build a strong, scalable business. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Darin explains how focusing on “business first, online second” has shaped his company’s growth and long-term value.

Darin breaks down how prioritizing partnerships over transactions, along with a clear and disciplined operating model, contribut...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jon Marquet and Brenna Johnson of Trust Point Inc. dive into a crucial yet often overlooked part of the exit journey: what happens after the deal closes. They explain why an exit plan is about much more than maximizing your sale price; it’s about aligning your business, financial, and personal goals to create a sustainable, fulfilling next chapter.

Jon and Brenna break down how early, holistic pla...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we welcome back Todd Krough, Private Wealth Advisor with UMB Bank and President of The Twin Cities Chapter of the Exit Planning Institute. Todd shares how the chapter has grown over the past decade into one of the most active and collaborative EPI chapters in the country, bringing together advisors and business owners to improve the outcomes of business transitions.

We discuss how the Twin Cities ...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Deepa Krishnamurthy, Co-Founder and CEO of Nterprisers, Inc. about the often unseen world of U.S. manufacturing. While many people picture large factories, most manufacturers are small, privately held businesses that operate quietly within local networks. Deepa shares how her experience in manufacturing and private markets led her to build a platform designed to help these compan...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Ailana McIntosh, Business and Real Estate Attorney at Hellmuth & Johnson.

Ailana shares her unique journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial immigrant family to building a career helping business owners navigate the legal side of starting, operating, and ultimately selling their companies. Her background gives her a firsthand understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs f...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we are joined by John Schwalbach of Freedom Financial Partners, who leads a conversation with his client, Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic®. Together, they explore what shifts for a business owner when planning becomes intentional rather than reactive.

As Jennifer’s company matured and began generating meaningful value, new questions surfaced about wealth, risk exposure, long-term flexi...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Ben Axelrod, Managing Director at Borgman Capital,to explore what business owners should truly understand before partnering with private equity. With a background spanning M&A advisory and investment leadership, Ben offers a thoughtful perspective on how financial buyers approach transactions and long-term partnership.

We discuss common misconceptions about private equity, inc...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we are joined by Karim Ghandour, Founder & CEO at Legacyline, a Dubai-based transition readiness firm serving founders across multiple jurisdictions. Karim shares how his background in estate planning and cross-border advisory work led him to a powerful realization. Most business owners do not truly understand the value of their company, even though it is often their largest asset.

Karim expla...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Judy Praska, Owner & President of three Fastest Labs locations in the Twin Cities metro. Judy shares how she scaled her testing services business from one location to three, what surprised her most along the way, and the operational details business owners often overlook until growth exposes the cracks.

Scaling a service business, especially one operating in regulated and safe...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we sit down with Michael Winn, Co-Founder and Partner at Chartered Wealth Partners in Beverly Hills, to discuss why many business exits fail and how outcomes are often determined long before a deal is signed.

Michael explains how missed tax strategy, poor advisor sequencing, and a lack of owner readiness can undermine exit results, even when transactions close successfully.  He shares how early, i...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we’re joined by Mark Kravietz, Managing Partner and Founder of Aline Wealth, for a practical discussion on what business owners need to understand before relocating to a lower-tax state.

Mark explains why changing residency for tax purposes is far more involved than many owners expect and why simply spending “six months and a day” in a new state is rarely sufficient. He walks through the core fact...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we speak with Andy Kocemba, President and CEO of Calhoun Companies, about how buyers are evaluating businesses as we head into 2026. Andy shares his perspective from decades of working with buyers and sellers, and explains why preparation consistently matters more than trying to time the market when it comes to achieving a strong outcome.

Andy walks through the key drivers of valuation, including ...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we speak with Alexis Bostrom, founder and CEO of Big Wolf Siteworks, about how she built a construction company that has grown steadily while remaining intentionally small. Alexis shares how the business began as a two person operation with her husband and evolved into a company supported by a close knit team.

Alexis walks through the realities of hiring for the first time, becoming a union shop, ...

In this annual recap episode of Poised for Exit, I reflect on 2025, share what stood out over the past year, and look ahead to what is coming in 2026. I also revisit how the show began during the early days of the pandemic, how it has grown over the past five years, and why exit planning conversations continue to resonate with business owners and advisors around the world.

I spend time discussing one of the questions I hear most oft...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, we welcome James Olsen, Partner at Seiler Law PLCC, for a practical discussion on the legal realities business owners face when preparing for a sale or transition.

James shares insights from advising Main Street and lower middle-market business owners, highlighting common legal pitfalls that can delay or derail an exit. From handshake agreements and undocumented contracts to buyer due diligen...