The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or Exit

Brian Gottlieb, author of Beyond the Hammer, joins Patrick Baldwin in The Boardroom to share his inspiring story. From launching his home improvement business with just $3,000 and a folding table, Brian built a thriving organization with 600 employees. He attributes much of his success to a people-first leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of developing employees and fostering a strong company culture. How can lea...

Fred Wingate, owner of Noosa Pest Management, joins Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin to share his inspiring journey from professional water skier to thriving entrepreneur in the pest control industry. His story is rooted in discipline and resilience, values that have guided his approach to both sports and business. Fred emphasizes the importance of a people-first philosophy, demonstrating how strong relationships with customer...

An audio rebroadcast from POTOMAC.TV.

Nick Bartolo turns the mic on Paul Giannamore to discuss his strategy for selling fire protection businesses. Paul reveals how a formal sell-side process, combined with competitive leverage, drives transaction multiples to new highs. 

Learn how you can maximize the value of your fire protection business in the growing M&A market and cut taxes on the transaction. 

Recorded at NFPA 20...

Robert Pittman, owner of Tuxedo Mosquito Control, joins Nick Bartolo and Fat Pat aka Patrick Baldwin to discuss his journey in developing a specialized mosquito control business centered around family values and focus. Taking over from his father-in-law, who founded the company, Robert has upheld a culture that treats employees like family—a principle that’s integral to the company’s success in a seasonal industry. By prioriti...

Chase and Fat Pat explore the often-complex landscape of change management. Change within an organization requires more than just fresh ideas; it demands a well-executed plan and consistent momentum. Decision-makers must be resilient and somewhat shielded from daily challenges, allowing them to focus on long-term goals rather than immediate hurdles. This "immunity" to the daily grind is key to sustaining momentum and reaching ...

Wall Street equity analyst, Jamie Clement, joins Paul and Patrick and takes a hard look at the current state of the economy, focusing on how it impacts both consumers and the pest control industry. With rising costs hitting American households—particularly those in the lower income brackets—the discussion centers on how this economic squeeze could affect pest control operators. As consumers feel the pinch, businesses might fac...

Nephi Julien and Shad Teerlink, co-owners of Evolve Pest Control, shared their remarkable journey from 323 clients in Nowhere, Nevada to a multi-million dollar exit. With no prior experience and limited resources, they leveraged door-to-door sales, persistence, and creativity to rapidly grow their customer base, overcoming significant financial challenges to build a thriving operation. What unconventional growth strategies cou...

Kyle Waltz, the owner of Conserv Wildlife Services, steps into The Boardroom with Patrick Baldwin and Nick Bartolo. It's clear that this isn't Kyle's first rodeo in the wildlife arena. Kyle shares about the challenges and opportunities he faces, and what he's learned along the way. With so many moving parts, how can businesses ensure they have the right structure and expertise to navigate this specialized field?

Kyle shares t...

This week, Nick Gifford, president of Radix and founder of Diamond Lawns, joins Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin as he shares his entrepreneurial journey—a story of grit, resilience, and teamwork. Building a business is no solo effort. Gifford attributes much of his success to the strong, dependable teams he’s built over the years. He emphasizes that finding the right people, who share your values and work ethic, can make or b...

Jonas Olson, CEO of Pest Badger, joins Paul and Patrick to share his entrepreneurial journey from lawn care to pest control. When the pandemic shut down his lawn care services, he saw an opportunity to pivot into pest control—a more recession-proof and scalable industry. It was such a pivot that he rebranded from Lawn Badger to Pest Badger. His existing expertise in sales and marketing allowed him to quickly grow this new vent...

Charlie Church, owner and president of Getem Services Termite and Pest Control, joins Patrick Baldwin and Nick Bartolo to share his journey of unexpectedly taking over his family's pest control business. Through this, he highlights his experience with perseverance, adaptability, and a self-starter mentality. Drawing from his background in wrestling, Charlie developed discipline and resilience—traits that have proven invaluable...

Paul, Chase, and Fat Pat explore the intricate dynamics of company management, emphasizing the crucial role of understanding what employees value to build a high-performance culture. By recognizing individual needs and preferences, leaders can significantly boost employee satisfaction and engagement, ultimately benefiting the business. They highlight the importance of offering thoughtful, low-cost perks that enhance the percei...

PCT Top 100 CEO Brian Goldman of Big Blue Bug Solutions joins hosts Fat Pat and Chase Hazelwood in the Boardroom this week. Brian shares the story behind their famous mascot, Nibbles Woodaway - a giant blue termite that has become an unofficial symbol of Rhode Island. The discussion explores how unique marketing can forge a deep bond between a business and its local community. Did you know Big Blue Bug wasn’t always Big Blue B...

Patrick and Nick step into The Boardroom with Mark Stewart, consultant, sales coach, and author of Stop Selling, to uncover how businesses can get the most out of their sales teams. Mark has experience helping companies double and even triple in size and keep the same talented people. They dive into what makes the next generation of employees tick, sharing unique tips and tricks for hiring them and keeping them motivated. Once...

Paul Giannamore, Mat Rogers, and Patrick Baldwin begin the episode by paying tribute to Andrew Beck, the CEO of Aruza Pest Control, who passed away last week. They share personal stories, remembering him as a devoted business leader, father, husband, and friend. If you knew Andrew or would like to help his family in this unimaginably difficult time, Paul has set up a GoFundMe page at 4AndrewBeck.com

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Fat Pat and Chase Haz...

Patrick Baldwin and Nick Bartolo are joined by Court Parker, the CEO and owner of Bug Busters USA to share insights into the growth and management of his thriving pest control business. When exploring Court’s background and how Bug Busters has evolved over the years, Court lets us in on some growth strategies, particularly the importance of route density in the pest control industry. By focusing on increasing density within ex...

Paul Giannamore is back in The Boardroom this week joining Patrick Baldwin to cover the surprisingly bustling pest control M&A market. You’d expect transactions to slow down due to summer vacations, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Paul shared that Potomac has “closed more transactions than we have in a two-month period, except in Q4 of 2020." Private equity firms are at the forefront, driving many of the recent trans...

This week, Patrick Baldwin, Nick Bartolo, and Chase Hazelwood explore the game-changing impact of AI on sales centers. They dive into how automating data collection and reporting can uncover a significant number of missed calls—those often ignored but crucial for sales performance. Chase shares how his team at Go-Forth Home Services used AI to identify these missed opportunities and develop effective strategies to tackle them....

In this week's episode of The Boardroom, hosts Patrick Baldwin and Nick Bartolo are joined by Drew Fenn, President of Fenn Termite & Pest Control in Southern California with a focus on commercial and residential customers. They delve into the critical role of discipline and focus in growing a business. Drew emphasizes the necessity of deeply understanding your business and adhering to your core competencies without getting...