Inside the $2.5B Blackstone Deal with Champions Group

Frank DiMarco (CEO of Champions Group) and Leland Smith (Founder & Chairman of the Board) sit down at RYNOx to break down one of the biggest recent moves in the space: their $2.5B Blackstone deal.

Recorded live at RYNOx 2026, this candid conversation dives into what it really took to build Champions Group into a multi-state platform spanning 19 brands—and how that growth led to a $2.5B acquisition.

From leadership evolution and scaling strategies to private equity and long-term vision, Frank and Leland share an inside look at the decisions, challenges, and opportunities behind the deal.

Whether you're an owner, operator, or looking to understand where the home services industry is headed, this episode delivers real insight from those building at the highest level.

00:00 – What’s Next for the Podcast

00:47 – Breaking Down the $2.5B Blackstone Deal

02:00 – From Plumber to $2.5B Exit

03:30 – Why Private Equity is Targeting Home Services

04:45 – What Actually Attracted Blackstone

06:00 – The Growth Formula That Drove the Valuation

07:30 – What Private Equity Really Looks For

08:30 – Why “People” Matter More Than Anything

10:00 – Employees vs. Customers: A Surprising Shift

11:00 – The Reality of Private Equity Pressure

12:00 – Elevating the Home Services Industry

13:00 – What Makes Champions Group Different

14:30 – “Simple, Not Easy” — Execution at Scale

15:30 – Consistency Over Flashy Growth

16:30 – The Membership Model Explained

18:00 – 150K Memberships & Their Impact on Valuation

19:30 – Cross-Selling & Scaling the Platform

21:00 – Final Thoughts on Growth & the Future

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepoint

Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/

Contractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/ryno/

Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePoint

Avoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepoint