Second Bite Podcast

Scott Bell is the CEO of High Level Marketing, a fully integrated agency dedicated to the growth of their clientele. Scott has more than ten years of digital marketing experience, outdoor and indoor media development, new product implementation, and team leadership. Throughout his career, he's become an expert at driving growth and profits through the diversification of product lines, financial management, and strategic thinking. Before starting High Level Marketing, he was the CEO of Bell Media. In this episode… Are you thinking about selling your business but don't know where to start? What are the most important aspects to prepare for in an acquisition? CEO of High Level Marketing, Scott Bell, gives an insider's look at acquisition from both the buyer and seller perspective. Scott sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the process of selling his first business, what buyers look for in a business, and why he decided against partnering with a private equity firm.

Jamie Elias is a Partner at Trivest, one of the oldest private equity firms in the US. Jamie leads the firm's non-control investment strategies through the Trivest Growth Investment Fund and manages transaction execution. He is also a member of Trivest's Investment Committee and sits as a Chairman or Board Member at numerous Trivest companies, including GetixHealth and Northfield Industries. In this episode… Do you know how to handle a merger or acquisition smoothly? What if there was a company that wanted to partner with you for a successful transaction — would you know what it takes? Partner at Trivest, Jamie Elias, shares exclusive details about private equity for family and founder businesses. Jamie sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss what sets Trivest apart from other private equity firms, how their team grows companies for a successful merger or acquisition, and the secret to Trivest's success.

Alex Porter is the CEO of Location3, a Denver-based digital marketing agency. Location3 was founded in 1999 to provide global direct response results to clients by leveraging search engine marketing and display media. During his 15-year tenure with Location3, Alex has also served as Vice President, President, and Chief Strategy Officer. His insight as an influential thought leader has been featured in publications such as BizReport, MediaPost, Adotas, and more. In this episode… With an increasing number of digital marketing agencies cropping up, how do you stand out? How do you decide exactly who you are and what you do as a business? Alex Porter, CEO of Location3, shares how narrowing your agency's niche can bring exponential growth. Alex sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss why the team at Location3 decided to focus on franchises, why client performance is top of mind for the agency, and why he chooses to continue growing the business on his own without selling it.

Alex Membrillo is the CEO of Cardinal Digital Marketing, an agency with strong SEO strategies for finding quality leads. Cardinal Digital Marketing has been named one of Inc. 5000's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. Alex has made his way to the Top 40 Under 40 list by Georgia State University and the Top 20 Entrepreneurs of Metro Atlanta list by TiE Atlanta. Alex is also an Official Member of the Forbes Agency Council, an Honors Program Mentor and Guest Lecturer of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University, and on the Leadership Council for Junior Achievement of Georgia. In this episode… Do you feel like you're backed into a corner with nowhere to turn when it comes to running your company? Has your business plummeted without a clear path to redemption? Alex Membrillo, CEO of Cardinal Digital Marketing, shares how he bounced back from failure to create a nationally renowned agency. Alex sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the ups and downs of creating Cardinal Digital Marketing, what he learned during his lowest moments, and why integrity and quality talent are essential for agency growth.

Matt Wilson is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastport Holdings, a strategic full-service marketing agency for global brands. Matt's career spans 30 years of ownership-level management positions before launching Eastport's acquisition and start-up model, including 10 years at J. Walter Thompson as Vice President and Account Director. At Eastport, Matt is a shareholder and board member heading Eastport's growth, client retention and development initiatives, training, and new business development. In this episode… You've built up a great business, but now you're thinking it's time to sell. What should you know before talking to sellers so you can get the best value for your business? Matt Wilson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastport Holdings, shares his story of selling his business to join a $100M digital agency. Matt sits down with host, Todd Taskey, to discuss the importance of understanding the legal language of a transaction, why you should always trust your gut, and how the team at Eastport Holdings decides which companies to acquire.

Korby Wright and Mark Covrig are Senior Advisors at Coforge, a global IT solutions company with a focus on AI, cloud, and insight-driven technologies to turn businesses into valuable enterprises. Korby and Mark were the Co-founders and Enterprise System Architects of RuleTek before selling the company to become Coforge. Korby and Mark are both skilled PRPC Lead System Architects. Before joining forces, Korby was a Technology Consultant at BPM Specialists and a Managing Consultant at Accenture. Mark was a Consultant at Accenture and the Owner of Covrig Enterprises. In this episode… Are you ready to sell your company, but aren't getting any bites? How can you get the most valuation out of your transaction? Should you continue business as usual after a transaction? Korby Wright and Mark Covrig are here to give you some advice. Senior Advisors at Coforge, Korby Wright and Mark Covrig, talk about the successful valuation formula that earned them millions from their transaction. Along with host Todd Taskey, they discuss the signs that tell you to sell your company, how to get a second bite, reaping the benefits of a transaction for years to come, and much more.

Reid Carr is the CEO of Red Door Interactive, a data and insight-driven advertising agency helping to optimize brand and performance marketing through paid, earned, and owned channels. Reid founded Red Door Interactive nearly 20 years ago with an extensive career in advertising and multi-channel, integrated marketing. Reid is also the host of The Marketing Remix podcast. In this episode… What steps should you take to successfully grow your company? Why might private equity create value and growth? How can you find the most successful social channel for your digital advertising? CEO of Red Door Interactive, Reid Carr, talks about his experience growing a multi-million dollar agency from the ground up. He and Todd Taskey discuss navigating the evolving digital market, building revenue through client retention, focusing on top talent, and much more.

Brian Mitchell is the CEO and Managing Partner of GM Ryan International, a consulting and executive search firm focused on progressive software, internet, data, and security companies. Brian has led GM Ryan's team in executive recruitment success for over 15 years, with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Before GM Ryan, he ran large enterprise sales, service, and ops teams in the internet infrastructure space for 12 years. In this episode… How do you find the right executive leader for your company? When should you hire an expert for your search, and when should you take on the hiring task yourself? How can you smoothly transition to a new CEO or COO? CEO and Managing Partner of GM Ryan International, Brian Mitchell, talks about the best practices surrounding an executive search process. With host, Todd Taskey, Brian discusses the big mistakes many founders make when bringing in a new CEO or COO, how to find the right fit for your company, and how to empower a new executive leader to foster change.

Todd Taskey is an investment banker and M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, a company focused on helping businesses with company evolution, exit planning, and M&A investing. Before joining Potomac, Todd was the Principal (Certified Financial Planner) at Solutions Planning Group, Inc. Todd is an Angel Investor for many companies including Zoomph, StreetShares, and LiveSafe. In this episode… What are the challenges of selling, and how do you know if you're selling too soon? What are the best ways to structure a deal for maximum value? Investment banker and M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, Todd Taskey, talks about the challenges and rewards of selling your company. With Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25, Todd shares stories of businesses that failed and succeeded in selling, tips for becoming more confident in your deal, and advice on how to measure (and increase) the value of your company. Stay tuned.

Mike Vertal is the Co-founder and CEO of Crafter Software, a content management company that uses a headless+ CMS that empowers teams to innovate faster, deploy sooner, and create modern, content-driven digital products. Mike has over 28 years of executive experience in market strategy, engineering, and software, including his role as the Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board at Rivet Logic Corporation. In this episode… Have you noticed a million-dollar idea spur from your company? Do you wish you could build a whole new business based on this idea? What if that idea was revolutionary software — how do you move forward? Co-founder and CEO of Crafter Software, Mike Vertal, talks about his successful creation of a spin-off software from his parent company. With host, Todd Taskey, Mike discusses developing a new company from a piece of an old one, tips for transactions and selling your business, implementing technology and software, and much more.