The Boardroom Buzz, hosted by Patrick Baldwin and Paul Giannamore, is the go-to resource for cutting-edge insight on strategy, valuation and mergers & acquisitions in the service industry. Presented by the Potomac Pest Control Group.
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How many times have you been told “that will never work”? Probably not as often as Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. The veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, investor, speaker and best-selling author has founded or co-founded half-a-dozen successful startups and mentored scores of entrepreneurs from first time business owners to established CEOs. Be a fly on the boardroom wall as Marc's podcast opens up the opportunity to entrepreneurs everywhere to gain the benefit of his years of ...
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Episode 187 — The Unofficial State Bug of Rhode Island with Brian Goldman
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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 busi…
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Episode 186 — Stop Selling with Mark Stewart
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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,…
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Episode 185 — Why Execution Matters More Than Ideas
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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…
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Episode 184 — Taking a Different Route with Court Parker
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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 d…
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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."…
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Episode 182 — Leveraging Social Accountability
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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 iden…
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Episode 181 — Discipline for Long-Term Value Creation in Commercial & Residential with Drew Fenn
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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 unders…
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Episode 180 — Principles, Pest Control and Politics with Jason Walton
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Jason Walton, U.S. Senate Candidate in Utah and co-founder and CEO of Moxie Pest Control, joins Patrick Baldwin and Nick Bartolo for an enlightening episode of The Boardroom Buzz. Jason begins by discussing how mentors influenced his success such as Brent Bingham, Jimmy Hale, and the Rollins family. He also stresses that principled living and keepi…
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Episode 179 — This Ain't His First Rodeo with Mike Houston
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Mike Houston, the seasoned owner of Sureguard Termite and Pest Services, joins Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin in the Boardroom to share his extensive experience in the pest control industry. Mike's humble beginnings in the industry accelerated into a successful business he exited. Mike took a break from pest control but has built again. He priori…
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You can watch Paul’s presentation in its entirety on POTOMAC TV here: https://youtu.be/OiY68KAOIC8?si=UK-Tcq2GA7b1Ec4v In an insightful speech at the AZPPO Great Western Pest Control Conference in March 2024, Paul Giannamore, the industry’s foremost authority on business valuation, shared valuable strategies for growing, managing, and valuing pest …
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Episode 177 — Advising From Experience with Attorney Phil Rinehart
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Today in the Boardroom, Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin sat down with Phil Rinehart. Phil is a practicing attorney and principal at The Law Offices of Phillip Rinehart. Phil is uniquely suited to provide legal advice as he also has a 20+ career in pest control and is currently the owner and CEO of EcoGen. As an attorney, Phil specializes in litiga…
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Episode 176 — Commission Culture: The Power of Production Pay
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This week in The Boardroom, Paul, Patrick, and Chase explore the benefits of switching from hourly pay to production commission for technicians. It's not just an incentive but a reward for effort and results, fostering a sense of ownership among employees. How could a commission-based pay system boost your company’s productivity and engagement? Cha…
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Episode 175 — Lessons in Culture & Authenticity with Caleb Fabry
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In this episode, we spoke with Caleb Fabry, owner of Town & Country Pest Solutions in Rochester, New York. Caleb discusses the importance of a strong company culture and employee engagement. By using the Culture Index, he aligns team members with roles that fit their unique attributes while enhancing communication. How can utilizing culture tools h…
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Episode 174 — Focus on Joy: Brian Lunsford's Leadership Journey
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Brian Lunsford, owner and CEO of Bring the Joy Ventures—the parent company of LunsPro Inspections, Kingfish Pest Control, JoyLights, Fix-it Flamingo, and Jacksonville Real Producers—rejoins The Boardroom Buzz to recount his journey as a business leader. After a successful pest control business sale in Atlanta, Brian and his wife Kristin are buildin…
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Episode 173 — Chasing Excellence and The Role Mistakes Play
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This week in the Boardroom, Paul, Patrick, and Chase discuss building a high-performance business culture by expecting and monitoring mistakes. Transparency is key. When we expect each other to make mistakes and hold each other accountable, we're building a supportive environment. How can your organization see mistakes as growth opportunities? Trus…
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Episode 172 — The Dual Pillars of Trust and Accountability
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Paul, Patrick, Nick Bartolo, and Chase Hazelwood discuss the pivotal role that trust plays within teams. While trust is a cornerstone of effective teamwork, we can't forget the importance of accountability. Building trust is a gradual process built by recognizing and acknowledging when your team excels. How can your team strike a balance between fo…
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Explore the fascinating world of pest control with Jared LaJaunie, founder of LaJaunie's Pest Control. From humble beginnings as a one-man operation to scaling up with a team, Jared shared the secrets behind his success. How can we maintain that relentless dedication and hunger for self-improvement in our own endeavors? Jared observes the power of …
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Paul and Patrick break down earnouts, those tricky tools that promise to bridge valuation gaps but often lead to unexpected headaches. Ever wondered why earnouts can be such a gamble? Picture this: a seller with a rock-solid EBITDA track record sees their earnout shrink because the buyer reinvests in the business, slashing the payout. So, are earno…
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This keynote speech by leading M&A advisor, Paul Giannamore, was filmed at the AZPPO Great Western Conference in Mesa, Arizona, on March 27, 2024. The presentation revolves around the key decision-making processes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), focusing particularly on the choice between negotiation and auction when selling assets. Paul Giannam…
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Episode 168 — Inside Modern Leadership with Skye LaJaunie
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Skye LaJaunie, COO of LaJaunie's Pest Control, joins Paul and Patrick in The Boardroom to dive into the crucial role of company culture in driving business success. There is a huge need for a strong culture built on genuine relationships between leaders and team members. But what does it take to truly understand your team's motivations and aspirati…
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We always think high growth is the golden ticket. Sure, rapid expansion can be sweet, but have you ever wondered if there's such a thing as too much growth? When should you hit the brakes and focus on other priorities, especially if selling your company is in the cards? Let's talk about keeping those customers happy. Implementing a killer retention…
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Paul and Patrick dive into the intricate world of cognitive biases, drawing insights from Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. The duo dissected the concept of representativeness bias, which can lead us to make flawed assumptions based on surface-level similarities. Think about it: How often do we catch ourselves falling into this trap …
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Paul is getting on the road to double-keynote this year's AZPPO Great Western Conference. But first, Paul takes on a FRAXN client's question, beginning with the vital need to keep partnership agreements and valuations current. Surely, you’ve considered the potential chaos if your business partner suddenly left the picture. Updating your operating a…
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Fat Pat and Uncle Paul dive into business expansion strategies and the power of partnerships. Instead of sticking to the traditional 'buy or build' mindset, here's an alternative: forming alliances with established players in new markets. But here's the kicker: Have you considered how such partnerships could reshape your business expansion plans? W…
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Episode 163 — The Wild Life of Mike Hurley
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Are you ready for another guest episode? Mike Hurley, the genius behind a thriving wildlife business, Xceptional Wildlife, joins the Boardroom to uncover the secrets to his success. Mike hits home the importance of ironclad processes in business growth. Drawing from his experience with Six Sigma, he emphasizes the power of identifying and perfectin…
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Episode 162 — Nurturing a High-Performance Culture
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Chase Hazelwood, owner of Go-Forth Pest Control, takes us through their remarkable journey from $2 million to an astonishing $25 million empire in just ten years. Curious about his winning formula? It's all about cultivating a high-performance culture. Chase tells us about his relentless focus on customer service and sales that skyrocketed producti…
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Looking to crack the code of success in the wildlife and pest control sectors? Fat Pat and Seth drop some wisdom on why simplicity is the name of the game for top-performing companies. By starting with a single service and gradually adding on more, these businesses maximize profitability and route density. Do you think your company could benefit fr…
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Uncle Paul is preparing his upcoming presentation at Energy by Pest Daily, happening this weekend in Tampa, Florida. But first, he's answering listener questions by uncovering the secret sauce of setting that initial price point. How does anchoring impact negotiations? How can you take control by making the first offer? Private equity firms are dit…
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Have you ever felt dwarfed by a competitor's size, wondering, "What am I doing wrong?" Uncle Paul goes solo with a few listener questions in hand, and reminds us that size isn't everything; it's about playing the hand you're dealt. What unique strengths can you leverage in your business? Take it from the expert—ditch the grand goals and focus on sm…
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Fat Pat and Uncle Paul kick off the new year at WorkWave's 2024 Beyond Service User Conference and unpack the highlights of Paul's appearance at their panel discussion. "Strategy in 2024" takes center stage. Spoiler alert: it's all about goals and objectives—it just keeps all the wheels turning. But so does showing your commitment to your people. H…
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How much time is needed to train a technician to work independently? What strategies encourage technicians to expand their (non-upselling) sales skills, and is it advisable? Fat Pat and Seth delve into these listener questions and more this week. From scaling up clients to promoting from within, they dive into a few different topics. If you were to…
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As CEO, which tasks can and should be outsourced? Better yet, what about replacing yourself? One listener asks if his involvement affects how much the business’s value. Some buyers might like the owner being less hands-on and having a strong team already in charge. What factors influence how the buyers see the level of owner involvement? Are you re…
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While Uncle Paul is away, Fat Pat and BroSeth tackle subscription billing and collection exceptions. How long should companies should stick to service once a customer gets behind? Customer communication is a tricky wicket. Who gets price hikes and how do you communicate them? While Seth is fielding all the questions this week, let’s get his take on…
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You asked, we answered. More listener questions are on tap for this week’s Buzz. Starting with rate cuts. A rate cut is rumored. How would it impact M&A? Uncle Paul breaks down the signal along with the relationship between rate cuts, debt, and the overall economic environment. Reliability’s best friend, recurring revenue, plays a critical role in …
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Episode 153 — Marcus Sheridan on Becoming the Voice of Trust
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Marcus Sheridan, keynote speaker on sales, marketing, and building trust, and author of They Ask You Answer, joins Paul and Patrick in the boardroom in an episode on becoming an industry expert through a customer-centric approach. He emphasizes the need to stand out, be more human, and engage better with customers and addresses concerns about costs…
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Companies can leverage subordinated debt to access capital without relinquishing ownership. Who has done this in the industry and for what purposes? Fat Pat and Uncle Paul chat through the impact of subordinated debt on financial stability along with its role within the broader capital structure. Are you staring down an opportunity where sub debt m…
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Episode 151 — Rob Greer: From Rove Pest COO to Chris Voss co-author
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Rob Greer, COO of Rove Pest Control, steps into The Boardroom to chat about co-writing “Empathy and Understanding in Business” with Never Split the Difference author, Chris Voss. Before diving into the importance of empathy and if it’s something to be developed, let’s get on the same page by defining it. Whether you use the term “empathy” or not, h…
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At PestWorld, both Uncle Paul and Fat Pat had firsthand experiences that reinforced the notion of a younger and more sophisticated pest control industry. With Rentokil facing expectations of slower growth during the integration process, it's clear that the industry is in a transitional phase. Rollins and Rentokil both shared their quarterly earning…
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The time is now, if you haven't already subscribed to POTOMAC TV. Live from the exhibitor floor at PestWorld in Hawaii, Dylan Seals created a first of its kind studio, while Paul G and guests took the stage. Check out this guest list: Big Time Pest Control President, Mike Bullert Greenix President, Andrew Barrows WorkWave CEO, David F. Giannetto Fi…
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You remember those days of taking on every customer request as you were getting started. The only thing standard was saying ‘yes’ to get the job. It’s time to scale back to scale up in this chat about standardizing your service. Of course you want to go above and beyond to accommodate that potential client, but what if you can’t get them to fit in …
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Episode 148 — Jason Cupp: The Kolbe Index, Jerry Springer, and a Mexican Intervention
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You heard Jonathan Pototschnik give Jason Cupp props as a peer and consultant during his time leading ServiceAutopilot. Step on into The Boardroom this week to hear how Jason Cupp grew roots in landscape to later emerge as a Kolbe Certified Growth Consultant. There are an endless number of tools to measure intelligence and personality, but this one…
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Succession planning can be tricky. Family businesses often have both ownership and management roles mixed up together. Why is it so important to separate these two aspects when planning for the future of a family business? You know The Tax Man is watching. Don’t skimp out on legal advice if you find yourself making plans to pass down to future gene…
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Is there a specific draw for acquirers when it comes to regions with higher population density? As businesses expand into urban, suburban, and rural markets, the strategies and service offerings spread out. How could a move towards urban areas influence service offerings and operational efficiency? How can business owners harness data to expand mar…
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‘Merge my business? … Are you suggesting that I work with my competitors?’ Maybe. Paul and Fat Pat respond to a question about mergers from FRAXN’s recent Moneyball event. Step on in to hear if the “juice is worth the squeeze”. It’s a lot more than just getting potential shareholders on the same page. What does and doesn’t need to get unified befor…
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You expect your managers to make well-informed decisions to benefit your company, but do they have a good grasp of financial concepts? It's important to question whether they truly understand the impact of their choices on your company's finances. Have you assigned specific responsibilities for parts of your Profit and Loss (P&L) statement, and do …
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Episode 143 — Nick Bartolo: Not Your Typical Wealth Advisor
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Definitely qualified (CFA, CPA, MBA) and without the typical cookie cutter approach, Nick Bartolo of Essential Partners, steps into The Boardroom to chat through the world of wealth management. More than just diversifying assets and ensuring performance, Nick introduces a unique framework to grow and protect one's wealth. With ever-changing economi…
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More customers are pushing back on price hikes while new demand softens. Increased credit card defaults and car foreclosures further the evidence on consumers’ financial struggles. Have you seen the same trends in your business? The pest control sector has observed declining customer loyalty, probably due to higher prices and tightened budgets. Yet…
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Episode 141 — More Than a Lawn Care Millionaire with Jonathan Pototschnik
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Lawn Care Millionaire Jonathan Pototschnik gets candid about difficult decisions and focus on his way into, during, and out of Service Autopilot. How did pre-Fat Pat’s Pest Fat Pat find himself on the lawn-centric SA platform many moons ago? From multi-state janitorial to healthcare software to Dallas metro-based lawn and pest business to ServiceAu…
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Episode 140 — Food Safety and Pest Control Intersect with PSSI’s Paul Lambert
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Step on into The Boardroom to hear from PSSI’s VP of Strategic Development, Paul Lambert. As a leading food safety company, PSSI is responsible for opening more than half of the food production plants in the US every morning. From labor to chemistry to software to consulting, hear how PSSI found its way into pest control. Their strategic approach i…
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Recession is baked into your cake, Fat Pat. Learn from others’ mistakes. You’ll hear what tax wedge distortions caused owners to do back in ’08-’09. Looking across the service industry, which dynamics and sensitivities will help businesses weather a recession? Step into The Boardroom as Uncle Paul and Fat Pat take on more listener questions, such a…
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