Podcasts about cmaa

It's ALOHA as we head to Maui and visit with Yacine Enriquez-Meyer, CMAA who is the AD at Seabury Hall! Yacine has a tremendous background in Athletics having worked for teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB before coming back to the school she attended and played for! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Karyn deLeon, CCM, president and CEO of Peregrine Solutions, Inc., for a conversation about the critical role properly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE) plays in keeping construction professionals safe. Karyn discusses how evolving workforce demographics are reshaping PPE needs, highlights recent OSHA requirements for properly fitting equipment, and shares practical steps organizations can take to improve worker safety and compliance. She also explains how investing in well-fitting PPE strengthens safety culture, supports workforce retention, and helps create a more inclusive jobsite for everyone.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Jim Harris was one of our "Early" guests on the Podcast and now he's back for an update and some more Best Practices. Jim is a CMAA and he's the AD at Freedom High School in Virginia. This is The Educational AD Podcast!

Scott Battas is back with the 9th installment of his series on Leadership and particularly on how to create a Student Athlete Leadership Team at your school. This is the Educational AD Podcast - THANKS for listening!

Counting down from 100 to 1, CMAA is kicking off our Centennial celebration sharing flashbacks on our social channels. Since June, we've been digging through the CMAA archives to share our rich history, honoring club management professionals, and spotlighting the milestones, traditions, and experiences that define this honorable profession. In this episode, we chat with some of the team who has been working on this project to hear a bit more about how what they've learned as things have come together. Make sure you are following CMAA's Instagram Account @clubmanagement1927 for daily updates. You can catch weekly roundups on CMAA's LinkedIn page. If you aren't on social media, you can follow along on CMAA's site: https://www.cmaa.org/cmaa100/

We're BACK IN INDIANA as we sit down with Josh Bowlds, CMAA and the Athletic Director for the Brown County School District. Josh shares his journey plus some Best Practices on this episode of The Educational AD Podcast!

The podcast is making its third visit to Illinois. UIAAA Connection #290 – Jen Doede, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Amos Alonzo Stagg H S – is now available. Jen shared how an unexpected setback became the foundation for a rewarding career in athletics. Growing up in Tinley Park, Illinois, she graduated from high school before attending North Central College, where she competed in volleyball. An ACL injury during her senior year redirected her path intocoaching, a change she now views as one of life's greatest opportunities. Jen encourages listeners to choose being a victor rather than a victim when facing adversity. She also advised athletic directors to invest time building relationships beyond their coaching staff, remain patient, and remember that meaningful progress does not need to happen during the first year.https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiHThis podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

It's Episode #8 of our new series featuring Scott Battas, CMAA and the AD at Mascoutah High School. Each week Scott shares how you can help change the culture at your school in part through creating a Student Athlete Leadership Team! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

We're staying in Florida as we sit down with Joseph Teti, a long time Baseball Coach and AD who now serves as the head guy at Orlando's Colonial High School. THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

Scott Battas, the AD at Mascoutah High School is BACK with another installment of our series sharing the steps on how to build a great student athlete leadership team at your school! This is The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for Listening!

The podcast is making its third visit to South Dakota. UIAAA Connection #288 – Cory Aadland, CMAA, Director of Athleticsand Activities – Mitchell School District – is now available. Cory reflects on a career rooted in small-town values and shaped through meaningful leadership opportunities. Aftergraduating from a small South Dakota high school in 2000, he attended Minnesota State University Moorhead before gaining experience in the private sector and later serving as associate athletic director at Dakota Western University.Today, he leads athletics in Mitchell while serving on the NIAAA Board of Directors. Cory credited South Dakota legends Jim Dorman, Joey Stuwe, Bill Clements, and Steve Berseth for their influence. His advice centered ondeveloping effective organizational systems, embracing delegation, and seeking guidance from a trusted mentor.This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

We continue our weekly series with Scott Battas, the AD at Mascoutah High School on how to create a GREAT Student Athlete Leadership Team at your school! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

Scott Battas, CMAA is back with another great installment of his weekly series on how you can create a Student Athlete Leadership Team at your school! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

Heritage Creations USA specializes in custom awards, trophies, plaques, recognition pieces, tee gifts, and branded merchandise, primarily serving golf courses, country clubs, tournaments, and pro shops. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast, brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews, Andy talks about navigating natural disasters, his time at Heritage, and his connection with the PGA of America. We explore their target customer, the importance of customization, and how clubs can create exceptional clubhouse experiences. Andy also shares insights on large touchscreen technology, the use of AI, and their partnership with The Golden State Chapter of CMAA. We also discuss his love of boating and spending time out on the water. This was a customized conversation, and it was an honor to have Andy on the show. Let's tee off!

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome AJ Waters to discuss why so many digital transformation efforts in construction fall short and what organizations can do differently. Drawing on his experience leading technology initiatives for major construction projects, AJ explains why successful transformation starts with people and processes—not technology. He shares practical strategies for building effective transformation teams, improving technology adoption, avoiding common implementation mistakes, and ensuring digital tools solve real business challenges. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI, the importance of aligning technology with organizational goals, and how construction firms can create lasting change rather than simply adopting the latest tools.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

We're back in North Carolina where we visit with Leslie Reeves, CMAA and QPA Winner at West Brunswick High School in North Carolina. Leslie has a tremendous background as a teacher, a coach, and as a leader at the State and National Level! This is The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for Listening!

Scott Battas, CMAA and the AD at Mascoutah High School is back with the 4th installment of our weekly series on how to create a Student Athlete Leadership Team at your school. THIS is The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for Listeing!

How does an association grow from 6,000 to 9,000 members without a membership sales team? What can associations learn from an organization whose members actively recruit the next generation on its behalf?In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jeff Morgan, President & CEO of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA). Jeff discusses:How CMAA represents professionals working across 3,500 member-owned clubs, including golf clubs, yacht clubs, city clubs, ski clubs, and more.How CMAA membership grew from approximately 6,000 members during COVID to 9,000 members today—with no membership sales team.Why private clubs experienced significant growth during and after COVID, including increased member demand, long waiting lists, and investments in facilities and amenities.CMAA's highly intentional 12-month new member onboarding process, which includes welcome kits, monthly communications, quarterly Zoom sessions, and structured opportunities to build connections.The association's long-running conference idea-sharing program, where members submit and share more than 100 best-practice posters that become a searchable knowledge resource for the profession.CMAA's Certified Club Manager (CCM) credential, built around 12 professional competencies, continuing education, and a globally licensed certification model.How CMAA has expanded its influence internationally through partnerships, certification licensing, and conference participation from club professionals around the world.Why Jeff believes clubs are no longer simply physical facilities, but communities that remain connected through technology, virtual programming, and shared experiences.How “community” serves as the secret sauce behind both successful clubs and successful associations.References:CMAA Website

Scott Battas continues our series focusing on how you can create a high quality Student Athlete Leadership Team at your school! This is The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for Listening and Sharing!

Our ORIGINAL Tech Tuesday guest - Athletic Director and Tech Guru Scott Paine - is back with a look back and a look forward on how "Tech" has impacted the role of ADs and what might be coming in the future! THIS is Tech Tuesday on The Educational AD Podcast!

The podcast is making its fifth visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #284 – Greg Van Cantfort, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Kalani HS – retired - is now available. Gregentered the world in Maryland during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and shares a memorable story connected to that moment in history. In third grade, his family relocated to San Francisco, where he completed elementary, junior high, and high school. Soccer became a major part of his life, eventuallyleading him to Chaminade University in Hawaii as a goalkeeper. After arriving in Hawaii, he never left and continues following the Belgian National Soccer Team closely. Greg reflects warmly on Hawaii athletic leadership legends and experiences from his NIAAA Board service. His advice: don't allow the profession to consume your life, and whenever you attend a conference, take an idea home and share it with others.https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiHThis podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

Scott Battas is BACK with the 2nd Installment of our new series on how he created a top notch Student Athlete Leadership Team at Mascoutah High School. This is a step by step Master Class on how to create an impactful program at your school - THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

In May, a record number of CMAA representatives gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in the 18th Annual National Golf Day. In this episode, we're joined by two of CMAA's participants: Cameron Walker from NC State University Club in Raleigh, NC, and Christopher Storelli from Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, FL. Each shares their perspectives on participating in National Golf Day for the first time and what the experience was like from top to bottom.

When we started the Podcast 6 years ago Kiesha Brown was one of the very first we had on and this week we have her BACK to give us an update on her career as well as some thoughts on the AD Profession! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for Listening!

Scott Battas, CMAA is the AD at Mascoutah H.S. and today is the FIRST in a series of podcast interviews where he shares - step by step - how he has put together a truly GREAT Student Athlete Leadership Team! This is The Educational AD Podcast!

Our Great Friend Jen Brooks is back on Wednesday Wisdom to share how the landscape has changed since she founded the Global Community over 8 years ago! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

The AD Think Tank wants YOU! Membership is now over 900 ADs nation wide and here's a cool feature - you will get PAIN for consulting and advising leading Sport Vendors! These are not a sales pitch or a marketing call - YOU are giving your advice on how products can be better designed, displayed and priced to CEOs and Leaders! THIS is TECH TUESDAY on The Educational AD Podcast!

On this NIAAA Pulse, Justin is joined by Jon Winer, CMAA, an author in the Summer 2026 IAA. His article titled "Creating Surplus Value as a High School Student-Athlete" sheds light on ways athletes can transition from only taking value away from a community, and instead start using their talents and energy to positively impact others. You can read the article here if you haven't already! Follow the NIAAA on: Bluesky | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jesse Heimowitz, CCM, of Tectonic Engineering; Dana Hecht, of H&H; and Graham Briggs, PE, of PMA Consultants, for a conversation about project controls, scheduling, and the realities of delivering large public sector infrastructure projects. The guests share how they each found their way into project management and discuss the varying levels of maturity across public agencies when it comes to scheduling, earned value management, and risk analysis. Comparing highway agencies with rail and transit organizations, they explore how legacy processes, organizational culture, and client expectations can influence project delivery practices. The conversation also highlights the role consultants play in advancing more consistent project lifecycle scheduling, using case studies and accountability measures to help drive change. Throughout the episode, the group emphasizes the importance of early planning, concept development, constructability reviews, and resource management in shaping project schedules, budgets, and long-term outcomes.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Award Winning AD Julie Kelly of Providence Classical Christian Academy is back with a segment on Generational Diversity. Leaders must always be open for Growth Opportunities and Julie shares how we can all keep growing! This is The Educational AD Podcast!

Ryan Miller of Scotch Plains-Fanwood in New Jersey and Shelby Sroka of HUDL share how the platform can truly be a "Game Changer" for you and your program! This is The TECH TUESDAY on The Educational AD Podcast!

David Harbin is a CMAA and he's the AD at Decatur High School and today he shares his athletic journey along with some Best Practices for ADs and Leaders. He also shares WHY he chose Ohio University and their Online Masters in Athletic Administration and why YOU should consider it for your MAA. This is The Educational AD Podcast!Please click on this link to go to the Ohio Website -https://www.ohio.edu/learn-more/info/maa?lsid=AD_Sponsorship&lssid=ohio_bus_mstrathladm_m_org_educational_podcast_2026

Longtime West Virginia H.S. Athletic Director Sean Blumettee is back on the podcast - this time as a Principal - and he shares some great tips for leaders on bridging the END OF SCHOOL with the Start of Next Year, along with some other Best Practices! THIS is the Educational AD Podcast!

The podcast is making its second visit to South Dakota. UIAAA Connection #280 – Jim Dorman, CMAA, Executive Director -SDIAAA - is now available. Jim grew up in Castlewood, South Dakota, where he and his three brothers worked for their father at the local newspaper, gaining early lessons in responsibility and commitment. Athletics at SDSU shaped his perspective, especially after starting as a junior and not seeing the field as a senior, an experience that strengthened resilience and perspective. He has served as Executive Director in South Dakota for more than twenty-five years and recently completed a three-year term on the NIAAA Board of Directors. Dorman emphasizes maintaining a positive mental attitude and encourages athletic directors to engage in theirstate association and fully support new AD workshops. This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

Longtime Coach and AD Missy Smith, CMAA is now the Assistant Executive Director for the Oregon School Activities Association and she's also the Founder of The Playmakers Summit - a tremendous program for Student Athletes and now Coaches and ADs! Check it out today on our Toolbox Extra!

Our longtime friend Mekia Troy, the AD at Georgia's Creekside High School and Best Selling Author of TEACHABLE MOMENTS is back on the podcast with some great observations from a day in her school's dining hall! This is a Toolbox EXTRA on The Educational AD Podcast!

So often our jobs as ADs have us clearly focused on The Moment as we are finding solutions, helping others, or putting out fires! Master Athletic Director Tiffiny Pippins shares some important tips (or tools!) on the importance of working on you Legacy - and your Life - during your busy day. THIS is Wednesday Wisdom on The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks for listening!

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Joaquin Diaz, health and safety director at Gilbane Building Company and an ambassador for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, for a conversation ahead of Construction Safety Week focused on the realities of near-miss reporting in construction. Drawing from his doctoral interpretive phenomenological study, Diaz shares insights gathered from interviews with 15 construction workers across projects in San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research explores how workers perceive near-misses, why incidents often go unreported, and what organizations can do to improve safety communication and trust. Diaz explains that while workers generally understand the importance of reporting and want to protect their coworkers, many view near-misses as too common or already resolved by the time they occur. He also discusses how barriers to reporting are often self-imposed rather than driven by fear of punishment, and why visible employer follow-through matters more than incentives alone. The conversation also highlights the need for clearer, multilingual, and standardized reporting processes, while connecting the findings to Construction Safety Week's “Recognize, Respond, Respect” theme. Along the way, Diaz reflects on how certifications like the CSP help strengthen discipline, credibility, and leadership within the safety profession.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, we're joined again by Joe Krenn, CCM, CCE, to discuss the upcoming changes to the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) program and process. In this conversation, we cover what prompted CMAA to evolve the CCE requirements, what that revision process has looked like, and what members can expect from the new requirements.

Jen Doede is the AD at Amos Alonzo Stagg H.S. and she's been on the Podcast many times - today she shares how the Charger Champion program is changing lives and athletic performances at her school! THIS is Wednesday Wisdom on The Educational AD Podcast!

Hutch Hunter is an NIAAA Hall of Famer who also hosts the UIAAA Connection Podcast! He shares how he started the pod along with an update on his successful turn as a Best Selling Author of 3 GREAT Books that should be in your library! THIS is Tech Tuesday on The Educational AD Podcast!

Tabitha Beard, CMAA and NIAAA Board Secretary joins the podcast and she shares her athletic journey along with some BEST Practices on this episode of The Educational AD Podcast!

Summary OUR 100TH EPISODE! In this exciting, milestone episode of Leadership on the Links, Tyler Bloom and Meredith Otero sit down with Jeff Morgan, CEO of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), to explore what the future holds for private club leadership, workforce development, and the role of technology in transforming the club experience. Jeff shares how his background in finance and technology led him to association management and ultimately to the helm of CMAA, one of the most influential organizations in the private club industry. From building a more diverse leadership pipeline to tackling governance challenges and embracing AI, this conversation covers the full landscape of where clubs are headed and how the professionals inside them are rising to meet the moment. Whether you are a superintendent eyeing a path to club leadership, a GM navigating a shifting membership, or a club professional curious about the forces shaping the industry, this episode delivers real insight from someone who has dedicated over a decade to advancing the profession. What You'll Learn in this Episode: CMAA has grown dramatically since COVID, with nearly half its current membership joining post-pandemic, signaling a surge in interest and investment in professional club management. The pathway to becoming a general manager has opened significantly, welcoming superintendents, chefs, CFOs, and wellness professionals into senior club leadership roles. Jeff outlines what good club governance looks like: a true partnership between the board and staff team, with boards focused on financial stewardship and strategic vision rather than day-to-day operations. Women now represent roughly a third of CMAA's membership, and for the first time in the association's history, four women currently serve on its national board of 13. AI and autonomous technology will not replace human connection at clubs but will free up professionals to focus on high-touch member experiences and more meaningful work. CMAA is approaching its 100th anniversary with a new member needs analysis that will shape its next strategic plan, designed to serve an evolving and growing profession for the next century. The integration of amenities, golf, fitness, food, wellness, and social programming, is what creates the kind of stickiness that keeps members engaged and clubs financially healthy. Links and Resources Jeff Morgan – LinkedIn Profile Club Management Association of America (CMAA) – cmaa.org BOOK A STRATEGY CALL  

We're headed to South Carolina today where we visit with Jim Maciejewski, CMAA who is the AD at Mauldin High School. Jim also recently completed the Quality Program Award for his school and he shares his own journey and more on this episode of The Educational AD Podcast!

Our great friend Kristy Belden of Orlando's Bishop Moore Catholic shares some great tips on the college recruiting process - THIS is WEDNESDAY WISDOM on The Educational AD Podcast! Thanks as always for Listening and Sharing!

Student Athlete Leadership Teams are a great part of an Athletic Department and today Scott Battas shares some KEY tips for making yours run successfully! This is TECH TUESDAY on the Educational AD Podcast!

On this episode, we are thrilled to talk to CMAA's 2026 Chair Janine Budzius, CCM, CCE. She shares her personal journey to and through clubs, her passion for mentoring, as well as her goals for the year ahead and what's most important to her.

Michelle York, CMAA is the AD at St. George's Independent School in Tennessee and she's back on the podcast with some BEST PRACTICES for ADs, Coaches, and Leaders! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

From grassroots soccer parks to $600 million exits, Marty M. Fahncke reveals why every dollar of EBITDA sacrificed for tax savings costs you seven on a multiple, how the build versus buy decision needs a reality check, and why a business fully prepared to sell is the best business to own. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Marty M. Fahncke, CMAA, who has helped hundreds of businesses scale to over $1 billion in combined revenue and executed nearly $500 million in M&A deals. He is the founder of Westbound Road, an M&A advisory firm specializing in digital businesses in the $5-50 million range, and author of Boomer Sells the Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cashing Out and Living Large. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: In this episode, you'll discover why the build versus buy analysis fails when founders underestimate timelines and costs, and why opportunity cost is often the biggest expense that never appears in spreadsheets. Marty explains how combining marketing expertise with M&A strategy creates advantages most advisors lack, the costly trade-off between profit maximization and tax mitigation that saves twenty cents but costs seven dollars on a multiple, and why operational decisions like CRM selection or staffing structure can kill deals worth millions. You'll also learn how the Who Not How philosophy transforms into a powerful acquisition playbook, why SaaS founders who turned down $50 million in 2021 are accepting those valuations were an anomaly, and how authority marketing through podcasts generates clients who arrive ready to sign without sales conversations. MARTY'S JOURNEY: Marty grew up in the mountains of Utah wanting to be either a forest ranger or join the military. Neither path worked out, and he ended up on the entrepreneur path instead. Even as a teenager, he showed entrepreneurial instincts, selling water purifiers and vacuums and running a bicycle rehab business at age twelve. M&A was completely off his radar until he and some friends started a soccer training product company. They took a truly grassroots approach, setting up canopies at local parks every weekend where kids played soccer. Marty had his children demonstrate the product while he sold to parents. Those park sessions taught them exactly what messaging resonated. Marty used those insights to create a marketing campaign that got the product onto QVC in the United States and Japan. Just eighteen months in, they received an unsolicited $1.5 million offer from a private equity firm buying their proven QVC sales channel. His next deal flipped the approach. Instead of building from scratch, Marty and a partner combined two competing businesses, each doing $1.5-2 million in revenue. By eliminating competition and consolidating operations, they scaled from under $4 million to $30 million in two years. That company eventually became part of a $600 million exit through a reverse merger. After that exit, Marty built a personal portfolio of businesses. In 2019, he focused on M&A full-time. When 2020 hit, he saw opportunity in the chaos. He reached out to companies about selling, and economic uncertainty generated many yes responses. When businesses weren't right for his portfolio, sellers asked if he knew other buyers. He started triangulating deals, brought in partner Becky, and launched Westbound Road in 2020. They focus exclusively on digital businesses between $5 and $50 million, including e-commerce, SaaS, publishing, marketing agencies, and virtual professional services. The firm is intentionally small at five people but highly specialized. THE MARKETER'S EDGE: Marty brings a rare combination of world-class marketing expertise and deep M&A experience. Most advisors excel at one or the other, rarely both. He is a marketer at heart and applies marketing principles to M&A strategy. This matters because organic growth drives valuation multiples. Buyers pay premiums for demonstrated growth momentum, often adding an extra turn or two on exit multiples. Marty sees both sides of the equation, knowing how to build marketing systems that drive organic growth and how to structure deals that accelerate inorganic expansion. KEY INSIGHTS: The build versus buy decision requires brutal honesty. Marty sees unreasonable optimism every time founders analyze whether to build or acquire. His rule: double the timeline, triple the costs. Even then, most analyses miss opportunity cost. What revenue will you lose spending years building? What market share will competitors capture while you're distracted? These costs rarely appear in spreadsheets but are often the most expensive part of the build decision. The Who Not How philosophy becomes an acquisition playbook. When something needs to be done, don't ask how you can learn it yourself. Find someone already better at it and acquire them. Marty applied this when a bookkeeping firm asked for growth help. Instead of consulting fees, he negotiated equity, brought marketing expertise and clients, they tripled revenue, and everyone won when they sold. Profit maximization beats tax mitigation. Every dollar of EBITDA sacrificed to save taxes saves twenty cents but costs seven dollars on a multiple when you sell. When Marty shows clients this math, they immediately shift strategies. This insight often represents millions in additional exit value. Begin with the buyer in mind. Westbound Road identifies upfront who will buy your business and why, then builds the business to suit those buyers. Every decision from CRM selection to staffing structure gets evaluated through one lens: how will this impact deal viability at exit? Minor operational choices can kill deals worth millions. A client built operations entirely on offshore VAs with impressive margins, but many buyers walked away. To command their target multiple, they needed to onshore roles and add W-2 employees. Another business chose a non-standard CRM. An acquirer walked away because integrating it created too much friction. That preference cost millions. The SaaS valuation bubble is being accepted as an anomaly. In 2021-2022, founders got $50 million offers for businesses worth $12 million today. Many refused, expecting the market to stay hot. Marty shows them the charts: the market returned to historical norms, and eighteen months was a bubble. Those founders are finally accepting realistic valuations. Authority marketing creates pre-sold clients. When prospects ask questions, Marty's team sends time-coded podcast links. Prospects listen to full episodes, then more episodes, and arrive ready to sign without sales calls. His first ChatGPT client found Westbound Road via AI recommendation, watched three episodes, and asked where to sign. A business fully prepared to sell is the best business to own. The best practices for creating enterprise value that commands premium multiples are the same practices that make a business pleasurable to operate. Clean financials, reduced owner dependency, autonomous systems, and strategic structure benefit owners whether they sell or not. Perfect for business owners in the $5-50 million range planning exits, entrepreneurs considering M&A advisory relationships, and anyone interested in combining marketing expertise with deal-making to build and sell businesses. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/martyfahncke FOR MORE ON MARTY FAHNCKE: Website: https://westboundroad.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyfahncke/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Episode Highlights with Timestamps[00:06:48] - Introduction: Marty Fahncke's credentials and experience [00:08:38] - Childhood dream of being a forest ranger in the mountains of Utah [00:11:12] - Early entrepreneurial ventures: bike rehab business at age twelve [00:11:30] - First major deal: grassroots soccer product to QVC and $1.5 million exit[00:23:36] - Eliminating competition through collaboration instead of competing [00:23:36] - Who Not How philosophy applied to M&A and acquisition strategy [00:24:09] - Build versus buy analysis and unreasonable optimism trap [00:28:52] - Combining marketing expertise with M&A strategy as unique advantage [00:31:08] - Starting Westbound Road advisory firm during 2020 disruption [00:33:37] - Focus areas: $5-50M digital businesses, e-commerce, and SaaS [00:34:09] - Exit planning gap: helping founders understand what they have [00:47:13] - Beginning with the end in mind: identifying buyers before building [00:48:01] - Offshore VA staffing structure as deal-killer example [00:48:30] - Non-standard CRM selection costing millions in lost deal value [00:50:36] - A business fully prepared to sell is the best business to own [00:53:23] - Freedom defined: making impact on entrepreneurs and participating in exits[00:57:32] - Authority marketing: podcast content creating pre-sold clients [01:01:00] - First ChatGPT-originated client story Guest Bio:Marty Fahncke, CMAA is a seasoned marketer and dealmaker with over 35 years of business experience and over 25 years in M&A. He has helped hundreds of businesses scale to over $1 billion in combined revenue and executed nearly $500 million in M&A deals. His first deal was selling a grassroots soccer product business for $1.5 million. His second deal combined a $2 million company with a $1.5 million company and built it to $30 million in revenue in two years. Since then, he has been involved in deals from $5 million to $600 million. He is the founder of Westbound Road, an M&A advisory firm specializing in digital businesses between $5 and $50 million, including e-commerce, SaaS, publishing, marketing agencies, and virtual professional services. Marty is a top-ranked podcast guest, international speaker, and author of Boomer Sells the Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cashing Out and Living Large. He owns five motorcycles and over thirty businesses. Host Bio:Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description:Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes:Episode 332 - John Martinka: Exit Planning and Value Drivers for Business Sales Episode 331 - Solocast 72: 2025 M&A Market Outlook and Deal Activity PredictionsEpisode 328 - Richard Manders: Growing Through Acquisition and the Deal-Maker MindsetEpisode 327 - Solocast 71: Authority Marketing and Content Strategy for Business Growth Social Media:Follow DealQuest Podcast: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ Website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Follow Marty Fahncke: Website: https://westboundroad.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyfahncke/ Keywords/Tags:M&A advisory, exit planning, business valuation, lower middle market, build versus buy, organic growth, inorganic growth, SaaS valuation, e-commerce acquisitions, profit maximization, tax mitigation, enterprise value, Who Not How, business exit strategy, exit readiness, authority marketing, content marketing, podcast marketing, deal-driven growth, strategic acquisitions, business combination, marketing expertise, digital businesses, operational decisions, CRM selection, staffing structure, business sale preparation

K12 Sportstech.com has become a leader for AD and Vendor "Connections" and their new series called MEET AT THE 50 has been a resounding success! K12's Alec Brown and AD Tiffiny Pippins share what it is and WHY you should be involved! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!