Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

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Elizabeth Shea

9 episodes

12 hours ago

In this episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Jim Datovech, former CEO of LKC Technologies, to explore the long road from acquiring a medical device company to refining the product and orchestrating a successful exit. Jim shares how a deal that died at the last minute unexpectedly validated the company’s scalability and paved the way for a stronger deal months later. He offers candid insights on disciplined spending, legal preparedness, the importance of marketing to suitors...

Entrepreneurship

Business

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Entrepreneurship

Business

Episodes (9/9)

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Building Deal Value: Interview with Jim Datovech

5 days ago

21 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Hot Potato: Interview with Andrew Sherman

In this episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Andrew Sherman, senior partner at Brown Rudnick, for a candid look at how deals really get priced, structured, and won. Andrew explains why M&A is cyclical, the differences between strategic and financial buyers, why sellers must perform reverse due diligence on buyers, and how to surface the “gold bars in the attic” — the intangible value drivers that buyers won’t pay for unless you point them out. He also unpacks common got...

3 weeks ago

42 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Take the Leap: Interview with Bess Winston

In this episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth sits down with Bess Winston, the founder of The Winston agency. She talks about how one modest media relations project-turned-campaign laid the foundation for her to meticulously build a nationally respected boutique firm with a powerhouse team before ultimately selling her agency in 2022. Bess shares her journey with the humor and unfiltered honesty only an experienced founder can bring. She sheds light on the emotional jolt of parting with a compa...

3 weeks ago

31 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

A Niche of One: Interview with Allan Klassen

In this episode of Branching Out, Allan Klassen, former CEO and managing partner of Albi Homes, shares how he helped turn a Calgary-based luxury home builder into a “niche of one” and a strategic acquisition target which was acquired by Brookfield Residential in 2015. Allan walks through the realities of negotiating with a globally recognized asset management company, keeping a deal alive when it nearly collapsed, and the lessons he learned about non-negotiables, timing, and values alignment....

1 month ago

32 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Closing a Chapter - Interview with Ethan McAfee

In this episode of Branching Out, Ethan McAfee shares how he built Amify from a one-man operation in his Arlington townhouse into one of the largest Amazon agencies in the country, helping major consumer brands with their strategy content, advertising, and supply chain before selling to Cart.com in 2024. Drawing on his earlier career as an internet stock investment analyst, Ethan explains how venture capital, market cycles, and founder energy can all factor into the timing and structure...

1 month ago

24 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

When Cultures Collide - Interview with Susan Apgood

In this episode of Branching Out, Susan Apgood, the former CEO of News Generation, shares candid insights about her journey selling her company in April 2020 in the midst of the COVID lockdown. She opens up about navigating a challenging broker relationship, unexpected cultural clashes between merging teams after the acquisition, and the emotional reality of watching a company you built change in ways you didn’t foresee. Susan also reflects on why due diligence, communication, and support net...

1 month ago

30 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Setting Up for Success - Interview with Jake Bittner

In this episode of Branching Out, Jake Bittner, former CEO of Qlarion, recounts his path from co-founding a government data analytics firm to leading it through a successful acquisition by GCOM in 2021. He offers a transparent look at what it’s like to navigate the sale process with private equity buyers, from managing due diligence to balancing emotion with strategy. Jake also reflects on how selling a business changes your perspective on leadership, purpose, and personal identity. His story...

2 months ago

30 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

A Serendipitous Sale - Interview with Cary Hatch

In this episode of Branching Out, Cary Hatch, former CEO of MDB Communications, opens up about the deals she walked away from, the one that finally felt right, and what it takes to step away from the CEO seat after decades at the helm. She shares how timing, values alignment, and a deep sense of purpose shaped her journey — and offers honest insights into the realities of selling an agency after years of leadership. Cary discusses the critical factors that influenced her decision, the importa...

2 months ago

32 minutes

Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies

Shift Your Mindset - Interview with Viraj Gandhi

In the inaugural episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth Shea interviews Viraj Gandhi– former CEO and founder of Paradyme Inc. – about his 21-year journey from building a local and state contracting business to leading a major federal contractor acquired in 2024. Viraj shares how an unexpected AI partnership propelled the company toward acquisition and reflects on the complexities of cultural fit, emotional readiness, and life after selling a business. Their conversation offers candid insights fo...

2 months ago

29 minutes