Owner Operated with Jonah Pollone
Jonah Pollone
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Hi, I'm Jonah, host of the Owner Operated Podcast. This show features my conversations with small business owners and other small business professionals. I'm here to share the success, failures, and everything in between about the people behind small businesses in America.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
Jul 14, 2022
Losing Everything in '08 to Excellence in Disaster Restoration, with Kevin Reinert, Professional Restoration Services
We're back! Things have heated up at MidStreet, so Owner Operated is on pause for the time being. I plan on launching something very special as a V2.0, so stay tuned...
Kevin Reinert is the owner of Professional Restoration Services, a property damage remediation company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PRS covers fire damage, mold removal, smoke odor, and more. He is a licensed general contractor with previous experience in running Kevin Reinert Homes, a residential homebuilder he ran until work stopped coming in the housing market crash of 2008.
Know someone with a property damage issue in the Triangle area of NC? Visit https://prshelp.com/.
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Thank you to our sponsors:
MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions: https://midstreet.com/
On Tops Roofing: https://www.ontopsroofing.com/
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Mar 9, 2022
Acquiring an Advantaclean Franchise at 28 Years Old, with Artem Lopatchenko
Artem Lopatchenko is a real estate investor and owner of the Cary-Apex Advantaclean franchise in North Carolina. He is also an Adjunct Professor in Accounting at Western Connecticut State University and is a licensed CPA. Along with his business partner Dan, he recently acquired the rights to an ACE Handyman Services business in the Greater Triangle and Johnson County area of North Carolina.
For a summary of the episode, visit https://jonahpollone.com/newsletter/
Email Artem to support his efforts to help the people of Ukraine: artem.lopatchenko@gmail.com
Visit Advantaclean here: https://www.advantaclean.com/cary-nc/
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Thank you to our sponsors:
MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions: https://midstreet.com/
On Tops Roofing: https://www.ontopsroofing.com/
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Feb 14, 2022
Who's Your Who? with Alex Mihajlov and Trevor Chambers, Olde Raleigh Financial Group
Alex Mihajlov and Trevor Chambers are wealth advisors at Olde Raleigh Financial Group, an independent financial advisory firm in Raleigh, NC.
For a summary of the episode, check out https://jonahpollone.com/newsletter/
Schedule a wealth management consultation here: Olde Raleigh Financial Group.
Thank you to our sponsors:
* MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions
* On Tops Roofing
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Jan 28, 2022
Buying and Operating a Landscaping Company with Billy Van Eaton, Cumberland Landscape Group
For a summary of the episode, check out https://jonahpollone.com/newsletter/
Visit Cumberland Landscape Group here: https://cumberlandlandscapegroup.com/
Visit Talents Equity here: https://www.talentsequity.com/
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Jan 11, 2022
A Journey Into Main Street with Jeff Johnson, Power Mulch Inc.
For a summary of the episode, check out https://jonahpollone.com/newsletter/
Support Power Mulch here: http://powermulchinc.com/
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Nov 29, 2021
Advising Families with >$25 Million in Net Worth with Katherine Dunlevie, Managing Director of Synovus Family Office
Katherine Dunlevie is the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Family Office at Synovus, a family office headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, focusing on families with wealth in excess of $25 million.
We covered:
- What is a family office?
- When does it make sense for a family to hire a family office?
- Starting in the business right before signing a 55-family member client with 17 family units.
- Single vs. Multi-Family Office
- Qualities of successful family businesses
- Using trusts as planning entities
- Using communication to solve family issues
- Top recommendations for family business owners
- UNC Family Enterprise Center Resources
- Family business peer councils
- Servant leadership
- Seeking out mentors
- Family Business Magazine
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at jonahpollone.com
Know a business owner looking to exit in the next few years? Visit midstreet.com
Have a neighbor in the Triangle who needs a new roof? Check out On Tops Roofing.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Learn more about Synovus Family Office
Reach out to Katherine on LinkedIn
Learn more about the UNC Family Enterprise Center
Connect with the Family Enterprise Center on LinkedIn
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Oct 21, 2021
$56 Million in Real Estate Development with Nick Earls and Eric DiNicola, Winterspring Capital and PWN Development
Nick Earls and Eric DiNicola are co-founders and managing principals of Winterspring Capital and co-owners of PWN Development based in the Greater Boston area. Winterspring Capital is a real estate syndication firm with a portfolio of $56 million in multifamily assets under ownership throughout the Southeast and Boston.
We covered:
* Getting started in real estate development
* Balancing development with long-term hold investment properties
* Self-funding deals vs. raising capital
* Real estate syndication: 506B vs. 506C rules
* Buying real estate under LLCs vs. starting a real estate fund
* Hiring and managing sub crews and employees
* Handling partnership disagreements and best practices
* Don’t blame people. Even if it’s someone else’s fault
* The benefits of stoicism for small business and real estate professionals
* Dealing with inflation through investing in real estate
* Fractional ownership of properties through investing in real estate syndications
* Why you should call local lenders first
* DTI (Debt-to-Income) Ratio when starting out in residential real estate
* "House Hacking" as a way to get into real estate investing
* How to protect yourself as a small business owner
Relevant show links:
* Passive Income Through Real Estate for Small Business Owners
* https://winterspringcapital.com/retire-early/
* https://www.equitymultiple.com/blog/commercial-real-estate-practice/preferred-return
* https://winterspringcapital.com/what-is-a-real-estate-syndication-for-multifamily-investing/
* https://www.samofinancial.com/what-is-syndication-and-why-use-different-rules-506b-versus-506c/
* https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accreditedinvestor.asp
* https://www.crowdstreet.com/resources/topics/investing/internal-rate-return
* https://dailystoic.com/
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Want to learn about selling or buying companies? Visit https://www.midstreet.com/blog
Have a neighbor in the Triangle who needs a new roof? Check out https://ontopsroofing.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn – don’t be afraid to say hi!
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Learn more about Winterspring Capital
Support Lucky Puppy Society
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Sep 22, 2021
From 6 to 70 Employees in Environmental Remediation with Mel Phillips, Product Recovery Management (PRM)
Mel Phillips is the president and co-owner of Product Recovery Management, PRM Filtration, and Triangle Stainless, alongside his brother, Brian Phillips. Operating out of a 150,000 square-foot facility in Butner, North Carolina, PRM manufactures environmental treatment systems and offers field services for equipment, including installation, setup, and maintenance.
We covered:
* Overcoming growth barriers in a small business
* The journey from electrical contracting to environmental remediation
* The benefits of acquiring companies in related industries
* Growing up in the family business
* Keeping work at work
* How to learn and improve from mistakes
* Why Mel recommended his daughters go to college
* A decade of financial hardships – what you don’t see
* How to hire and keep good people
* Where the business is headed
* More
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Visit shop.prmfiltration.com
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at jonahpollone.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Sep 1, 2021
Practical tips for personal financial habits with John Rumsey of RHA Wealth
John Rumsey is a co-founder and managing partner of RHA Wealth in Raleigh. John started his practice in 2020 and worked as a wealth manager under Merrill Lynch since 2010 prior to starting his own company. John originally thought he’d pursue in a career in academia but transitioned to teaching people about how to better manage their money.
We covered:
* Taking the leap into entrepreneurship from the corporate world
* Who should you take financial advice from?
* Practical tips for personal financial habits
* How large should your emergency fund be?
* Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps
* Should you invest in a 401K?
* Why you should always know the value of a business
* Building a book of business when you first start a company
* How to think about cryptocurrency in a portfolio
* The benefits of joining Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO)
* Setting up your network instead of viewing everyone as competitors
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Visit RHA Wealth
Connect with John on LinkedIn.
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Jul 16, 2021
From $1M to $6M in Sales in HVAC with Lane Riley, Previous Owner of Happy Home Heating and Cooling
Lane Riley is the previous owner of Happy Home Heating and Cooling, a residential HVAC and plumbing services company that has been in operation since 1955. Lane purchased the company in 2010 and grew it from $1 million to $6 million in sales. In 2021, he sold the business and is now enjoying being semi-retired while considering his next business endeavor.
We covered:
• Acquiring a business using seller financing
• Going from 7 to 21 employees
• How to grow sales and profitability in a home service business
• Prioritizing family over work
• A 3-criteria filter for making decisions as a business owner: is it good for the customer, employees, and business?
• Growing from 100 to 2,500 maintenance contracts
• Building skilled employees from the ground up
• The importance of consistently training your employees
• The secret to successful sales roleplay
• Marketing tips for service-based business
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https://www.happyhomeheatingandcooling.com/
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
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Jun 29, 2021
The Real Definition of Entrepreneurship with Scott Maitland, Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Scott Maitland is a business owner, military veteran and professor of the practice in entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill. A graduate of West Point, he is the proprietor of Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery, an iconic Chapel Hill restaurant which has won more than 40 best-of awards in the Triangle area. Scott has a passion for Chapel Hill and small business ownership and sits on the board of several North Carolina business and trade organizations.
We covered:
* How Scott got started in business ownership
* Entrepreneurship as a life philosophy
* How to add partners to a business venture
* Principles he follows to run Top of the Hill
* Advice for students pursuing a career in investment banking or consulting
* Unicorn Entrepreneurship vs. Old School Entrepreneurship
* Achieving balance in an imbalanced way
* Working on the business vs. in the business
* The hidden advantages of turnover in business
* The advantages small businesses offer to their communities…
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Jun 11, 2021
6 Things I've Learned About Small Business
In this solo episode, I cover:
1. Surrounding yourself with the right people and considering a partnership
2. Understanding business and your role as an owner
3. Why you need to be a "self-starter" in a small business
4. Setting your life up well and finding the right path
5. Successful owners work ON the business, not just IN the business
6. The importance of learning and continuing to progress over time
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Know a business owner nearing retirement? Visit https://www.midstreet.com/
Scott Stone sold to Heritage: https://www.lawnandlandscape.com/article/heritage-acquires-2-stone-companies/
Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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May 28, 2021
Success in Homebuilding in Raleigh, North Carolina with Josh Swindell, Envision Homes
Josh Swindell is a partner at Envision Homes, a Raleigh-based homebuilder. Erik was the listing broker under MidStreet Realty on The Park at Wimberly, a 130-residential lot development purchased by Envision with a mix of townhome and single-family construction. We talked about:
- The process of home development
- Erik's crazy offer on a single-family home in the Triangle area ($41,000 over asking and still not the winning bid)
- Managing expectations as a commercial real estate listing broker
- Managing a partnership of three people “three-legged stool”
- The zoning process
- How to practically manage your time
- The importance of having mentors
- Finding the “flag on the hill?”
- Next steps for Envision Homes – a mile deep vs. a mile wide
- Growth in the single-family “for rent” product
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Envision Homes: https://www.envisionhomesnc.com/
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with m…
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May 20, 2021
Demystifying small business lending with Tim Hunter, Fidelity Bank
Tim Hunter is a Business Development Officer for Fidelity Bank, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tim and I bonded over our mutual appreciation for small and blue-collar businesses. We covered:
Why would you use a bank as a small business owner?
* How to interview lenders as a business owner
* Benefits of a community bank for a small business
* Do you need to offer a personal guarantee?
* The importance of doing business in a niche you understand
* Bank "quotas" on lending to specific types of industries
* Process and structure of a community bank
* Family time as a way to decompress
* The importance of having an inner circle of advisors
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Fidelity Bank: https://www.fidelitybank.com/
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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May 13, 2021
Afterhours: Why everyone should own a business once in their life with Erik Sullivan, COO of MidStreet
In this Owner Operated Afterhours episode, Erik Sullivan, my close friend & coworker, joins me to crack open a couple of beers and chat about his journey in small business, finding the right career path, and explain why everyone should own a business once in their life. We talk about:
* Erik’s journey from videographer (rapper) to dealmaker at MidStreet
* Reflections on the Owner Operated Podcast
* Erik’s role at MidStreet
* The impact of personal development on Erik’s life
* Finding your “lane”
* “Regular reevaluation”
* Why everyone should own a business once in their life
* Erik’s takeaways from successful business exits
* His craziest and best deal stories
* Erik’s favorite companies
* Erik's interest in precious metals
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MidStreet Mergers & Acquisitions https://www.midstreet.com/
Mill Tek Toll Grinders
The New Case for Gold by Jim Rickards
Hidden Secrets of Money
Why the U.S. Government Seized Citizens' Gold in the 1930s
Zodiac
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May 7, 2021
Building trust with business owners with Melissa Herzog, FullCircle Private Wealth Management of Raymond James
Melissa started Full Circle Private Wealth Management of Raymond James in 2019, after a career in investment banking and private equity. We talked about:
* The role of a wealth manager
* The importance of building trust in small business
* Why wealth management goes far beyond investment management
* When to hire a wealth manager
* The team-based approach to providing advice to the business owner
* Wealth manager vs. a family office
* Fee-based vs. non-fee based wealth management
* Factors to consider about selling a business to private equity
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FullCircle Private Wealth of Raymond James: https://www.raymondjames.com/fullcircleprivatewealth/about-us
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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Apr 28, 2021
Avoiding burnout and choosing the right career path with Alex Brandwein, owner of Brandwein's Bagels
Today, I sat down with Alex Brandwein to talk about his journey from being a successful investment banker in NYC to starting and growing Brandwein's Bagels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
We covered:
* Avoiding burnout and keeping up with your mental health as a business owner
* Starting out in the restaurant industry
* Making the jump from a job in banking to owning a small business
* Tips on hiring the right employees
* Example interview questions for prospective employees
* Backing out of the business to allow it to grow
* "Work life balance" isn't a real thing
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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Visit Brandwein's Bagels in Chapel Hill: https://www.brandweinsbagels.com/
Traction by Gino Wickman: https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837/re…
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Apr 21, 2021
Finding your passion in life with Bill Edwards, owner of Triangle Shooting Academy (with Erik Sullivan)
In this episode, we sat down with Bill Edwards and talked about his background and journey in the firearms business. Bill founded Triangle Shooting Academy with his business partner Jeff in 2010. They operate out of a 40,000+ square foot facility by RDU Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina. Their trainers perform firearm instruction to over 700 people every month, and their retail facility is one of the most trafficked firearms stores in the Southeast.
This show features a special guest: my close friend, colleague at MidStreet, and UFC watch party companion Erik Sullivan.
We covered:
* Bill's story and journey from commission sales in manufacturing and real estate to owning a "Guntry" club
* "Speed dating” to find a complementary business partner
* The importance of following your passion find the best path for you- The power of having a peer group within an industry
* The future of Triangle Shooting Academy
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Apr 13, 2021
Managing a family business with Ed Nicholson, owner of Capitol City Lumber Company
In this episode, I spoke with Ed Nicholson about the story behind his family business. Ed and his sister Edith own and operate Capitol City Lumber, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based lumber provider servicing the Southeast.
We covered:
* The dynamics involved with owning a 70-year old family business
* The importance of not being over-leveraged
* Advantages of staying small
* Managing isolation as a business owner
* The benefits of having a partner with a different skillset
* Why you should have your finger on the pulse of your company's books
* Life outside the business matters
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode at https://jonahpollone.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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Capitol City Lumber: https://www.capitolcitylumber.com/
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0143035002
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Apr 13, 2021
Intro & Purpose
In this episode, I explain the purpose of the podcast and give some context on my background. Small business is an awesome path.
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Subscribe to my newsletter to get updated every week with a new episode: https://jonahpollone.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahpollone
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonahpollone
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