David Mariano

fractional cfo #cfo #portfoliocareer #fractionalcfo what do they do, what value is attributed for start up, scale up or medium sized businesses? Can you not afford to have someone you trust to help you steer though the challenges ahead? #realitycoach #strategicsoundboard #trustedadvisor

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An incredibly underrated skill for business ownership and leadership… Fervent curiosity. At Brady CFO, we love helping business owners solve their big business challenges. We find that a business’ issues are not entirely due to a lack of stringent financial management, but are the root cause of deficiencies elsewhere in the business. Unpredictable revenue? Could be the result of poor marketing efforts not bringing in consistent leads. Or it could be a lack of sales systems and processes that close those leads once you have them. It also could be something else. But, you have to dig to understand to why. Ask a ton of questions!! Without a fervent exploration of the real root cause of the issue, you could absolutely be shooting at the wrong problem.

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SA ends the year with the largest transaction in the history of the company! Schwartz Advisors Closes 2024 Advising JDC in its Recapitalization with Kinderhook Industries Schwartz Advisors (SA) served as the exclusive advisor to JDC (Jack Doheny Companies) in its successful acquisition by Kinderhook Industries. The transaction, which closed on December 31st, is the fifth completed by SA in a very active 2024.  Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Northville, MI, JDC is a leading provider of specialty equipment rental, sales, and service solutions for mission-critical applications within the electric transmission and distribution (“T&D”), sewer maintenance and inspection, and utility markets. The Company leases and sells a comprehensive suite of products including vacuum trucks, hydro-excavators, aerial boom trucks, sewer cleaning equipment, and other high-performance machinery to a diverse base of customers. The Company operates a network of 16 branch locations across the U.S. and Canada, utilizing its footprint to effectively provide ongoing support to its rental fleet of over 1,300 pieces of equipment. Founded in 2003, Kinderhook Industries, LLC is a private investment firm that has raised $8.5 billion of committed capital. Kinderhook has made in excess of 450 investments and follow-on acquisitions since inception. Kinderhook’s investment philosophy is predicated on matching differentiated, growth-oriented investment opportunities with financial expertise and its proprietary network of operating partners. Kinderhook’s focus is on middle market businesses with defensible niche market positioning in the healthcare services, environmental & industrial services, and automotive & light manufacturing sectors. “I want to thank the Schwartz Advisors team for their expert handling of this large and complex transaction,” said JDC CEO Steve Shafer. “We look forward to the next chapter with our new partners at Kinderhook.” “We thank Kay Doheny, Steve Shafer and the JDC team for trusting SA to get this deal across the finish line,” said SA CEO Rick Schwartz. “We are thrilled to have been able to match JDC up with an outstanding firm like Kinderhook to continue Jack Doheny’s legacy.” The transaction was led for SA by Managing Partners Mike Buzzard and Keith Zar, along with Vice President Arun Coumar.

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Exciting News to Share! I'm thrilled to announce that I've stepped into the role of Area Managing Partner for Chief Outsiders. It's a privilege to support such a talented, dynamic team of executive-level marketing and sales strategic operators dedicated to driving growth and innovation for our clients. Not only are they A players, but they are great people; it's an honor to represent them. Over the years, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges founders and CEOs face in navigating today's fast-paced market. From scaling operations to entering new markets, the journey is filled with both opportunities and obstacles. At Chief Outsiders, we specialize in providing seasoned fractional CMOs and CSOs who bring fresh perspectives and proven strategies to help businesses overcome growth barriers. 🚀 If you're looking to accelerate your company's growth and overcome the challenges standing in your way, let's connect! I'm eager to collaborate with visionary leaders ready to restore their growth or take their businesses to new heights. Feel free to reach out, comment below, or share your thoughts on growth strategies that have worked for you. Let's Dream & Soar together! #Leadership #GrowthStrategies #ChiefOutsiders #FractionalCMO #BusinessGrowth #MarketingLeadership #vistage #PEfirms #FractionalCSO #Dream&Soar

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EOS Implementers vs. Integrators: What’s the real difference? They sound alike but we play VERY different roles, trust me 😉 👇 Integrators – Think "INside." These leaders are embedded in the company, often as the COO. They work closely with the Visionary to execute ideas and ensure every department aligns with that big-picture vision. 🔑 Implementers – Now, think "ENTER." I step into organizations as your external expert—coach, teacher, facilitator—helping your business adopt EOS and strengthen your leadership teams. To keep it short & simple: Integrator = Inside, making the machine run. Implementer = External, guiding the EOS process. Have questions? Send me a message!

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EOS Implementers vs. Integrators: What’s the real difference? They sound alike but we play VERY different roles, trust me 😉 👇 Integrators – Think "INside." These leaders are embedded in the company, often as the COO. They work closely with the Visionary to execute ideas and ensure every department aligns with that big-picture vision. 🔑 Implementers – Now, think "ENTER." I step into organizations as your external expert—coach, teacher, facilitator—helping your business adopt EOS and strengthen your leadership teams. To keep it short & simple: Integrator = Inside, making the machine run. Implementer = External, guiding the EOS process. Have questions? Send me a message!

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EOS Implementers vs. Integrators: What’s the real difference? They sound alike but we play VERY different roles, trust me 😉 👇 Integrators – Think "INside." These leaders are embedded in the company, often as the COO. They work closely with the Visionary to execute ideas and ensure every department aligns with that big-picture vision. 🔑 Implementers – Now, think "ENTER." I step into organizations as your external expert—coach, teacher, facilitator—helping your business adopt EOS and strengthen your leadership teams. To keep it short & simple: Integrator = Inside, making the machine run. Implementer = External, guiding the EOS process. Have questions? Send me a message!

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In this episode of The Top Floor Charlotte, Jeff Smith - CEO of JL Smith - tells the story of his 3+ decade journey as CEO of a specialty music instrument 🎶 business. His journey has been anything but static!! His small instrument service business continued to grow 📈 and morph through multiple acquisitions, the addition of manufacturing, and the addition of new sales channels ❗ Tune in for actionable insights from Jeff that could help your career or your business! 💡 Morphinig from a service business through acquisition 4:35 💡 Succession Planning 16:50 💡 Value of mentors and trusted peers when leading a business 20:13 💡 Enjoyment from interacting with his people 24:50 💡 Using your style to become a successful CEO or leader 42:15 💡 Importance of continuous learning and humility for leaders 51:40 The full episode 🎧 link is below! Give it a like and subscribe if you'd like more content like this :) #TheTopFloorPodcast #CEO #leadershipinsights #businesssuccesstips #continuousimprovement

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Managing A Difficult Family Business Transition When a family wants to retain ownership of its business but does not have a successor CEO within the family, it needs to wrestle with the transition. While this requires traditional management succession planning, it also requires the family to prepare itself for owning but not running the business. There are a few cautions to be aware of before engaging in this issue. First, this is a process to be managed, not a project. Managing the process at the macro level is different from executing the various pieces of it. Second, you may need more than one professional to manage this process, as it requires a variety of skill sets. Lawyers, accountants, consultants and therapists are all likely to be involved at some point. Good professionals will coordinate their services for the benefit of the client. That's where a family office also plays a critical role of ensuring that the process is delicately managed and bringing the required expertise to the table. Read for more insights in this article: https://lnkd.in/dZYKjAXk #familybusiness #familyoffice

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When it comes to compression contracting, the number one opportunity sits at the PE level. By aggregating spend across your PortCo portfolio—especially when you have a standout, attractive asset like a large Permian/Liquids player—you can drive significant cost savings across the board. I’ve seen this strategy deliver incredible results. Working with a Fortune 50 Tech Firm, I helped a smaller business unit struggling to negotiate favorable terms with overseas suppliers. By rolling their negotiations into the larger, high-profile portfolio, we created an irresistible value proposition for suppliers. The result? Millions of dollars in savings for my client. PE firms are uniquely positioned to use this approach, and the benefits go beyond cost savings. Aggregating spend differentiates your buying power in several ways: 1. Logo Usage for De-Risking Revenue: For service providers, associating with a big brand and good credit rating de-risks revenue streams, attracting additional investors. The best PE brands provide the same credibility as companies like ExxonMobil, creating consistent, steady revenue for vendors. As we saw Tuesday in the investor day presentation, this kind of brand association can literally move the stock price. 2. Revenue Diversification: PE firms’ activity across multiple basins helps reduce revenue concentration risk for suppliers, making your contracts even more appealing. 3. Thought Leadership Access: With significant influence at the top of the energy pyramid, PE firms can offer insights that vendors crave. Annual summits or quarterly trend reports are just two ways to add tangible value. Strategic aggregation is a win-win for PE firms and suppliers alike. Ready to explore how this could transform your portfolio? Let’s connect.

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