The fastest way to separate your business from everyone else? Fix what they can't.

In this episode, Mark Colaw walks through how he cracked a problem his industry had failed to solve, and turned it into a patented machine now protected in 21 countries. You'll also hear how modern vehicles have changed the repair business, who really controls the cars we drive, and what nearly 50 years in one shop taught him about values and culture.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:25) Growing up around entrepreneurs

(05:00) His first business at age 13

(06:39) The decisions to become a mechanic

(11:48) Taking the job at Seymour's Garage

(14:22) Earning equity and buying the company

(15:12) What’s changed in 50 years

(16:35) Why modern cars are so hard to diagnose

(21:14) Inside Seymour’s Garage and DPFs

(23:29) The truck nobody could fix

(25:21) Hiring an engineer and getting the patents

(26:52) The business, the margins, and next year's plan

(31:45) The one thing he would do differently

Connect with Seymour’s Garage & DPF Resolutions:

https://www.seymoursgarage.net/

• Seymour's Garage
• DPF Resolutions

Candus Hinderer and Carrie Ferroukhi are the co-founders of Arcus Advisors, a business consulting firm dedicated to helping Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies improve results by optimizing the accounting and finance functions through strategic guidance and practical solutions. For more information and resources, visit Arcus Advisors: https://arcusadvisors.com/home

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

What if your biggest challenge became your biggest opportunity?

Darren Randle launched Houston Tents and Events in January 2020. Two months later, the world shut down and with it, the entire events industry. Since then, Darren has grown the company from the worst possible starting place to now, one of the biggest event companies in Texas.

In this episode, Darren shares how they went from building a drive-through tent for a Chick-fil-A to expanding into new services and new markets. You'll hear how they adapted, the one thing they never changed through their growth, and why he still doesn't call himself an entrepreneur.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:55) Houston Tents and Events

(06:48) From Tennessee to Houston

(11:52) UH to the Texans to Comcast

(14:46) Leaving corporate to "go be the tent guy"

(18:33) Why he doesn't call himself an entrepreneur

(21:13) What he looks for in new hires

(25:45) Early failures and what it taught him

(28:53) Surviving COVID and working with Chick-fil-A

(37:45) What he’s learned as CEO

(40:12) Acquisitions "the poor man's way"

Connect with Houston Tents & Events:

https://houstontentsevents.com/

Candus Hinderer and Carrie Ferroukhi are the co-founders of Arcus Advisors, a business consulting firm dedicated to helping Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies improve results by optimizing the accounting and finance functions through strategic guidance and practical solutions. For more information and resources, visit Arcus Advisors: https://arcusadvisors.com/home

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

In this episode, Lauren Sparks shares her story of founding two businesses, walking away from one of them, and trying to change an industry from the inside. You’ll hear how she went from bank teller to founder of a women-led bank, what she'd tell anyone going into business with other people, and how she continues to empower women in business today.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:52) From New York and to Houston

(03:09) Why banking is hard for women

(04:39) The appeal of consulting

(07:18) Starting Third Party Resources

(10:21) Building an all-women team

(12:00) AI’s impact in banking

(13:53) Co-founding Agility Bank

(16:00) Why they struggled to raise $44 million

(17:10) The business plan: a women-owned, women-led bank

(19:23) Why she left the bank

(20:45) Women's struggle to be taken seriously in business

(26:00) Advice for going into business with others

(28:41) Would she do it again?

(30:07) How she's helping women and minorities now

(33:30) What makes a successful bank (and where things goes wrong)

(36:46) AI’s impact in banking

• Home › Agility Bank
• Third Party Resources
• Home

Candus Hinderer and Carrie Ferroukhi are the co-founders of Arcus Advisors, a business consulting firm dedicated to helping Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies improve results by optimizing the accounting and finance functions through strategic guidance and practical solutions. For more information and resources, visit Arcus Advisors: https://arcusadvisors.com/home

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com