From Immigrant Grit to Transforming the Law Firm Model - Andy Kvesic - CEO of Aprio Legal
Release Date: 08/21/2025
Reinventing Legal Services w/ Fractional Counsel - Rachel Saunders, Founding Partner @ Saturday Legal
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Rachel Saunders joins Seth Deutsch on Diners and Deals for a candid conversation about her unconventional path from big law to private equity to launching her own firm. She reflects on the mindset shift required to move from mitigating risk as a lawyer to taking risks as an entrepreneur, and how pivotal experiences—like investing in NFTs and running a crypto company—shaped her confidence to bet on herself. Rachel shares the lessons learned from building Saturday Legal, her vision for delivering legal services differently, and the personal values that guide her as a mother and founder. We...
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From Immigrant Grit to Transforming the Law Firm Model - Andy Kvesic - CEO of Aprio Legal
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In this episode of Diners and Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with Andy Kvesic for a candid conversation about his unconventional career path and entrepreneurial journey. From growing up as the son of Croatian immigrants in Arizona, to building a successful legal career, pivoting into public service as a prosecutor, and eventually founding a pioneering law firm, Andy shares the pivotal choices and lessons that shaped his path. Their discussion explores resilience, risk-taking, and the vision behind transforming the legal industry through innovative ownership structures and integrated...
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From Chaos to Clarity: Building Enduring Service Businesses - John Barrett - Executive Director at ISSA
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In this episode of Diners and Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with his longtime friend John Barrett to trace the pivotal moments of John’s career—from earning a life-changing Evans Scholarship to learning the ropes at Xerox, turning around broken service businesses, and ultimately leading ISSA, a trade association serving over 11,000 members across 130 countries. John opens up about what really matters in business and life, sharing hard-won wisdom on resilience, humility, and the power of staying curious. They discuss: * Why cash equals time, and how that truth shaped his approach to...
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From Stuntman to Service Empire: Building with Grit and Purpose - Josh Zolin - CEO of Windy City Equipment
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In this episode of Diners and Deals, I sit down with Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment, to talk about what it takes to build a service business that scales—without losing your soul. Josh started his career as a Hollywood stuntman before joining his father’s one-man repair operation. Over time, he helped transform the company into a multi-state commercial kitchen equipment service provider, while staying deeply connected to the skilled trades. We dig into Josh’s journey of self-discovery, from identity struggles and career pivots to a defining personal tragedy that reshaped how he...
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The Investrepreneur Model: Marrying Vision with Execution - Scott Silverman - Founder and CEO of Agman
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In this episode of Diners & Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with Scott Silverman, founder and managing partner of Agman, for an in-depth look at how a multi-generational investment firm is quietly building and backing enduring companies in sectors often overlooked by traditional private equity. Scott shares his unconventional path—from earning a PhD in molecular genetics at Oxford to working at BCG and biotech venture firms, and eventually launching Agman with family capital just before the Great Financial Crisis. What started as a fund of funds has grown into a diversified investment...
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Creating Long-Term Value in Niche Markets Through Operational Excellence - Dave Rauch - CEO @ ProTec
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In this episode of Diners and Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with Dave Rauch, founder and CEO of ProTec, a company that has spent nearly three decades redefining how homeowner associations (HOAs) approach maintenance. With over 370 employees, eight offices, and more than 1,000 communities served across Southern California and Las Vegas, Dave has built a business that fills a major gap in a largely overlooked industry. They dig into the unique operational challenges of serving HOAs, the massive opportunity in preventive maintenance, and how Dave has layered on services like plumbing,...
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Operational Agility: Pioneering Private Equity through Human Capital - Matt Schachman - Co-Founder - Cold Bore Capital
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In this episode of Diners and Deals, I sit down with Matt Schachman, Co-founder of Cold Bore Capital, for a deep dive into his journey from the military to private equity. We explore how his experiences shaped the founding of Cold Bore Capital and break down the complexities of buy-and-build strategies in the microcap space. Matt shares insights on the impact of veteran leadership, the importance of human capital, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. We also discuss what it takes to scale businesses effectively and navigate the private equity landscape. If you're interested in...
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Building a Billion Dollar Business in 3 Years - Steve Carroll - CEO of Kelso Industries
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Steve is the CEO and Co-founder of Kelso Industries, which provides mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, industrial, plumbing, and electrical services all throughout the United States. Seth and Steve discuss: Seth and Steve discuss: - Early ambitions and motivations behind Kelso Industries - The importance of partnerships in executing a buy and build - Challenges and strategies in finance management - Insights on making tough decisions and scaling through the platform build to create a sustainable m&a engine Links: Steve on LinkedIn: Seth on LinkedIn: Kelso...
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Serial Entrepreneurship and What it Means to Take Ownership of a Business - Matt Matros - Founder and GP at NCC
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Matt Matros is one of America’s leading consumer-focused entrepreneurs, having founded and successfully exited two businesses since 2009. Matt is the founder of PROTEIN BAR & KITCHEN®, a wildly popular chain of healthy fast-casual restaurants he sold to to private equity firm L Catterton in 2013. Matt also founded LIMITLESS®, an innovative beverage company he sold to Keurig Dr Pepper in early 2020. On this episode, Seth and Matt discuss: What it takes to be in the #1 seat in a business Experiences with Private Equity The role of a CFO in building and scaling businesses Links: ...
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Frank Campise - Co-Founder and Principal of Jab Real Estate
Diners and Deals
Frank Campise is the Co-Founder and Principal of Jab Real Estate, which transforms underperforming properties in desirable urban neighborhoods into modern and efficient residences that attract young, upscale professionals. On this episode, Seth, and Frank discuss: Building Jab Real Estate How to structure a team Looking at the future of the real estate market Links: Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:05:44) - Frank’s background and career (00:13:45) - JAB Real Estate today (00:16:37) - How have you structured your team? (00:22:29) - What excites you about the...
info_outlineIn this episode of Diners and Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with Andy Kvesic for a candid conversation about his unconventional career path and entrepreneurial journey. From growing up as the son of Croatian immigrants in Arizona, to building a successful legal career, pivoting into public service as a prosecutor, and eventually founding a pioneering law firm, Andy shares the pivotal choices and lessons that shaped his path. Their discussion explores resilience, risk-taking, and the vision behind transforming the legal industry through innovative ownership structures and integrated professional services.
They discuss:
- The resilience and independence Andy developed growing up in an immigrant family and how it influenced his career
- His pivot from private practice to becoming a prosecutor and why that experience became a springboard for his future success
- How Arizona’s regulatory changes enabled the creation of his pioneering law firm and opened the door for non-lawyer investment in legal services
- The challenges and breakthroughs of scaling a business, navigating private equity, and going through a transaction without a playbook
- The values he hopes to pass on to his children about building, learning, and leaving the world better than they found it
This episode is for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone interested in the intersections of law, business, and personal resilience.
Links:
Aprio - https://www.aprio.com/
Andy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-kvesic-01b1ba7/
Seth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethdeutsch/
CSuite Financial - https://csuitefinancialpartners.com/
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:04:39) - Andy's early life and immigrant background
(00:12:35) - From college to law school
(00:17:39) - The call to public service
(00:23:39) - The entrepreneurial leap
(00:31:20) - Navigating the legal industry's evolution
(00:33:40) - Non-lawyer ownership in law firms
(00:36:19) - The vision for a comprehensive professional services firm
(00:38:16) - Challenges and opportunities in building the firm
(00:39:07) - The unexpected offer and decision to sell
(00:42:25) - Navigating the emotional rollercoaster of a business sale
(00:46:50) - Post-sale reflections and future plans
(00:52:54) - Final thoughts and advice for entrepreneurs
(01:08:53) - Closing remarks