Your Journey through “No Man’s Land” with Doug Tatum, Chairman & CEO of Newport, LLC Ep. 6 - S1
Release Date: 08/12/2025
Pivoting as a Business Owner With Craig Sturgill Ep. 43 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In the realm of exit plans, things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes they happen smoothly the first time, other times they face delays. But that’s the thing: there’s no one right way. Each exit is its own journey, with its own ups and downs. Join Mark Doman as he sits down with Craig Sturgill, COO, and Co-founder of Excel™, a company at the forefront of the InsureTech space. Craig, a U.S. Army veteran and successful entrepreneur, shares his journey from starting an insurance agency at 18 to co-founding Excel™. Follow along to learn about the challenges and strategic pivots he...
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Exploring Opportunities Through SBA Lending With Tara Murphy Ep. 42 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Many believe that SBA loans are only for startups or fraught with bureaucratic red tape. However, this week’s guest, Tara Murphy debunks these myths, demonstrating the power of SBA lending in aiding successful business exits and transitions. Join Mark Doman and Tara Murphy, SBA Business Development Officer and Vice President of Huntington National Bank as they delve into SBA lending. They unveil how they work, changes that have happened to the process, and how they can be a powerful tool in your exit planning strategy. Whether you’re contemplating selling your business or simply curious...
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Packing the Parachute: Navigating Exit and Succession Planning with Jim Erben Ep. 41 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Are you ready to secure your legacy and ensure your business thrives beyond your exit? In this enlightening episode, Mark Dorman is joined by Jim Erben, president of Erben Associates and a sought-after exit and succession planning specialist. Together, they delve into the crucial, yet often daunting, process of planning for business exit and succession. Tune in for invaluable strategies and actionable insights on how to prepare for a smooth transition. Jim discusses: Why business valuation is a crucial starting point in planning your exit The importance of aligning your business exit...
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De-Risking Your Business: Jim Doyle on Partial Sales and Full Exits Ep. 40 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Many entrepreneurs start their exit journey with a partial sale to de-risk from a substantial portion of their wealth being tied up in the business. Doing so sets them up for an eventual full exit. In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Jim Doyle, who founded and sold Jim Doyle and Associates (now JDA.Media). Jim shares his experience of navigating ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans) and eventually selling his business to a strategic buyer. Jim discusses: The process of making his business “sellable” How the ESOP helped his employees develop an ownership mindset, enhancing the...
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Professional Management and Business Legacy with Joni Fedders Ep. 39 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Are you ready to transform the way you run your business? Today on the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Doman introduces Joni Fedders, President of Aileron, and explores the unique nonprofit organization based in Dayton, Ohio. Together they explore how Aileron helps business owners and their teams embrace professional management to elevate their lives and organizations. Follow along to hear Joni’s passion for professional management, and how it empowers businesses and their owners to articulate a vision, align their organization towards it, and successfully navigate ownership transitions. Joni...
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From Growing Pains to Profit With Ron Nagy Ep. 38 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Have you ever wondered what it takes to scale a family business into a multi-location, multi-million dollar empire? In the latest installment of the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Dorman talks with Ron Nagy, a successful second-generation business owner, about his journey of transforming a single-location body shop into a multi-location thriving enterprise, the challenges faced along the way, and the strategic decisions that led to their successful growth and eventual sale. Ron discusses: How Nagy’s Auto Collision came to be and how it evolved over time The challenges faced during the...
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Navigating the Emotional and Practical Aspects of Business Transitions With Joe Scheid Ep. 37 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Are you a business owner standing at the crossroads of change, wondering what to do next? You’re not alone. In this episode, Mark Dorman and founding member of the Legacy Advisors Network, Joe Scheid tackle the often-overlooked but critical issue that business owners face: the complex challenge of financial planning during pivotal transitions. Together they unravel the emotional and technical layers of financial decisions, drawing on Joe’s involvement with the Legacy Advisors Network and the Exit Planning Institute. By exploring the capabilities of the Capitalize software and...
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Executing A Successful Exit Plan With Rich Craig Ep. 36 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
With a rapidly evolving marketplace and the persistent talent shortages in the accounting industry, the need for expert guidance in succession planning has never been more critical In this insightful episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Rich Craig, Managing Partner at 415 Group. Together, they discuss the intricacies of growing an accounting firm and the broader challenges that the industry faces. Rich imparts his wisdom on the vital topic of succession planning for business owners, underlining the significance of strategic foresight and the support of trusted professionals. By exploring the 415...
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The Remarkable Journey of The Pearl Valley Cheese Company With Chuck Ellis Ep. 35 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Have you ever wondered what it takes to run and operate a successful business? How about doing it over multiple generations spanning nearly a century? In the latest installment of the Finish Big Podcast, Mark Dorman sits down with Chuck Ellis, recently retired president and CEO of the renowned Pearl Valley Cheese Company in Ohio. Listen as they delve into the rich history, challenges, and expansions of the cheese industry, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of family businesses and the cheese production process. Guest discusses: The Swiss immigrant influence on the...
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Maximizing Sales Strategies With Melanie French Ep. 34 - S1
Finish Big 1.0 w/ Mark Dorman
Do you need help with developing sales functions in your business? Well, don’t go anywhere because you’ve come to the right place! This week, guest Melanie French, a fractional VP of Sales, joins Mark Dorman to discuss the importance of developing and improving sales functions in mid-size companies. Melanie shares her journey from a Sales Contributor to a VP of Sales, highlighting the challenges and growth strategies she implemented. The conversation delves into key topics such as the significance of sales strategy, process, CRM utilization, sales team management, and the impact of...
info_outlineWhile growing, businesses reach a point where they are too big to be small but too small to be big. This place is called No Man’s Land.
In this episode, Mark Dorman speaks with Doug Tatum, Chairman of Newport LLC and the author of No Man’s Land: Where Growing Companies Fail. Doug explains how the book came to be from his personal experiences leading a firm and how it helps small business owners looking to grow their businesses.
Doug discusses:
- What is No Man’s Land and how he discovered it
- Why entrepreneurs are scared to take the step and leave their inner circle
- The four M’s to navigate No Man’s Land
- How entrepreneurs can expand their business without losing control
- And more
Resources:
Connect with Mark Dorman:
- LinkedIn: Mark Dorman
- Succession.plus/us/
- Call: (330) 350-5410
- Email Mark: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: Succession Plus US
- Facebook: Succession Plus US
Connect with Doug Tatum:
About our Guest:
Doug is Chairman of Newport LLC, a national partnership of CEOs and senior executives who advise emerging middle market companies and assist private equity firms to invest in and grow portfolio companies. He is also a member of the Teaching Faculty at the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship at Florida State and also Advisory Board Chairman for the Business Dynamics Research Consortium at the University of Wisconsin – Extension. Previously, Doug was Chairman and CEO of Tatum LLC, which grew into a highly respected national professional services firm with 30 offices and over 1000 professionals and employees. Doug is the author of No Man’s Land: Where Growing Companies Fail, a leading text about growth companies that has been translated into several languages and has won four National Best Business book awards. His insights about the economy and business have been cited in hundreds of media outlets including Inc. Magazine, The Financial Times, and The New York Times online.