Don Scales is the Global CEO of Investis Digital, an award-winning digital communications company that makes businesses more successful by sharing their brand stories with target audiences such as shareholders, investors, employees, customers, and influencers. Don has more than 30 years of award-winning digital experience. He joined Investis Digital as a CEO of US operations in March of 2016 and became Global CEO in January 2017. He previously led global operations at interactive agencies iCrossing and Agency.com

Don is also an author, and his first book, How to Lead a Values-Based Professional Services Firm, was co-written with Fran Biderman-Gross and released in 2020. His next title, The M&A Solution: A Values-Based Approach to Integrate Companies, is set for a release in May 2021 with ForbesBooks. Don has dual undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mathematical Physics, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University; he also has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Don Scales, the Global CEO of Investis Digital, is John Corcoran's guest in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast where they talk about preparing for successful mergers and acquisitions. Don explains why most mergers and acquisitions fail and talks about common red flags to watch out for when evaluating a potential deal. He also discusses the importance of value alignment and finding the right time to close a deal.

Lawrence Chester is the Founder and President of CFO Simplified, a Chicago-based consulting firm specializing in helping small to mid-sized businesses with their financial and operational needs. Lawrence has served as a CFO for 25 years with companies such as Colovos Company, Republic Windows and Doors, United Service Companies, and High Sierra Sport Company, helping them eliminate losses and improve financial operations and reporting. 

Lawrence enjoys the challenge of helping companies that are working their way through a crisis. He joined his bankruptcy trustee for several years analyzing the financial condition of client companies and managing them through those difficult times. For small to medium-sized businesses and sole proprietorships, he becomes the CFO on the floor, helping owners gain an understanding of how the various financial aspects of the enterprise come together to drive business growth.

Lawrence Chester, the Founder and President of CFO Simplified, joins John Corcoran and Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-founders of Rise25 Media, in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about managing cash flows and excess costs and how to predict future company performance. Lawrence explains what a bankruptcy trustee does and talks about some of the common cash flow mistakes many companies make. He also explains how he helps businesses manage their cash flow and plan for future growth.

Georges Levesque is the President of Levesque Negotiation, a firm that provides negotiation training and advice. He is trained in advanced negotiations and business strategy at both the MIT School of Entrepreneurship and the Harvard Business School.

Georges is also a senior executive with EF Education First, the world's largest educational organization with over 52,000 employees in 114 countries. He is a longtime entrepreneur, professional speaker, and proud supporter of small businesses. He was also a former board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and has traveled to over 100 countries. 

Georges Levesque, the President of Levesque Negotiation, is John Corcoran's guest in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast where he talks about negotiation strategies and how he trains entrepreneurs and executives to negotiate effectively. Georges also shares his experience in transitioning into the corporate sector after leaving self-employment, selling his business, and how he overcame some personal challenges in order to build another successful business.

Cesar Quintero is a Certified EOS Implementer at The Profit Recipe, a coaching firm that helps entrepreneurs work on their business instead of in their business. He was born in the United States, grew up in Venezuela, and then came back to the US in his early 20s leaving behind a secure job at Procter and Gamble to start his own business. 

Cesar joined Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) in South Florida and completed the MIT Entrepreneurial Masters Program. He currently helps businesses to implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) based on the book 'Traction' by Gino Wickman.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Cesar Quintero, a Certified EOS Implementer, about the benefits of implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in businesses. Cesar also shares his why he decided to leave Venezuela and embark on an entrepreneurial journey in the US, how he discovered EOS, and the lessons he learned from hitting rock bottom and fighting off a lawsuit in 2012.

Chris Krimitsos is the Founder of Podfest Multimedia Expo, an event that attracts content creators from around the world to attend and share their expertise while learning from the best educators in the field of podcasting, YouTube, blogging, live streaming, and more. He has been called a change maker, motivator, catalyst for change, and an inspiration. Whether it's a major corporation's CEO or solopreneur, he is passionate about being a difference maker.

Chris has facilitated nearly 3,000 events and has brought together business owners focused on economic growth under the umbrella of the Tampa Bay Business Owners, which he founded in 2008. That led to founding a national event, Podfest Multimedia Expo, which he continues to run to this day. He has grown the attendance at Podfest Multimedia Expo to about 1,000 in just five years and even set a Guinness World Record for a recent virtual event he did. Chris is currently the President of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Chris Krimitsos, Founder of Podfest Multimedia Expo, about how he got started with podcasting and doing live events. Chris shares how he prepares and launches thousands of successful live events, how his business was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he managed to win a Guinness World Record.

Steve Fretzin is the President of FRETZIN Inc., where he is devoted to helping law firms and lawyers master the art of business development in order to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice. He is also a three-time author of Sales-Free Selling, The Attorney's Networking Handbook, and The Ambitious Attorney.

Steve is also host of BE THAT LAWYER Podcast, a show that demystifies the most challenging elements of growing a sustainable law practice through practical tips, fresh ideas, and new methodologies. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and Entrepreneur.com and has appeared on NBC News and WGN Radio. He is a regular contributor to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and has published articles in Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran and Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-founders of Rise25 Media, are joined by Steve Fretzin, the President of FRETZIN Inc., to talk about the importance of business development and networking for lawyers and other professionals. They’ll also discuss the value of relationship building, setting agendas before a meeting, and most common bad habits that people make when networking.

John Warrillow is the Founder and President of The Value Builder System, a cloud-based assessment tool that business owners use to assess their company's scalability. He has helped more than 55,000 business owners improve their company's value by up to 71%. 

John is also the author of Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, which has been recognized as one of the best business books by both Fortune and Inc. Magazines. He also wrote The Automatic Customer: Creating a Subscription Business In Any Industry and is the host of the Built to Sell Radio where he interviews founders about their exit journeys. He just released his latest book, The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies & Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top, this 2021.

John Warrillow, Founder and President of The Value Builder System, is John Corcoran's guest in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast where they talk about the art of selling businesses. Warrillow explains the difference between strategic and financial buyers, the concept of business owners pushing versus pulling when selling their businesses, and the difference between valuing a business based on revenue and on EBITDA multiples.

John Corcoran is the Co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners through their done-for you podcast service. He is also a recovering attorney, an author, a former White House writer, and former speechwriter to the Governor of California. 

Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his own boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. He is the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs.

In this episode, John Corcoran gets interviewed in his own podcast by his Rise25 Media co-founder, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, about the lessons he learned from some of the interviews he did in 2020. John also explains why he decided to interview 100 guests on his podcast last year and why he frequently conducts thought leadership interviews.

Josh Elkin is the Founder of Bestcoast Marketing, a company that helps internet-based companies in the B2B technology and e-commerce spaces to acquire high-quality backlinks to increase organic traffic. They have worked with big B2B software firms, e-commerce businesses, and startups to deliver measurable results in the form of increased traffic and conversions. 

Benjamin Yost is a Partner and Head of Growth at Bestcoast Marketing. He works alongside Josh to assist in the strategy, planning, and execution of growing the company. He is also the owner of Let It Grow Marketing Solutions and a divemaster with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that helps B2B business owners connect with their ideal prospects, referral partners, and strategic partners through a done-for-you podcast service. He has been involved in podcasting for 11 years and has also been running his own podcast, Inspired Insider, since 2011. Dr. Weisz also continues to run his own chiropractic and massage facility in downtown Chicago and has also founded a nutritional supplement business.

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran and his Rise25 Media co-founder,Dr. Jeremy Weisz, are joined by Josh Elkin and Benjamin Yost from Bestcoast Marketing to talk about getting clients through partnerships and whitelabeling. They’ll be discussing how whitelabeling works, how it can be used to fuel growth, and how Bestcoast Marketing uses SEO marketing to build links and grow a brand.