The Growth + Exit
Podcast
Expert Advice for Middle Market Business Owners on Growing, De-Risking, and Exiting Their Business
Latest Episodes
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Brookelyn Avila, Owner of Van Sharks, about building and scaling a company in a new industry. Brookelyn shares how she entered the van conversion market, the impact of becoming a certified Mercedes-Benz Expert Upfitter, and why standardizing products can help growing businesses scale more efficiently.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Gabriel Arguello, Founder and CEO of Rent 2 Own Trailers, to discuss how to scale a business while building strong customer relationships. Gabriel shares insights on overcoming financial challenges, maintaining quality control through vertical integration, and using servant leadership to inspire teams.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Davis Anderson, Founder of The Manufacturers’ Collective, to discuss generational succession in family-owned businesses. Davis shares the lessons he learned from his leadership role, the importance of early succession planning, and advice for navigating difficult family discussions.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney talks with Doug Tatum, Chairman of Newport LLC, about capital market readiness for emerging growth companies. Doug talks about the rise of private equity add-on deals, the differences between platform and tuck-in strategies, and why founders must shift from an operator to an investor mindset to protect and grow their wealth.
Welcome to the Growth + Exit Podcast, where business owners, CEOs, and industry experts share the inside story of how they’ve grown, strengthened, and successfully exited their companies.
Hosted by Newport Managing Directors Heather Bennett and Susan Kearney, each episode offers candid conversations and practical insights tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of mid-market, privately held businesses.
New episodes drop twice a month.
Meet Your Hosts
Heather Bennett
Managing Director, Newport LLC
Corporate leader turned growth strategist, Heather brings 20+ years of experience managing $100MM brands, advising CEOs and entrepreneurs, and helping businesses scale through innovation, marketing, and executive development.
Susan Kearney
Managing Director, Newport LLC
A serial entrepreneur, growth expert, and digital innovator, Susan has founded, built, and sold several businesses; partnered successfully with both VC and PE investors; and participated in both buy and sell-side transactions. She leverages this expertise to help business owners scale and exit their companies successfully.
