Focusing on transition success
Succession Stories Podcast guides entrepreneurs from transition to transaction- from building value in your business to letting go. Tune-in for insights to reward your hard work and avoid succession regrets. Available on all podcast platforms.
Hosted by Laurie Barkman, the Business Transition Sherpa

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Succession
Stories
Podcast
Focusing on transition success
Succession Stories Podcast guides entrepreneurs from transition to transaction- from building value in your business to letting go. Tune-in for insights to reward your hard work and avoid succession regrets. Available on all podcast platforms.
Hosted by Laurie Barkman, the Business Transition Sherpa

Show Sponsor:
Dive into the latest Succession Stories Podcast. Browse by category or search by title/keyword, episode number, or guest name.
E15: Ups and Downs After the Sale – Doug Austin, James Austin Company
Listen to the episode: James Austin Company was a fourth generation family business without a succession plan. After 130 years, the company sold to a competitor in 2018. I spoke with one of the family members, Doug Austin, about his experience...
E14: 2nd Gen CEO Success From Turnaround to Strategic Sale – Dawn Fuchs Coleman
Listen to the episode: Dawn Fuchs Coleman is the former CEO of Weavertown Environmental Group, a 2nd generation company. Dawn shared her decision to join the family business, getting the keys to the company when she didn't expect it, leading a...
E13: Search Fund Acquisitions – Jamie Van Buren, Generational Transfer Entrepreneurs
Listen to the episode: It's a topic on the mind of many business owners, what to do when family members are not interested or not able to run the company going forward. Listen in as Laurie Barkman speaks with Jamie Van Buren, Managing Director of...
E12: Leading From Disaster to Transformation – Will Knecht, Wendell August
Listen to the episode: Will Knecht is the Chairman of Wendell August, America's oldest and largest forge, producing hand-wrought metal giftware since 1923. In March 2010, two days after receiving its largest order ever, a fire nearly destroyed...
E11: Investing in Family Businesses and Emerging Entrepreneurs – Bobby Zappala & Andy Ellis
Listen to the episode: Laurie Barkman speaks with Bobby Zappala and Andy Ellis, Managing Partners of Localize Capital. This episode highlights an innovative financing approach for family owned businesses that supports long-term growth and the...
Podcast appearance: Growth & Innovation Through Transitions – Agile Giants
Laurie Barkman was featured on the Agile Giants podcast hosted by Sean Ammirati. In this appearance, Laurie talks about launching her consulting firm (SmallDotBig), a podcast, and returning to the Tepper classroom as an instructor. It was a...
E10: Entrepreneurial Resilience – Len Caric, CEO Uncle Charley’s Sausage
Listen to the episode: Len Caric acquired Uncle Charlie’s Sausage in 2014 after the company faced a tragic business succession. Just six weeks after acquiring the company as the new CEO, he faced a significant industry challenge. Listen in as...
E09: Avoiding Transition Pitfalls – Jason Seltzer, EHD
Listen to the episode here or in your favorite podcast software. How prepared is your business to operate without you? Laurie Barkman was joined by Jason Seltzer, entrepreneur and risk mitigation expert with EHD Insurance. Jason shared challenges...
E08: Addressing the Transition Dilemma – Joe Bute, Hollymead Capital
Listen to the full episode using the player below: When there is no successor within the family, how do owners move to the next level of finding someone to buy and operate the business? On this episode, we focus on liquidity options for family...
E07: Financial Succession Planning- Brian Baum, Business Transition Group
Listen to the full episode using the player below: On this episode, listen in as Laurie Barkman speaks with Brian Baum, President of The Business Transition Group and chair of the Pittsburgh Exit Planning chapter. Brian works with...
E06: Succession and Innovation as 6th Gen Entrepreneur with Michael Schoedinger and Jill Hofmans
Listen to the episode: On this episode, Laurie Barkman was joined by Michael Schoedinger, President of Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service, a 6th generation company; and Jill Hofmans, Executive Director of the Conway Center for Family...
Podcast appearance: Thrive Loud with Lou Diamond
I'm fortunate to know some amazing people who bring out the best in others, Lou Diamond is one of them. It was a blast being a guest on Lou's podcast ThriveLoud with Lou Diamond. We covered a lot of ground from our college years, to my career and...
E05: Ageless Startup, Author Rick Terrien
Listen to the full episode using the player below: On this episode of Succession Stories, I explored next generation entrepreneurship from a different angle with Rick Terrien, author of Ageless Startup. After selling his last company, Rick pondered...
Episode 03: Navigating Family Succession – Shelley Taylor, ABARTA Family Council Chair
This episode features Shelley Taylor, a family business advisor and expert on navigating family succession. Shelley has worked with multi-generational companies for more than 20 years, and she is the Family Council Chair for ABARTA, a 3rd and 4th...
Episode 02: Jim Rooney – Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers and Leadership Legacy
Stream the episode On this episode of Succession Stories, I spoke with Jim Rooney, entrepreneur and author of, A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney’s Story from the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule. Jim wrote the book about his father and the family...
Episode 01: Bringing an Entrepreneurial Culture to 120 Year Old Company, Tony Uphoff CEO Thomas
For the first episode of Succession Stories, I was excited to speak with Tony Uphoff, CEO of Thomas. In fact, a talk that Tony gave last year at Carnegie Mellon helped fuel my general concept for the podcast. In his presentation, Tony discussed his...
Growing the Value of Your Company: EP Podcast with Laurie Barkman
Most business owners want to increase their company's value. Whether it's to make more money, gain more resources to expand their business, or plan an effective "next step" in their careers, it's important for business owners to have a thoughtful...
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