At 47, Justin Tennant is only two years removed from selling the medical supply company he bootstrapped from nothing, and he's already found something he didn't expect: it's harder to walk away from a business than it was to build one.

Justin Tennant grew up in a second-generation steel mill family in Weirton, West Virginia, where he learned that nothing is given, it's earned. After working full-time since age 16 and putting himself through the University of Pittsburgh, he spent five years inside the post-merger chaos of Bank of New York Mellon before deciding he was done grinding for someone else's paycheck. In 2009, he co-founded Surgical Product Solutions, an independent distributor that gave hospitals a smarter way to offload surplus, still-sterile medical devices before their shelf life expired. Fifteen years, 80 employees, and $40 million in annual revenue later, Justin exited through a sale to a Chicago private equity firm, and is now figuring out life on the other side of entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways:

• Why understanding what your customer actually values (not what you assume they want) is the real foundation of trust-based selling
• How investing early in high-quality people created a "winning culture" that has outlasted ownership changes
• The hidden challenge of competing against giants like Johnson & Johnson without becoming a target
• Why timidity, not risk, is the biggest threat to a startup's early decision-making
• What it really feels like to transition out of a business you built from your kitchen table

About Justin Tennant:

Justin Tennant is an entrepreneur, investor and business advisor who specializes in helping founders navigate the entire business lifecycle, from boot-strapped launch to institutional exit. Drawing from his own journey as a start-up entrepreneur…building and selling his company, Surgical Product Solutions, to private equity in 2024, Justin now focuses on capital redeployment, asset consolidation, and teaching entrepreneurs how to build scalable systems that maximize enterprise value.

Connect:

Website www.tennantent.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/justintennant

Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

When experts told Judith Creed that her son would never walk, talk, or live independently, she refused to accept that as his future. Instead, she turned one family's challenge into a movement that has transformed hundreds of lives.

In this episode of Founders' Forum, Judith Creed shares her remarkable journey from speech-language pathologist and entrepreneur to founding JCHAI, a nonprofit dedicated to helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve meaningful, independent lives. Inspired by her father's entrepreneurial spirit and driven by her determination to create opportunities for her son Jonah, Judith challenged outdated beliefs, overcame community resistance, and built an organization that now serves more than 300 individuals while supporting countless families.

Judith also reflects on the entrepreneurial mindset that fueled her success. She explains why entrepreneurs must trust their instincts when others say "no" and continue finding better ways to serve people. Her story is a powerful reminder that lasting impact often begins with one person willing to challenge the status quo.

Key Takeaways:

• How one mother's determination became the foundation of a life-changing nonprofit
• Why entrepreneurs must learn to push past rejection and resistance
• The importance of creating opportunities instead of accepting limitations
• How independent living empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• What it takes to build a mission-driven organization that creates lasting impact and legacy

About Judith Creed:

Judith was Director of Speech-Language Pathology at Moss/Magee Rehab Facility for many years until she left the field after having three children, one of whom was born with a serious developmental disability. The doctors told her to place Jonah in an institution because he was severely intellectually disabled and would never walk or talk. She didn't listen to them. Instead, she kept Jonah at home and, using her SLP skills, taught him herself.

Judith then started and ran her own film production company, DuPertuis-Creed Productions, which produced TV commercials and documentaries. After about 10 years, she returned to the field of speech-language pathology, where she combined her video expertise with her clinical background to develop and patent a video medical device that evaluated swallowing disorders at the bedside instead of using barium. Swallow Vision, Inc. was Judy's second business venture. She licensed her patent to Pentax Corporation, which then hired her to evaluate ENT and GI physicians' medical inventions, as well as sell medical equipment.

During this time, Judith was raising her children while also dedicating herself to volunteer philanthropy. She helped found the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, the Philadelphia chapter of Operation Smile, and what would become her lasting legacy, JCHAI.

Connect:

Website jchai.org; judithcreedart.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/judith-creed-a85a7950/

Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by JCHAI, helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities envision and build meaningful, independent lives. Visit jchai.org to learn more.

📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

Success isn't always about avoiding failure. Sometimes it's about what you build after everything falls apart. In this episode, Steve Berardi shares how resilience, leadership, and a willingness to adapt helped him rebuild both his business and his future.

Steve Berardi, Founder and President of Omni Building Group, joins Marc Bernstein to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from music student and stonemason's son to leading a respected construction company. Steve reflects on the lessons he learned through early career experiences, launching his first business, navigating the challenges of the 2008 housing crisis, and starting over with a new vision. He also shares how sports, coaching, and strong leadership principles have shaped the culture of his company and the way he approaches business today.

Key Takeaways:

• How early career experiences prepared Steve for entrepreneurship
• What the 2008 housing crisis taught him about resilience and risk
• Why diversifying a business can create greater long-term stability
• How leadership, trust, and integrity shape company culture
• Why choosing the right clients can be just as important as winning new business
• Steve's vision for building a business that can thrive beyond its founder

About Steve Berardi:

Steve has been in the construction industry for 45 years. He is actively involved in sales, design, and overseeing every project to help ensure it is completed on time and within budget. Having worked in every facet of the business, Steve brings hands-on experience that allows him to effectively navigate the challenges that arise throughout each project.

Connect:

Website omnibuildinggroup.com/
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/steve-berardi-441b6759/
Facebook facebook.com/OmniBuilding/
Instagram instagram.com/omnibuildinggroup

Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by Omni Building Group; your trusted partner for custom homes, renovations, and additions. Visit omnibuildinggroup.com to learn more.

📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.