After 20+ years in corporate life, he purchased a manufacturing company in Massachusetts that fabricates outdoor structures, garden trellises, and pergolas. Kris explained that he serves as CEO while his brother, who lives locally, serves as president and handles day-to-day operations. The discussion focuses on business restructuring and systematization.

Kris discussed the challenges of taking over a business from its previous owner, who was primarily an artist without systematic processes. He implemented new systems, including a CRM system, order tracking, and inventory management, as well as upgrading time cards to an automated system, which significantly reduced weekly workload. The most difficult aspect of the transition was change management, particularly getting the team to fully utilize the new systems and track custom project details in the ERP system.

Kris uses these lessons, especially about being undercapitalized, with his business acquisition program that serves underserved people who desire business ownership. He leads and investment and coaching operation to help these people.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

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425-515-4903

Lisa Forrest is a regular guest on our show because she's one of the best and most knowledgeable business acquisition lenders.

The SBA keeps changing the rules so we keep discussing acquisition loans.

One big change in 2026 is that once a borrower or minority investor (even at 1%) is part of a bad SBA loan the are banned from anymore SBA loans for life. Believe me, investors have added another level of caution to their process.

Another fascinating discussion with Lisa.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903

Peter Swimm, founder of ToilVille, discusses workplace automation and AI implementation strategies for small businesses. He emphasizes that successful AI adoption requires human oversight and proper measurement of outcomes, rather than treating AI as autonomous agents.

Peter shares examples from various industries, including contact centers and advisory services, demonstrating how AI can streamline operations while maintaining human touch points. He stresses the importance of understanding workflow patterns and measuring work to ensure AI implementations provide actual value rather than creating new problems.

He also highlights the need to consider both direct and indirect costs of AI adoption, and emphasized that AI should augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903

Jermaine Ee is a serial entrepreneur whose latest venture is www.heirlight.com.

Jermaine got the idea and spark for this venture because of his mother. She worked hard all her life and yet didn't understand retirement, its planning, estate plans, etc.

His business is not about wills and trusts, it's about people's health, their peace of mind, and having a good life.

This episode is not our usual and yet I found it fascinating because he's tackling a subject many people prefer to ignore, and then they or their heirs pay the price later.

It's really a story about an entrepreneur taking charge.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903

Chapter Five covers the following:

Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro

There’s Value and There’s the Price

Marketing Materials—First Impressions Matter

Get the Word Out

Then There’s the Message

The Process

The Offer

Conditions

Conclusion

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

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425-515-4903

Matthew Wyatt, founder of TechTorque, shares his expertise on growing B2B software and consulting businesses through strategic marketing and personal branding. He outlines four key elements for scaling:

• Target market definition,
• Building a circle of influence
• Nurturing client relationships
• Creating compelling offers

Matthew emphasized the importance of consistent content creation, using AI tools to streamline the process, and engaging with LinkedIn's new algorithm through thoughtful commenting and responding. He advised businesses to focus on discipline and clarity in their marketing strategies, rather than chasing trends, and highlighted the value of targeting ideal clients based on shared values and preferences. Our discussion concluded with Wyatt encouraging listeners to maintain daily content creation habits and leverage tools to manage the workload effectively.

You can reach Matthew at: www.techtorque.co or https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt/

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903

John and Nick discuss the importance of giving back to the community and how it can benefit businesses, particularly small and family-owned enterprises. They explore how philanthropy can enhance a company's reputation, attract customers, and foster employee engagement. The conversation highlighted the need for businesses to clearly define their mission and align it with their actions. They also touched on the challenges faced by nonprofits in executing their strategic plans and the importance of mission alignment in attracting dedicated staff. The discussion concluded with an emphasis on building relationships as a key aspect of effective philanthropy and business success.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903

Brian Samson is the founder of Plug Technologies, a nearshore talent broker that facilitates 100 placements annually for small to medium-sized companies. Brian explains how Plug helps clients access skilled talent in Latin America, offering both cost arbitrage and access to experienced people capable of handling complex technical work. The discussion highlighted how Latin America has become an attractive destination for tech talent, with Brian noting that the region's startup ecosystem and cultural similarities to the US make it an ideal location for nearshoring operations.

John Martinka
Jessica Martinka

Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos

https://nokomisadvisory.com/
https://www.martinkaconsulting.com/

https://www.gddpodcast.buzzsprout.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnAMartinka/videos

425-515-4903