In this episode of Ninestone: Stacked to Scale, Alex Polamero and Dr. Tom Tonkin welcomed Mark Tuggle, founder and CEO of Telos Bookkeeping. Together, they dive into how hybrid work models—combining onshore and offshore teams—can fuel growth, efficiency, and scalability in financial services.

Mark shares his journey from military service and ministry to leading a global accounting firm. He explains how hiring challenges in the U.S. led him to build successful offshore teams in the Philippines, Pakistan, and India, and why strong systems, clear processes, and the right tech stack are vital for success.

The conversation covers practical strategies for balancing offshore back-office work with onshore client-facing roles, while addressing challenges like time zones, security, and trust. Mark also emphasizes culture, professional development, and connection as keys to retention and team enthusiasm.

Topics Include:

• Embracing the Hybrid Work Model
• Addressing Client Concerns About Offshoring
• Structuring Hybrid Teams for Scalability
• Building Culture and Trust in Distributed Teams
• Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Growth

Connect with Mark & Telos Bookkeeping:

LinkedIn

Website

Connect with Ninestone Partners:

Website

Linktree

Produced By: Social Chameleon

Lights, camera, scale! In this inaugural first episode, hosts Alex Polamero (Chief Growth Officer, Ninestone Partners) and Dr. Tom Tonkin (CEO, Ninestone Partners) roll out the red carpet for Jay Sherer, an award-winning storyteller, filmmaker, marketer, and CMO of Sherer & Sherer.

Together, they smash the myth that scaling a business means “cloning yourself”. Instead, Jay unveils a toolkit of more innovative strategies:

➡️ Customer Validation: Knowing your audience better than they know themselves.
➡️ Systems & Processes: Building the backstage crew that keeps the spotlight shining.
➡️ Sales & Marketing Alignment: Keeping the whole cast on the same script.
➡️ Avoiding Feature Creep: Cutting the scenes that drag down the story.

Through the lens of both filmmaking and marketing, Jay shows why storytelling beats propaganda every time, and how the same principles that captivate moviegoers can help businesses capture markets. He also offers his perspective on the difference between growth and true scaling—and why it matters for startups and small businesses aiming for box office-level success.

Topics Include:

• The Challenge of Scaling a Business
• Real-Life Scaling Examples
• The Role of Systems in Scaling
• Understanding the Market and Competition
• The Difference Between Scaling and Growing

Connect with Jay:

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube How Stories Work with Jay Sherer

Connect with Ninestone Partners:

Website

Linktree

Welcome to Ninestone: Stacked to Scale — the podcast for business builders who think smarter, move faster, and scale with intention.

If you're a founder, marketer, or operator focused on real growth—not just hype—you’re in the right place.

Each week, hosts Alex Polamero and Dr. Tom Tonkin break down the strategies behind sustainable scale: from marketing that connects, to sales journeys that convert, to systems that run without chaos behind the scenes.

You’ll hear candid conversations with modern builders—entrepreneurs, go-to-market leaders, and systems thinkers—who are stacking smart moves and sharing the lessons that got them there.

Whether you're refining your first funnel or leading a seasoned growth team, Ninestone is your go-to playbook for scaling with clarity and confidence.

New episodes drop monthly—subscribe and join our growing community!

Ninestone Website

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