Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman

Inside Case Western's Center for Family Business with Laura Bonnet (EP 20)

In Episode 20 of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes Laura Bonnet, Founding Director of the Center for Family Business at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Established in 2023, the Center for Family Business was created to connect and equip multi-generational family enterprises to build stronger legacies. Laura brings a powerful blend of strategy, corporate leadership, and advisory experience to the role — having held executive positions at American Greetings and advisory roles at McKinsey & Company, as well as experience with General Motors and Disney. In this episode, Mark and Laura explore the unique dynamics of family enterprises, the challenges of multi-generational transition, governance, strategy, and the importance of intentional legacy building. This is a must-listen for family business owners navigating succession, leadership development, and long-term continuity. Mark and Laura Discuss: * The Birth of the Center for Family Business – Why Case Western launched it in 2023. * Family Business Complexity – Why governance and relationships matter as much as performance. * Multi-Generational Transition – Preparing next-gen leaders early. * Strategic Discipline – Lessons from McKinsey applied to family enterprises. * Corporate vs Family Culture – Key differences in decision-making. * Legacy Thinking – Moving from wealth creation to legacy stewardship. * Emotional Capital – The unseen driver of family business success. * Board Structures & Governance Models – Professionalising the family enterprise. * Education & Community – The role of universities in supporting family firms. * Balancing Growth & Harmony – Keeping business and family aligned. Connect with Mark Dorman: * Succession Plus US [https://succession.plus/us/] * LinkedIn: Mark Dorman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjdorman/] * LinkedIn: Succession Plus [https://www.linkedin.com/company/succession-plus-usa/] * Facebook: Succession Plus [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556260959516] * (330)-416-9271 * mdorman@succession.plus [mdorman@succession.plus] About the Guest: Laura Bonnet is the Founding Director of the Center for Family Business at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Prior to launching the Center in 2023, she served in executive leadership roles at American Greetings and worked at McKinsey & Company advising clients across industries. Her career also includes experience with General Motors and the Walt Disney Company. Laura combines strategic expertise with a deep understanding of multi-generational enterprise to help family businesses build governance, leadership continuity, and sustainable legacies.

How to Exit with Satisfaction: A Founder's Playbook with Robert "Bob" Hothem S2 (EP 19)

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with longtime friend and exit strategist Robert "Bob" Hothem, founder of Exit with Satisfaction. After building one of the largest TAB (The Alternative Board) franchises in the world — growing to 68 members and seven boards — Bob strategically exited his own business and launched a new venture focused on helping owners prepare emotionally and strategically for their exit. Mark and Bob discuss: * Self-limiting beliefs * The emotional side of entrepreneurship * Why most owners wait too long to start exit planning * The danger of identity being tied to your business * And why "when the circus leaves town" is the hardest moment for many founders If you're a business owner anywhere between $1M–$8M in revenue — this conversation is for you. Connect with Mark Dorman: * Succession Plus US [https://succession.plus/us/] * LinkedIn: Mark Dorman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjdorman/] * LinkedIn: Succession Plus [https://www.linkedin.com/company/succession-plus-usa/] * Facebook: Succession Plus [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556260959516] * (330)-416-9271 * mdorman@succession.plus [mdorman@succession.plus] About the Guest: Robert "Bob" Houghtem is the founder of Exit with Satisfaction, a boutique advisory firm helping small and mid-sized business owners prepare emotionally and strategically for successful exits. Before launching Exit with Satisfaction, Bob built one of the largest TAB (The Alternative Board) franchises globally, growing to 68 members and seven peer advisory boards in the Dayton, Ohio region. With decades of experience working alongside private business owners — beginning during his corporate career with John Deere — Bob focuses on mindset, belief systems, operational value enhancement, and proactive transition planning.

Paying it Forward with Rick Scruggs S2 (EP 18)

In Episode 18 of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes financial services veteran Rick Scruggs, founder of Financial Designs in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rick's journey into financial planning was shaped by tragedy. When his father passed away unexpectedly just days before ERISA legislation would have secured a lifelong pension for his mother, Rick experienced firsthand the importance of financial preparedness. That defining moment ignited a lifelong mission: helping business owners protect what they build. Since founding Financial Designs in 1983, Rick has worked with over 100 private and family business owners and more than 300 legacy families. His approach blends strategic thinking, financial clarity, succession planning, and deep questioning — helping entrepreneurs create abundant futures while ensuring they have time to enjoy them. This episode explores mortality, mindset, business continuity, leadership responsibility, and why thinking deeply may be the most powerful business tool of all. Mark and Rick discuss: * The Christmas Eve Turning Point – Losing his father and discovering the power of life insurance. * The ERISA Timing Lesson – How six days changed a family's financial future. * The Chief Mentor Story – Why "Are you coachable?" changed Rick's life. * 5:00 a.m. Discipline – Discovering the other 5 o'clock. * Building Financial Designs (1983) – Walking away from a minority partnership to build independently. * Calling on Owners Early Morning – How 5–7 a.m. meetings built a B2B practice. * Breaking Down Silos – Installing "windows" between advisors. * The 10X Question Framework – Revealing the hidden magnitude of a business owner's future. * 359 Degrees – Identifying the leakage point in financial strategy. * Thinking as a Leadership Discipline – Why breathing and thinking are equally non-negotiable. Connect with Mark Dorman: * Succession Plus US [https://succession.plus/us/] * LinkedIn: Mark Dorman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjdorman/] * LinkedIn: Succession Plus [https://www.linkedin.com/company/succession-plus-usa/] * Facebook: Succession Plus [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556260959516] * (330)-416-9271 * mdorman@succession.plus [mdorman@succession.plus] About the Guest: Rick Scruggs is the founder and president of Financial Designs, established in 1983 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He specialises in business continuity, succession planning, transition strategy, 401(k) design, executive compensation, and legacy planning for private and family businesses. Rick holds professional designations including Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). He is also the author of What's Wrong with My Thinking?, a reflective leadership book focused on mindset, clarity, and intentional growth. Rick currently works with over 100 private business owners and more than 300 legacy families.

From Bombay to a $200M Business & a Successful Exit with Dee Vaidya S2 (EP 17)

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with serial entrepreneur Dee Vaidya. Born in Bombay and raised in Pune, Dee's journey spans continents, industries, and decades — from rubber and plastics to electronics, Dell manufacturing, geospatial intelligence, and building a $50M+ government contractor before a successful exit. From starting with just $5,000 and a dream in Mary's family home, to winning a $200M global geospatial intelligence contract for the U.S. government, Dee's story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and long-term thinking. This is a powerful conversation about immigration, entrepreneurship, family, culture, federal contracting, scaling, and giving back. Mark and Dee discuss: * Early Roots & Education – Growing up in India, IIT Bombay, and following his father's entrepreneurial path. * Family & Partnership – Building businesses with Mary and raising three children through multiple relocations. * Reinvention – Moving from rubber & plastics into electronics, then into digital mapping and defence work. * The Dell Years – Building PCs for Michael Dell in the early days of Dell Computer. * Technographics Growth – From a small acquisition to a $50M+ company and 400+ employees. * Geospatial Intelligence – Mapping the world for defence, navigation, and national security. * Advisors & Mentors – The impact of Don Noble and building a world-class advisory team. * The Exit – Selling Technographics to CACI and navigating a complex data room process. * Giving Back – Launching the Wayne County Economic Forum to bring world-class speakers to Wooster. * Life After Exit – Golf, table tennis, community leadership, and staying active. Connect with Mark Dorman: * Succession Plus US [https://succession.plus/us/] * LinkedIn: Mark Dorman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjdorman/] * LinkedIn: Succession Plus [https://www.linkedin.com/company/succession-plus-usa/] * Facebook: Succession Plus [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556260959516] * (330)-416-9271 * mdorman@succession.plus [mdorman@succession.plus] About the Guest: Dee Vaidya is a serial entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and sold multiple businesses across manufacturing, electronics, and geospatial intelligence. Born in India and educated at IIT Bombay, the University of Akron, and Purdue University, Dee moved to the U.S. to pursue entrepreneurship and the free-market system. He is best known for founding and growing Technographics, a geospatial intelligence company that won a $200M global contract and grew to over 400 employees before being sold to CACI. Dee is also the founder of the Wayne County Economic Forum and a recipient of the Wooster Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Award for his contributions to the community.

Democratising Value: BizEquity, EMG and the Future of Founders with Michael Carter S2 (EP16)

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Michael Carter — serial entrepreneur, venture investor and founder of BizEquity, and now founder & CEO of Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI [http://emg.ai]). Michael has built platforms used by hundreds of thousands of businesses, created large shareholder value, and now aims to democratise entrepreneurship with an AI-driven roadmap and founders' co-pilot. Mark and Michael discuss: BizEquity origin — why business valuation needed democratising and the early insight that launched BizEquity. Democratisation — making knowledge faster, cheaper and more accessible for entrepreneurs. EMG.ai & the Roadmap — the 73-step Entrepreneurs Roadmap and the vision to be a coach/agent for founders. Digital Agents — what an entrepreneur's agent is, how it's built on LLMs and why every company will want one. Who EMG serves — solopreneurs, first-time founders and early-stage teams that lack VC networks. Monetisation & product path — free entry via Ben (the agent), moving to pro/agent subscriptions and community. Mission Capitalist Club — a non-partisan crew, think-tank for entrepreneurs, and community experiments. Big picture — entrepreneurship as the new athletic profession: coaching, repeatable playbooks and scaled mentorship via AI. Connect with Mark Dorman: * Succession Plus US [https://succession.plus/us/] * LinkedIn: Mark Dorman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjdorman/] * LinkedIn: Succession Plus [https://www.linkedin.com/company/succession-plus-usa/] * Facebook: Succession Plus [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556260959516] * (330)-416-9271 * mdorman@succession.plus [mdorman@succession.plus] About the Guest: Michael (Mike) Carter is a serial entrepreneur and founder of BizEquity (the world's largest online business valuation platform) and now Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI). Mike has helped platforms used by c.400,000 businesses, created substantial shareholder value, and now focuses on building tools (roadmaps + AI agents) that democratise entrepreneurship — giving founders an accessible coach, playbook and business brain. He also founded the Mission Capitalist Club, a philanthropic, apolitical entrepreneurs' community in Philadelphia.