Shore Capital Podcast Network

Human Capital as a Value Multiplier: Cynthia Hiskes on Building HR for Growth

In this episode, Anderson Williams talks with Cynthia Hiskes, Head of the Human Capital Center of Excellence at Shore Capital Partners. Cynthia brings deep experience building and scaling HR functions across companies of every size, and she shares why aligning your HR investment to the stage and scale of your business is one of the most important decisions a founder or CEO can make. They discuss what human capital looks like in microcap and highly acquisitive companies, why HR belongs at the strategy table from day one, and how the Center of Excellence facilitates learning across the portfolio so leaders don't have to figure it out alone. Cynthia also walks through how to think about talent assessment, organizational design, and culture during rapid growth and acquisition integration, and why the metrics that matter at exit need to be built into the planting phase. Key Takeaways: * Match your HR investment to your stage because over-engineered systems early on waste resources, while under-investing later puts growth at risk * Bring HR in early as a strategic partner, not a downstream handoff, because the best integration and growth decisions happen when human capital is part of the original conversation * Treat human capital as a value multiplier, not a cost center, especially in microcap businesses where every key role disproportionately drives the outcome * Build the metrics that tell your exit story (turnover, engagement, time to fill, wage sustainability) during the planting and growing phases, not at the end Chapters: 1. 00:00 – Introduction 2. 01:31 – Stage-Relevant HR 3. 06:36 – Org Design and Acquisitions 4. 11:37 – HR as a Strategic Partner 5. 18:14 – Talent and the Exit Story 6. 26:02 – HR Misconceptions Listen to our podcasts at: https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts [https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts] You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique. Other ways to connect: Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog [https://www.shorecp.university/blog] Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/ [https://www.shorecp.university/] Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/ [https://www.shorecp.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university] This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

From Bulldog to Skycrest Roof: Ryan Burke on Founding, Growing, and Partnering

In this episode, Ryan Burke reflects on his journey from selling roofs in Colorado Springs to founding Bulldog Roofing at 23 and partnering with Shore Capital to help build Skycrest Roof. He shares how frustration with bad actors in the industry and a belief that customers and employees deserved better pushed him to take the leap and start the business out of his living room. Ryan discusses the rapid growth that followed, the chaos that came with it, and the hard lessons of moving from hustle to structure as the business scaled to sixty people and $30M in revenue. He talks candidly about his initial fears around private equity, why protecting his team of family and friends was his top priority, and how meeting the people at Shore shifted his perspective on partnership. Ryan highlights the importance of readiness, the value of building real processes and resilience into a business, and what Skycrest is looking for in the next generation of founders as it continues to grow. Key Takeaways: * Frustration with bad actors and a belief that customers and employees deserve better can become the foundation for building a business with real integrity and lasting culture. * Moving from hustle to structure is the hard but necessary work of scaling, where documented processes, defined roles, and clear procedures turn chaos into resilience. * Readiness to partner is not just about age or financial outcomes, but about understanding what you want, knowing your team, and finding a buyer who treats your people and your legacy with care. * The right partnership brings creativity to the deal, expertise to the table, and a shared commitment to growing the business without losing the culture and people that built it. Chapters: 1. 00:00 – Introduction 2. 02:51 – Founding Bulldog Roofing 3. 05:49 – From Hustle to Structure 4. 08:39 – Readiness and Finding Shore 5. 17:40 – Evolving as a Leader 6. 21:14 – Building Skycrest Roof Listen to our podcasts at: https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts [https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts] You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique. Other ways to connect: Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog [https://www.shorecp.university/blog] Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/ [https://www.shorecp.university/] Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/ [https://www.shorecp.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university] This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

AI and the Data Foundation: Ross Koenig on Why Data Matters

In this episode, I follow up with Ross Koenig, Chief Data Officer at Shore Capital Partners and one of our earliest podcast guests. Ross reflects on how his role has evolved over the past three years, from leading the Data Center of Excellence supporting portfolio companies to focusing on Shore's own investment process data and cross-portfolio insights. He shares why Shore's longstanding commitment to process and documentation has become a powerful foundation in the age of AI, and how nearly 1,000 codified executive hires now enable pattern recognition that few firms can match. Ross also discusses why "garbage in, garbage out" matters more than ever, how AI is breaking down walls between executives and data, and why business owners who ignore AI risk being left behind. Key Takeaways: * Build the data foundation first because AI only works as well as the process, documentation, and discipline behind it * Codify what you know across people, processes, and decisions so you can spot patterns, learn from past outcomes, and make smarter choices going forward * Recognize that AI's biggest unlock is accessibility, putting information and analysis directly in the hands of executives who used to be blocked by technical walls * Engage with AI now regardless of size or industry because the cost barriers have fallen and the businesses that ignore it will quickly fall behind Chapters: 1. 00:00 – Introduction 2. 01:36 – Building the Data Foundation 3. 06:36 – Codifying Knowledge at Scale 4. 12:15 – Accessibility and the Power of AI 5. 15:31 – Why Every Business Owner Should Engage with AI Now Listen to our podcasts at: https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts [https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts] You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique. Other ways to connect: Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog [https://www.shorecp.university/blog] Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/ [https://www.shorecp.university/] Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/ [https://www.shorecp.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university] This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

Are We Getting Better?: Measuring What Actually Matters

In this episode, Jackson and Anderson close out the season by addressing the question every leader eventually faces: how do you know talent development is actually working? They acknowledge that measuring behavior change is harder than measuring defects on a line, but argue that the value is no less real. The conversation moves through leading and lagging indicators, the business metrics that connect to people investment, and the observable cultural shifts that show up before the numbers do. The episode includes a powerful story about a first-time manager who nearly left because no one helped her shift from doing the work to leading through others, and wraps with practical, start-tomorrow advice for tracking progress. Key Takeaways: * The ROI of talent development is real, but it shows up in things like turnover, internal promotions, and customer satisfaction rather than this quarter's margins. * It's easier to notice failure than to recognize the problems that never happened because of proactive investment. * Observable culture shifts (better meetings, fewer complaints, people coming with solutions) show up before the spreadsheet metrics do. * Start with the behavior you want to change, name how you'll know it changed, and map that to business outcomes on the front end. Chapters: 1. 00:00 - How Do You Know It's Working? 2. 01:14 - Why Measuring Development Is Hard 3. 06:20 - Satisfaction vs. Behavior Change 4. 09:36 - The Business Case for People Investment 5. 15:53 - Observable Signs Before the Numbers 6. 20:19 - Start With the End in Mind Listen to our podcasts at: https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts [https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts] You'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique. Other ways to connect: Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog [https://www.shorecp.university/blog] Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/ [https://www.shorecp.university/] Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/ [https://www.shorecp.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university] This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

Building a Learning Culture at Scale: Growth Without Dilution

In this episode, Jackson and Anderson explore how to scale professional development across an organization without turning it into a generic, one-size-fits-all program. They discuss the tension between customization and consistency, how to sequence learning so people are ready for each next conversation, and why the best development content is probably already inside your company. The episode highlights real examples of scenario-based sessions where executive teams organically shifted from practice to real problem-solving, and makes the case that scaling development ultimately depends on trust, relationships, and leaders who model what they expect from others. Key Takeaways: * Standardize the learning goal, not the delivery. The conversation that needs to happen matters more than the slides. * Sequencing matters. People can't tackle complex challenges if they haven't built the foundational skills first. * Your best content is already in your company. Real people solving real problems is more powerful than any external program. * Development won't scale if leadership behavior contradicts the principles being taught. It has to be modeled from the top. Chapters: 1. 00:00 - Scaling Without Going Generic 2. 04:00 - Scenario-Based Learning That Works 3. 07:36 - Sequencing Development Over Time 4. 09:36 - Building a Teaching and Learning Organization 5. 12:45 - Trust as the Foundation for Scale Listen to our podcasts at: https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts [https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts] You'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique. Other ways to connect: Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog [https://www.shorecp.university/blog] Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/ [https://www.shorecp.university/] Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/ [https://www.shorecp.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university] This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.