Bigger. Stronger. Faster.

In this episode, Dr. Brian McClain, founder and managing partner of Pinnacle Care Providers in Ohio, and Emily Rafferty, CEO of the new platform bringing Pinnacle together with Preferred Podiatry Group, share how a model of post-acute care built over decades became the foundation for a multi-state platform. Dr. McClain explains why staying the same was the bigger risk for a practice that had always improved, and how unscripted conversations with chief clinical officers across the Shore portfolio answered his concerns before he said yes. Emily describes why the work is personal for her and for most of the team, and how the platform plans to multiply the clinical model's impact through provider recruiting, technology, and relationships with the communities it serves. They also explain how physicians keep leading the clinical model through a clinical advisory board, and why growth in this business means more time with patients, not less. Finally, they look five years out, to a day when coordinated care delivered where people live is the standard rather than the exception.Key Takeaways:Weigh the risk of staying the same against the risk of changing, because with an aging population and fast-moving technology, a practice that improves slowly gets left behindVet a partner by talking unscripted with leaders already inside the portfolio and asking them anything, because trust built that way is what lets a mission-driven practice say yesKeep physicians leading the clinical model and give them a clinical advisory board, so practices in different markets learn from each other instead of being standardized from aboveBuy time for patients by stripping out work that adds no value, because proactive care drives both quality outcomes and financial resultsChapters:00:00 – Introduction02:15 – Why Post-Acute Care Is Personal07:37 – Bringing Pinnacle and PPG Together10:21 – Why Partner, and Ask Them Anything12:52 – Staying the Same Was the Bigger Risk16:17 – Doctors Lead the Doctors20:03 – Growth, Communities, and More Time With PatientsListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, Jimmy St. Louis, CEO of Agentis Longevity, a national brand of longevity centers, returns for the third conversation in an annual series that began in the platform's first year. Year one was about vision and year two about lessons learned; year three, in Jimmy's words, is about driving the standard in a corner of healthcare that does not yet have one. He walks through the work behind that goal, from a world-class physician advisory board and appearances before Congress and the FDA to the Longevity Quotient, a fifteen-minute assessment that distills five clinical tests and sixty-five blood markers into a single health score tied to treatment protocols in every clinic. He also reflects on why the company's vision statement hinges on the word drive rather than set, how a team doing many things at once stays focused on four big rocks, and what makes sellers want to join the platform. He closes with three questions any consumer should ask before trusting a longevity clinic.Key Takeaways:Choose the words of your vision deliberately, because a single word like drive instead of set tells the team whether the organization is finished or in constant motionBuild trust before scale by giving every stakeholder, from regulators to sellers to patients, a framework they can point to for what high-quality care looks likeStandardize the core and let the edges vary: run the four core services exactly the same way in every clinic, and allow adjacent modalities to differ by market and customer basePrioritize visibly, so that every person in the company can name the quarter's four big rocks even when the organization is doing many things at onceChapters:00:00 – Introduction03:03 – What Longevity Care Looks Like06:40 – Set vs. Drive11:58 – A Scoreboard for Your Health15:58 – The Blueprint for the Ideal Clinic19:21 – The Next Three Years21:59 – Three Questions to Ask Any Longevity ClinicListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, I talk with Brad Morehead, Partner and Head of the Business Services Fund at Shore Capital Partners, who has also been a CEO, a CFO, a business professor, and a founder who built and sold his own company. We talk about business models: why the way a company acquires and keeps customers tells you more about how to build it than the industry it sits in, and what that means when you can group companies across a portfolio of nearly 70 by model rather than by end market. Brad walks through how models evolve, from founder-led selling to professionalized sales and from break/fix work to recurring revenue, and how a future-state org chart, the right board member, and a new set of KPIs carry a company through that shift. He also shares the lesson from a mentor that he now teaches younger investors: when someone tells you an idea didn't work, ask why, because you cannot be wrong when you are asking a question. We close with his own experience being acquired by a buyer in the exact same industry with a completely different model, which he compares to trying to build something with Legos and an Erector Set.Strategic Themes:Group companies by business model, not by industry, because a pest control business and a veterinary practice that both sell direct to consumers have more to teach each other than two companies that merely share an end marketDraw the future-state org chart before you change the model, then design the transition structure, systems, and KPIs (attach rate, cross-sell, recurring revenue) that get you thereAsk why when a founder says "we tried that and it didn't work," because the question gets you to the root cause, validates the person in front of you, and cannot be wrongRecognize the watch-outs that come with a model alongside its upside, because negative working capital or a subsidized customer acquisition model can let a company grow itself out of cashChapters:00:00 – Introduction02:00 – What a Business Model Actually Is05:29 – From Break/Fix to Recurring Revenue11:43 – The Power of Why14:40 – If I Gave You an Extra Million Dollars17:52 – Negative Working Capital Is a Good Thing, Until It Isn't19:40 – Legos and an Erector Set

In this episode, I talk with Owen Miller, CEO of 360Pack, a food and beverage packaging distribution business headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Owen joined 360Pack in its first year of operations through the Shore Capital CXO Fellows Program and, in less than five years, moved from CXO to VP of Supply Chain and Operations to COO and now to the CEO seat. He shares what it took to grow into each of those roles, including learning alongside founders with decades of industry experience and what the CEO seat has taught him that he couldn't have learned anywhere else. Owen also explains why the ambiguity of the CXO role is exactly the point: it demands intellectual curiosity, humility, and a willingness to run toward the messiest parts of the business while building influence without formal authority. Finally, he offers some straight talk for anyone considering the program: if you're looking for a cushy, kick-your-feet-up kind of role, this is not for you; if you're looking to be pushed and to grow like never before, there is no better place to be.Key Takeaways:Run toward the messiest parts of the business, because intellectual curiosity and a bias for the hardest problems are what turn an ambiguous role into an indispensable oneOwn your lane as the least experienced person in the room by speaking as the expert on what only you know, whether that's the data, the systems, or what the market is telling you, and cover the rest with preparation and hard workBuild credibility stakeholder by stakeholder: for the board, know your numbers and deliver what you said you would; for your team, show them you care about their future and convert what they tell you into actionSet the plan and get people behind it without formal authority, then own the results, because leading through influence is the skill the CEO seat demands mostChapters:00:00 – Introduction02:20 – From CXO to CEO in Five Years06:15 – Why the CXO Program11:50 – The Least Experienced in the Room13:55 – What Makes a Good CXO18:15 – Do You Hate Losing or Love Winning More?21:25 – Advice for Future CXOsListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, I talk with Nick Sherrard, Chief of Staff at Thermal Shipping Solutions and a member of the CXO Fellows Program. Nick shares how an internship at a Shore portfolio company showed him just how quickly he could make a measurable difference in a microcap business, and what it means to be Chief of Staff in a fast-growing, family-founded company. An engineer by training, he reflects on thinking in inputs, outputs, and bottlenecks, finding the root causes behind recurring fire drills, and driving change without authority by making every solution a win-win-win. Nick also describes the role of the CXO cohort, part joint therapy and part best practice sharing, and shares the best advice he's ever gotten: don't confuse urgency with importance.Key Takeaways:In a microcap business, you can make a measurable difference fast, and the impact is clearly yours.Nobody else in your company is living the same highs and lows as the CXO. The cohort is part joint therapy and part best practice sharing.Thinking in inputs, outputs, and bottlenecks turns recurring fire drills into root causes you can actually fix.When you can't mandate anything, change happens by making every solution a win-win-win. If you can't make that case, you're probably solving the wrong problem.Don't confuse urgency with importance. This job is a marathon, not a sprint.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction05:41 – The Cohort and the Operator Path17:00 – An Engineer's Mindset22:20 – Playing the Libero30:02 – Urgency vs. ImportanceListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, Anderson talks with Ryan Resch, Principal of Operations at Shore Capital Partners. Ryan spent over a decade in basketball, from student manager at Baylor to Chief of Staff with the Phoenix Suns, before joining Shore nine months ago. He shares how first-principle problem-solving became the common thread across every career he has built, why the shift from the zero-sum world of professional sports to private equity changes how teams operate, and how that same builder mindset now drives Shore's internal AI enablement efforts. Ryan also discusses why AI is a platform-level shift, not just an operational initiative, and what it takes to build something transformational from the ground up.Key Takeaways:First-principle problem-solving makes skills transferable across industries. Break any challenge into its parts, and the path forward becomes clear.AI is not a tool. It is a platform-level shift, and the organizations building AI capability now are building a durable advantage.Talent wins games. Coordination wins championships. The real challenge is aligning people, roles, and resources toward a shared mission.Focus is a discipline, not a default. In an unbounded environment, saying no to good ideas is what protects your ability to execute on the right ones.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction02:09 - From Baylor to the NBA06:22 - What Brought Ryan to Shore10:47 - Building AI Enablement at Shore18:01 - Operating Systems, Scouting, and Focus25:17 - What's AheadListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

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 riskBring 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 conversationTreat human capital as a value multiplier, not a cost center, especially in microcap businesses where every key role disproportionately drives the outcomeBuild the metrics that tell your exit story (turnover, engagement, time to fill, wage sustainability) during the planting and growing phases, not at the endChapters:00:00 – Introduction01:31 – Stage-Relevant HR06:36 – Org Design and Acquisitions11:37 – HR as a Strategic Partner18:14 – Talent and the Exit Story26:02 – HR MisconceptionsListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

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 itCodify what you know across people, processes, and decisions so you can spot patterns, learn from past outcomes, and make smarter choices going forwardRecognize that AI's biggest unlock is accessibility, putting information and analysis directly in the hands of executives who used to be blocked by technical wallsEngage with AI now regardless of size or industry because the cost barriers have fallen and the businesses that ignore it will quickly fall behindChapters:00:00 – Introduction01:36 – Building the Data Foundation06:36 – Codifying Knowledge at Scale12:15 – Accessibility and the Power of AI15:31 – Why Every Business Owner Should Engage with AI NowListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham focus on the critical role N-1 leaders play in building scalable companies and how great boards evaluate and develop that talent. They discuss why N-1 engagement in the boardroom strengthens succession planning, sharpens strategic alignment, and prepares leaders for larger roles. The conversation explores how CEOs can coach and position their teams for success, when to elevate value-creation roles versus hygienic functions, and how boards assess whether executives can scale with the business. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that effective boards don’t just oversee performance but actively help build the next generation of leadership.Key Takeaways:Strong boards engage N-1s directly to assess succession readiness, reinforce strategic alignment, and build depth across the leadership team.Board meetings serve as a proving ground where emerging leaders learn to think strategically, communicate clearly, and demonstrate their ability to scale with the business.Effective CEOs act as coaches, preparing N-1s for the boardroom, creating stretch opportunities, and reinforcing accountability while protecting confidence.High-performing boards don’t just evaluate current results; they actively help shape, develop, and elevate the next generation of leadership to sustain long-term value creation.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:17 – Why N-1 Engagement Matters04:33 – When N-1s Should Lead08:05 – Coaching N-1s for the BoardroomListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham explore how CEOs can turn their boards into true strategic assets. They share practical guidance on building trust through transparency, setting realistic goals, and engaging board members outside the boardroom. The conversation focuses on how effective CEOs pressure test strategy, avoid surprises, and translate strategic plans into clear operational execution. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that strong CEO board relationships are built on consistency, preparation, and open dialogue, enabling boards to support leadership, execution, and long-term value creation actively.Key Takeaways:CEOs maximize impact by using the board as a strategic partner through transparency, preparation, and consistent engagement.Trust with the board is built through realistic goal-setting, open discussion of challenges, and a disciplined, no-surprises approach.Keeping the strategic plan front and center aligns discussion, sharpens decisions, and connects strategy directly to execution.Strong board engagement happens outside the boardroom, where prewiring and one-on-one conversations reduce friction and improve outcomes.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction03:48 – Using the Board Strategically06:28 – Keeping Strategy Front and Center10:02 – Building Trust and Avoiding Surprises15:25 – Pre-Wiring Decisions and Board DynamicsListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’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/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis 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.