Host Scott Couchenour sits down with Harman Construction President and CEO, Wayne Witmer, to explore the strategic advantages of Employee Stock Ownership. In this episode, they break down the critical question: Is an ESOP the right choice for your business transition? Join us as we discuss how to balance leadership succession with a commitment to the people who helped build your business.

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Scott Couchenour
Scott Couchenour currently serves as the “Fourth Quarter” life and business coach and founder of Serving Strong since November of 2007. Scott helps business owners and executives in their 40's and 50's who are in pursuit of their next adventure in life. He concentrates on helping create clarity and design a comprehensive life and business plan. He helps not only with strategy but secures solid traction through an iterative approach. Scott's clients are reaching new heights and accomplishing much more than they ever thought possible. Scott is also the host of the podcast show, Serve Strong Finish Strong which began in June of 2022 on the Mission Matters Podcast Network.

Learn More about Wayne Witmer
Wayne Witmer joined Harman in 1990, the day after returning from his honeymoon. Married with four children, Wayne enjoys family, travel, sports, and music. Wayne holds a business administration degree from Eastern Mennonite University and worked his way up from project management and business development to president and CEO. “Communicating with employees and clients to make sure that goals and expectations are met is very important,” says Wayne. “I work hard at making that a priority.”

Active in the industry and community, Wayne is past president of AGCVA Valley District, Has served as an AGCVA state board member and was selected for the Butler Building Systems national advisory council. He is a past member of Harrisonburg Rotary Club board and served as club President. Wayne currently is a member of the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity Board. Faith and trust in God is what keeps him focused and inspired to lead well in all he does.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In the conclusion of this high-stakes conversation, Amy Morin and Dawn Hryshko, CEO of The Exit Planning Team, move from theory to execution. Building on last week's discussion, part two focuses on the specific tax structures and strategic maneuvers that can make or break a business transition.

Dawn leverages her 30+ years of CPA expertise to simplify the complex, showing you exactly how to align your business operations with tax-saving strategies that maximize your net proceeds. If you want to ensure the IRS isn't your biggest beneficiary when you exit, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #DawnHryshko #SimplfyingTaxStructures

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Amy Morin
Amy Morin is an accomplished entrepreneur and Business Growth Coach who brings exceptional value to your network. She has an impressive background as a Certified EOS Implementer®, Outgrow Sales Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor®. What makes Amy truly remarkable is her real-world success. She co-founded and scaled a company from zero to $40 million in revenue across multiple states before executing a successful exit. Later, she purchased a struggling Montana fly-fishing resort, implemented effective systems and accountability measures, and transformed it into a profitable enterprise that she also successfully exited.

Learn More about Dawn Hryshko
Dawn Hryshko is a seasoned CPA and Certified Exit Planning Advisor with over 30 years of experience helping business owners prepare for and navigate successful exits. As a co-founder of The Exit Planning Team, she specializes in combining tax strategy, business valuation, and financial analysis to drive growth and transition readiness. Her background includes leadership roles at major firms and advising family-owned and mid-market companies across industries.
With a Master of Taxation and a track record of strategic advisory success, Dawn is a trusted guide for entrepreneurs ready to align their business, financial, and personal goals for a smooth and profitable exit.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In this week’s episode of "Maximize Business Value," Amy Morin sits down with Dawn Hryshko, Co-Founder and CEO of The Exit Planning Team, for an in-depth conversation on a critical business hurdle: Simplifying Tax Structures & Business Strategies for Business Owners. Part two will be released next Friday! Stay tuned for more insights!

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #DawnHryshko #SimplfyingTaxStructures

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Amy Morin
Amy Morin is an accomplished entrepreneur and Business Growth Coach who brings exceptional value to your network. She has an impressive background as a Certified EOS Implementer®, Outgrow Sales Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor®. What makes Amy truly remarkable is her real-world success. She co-founded and scaled a company from zero to $40 million in revenue across multiple states before executing a successful exit. Later, she purchased a struggling Montana fly-fishing resort, implemented effective systems and accountability measures, and transformed it into a profitable enterprise that she also successfully exited.

Learn More about Dawn Hryshko
Dawn Hryshko is a seasoned CPA and Certified Exit Planning Advisor with over 30 years of experience helping business owners prepare for and navigate successful exits. As a co-founder of The Exit Planning Team, she specializes in combining tax strategy, business valuation, and financial analysis to drive growth and transition readiness. Her background includes leadership roles at major firms and advising family-owned and mid-market companies across industries.
With a Master of Taxation and a track record of strategic advisory success, Dawn is a trusted guide for entrepreneurs ready to align their business, financial, and personal goals for a smooth and profitable exit.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In this week’s episode of "Maximize Business Value," Nicole Rose Yen guest stars for a conversation with our host, Amy Morin! Listen in as they discuss the importance of strategic due diligence. You can follow Nicole on LinkedIn or reach her on her website: nicoleroseyen.com

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #NicoleRoseYen #Aerial #DueDiligence

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Dave Casey
Dave Casey is a seasoned business owner with deep expertise in all aspects of organizational behavior and a passion for helping entrepreneurs reap the full rewards of building their companies. He understands that a truly valuable business isn’t just profitable—it’s secure, scalable, and transferable. In addition to his work with Mastery Partners, Dave actively gives back to the entrepreneurial community through leadership roles with organizations like Business Navigators, Biz Owners Ed, and Liberty Ministry. Whether advising on strategic growth or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Dave brings clarity, integrity, and decades of real-world experience to every interaction. His mission goes beyond exit planning—he’s committed to helping owners build lasting legacies.

Learn More about Nicole Rose Yen
Nicole Rose Yen is the CEO & Founder of NRY Advising, a bootstrapped firm delivering accounting clarity and strategic insight to scaling businesses. She’s captained NRY to year-over-year growth of 30–50%, offering both fractional advisory services and hybrid FTE roles that blend compliance precision with executive-level strategy. Known for her grit, creativity, and vision, Nicole is building toward a $15M roll-up that integrates finance, HR, and operations into a plug-and-play back office platform for ambitious businesses.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In part two of Melanie and Dave's conversation on "Maximize Business Value," Dave Casey and Melanie Shaffer, President and Founder of Talent Suite, close out their discussion on scaling talent. As a top-rated speaker and expert in the talent space, Melanie dives deeper into the turnkey solutions her team designs to help businesses consistently hire, develop, and retain top-tier talent.

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #MelanieShaffer #TalentSuite #ScalingYourBusiness

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Dave Casey
Dave Casey is a seasoned business owner with deep expertise in all aspects of organizational behavior and a passion for helping entrepreneurs reap the full rewards of building their companies. He understands that a truly valuable business isn’t just profitable—it’s secure, scalable, and transferable. In addition to his work with Mastery Partners, Dave actively gives back to the entrepreneurial community through leadership roles with organizations like Business Navigators, Biz Owners Ed, and Liberty Ministry. Whether advising on strategic growth or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Dave brings clarity, integrity, and decades of real-world experience to every interaction. His mission goes beyond exit planning—he’s committed to helping owners build lasting legacies.

Learn More about Melanie Shaffer
Melanie Shaffer is President and Founder of Talent Suite, a Dallas-based talent strategy firm that helps businesses grow by removing the barriers that prevent leaders from getting the most from their people. Her team designs turnkey solutions that provide their clients with the ability to consistently hire, develop and retain top talent. She has worked with companies in varied ownership structures and sizes ranging from Fortune 500 to emerging businesses which allows her to translate best practices from large companies into viable options for the mid-market. Prior to Talent Suite, she was a Partner and Owner in an executive recruiting and consulting firm that placed twice in the SMU Cox D100 fastest growing companies.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In this week’s episode of "Maximize Business Value," Dave Casey sits down with Melanie Shaffer, President and Founder of Talent Suite, for an in-depth conversation on a critical business hurdle: removing the barriers that prevent leaders from maximizing the potential of their people.

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #MelanieShaffer #TalentSuite #ScalingYourBusiness

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Dave Casey
Dave Casey is a seasoned business owner with deep expertise in all aspects of organizational behavior and a passion for helping entrepreneurs reap the full rewards of building their companies. He understands that a truly valuable business isn’t just profitable—it’s secure, scalable, and transferable. In addition to his work with Mastery Partners, Dave actively gives back to the entrepreneurial community through leadership roles with organizations like Business Navigators, Biz Owners Ed, and Liberty Ministry. Whether advising on strategic growth or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Dave brings clarity, integrity, and decades of real-world experience to every interaction. His mission goes beyond exit planning—he’s committed to helping owners build lasting legacies.

Learn More about Melanie Shaffer
Melanie Shaffer is President and Founder of Talent Suite. This Dallas-based talent strategy firm helps businesses grow by removing the barriers that prevent leaders from getting the most from their people. Her team designs turnkey solutions that provide their clients with the ability to consistently hire, develop and retain top talent. She has worked with companies in varied ownership structures and sizes ranging from Fortune 500 to emerging businesses which allows her to translate best practices from large companies into viable options for the mid-market. Prior to Talent Suite, she was a Partner and Owner in an executive recruiting and consulting firm that placed twice in the SMU Cox D100 fastest growing companies. Melanie is a top-rated speaker in the talent space that is frequently requested by Vistage International CEO Peer groups, professional organizations and leadership conferences. She is a Talent Optimization Certified Consultant, Predictive Index Certified Partner, and a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

We are back with the conclusion of our high-impact series on the people side of business value. This week, Dave Casey and Level-C Solutions CEO Brad Stevens pick up right where they left off, exploring the nuances of the recruiting and staffing industry. As your company’s #1 expense, your workforce requires a strategic design; Brad shares his unique veteran perspective on transforming HR hurdles into competitive advantages that drive long-term sustainability.

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners #BradStevens #LevelCSolutions #Leadership

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Dave Casey
Dave Casey is a seasoned business owner with deep expertise in all aspects of organizational behavior and a passion for helping entrepreneurs reap the full rewards of building their companies. He understands that a truly valuable business isn’t just profitable—it’s secure, scalable, and transferable. In addition to his work with Mastery Partners, Dave actively gives back to the entrepreneurial community through leadership roles with organizations like Business Navigators, Biz Owners Ed, and Liberty Ministry. Whether advising on strategic growth or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Dave brings clarity, integrity, and decades of real-world experience to every interaction. His mission goes beyond exit planning—he’s committed to helping owners build lasting legacies.

Learn More about Brad Stevens
Brad Stevens is an entrepreneurial executive with over 35 years of leadership in recruiting and staffing. As President of Level-C Solutions, he solves complex people problems to drive strategic growth and profitability. Brad also serves as VP of Signature, overseeing national Back Office and Employer of Record solutions. A proven turnaround expert, Brad previously scaled his own firm to a "Top 25" Dallas service firm and provides staffing industry insights to the Dallas Federal Reserve. He holds a Bachelor’s from Texas Tech and an MBA from the University of Dallas, bringing strategic clarity and high-quality service operations to every partnership.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In this week’s episode of "Maximize Business Value," Dave Casey sits down with Brad Stevens, President and CEO of Level-C Solutions, for an in-depth conversation on the most critical asset—and often the highest cost—in any company: its people. With over 35 years of leadership in the recruiting and staffing industry, Brad brings a unique perspective on how "people problems" can either stall a company or become its greatest driver of strategic growth.

Tune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value!

#maximizebusinessvalue #masterypartners

GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom Bronson

Learn More about Dave Casey
Dave Casey is a seasoned business owner with deep expertise in all aspects of organizational behavior and a passion for helping entrepreneurs reap the full rewards of building their companies. He understands that a truly valuable business isn’t just profitable—it’s secure, scalable, and transferable. In addition to his work with Mastery Partners, Dave actively gives back to the entrepreneurial community through leadership roles with organizations like Business Navigators, Biz Owners Ed, and Liberty Ministry. Whether advising on strategic growth or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Dave brings clarity, integrity, and decades of real-world experience to every interaction. His mission goes beyond exit planning—he’s committed to helping owners build lasting legacies.

Learn More about Brad Stevens
Brad Stevens is an entrepreneurial executive with over 35 years of leadership in recruiting and staffing. As President of Level-C Solutions, he solves complex people problems to drive strategic growth and profitability. Brad also serves as VP of Signature, overseeing national Back Office and Employer of Record solutions. A proven turnaround expert, Brad previously scaled his own firm to a "Top 25" Dallas service firm and provides staffing industry insights to the Dallas Federal Reserve. He holds a Bachelor’s from Texas Tech and an MBA from the University of Dallas, bringing strategic clarity and high-quality service operations to every partnership.

Mastery Partners

Elevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner’s Dream Exit
The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.

Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner’s definition of his or her dream exit.
Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.

STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment
STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration
STEP 3: Relentless Execution
STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!

CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE
LinkedIn
Website

© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.