In Good Companies Cadence Bank

According to the national census, there are 16.2 million veterans in the U. S., with over 4 million under the age of 55 years old. Many come back from deployment with a whole life ahead of them, and savings ripe for investment. So where does this new life begin? Our guests today will show you the way. 

In honour of Military Appreciation Month, this week, we're bringing back a favorite episode from last season. Remember LDR Growth Partners? They're a veteran-founded, people-focused investment firm, which was built from the ground up over the last decade. Today, we speak with the men behind the success: Rich Sexton and Will Brame. Rich co-founded the firm in 2013, with two fellow veterans, after seven years of service overseas as an Airborne Ranger and an Infantry Officer. Meanwhile, Will’s background is in finance; he worked at JP Morgan for over a decade, before joining LDR as a partner in 2015.
In this episode, Rich and Will give us a lesson in business ownership. They look back on the early days of LDR and its inception in Casper, Wyoming, to reveal how they found their space in the market. With touching authenticity, they discuss their passion for family-owned businesses. They show us how they collaborate with the companies they acquire, and bring their focus on people, first and foremost. And you will hear it at every turn: military leadership continues to inform their business philosophy today. 

So join Rich and Will on the front line, for a story of grit that will leave you inspired!  
Highlights:
Rich’s story of grit: the origins of LDR Growth Partners (1:56)The deal that put LDR on the map  (3:37)Finding a competitive edge between Casper and New York (5:48)Will’s story of grit: from the trading floor to private equity (7:15)Finding a niche with family-owned business (9:49)Every Partner plays their part (11:36)Why carrying a legacy is important (13:48)Understanding who you are working with (15:05)The untapped potential of manufacturing companies (18:08)Military leadership as a business philosophy (20:36)A roadmap to internal restructuring (23:28)How to bring in new leadership (25:09)“No plan survives first contact” (26:06)Collaboration at the heart of LDR (28:11)Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInLDR Growth Partners WebsiteLDR Growth Partners LinkedInRich Sexton’s LinkedInWill Brame’s LinkedInStatistics - “U.S. Veterans 2021, by age and gender”If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Great business often starts with a need that hasn’t been met. Whether you’re operating in an emerging field, or offering a new service within an established industry, a good niche holds unique potential for your company. Our guest Robert Brawner knows this from experience.
As an environmental consultant and the founder of One Consulting Group, Robert was carrying out health and safety assessments, digging out landfills, and removing asbestos before climate change was on everyone’s mind. He started in his field in the 1990s, when environmental regulations were not a primary concern in real estate construction and development, and built two successful environmental consulting firms in Atlanta, Georgia. Thirty years later, his field is booming and he is still at the heart of the action, with a boutique business and clientele he has intentionally nurtured.
So in this episode, Robert reveals how to identify a good business niche, and dig in! We unveil the strategies that helped him seed his company, and reflect on the forces at play within the environmental industry today. We draw lessons from Robert’s inspiring professional journey to find out how to keep business flowing even through changing partnerships and financial crashes. 
Tune in with Robert Brawner for a lesson in motivation and resilience.  
Highlights: 
Robert Brawner’s professional background (2:31)How to explore your niche and gather information (4:15)Unpacking the “Blue Ocean” strategy (5:52)Getting into Environmental Consultancy in Atlanta (7:07)How Robert became a partner at his first firm (8:43)Developing environmental consultancy in the commercial space (10:04)Growing your clientele within your niche (11:56)Switching gears before the 2008 financial crash (13:15)“When you leave a business relationship, don’t burn bridges” (15:05)Pivoting in the property development market after 2008 (16:45)How the Atlanta Beltline gave One Consulting Group a new lease on life  (17:34)Property redevelopment: adapting & reusing building sites (19:50)The effects of climate change on Robert’s practice (22:08)Convenience, consistency, connection: the Japanese approach to client relationship (24:18)Advantages of keeping business at a boutique scale (27:22)“Now is a great time to grow” (30:02)Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInOne Consulting Group WebsiteRobert Brawner LinkedInThe Atlanta Beltline WebsiteArticle - Why is Environmental Consulting Booming?Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Many corporate leaders share a capacity for reinvention, as proven by recent research by Deloitte. According to their 2024 CEO survey, 80% of CEOs can maintain vision and optimism, even when faced with global uncertainty. But what else makes a great CEO? In today’s episode, serial entrepreneur Jay B. Sauceda offers his own creative take on this question. 

Jay B. is the founder of Western Willow LLC and host of the Texas Country Reporter. Throughout his unusual career, he has launched and sold multiple businesses, jumping at every new opportunity to develop his vision and a creative approach to leadership. Now, he is a consultant and coach who helps chief executives and entrepreneurs gain traction toward their business goals. 

In today’s episode, Jay B. reflects on two decades of experience with honesty, insight and wisdom. We uncover how process documentation and feedback can help chief executives make better business decisions, and reflect on the importance of community in leadership. From building your team to assessing your needs as a leader, this episode is your-all-in-one guide to innovative leadership.

So whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an executive needing inspiration, join Jay B. in conversation, to bring your business vision to life today.  

Highlights: 

Jay B. Sauceda’s entrepreneurial background (3:10)No one is CEO on day one (4:22)The benefits of joining an entrepreneur organization (6:01)“Every company has different CEO needs” (7:51)A creative approach to leadership (9:46)Knowing when to get out of the way (11:07)Why process documentation is critical (12:39)Examples of inspiring leadership: Patty McCord (14:40)A good CEO stays true to their method (17:22)Being nice vs. being kind (18:57)Feedback as an invaluable leadership tool (21:53)The importance of growing thicker skin (23:54)Using feedback to make business decisions (25:43)Trust, empathy and community in leadership (27:30)Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInJay B. Sauceda’s WebsiteJay B. Sauceda’s X (Twitter)Jay B. Sauceda’s LinkedInJay B. Sauceda’s InstagramTexas Humor InstagramBook - Gino Wickman, Traction: Get a Grip on Your BusinessBook - Patrick Lencioni, Five Dysfunctions of a TeamResearch - Deloitte’s CEO Survey, Winter 2024Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

In 2023, 87% of companies in the U.S. were family-owned; across the labor market, they employ more than half of the population. So on this new episode of In Good Companies, we find out what it takes to grow your business as a family, and pass down craftsmanship from generation to generation. Who better to answer these questions than Cornell, Roman and Ryan Malone? 
The Malones are a family united by their love for business. Together, Cornell and his two sons run EC Malone Corporation, also known as Malone Roofing; a company providing full roofing services, maintenance work, and wall paneling across the South. 
In today’s episode, we find out how a one-man operation became a multi-state business making millions in revenue. We look back on Cornell’s early beginnings in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and learn how he passed on his vocation for roofing to Roman and Ryan. We also discuss the challenges brought by fast expansion; from process-building, to technology adaptation and company culture. 
Tune in with the Malones to dive into a family’s story of success and succession. 
Highlights:
Roofing: a Malone family tradition (2:50)The early days of EC Malone Corporation (4:49)Ryan’s first steps into the family business (07:01)When and how Roman got on board (8:21)New ideas from a new generation (9:50)From the tar to the sales side (11:20)Technology and innovation at EC Malone today (12:32)When change strikes fast: hurricanes Ivan and Katrina (14:00)The importance of growing your processes (15:25)How to expand your business culture (17:24)Enhancing client communication (19:32)Making roofing aspirational (21:49)The future of Malone Roofing (23:59)Growth happens at every stage (27:20)Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInEC Malone Corporation’s WebsiteCornell Malone’s LinkedInRoman Malone’s LinkedInRyan Malone’s LinkedIn PwC’s 2023 US Family Business Survey
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

In our world, it's not a question of if but when a crisis will strike. In 2023, 96% of businesses experienced emergencies, but only one in five companies were prepared to take action. So in today’s episode, we’re learning to expect the unexpected with the help of our guest: Sydney Isaacs.

Sydney is a Managing Director for H/Advisors Abernathy, a communications advisor with one of the leading crisis management firms in the U.S. Far beyond PR strategy, Sydney has spent the last two decades handling and preventing crises like workplace misconduct, product recalls, cybersecurity attacks and physical disasters. 

So today, Sydney helps us come up with action plans to handle many business crises. Together, we learn how to build efficient teams of first responders, spot crises before they occur and prioritize the right course of action to fix imminent issues. We also unpack how trust, emotion and communication influence crisis prevention and recovery.

So keep calm and tune into this week’s episode. With Patrick and Sydney, you’ll learn to weather every storm.
Highlights:
What is a crisis? (3:09)A flexible approach to crisis management (5:14)Why actions speak louder than words (8:11)Fight or flight: handling human emotions in a crisis (10:00)Differentiating transparency, honesty and forthrightness (11:49)“In a crisis, we want to be boring” (13:17)When trust interacts with crisis management (14:35)People believe in what they see (16:09)How to assemble a crisis management plan (18:53)The importance of proof-testing your plan  (21:37)Qualities of a first responder (23:13)Crisis management and social media (26:54)Building reputation as crisis prevention (29:12)Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInH/Advisors Abernathy WebsiteSydney Isaacs LinkedIn PwC’s Global Crisis and Resilience Survey 2023Why A Business Crisis is A Catalyst for ExperimentationFeedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Welcome back to In Good Companies! This season, we’re connecting you with the hottest trends in business. So we start with a big question: in a fast digital world, how can we keep our companies safe and secure? In 2023, 40% of all US organizations experienced security violations; so what can we do to catch fraud at the door? Our guest Cassi Chandler has her idea.
Cassi has been in criminal intelligence for nearly four decades. She spent 24 years in the FBI, working white collar crime, financial crime, and government fraud. She was also the first African American woman to hold an Assistant Director role in the agency. After she retired from the FBI, she joined Bank of America, to design innovative security strategies, and identify cyber and fraud risks. Now, she is the founder and CEO of Vigeo Alliances, a company that advises businesses on leadership and talent risk management. So who better to help us tackle fraud prevention?
Today, Cassi discusses the latest cyber criminality and fraud trends, to help us join the dots, and spot the risks at play inside our companies. From monitoring the information flowing in our systems, to communicating inside and outside our teams, and becoming technologically-minded… Cassi shares the “intelligence mindset” that can keep us all safe and sound. 
Join Patrick and Cassi today to get ahead of the digital security game. And remember: fraud is everyone’s business.
Highlights:
Identifying different types of fraud (2:53)Why technology makes your business fragile (4:15)First steps to fraud prevention: team communication (5:40)Paying attention to what’s coming in (6:35)How other organizations handle your information (7:41)When data is no longer in our control (8:50)Practical ways to make our digital space more secure (10:05)Defining the intelligence mindset (11:35)Technology development through Star Trek (13:31)Thinking like a fraudster: “looking for the possibilities” (15:01)Building an intelligence into corporate culture (16:00)Tackling fraud prevention at the industry level (17:12)Why regulating and reporting fraud matters (18:45)Culture is the first risk (20:39)
Links:
Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInCassi Chandler X (Twitter)Cassi Chandler LinkedIn Vigeo Alliances WebsiteArticle - How pervasive is corporate fraud?Article - The Importance of Safeguarding Businesses from Data Privacy and Security Risks Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.