The Growth Game

Meritus Capital w Paul DeLuca
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Hosted by Paul Deluca, each episode of "The Growth Game"  features conversations with top CEOs, Owners, and Executives from Staffing Companies across the USA and Canada. Whether you're in the trenches of startup challenges or steering a mammoth corporation, this podcast is your compass to all things business.  Expect a holistic journey with business strategies, leadership philosophies, and life lessons, all shared with a diverse lineup of guests each week!

  1. Aug 4

    S4: EP 5: Staffing AI from the Inside Out | Avionté

    In this prerecorded episode of The Growth Game Podcast, Paul DeLuca sits down with Brigid Isenmann, Chief Revenue Officer at Avionté, and Mike Metzger, who served as interim CEO during a pivotal period for the company. In June of 2026, Avionté welcomed new CEO Dirk Izzo — read more about that transition here. With Brigid's ten years on the agency side and Mike's 20 years in software, this conversation brings both the operator and the technology perspective to one of the most misunderstood conversations in staffing right now. They talk about: 🔎 Why the AI hype cycle is leading staffing firms toward fragmentation instead of efficiency. 🔎 How to identify the right pain points before choosing any AI tool. 🔎 Why Avionté went through internal AI adoption first. 🔎 How staffing technology is evolving around talent engagement and candidate matching for 2026. 🔎 Why referrals and relationships drive growth in staffing technology just as much as in staffing firms themselves. 👉 If you're running a staffing firm and want to dig deeper into what Avionté is building, Avionté Connect starts tomorrow. Stop by and continue the conversation in person. Connect with Brigid Isenmann | Avionté  🌐 Website | www.avionte.com 💼 LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/brigidisenmann 💼 LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionte-staffing-software/ #PayrollFunding #InvoiceFactoring #StaffingIndustry #StaffingTechnology #StaffingAI Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  2. Jul 15

    S4: EP 5: Staffing M&A: What Buyers Want | Patrick Morin

    Staffing M&A advisor Patrick Morin has helped hundreds of founders build toward an exit. Here's what separates the firms that command real value from the ones that don't when the moment arrives. Patrick Morin, Managing Partner of Transact Capital, returns to The Growth Game Podcast to sit down with Paul DeLuca for one of the most complete strategic conversations in the series. With every senior banker at Transact Capital having started, built, and sold their own company, Patrick brings an operator's perspective to the M&A conversations most investment bankers approach purely from a financial lens. They talk about: 🏆 Why staffing firm culture is a valuation issue not just a people issue. 🏆 How AI adoption without strategy creates noise instead of value. 🏆 Why most staffing exits are triggered by personal circumstances not market timing. 🏆 How earn-out payments are determined by cultural health during integration. 🏆 What staffing market fragmentation means for independent and mid-sized firms competing against national players. 👉 If you're building a staffing firm and thinking about what it will be worth in three to five years this conversation will change how you think about every decision between now and then. #PayrollFunding #InvoiceFactoring #StaffingIndustry #StaffingMergers #StaffingAcquisitions Connect with Patrick Morin (Transact Capital) Website | https://transactcapital.com/ LinkedIn  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmorin/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  3. Jun 10

    S4: EP 3: Staffing KPIs & Tax Planning Explained | Tom Sena

    Staffing firms that track KPIs and financial data are outgrowing the ones that don't. Here's what 70% of staffing-focused accounting work actually reveals. In this episode of The Growth Game Podcast, Paul DeLuca sits down with Tom Sena, CPA and Tax Advisor at UHY, to break down what the financials of hundreds of staffing firms reveal about growth, tax strategy, and operational clarity. With a background that includes public accounting, startup CFO experience, and a national staffing practice led by 20-year industry veteran Jerry Grady, Tom brings a ground-level perspective on what separates staffing firms that are scaling from the ones running in place. They talk about: 🔎 Why a gut feeling isn´t a way to run a staffing firm. 🔎 How staffing data and margin visibility is becoming the real growth differentiator. 🔎 How multi-state tax complexity compounds fast and why staffing firms expanding across state lines need expert guidance early. 🔎 What Tom sees across his client base that separates the firms moving forward from the ones standing still. 👉 If you're running a staffing firm and making decisions without a clear handle on your numbers, this conversation will show you exactly what you're missing, and what it's costing you. #PayrollFunding #InvoiceFactoring #StaffingIndustry #StaffingKPIs #StaffingGrowth Connect with Thomas Sena (UHY-US) Website | https://uhy-us.com/professionals/tom-sena LinkedIn  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-sena-cpa-pfs/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  4. May 26

    S4: EP 2: The Tool is Only as Good as the Operator | Andy Kohler (Marsh McLennan)

    In this episode of The Growth Game Podcast, Paul DeLuca sits down with Andy Kohler, Staffing Insurance Broker at Marsh McLennan. They predict where the staffing industry is actually heading - and why the path looks different depending on who you are and how you're built. Andy works with staffing companies across the country on insurance, risk management, and workers' comp. He sees inside hundreds of firms, including the exposures and operational gaps that most people don’t discuss openly. Topics include: 🔎 Why middle market light industrial is gaining ground (and who's losing it). 🔎 Where skilled trades and construction are headed over the next few years. 🔎 How technology is functioning as a force multiplier. 🔎 The incoming workers' comp market. 🔎 Why insurance should be treated as an investment, not a sunk cost. 👉 If you're running a staffing firm and haven't audited your risk program lately, this conversation calls out what you might be missing. Connect with Andy Kohler (Marsh McLennan) Website | https://marshmmamidwest.com/ LinkedIn  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybkohler/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  5. May 13

    S4: EP 1: The Foundation Behind Staffing Growth | Mike Bartels (Becker LLC)

    In this episode of The Growth Game Podcast, Paul DeLuca sits down with Mike Bartels, Chief Development Officer at Becker LLC, to break down what actually enables a staffing firm to scale, and what causes it to stall. With over 20 years of experience in business development and working closely with staffing firms on growth and M&A, Mike brings a practical perspective on what needs to be in place before growth can happen. They talk about:  📈 Why growth breaks without strong operations.  📈 What “keeping your house in order” really means.  📈 The role of funding, legal, and insurance partners.  📈 How internal alignment impacts performance.  📈 When to grow organically vs through acquisition. 👉 If you're trying to scale your staffing firm, this conversation offers a clearer look at what needs to be built behind the scenes before growth can actually hold. Connect with Mike Bartels (Becker LLC) Website | https://www.becker.legal/our-team/michael-bartels/ LinkedIn  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bartels-7421a09/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  6. Apr 28

    S3: EP 8: People Drive Staffing Growth | Dave Meyercord (Buffalo Run Advisors. LLC)

    In this episode of The Growth Game, Paul DeLuca sits down with Dave Meyercord, CEO of Buffalo Run Advisors, to unpack why so many firms stop growing and what it takes to break through to the next level. With a track record of driving growth through stronger culture, tighter operations, and better execution, Dave brings a practical perspective on what actually moves a business forward. They talk about: 📈 Why growth stalls.  📈 What alignment actually looks like.  📈 How culture drives results.  📈 Where leadership gets it wrong. 👉 If you feel progress in your company has slowed, this conversation offers a clearer perspective on what may be holding your team back, and how to move forward. Connect with Dave Meyercord (Buffalo Run Advisors. LLC) Website | https://davidmeyercord.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-meyercord/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  7. Apr 15

    S3: EP 7: Bigger Isn’t Always Better | Valerie Peer (Nixer Comp)

    As staffing firms scale, the real pressure often shows up behind the scenes. In this episode of The Growth Game, Paul DeLuca sits down with Valerie Peer, Executive Vice President of Nixer Comp, a provider of workers’ comp solutions built for staffing firms, to unpack the four hidden costs that come with growth and why they matter more than most operators think. They dig into: ➡️ Why workers’ comp is more than just an expense. ➡️ How claims and misclassification quietly impact margins. ➡️ The role of cash flow in managing insurance structures. ➡️ Why operational discipline becomes critical as companies grow. Connect with Valerie Peer (Nixer Comp) Website | https://www.nixercomp.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriepeer/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

  8. Apr 1

    S3 EP 6: Growth Alone Is Not Enough | Sam Napoli (Peoplease)

    Staffing firms are still growing but margins are becoming the real focus. In this episode of The Growth Game, Paul DeLuca sits down with Sam Napoli, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Peoplease, to unpack what’s really driving growth in today’s staffing market, and why profitability is becoming the deciding factor. With nearly 20 years in the PEO space, Sam brings a deep understanding of how payroll, margins, and risk management directly impact staffing operations, and why PEOs play a critical role in helping firms scale. They dig into: 💡 Why staffing is still growing, even in uncertain economic conditions. 💡 How margin pressure is shaping decisions across the industry. 💡 The role of partnerships in scaling operations and controlling costs. 💡 Why growth without efficiency can quickly become a problem. If you’re a staffing leader thinking about how to scale without putting pressure on your business, this conversation offers a clearer view of what actually drives sustainable growth. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with operators building and scaling staffing businesses. Connect with Sam Napoli (Peoplease) Website | https://www.peoplease.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelnapoli/ Paul DeLuca LinkedIn |   / merituscapital Meritus Capital LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc- Website | https://www.merituscapital.com Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital Website | ...

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About

Hosted by Paul Deluca, each episode of "The Growth Game"  features conversations with top CEOs, Owners, and Executives from Staffing Companies across the USA and Canada. Whether you're in the trenches of startup challenges or steering a mammoth corporation, this podcast is your compass to all things business.  Expect a holistic journey with business strategies, leadership philosophies, and life lessons, all shared with a diverse lineup of guests each week!

Information

  • Creator
    Meritus Capital w Paul DeLuca
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Growth Game
  • Show Website
    The Growth Game