From Bootstrapping to Breakthroughs: Earl Foote on Grit, Growth, and Giving Back

In this episode, hosts Cheri and Jason sit down with Earl Foote, founder and CEO of Nexus IT. For more than 25 years, Earl has been shaping Utah’s tech landscape with a people-first approach to business, building one of the region’s leading IT and cybersecurity firms. What started as a small e-commerce venture in 1998 has grown into a nationally respected managed services company through sheer determination, creative pivots, and a relentless commitment to integrity.

Earl opens up about the challenges that tested his resilience, including early setbacks like fraud and bankruptcy, and the practices that helped him stay grounded—mindfulness, yoga, and meditation. He also shares why mentorship, community, and sustainable growth matter more than the hustle-and-grind mindset. Listeners will gain practical insight into balancing leadership with family, scaling without selling out, and building businesses that uplift not only employees and clients, but entire communities.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Earl bootstrapped Nexus IT from its humble beginnings into a national managed IT and cybersecurity firm.
• The role of mindfulness, yoga, and breathwork in managing the “loneliest chair” of being a CEO.
• The pivotal moments where grit and integrity helped overcome fraud, bankruptcy, and industry shifts.
• Why Earl believes the Utah business ecosystem thrives on collaboration and what still needs work.
• How mentorship, both giving and receiving, shapes the next generation of entrepreneurs.
• Insights into balancing family, leadership, and community service without burning out.
• The story behind Nexus IT’s $60 million minimally dilutive capital raise and expansion strategy.

Connect with Earl Foote:

• Company Website: Nexus IT
• Facebook: Earl Foote
• LinkedIn: Earl Foote

Want to Connect?
Cheri@MWCN.org
zachary.reed@pwc.com

Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”

Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director
Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti
Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA
Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners
Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP
Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist
The LaunchPod Media Team


The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.