The Climb - Cross Roads & Defining Moments Michael Moore, Robert Wierema

Larry Autrey is the CEO & Managing Partner of Whitley Penn. He has more than 30 years of tax, advisory and business valuation experience focused on public and private clients. His areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, manufacturing, distribution, profit enhancement, professional services, business valuations, and estate planning.
In this episode, we discuss:- How AI and Blockchain are changing the Accounting industry- How future accountants can remain valuable in this new future- the impact of PE on firm valuations
Links:Whitley PennLarry on LinkedIn
Topics:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:24) - Thoughts on the state of the world(00:18:07) - Inquiry into the influence of early life experiences on career choices.(00:36:35) - Growth rates and defining moments in the firm's history.(00:42:02) - Strategies for dealing with an aging population within the firm and sustainability.(00:44:16) - Private Equity and valuations(00:48:00) - The future of the accounting profession.(00:50:45) - The impact of blockchain and AI on the industry(00:57:44) - The mindset of younger generations regarding career progression and firm loyalty

George has nearly 17 years of hands-on experience in the parking realm, focusing on managing the parking operations of class-A office garage facilities and comparable top-tier parking operations across the continental United States. He prides himself on deep domain knowledge of the event parking space and providing a comprehensive suite of services both software and hardware to support his ever-growing clientele therein. In order to consistently exceed customer expectations in the event-parking space, ParkHub provides logistics and occupancy management services, as well as cutting-edge insights into parking operations for management.
We discuss:- Hot topics in 2024- George's upbringing- Building ParkHub- The future of Technology
Links:ParkHubGeorge on LinkedInTopics:(00:02:00) - Immigration, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and inflation
(00:08:07) - George’s upbringing
(00:11:40) - The Parking industry
(00:16:49) - Building ParkHub
(00:27:41) - Defining moments
(00:33:07) - Getting comfortable with selling the company
(00:34:36) - Empathy, humility and being lonely at the top
(00:38:15) - The future of technology
(00:41:46) - Selling the business
(00:44:02) - What’s next for George
(00:45:15) - Advice for entrepreneurs
(00:48:00) - What’s something few people know about you?
(00:50:00) - Fatherhood

Mike has twenty-five years of real estate and finance experience. His experience includes structuring joint ventures, acquisitions, development, accounting, and investment management; with acquisition officer responsibility for approximately $1 billion in investment across asset classes and in multiple U.S. markets.
On this episode, we discuss:- Growing up with Best disease (vitelliform macular dystrophy)- The changing landscape of NIL in college sports- Mike's real estate career, thoughts on the market and entering the cannabis industry from a real estate perspecitve- Building a real estate investment platform
Links:Mike on LinkedInMorningside Capital
(00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:27) - Dealing with Best disease as a child(00:20:23) - The evolving landscape of NIL(00:24:01) - Mike's career(00:41:29) - Lessons learned and setbacks(00:44:40) - The real estate opportunity in the marijuana industry(00:52:33) - Building an investment platform

Philip is a Partner in the Corporate team at Knights PLC.
Experienced in a wide range of corporate transactions, Philip specializes in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and has advised on many high-value and complex corporate transactions.
Philip’s experience covers UK and international transactions across a wide range of sectors, including building products, house building, oil and gas, manufacturing, healthcare, sport, and technology. Philip also has strong experience in equity capital markets and private equity transactions, group reorganizations, shareholder and joint venture agreements, and general strategic corporate matters.
Additionally, Philip has a strong international practice and experience, with a particular focus on the US market and supporting US and European corporates, individuals, and law firms.
In this episode, Michael and Philp engage in a deeply vulnerable conversation centered around Philip discovering the truth behind his family's past.
Topics:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:24 - Philp’s background and career
00:11:34 - How a Brit perceives the state of affairs in the USA
00:17:38 - Philip’s journey to discover his birth parents
01:12:26 - What do you want people to know about you?
Links:Michael on LinkedInPhilip on LinkedIn

Anna M. Alvarado is a business-oriented, operationally focused executive who is bilingual (fluent in Spanish) and bicultural. In her role as Managing Director and Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Texas Capital Bank and its parent company, Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ®: TCBI), she is responsible for supervising and coordinating all legal services for the company, serving as key legal advisor to the Board of Directors, ensuring legal compliance with all securities laws and banking regulations, serving as the lead legal advisor on all the firm’s strategic initiatives and commercial and transactional matters, advising the bank on litigation risks, and serving as primary liaison with regulators.
On this episode, Michael and Anna discuss:- Anna's upbringing in an immigrant family and the American Dream- Developing her sense of adventure and risk-taking- Her career with Texas Capital Bank
Links:Upward BoundTexas Capital BankAnna on LinkedIn
Topics:(00:01:00) Introducing Anna
(00:02:24) Anna’s upbringing
(00:17:40) Thoughts on the immigration crisis
(00:23:48) College and Law School 
(00:38:10) Anna’s early law career
(00:45:51) What’s something nobody knows about you?
(00:53:51) Anna’s career with Texas Capital Bank
(00:58:20) What do you want people to know about you?

Business owner, designer, mentor, and passionate activist, Nancy Gale is an inspiring individual with a fascinating story of overcoming hardship and turning it into something beautiful.
A strong force not only in the entrepreneurial world but also in shaping future generations, Nancy is the founder and creative vision behind JAMAH, an American luxury, Made in the USA bespoke handbag brand, featuring the finest customized Italian lambskin and exotic handbags, men’s bags and accessories.
She also founded AMBITION, a nonprofit entrepreneurial program for disadvantaged youth. Its mission is to reframe their potential and to provide students with the support, access, and resources necessary to reach their goals.
Links:
Nancy on LinkedIn
ambition.org
info@ambition.org
Jamah.com


Topics:
(00:00:31) Introducing Nancy
(00:03:39) Southfield, Michigan
(00:05:43) Solving a murder, and dealing with the aftermath of loss 
(00:36:02) Nancy’s Foundation & the non-profit world
(00:54:52) Nancy’s handbag business
(00:59:06) What do you want people to know about you?