MATCHplay

Thad Miller

MATCHPlay — Hosted by Thad Miller, MATCHPlay explores the parallels between building a strong golf game and planning a successful business transition. Each episode features insights, stories, and strategies to help you stay on course—whether you're on the green or planning your next big move.

  1. JAN 30

    Eaglesoft founder and healthcare leader Scott Kabbes

    Selling your business is one of the most important decisions you'll make as an owner, and understanding how investors, boards, and operators actually view value can completely change your outcome. In this episode of MATCHplay, Thad Miller sits down with Scott Kabbes, senior executive advisor, operating partner, and longtime board member at BPOC, to break down what truly drives enterprise value in dental and healthcare businesses — long before a sale is on the table. Scott brings decades of experience as an investor, board member, founder, and operator. He has served on the boards of Home Care Delivered, Health Ecommerce, TIDI Products, Southern Anesthesia & Surgical, Preferred Home Care, Scrip Hessco, and more. Prior to BPOC, Scott was a board member and investor in Heartland Dental, President of Patterson Dental Supply, and founder & CEO of EagleSoft, which was acquired by Patterson in 1997. He also served as President of PSI, a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary focused on veterinary practice management software. In this conversation, Scott shares how dentists can think like owners and investors, the biggest misconceptions around private equity, and the operational and leadership decisions that quietly increase — or destroy — practice value over time. Whether you're years away from an exit or actively planning a transition, this episode offers rare insight from someone who's been on every side of the table. In this episode, we cover: ✅ How investors and boards evaluate dental practice value ✅ Common mistakes owners make that limit long-term upside ✅ The role of leadership, systems, and scalability in exit outcomes ✅ What private equity really looks for (and what they don't) ✅ Lessons from scaling healthcare businesses at the board level ✅ How early decisions shape future transition options

    25 min
  2. JAN 23

    Season 2, Episode 2: Second-Generation Farmer

    Selling a successful operating business is one of the hardest decisions an owner will ever face — not just financially, but emotionally — because for many leaders, the business isn't just what they do… it's who they are. In this episode of MATCHplay, Thad Miller sits down with retired farmer Jim Harger, a second-generation operator who made the rare decision to sell his equipment and seed processing operations while intentionally keeping the long-term assets that matter most: land and real estate. Jim shares what it really feels like to exit something you built, why stepping away can create an identity crisis for high-capacity operators, and the tension that comes when your success makes more people rely on you than you ever expected. While this story happens on a farm, it's not just about agriculture — it's about leadership, responsibility, and what happens when you stop being needed every day.  If you've ever built something people depend on — a company, a team, an operation, a practice — and wondered what life would feel like after stepping back, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why successful operators struggle to step away (identity vs. ownership) ✅ How Jim grew from "running his farm" to becoming a resource others depended on ✅ The weight of responsibility that comes with scaling beyond yourself ✅ Family ownership dynamics — and what happens when siblings share equity but not operations ✅ The difference between owning a business and operating it every day ✅ Letting go of the "iron" — the hardest equipment to sell and why it isn't just financial ✅ Selling the operation while keeping the moat (why land was non-negotiable) ✅ What life feels like after closing, and redefining success in the next chapter 🎧 Listen to MATCHplay on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube

    27 min
  3. 12/05/2025

    Episode 10 - Bill Bussick, Founder of DuraMark Technologies

    In this episode, host Thad Miller sits down with Bill Bussick, founder and President and CEO of DuraMark Technologies, a company he built into a national leader in high-performance, durable industrial labels for brands like Toro, Terex, Toyota Forklifts, JLG and General Motors. After graduating from the Miller College of Business at Ball State, Bill launched DuraMark from the ground up, driven by an instinct for opportunity and a commitment to solving real problems in the manufacturing world. In 2021, he sold the company to Cardinal Equity Partners and continued as CEO with a focus on strategic growth. In 2023, he led DuraMark through its first acquisition under new ownership. Bill also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Center, where he helps guide the next generation of innovators and business builders. 💡 In this episode: • What first sparked Bill's idea for DuraMark and how he spotted an underserved market • Lessons from the early, scrappy years of building a manufacturing company from zero • How Bill's marketing background shaped DuraMark's brand and go-to-market strategy • The turning points that helped DuraMark become a trusted partner to major industrial manufacturers • When and how Bill knew it was time to consider selling the business • Why he chose to partner with Cardinal Equity Partners • What owners often miss when preparing for a sale • The leadership lessons Bill learned through the exit process • How he developed teams, talent and culture through each stage of growth • What consistency, clarity and communication really mean for a CEO • The biggest shifts happening in manufacturing and industrial branding today • Where Bill sees the next wave of opportunity for entrepreneurs in the industrial space • What he is focused on now and how he continues to support future founders through Ball State's Entrepreneurship Center If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or operator in manufacturing or industrial services, this conversation will give you a clear look at what it takes to build a market-leading company, scale smartly, earn client trust, and navigate a successful transition. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more episodes of MATCHplay. Follow Us: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ 1gymVuZio3Ji.. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/matc... Youtube: https://youtu.be/mqlxbf5es3w LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matchplay-podcast_matchplay-activity-7384933454620127232-omt3/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchplaypodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== #MATCHplayPodcast #BillBussick #DuraMarkTechnologies #ManufacturingLeadership #BusinessGrowth #BusinessSale #Entrepreneurship #IndustrialManufacturing #PrivateEquity #BusinessExit #BallStateUniversity #ThadMiller #BusinessStrategy

    25 min
  4. 11/28/2025

    Episode 9 - Entrepreneur Brent Claymon

    In this episode, host Thad Miller sits down with Brent Claymon, a lifelong entrepreneur, investor, and business builder, to explore how vision, timing, and patience shape every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. From growing up in a family of founders, to selling Pac-Van in 2006, to re-entering the industry and acquiring Tyson Onsite after his non-compete expired, Brent has spent his life creating equity, surrounding himself with trusted advisors, and finding a better way to build lasting value. Over two decades of buying, selling, coaching, and leading, he has learned that great entrepreneurship is not about chasing income. It is about thinking long term, listening more than you speak, choosing the right partners, and knowing when to move and when to wait. His 21 years of coaching high school tennis have also shaped his leadership philosophy, proving that clarity, encouragement, and strategic thinking matter just as much in the boardroom as they do on the court. 💡 In this episode: • How growing up around entrepreneurs shaped Brent's mindset and career path • Why the Pac-Van transaction became a defining moment in his journey • How selling one business opened the door to acquiring another years later • What vision, timing, and patience really look like in dealmaking • Why his philosophy is to find a better way rather than flip for quick wins • How coaching tennis has influenced his leadership, hiring, and decision making • Why listening more and talking less leads to better deals and stronger teams • What separates great entrepreneurs from good ones • How to avoid being overwhelmed by the urgency and emotions of a transaction • Why the first offer is often the best one and why patience builds leverage • What sellers need to know about earn-outs, post-sale roles, and contingencies • The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make near the finish line and how to avoid them If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader navigating growth, acquisitions, or the next chapter of your career, this conversation will challenge you to think clearly, act intentionally, build equity, and surround yourself with people who help you see around corners. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more episodes of MATCHplay  #MATCHplayPodcast #BrentClaymon #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #Dealmaking #EquityBuilding #BusinessGrowth #BusinessAcquisition #PrivateEquity #ThadMiller #FindABetterWay #BusinessStrategy

    31 min
  5. 11/21/2025

    Episode 8 - Dr. Keith True, Founder of True Vet Potential

    In this episode, host Thad Miller sits down with Dr. Keith True, a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and founder of True Vet Potential, to explore how ownership, leadership, and intentional career design can transform a veterinarian's entire life. After moving from associate to practice owner, Keith discovered that true freedom comes from autonomy: the ability to control your income, culture, schedule, and eventual exit. Today he coaches veterinarians across the country on reclaiming their purpose, building equity, and designing career paths that align with their values. From buying and growing practices to preparing for a high-value sale, his insights reveal what is possible when clinicians take ownership both literally and mentally. 💡 In this episode: • Why Keith believes many veterinarians are stuck and how ownership unlocks their potential • Lessons from his journey from associate to owner to mentor and business strategist • How autonomy changes a veterinarian's career, income, and long-term security • What veterinarians misunderstand about buying, building, and selling a practice • How leadership, culture, and mindset directly impact practice value • The trends shaping the next decade of veterinary medicine and how to stay ahead If you are a veterinarian, practice owner, or clinician considering your next chapter, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger, protect your autonomy, and design a career that works for you, not the other way around. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more episodes of MATCHplay where business succession meets a golf lesson. Follow Us: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ 1gymVuZio3Ji.. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/matc... Youtube: https://youtu.be/EyRJ00BWzYE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matchplay-podcast_matchplay-activity-7384933454620127232-omt3/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchplaypodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== #MATCHplayPodcast #DrKeithTrue #TrueVetPotential #VeterinaryOwnership #VeterinaryLeadership #PracticeOwnership #PracticeTransition #DVMmatch #AutonomyForVeterinarians #VeterinaryBusiness #WealthBuilding #ThadMiller

    30 min
  6. 11/14/2025

    Episode 7 - Matt Doherty, Founder of Doherty Coaching

    Former UNC basketball coach, National Coach of the Year, and executive leadership expert Matt Doherty joins Thad to talk about building championship cultures, leading under pressure, and finishing strong in both business and life. Coach Doherty shares lessons from his time playing for Dean Smith, competing alongside Michael Jordan, and coaching at the highest levels of college basketball. Today he works with executives, business owners, and teams across the country, helping them grow stronger cultures and become more confident and resilient leaders. This episode speaks directly to the challenges many business owners face today, including staff turnover, burnout, pricing pressure, and protecting the value of their practice or company. The insights are especially relevant for dentists, veterinarians, and entrepreneurs working to strengthen their teams and leadership approach.   Connect with Coach Doherty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/ Join Coach Doherty's Dental Cohort: https://dohertycoaching.com/dental-cohort/   Follow Us: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ 1gymVuZio3Ji.. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/matc... Youtube: https://youtu.be/JZckrf-CoFY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matchplay-podcast_matchplay-activity-7384933454620127232-omt3/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchplaypodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

    30 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

MATCHPlay — Hosted by Thad Miller, MATCHPlay explores the parallels between building a strong golf game and planning a successful business transition. Each episode features insights, stories, and strategies to help you stay on course—whether you're on the green or planning your next big move.