In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Rob Murphy, co-founder of Vervic, to unpack his unconventional journey into the recruiting world.

Rob shares how he went from struggling to land a sales job in early 2020 to launching a recruiting firm in the middle of COVID — and growing it into a successful, people-first company. He discusses the steep learning curves of both recruiting and business ownership, the importance of building a team you truly enjoy working with, and how an unexpected merger with Passion HR transformed their slow-and-steady lifestyle business into a fast-growing, $10M vision.

From lessons on hiring only top performers to navigating culture merges, Rob offers candid insights for entrepreneurs considering inorganic growth, building strong company cultures, and finding the right people to go into business with.

If you’re interested in recruiting, HR, or the realities of scaling a service business, this episode delivers both the strategy and the human side of growth.

https://www.vervichr.com

In this special episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley breaks down the M&A process from start to finish, offering a 30,000-foot view of what it looks like to sell a business with the help of an investment bank or business broker. From setting financial goals and evaluating estate planning needs to navigating NDAs, IOIs, and LOIs, Michael shares the key milestones and decision points that shape a typical transaction. Whether you're a business owner thinking about selling or just curious about the inner workings of M&A, this episode offers a clear, concise look at what to expect—and where a trusted advisor fits into the picture.

In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley talks with Brent Thompson, President of NextGen Crane and Rigging. Brent shares how his family’s 45-year-old welding business evolved into a fast-growing crane and rigging company, the decision to launch a separate brand, and why expanding into Huntsville was a pivotal move.

He also discusses building a strong team culture, transitioning leadership with his father, and finding new growth opportunities in project management for mission-critical infrastructure.

If you’re interested in family business succession, company culture, or scaling a service business, don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Josh Wolfe, founder of WolfeCo. Media, to unpack his unexpected journey from English major and banker to creative entrepreneur and agency owner. Josh shares how a love for storytelling shaped his career path—from editing national publications to launching a full-service marketing agency in the middle of a pandemic.

Josh opens up about the realities of building a business from the ground up, including the challenges of learning operations as a right-brained creative, navigating team growth, and staying grounded in company culture. He shares his approach to character-first hiring, why authenticity in storytelling builds stronger brands, and how WolfeCo. is evolving with big goals in mind.

Whether you're a creative professional, business owner, or just exploring what it means to grow something meaningful, this episode is packed with insight and heart from someone who’s lived the journey—mistakes, mindset shifts, and all.

Casey Templeton of Stacks LLC shares the realities behind rapid growth—how they hit a huge milestone in 2024, why profitability isn’t everything, and the hidden pressure fast scaling puts on your people and processes.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-k-stanley-jr-mba-cexp™-30916131/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseytempleton/

filler

Chase Wortman of Outpost Technologies joins The Sell Side Podcast to talk about:

🔹 The who in hiring—why people matter just as much as skills

🔹 Building something bigger than yourself

🔹 Optimizing, automating, and making every process more efficient

Don’t miss this conversation on strategy, growth, and smart decision-making.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-k-stanley-jr-mba-cexp™-30916131/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-wortman-09a039163/