Ken is a growth and exit advisor helping business owners in manufacturing, machining, industrial, construction, product sales, and IT. He helps owners grow the value of their largest asset - their business. In addition to being a Certified Value BuilderTM and Accredited Value Guide with the Value Builder SystemTM, Ken owns a First Choice Business Brokerage in Michigan and is a licensed commercial real estate broker in California and Michigan. He and his wife travel the country to see friends, family, and their two children in college on opposite coasts. Ken earned a B.S. in Materials Science from The University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon. On Staying Fit - "I'm skipping the pickleball craze. My sport of choice is physical therapy."
Grow or Exit
Meet Our Team
Ken Lee
Joe LaRussa
Joe LaRussa
LinkedInJoe is a technical consultant who assists manufacturers from the shop floor to the top floor in areas such as operations efficiency, advanced manufacturing, site selection, succession planning and special projects. Joe also provides trade associations and local governments with workshops, studies, speaking engagements, and consulting engagements on strategy, board governance, membership, and economic development. Joe is a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan and earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, an MSE in Automotive Systems Engineering, and an MS in Engineering Management from The University of Michigan - Dearborn. In service to his community, Joe is a City Council Member / Mayor of the City of Farmington. For fun, Joe enjoys time with his wife and three children and is an amateur musician with the Henry Ford Big Band.
Wayne Karro
Wayne Karro
LinkedInWayne is a financial consultant and fractional CFO helping YPO members and business owners from funded startups to $100M in revenue. His specialty is elevating the accounting and financial management functions. Owners become better strategic leaders prepared for smart growth and M&A opportunities. In his spare time, Wayne is active with a family of four including two adult children, as well as a decades-old fitness cohort that trains for endurance races and hosts their own half marathon in Orange County, CA. Wayne is a licensed CPA in CA (inactive) and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from USC and an MBA from NYU. On his super powers - "I'm a financial consultant, not a magician."
Letter to Business Owners
Everyday Heroes
As a business owner, you probably chose your path to experience more freedom and less restrictions on your success. Business owners like you create jobs, build communities, and form the backbone of the economy.
The Challenge
The challenge for owners is the burden of going it alone. Obstacles come from all sides, internal and external. Entrepreneurs are free from a traditional boss, yet answer to a new boss - the business. Owners often invest in sales, marketing, technology, capex or initiatives that don’t pay off. A trial and error existence yields roller coaster results and causes wear and tear. The business is often the owner's most valuable asset, yet the value is uncertain.
Your Guides
We have seen incredible success stories and stories of disappointment. Almost all owners underestimate the benefits of having an endgame and the time it takes to optimize their business value. Our goal is to support smart growth, financial control, and the ownership experience. Our team is focused on the manufacturing, machining, industrial, construction, and product sectors..
A Better Way
Whether you have been in business 4 decades or 4 months, you must embrace the Owner's Metric and the 8 Key Value Drivers. Imagine a best-in-class system that facilitates strategic decision making and a firm grasp of financial levers. Life as a business owner starts to match your vision. Let's have a conversation. It's free and we promise to deliver value.
Letter to Business Owners
You have access to a variety of coaches and consultants, but if the fit is not right, the cycle of trial and error continues with mixed results. Let's start the conversation on fit.
Who We Help
While you don’t need to have lofty growth goals, you must be inspired to change and have a strong interest in protecting your time.
We know "procrastination is the assassin of opportunity." so I invite you to book a call and tell me your situation. Whether we work together or not, my goal is to provide value on the call.
Final Comment
If you are concerned about having time or resources to work with an advisor, just let me know when we talk, and I'll find you a quick win.
Thank you, Ken
