Our weekly thoughts and general ramblings about everything related to business – from industries and investments to management and operations.

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BTSB: Jeff Buckwalter of The Holy Donut

Below are some excerpts from our conversation with  Jeff Buckwalter, CEO of The Holy Donut, a Portland, Maine based retail and wholesale donut company whose hand-cut, hand-glazed potato donuts have developed a crazed following both locally and beyond.  With demand far exceeding supply for his donuts and persistent inquiries for expansion and even franchising, Jeff talks about his efforts to build the infrastructure necessary to support a growing company, the value of trust and accountability in developing his workforce, and the importance of conflict in a healthy organization. You can listen to the full episode by clicking the audio image below, on our

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November 12, 2018

BTSB: Colin Campbell of Stratosphere Consulting

Below are some excerpts from our conversation with Colin Campbell, founder and CEO of Stratosphere Consulting, a national consulting company with an expertise in Case Management which made it to #488 on the INC 5,000 list thanks to their 1,000% growth over the past three years.  Operating as an entirely distributed company with no corporate office, Stratosphere has doubled their workforce for the past three years in a row.   Colin shares what it is like managing what he calls “constant organizational change management” in such a fast-growing company, how he works on the business while still staying relevant to those working in the business,

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October 29, 2018

BTSB: The Keeper of the Lighthouse: Bob Smith of Sebasco Habor Resort

Below are some excerpts from our conversation with Bob Smith, owner of Sebasco Harbor Resort, a 450-acre seasonal family vacation destination located on the coast of Midcoast Maine.  The self-proclaimed Keeper of the Lighthouse - a title in homage to his promise to preserve the 90-year legacy that came before him - Bob has dedicated his life to setting the resort up to last another 90 years. Bob shares what it was like to live through the 2008 financial crisis–a setback that he is only now, some 11 years later, completely through–and his three-legged vision for the property to attract a long-term

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October 23, 2018

BTSB – Cupping with Bob Garver of Wicked Joe and Bard Coffee

Cupping with Bob Garver of Wicked Joe and Bard Coffee Below are some excerpts from our conversation with Bob Garver, co-founder of Wicked Joe, a wholesale roasting company, and Bard Coffee, an amazing retail coffee shop in Portland, Maine.  After falling in love with the connections coffee can foster as an Army Captain stationed in Turkey, Bob has spent the past quarter-century sourcing, roasting, and brewing the best coffees he can find from around the world. From living on a boat with no kitchen or bathroom and plowing driveways on the side for supplemental income, Bob has remained focused on two things at

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October 1, 2018

Weekly Thoughts: BTSB – The Slab of Success: Mary Allen Lindemann of Coffee By Design

The Slab of Success: Mary Allen Lindemann of Coffee By Design Below are some excerpts from our conversation with Mary Allen Lindemann, co-founder and community builder of Coffee By Design ("CBD" if you are a local), a Maine-based community coffee house and wholesale roastery that will roast over 550,000 pounds of coffee this year.  Approaching their 25th anniversary, CBD has been through three waves of coffeehouse competition and has learned how to start, grow, and sustain a successful organization along the way. Mary Allen is steadfast in her company's commitment to steady, sustainable, and responsible growth – to the point where she says "No" more

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September 17, 2018

Weekly Thoughts: BTSB – Consistency In A Can: Luke Livingston of Baxter Brewing

Consistency In A Can: Luke Livingston of Baxter Brewing Below are some excerpts from our conversation with Luke Livingston, founder of Baxter Brewing Co., a craft brewery that has grown to be the third largest brewer by volume in Maine since its founding 8 years ago.  Initially the 16th brewery license in the state, Baxter was the first in New England to produce beer exclusively in a can or a keg — in part for the environmental benefits and in part to serve its mission of accessibility and portability. Luke talks about competition as an incumbent in an industry that is seeing more supply growth than

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September 4, 2018

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