In this powerful episode of EO Atlanta: Taking Flight, Sarah sits down with Mike Dames: West Point graduate, U.S. Army engineer officer, Afghanistan veteran, MBA from the University of Chicago, business investor, and CEO of Colography.

Mike takes us on an honest and insightful journey through his transition from military leadership to entrepreneurship, revealing the highs, lows, and inner resilience required to “get the plane off the ground.” He introduces us to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), a path many have never heard of, and breaks down how it offers a unique route for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to buy, lead, and grow existing businesses rather than start from scratch.

Throughout the conversation, Mike opens up about:

-The surprising challenges of becoming a CEO and why he calls it the role of Chief Emotional Officer.
-The cultural transformations required in a 40-year-old legacy business.
-Knowing your strengths, filling your gaps, and hiring the right “number two.”
-What excites him about the future of Colography, including new logistics-intelligence products launching in 2026.

Mike also shares the personal side of his journey: growing up in a single-parent home, playing Division I sports, jumping out of airplanes at Fort Bragg, and navigating the shift from high-stakes military missions to corporate roles that didn’t feel meaningful, ultimately driving him toward entrepreneurship and ownership.

This episode is packed with real talk, strategy, inspiration, and raw vulnerability. Whether you’re a veteran, an entrepreneur, an operator, or someone exploring ETA, Mike’s story offers remarkable insight into what it truly takes to build, lead, and scale a business while staying grounded in purpose.

Tune in and get ready to take flight.

In this episode of the EO Atlanta Taking Flight Podcast, Sarah Tourville sits down with David Hern, CEO of Sofer Advisors, to dive into the art and science of understanding what makes a business truly valuable.

David shares how his Atlanta-based, family-run firm helps companies of all sizes. From startups to long-established enterprises, he helps them discover their worth through detailed valuation services. He discusses the biggest factors that drive business value, including the importance of strong financials, reducing founder dependency, and building recurring revenue streams.

Listeners will also hear David’s insights on why removing yourself from your business can increase its value, how to reduce “key person risk,” and why Sofer Advisors chose a name that reflects their mission, not a single individual.

With themes of service, agility, and empathy at the heart of Sofer Advisors’ work, this conversation offers practical wisdom for entrepreneurs looking to grow, scale, or eventually exit their companies.

Key Takeaways:

• Why “working yourself out of the business” adds value
• How customer diversification and recurring revenue boost valuations
• The advantages (and challenges) of running a family business
• How agility and empathy set Sofer Advisors apart

Tune in for an insightful and down-to-earth discussion about what makes businesses thrive—and what makes them worth more.

Listen to the full episode available now on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

In this powerful episode of EO Atlanta Taking Flight, Sarah sits down with Erica Gwyn — an entrepreneurial powerhouse, faith-driven visionary, and purpose-led founder behind Seven Oaks Academy Montessori preschool in Gwinnett County, GA and The Nonprofit Guru, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations grow with clarity and impact.

Erica opens up about her extraordinary journey — from growing up in foster care to becoming the owner of an award-winning Montessori school and a respected leader in the early education and nonprofit sectors. She shares how she has reimagined business models, expanded access to high-quality education across Georgia, and built thriving ecosystems rooted in equity, innovation, and legacy.

Tune in to hear how Erica’s deep faith, unwavering focus, and fierce determination are fueling her mission to build lasting impact through education, community, and generational wealth — all while inspiring others to rise above their own beginnings and take flight.