In this episode of Your Advantage Play® with guest Greg Schroeder, I sat down with Greg Schroeder, who built and sold Comergence Compliance - a company that became the “mortgage police” after the 2008 housing crisis. Greg shares how he turned industry chaos into opportunity, landing major clients like Citigroup, and the importance of staying focused and building your business with the end in mind. His story is a masterclass in planning your exit, knowing your value, and seizing that second bite of the apple. Don’t miss these takeaways for every entrepreneur looking to build a sellable, standout business!

Here are 3 key takeaways for any founder or business operator thinking ahead to a future exit:

• Build to Sell from Day One: Greg shared that every decision, from accounting to operations, was made with a potential exit in mind - making due diligence and acquisition conversations so much smoother down the road.
• Land Flagship Clients for Market Credibility: Signing Citigroup was a game-changer. With a big name on board, client acquisition accelerated as credibility and urgency in the industry soared.
• Stay Focused - Avoid Distractions: As tempting as it was to expand into adjacent markets, Greg emphasized that sticking to your core business keeps you efficient, lean, and more valuable to acquirers (something he attributes to his own successful exit).

If you’re building a business—especially in a regulated or niche industry—Greg’s journey is proof that a smart, focused playbook pays off.

Jennifer Barlund

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-barlund-10969348/

Phone: 605-910-5000

www.falconplastics.com

Jenn Barlund, aged 34, serves as the President of Falcon Plastics, where her passion for plastics is deeply rooted in a lifetime surrounded by injection and blow molding. A proud alumna of South Dakota State University, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship with minors in Marketing, Business, and Economics. Barlund’s journey with Falcon Plastics started as a Machine Operator and evolved through various roles, eventually leading her to oversee production in Lexington, TN, in 2017 and manage the Brookings plant in 2018. She ascended to the presidency in April 2021. Recognized as a Plastics News Plastics Industry Rising Star in 2020, Barlund also boasts membership in the International Economics Honor Society and is a Leadership Brookings graduate.

Her journey has been greatly influenced by her grandfather, Don Bender, the founder of Falcon Plastics, who championed the role of women in business and saw in Jenn a leader of tomorrow. Inspired by Don's dedication to the Falcon team, Jenn has molded her leadership style to mirror his, gaining respect from colleagues and clients alike. Her position as a third-generation leader carries immense pride and the drive to uphold Don's legacy while nurturing Falcon's growth.

Beyond her professional expertise, Jenn is dedicated to community enrichment, often volunteering and supporting local initiatives. She contributes her insights on the advisory board for the Boys & Girls Club of Brookings and holds a position on the board of directors for the Manufacturers Association of Plastics Processors (MAPP). Barlund, along with her husband Craig and two children, calls Brookings, South Dakota, home.

Jason Grady

Interim Chief Executive Officer

DSS, Inc.

275 Wiregrass Pkwy, West Henrietta, NY 14586

www.dssworld.com | NYSE American: DSS

DSS focuses on operating business segments in blockchain security, consumer, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets. The DSS business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs.

Jason Grady serves as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of DSS, Inc., and concurrently holds the position of President at Premier Packaging Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS, Inc. Additionally, Jason is an integral member of the DSS Executive Committee, contributing his expertise in various board and officer roles within the company. These include serving as CEO and Director of DSS Biohealth Holdings, President and COO of DSS Financial Management, COO & Director of HWH World, COO and Director of USX Securities, and Chief Business Officer of Impact Bio Medical, among others. With over 25 years of experience navigating the forefront of business growth and industry dominance, Jason has played a pivotal role in propelling DSS into the successful, global portfolio company it is today.