In this episode, Garret Dillon shares his journey from the 101st Airborne Division to Director of Integrations at Agentis Longevity, and the military-forged mindset that drives his work. Through Shore Capital's Military to Operations program, Garret found a path to channel his leadership, grit, and relentless optimism into building a fast-growing healthcare company from the inside. He reflects on how the discipline of military life translates to the ambiguity of a startup, why veterans shouldn't discount their experience, and how a Colin Powell quote became his operating philosophy. The episode paints a picture of how one person's energy and mindset can shape a team's culture and a company's trajectory.

Key Takeaways:

1. Staying optimistic isn't just nice to have. It's what makes big goals possible with a small team.
2. The skills veterans build in the military carry over to business more than they might expect.
3. Not having a playbook is tough, but it's also the most rewarding part of building something new.
4. Great culture doesn't happen by accident. It comes from people who show up every day with energy and purpose.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 — Introduction
2. 03:00 — From the Military to Agentis
3. 07:12 — Optimism in Action
4. 10:36 — Building Culture
5. 14:08 — Advice and Motivation
6. 19:05 — What Makes Garret a Hero

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

There you will also find our other Everyday Heroes episodes, alongside our series Microcap Moments and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, nor a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham focus on the critical role N-1 leaders play in building scalable companies and how great boards evaluate and develop that talent. They discuss why N-1 engagement in the boardroom strengthens succession planning, sharpens strategic alignment, and prepares leaders for larger roles. The conversation explores how CEOs can coach and position their teams for success, when to elevate value-creation roles versus hygienic functions, and how boards assess whether executives can scale with the business. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that effective boards don’t just oversee performance but actively help build the next generation of leadership.

Key Takeaways:

1. Strong boards engage N-1s directly to assess succession readiness, reinforce strategic alignment, and build depth across the leadership team.
2. Board meetings serve as a proving ground where emerging leaders learn to think strategically, communicate clearly, and demonstrate their ability to scale with the business.
3. Effective CEOs act as coaches, preparing N-1s for the boardroom, creating stretch opportunities, and reinforcing accountability while protecting confidence.
4. High-performing boards don’t just evaluate current results; they actively help shape, develop, and elevate the next generation of leadership to sustain long-term value creation.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 01:17 – Why N-1 Engagement Matters
3. 04:33 – When N-1s Should Lead
4. 08:05 – Coaching N-1s for the Boardroom

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham explore how CEOs can turn their boards into true strategic assets. They share practical guidance on building trust through transparency, setting realistic goals, and engaging board members outside the boardroom. The conversation focuses on how effective CEOs pressure test strategy, avoid surprises, and translate strategic plans into clear operational execution. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that strong CEO board relationships are built on consistency, preparation, and open dialogue, enabling boards to support leadership, execution, and long-term value creation actively.

Key Takeaways:

1. CEOs maximize impact by using the board as a strategic partner through transparency, preparation, and consistent engagement.
2. Trust with the board is built through realistic goal-setting, open discussion of challenges, and a disciplined, no-surprises approach.
3. Keeping the strategic plan front and center aligns discussion, sharpens decisions, and connects strategy directly to execution.
4. Strong board engagement happens outside the boardroom, where prewiring and one-on-one conversations reduce friction and improve outcomes.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 03:48 – Using the Board Strategically
3. 06:28 – Keeping Strategy Front and Center
4. 10:02 – Building Trust and Avoiding Surprises
5. 15:25 – Pre-Wiring Decisions and Board Dynamics

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham build on the foundation of great board design by focusing on how effective board members show up in practice. They explore the mindset, behaviors, and preparation that separate high-impact directors, emphasizing curiosity over judgment, role clarity, and alignment with the strategic plan. The conversation examines what strong board preparation looks like, how directors add value inside and outside the boardroom, and why understanding the CEO’s perspective is critical. Throughout, they highlight how great board members help translate strategy into results, support talent development, and proactively engage to accelerate value creation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Great board members lead with curiosity over judgment and clear role awareness, creating trust and stronger outcomes with management.
2. The most effective boards translate strategy into execution by aligning directors, investors, and CEOs around direction, pace, and results.
3. Preparation anchored in the strategic plan allows boards to stay forward-looking, ask better questions, and focus on what matters most.
4. High-impact directors extend their influence beyond meetings through proactive engagement, talent development, and targeted support for CEOs and teams.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 01:12 – How Great Board Members Show Up
3. 03:11 – Turning Strategy Into Results
4. 09:37 – How Great Boards Prepare
5. 17:03 – Impact Beyond the Boardroom

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham explore what makes a great board member and how Shore Capital Partners designs boards to drive value creation. They discuss the purpose of the board, the importance of diverse and relevant operating experience, and why board composition matters as much as strategy. The conversation highlights the role of the Lead Independent Director in supporting CEOs, de-risking execution, and translating between management, the board, and investors. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that effective boards ask the right questions, stay aligned with the strategic plan, and actively help management build and scale the business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Great boards accelerate value creation by pairing clear strategy with real operating experience to help management grow and reduce risk.
2. Diverse, complementary board composition turns governance into a competitive advantage beyond financial oversight.
3. The Lead Independent Director plays a vital role in aligning management, the board, and investors through trust, context, and ongoing engagement.
4. Effective boards stay aligned with strategy, ask better questions, and actively support the company’s evolution from growth to exit.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 01:20 – The Purpose of a Great Board
3. 09:16 – The Role of the Lead Independent Director
4. 13:11 – How CEOs Should Use Their Board
5. 18:51 – How Boards Evolve Over the Hold Period

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, I talk with Alison Shekman, Chief of Staff at PhaseWell Research and a member of the CXO Fellows Program. Alison shares her journey from consulting into operations and what it has meant to step into an early-stage, acquisition-driven business. She reflects on slowing down to go fast, listening to frontline experts, and creating systems for prioritization. Alison also discusses lessons from the Shore Resource Team and why embracing iteration over perfection has shaped her approach as a CXO.

Key Takeaways:

• Go slow to go fast by taking the time to understand what motivates people and plan for change so it can be implemented more effectively
• Listen first and spend time in the field with the people who know the work best to close knowledge gaps and build credibility
• Create a system for relentless prioritization to bring clarity to the noise and stay aligned with leadership on what matters most
• Call it version one, move forward, and keep iterating rather than waiting for perfection

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:57 - Go Slow to Go Fast
• 05:01 - Closing the Knowledge Gap
• 09:35 - The Value of Networks
• 13:03 - Prioritization and Integration
• 19:47 - Lessons for Young Leaders

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Preethi Menon, Senior Vice President of Integrations and Partnerships at Empower Aesthetics. After nearly a decade in consulting, Preethi joined the CXO Fellows Program and stepped into the challenge of building Empower from the ground up. She reflects on lessons from scaling the company, including overcoming perfectionism, embracing accountability, and moving fast to create value. Preethi also underscores the importance of humility, strong relationships, and the CXO peer network in her growth as a leader.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning to value progress over perfection helps leaders in young companies move with speed, capture opportunities, and create meaningful value before the moment passes
• Taking full ownership means recognizing that every choice and relationship matters, and leaders are directly accountable for the outcomes that shape the business
• Earning trust with founders and partners comes from humility and being willing to roll up your sleeves, especially when transitions bring uncertainty and change
• Leaning on a network of peers gives young leaders the perspective and encouragement they need to navigate the challenges of building a company from the ground up

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 07:42 - The Early-Stage
• 11:16 - Operational Learning Curves
• 18:15 - Building Great Companies
• 23:24 - Lessons Learned

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Will Cook, Chief of Staff at Skycrest Roof Co. Will shares his unique path from consulting to serving as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army before joining the CXO program. He reflects on his first year helping to launch Skycrest, where the role meant doing everything from marketing to operations while learning the business from the ground up. Will highlights the importance of humility, listening, and building relationships with founders and frontline teams, especially in a people-driven industry. He also discusses evaluating talent in fast-moving environments, practicing relentless prioritization, and leaning on the CXO peer network to navigate the inevitable highs and lows of growing a young company.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning the business from the ground up builds credibility, deepens relationships, and ensures leaders make informed decisions that create lasting value
• Relentless prioritization helps executives focus on the highest-impact initiatives, avoid distractions, and drive meaningful results in fast-moving environments
• People are at the center of every decision, and knowing your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations is key to building trust and driving performance
• Steadiness through highs and lows is sustained by leaning on peers and mentors, creating a support system that strengthens resilience and perspective

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 07:56 - What Makes a Good CXO
• 12:05 - Building Relationships with Founders
• 14:36 - Advice for New Leaders
• 17:24 - Best Advice Ever Received

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.