Danguole Altman is the President and CEO of Cx Precision Medicine, which develops AI-driven tests to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. She is also a Partner at Newport LLC. With experience founding, leading, and growing innovative life science and healthcare services companies, Danguole founded Vapogenix, a non-opioid pain therapeutics firm, and co-founded FemPartners, a women’s healthcare services company.

Early diagnosis of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s is critical for effective treatment. Yet, primary care physicians often lack clear, efficient tools to assess cognitive decline, leaving patients and families in limbo. How can innovation bridge the gap between clinical complexity and accessible early intervention?

Healthcare innovation entrepreneur Danguole Altman has dedicated her career to providing access to cutting-edge diagnostic tools. She emphasizes the importance of aligning business leadership with medical expertise to identify gaps in care. These partnerships and collaborations allow businesses to build diagnostic tools tailored for primary care, prioritize early payer engagement, and mitigate regulatory risks.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney welcomes Danguole Altman, President and CEO of Cx Precision Medicine, to discuss innovating preventative care diagnostics. Danguole talks about designing solutions that fit real-world constraints, remaining resilient amid market disruptions, and building mission-aligned teams.

Allison Cummins is the Founder and CEO of Blue Outcomes, an IT consulting firm specializing in outsourced project and change management. Her leadership has positioned Blue Outcomes as a trusted partner for organizations seeking strategic growth and transformation. As a seasoned project manager and Scrum Master certified advisor, Allison implements complex ERP systems for midsize to large companies.

Many business owners struggle with scaling their operations without losing control or clarity. As teams grow and systems become more complex, project failures, poor communication, and technology missteps can derail even the most well-intentioned plans. How can founders build sustainable systems while maintaining agility and empowering their teams?

Project manager and team dynamics expert Allison Cummins leverages the Working Genius framework to improve collaboration, align roles with individuals’ strengths, and enhance project outcomes. This system identifies the natural talents that team members bring to the company and helps them understand how to leverage them effectively. Allison also recommends building a solid operational foundation and leading with empathy and transparency. Businesses can avoid costly tech missteps by documenting core processes early and establishing robust change control procedures.

In this week’s episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Allison Cummins, Founder and CEO of Blue Outcomes, to discuss scaling service-based businesses through process, people, and precision. Allison talks about values-driven leadership, the dangers of poor project oversight, and the benefits of strategic tech adoption.

Doug Tatum is the Chairman of Newport, LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. He is also a member of the teaching faculty at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University. Before his current roles, Doug was the Chairman and CEO of Tatum LLC, a national professional services firm he helped grow to over 1,000 professionals across 30 offices before its acquisition by Spherion in 2010. He is also the author of No Man’s Land: Where Growing Companies Fail, a critically acclaimed book that has won four national Best Business Book awards.

Many founders hit a critical stage where their business grows beyond their personal control, leaving them struggling to scale without burning out. How can entrepreneurs transition from hands-on involvement to building a company that runs and grows by itself?

As an expert in business growth, capital markets, and entrepreneurship, Doug Tatum has spent his career scaling and transitioning out of businesses. He shifted away from his company’s daily operations by empowering a strong team of experienced leaders and focusing on the company’s big-picture strategy. Doug emphasizes recognizing key inflection points, investing in infrastructure, and carving out regular thinking time to stay focused on what matters most and avoid burnout.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney interviews Doug Tatum, Chairman of Newport, LLC, about how he scaled and exited his first company. Doug talks about overcoming leadership hurdles, working with private equity, and balancing risk.

Heather Bennett is the Managing Director and Partner at Newport LLC, where she advises CEOs and business owners on brand marketing, revenue growth, and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience, she has led P&L management for brands with over $100 million in revenue and driven innovation at companies like Kraft Heinz Company, Instant Brands, and Unilever. Heather is also the author of the Amazon bestseller Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time and serves on the boards of the Foundation for Hearing & Speech Resources and Slipstream.

Many professionals struggle to define and communicate their value clearly, especially during pivotal moments like job transitions, leadership opportunities, or launching a business. Without a strong personal brand, they risk being overlooked or misunderstood. How can professionals intentionally shape how they’re perceived and make a lasting impact?

Personal branding and marketing expert Heather Bennett advises building an authentic and consistent brand that aligns with your personal and professional goals. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, clarity in messaging, and alignment with your mission. By leveraging storytelling, mastering the elevator pitch, optimizing online presence, and leveraging personal branding, professionals can enhance leadership, customer relationships, and market credibility.

Tune in to Growth + Exit as Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Heather Bennett, Managing Director and Partner at Newport LLC, to talk about personal branding for businesses and professionals. Heather explains how authenticity builds trust, the importance of consistency in personal branding, and how strong personal brands elevate leadership efforts.

Susan Kearney is the Managing Director, Board Member, and Partner at Newport LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. Before Newport, she was the COO of Network for Good, where she achieved 40% annual recurring revenue growth, and the Co-founder of Voxant, a digital media company acquired by Blinkx. Susan also held executive positions at Paragren Technologies and IRI Software.

Scaling a business is hard enough, but sustaining the right team, culture, and leadership approach while doing it can be even harder. Many founders find themselves stuck with a team that can't grow with the company, unclear cultural values, or investor relationships that turn sour. How can business owners ensure their company evolves while staying true to its values?

Rather than implementing short-term fixes, entrepreneur and growth advisor Susan Kearney explains that long-term strategic thinking helps founders hire people who can grow with the business. Building scalable teams requires balancing people-first cultures with necessary accountability, avoiding entitlement, and rebuilding internal culture when needed. Susan emphasizes that alignment, trust, and clarity are essential for sustainable growth.

In today’s Growth + Exit episode, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Susan Kearney, the Managing Director, Board Member, and Partner at Newport LLC, about building a scalable company through an intentional team culture. Susan explains how remote teams can stay engaged and productive, how to rebuild your culture during an internal pivot, and how the right culture attracts strategic investors.

Susan Kearney is the Managing Director, Board Member, and Partner at Newport LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. Before Newport, she was the COO of Network for Good, where she achieved 40% annual recurring revenue growth, and the Co-founder of Voxant, a digital media company acquired by Blinkx. Susan also held executive positions at Paragren Technologies and IRI Software.

Heather Bennett is the Managing Director and Partner at Newport LLC, where she advises CEOs and business owners on brand marketing, revenue growth, and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience, she has led P&L management for brands with over $100 million in revenue and driven innovation at companies like Kraft Heinz Company, Instant Brands, and Unilever. Heather is also the author of the Amazon bestseller Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time and serves on the boards of the Foundation for Hearing & Speech Resources and Slipstream.

Many business owners struggle to scale while preparing for a future exit. Without a clear understanding of their target market, leadership alignment, or how to de-risk their business, growth stalls and potential exits fall short of expectations. What strategies can owners implement to drive sustainable revenue growth and boost business value before a sale?

Business strategist and growth expert Susan Kearney emphasizes the importance of reducing operational risk, aligning leadership teams, and optimizing business models to increase valuation. Brand and leadership advisor Heather Bennett tells founders to understand their target customers, invest in brand clarity, and adapt marketing strategies in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Both advise business owners to adopt a holistic view by connecting people, processes, and market positioning to unlock growth potential.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett of Newport LLC about building, branding, and exiting middle-market businesses. Together, they discuss de-risking strategies, market expansion, product development, and their respective board experiences.

Dan Lawrence is the Co-founder and CEO of OBM, Inc., a software company providing tools for enterprise cryptocurrency mining operations. He also co-developed OBM’s flagship product, Foreman, a platform that enables remote management of mining equipment and is widely used across North America and some of the world's largest mining operations. Before founding OBM, Dan served as a Technical Director in the US Department of Defense, where he focused on backend solutions for high-speed streaming data processing.

Starting a company in a niche industry often entails navigating volatile markets, technical complexity, and a limited customer base. For first-time entrepreneurs, the transition from stable employment to building a fast-growing startup can be overwhelming. How can you scale a product from a personal side project into a coveted platform while maintaining your personal balance?

Computer scientist and fledgling entrepreneur Dan Lawrence launched his software company by starting small, staying user-focused, and remaining flexible as his market evolved. He emphasizes the importance of listening to the market, pivoting early, and recognizing broader applications of your technology. Dan also recommends managing burnout by establishing morning routines, disconnecting after hours, and setting clear personal boundaries.

Tune in to this episode of Growth + Exit as Susan Kearney sits down with Dan Lawrence, Co-founder and CEO of OBM, Inc., to discuss how he scaled his niche startup into an enterprise SaaS platform. Dan talks about navigating technical pivots, growing a strong team culture, and reshaping personal habits.