Growing Through a Hold Period with M&A with Renee Ernste

Growing Through a Hold Period with M&A with Renee Ernste

As the CEO of Orange Tree Employment Screening, Renee Ernste brings a passion for client care and teamwork to the business, values that have been the foundation of every decision in her 16-year tenure with Orange Tree. Renee joined Orange Tree as their VP of Customer Care and earned the role of President before becoming CEO in 2018. Orange Tree was sold to Tonka Bay Equity Partners in January 2021. After doubling the company's revenue through organic growth initiatives, technology innovation, and acquiring three businesses, the company sold to a strategic buyer in May 2024. Renee and Mark sat down…
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5 Lessons in Building Community, a Brand, and Entrepreneurship

5 Lessons in Building Community, a Brand, and Entrepreneurship

One of the core tenets of Authentic’s company vision is that we believe when executive marketers are supported by a diverse community of like-minded peers, who share common values, experiences, and resources, they become more impactful leaders. Building this type of community requires a lot of collaboration and support along the way.  Finding those who share in the vision of community, conversation, and connection is so incredibly special and important in living a purpose-driven life. Authentic’s founder & CEO, Jennifer Zick, was recently invited to speak at Purpose Driven Coffee, an event for these like-minded people who seek significance, meaning,…
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Part Time CMO, Full Marketing Accountability

Part Time CMO, Full Marketing Accountability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BftIq1uQtk Video Transcription Your growing business needs experienced marketing leadership but the last thing you need is an outside strategist providing you with more ideas and leaving you and your team to figure out how to execute those and achieve results.  I'm Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic®. Our community of fractional CMOs helps growing businesses to Overcome Random Acts of Marketing® and confidently take the next right step to build revenue. We do this as dedicated, retained CMOs and as a member of your executive team while our CMOs work on a part-time flexible basis. They assume full…
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4 fractional CMO models: Which is best for you?

4 fractional CMO models: Which is best for you?

A fractional CMO is a contract Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), retained on a part-time basis to provide executive marketing leadership for a growing business. A fractional CMO is a great solution for organizations that need experienced, strategic marketing guidance, but aren’t yet ready to fund a full-time CMO hire.  Demand for fractional CMO leadership is growing quickly, and several models of fractional CMO services are emerging: some offering short-term or interim leadership, and others — like Authentic — providing longer-term leadership and integration of every aspect of an organization’s marketing team and program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfdcUbmiliI The concept of fractional leadership isn’t new.…
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We served at one of Minneapolis/St. Paul’s greatest treasures: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

We served at one of Minneapolis/St. Paul’s greatest treasures: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

Our Two or More volunteers joined together for a hands-on summer field maintenance event at the Horticultural Research Center. It was a beautiful day spent outdoors weeding a pumpkin patch and learning about the many grape varieties grown at the Arboretum. Together, we invested 45+ service hours, helped the Arboretum to successfully provide pumpkins for this coming fall by weeding their large field, and learned about the extensive impact that the Horticultural Research Center has on the local and global community.  See Full Photo Album (more…)
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Authentic® Named a Second-Time Fast 50 Honoree by Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

Authentic® Named a Second-Time Fast 50 Honoree by Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

Minneapolis, MN, August 15, 2024 – Today, Authentic® was recognized as a 2024 Fast 50 Honoree by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal for the second consecutive year, ranking #12.   The annual Fast 50 list recognizes Twin Cities-based privately held companies with the fastest revenue growth for the past three years. This year’s list includes companies based on revenue growth between 2021 – 2023.  To be eligible for the Fast 50, companies must be independently owned, privately held, for-profit businesses headquartered in the Twin Cities’ 24-county metro area. They also must have year-over-year revenue growth for each of the…
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Unlock Your Business Potential: How Market Fit and Focus Drive Maximum Value and Top Exit Multiples

Unlock Your Business Potential: How Market Fit and Focus Drive Maximum Value and Top Exit Multiples

Many business owners overestimate the current value of their business, and underestimate the potential value of their business. They have a great solution - potentially the “best kept secret”. But they’re missing the ingredients that fuel transferable value and make their business irresistible to potential buyers. A meaningful deal in today’s market requires more than a great idea or novel solution. Strategic investors are looking for businesses who have proven their ability to create demand, dominate a category, diversify revenue streams, and consistently grow revenue. Aspirational hot tech investments are a thing of the past. Today’s founders and their teams…
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Authentic® Ranks #2261 on Inc. 5000 2024 List

Authentic® Ranks #2261 on Inc. 5000 2024 List

Minneapolis, MN, August 13, 2024 – Today, Authentic® was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine, ranking #2261 on the 2024 list. This is the first time Authentic has been named an Inc. 5000 honoree, with a three-year growth rate of 231%.  The annual list provides a unique snapshot of the nation’s top-performing businesses, as measured by revenue growth from 2020-2023. These Inc. 5000 companies represent entrepreneurial vision and resilience, job creation, and a powerful positive impact to the overall U.S. economy. “I am incredibly proud to stand among the most accomplished founders and…
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Marketing ROI: The Six Stages of Data

Marketing ROI: The Six Stages of Data

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD592A4lzSI Video Transcription There's not a CEO, Founder, Owner, Investor, or CFO that does not want to understand the return on investment for marketing. But getting to marketing ROI is not just a light switch exercise. I can't tell you how many times executives have said to me  “Listen, I have an unlimited marketing budget so long as you can tell me for every dollar we put into the marketing plan, how many dollars come out the other side of that engine and how fast.”  Wouldn't that be nice to know? What these executives are really asking for is predictive…
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How much does a fractional CMO cost? 

How much does a fractional CMO cost? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv2rVT0pO0Q Video Transcription How much does a fractional CMO cost? It's a question being asked by more growing businesses than ever as organizations explore ways to bring senior level leadership to the helm sooner and more cost effectively.  Hi, I'm Jennifer Zick, founder and CEO of Authentic®. We are a community of fractional CMOs that work with growing businesses to help them Overcome Random Acts of Marketing® and confidently take the next right step toward healthy growth.  There's an obvious value proposition in working with a fractional leader. You get the wisdom of an experienced executive at a fraction of…
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