The TMG Fireside Chat Podcast

“Building Value, Preparing for Growth & Transition” With John Mackey & Ken Wiesenfeld Episode Overview: In this episode of The Mackey Group Fireside Chat, John Mackey sits down with Ken Wiesenfeld (Wise Financial Consulting) to discuss how fire & life safety owners can build stronger businesses, prepare for transition, and maximize value. From recurring revenue strategies to tech stack investments, and from growth guardrails to busting the biggest myths in M&A—this conversation is packed with insights you can apply right away. Chapters 21.1 Introduction & Guest Overview 21.2 Consolidation Wave & Why Owners Should Plan Ahead Why business owners should be thinking about future transitions now. 21.3 What Drives Value in Today’s Market Beyond revenue—what buyers are really looking for. 21.4 Recurring Revenue & Guardrails on Installation Balancing installs with service contracts, job costing, and reducing risk. 21.5 Growth & Transition: Why the Time is Now Why waiting can cost you—and how to prepare in advance. 21.6 Myths & Realities: The Truth about Selling Your Business Myth 1: “I don’t need to worry about selling; I’m not going anywhere for 10 years.” Myth 2: “Buyers only care about revenue.” Myth 3: “I’ll fix my systems and processes after I grow.” Myth 4: “Installation drives growth; service is just maintenance.” Myth 5: “I can do this by myself.” 21.7 Working out Your Financial Muscles 21.8 Why Work with Ken & John How complementary strengths create better outcomes for clients. Key Takeaways • Preparedness = leverage: Owners who prepare early get better outcomes. • Recurring revenue and customer contracts drive valuation. • Systems and tech stack investments matter more than you think. • Growth strategies should also identify transition “off-ramps.” • The biggest myths about selling can cost owners millions if left unchecked. Call to Action Thinking about the future of your fire & life safety business? Whether you’re planning for growth, preparing for a sale, or simply want to protect the value you’ve built—now is the time to start the conversation. Contact John Mackey • LinkedIn:   / mackeyjohn   • Website: mackeygroupllc.com • Email: [email protected] Contact Ken Wiesenfeld • LinkedIn:   / ken-wiesenfeld-57363225   • Website: wisefincon.com • Email: [email protected]

Join host John Mackey in Episode 20 of the TMG Fireside Chat as he sits down with longtime friend and fire protection leader Dave Pelton, Vice President of Technical at NAFED (National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors). They dive deep into today’s most pressing fire protection issues: → NFPA code cycles → Lithium-ion battery hazards → Remote inspections (NFPA 915) → The real story on L-rated extinguishers → Updates to NFPA 10, 17A, 96, 30A, 800, 915, and more. Whether you’re a fire contractor, AHJ, engineer, or manufacturer, this episode is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & industry history with Dave Pelton 06:30 – NAFED conference recap & membership trends 12:30 – NFPA 10 updates & lithium-ion battery concerns 18:00 – Misleading extinguisher labeling & NFPA 800 21:00 – NFPA 17A & flavorings in commercial kitchens 24:30 – EV charging hazards & NFPA 30A 27:00 – Remote inspections (NFPA 915) explained 32:30 – Class K extinguisher clarification (ICC ruling) 36:00 – Training & certification program updates 40:00 – Mentorship, leadership & legacy in fire protection 47:00 – What’s next: Fall webinar & deeper industry dives 📬 Guest Contact – Dave Pelton VP of Technical, NAFED 📧 [email protected] 🌐 https://www.nafed.org 📧 Host Contact – John Mackey President, The Mackey Group 📧 [email protected] 🌐 https://www.mackeygroupllc.com 🔗   / mackeyjohn   🔔 Subscribe for more episodes: Interviews with leaders shaping fire protection, suppression, and safety systems. 🔔Like this video 💬 Comment your questions 📩 Reach out to suggest future topics or guests #FireProtection #NFPA #LithiumBatteries #NAFED #FireCodes #TMGFiresideChat #LifeSafety #FireSuppression #RemoteInspections #AH

Ep 19.3 - Manufacturer Innovation Gaps and Supply Chain Pressure   Join John Mackey (Founder & CEO of The Mackey Group) and Drew Slocum (Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder of Inspect Point, and host of The Fire Protection Podcast) for a candid, real-world conversation about the future of fire protection.   In this fireside-style series, John and Drew dig into the trends, technologies, and transitions shaping our industry — from market consolidation and private equity activity to digital inspections, workforce challenges, and the growing role of AI.   🔥 In this series, we explore:   Ep 19.1 - M&A and Market Developments through Q1 2025 Ep 19.2 -Manufacturer Innovation Gaps and Supply Chain Pressure Ep 19.3 - Code Cycles, Data Collection, and Digital Workflows Ep 19.4 - Data-driven Product Innovation Ep 19.5 - The Future of Workforce Development in Fire Protection Ep 19.6 - Where AI is Already Reshaping FLS Operations   🔥 Guest: Drew Slocum Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Inspect Point Host of The Fire Protection Podcast 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/drewslocum   🔥 Host: John Mackey Founder & CEO, The Mackey Group 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: LinkedIn/mackeyjohn   Stay Connected:   ✅ Subscribe to The TMG Fireside Chat on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform 👍 Like, comment, and share to help us grow the conversation 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.mackeygroupllc.com

Join John Mackey (Founder & CEO of The Mackey Group) and Drew Slocum (Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder of Inspect Point, and host of The Fire Protection Podcast) for a candid, real-world conversation about the future of fire protection. In this fireside-style series, John and Drew dig into the trends, technologies, and transitions shaping our industry — from market consolidation and private equity activity to digital inspections, workforce challenges, and the growing role of AI. 🔥 In this series, we explore: Ep 19.1 - M&A and Market Developments through Q1 2025 Ep 19.2 -Manufacturer Innovation Gaps and Supply Chain Pressure Ep 19.3 - Code Cycles, Data Collection, and Digital Workflows Ep 19.4 - Data-driven Product Innovation Ep 19.5 - The Future of Workforce Development in Fire Protection Ep 19.6 - Where AI is Already Reshaping FLS Operations 🔥 Guest: Drew Slocum Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Inspect Point Host of The Fire Protection Podcast 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/drewslocum 🔥 Host: John Mackey Founder & CEO, The Mackey Group 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: LinkedIn/mackeyjohn Stay Connected: ✅ Subscribe to The TMG Fireside Chat on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform 👍 Like, comment, and share to help us grow the conversation 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.mackeygroupllc.com

Join John Mackey (Founder & CEO of The Mackey Group) and Drew Slocum (Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder of Inspect Point, and host of The Fire Protection Podcast) for a candid, real-world conversation about the future of fire protection. In this fireside-style series, John and Drew dig into the trends, technologies, and transitions shaping our industry — from market consolidation and private equity activity to digital inspections, workforce challenges, and the growing role of AI. 🔥 In this series, we explore: Ep 19.1 - M&A and Market Developments through Q1 2025 Ep 19.2 -Manufacturer Innovation Gaps and Supply Chain Pressure Ep 19.3 - Code Cycles, Data Collection, and Digital Workflows Ep 19.4 - Data-driven Product Innovation Ep 19.5 - The Future of Workforce Development in Fire Protection Ep 19.6 - Where AI is Already Reshaping FLS Operations 🔥 Guest: Drew Slocum Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Inspect Point Host of The Fire Protection Podcast 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn:   / drewslocum   🔥 Host: John Mackey Founder & CEO, The Mackey Group 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn:   / mackeyjohn   Stay Connected: ✅ Subscribe to The TMG Fireside Chat on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform 👍 Like, comment, and share to help us grow the conversation 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.mackeygroupllc.com