The M&A Boot Camp Chris Younger Chris Younger

My thoughts from our round table group are that bringing like-minded people together for a few hours each month, immersing them in learning opportunities and idea sharing, is much better than attending a training with people you don’t have a relationship with. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my peers in this group and sharing learning experiences and stories.  A great group of people!

A couple of descriptors come to mind when I think about our People Leader Roundtable under Ashley’s leadership: ‘A breath of fresh air’ and ‘A dose of inspiration’.” Being part of this group has been impactful and instrumental, helping me further develop as a People Ops professional and as a leader. It’s refreshing to be around and engage with like-minded leaders from renowned AZ companies in my cohort (and in the break-out, combined exec group). I continually walk out of each monthly session inspired with new tools to add to my toolkit and new ideas to help solve issues and add value. The format of each session is highly effective for personal growth, peer/colleague mentoring, and real-world learning that can be applied the next day on the job. Plus, I have a supportive mentor, Ashley, whom I can lean on and learn from. I highly recommend this roundtable to anyone passionate about personal and professional development and about maximizing their potential!

The group has connected me with resources and subject matter experts to help improve our company’s people processes. I appreciate everyone’s willingness to share and be thought partners. As we deal with challenges in our organizations, it’s useful to talk through what has worked and what hasn’t during our meetings.

This education series is perfect for non-financial executives who want to refresh their understanding of basic accounting concepts and then build on that base knowledge with highly relevant financial acumen training specifically designed for business leaders and owners. This workshop gives you several very useful financial approaches and tools that provide context for how to frame and evaluate financial decisions such as how to measure success, determine your company’s value, and better manage cash. I would highly recommend this series as required information for leaders and business owners that want to make smarter financial decisions.

The monthly CFO executive roundtable gatherings provide a perfect opportunity for C-level executives to discuss challenges and goals in a confidential setting with seasoned peer professionals. The diverse membership brings great perspective from executives who are truly passionate about sharing their experiences and expertise. We challenge one another to think critically so that we fully explore all options, making better decisions together. Most importantly, participating in the CFO peer group allows us to build lifelong business relationships and personal friendships. Without exception, at every meeting I walk away with a host of ideas and perspectives to think about and further contemplate. I know that my critical investment of time with AZGA always yields an extremely valuable source of insight and guidance. Everyone in the AZGA community is willing to support me in any way possible… they are truly part of my “work family”.

AZ Growth Advisors has continuously created value for me both personally and professionally. This unique forum provides great strategic discussions, best practices and a confidential sounding board. This accompanied with the consistent, high caliber guest presentations makes monthly membership invaluable. I highly recommend it to anyone invited to participate.

Arizona Growth Advisors is both a peer group and real-life experience MBA rolled into one. The monthly meetings have given me an opportunity to reflect on our business plan, bounce ideas off of peers and talk with experts who have sat in my seat before. I can’t speak highly enough of my experience since joining.

I completed the AZGA Financial Acumen Series in February 2021 and still can’t believe just how much we were able to learn in such a short time. WOW! What a great opportunity it was! We studied everything from P&L statements, Cash Flow and Balance Sheets to key terminology, KPIs and Metrics, Roles and Responsibilities, and the critical foundations for financial decision making. Our group all came from different industries and backgrounds, but John did a stellar job of guiding and helping us translate concepts to our unique business scenarios. I am certain my participation will enable me to more deeply engage and add value in both my current and future roles.

I jumped at the opportunity to enroll in the Financial Acumen Series through AZ Growth Advisors in 2021. The financial side of the business has never been my strong suit, and I was attracted to the opportunity to be in a room with like-minded individuals focused on key financial aspects of business. Not only did I gain confidence in my ability to navigate the numbers side of the business, but I also learned a lot from other leaders in the room. It was a very collaborative and insightful experience, giving me the necessary tools to improve my decision making and allowing me to be a better leader.”

For me, the core value proposition of AZ Growth Advisors is that they provide expert advice. Seemingly no matter what the issue, Rick, John and their team have been there before—probably several times, then coached a few other entrepreneurs through it. So when it’s your turn, they really can point you in the right direction.

I’ve been working with John and Rick for over nine years. While many in my field were forced to close their doors, we are now growing again. During my membership, I’ve improved my leadership skills, realized I’m not alone in my ongoing challenges, and built a network of valuable resources. Now I can more clearly see the bigger picture, engage my team and execute on strategy.

My AZGA CFO Executive Roundtable offers monthly Best Practices speakers that have allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Equipped with that knowledge, I have been able to introduce those learnings to Sunland to assist in their growth trajectory. The peer group discussions and problem-solving is a tremendous value add that I have not found anywhere else. Having said that, my membership is one of my most valued tools.

If you’re lucky enough to be selected as a member of AZ Growth Advisors, you’ll meet people who will become your close friends over time. You’ll be able to openly share all parts of your business with people who have your best interest at heart. And you’ll encounter business leaders and learn business methods you won’t find anywhere else.

The Financial Acumen Series targets those who have limited or no financial experience. People in the room may have years of industry knowledge but may not easily relate to the finance and accounting side of the business. The Series provides tools that you can apply to your business, but the true value is the top-notch discussions within the group. As we covered the various finance/accounting topics, each attendee was encouraged to share real life business experiences. Those discussions proved to be valuable learning tools for what’s worked and what hasn’t. John is a terrific facilitator with deep knowledge on the topics presented. I highly recommend this series to those who want to better understand how a working knowledge of the numbers is critical to becoming a better leader.

My membership at AZ Growth Advisors has boosted my personal and professional development tremendously. AZ Growth Advisors presents thought-leader best practices in a way that I can implement immediately to add value to my company, and the advantage of having a peers group to bounce ideas off of is an opportunity I’ve not found elsewhere. I’m a huge fan.

After completing AZGA’s Financial Acumen Series and letting the information covered settle (while applying it day-to-day), it’s become increasingly obvious how valuable this learning opportunity is. Beginning the course with a basic, but suitably in-depth, review of accounting fundamentals not only serves as an excellent refresher but provides a great opportunity to ask any and all “dumb” questions to ensure everybody’s financial foundation is sound. With this foundation in place, we then turned to the financial tools necessary to elevate decision making. I highly recommend this series to leaders who understand the importance that numbers play in making solid business decisions.

The charge is to deliver an education that CFOs don’t get elsewhere, so the focus isn’t on accounting and finance. Every session is designed to address leadership issues. We’re free to discuss whatever is on our minds, and as we do so, we hold one another accountable to deliver solutions. This is a great investment, both individually and for the company, and I would highly recommend this program to others.

The expert advice and individual attention I’ve received at AZ Growth Advisors has been invaluable to our growth, making a clear difference in how we operate. My peers are a practical, safe and confidential sounding board, a group who truly understands the unique challenges faced by the CFO. Beyond business tools, friendships develop, cultivating a team of advisors who have a genuine interest in each other’s success.

This series offers an excellent high-level understanding of finance and accounting, allowing me to start to put the financial picture pieces together! Equally as important is the interaction with other attendees. Hearing their stories permitted me to really understand how many of the financial topics covered relate to my business. The financial tools we explored are things I can put into place on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Well worth my time!

AZ Growth Advisers has been a valuable member of the Liberty Greenleaf Paper team since 2004. With their guidance, we have developed a management team, managed a generational transition in leadership and, most importantly, grown the business. We highly recommend AZ Growth Advisers and the dynamic that Rick and John bring to helping you build a thriving business.”

Going in, I had questions. Would I truly get value out of the group? Was it diverse enough? Would I better my company from my learnings? My concerns quickly dissolved. Connecting with my peers, gaining access to a wealth of knowledge and a sounding board, and learning best practices has been invaluable to my professional growth, clearly enhancing the value I bring to my company.

As a non-financial leader, the Financial Acumen Series was a great benefit for me to better understand accounting practices used within our company. The course covered everything from basic terminology to P& L statements, Cash Flow Statements and Balance Sheets. I gained the ability to better understand the Metrics and Key Performance Indicators necessary for our Operations Team to perform at a higher level. Of course, with every AZGA course the other participants always add a ton of value as they relate their personal experiences on any given subject. I believe the combination of all these attributes makes this course a worthwhile investment for all mid- and upper- level team members.

AZ Growth Advisors has had a very positive impact on my personal growth and my ability to affect change in my rapidly growing business. I feel blessed to be in such a rich environment, surrounded by fellow executives, helping each other think constructively. It’s an investment in the future that I believe in and am fully committed to.

Working with Rick and John for the past several years has allowed me to transform my company from an average company to a high-performance company. By implementing certain best practices and tools, we have changed the growth trajectory of our employees and the company.

AZ Growth’s COO roundtable has been an invaluable resource to share and problem solve with like-minded professionals. These regular sessions supported by the top-notch special event guest speakers and AZ Growth’s “all member meetings” has been instrumental not only in my own personal growth as a COO but also for company and clients. If you’re truly interested in alternate perspectives on your business, I would highly recommend exploring what AZ Growth has to offer!