An approach that helped to form success in the local business that is now offered to those who scales – siouxfalls.business

February 5, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by the startup Sioux Falls.

For the first time, they gathered decades ago as relatively new owners of a small business, each with a handful of success, but with some obstacles to overcome.

The group of 10 Executive Directors was brought to the round table by Jean McGowan, whose company McGowan Capital has invested in many of them.

“I believed that coaching was the answer to support growth as a business leader,” he said. “If you lack any ability, you will not change your life to go to a seminar. What changes your life is your involvement and circumvention with other adherents. “

For years, his group had been gathering a month for three hours each time. McGowan provides content that deals with various business related topics. And then each participant had 15 to 20 minutes to update the group of priorities or problems that are solved in this person’s business.

One person was sitting every time in the “hot seat”, which meant within an hour business reporting and answering questions from the group.

“They had to report their forecasts and where they needed help-people and everything else a person appeared in this table,” McGowan said.

“We chose people based on what they could bring to the meeting, not how much they need the meeting. And over time, we have seen a great deal of success for the people who were part of this round table of the CEO. “

Now, two of them carry the benefits they have found in such a group in a new group of entrepreneurs.

Kurt LoudenBack, the owner and CEO of Grand Prairie Foods, was a member of the McGowan round table and was a facilitator of the first Sioux Falls Growco bohort start last year.

Joe Zueger, founder of Workplace IT Management, was sitting with Loudenback in the McGowan group and will serve as a facilitator for the upcoming Growco group.

“I pulled components like the hot seat directly from Jean’s group,” LoudenBack said.

“The beauty of this is that all CEOs need accountability and we saw it with the first Growco group. The reporting rate was alive and well and by the end of the annual program they shared intimate details about their business and simply learned how other people solve problems. “

The Growco program offers a monthly 3.5-hour meetings held at Startup Sioux Falls in the city center. They are led by a facilitator coordinated by Sioux Falls launch staff and supported by a council of strategic advisers consisting of business leaders for quarterly examinations and strategic sessions.

For Zueger, which will make it easier this year, “the main format is still what we learned from the master, Jean,” he said. “In the early stages, it will take some time for everyone to go, but we do not rediscover a program.”

The curriculum revolves around growth, a tool for business advisers to help entrepreneurs make decisions and take action based on the business concept, customer relationships, operations and organization.

The content will be tailored to the needs of the participants, Zueger added.

“We are trying to make an impactful content based on the stage of the business they are in,” he said. “And we will continue with elements of last year’s content, which proved to be the highest grip.”

This will not be a large group, probably limited to seven or eight participants and all are expected to attend each monthly session personally.

In order to get the most beneficial of the program, a founder must generate profits and control employees, or full -time or contract, along with the fact that he is ready to take the next step in the scale of his business.

“The short time we spend together will not fix your business,” McGowan said. “But we think we can make a change in how you grow your business. This can contribute to your ability to have a successful business in five, 10, even 15 years. “

The aim is to leave the program with a clear, enforceable growth strategy and ways to measure their success, along with a healthy network of peers and advisers.

For the McGowan Group, which turned out to be a power for decades after the last meeting.

“This is the beginning of building a trust that you can maintain,” Zueger said.

“I kept in touch with Kurt and Jean and others. It’s invaluable whether you are doing business together or not. For me, this helped me to gain clarity and confidence, and in the end I opened the door to the influential long -term relationships that deeply changed my business. “

The deadline for applying for Growco is 23:59 h. February 21.

For information and to apply, click here.