Vision
To connect with a like-minded entrepreneur who is in a different phase in life to enable a smooth transition of business ownership while preserving the years of value creation that are embedded in a company and its relationships.
Experience
I have developed a unique set of tools and experiences through many different blue- and white-collar positions over the last 25 years. These experiences at small companies and large corporations give me confidence in my ability to responsibly steward a company and lead it into the future. A proven track record of innovative execution and process improvement will translate to success in business ownership.
Throughout high school and college I worked for small businesses and appreciated the experiences and relationships that I built. I did a little bit of everything, from leading landscaping crews to working in restaurants and warehouses. The breadth of experience was invaluable. Many of these jobs helped me learn the value of hard work, how to be a team player and watered the seeds of entrepreneurship.
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After initially studying engineering at Kansas State, traveling abroad to study Spanish and drilling water wells in Colorado, a conversation with the owner about buying the water well business motivated me to refine my financial acumen and finish my degree. I graduated from Colorado State with a degree in Finance and moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family and continue my business education.
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I started my corporate career at Waddell & Reed in accounting and finance positions. I was heavily involved in the annual budget cycle, executed all firm-wide transfer pricing, and modeled profitability for the firm's products. I improved efficiency through several projects and designed pro forma and return-on-investment (ROI) analyses. After several years, I moved to a product management role in the marketing department where I served as a liaison with clients, salespeople, and executive management. I determined competitive positioning of products, led multiple product launches, and interacted with clients in their due diligence process.
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For most of the past decade, I have been evaluating business models, industry trends, management teams and financial statements of public companies. I have professionally invested billions of dollars in hundreds of US businesses across 30+ industries.
These experience have provided a solid foundation for business ownership and an ability to quickly adapt to unique situations and evolving environments.
Who Am I?
My name is Casey Johnson and I am an aspiring small business owner and Kansas City native who currently lives in Shawnee with my wonderful wife Maya, two children and our faithful dog, Fry. We enjoy spending time outdoors exploring places big and small, exercising and building pillow forts.
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I believe curiosity, drive and problem-solving are instrumental to successful business ownership. I have demonstrated these traits in both my personal and professional life and am confident this will help me tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship. I enjoy coming up with creative solutions to issues, working with my hands and managing both people and projects.
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