In today's episode of The Referral Bench Podcast, Phil and Ian talk with Blair Koch from TAB Denver West.

A bit of background on me: I believe that owners of privately held business hold the key to local and regional success - and was always drawn towards work which I felt enabled this in some way.

I started in little companies like IBM, General Motors, and EDS. This is where I learned how not to do things!

I am a change agent by nature - I like to make things happen and happen fast. After my big company experience, I went and joined my first start-up, a technology company. In a start-up, you get to wear many hats and it was so much fun. I helped take them public – this was in a time when you had to be profitable for a fair amount of time before you could consider an IPO. Shortly after the IPO, I left when I realized that a couple of key players on the management team did not know how to run a publicly-traded company...

I joined another technology company, in the same space, that had IPO’d about a month prior to my previous company. I was there for 10 years in executive positions. Half the team I managed was overseas and I helped bring new products to market, including in new countries. When I left we were a $500,000,000 multi-national company. Again, the company got too big for me and I moved on. From there I worked with a few more start-ups, some more successful than others.

In 2000, I started my own business – focused on small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and in 2005 I began my journey with The Alternative Board. This is where I could finally - and truly - put my passion into practice. SMBs and facilitating CEO Advisory boards while providing 1-1 coaching for business owners is allowing me to give back to the community in a way that is more impactful than I could have hoped for.

Small business is the economic engine of this country and to be able to help these businesses thrive and allow their owners to live the rich rewarding life they deserve is truly the most psychically rewarding thing I have ever done. I love all-things-business and helping business owners achieve their vision of success is my passion… my clients can attest to that.

Contact Blair:

Contact Phil & Firestorm

Contact Ian & Mission Suite

Episode 37: Patty Block - It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You

The Referral BenchBy Ian Campbell & Phil PeltoAug 12, 2021