Episode Summary: In this episode of the "Entrepreneurs, Business, and Finance" Podcast, host Henry Harrison interviews Chris McKee, founder and chairman of Venturity Financial Partners. Chris shares his journey from starting Venturity to transitioning leadership to Deanna Walker, discussing the motivations behind stepping down as CEO and the impact of the change on the company. He delves into Venturity's unique approach to employee ownership through an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), highlighting its benefits for both the company and its employees. The conversation also covers the importance of accurate financial information for business success and Chris's plans for the future.

https://henryharrison.com/chris-mckee/

Key Topics Discussed:

· Leadership Transition: Chris explains his decision to step down as CEO of Venturity Financial Partners after over 23 years and the selection of Deanna Walker as the new CEO.

· Employee Ownership: An in-depth discussion on Venturity's implementation of an ESOP, the benefits it provides to employees, and the strategy behind transitioning ownership.

· Venturity’s Services: The range of services offered by Venturity, includes outsourced accounting, fractional CFO advisory, and system support and consultation.

· Challenges and Lessons: Chris shares some of the significant challenges Venturity faced, including near cash crises and dealing with ransomware attacks, and the lessons learned from these experiences.

· Entrepreneurial Journey: Chris's path from working at Arthur Anderson to founding Venturity and his passion for accounting started in high school.

· Future Plans: Chris’s interest in teaching accounting at the college level and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of accountants and business leaders.

Memorable Quotes:

· “I think she's the right next leader of Venturity if that makes sense. So, I got to hand off the reins at some point and felt like this the right time to do that.”

· “We're all kind of rowing the same boat now, which is nice.”

· “I've learned and grown in ways that I never would have had I not made the choice that I made.”

Contact Information:

· Venturity Financial Partners: Visit https://venturity.com/

· Chris McKee: Email Chris directly at Chris@Venturity.net for any inquiries

Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the "Entrepreneurs, Business, and Finance" Podcast for more insightful interviews and expert advice. Don't forget to leave a review and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts!