Platinum Group

Meaningful Capitalism Awards sponsors gathered on October 17th to learn more about the 2025 nomination process, engagement opportunities, and awards reception planned for May 6, 2025 at the Metropolitan in Golden Valley. In its third year, the MCA is hosted by Platinum Group to celebrate businesses that are financially successful, privately held, free market enterprises benefiting all of their stakeholders in significant ways.   For more information about the Meaningful Capitalism Awards, please visit https://lnkd.in/g_Q_ciS6 Be sure to SAVE THE DATE for the 2025 MCA Reception on Tuesday, May 6th at the Metropolitan Ballroom.   Questions may be directed to Bill English Bill.English@theplatinumgrp.com or Randy Kroll Randy.Kroll@theplatinumgrp.com   #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness    Attending the MCA Sponsor Happy Hour included:   (1) Steve Coleman, Randy Kroll, Platinum Group; Jenifer Ericson, Community Reinvestment Fund (2) Bill English, Bob Stewart, Platinum Group; Randy Feld, Boyum Barenscheer (3) Bill English, Platinum Group; David Cantu, Medsurity; Steven Strege, Nesbit Agencies (4) David Flavin, Nesbit Agencies; Jenna Sherrick, Evolve Systems; Heather Balgaard, Monroe Moxness Berg (5) Troy Roberts, Tolerance Tool; Ron Leaf, Platinum Group; Nate Urfer, Platinum Bank; Randy Feld, Boyum Barenscheer; Brett Lawrence, Platinum Bank Not pictured: Tom Mahowald, EverCore; Don Raleigh III, Jenna Sherrick, Evolve Systems; J.P. Hnastchenko, Insperity; Brett Larson, Dillon White, Messerli Kramer; Todd Nelson, North American Banking; Johan Gjenvick, Northwestern Mutual

A special thank you to 2024 Meaningful Capitalism Awards honorees who recently joined us for lunch to discuss ways we can make this event even better. We greatly appreciate your enthusiasm for this program, and for your invaluable insights into what meaningful capitalism is all about. For more information about the Meaningful Capitalism Awards, please visit https://lnkd.in/g_Q_ciS6 Be sure to SAVE THE DATE for the 2025 MCA Reception on Tuesday, May 6th at the Metropolitan Ballroom. Questions may be directed to Bill English Bill.English@theplatinumgrp.com or Randy Kroll Randy.Kroll@theplatinumgrp.com #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness Front Row (L-R): Wendy Stromberg, Delta ModTech; Mindee Peterson, MyTech Partners; Randy Kroll, Platinum Group; Marnie Ochs-Raleigh, Evolve Systems; Jack Swift, Irish Titan; Jessie Stone, Irish Titan. Back Row (L-R): Corey Falls, MyTech Partners; Bill English, Platinum Group; Evan Schiebout, Delta ModTech; Steve Coleman, Platinum Group; Mike Lundborg, Lundborg Design Group; Emily Allegra, Delta ModTech; Don Raleigh, III, Evolve Systems.

Surprised by Abundance – and Putting it to Good Use As Americans change during this pandemic, being a pet owner has moved into first place ahead of having children. Why is this happening? Maybe it’s addressing an unmet need for close relationships. Maybe it’s human desire for giving and receiving love. Maybe it’s a great way to meet new people. We got a new puppy last August, and now we can say with a lasting smile that we have a friendship with every family that lives on our block-long cul-de-sac. I believe a more compelling force of human nature at work has to do with the loss we all feel due to the pandemic. Everyone has been dealing with unrequested, uncontrollable change. For most of us, the impact has been negative, a struggle. This triggers a need for healing, small victories that restore our faith and lift our hope for another season of life that is better than what we have now. Winston Churchill said, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.” What can you win in your life today? How about generosity? This may sound strange at first, but generosity is highly contagious. By giving, you receive even more abundantly. I’m experiencing this firsthand. It is generosity that flows naturally and spontaneously from abundance I didn’t realize I have. I’m amazed that when you give to someone, they are thankful, your heart is warmed by what you are doing, and other people who see and experience this generosity are encouraged to do the same. Being generous with one’s abundance refills, if it doesn’t add to, the abundance one is fortunate enough to have. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/eqvyqrH3 #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

The Best Time to Plan is When Things are Calm I’ve been thinking a lot about my own mortality lately. That’s probably because a number of people close to me have died. We so easily forget that the circle of life on this planet far too soon will no longer include us. Tempus fugit. In the context of advising business owners, this realization reinforces for me the importance of planning ahead. Prepare yourself and your business for change. Although we can’t easily predict what change is next, we do know that change is inevitable. Those businesses that do best during times of change – at least relative to their competitors – are often those that have made contingency plans for possible changes they can predict, and those they cannot. As my colleague Steve Coleman often says, “The best time to plan is when things are calm.” He is so right. Let me highlight a few predictable changes that every business will encounter and maybe identify some contingencies for which they can create plans, even if they never need to use them. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/g5KCq23s #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Give More by Giving Wisely It’s that most wonderful time of the year, a time to exercise abundant generosity in gift giving within our families, to our friends and neighbors, and especially, to community organizations that help those facing life crises or challenges. But hold off on contributing to your favorite charities until you consider this approach for making what could be the biggest and boldest contribution of your lifetime. Given how well the stock market has done in 2020, chances are you have one or more stocks that performed extremely well – maybe Apple or Amazon, for example, each up 68 percent year-to-date. Before the clock strikes midnight on December 31 next week, contribute that stock to a donor-advised fund you either already have, or can set up with a local community foundation such as the Minneapolis Foundation, St. Paul Foundation or National Christian Foundation. Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard allow for such charitable accounts also. A donor-advised fund usually requires an opening balance of at least $10,000 and allows you to direct spending of those funds to the charity or charities of your choice. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/gVHqMS3f #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Planning for the Inevitable Everyone who has built or run a successful business wants that enterprise to last longer than their tenure—or even longer than their lifetime. But businesses require vision and leadership. What happens at the point in time where the person providing that vision and leadership steps away? Platinum consultants have advised hundreds of businesses as they have worked through this inevitability. Although we have learned much about what can be done to sustain these businesses, we have also learned that no two businesses are the same. Yet there are common issues that need to be addressed. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/g8Ye8BkB #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Bankruptcy Avoided Through Sale Transaction How Platinum helped owner and lender to identify a buyer, cover debt and save jobs Situation: A manufacturer of critical components for OEMs was anticipating lower volume from a major customer. The owner projected losses and, due to the existing debt level and limited borrowing capacity, was considering bankruptcy. The company’s lenders wanted to avoid a bankruptcy because it would result in liquidation of the business and a loss of jobs in the community. The lender asked the owner to engage Platinum Group to evaluate options. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/gDjmf7Xv #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Profitable Company Needed Fast Advisory Help for Acquisition Due Diligence How Platinum partnered with manufacturer to make “go/no-go decision” under significant time constraint Situation: A successful manufacturer with worldwide industrial customers buying its specialized processing equipment was considering a potential acquisition that, on paper, looked like a strategic fit. The opportunity presented itself when it learned that a company in the same general industry had filed for bankruptcy and was going to be sold in three weeks in a Section 363 Sale (where there is already an opening and approved, but not final, bid). The target company was well established, international, enjoyed a good reputation, and derived significant revenue from change and wear parts. Importantly, there was no customer overlap and the target company’s products, while sharing technical over-lap, competed in a different segment. Platinum was invited to bring its due-diligence and advisory experience to bear on an expedited timetable and to provide a big picture, neutral perspective to a purchase and pricing decision. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/gdhMpFwY #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Happy Labor Day from your friends at Platinum Group! #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards

Understanding the Difference Between Governance and Leadership How Platinum Group helped a nonprofit develop a healthy board of directors Situation: A dysfunctional board of directors was in crisis, plaguing the efforts of a substantial, well-run and financially stable nonprofit organization that serves challenged children and their families. Platinum Group was introduced to the organization’s board and hired to provide advisory services. The overall goal: Assess the governance, leadership and operations of this nonprofit with the goal of improving the organization’s ability to create a healthier, more productive environment. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/gAVypAM2 #platinumgroup #businessadvice #businesstransition #businessturnaround #familybusiness #mca #meaningfulcapitalism #awards #meaningfulcapitalismawards