The Growth Seat Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-growth-seat Each episode, we sit down with the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping growth across the lower middle market, and together, we explore how vision, capital, and collaboration drive progress—and what it takes to build lasting success. © 2026 Granite Creek Capital Partners 6ef7b5f4-5570-57d2-ad53-1108eac3c4ec yes The Growth Seat: Official Trailer en Wed, 20 May 2026 13:02:12 -0500 Wed, 20 May 2026 13:03:05 -0500 https://www.granitecreek.com/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/NoLjhGsE7IFrvLDwEAicWT2VDrSgFB-ZIoQcYWhLU4s/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xMTI5/MDk3ODQ1ZTc2Nzg1/MTQ5ZjZlMDg0NjNk/MzFkZS5qcGc.jpg The Growth Seat https://www.granitecreek.com/ episodic Granite Creek Capital Partners Each episode, we sit down with the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping growth across the lower middle market, and together, we explore how vision, capital, and collaboration drive progress—and what it takes to build lasting success. Each episode, we sit down with the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping growth across the lower middle market, and together, we explore how vision, capital, and collaboration drive progress—and what it takes to build lasting success.. Granite Creek Capital Partners alix@granitecreek.com No No Episode 4: Dean Warras and Stacy Peters | Turning Customer Problems Into Products 4 4 Episode 4: Dean Warras and Stacy Peters | Turning Customer Problems Into Products full 3556f7c3-8b4f-40b9-8605-2872b8efffc8 https://thegrowthseat.transistor.fm/4 In this episode of The Growth Seat, host Dhani Jones sits down with Dean Warras, CEO, and Stacy Peters, Chief Commercial Officer, of Veterinary Solutions Holdings (VSH), a Granite Creek portfolio company serving the animal health market.

Dean and Stacy discuss VSH’s evolution from a specialized livestock compounding business into a broader animal health platform, including its acquisition of Diamond Animal Health. They share how the company turns customer challenges into practical product solutions, why innovation often starts in the field, and how VSH is expanding into new species and capabilities.

The conversation also covers the role of culture, thoughtful pacing, and the importance of knowing when to “go slow to go fast” while scaling a business. Listeners will hear how platform growth requires more than acquisitions: it takes the right people, sharp commercial focus, disciplined execution, and a clear view of where the market is headed.

]]> In this episode of The Growth Seat, host Dhani Jones sits down with Dean Warras, CEO, and Stacy Peters, Chief Commercial Officer, of Veterinary Solutions Holdings (VSH), a Granite Creek portfolio company serving the animal health market.

Dean and Stacy discuss VSH’s evolution from a specialized livestock compounding business into a broader animal health platform, including its acquisition of Diamond Animal Health. They share how the company turns customer challenges into practical product solutions, why innovation often starts in the field, and how VSH is expanding into new species and capabilities.

The conversation also covers the role of culture, thoughtful pacing, and the importance of knowing when to “go slow to go fast” while scaling a business. Listeners will hear how platform growth requires more than acquisitions: it takes the right people, sharp commercial focus, disciplined execution, and a clear view of where the market is headed.

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 08:57:52 -0500 Granite Creek Capital Partners Granite Creek Capital Partners 1883 In this episode of The Growth Seat, host Dhani Jones sits down with Dean Warras, CEO, and Stacy Peters, Chief Commercial Officer, of Veterinary Solutions Holdings (VSH), a Granite Creek portfolio company serving the animal health market.

Dean and Stacy discuss VSH’s evolution from a specialized livestock compounding business into a broader animal health platform, including its acquisition of Diamond Animal Health. They share how the company turns customer challenges into practical product solutions, why innovation often starts in the field, and how VSH is expanding into new species and capabilities.

The conversation also covers the role of culture, thoughtful pacing, and the importance of knowing when to “go slow to go fast” while scaling a business. Listeners will hear how platform growth requires more than acquisitions: it takes the right people, sharp commercial focus, disciplined execution, and a clear view of where the market is headed.

]]> animal health, livestock, compounding, agribusiness, scaling a business, growth, business growth, private equity, pharmaceuticals No Episode 3: Mike Ray | Either You Grow, or You Die 3 3 Episode 3: Mike Ray | Either You Grow, or You Die full e5ce954a-1862-45e9-833b-0fd4ffb0c4f5 https://thegrowthseat.transistor.fm/3 In this episode of The Growth Seat, Mike Ray, operating partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners, joins host Dhani Jones to discuss the mindset, discipline, and risk tolerance required to build lasting businesses in agriculture and beyond.

 

Drawing on decades of experience as an operator, founder, investor, and board member, Ray shares how a willingness to take smart risks, work relentlessly, and stay grounded in data helped him build and scale companies across livestock, animal health, and adjacent sectors.

 

Listeners will come away with practical insight into what it takes to operate and grow a business in the agricultural sector, including how to lead through uncertainty, spot growth opportunities in tough markets, and build a business that can endure through changing cycles.

]]> In this episode of The Growth Seat, Mike Ray, operating partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners, joins host Dhani Jones to discuss the mindset, discipline, and risk tolerance required to build lasting businesses in agriculture and beyond.

 

Drawing on decades of experience as an operator, founder, investor, and board member, Ray shares how a willingness to take smart risks, work relentlessly, and stay grounded in data helped him build and scale companies across livestock, animal health, and adjacent sectors.

 

Listeners will come away with practical insight into what it takes to operate and grow a business in the agricultural sector, including how to lead through uncertainty, spot growth opportunities in tough markets, and build a business that can endure through changing cycles.

]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:18:02 -0500 Granite Creek Capital Partners Granite Creek Capital Partners 1594 In this episode of The Growth Seat, Mike Ray, operating partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners, joins host Dhani Jones to discuss the mindset, discipline, and risk tolerance required to build lasting businesses in agriculture and beyond.

 

Drawing on decades of experience as an operator, founder, investor, and board member, Ray shares how a willingness to take smart risks, work relentlessly, and stay grounded in data helped him build and scale companies across livestock, animal health, and adjacent sectors.

 

Listeners will come away with practical insight into what it takes to operate and grow a business in the agricultural sector, including how to lead through uncertainty, spot growth opportunities in tough markets, and build a business that can endure through changing cycles.

]]> agribusiness, agriculture, rural, feedlot, animal health, cattle, private equity, entrepreneur, growth, business growth No Episode 2: Kevin Werner | Building What the Banks Left Behind 2 2 Episode 2: Kevin Werner | Building What the Banks Left Behind full 4b52bce9-4ad9-44f0-9eb0-1b1f712d5802 https://thegrowthseat.transistor.fm/2 In this episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with Renovo Financial CEO Kevin Werner to discuss building a culture-first private lending platform from the ground up. From recognizing opportunity after the financial crisis to scaling toward a $5 billion annual goal, Werner shares lessons on authentic leadership, ambitious goal setting, and why partnership—not just transactions—drives long-term growth.

]]> In this episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with Renovo Financial CEO Kevin Werner to discuss building a culture-first private lending platform from the ground up. From recognizing opportunity after the financial crisis to scaling toward a $5 billion annual goal, Werner shares lessons on authentic leadership, ambitious goal setting, and why partnership—not just transactions—drives long-term growth.

]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:49:41 -0500 Granite Creek Capital Partners Granite Creek Capital Partners 1530 In this episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with Renovo Financial CEO Kevin Werner to discuss building a culture-first private lending platform from the ground up. From recognizing opportunity after the financial crisis to scaling toward a $5 billion annual goal, Werner shares lessons on authentic leadership, ambitious goal setting, and why partnership—not just transactions—drives long-term growth.

]]> Entrepreneurship, Business Leadership, Business Growth, Founder Stories, Leadership, Scaling a Business, Real Estate Finance, Business Culture, Leadership Mindset, Startup Growth, Real Estate Capital, Real Estate Lending, Commercial Real Estate No Episode 1: Sal Calvino | You Don't Climb a Mountain in One Push 1 1 Episode 1: Sal Calvino | You Don't Climb a Mountain in One Push full 6a32e783-c8dc-4b72-b0ee-6544fc5abfd6 https://thegrowthseat.transistor.fm/1 In the debut episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Sal Calvino, Founder of Equivu Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and survive businesses over decades.

Sal grew up around airplanes, started his first company at age 26, navigated 9/11, the financial crisis, Covid, and volatile markets, and has built a global workforce of 5,500 people.  In this episode, Sal shares the hard-earned lessons you don’t learn in a classroom — only by being in the seat when the pressure is on.

This conversation cuts through theory and gets practical: leadership under stress, calculating risk, building businesses that don’t collapse when challenges arise, and why people — not spreadsheets — ultimately determine outcomes.

No playbooks. No shortcuts. Just lessons learned the hard way.

]]> In the debut episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Sal Calvino, Founder of Equivu Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and survive businesses over decades.

Sal grew up around airplanes, started his first company at age 26, navigated 9/11, the financial crisis, Covid, and volatile markets, and has built a global workforce of 5,500 people.  In this episode, Sal shares the hard-earned lessons you don’t learn in a classroom — only by being in the seat when the pressure is on.

This conversation cuts through theory and gets practical: leadership under stress, calculating risk, building businesses that don’t collapse when challenges arise, and why people — not spreadsheets — ultimately determine outcomes.

No playbooks. No shortcuts. Just lessons learned the hard way.

]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:07:58 -0600 Granite Creek Capital Partners Granite Creek Capital Partners 1763 In the debut episode of The Growth Seat, Dhani Jones sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Sal Calvino, Founder of Equivu Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and survive businesses over decades.

Sal grew up around airplanes, started his first company at age 26, navigated 9/11, the financial crisis, Covid, and volatile markets, and has built a global workforce of 5,500 people.  In this episode, Sal shares the hard-earned lessons you don’t learn in a classroom — only by being in the seat when the pressure is on.

This conversation cuts through theory and gets practical: leadership under stress, calculating risk, building businesses that don’t collapse when challenges arise, and why people — not spreadsheets — ultimately determine outcomes.

No playbooks. No shortcuts. Just lessons learned the hard way.

]]> middle market, business growth, leadership, private equity, investing, strategy, capital, founders, CEOs, operators, aviation No The Growth Seat: Official Trailer 1 1 The Growth Seat: Official Trailer trailer 2839eb55-2ded-4aa5-8503-9c385ba88325 https://thegrowthseat.transistor.fm/trailer1 Welcome to The Growth Seat, a podcast presented by Granite Creek Capital Partners and hosted by former NFL linebacker Dhani Jones.


In each episode, we sit down with leaders, founders, investors, and operators behind growing businesses to unpack what really drives scale, resilience, and long-term value.

This trailer offers a preview of the conversations ahead—focused on leadership, strategy, capital, and collaboration, grounded in real-world experience. If you’re involved in building or backing growth, this is your seat at the table.

]]> Welcome to The Growth Seat, a podcast presented by Granite Creek Capital Partners and hosted by former NFL linebacker Dhani Jones.


In each episode, we sit down with leaders, founders, investors, and operators behind growing businesses to unpack what really drives scale, resilience, and long-term value.

This trailer offers a preview of the conversations ahead—focused on leadership, strategy, capital, and collaboration, grounded in real-world experience. If you’re involved in building or backing growth, this is your seat at the table.

]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:42:45 -0600 Granite Creek Capital Partners Granite Creek Capital Partners 97 Welcome to The Growth Seat, a podcast presented by Granite Creek Capital Partners and hosted by former NFL linebacker Dhani Jones.


In each episode, we sit down with leaders, founders, investors, and operators behind growing businesses to unpack what really drives scale, resilience, and long-term value.

This trailer offers a preview of the conversations ahead—focused on leadership, strategy, capital, and collaboration, grounded in real-world experience. If you’re involved in building or backing growth, this is your seat at the table.

]]> middle market, business growth, leadership, private equity, investing, strategy, capital, founders, CEOs, operators No