A lot of business owners think private equity means losing control, sacrificing culture, and putting profits ahead of people. What if the exact opposite could be true?

In this episode of The Deal Factory, Jeff Harkness sits down with Chester Buczynski and Mike Montenaro to unpack the formation of the YardMaster Big Lakes platform backed by Unity Partners.

The conversation explores the realities of private equity partnerships, employee ownership, scaling through acquisitions, leadership development, and building a culture that creates transformational wealth for employees at every level.

From Chester's journey starting a landscape company with no money and a vision, to Mike's path through decades of leadership in the green industry, this episode offers a candid look at what it really takes to build, scale, and grow a business beyond traditional limits.

Most importantly, they challenge some of the biggest myths in business—proving that growth, culture, people, and profitability don't have to compete with one another.

Key Discussion Points

• Why Yard Master and Big Lakes partnered with Unity Partners

• The biggest misconceptions about private equity

• How employee ownership changes company culture

• Building leadership teams capable of scaling

• The importance of intentional communication during acquisitions

• Integrating multiple companies without losing culture

• Creating transformational wealth for employees

• Why growth creates opportunity for everyone

• Leadership, mentorship, and succession planning

• Thinking bigger about what's possible in the green industry