Interview of Deb Dietz,
President of SMB Value Partners, Inc.
Jeff Blackman, Contributing Columnist,
Glenview Lantern, Glenview, IL, Nov.28, 2016
Jeff Blackman (JB): Deb Dietz and her family are, literally, some of the first folks my family and I met when we moved to Glenview in 1993. She’s a neighbor, just down the street.
I have fond memories, when our kids were young, of our families trick-or-treating together. Or Deb cheerfully answering her door on Halloween in full-costume splendor.
She brings that same kind of spirit and enthusiastic commitment to her work as the 2013 founder of SMB Value Partners, Inc.
President of SMB Value Partners, Inc.
Jeff Blackman, Contributing Columnist,
Glenview Lantern, Glenview, IL, Nov.28, 2016
Jeff Blackman (JB): Deb Dietz and her family are, literally, some of the first folks my family and I met when we moved to Glenview in 1993. She’s a neighbor, just down the street.
I have fond memories, when our kids were young, of our families trick-or-treating together. Or Deb cheerfully answering her door on Halloween in full-costume splendor.
She brings that same kind of spirit and enthusiastic commitment to her work as the 2013 founder of SMB Value Partners, Inc.
JB: What is SMB Value Partners?
Deb Dietz (DD): SMB is for “small- to medium-sized businesses.” We work with companies from $1-20 million in operating revenue or even up to and above $300 million. We have expertise in manufacturing and distribution, consumer products, financial services, healthcare, not-for-profit, associations and more.
And our focus is on value, in terms of the consulting services and expertise we offer clients and the value they ultimately deliver to their customers. And partners signifies our full-service management consulting based on me and my partners’ experience. Our efforts help clients drive incremental, profitable revenue growth.
JB: What’s your background?
DD: I spent the majority of my career in Fortune 200 corporations, in diverse industries leading marketing, sales, business development and strategic planning. Ten years ago, I transitioned into the SMB space. I have a MBA and am certified in Organizational Leadership (Northwestern) and Business Intelligence/Data Science and Analytics (Johns Hopkins).
JB: Why did you start SMB Value Partners?
DD: My dad had his own management consulting firm. Throughout my career, every time I moved to another company or industry, he’d say: “Deb, diversity of experience is critical to your success. Work for big and small companies; manufacturing or service companies; do marketing, sales and strategic planning”. His guidance helped me build breadth and depth, which prepared me to start our business.
JB: What have been the biggest challenges?
DD: Managing cash flow so we can continue to invest in SMB Value Partners. And having the time to develop new business while working on client projects. It’s a balancing act.
JB: And the joys/rewards?
DD: I love the diversity of client work. The SMB space is big. But the common denominator is [that] small or larger middle-market companies need to grow, provide value and cut costs. We help them do that.
JB: How are the challenges different (if they are) for a female entrepreneur?
DD: Any entrepreneur, regardless of gender, faces challenges: access to capital/funding, balancing business and family life, and having a support network — that’s critical. I’m a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. It’s a channel to give back to other female entrepreneurs and we all have different talents to offer each other.
JB: What’s it like working with your husband, Charlie?
DD: Our relationship began when working for the same company. And now we’re working together again. Charlie is our CIO and provides leadership in IT, applications development, infrastructure and ERP. And we’ve been married for 30 years.
Deb Dietz (DD): SMB is for “small- to medium-sized businesses.” We work with companies from $1-20 million in operating revenue or even up to and above $300 million. We have expertise in manufacturing and distribution, consumer products, financial services, healthcare, not-for-profit, associations and more.
And our focus is on value, in terms of the consulting services and expertise we offer clients and the value they ultimately deliver to their customers. And partners signifies our full-service management consulting based on me and my partners’ experience. Our efforts help clients drive incremental, profitable revenue growth.
JB: What’s your background?
DD: I spent the majority of my career in Fortune 200 corporations, in diverse industries leading marketing, sales, business development and strategic planning. Ten years ago, I transitioned into the SMB space. I have a MBA and am certified in Organizational Leadership (Northwestern) and Business Intelligence/Data Science and Analytics (Johns Hopkins).
JB: Why did you start SMB Value Partners?
DD: My dad had his own management consulting firm. Throughout my career, every time I moved to another company or industry, he’d say: “Deb, diversity of experience is critical to your success. Work for big and small companies; manufacturing or service companies; do marketing, sales and strategic planning”. His guidance helped me build breadth and depth, which prepared me to start our business.
JB: What have been the biggest challenges?
DD: Managing cash flow so we can continue to invest in SMB Value Partners. And having the time to develop new business while working on client projects. It’s a balancing act.
JB: And the joys/rewards?
DD: I love the diversity of client work. The SMB space is big. But the common denominator is [that] small or larger middle-market companies need to grow, provide value and cut costs. We help them do that.
JB: How are the challenges different (if they are) for a female entrepreneur?
DD: Any entrepreneur, regardless of gender, faces challenges: access to capital/funding, balancing business and family life, and having a support network — that’s critical. I’m a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. It’s a channel to give back to other female entrepreneurs and we all have different talents to offer each other.
JB: What’s it like working with your husband, Charlie?
DD: Our relationship began when working for the same company. And now we’re working together again. Charlie is our CIO and provides leadership in IT, applications development, infrastructure and ERP. And we’ve been married for 30 years.
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Jeff Blackman is a Hall of Fame speaker, bestselling author and award-winning business-growth specialist. Please visit jeffblackman.com, to subscribe to his free e-zine, The Results Report.
Jeff Blackman is a Hall of Fame speaker, bestselling author and award-winning business-growth specialist. Please visit jeffblackman.com, to subscribe to his free e-zine, The Results Report.
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