Author Archives: Mark Jacobs


July 2023

Roll-Ups: Lessons for Private Equity

Core Catalysts works with Private Equity (PE) firms across a broad range of types of engagement, from strategy to due diligence, through to integration planning and operational improvement. Recently we have worked closely with multiple firms on their strategies for industry roll-ups. From this, we have distilled several lessons we thought it would be worthwhile […]

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June 2023

Growth Strategies in a Recession

While many business fundamentals remain robust, it is fair to say that the global economy isn’t exactly thriving, and chances of at least a mild recession in the near future are high. However, this doesn’t mean you have to give up on growth! There are multiple potential strategies that can help your business grow and […]

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January 2023

A 2022 Retrospective, and 2023 Predictions

Last year, we posed some questions for 2022 (see the original article here), based around a few common sense predictions on what was likely to happen in the year ahead. After the positive reaction to that post, we thought it would be fun to review how accurate our thoughts for 2022 were, and to consider […]

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November 2022

ERP: When and How to Upgrade Your System

When analyzing the effectiveness of your ERP system, consider the following questions: Are you relying on multiple systems and software solutions to manage your business? Do you feel a lot of time is being wasted on manual processes and data input? Do your current business systems suffer from an obvious lack of features, slow or […]

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March 2022

Questions for 2022 Pt. 4: Automation

Today we offer the final post in a series focusing on questions for 2022. You can read the previous posts on data literacy, price increases, and expense control here, here, and here. This week, we further explore the opportunity to evaluate (or reevaluate) business cases for increased automation in light of the current business environment, […]

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March 2022

Questions for 2022 Pt. 3: Cost Structure and Expenses

This week, we’ll further explore the pressing need to review cost structures and all major business expenses in light of how business has changed (and will never go back to how it was pre-pandemic). What we already know: Once again, let’s take what we know about 2022, and then apply it to the question: Some […]

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February 2022

Questions for 2022 Pt. 2: Price Increases

Two weeks ago, we wrote about four questions for 2022 based on factors that we can all agree will influence our business this year. We went further and addressed the first question: Is your organization data literate enough? We’ve received some interesting comments related to the need for greater data literacy in organizations. This would […]

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February 2022

Thought Starting Questions for 2022

It’s that time of year again. Businesses are going about making confident predictions on what the next twelve months will hold for them. And yet, even at the best of times the accuracy of these predictions will be questionable by December. Given all that, perhaps the point of these predictions is less about being right, […]

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August 2021

Efficiency and Effectiveness Assessment: Could You Benefit?

When your annual budget is heavily reliant on grants or federal, state, or local funding, your financial resources are limited. Trying to allocate them in a way that drives down expenses and maintains (or even improves) services can feel impossible. Does this sound familiar to you? Is it time to think about new ways to […]

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August 2020

This VUCA World: What Can You Do About It?

VUCA is an acronym coined at the US Army College in the 1990’s to sum up what the world would be like after the Soviet Union’s collapse: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. However, I think you will all agree that VUCA has never been more relevant for both the military and business than it is […]

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