guHRoo payroll & hr

I worked for a large corporation when I moved to South Carolina in 2010. I called up to “corporate” one day to ask for a few hundred dollars to sponsor an event for a local non-profit.

“Matt, we just don’t get involved at the local level.”

I remember this conversation as clear as day. My family and I were putting down roots in South Carolina and wanted to be a part of the community. For us, this meant supporting the causes we care about and being a part of a company that cared about our community. 

When I couldn’t find a company in my industry that aligned with these goals, we created our own. 

We give away 5 percent of our company to local charities. That includes three percent of all revenue, one percent of our product, and one percent of our time volunteering (come serve with us!).

Interested in how we solve human resources problems for small businesses? Grab a time on my calendar here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/matt702/15-minute-intro-call

Outsourced Scale

We provide small businesses with virtual, offshore teammates, powered by AI.

Partner

Underdog Digital

We grew frustrated with how digital marketing agencies treated us and their ability to produce results. We built our own process, 10xed our leads, and started replicating the process for others. Small business marketing simplified.

GrowCo Columbia

Founder, President of the Board of Directors

Some tech company 

Sr. Sales Executive

The big red machine 

District Manager

I was so proud when my company finally grew enough to offer health insurance to my team. I thought I was being a great employer.

Then one of my employees told me bluntly: "It would be more expensive and worse coverage for me to use our plans."

That stung. But what really opened my eyes was talking to one of our clients who was trying to recruit against companies like Facebook. They were showing potential hires age-banded plans and getting beat every single time.

I realized this wasn't just my problem - small businesses across South Carolina were losing the talent war because of benefits.

I knew you couldn't have a PEO in South Carolina without Blue Cross. In our state, they're the only carrier that matters. So I didn't just find a solution, I built one.

It wasn't easy. Blue Cross has strict size requirements and won't work with just any agent. But I was determined to give small businesses the same buying power as Fortune 500 companies.

Today, we've helped hundreds of South Carolina businesses compete for top talent, saving an average of $50K annually. 

Our biggest win? 

A 21-employee nonprofit that we saved $120K per year - money they used to hire a new teammate to grow their mission instead of padding insurance company profits.

If you're tired of losing talent because your benefits can't compete with big corporations, or you're spending too much on insurance that your employees don't even value, let's talk.

Every dollar you save on benefits is a dollar you can invest back into growing your business and taking care of your team the way they deserve.

Book a time with me here: https://go.guhroo.co/ty-page-2921-8170

☞ Matt Vaadi

Enterprise Investors

Enterprise Investors is one of the largest private equity firms in Central and Eastern Europe specializing in mid-market succession-driven buyout transactions and provision of expansion financing to high-growth enterprises across a range of sectors. Active since 1990, the firm has raised ten funds which have invested EUR 2.3 billion in 155 companies across a range of sectors with 139 exits, including 35 IPOs and total gross proceeds of EUR 4.2 billion.

Board Member

CHAT Communications LLC

Leveraging 25 years' of global leadership experience, I help corporations plan and deliver high stakes strategic initiatives designed to unlock stakeholder value. I am skilled at translating strategy into compelling equity narratives and have a reputation for creating order out of chaos. Typical engagements address comprehensive communications, planning and execution strategies for strategic initiatives such as M&A transactions, integration planning, investor relations, proxy outreach, shareholder activism, board of director communications, performance management, strategic transformations, change management, cultural integration and strategic planning.  

Representative clients include:
🔹NASDAQ-listed SaaS healthtech provider  
🔹NASDAQ-listed global IP optical networking solutions provider 
🔹Privately-held telecom services provider 
🔹NYSE-listed global chemical manufacturer

Principal/Founder 

Benefitfocus

Independent advisor to CEO and CFO in support of strategic investor relations and corporate governance initiatives.

Senior Management Consultant

🔹Led Investor Relations and ESG for this NASDAQ-listed HealthTech SaaS provider. Navigated shareholder activist campaign, building investor relationships and maintaining proactive communications throughout process. Briefed Board quarterly on investor perception and market feedback. Led development of first ESG sustainability report. Company exited to Voya Financial.
🔹Launched and managed the company's first startup accelerator, attracting and coaching innovative digital health and wellness companies, 80% of which were founded by women or minorities, including: 
*Natalist (women’s health and fertility company backed by iconic VCs including John Doerr; exited to Everly Health in 2021)
*Cabinet Health (sustainable healthcare company eliminating single use plastic in medicine; accepted to Tech Stars Virtual cohort in 2021; received Shark Tank investment in 2022)
*Candidly (fka FutureFuel) innovative student debt reduction platform backed by Salesforce Ventures, Vulcan Capital and UBS; Fortune 50 in Fintech
*Edmit (SXSW Ed Tech winner; exited to Venmo Education in 2022).
🔹Led corporate transformation during strategy pivot. Executive sponsor charged with evaluating, selecting and rolling out continuous performance management system with objective to enhance execution and drive employee engagement through clear understanding of company priorities and alignment to individual OKRs (objectives and key results).

Vice President of Investor Relations and Innovation

Sonus

Led global investor relations for this NASDAQ-listed IP communications technology company. Proactive shareholder communications resulted in successfully rebalancing shareholder base over 18 month period from two-thirds hedge fund and specialty funds to over two-thirds growth, value and index funds. Achieved record high number of Buy-rated sell-side analyst recommendations (11 of 12 as of year-end 2014). Directed 8-10 non-deal roadshows per year and led investor targeting campaigns across the U.S. and Europe. Led three consecutive proxy outreach processes resulting in approved Say-on-Pay and stock reload proposals. Developed all investor communications materials including earnings press releases, management scripts, road show presentations, annual investor day materials, and M&A messaging. Led external messaging for three strategic acquisitions. Presented regularly to board on investor perception and market feedback. 

In addition, as direct report and strategic advisor to CEO, led agenda and content development for quarterly Board meetings and monthly business reviews, led establishment of annual KPIs, led leadership and employee communications, and project managed company-wide Six Sigma-based process improvement initiatives.

Vice President of Investor Relations

Planned and executed all investor communications, developed equity narrative and prepared executives for company Investor Day (first in more than five years). Consulting role became permanent in 2011.

Senior Strategy and Communications Consultant

One Communications

Served as chief-of-staff to CEO. Led strategic initiatives, corporate communications, board communications, integration planning, and performance management. 

Provided corporate development support leading to successful $270M non-core asset sale and $380M sale of Company. Led development of Board materials and monthly presentations detailing performance vs. financial targets and strategic initiatives. Led internal and external Strategic Communications including M&A press releases, leadership briefings & town hall messaging; served as company spokesperson for financial media outlets. Developed CEO messaging including scripts and presentations for town hall meetings and industry keynote presentations.

Vice President

Developed board materials for 5-year strategic plan in collaboration with Chief Strategy Officer. Consultative agreement became FTE  in 2010.

Virgin Media

Led global IR for the UK's largest cable company (NASDAQ listed).

Supported corporate development transactions incl. $6B merger between UK’s largest cable and media companies and $1.4B rights offering.  Developed all communications materials for investor communications including earnings press releases, management scripts, road show presentations, annual investor day, M&A messaging and IR website. Served as member of governance Disclosure Committee and led development of disclosure and communications policies.

Director, Investor Relations

Williams Communications Group 

Held roles of increasing responsibility for this national telecommunications services provider spun off from energy parent company, Williams Companies. Within four years, promoted from Sr Financial Analyst to Managing Director leading a $160M business unit. 

Director Business Development (2003): Managed virtual team of seven business development professionals responsible for developing go-to-market partnerships and delivering client solutions within media and systems integrator verticals.

Managing Director, Vyvx Networks (2002): Led $160M business unit through corporate reorganization. 

Managing Director, Investor Relations (2000-2002) Developed comprehensive IR program for this large-cap, NYSE-listed communications services provider; managed staff of seven professionals. Served as primary relationship with investment community including buy- and sell-side, credit analysts and individual investors.  Supported execution of Company’s capital market activities raising $7B over a 24-month period through transactions including the IPO, spin-off from parent company and multiple debt financings. Reported regularly to senior management and the Board regarding investor sentiment and stock performance/ownership. Implemented best practices and spokesperson training to ensure adherence to Regulation FD.

Sr. Financial Analyst (1998-2000);  Analyzed business opportunities, prepared financial valuation models and provided recommendations to management regarding value and strategic fit of acquisition and divestiture opportunities.

Managing Director

Prepared financial valuations, conducted strategic analysis and prepared due diligence for this global investment bank.

Associate, Investment Banking (M&A)

The Economist

Supported Business Central Europe publication of the Economist Group. Co-authored business articles pertaining to the region. Managed office.

Editorial Assistant

I am a board member at Enterprise Investors, one of the oldest and largest private equity firms in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, I am the principal and founder of my own advisory firm, where I partner with CEOs and CFOs of public and private companies on high stakes strategic planning and communication initiatives including corporate strategy, investor relations, equity narrative development, board relations, M&A, corporate governance, performance management, executive communications and corporate communications. 

I have a proven track record of creating stakeholder value across various industries including technology, SaaS, healthtech, telecom, media, and communication services, with a deep understanding of market dynamics, competitive landscape, and stakeholder expectations. I am a battle-tested Investor Relations Officer having led IR at four public companies (NYSE and NASDAQ) through key catalysts such as IPO, shareholder activism, strategy pivots and multiple economic and technological cycles. I have a reputation for creating order out of chaos and am skilled at translating strategy into compelling equity narratives. I am also passionate about innovation and supporting early stage ventures with potential for technological, scientific, and social impact. 

I have a global perspective and German language skills honed through extensive international experience working and studying across six countries and three continents. I am an avid traveler, lifelong learner, and outdoor enthusiast. I enjoy contributing to the collective success of high impact teams. My mission is to help firms unlock stakeholder value and achieve their strategic goals with excellence and integrity.

taplio

The Battle

☞ Matt Vaadi

Patti Leahy

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