Kent Alder: The Discipline and Strategy Behind a $7 Billion Outcome

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey Baugh sits down with Kent Alder, former CEO of TTM Technologies, to unpack how a quiet leader from Cache Valley helped build a $7 billion public company. From humble beginnings to orchestrating bold acquisitions and navigating industry chaos, Kent’s story is one of resilience, discipline, and vision.

Kent reveals the behind-the-scenes playbook that led TTM from a tiny PCB manufacturer to an industry giant. He shares how aligning incentives, focusing on execution over hype, and making countercyclical moves during downturns drove long-term success. You’ll hear lessons on navigating private equity partnerships, building strong cultures, and evolving as a leader across decades. This episode is a masterclass in how to lead through market chaos, think long-term, and win as a team.

00:00 | Introduction to Kent Alder
01:29 | Building TTM: From Roll-Up to $7B Public Company
03:19 | Competing in a Tough, Low-Margin Industry
04:18 | Early Career: From Finance to Circuit Boards
07:26 | Lessons from Early Mentors and Risk-Taking
08:26 | Turning Around a Tiny Manufacturer
10:29 | Becoming CEO and Strategic Expansion
13:46 | Partnering with Private Equity
15:04 | Going Public and the Dot-Com Era
22:21 | Navigating the Dot-Com Crash
26:14 | Acquiring Honeywell Assets in a Crisis
29:29 | Acquisitions That Worked: Culture & Fit
30:09 | Buying Back Tyco: Integration and Vision
32:14 | Incentive Structures and Company Culture
34:48 | Strategic Discipline in a Commoditized Market
36:18 | Customer Relationships as True Partnerships
39:18 | Leadership Through Crisis & Market Cycles
43:20 | Personal Growth as a CEO
45:56 | Lifelong Learning & Team Development
49:39 | Delegation and Building Teams at Scale
53:31 | Working the Night Shift: Leading by Example
55:52 | Legacy, Succession, and Long-Term Culture
59:42 | Sacrifices, Travel, and Company Dedication
01:03:19 | Legacy: Impact Over Titles
01:06:04 | Marriage, Support Systems & Family Balance
01:09:14 | Faith, Values, and Navigating Trade-offs
01:12:26 | Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
01:13:58 | The Misunderstood Journey of Success

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(197)

Jeff Mendez: Highlight Episode

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Jeff Mendez, a builder, leader, and operator who led a 5,000-person sales force and helped generate over $2 Billion in commissions. His track reco...

17 Touko 1h 42min

Chris Lee: Why Hitting Rock Bottom Made Him a More Impactful Entrepreneur

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Chris Lee; entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Next Level Pros - for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, family, and the lessons that...

13 Touko 1h 14min

James Clarke: Highlight Episode

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with James Clarke - founder of Clearlink and managing partner at Clarke Capital - for an intimate look into the hard-won lessons behind a life of entre...

10 Touko 1h 33min

Kip Sheppard: From Zero to 35,000 Units in Affordable Housing

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Kip Sheppard, a leader in affordable housing development whose career spans more than three decades and over 35,000 units built nationwide. What b...

6 Touko 1h 15min

Nate Randle: Highlight Episode

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Nate Randle, CEO of Gabb and former executive at Nike, Vivint, Qualtrics, and the Utah Jazz, to unpack a lifetime of lessons in resilience, leader...

3 Touko 1h 24min

Spencer Cook: Turning Desperation Into a Multimillion Dollar VR Breakthrough

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Spencer Cook, co-founder of Continuum and creator of the breakout VR game UG, for a candid conversation on resilience, risk, and the long road to ...

29 Huhti 1h 13min

Justin Juntunen: Highlight Episode

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Justin Juntunen - founder of Cedar and Stone Sauna - to explore why the ancient practice of sauna bathing is finding new life in the heart of mode...

26 Huhti 1h 6min

Seth Jenson: From Oxford to UVU, Designing the Future of Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Seth Jenson, Executive Director of the Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute at UVU, to explore what it really takes to build a world-class program fro...

22 Huhti 1h 21min