In this episode of Ninestone: Stacked to Scale, Alex Polamero sits down with Brad Stave, Strategic Consultant, Creative Leader, and Growth Architect at Ninestone Partners, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to scale an organization without losing its soul. Brad shares his journey of building a business that not only drives profit but also creates meaningful impact—empowering leaders to align their mission with sustainable growth.

Together, Alex and Brad uncover the hidden roadblocks that keep leaders stuck in tactical work, highlight the importance of building strong processes, and explore the power of strategically leveraging talent to unlock both freedom and profitability. From the challenges of growing a team from 20 to 200 employees to the cultural shift of prioritizing mission-driven outcomes, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs, executives, and team leaders alike.

Whether you’re running a startup, scaling a mid-sized business, or navigating leadership in a large enterprise, Brad’s approach provides a clear roadmap for working smarter, creating balance, and building organizations that thrive for the long term.

Topics Include:

• Shifting from Tactical to Strategic Leadership
• Avoiding the Pitfalls of Rapid, Unstructured Growth
• Leveraging Outsourcing and Delegation for Freedom
• Balancing Profit with Purpose and Mission
• Lessons of Scaling from 20 to 200 Employees

Connect with Brad:

Website

LinkedIn

Email: Brad@ninestonepartners.com

Connect with Ninestone Partners:

Website

Linktree

Produced By: Social Chameleon

In this episode of Ninestone: Stacked to Scale, Alex Polamero and Dr. Tom Tonkin welcomed Mark Tuggle, founder and CEO of Telos Bookkeeping. Together, they dive into how hybrid work models—combining onshore and offshore teams—can fuel growth, efficiency, and scalability in financial services.

Mark shares his journey from military service and ministry to leading a global accounting firm. He explains how hiring challenges in the U.S. led him to build successful offshore teams in the Philippines, Pakistan, and India, and why strong systems, clear processes, and the right tech stack are vital for success.

The conversation covers practical strategies for balancing offshore back-office work with onshore client-facing roles, while addressing challenges like time zones, security, and trust. Mark also emphasizes culture, professional development, and connection as keys to retention and team enthusiasm.

Topics Include:

• Embracing the Hybrid Work Model
• Addressing Client Concerns About Offshoring
• Structuring Hybrid Teams for Scalability
• Building Culture and Trust in Distributed Teams
• Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Growth

Connect with Mark & Telos Bookkeeping:

LinkedIn

Website

Connect with Ninestone Partners:

Website

Linktree

Produced By: Social Chameleon

Lights, camera, scale! In this inaugural first episode, hosts Alex Polamero (Chief Growth Officer, Ninestone Partners) and Dr. Tom Tonkin (CEO, Ninestone Partners) roll out the red carpet for Jay Sherer, an award-winning storyteller, filmmaker, marketer, and CMO of Sherer & Sherer.

Together, they smash the myth that scaling a business means “cloning yourself”. Instead, Jay unveils a toolkit of more innovative strategies:

➡️ Customer Validation: Knowing your audience better than they know themselves.
➡️ Systems & Processes: Building the backstage crew that keeps the spotlight shining.
➡️ Sales & Marketing Alignment: Keeping the whole cast on the same script.
➡️ Avoiding Feature Creep: Cutting the scenes that drag down the story.

Through the lens of both filmmaking and marketing, Jay shows why storytelling beats propaganda every time, and how the same principles that captivate moviegoers can help businesses capture markets. He also offers his perspective on the difference between growth and true scaling—and why it matters for startups and small businesses aiming for box office-level success.

Topics Include:

• The Challenge of Scaling a Business
• Real-Life Scaling Examples
• The Role of Systems in Scaling
• Understanding the Market and Competition
• The Difference Between Scaling and Growing

Connect with Jay:

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube How Stories Work with Jay Sherer

Connect with Ninestone Partners:

Website

Linktree