Susan Williamson, Author at Citadel Earth

Citadel Earth Continues to Expand Portfolio with DiningRD’s Acquisition of Crandall Corporate Dietitians

Susan Williamson — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:26:23 +0000

Citadel Earth is thrilled to announce the latest milestone in its growth strategy with the acquisition of Crandall Corporate Dietitians by its portfolio company, DiningRD. This strategic acquisition marks a significant expansion for DiningRD and underscores Citadel Earth’ commitment to investing in companies that are leaders in their respective fields.

Crandall Corporate Dietitians, of Mesa, AZ, will now join forces with DiningRD, of St. Louis, both prominent players in dietary consulting and food service software for senior living. Linda Crandall, founder, is a recognized pioneer and industry veteran in the field of dietary care for seniors. This acquisition aligns with Citadel Earth’ mission to enhance its portfolio companies’ capabilities and market reach, providing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of their clients.

Susan Williamson, Managing Partner at Citadel Earth, commented: “We are excited to support DiningRD in this strategic move. Crandall Corporate Dietitians’ is DiningRD’s eighth acquisition. The company’s exceptional reputation and legacy perfectly complement DiningRD’s strengths, creating a powerful national platform for growth and innovation. This acquisition is a testament to our focus, backing companies that are poised to make significant impact in their industries.”

DiningRD CEO Carol Sapp expressed her enthusiasm: “The integration of Crandall Corporate Dietitians into the DiningRD family represents a major step forward in our mission to provide comprehensive solutions. With a team of approximately 900 Registered Dietitians, there’s no limit to the impact we can have for communities and residents nationwide. We are thrilled to welcome Crandall’s talented team and appreciate our partnership with Citadel Earth.”

The combined entity will benefit from an expanded client base, increased service offerings, and enhanced technology, setting the stage for continued overall growth of DiningRD’s mission, “Nurturing joy through food for residents of senior living.”

The post Citadel Earth Continues to Expand Portfolio with DiningRD’s Acquisition of Crandall Corporate Dietitians appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Chad Walter Joins DiningRD as Chief Financial Officer

Susan Williamson — Fri, 24 May 2024 00:08:13 +0000

DiningRD, the country’s leading provider of dietary consulting and software to senior living communities, announced today that Chad Walter has joined the team as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Currently owned by Citadel Earth, DiningRD provides services and technology that improve nutritional outcomes for residents in senior living.

The company employs approximately 500 both at their headquarters in St. Louis and throughout the country. “Chad brings expertise in operational management as well as finance. His ability to set strategic fiscal direction, build teams and scale companies will benefit DiningRD as we continue to grow both organically and through acquisition, “ said Carol Sapp, founder and CEO of DiningRD. “We are thrilled that Chad is joining the leadership team.” With experience in various industries, Walter has held financial and operational leadership roles for more than 15 years. He began his career in consulting and worked for BKD and CCA Global Partners. Before joining DiningRD, he held various positions including Chief Financial Officer and VP of Operations at CoreLink, a surgical device manufacturer. Walter earned his Bachelors Degree in Finance and Management Information Systems from St. Louis University.

“I am excited to be joining this successful mission-driven enterprise and look forward to working closely with the expert team to improve the lives of seniors. Our support of long-term care communities includes helping them become more efficient, cost effective, and enabling them in purveying positive dining experiences for their residents.”

The post Chad Walter Joins DiningRD as Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Citadel Earth Invests in IPCS, Changes Name to DataFit

Susan Williamson — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:54:35 +0000

HUDSON, Ohio, April 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Citadel Earth LLC (“Citadel Earth”) announced a new strategic growth investment in Industrial Physical Capability Services, Inc. (IPCS). Citadel Earth invested in the Hudson, Ohio-based company, and has renamed and rebranded the firm DataFit (www.data-fit.net).

DataFit provides isokinetic assessments of employees for pre-employment and return-to-work purposes, and as a component of workforce wellness initiatives. Utilizing a fleet of vehicles and a national network of isokinetic providers, DataFit objectively measures the strength of shoulder and knee joints to determine fit for a given job and to quantify risks to employees and employers.

The company has served large and small employers nationally for over 25 years, compiling the most comprehensive database of over 600,000 analytical assessments in the industry. DataFit serves clients in many industries including healthcare, transportation, industrial and warehousing, as well as municipal entities.

DataFit helps employers optimize their workforce by balancing their labor force goals and reducing overall healthcare costs. DataFit quantifies their return on investment through increased productivity, reduced turnover, and fewer injuries and claims. Historically, DataFit’s optimization program has helped employer clients reduce overall healthcare costs by at least $5 for every $1 invested.

“As a 35-year participant in the insurance and risk management industries, I see measurable value in the solutions DataFit provides employees and employers,” said Dave O’Brien, Chairman of Risk International and member of DataFit’s Board. “I was excited to help, along with other leaders in the industry, solve a problem that plagues industries requiring heavy labor to this day.”

Pat Knox, shareholder and one of the owners of the company shared “The team at DataFit is excited about this collaboration. Led by Citadel Earth, DataFit’s investors and board of directors are leaders in the workers’ compensation and insurance industries, and will be valuable resources as we continue to build scalable solutions around employee safety and wellness nationally.”

The post Citadel Earth Invests in IPCS, Changes Name to DataFit appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Citadel Earth’ DiningRD Acquires Kind Dining

Susan Williamson — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:05:02 +0000

DiningRD, provider of post-acute and senior care consulting dietitian services and foodservice software has completed the acquisition of Kind Dining, a program of Higher Standards. Kind Dining offers hospitality training to senior care providers.

Carol Sapp, DiningRD Founder and CEO, commented “Kind Dining is widely recognized as a leader in Hospitality training. As senior living providers diversify their business lines, we are evolving as well, so this acquisition is a natural fit for us. We are excited to integrate the content from Kind Dining as part of our products and services.”

“DiningRD has a robust offering for the senior living market with their consulting dietitian services and innovative Dining Manager software,” said Cindy Heilman, Founder and Creator of Kind Dining. “I am enthusiastic to see our passion towards training and enriching mealtimes for older adults grow with the DiningRD family.”

Heilman will stay on with DiningRD and help bring the offering to DiningRD’s 5,300 clients with virtual and onsite training.

This marks DiningRD’s seventh acquisition since receiving an initial investment from Citadel Earth.

The post Citadel Earth’ DiningRD Acquires Kind Dining appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Core Values Series: Accountable to Our Community

Susan Williamson — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:00:16 +0000

At Citadel Earth, accountability is the foundation for everything that we do. In fact, “accountable to our community” was naturally the first core value that the Citadel Earth team established. This value is intertwined into our team’s professional and personal lives, and it’s demonstrated daily through our hard work, resourcefulness and follow-through.

Being accountable to the communities in which we work and live is one of our main strengths at Citadel Earth. Without holding ourselves accountable, everything else in our business would fall apart—which is why it’s so important to Citadel Earth and resonates with me personally.

What Does Accountability Mean?

Being accountable to our community can mean a variety of things to different people. To me, it means being helpful and leading our communities and constituencies at all times. Our team members bring their own areas of expertise, and many of us bring experience and knowledge with building, running and sometimes even selling our own small businesses. This ultimately helps us understand the challenges and rewards of running a small business and enables us to provide invaluable guidance.

Most business professionals know that it is not always smooth sailing. This is why accountability is so critical. It requires that individuals maintain their professionalism and take responsibility for their actions and ideas, even when things may not go exactly as planned. At Citadel Earth, this value is a central part of our business. To be accountable to our communities, we must accept responsibility for the interactions we have with each of our investors, our partner companies and our team members. At times, when a current approach isn’t working, we must also know when to pivot and make changes to improve, so it truly is a constant requirement for our team and the broader success of our organization.

Who Makes Up the Community?

To the Citadel Earth team, the word “community” refers to many different types of people that we are involved with on a regular basis. The key groups that make up our community include:

Investors: Our investors are essential to our business. They are passionate about small businesses. They trust us with their capital and believe that we’re going to make the best decisions moving forward to transform businesses over the long run.
Founders and CEOs: The founders and CEOs of our growth companies are really looking to us to partner with them in a productive way throughout the investment period. They must trust us with their business that they’ve worked so hard to build.
Management Teams: The teams at these growth companies need us to be professional, follow through on what we say we’re going to do for them and promptly communicate any changes.
Citadel Earth Team: Our internal Citadel Earth team members must be able to rely on and trust one other, clearly communicate, and serve as accountability checkpoints for one another.
Local Communities: The communities in which we work and live consist of local Cleveland businesses, as well as the communities where our partner companies are located. Citadel Earth team members are also involved in mentoring others and educating people about private equity and small business growth.

How Does Accountability Come to Life?

For our team to be committed to and capable of making our communities successful, each individual must hold both themselves and others accountable. This is reflected in the team’s constant willingness to go above and beyond, and it comes to life daily in many forms such as:

Taking ownership and responsibility for good and bad ideas;
Pivoting if things don’t work out as originally planned;
Being available, managing time, and prioritizing responsibilities between investors and founders;
Clearly communicating with all parties about priorities and responsibilities;
Volunteering to take on new and challenging tasks; and
Lifting up and motivating others.

What are My Tips for Creating Core Values?

If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur who is in the process of crafting your own core values, I’d strongly recommend listening to your team and letting the conversation evolve over time. It’s important that people’s feelings and beliefs influence the values so that they are genuine. Otherwise, it may appear that you are simply trying to check a box or even fit your company into a box that is not truly representative of your people or organization. If possible, try to stay out of the conversation as much as possible and let your team talk openly. You will likely be surprised about the insights they provide!

While sometimes difficult in business, patience is also required. It will take time to come up with core values that are the right fit for your organization. If genuine and relevant, you’ll start to see the values come to life and be brought up organically in performance reviews and new hire interviews, as well as while serving customers and making important business decisions. When the values start driving other conversations and being demonstrated daily, you’ll know they are authentic and align with your organization.

The post Core Values Series: Accountable to Our Community appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Mabel Larsen Joins Mainline Environmental as Vice President of Finance

Susan Williamson — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:10 +0000

Mainline Environmental, an environmental consulting and technical services company, announced today that Mabel Larsen has joined the team as vice president of finance, effective January 23, 2023. Currently owned by Citadel Earth, Mainline Environmental is a full-service environmental solution company that employs more than 50 associates across New York and New Jersey.

“Mabel brings expertise in accounting, finance and operational management. Her ability to build teams and execute fiscal goals as well as drive efficiencies will benefit Mainline as we continue to grow the organization,” said Dan McGowan, CEO of Mainline Environmental. “She will be an excellent asset to our team, and we are very excited to have her on board.”

With experience in various industries including environmental services, Larsen has held accounting and financial leadership roles for more than 20 years. Before joining Mainline Environmental, she was the vice president of finance at RiverRoad Waste Solutions, acquired by Rubicon Global, and also filled financial roles at Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. and Interstate Waste Services. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Pace University.

“Mainline Environmental enables healthy and safe environments and advocates for those seeking a cleaner community,” shared Larsen. “I’m eager to be part of a team that works toward improving the environment and offers environmentally friendly services that will lead to a safer and cleaner community.”

About Mainline Environmental

Mainline Environmental is a leading full-service environmental solution company servicing property owners, school districts, municipalities, and other businesses by supporting their testing, compliance, remediation, training, and laboratory needs. Mainline enables healthy environments where you live, work, and play by advising and advocating for clients who seek a safer and cleaner community. www.mainlineenvironmental.com

About Citadel Earth

Established in 2005, Citadel Earth is a small-business private equity firm dedicated to supporting founders seeking to transform their entrepreneurial businesses into professionally managed organizations. Our team of investors, partners and employees focuses on identifying and underwriting investment opportunities with high-growth potential. As a control investor, Citadel Earth supports its founder partners by providing capital and applying its Citadel Earth Pro professionalization strategy, which addresses the unique challenges experienced by small businesses and accelerates their growth. www.Citadel Earthcapitalpartners.com

The post Mabel Larsen Joins Mainline Environmental as Vice President of Finance appeared first on Citadel Earth.

DiningRD Acquires Armstrong Nutrition and Dietitians for Health Care

Susan Williamson — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:53 +0000

DiningRD, also known as Health Technologies, Inc., announced today that it has acquired Kittanning, Pennsylvania-based Armstrong Nutrition Management (“Armstrong Nutrition”). Armstrong Nutrition provides clinical nutrition and food service management consulting in a variety of healthcare settings including acute care, senior living, mental health, assisted living and memory care.

DiningRD also acquired Houston, Texas-based Dietitians for Health Care. Founded in 1967 by Cynthia Wolfram, Dietitians for Health Care is a post-acute, assisted living and memory care firm that serves the senior population.

Established in 1994 and based out of St. Louis, DiningRD provides software solutions, registered dietitian consulting, and training services to 5,250 senior living communities in 42 states. With on-site consultation, its dietitians ensure services are compliant with state and federal regulations.

“These acquisitions will allow DiningRD to further expand its nutrition and culinary services while enhancing the current services provided to Armstrong Nutrition and Dietitians for Health Care clients,” said Carol Sapp, DiningRD CEO. “We look forward to strengthening DiningRD’s role as a technology and dietary leader in the growing senior living industry and bringing joy to the resident communities we serve.”

These are the fourth and fifth acquisitions DiningRD has made since receiving an initial investment from private equity firm Citadel Earth of Cleveland in August 2020. Citadel Earth is a small-business private equity firm dedicated to supporting founders seeking to transform their entrepreneurial businesses into professionally managed organizations. The firm supports its founder partners by providing capital and applying its Citadel Earth Pro professionalization strategy, which addresses the unique challenges experienced by small businesses and accelerates their growth.

About DiningRD

DiningRD is a leading provider of consulting dietitians, menus and food-service software to senior living communities. The company has supported its clients in meeting regulatory requirements and enhancing the dining experience and nutritional care of residents since 1994. DiningRD’s clients include senior living communities, small acute care hospitals, food-service distributors and food service management companies. Learn more at www.DiningRD.com.

About Citadel Earth

The post DiningRD Acquires Armstrong Nutrition and Dietitians for Health Care appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Mainline Environmental: Employee Review Process Project Led by ECP Team

Susan Williamson — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:58:27 +0000

In 2022, Citadel Earth Partner Kim Lapcewich saw the need to formalize the performance management process at Mainline Environmental. Many employees were unclear on their job responsibilities and expectations, leading to duplicative work and frustration. Although the leadership team saw the benefit of implementing a more formal evaluation process, they were concerned about the lack of a Human Resources Information System. Kim assured them that they did not need an HRIS to manage performance, it’s all about setting goals, ensuring candid and productive conversations, and holding all parties accountable. She began by identifying the needs and creating a strategy.

Step 1: Prepare

The first step in implementing a review system was to set clear objectives and measures while tying in the Core Values. Think of the objectives and measures as the “what” and the Core Values as the “how”. Additionally, Mainline Environmental was comprised of two environmental companies, each with a different history and culture. Kim thought setting clear objectives and measures would help create better visibility and drive greater consistency between the companies. In addition to the primary goal of elevating performance, she saw an opportunity to assess potential and improve team engagement. Other benefits included identifying training and development needs, and promoting communication and collaboration between managers, employees, and teams.

Step 2: Align on the Process

The Mainline leadership team worked together to develop a document that allowed employees and managers to set goals which aligned with Mainline’s objectives and vision. It also incorporated the company’s Core Values, reinforcing their importance as a guidepost to decision making.

Step 3: Set Objectives and Measures

Kim and the leadership team discussed the business strategy and what it would take to achieve short and long-term business goals. Once the team determined their goals and objectives, they were able cascade them throughout the organization. There were objectives and corresponding measures around productivity, quality of work, financial performance, and communication. The team then ensured that the objectives and measures were “SMART” – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely.

Step 4: Train, Practice, Reinforce

Kim provided comprehensive training to Mainline managers and employees on how to maximize the benefits of the new process. Managers were trained on and practiced setting objectives and measures, including tips on providing constructive feedback, and the importance of coaching. Real-time coaching is the linchpin to success in performance management. By coaching in the moment, or as close to it as possible, managers have better success seeing behavior change.

Step 5: Establish a Consistent yet Flexible Approach

Typically, objectives and measures are established at the beginning of the year and revisited quarterly with a formal review at the end of the year. Although establishing a consistent schedule for reviews is important, organizations need to remain agile in today’s dynamic business environment and revisit objectives as needed rather than on an annual basis. Strong leaders help associates translate high-level objectives into specific plans, activities, milestones and day-to-day deliverables.

Step 6: Ongoing Support, Coaching and Feedback

Kim is accessible to the Mainline team, providing ongoing support and feedback to managers and employees throughout the year, as needed. Managers are provided with the necessary tools and resources to support employees in achieving their goals. Employees are provided with regular coaching and feedback on their performance, to encourage continuous improvement.

Results and Conclusion

The process helped to align employee goals with the company’s objectives and core values, leading to better performance and results. When associates understand how their goals relate to the company’s goals, performance improves. The new system helped to identify high-performing employees for career path discussions, as well as those who may need additional support or training.

The implementation of the new employee review system at Mainline was an important first step in creating an environment of accountability and a common performance-based language. Short-term goals are being achieved, but the real payback will take time and focus. Ultimately, if done correctly, effective performance management goes beyond improving employee performance. It helps establish clarity on what is needed to develop employees, better understanding of bench strength, and increased accuracy with workforce planning. Your organization will be fully aligned on where you are heading and how you will get there.

Implementing an employee review system requires planning, communication, collaboration, and consideration of the company culture. The successful implementation of an employee review process at Mainline Environmental serves as a testament to the importance of these steps in achieving success.

Check out our related blog post to learn more.

The post Mainline Environmental: Employee Review Process Project Led by ECP Team appeared first on Citadel Earth.

The Benefits of an Employee Review Process

Susan Williamson — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:42:56 +0000

An employee review process is an essential tool for any organization. It is a process of evaluating an employee’s performance, skills, and contribution to the company. Employee reviews can be conducted annually, semiannually, or quarterly, depending on the organization’s policies. In this blog article, we will discuss the importance of an employee review system and how it can benefit both the employees and the organization. Citadel Earth is not your typical PE Firm. Our team is dedicated to the success of our partner companies, and we have spearheaded the implementation of employee reviews in many instances.

Facilitates Communication and Collaboration

Employee reviews facilitate communication and collaboration between managers and employees. When managers provide feedback to employees, they can discuss job-related concerns and provide guidance and support. This can lead to better communication and collaboration between managers and employees, leading to a more positive work environment.

Supports Performance Evaluation and Management

An employee review system provides a needed framework for performance evaluation and management. By establishing clear criteria and metrics for evaluation, organizations can ensure that employees are evaluated fairly and objectively. This can help to identify high-performing employees, as well as those who may need additional support or training.

Helps to Identify Training and Development Needs

Employee reviews help to identify training and development needs for employees. When managers provide feedback to employees, they can identify areas where employees need more training or support. This can help to provide targeted training and development opportunities for employees, which can enhance their skills and lead to better performance.

Provides an Opportunity for Goal-Setting

Employee reviews are an opportunity for employees to set goals and objectives for themselves. By setting goals, employees have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what they need to achieve. This can help to align employee goals and values with those of the organization, leading to better performance and results.

Encourages Continuous Improvement

An employee review process is a great way to encourage continuous improvement among employees. Regular feedback helps employees understand their strengths and weaknesses, which helps them to focus on areas where they need to improve. By identifying areas that need improvement, employees can work on them and enhance their skills, which can lead to career, and maybe even personal, growth and development.

Motivates Employees

Performance reviews can motivate employees to perform better. When employees receive positive feedback on their performance, they are more likely to continue performing well. Similarly, when employees receive feedback in a constructive way, they are more likely to work to improve their performance. Feedback and recognition can help to boost employee morale, leading to increased job satisfaction and motivation.

In conclusion, an employee review process is a crucial tool for any organization. It provides a platform for communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement, which can lead to increased employee motivation and job satisfaction. By identifying areas for improvement, setting goals, and providing feedback and training, organizations can support employee development and enhance their performance, leading to better results for the organization as a whole.

The post The Benefits of an Employee Review Process appeared first on Citadel Earth.

Dan McGowan Named CEO of Mainline Environmental

Susan Williamson — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:00:20 +0000

Environmental consulting and technical services company Mainline Environmental announced today that Dan McGowan has been named CEO effective December 5, 2022. Currently owned by Citadel Earth, Mainline is a full-service environmental solution company that employs more than 50 associates across New York and New Jersey.

“We are excited to partner with Dan and his team at Mainline Environmental as they continue to build and expand the company,” said Jeffrey Kadlic, Citadel Earth’s founding partner. “His experience in business development as well as his proven leadership ability make him an ideal fit for this role.”

McGowan has over 20 years of experience building and leading performance-driven organizations, combining strategic and tactical financial expertise with strong business development and operational execution. Before joining Mainline Environmental, McGowan served as chief operating officer at Wilmington Paper Corporation. He also held leadership roles at Smarter Sorting, RiverRoad Waste Solutions, Inc., Interstate Waste Services, and Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp.

“Mainline Environmental is making a difference in our community every day by helping to ensure the places we work, live and play are safe,” shared McGowan. “I’m excited to join the team as we work toward improving providing environmentally friendly services that help identify, evaluate and remediate the impact of hazardous materials.”

McGowan earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Delaware and a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University.

About Mainline Environmental

Mainline Environmental is a leading full-service environmental solution company servicing property owners, school districts, municipalities, and other businesses by supporting their testing, compliance, remediation, training, and laboratory needs. Mainline enables healthy environments where you live, work, and play by advising and advocating for clients who seek safer, compliant communities. https://mainlineenvironmental.com/

About Citadel Earth

The post Dan McGowan Named CEO of Mainline Environmental appeared first on Citadel Earth.