Gary Manske

About Gary Manske

Most owner led businesses do not stall because of bad products or weak service. They stall because growth creates chaos, and chaos quietly steals profit. The owner becomes the bottleneck, cash gets tight at the worst times, and “success” starts feeling like a grind. I’m Gary Manske, founder of Prairie Growth Solutions. I’ve spent 25+ years leading sales, marketing, and operations across tech, manufacturing, and customer service, including leadership roles at Microsoft (as a vendor and partner) building high performing sales teams. I’ve seen the difference between companies that scale and companies that stay stuck. It is not hustle. It is structure, numbers, and execution. That is why I built my 5 Pillar framework: Foundations, Leads, Conversion, Raving Fans, and Profitability. It gives owner led businesses a practical operating system to stop firefighting, install accountability, and grow without the owner carrying the whole business on their back. I’ve helped family-owned manufacturers move from stagnation and chaos to profitable growth. I’ve guided service businesses through multi-generational succession. I’ve built scalable systems for tech firms that doubled revenue without doubling headcount. What I talk about on podcasts: + Profit Acceleration: Most businesses have 3 to 5 profit levers they have never pulled. I walk owners through a simple audit to find where profit is leaking and which moves create the fastest return, often without adding a single new customer. + Turning Chaos Into Systems: If everything runs through the owner, you do not have a scalable company. You have a fragile one. I share a practical framework to build systems, scorecards, and decision rhythms that create real freedom. + The Cash Timing Trap: Why profitable businesses still run out of cash, and a 3 step audit to identify the fastest lever to pull: receivables, payables, or inventory and WIP. + Building a Business Worth Buying: Most businesses that go to market never sell. I break down the pillars of enterprise value and the decisions owners can make now that compound into a premium valuation over the next 3 to 5 years. Why I’m a strong guest: I bring frameworks, not fluff. I make complex business and financial concepts feel simple and usable. And I focus on what helps your audience win, not on pitching myself. Ideal shows: small business, entrepreneurship, profit and cash flow, operations and scaling, exit planning and valuation, family business, executive career transition, business coaching and consulting. Gary Manske | Founder, Prairie Growth Solutions | 701-809-0101