He Left Corporate to Buy a Pallet Company. Then He Doubled It. | Michael Kelker of GBR Riverdale episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 24, 2025 · 55 MIN

He Left Corporate to Buy a Pallet Company. Then He Doubled It. | Michael Kelker of GBR Riverdale

from The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast · host Helen Guo

Join me as I sit down with Michael Kelker, a former corporate exec who spent 15 years in the aviation manufacturing industry before leaving to buy Timberline Pallet, a custom pallet and crating company in the Quad Cities.With no prior experience in pallets, Michael stepped in as an owner-operator, doubled the business in five years, and grew the team from 15 to 27 employees.Since then, he’s made two more acquisitions: an auto parts recycler and a manufacturing consultancy (which he exited).We dive into what it’s really like to run a blue-collar business, team building, why he says he’s “not a good employee anymore," and how he’s building a legacy business for his daughters (GBR Riverdale is named after them)._______________________________👉 Subscribe to the SMB Deal Hunter Newsletter — free weekly deals & insights: https://join.smbdealhunter.xyz🤝 Work with me and my team 1-on-1 to find, finance, and close your acquisition in 6–12 months: https://pro.smbdealhunter.xyz

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He Left Corporate to Buy a Pallet Company. Then He Doubled It. | Michael Kelker of GBR Riverdale

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