Inside the $2.5B Blackstone Deal with Champions Group

Frank DiMarco (CEO of Champions Group) and Leland Smith (Founder & Chairman of the Board) sit down at RYNOx to break down one of the biggest recent moves in the space: their $2.5B Blackstone deal.Recorded live at RYNOx 2026, this candid conversation dives into what it really took to build Champions Group into a multi-state platform spanning 19 brands—and how that growth led to a $2.5B acquisition.From leadership evolution and scaling strategies to private equity and long-term vision, Frank and Leland share an inside look at the decisions, challenges, and opportunities behind the deal.Whether you're an owner, operator, or looking to understand where the home services industry is headed, this episode delivers real insight from those building at the highest level.00:00 – What’s Next for the Podcast00:47 – Breaking Down the $2.5B Blackstone Deal02:00 – From Plumber to $2.5B Exit03:30 – Why Private Equity is Targeting Home Services04:45 – What Actually Attracted Blackstone06:00 – The Growth Formula That Drove the Valuation07:30 – What Private Equity Really Looks For08:30 – Why “People” Matter More Than Anything10:00 – Employees vs. Customers: A Surprising Shift11:00 – The Reality of Private Equity Pressure12:00 – Elevating the Home Services Industry13:00 – What Makes Champions Group Different14:30 – “Simple, Not Easy” — Execution at Scale15:30 – Consistency Over Flashy Growth16:30 – The Membership Model Explained18:00 – 150K Memberships & Their Impact on Valuation19:30 – Cross-Selling & Scaling the Platform21:00 – Final Thoughts on Growth & the FutureThank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Contractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/ryno/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepoint