We're Not a Construction Company, We're a People Company — Lenny Lemoine

He built a national construction firm out of a town of fewer than 1,000 people — then sold it without feeling like he sold out.In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Lenny Lemoine, founder of LEMOINE, the Louisiana services company he and his brother Tim grew from a family lumberyard into a 1,500-person leader in building, infrastructure, and disaster response. Lenny walks through decades of building enterprise value: the early hard-bid years, the choice to drop hard-bid work to protect culture, the Bernhard Capital Partners deal that let him scale through M&A, and a succession where the organization chose his successor. A candid talk on relationships, grit, and building people over buildings — for any lower middle market owner weighing an exit.🎯 What We Cover:- Starting a commercial construction company where none existed- Why bonding and liquidity are the lifeblood of the business- Walking away from hard-bid work to build a relationship-driven model- The Bernhard Capital Partners deal and scaling through acquisition- "Selling without selling out" and protecting company culture- The weight of leading thousands of employees and their families- Running a year-long, employee-driven succession process- Why relationships are the real engine behind every deal🙏 Special thanks to Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour.🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/🤝 Connect with Lenny Lemoine:🌐 https://1lemoine.com/💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-lemoine-66465054/🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea:💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/💼 Thinking About a Transaction?FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk.🔗 https://www.famergers.com/🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast:🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcastCurious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.comDisclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services.Let's Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/To Contact Us, Please Visit:https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/