Today’s episode is with a great friend of mine, Chris Huckabee, Founder @ MORE Group.

We unpack his company's remarkable private equity journey and why it was so successful. Chris shares how the unexpected loss of his business partner pushed him to rethink the future of his company, leading to a strategic shift, a private equity partnership, and rapid national expansion.
We talk candidly about valuation surprises, building trust with employees during major transitions, and what makes a great private equity partner. Then we pivot to education reform, AI’s impact on schools, and the deeply personal story of how Chris helped lead the effort to rebuild Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX, after the tragic shooting.

We discuss:
• The process Chris went through to pursue private equity and national expansion
• Why he told every employee about the strategic plan before making a deal • How to hire the right investment banker
• The hard lessons around valuation, deal structure, and selecting the right private equity partner
• What AI means for K–12 and higher education and where public education must improve
• How he mobilized donors and contractors to rebuild Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX

Links:
MoreGroup - https://moregroup-inc.com/
Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-huckabee-693a3a31/

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Topics:
00:00 - Intro
03:38 - Chris’ journey to finding Private Equity
09:46 - Strategic planning
11:50 - Valuing the business
14:55 - People don’t like change
18:02 - Making the decision to pursue PE
21:47 - Finding the right Investment Banker
37:45 - Selecting a buyer
45:03 - The first day after selling to PE
48:18 - Going out to buy companies
51:35 - What makes a great PE partner
57:27 - The state of Education and AI
01:13:35 - Rebuilding Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting

Chris on Social Media:
Chris on X: https://x.com/fortworthchris
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepowerspodcast
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd

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