In this episode James Kennedy sits down with Garon Goodspeed, co-founder of Treaty Oak Financial Services, to explore three essential areas every finance leader should understand. First up: what it’s like to prepare for an IPO – and then walk away just before the bell rings. Next, Garon shares battle-tested advice on designing sales compensation plans that motivate teams without blowing the budget. Finally, Garon reflects on launching his own fractional CFO practice and reveals what fueled its rapid growth in just a few months.
Whether you’re scaling toward a liquidity event, managing a fast-moving sales team, or thinking about starting your own CFO consultancy, this episode is packed with lessons from the trenches.
About Garon Goodspeed:
Garon Goodspeed is the co-founder of Treaty Oak Financial Services, a boutique CFO and accounting services firm based in Austin, Texas. Formerly a controller at CS Disco, he helped lead the company through explosive growth, a NetSuite implementation, and eventually its IPO. Garon brings deep operational finance expertise to fast-growing companies, with a hands-on approach shaped by years at PwC and in-house roles.
What You’ll Learn:
- Inside the IPO Machine: What it really takes to get a company public—including the late nights, financial restatements, and hundreds of moving parts.
- Sales Compensation Strategies That Work: How to design comp plans that motivate without breaking the bank – and how to fix them mid-year when the market changes.
- Starting a Fractional CFO Firm: The keys behind Garon’s rapid success launching his own firm, including the Austin advantage and the power of a strong referral network.
Episode Highlights:
- “A good sales rep is someone who loves to get paid – and benefits the company by doing it.”
- “We weren’t just a finance team – we were jumping into HR, procurement, payroll, and investor relations.”
- “Austin runs on referrals. If you’re doing good work, people will talk.”
More about Garon’s Role:
As co-founder of Treaty Oak Financial Services, Garon works with startups and growth-stage companies across the U.S., helping them build investor-ready financials, manage operations, and think strategically about cash and growth. His team takes on everything from accounting cleanups to board prep, with a special focus on service and execution.
