# Inside the $2.5B Blackstone Deal with Champions Group

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-point-home-services-vip-room-podcast-266852/inside-the-2-5b-blackstone-deal-with-champions-group
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-point-home-services-vip-room-podcast-266852/inside-the-2-5b-blackstone-deal-with-champions-group.md
Podcast: [To The Point - Home Services VIP Room Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-point-home-services-vip-room-podcast-266852)
Published: 2026-04-28T11:00:02+00:00
Episode link: https://redcircle.com/shows/008fbad7-3760-45fe-9481-edf88310c6f9/episodes/52aeaa6e-e873-4664-a6ae-ddec872b0228
Audio file: https://audio1.redcircle.com/episodes/52aeaa6e-e873-4664-a6ae-ddec872b0228/stream.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/to-the-point-home-services-vip-room-podcast-266852/episodes/inside-the-2-5b-blackstone-deal-with-champions-group
Duration seconds: 1958

## Resource

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 Podcast 00:47 – Breaking Down the $2.5B Blackstone Deal 02:00 – From Plumber to $2.5B Exit 03:30 – Why Private Equity is Targeting Home Services 04:45 – What Actually Attracted Blackstone 06:00 – The Growth Formula That Drove the Valuation 07:30 – What Private Equity Really Looks For 08:30 – Why “People” Matter More Than Anything 10:00 – Employees vs. Customers: A Surprising Shift 11:00 – The Reality of Private Equity Pressure 12:00 – Elevating the Home Services Industry 13:00 – What Makes Champions Group Different 14:30 – “Simple, Not Easy” — Execution at Scale 15:30 – Consistency Over Flashy Growth 16:30 – The Membership Model Explained 18:00 – 150K Memberships & Their Impact on Valuation 19:30 – Cross-Selling & Scaling the Platform 21:00 – Final Thoughts on Growth & the Future Thank you to our Sponsors! Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepoint Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/ Contractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/ryno/ Bluon: https://www.bl…

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