Welcome to "Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight," our monthly-ish showcase where we shine a light on Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial superstars. Each feature delves into the journeys of individuals who have participated in our programs and are harnessing their learnings to fuel impressive growth and innovation.
Kevin Woeste is the CEO of McSteen Land Surveyors. Kevin is a 2024 graduate of Scalerator NEO, a 6-month growth program for second stage businesses provided by Burton D. Morgan Foundation and the Fasenmyer Fund. He also participated in a Big Rock Leadership Retreat offered through a partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation and Morgan Foundation.
Tell us about your business.
McSteen Land Surveyors has been serving Ohio for more than 55 years and recently expanded into Indiana. The company provides location surveys, boundary surveys, ALTA surveys, lot splits and consolidations, and residential/commercial draw inspections, with a focus on empowering lenders, title teams, and property owners with fast, accurate surveys and inspections—so every deal moves forward with confidence.
Can you share your thoughts and key takeaways about the foundation-sponsored entrepreneurship programming you have participated in?
“Scalerator was a great program that kicked us into the next gear. It helped us to focus on setting large goals and aligning our team. It also helped us refocus on our purpose/vision statement and company values.
The Edward Lowe Foundation’s retreat in Michigan was a powerful experience. It gave me the chance to step away from daily operations, connect with other business leaders, and really home in on leadership practices. I came away with a fresh perspective and tools that I still apply in leading McSteen today.”
Please tell us about any benefits, growth, or key wins you've experienced since participating in these programs.
“At the beginning of Scalerator, we set out to open a new office in a new state, hire and form a sales team, and realign and grow our more technical surveying division by 25%. We’ve since accomplished two of those three goals, with notable progress toward the 3rd—expanding into Indiana, building out a strong sales function with over 20% growth in our location survey division, and working to meet our growth goal in our boundary department as well.
The retreat at Edward Lowe also played a role in this progress. It gave me the opportunity to step back, reflect on McSteen's big picture growth goals beyond the short term, and brainstorm ideas on how to get there. Our leadership team has been amazing, supportive, and all in on the growth efforts.”
What are your goals for the next twelve months?
“Our goals for the next year are to grow top-line revenue by an additional 20%, expand our service area in Indiana by opening new counties, and fully implement EOS across the organization - which we are 60% of the way through, with notable traction already."
What is your favorite quote?
“Learn how to work on your business and not in your business.”
~My mother-in-law
What is the last book you read?
“Lately, I’ve been diving into books on leadership, productivity, and personal growth. Here are some of the titles I’ve been working through:
- Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell
- Deep Work — Cal Newport
- The 4-Hour Work Week — Tim Ferriss
- Never Split the Difference — Chris Voss
- Essentialism — Greg McKeown
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You — Cal Newport
- Four Thousand Weeks — Oliver Burkeman
- Own the Day, Own Your Life — Aubrey Marcus
- Why We Sleep — Matthew Walker
- Die With Zero — Bill Perkins
- Atomic Habits — James Clear
- Zero to One — Peter Thiel
- Built to Last — Jim Collins
- Rework — Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
- Traction — Gino Wickman
- Rocket Fuel — Gino Wickman & Mark Winters”
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
“Learn how to hire good people and build a great team. The only way to grow is through great people.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
“All the new initiatives that started with Scalerator and have been further fostered through Edward Lowe and our EOS implementation have fueled measurable growth - to the tune of +20% in our largest division. It’s exciting to see how the seeds planted during those programs are still paying dividends for our team and clients today. We're hiring, creating growth opportunities for those on the team who exemplify core values, and making a real impact on our community, all while serving our greater purpose - Securing the Land where we Live, Work and Play.”
To learn more about Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and opportunities for second stage entrepreneurs, contact Michal Marcus.
If you have participated in Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and are interested in being featured in the Spotlight, contact Gina Dotson.