Andy McNeil shares his journey building Terra Renewal and Denali Water Solutions, breaking down how private equity really works and the principles that guided him through explosive growth and major setbacks.
Show Notes
Andy McNeil, chairman and former CEO of Denali Water Solutions, shares his remarkable journey from managing a turkey processing plant to building Terra Renewal into a $150 million company and eventually creating what's now nearly a billion-dollar enterprise.
In this conversation, McNeil breaks down the mechanics of private equity - how entrepreneurs can leverage other people's money to accelerate growth, the risks involved, and the strategic partnerships that made it all possible.
🕐 CHAPTERS:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 1:14 - Podcast Intro
- 1:32 - Welcome & Andy's Resume
- 3:17 - Owning a Restaurant
- 4:38 - Atlanta to Arkansas
- 5:50 - College at Auburn & Notre Dame
- 8:00 - First Job at Cargill
- 9:17 - Meeting His Wife
- 10:26 - Terra Renewal Beginnings
- 12:04 - Growing to $150M
- 12:17 - Using Other People's Money
- 13:01 - Oil & Gas Venture
- 13:26 - 2009 Oil Collapse
- 14:38 - How Private Equity Works
- 17:17 - Starting Denali (2014)
- 19:22 - Acquisition Strategy
- 22:45 - Grocery Store Food Waste
- 26:13 - Other Ventures: LRS & Ramco
- 28:04 - Denali CEO & Scale
- 30:08 - Giving Back to Community
- 31:42 - Sludges & Crawford County
- 33:02 - Giving Up Control
- 34:50 - McLarty Capital Partners
- 36:30 - Choosing Partners
- 45:51 - Scaling & Leadership
- 51:24 - Managing Risk & Anxiety
- 53:06 - Lessons from Employee Theft
- 56:53 - A Luck Story
- 1:00:34 - Investment Philosophy
- 1:01:07 - Future: Grid & Energy
- 1:07:45 - Policy & Affordability
- 1:22:32 - Book Recommendations
- 1:28:04 - Advice for Entrepreneurs
What is The Principled Entrepreneur?
The Principled Entrepreneur is where real entrepreneurs share the principles, values, and grit that carried them through the toughest seasons to their greatest successes. Hosted by husband-and-wife team Caleb and Jodi Moore, we uncover authentic, relatable stories that prove you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. Whether you’re in a body shop, behind a desk, or chasing a dream, each episode will fuel your hope, strengthen your grit, and remind you to keep going — no matter what.