Brand-Logo
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Awards and Recognitions
    • Community
  • Services
    • Outsourced Accounting
    • Managed Offshore Services
    • Fractional CFO Advisory Services
    • Accounting Projects
  • The Venturity Way
  • Insights
    • News & Blog
    • Founding Stories
    • Case Studies
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
  • Contact
Give Us A Call 972.692.0380
phone-glyph
hamburger-menu-glyph
Brand-Logo
menu-close-glyph
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Awards and Recognitions
    • Community
  • Services
    • Outsourced Accounting
    • Managed Offshore Services
    • Fractional CFO Advisory Services
    • Accounting Projects
  • The Venturity Way
  • Insights
    • News & Blog
    • Founding Stories
    • Case Studies
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
  • Contact
Give Us A Call 972.692.0380
founding-stories

Doug Tatum shares stories of officing out of his brother’s car and no longer owning the rights to his own name

news-detail
Doug Tatum is the founder of Tatum CFO, which he sold in 2010. He is currently Managing Partner of Newport Consulting as well as a professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Florida State University, among many, many other things.

Why did you start the business, what was the catalyzing event?

I was running a large, real estate publishing firm in my late 20s when my brother called me up and indicated he was going to leave an investment banking firm to start serving as a part time CFO. He conjectured that there might be something to the idea and I helped him get some of his first clients- so in that respect, I’ve always acknowledged that my brother actually founded the firm.

The catalyzing event that had me join the firm was a disagreement, shall we say, with the owner of the national real estate publishing firm that I worked for as Co-President. I left the firm with a generous payout which allowed me to join my brother to help him work on the firm. It was effectively two of us.Quite frankly, I never intended on permanently sticking with what became Tatum CFO- ultimately the rest is history as I served as Chairman and CEO for approximately 17 years.

How did you find your first customer? 

The first real customer of the firm was an FBO (fixed base operator) serving private aircraft owned by a friend of mine. One of the opportunities presented to this friend was the potential of buying the fuel consignment for the commercial airport where his FBO was located. I suggested that he hire my brother John to actually build the financial forecast needed to gain the financing to execute the purchase of that fuel consignment- which ultimately was successful.

Describe your first office/location.

I would have to say the back of my brother and I’s car.We started the firm without an office and ultimately over the years built a very virtual organization.Although we ended up with offices in several cities, we strategically kept our real estate footprint extremely small for a firm of our size.

What’s the most creative thing you did to get your business started, or kept it going through a tough time? 

What capitalized the firm initially (beyond my credit card) was an equity stake that I took in one of my first clients.We were able to get that company up to a certain size and sell it. The result of that equity infusion capitalized the firm at a very important inflection point when we needed outside capital to grow.

What’s something quirky or superstitious you do as a CEO?

One thing that I would suggest seems to have stuck with me over the years is that when faced with a momentous decision, I have a habit of saying to the group discussing the matter “Lets Smoke a Cigar on this”- my way of indicating we should perhaps slow down and measure three times before we cut. Apparently, it became a bit of a trademark for me- so much so that the last board where I served as Chairman, The Association for Corporate Growth,had a poster printed up from the old Hatcher Printing Press out of Nashville with that quote. One of the posters hangs out on the smoking porch in Tallahassee where I am drafting this interview for my colleague Chris.Nevertheless, I didn’t realize I said it that often.

What was your last job working for someone else? What was your favorite day job?

The last job I worked for someone directly was 20 years ago- therealestate publisher Homes &Lands Magazines and it was a lot of fun. My favorite day job beyond serving my clients is the currentfirm that I’m working with – Newport LLC – as a teaching faculty member for FSU’s Jim MoranSchool of Entrepreneurship.I report to a fabulous Dean, Dr. Susan Fiorito- she keeps it fun for all of us.

Where did you come up with the name for your company?

My brother decided that we should name the firm our last name “Tatum”.I objected briefly but didn’t have any better idea. As it turns out now, I don’t own my own last name- it’s owned by a public company that currently owns the firm.

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • instgaram

More Founding Stories from Venturity

Holly Mason of MasonBaronet on maintaining the brand through an ownership change and why she wears heels, even for a Zoom call

Holly Mason of MasonBaronet on maintaining the brand through an ownership change and why she wears heels, even for a Zoom call

Holly Mason of MasonBaronet on maintaining the brand through an ownership change and why she wears heels, even for a Zoom call Read More
Jolene Risch shares about having to settle for her second choice of business name and remembering her company’s values

Jolene Risch shares about having to settle for her second choice of business name and remembering her company’s values

Jolene Risch shares about having to settle for her second choice of business name and remembering her company’s values Read More
Wade Yeaman of Fluid IT Services tells us about his happy dance and how to land a Fortune 500 company as your first customer

Wade Yeaman of Fluid IT Services tells us about his happy dance and how to land a Fortune 500 company as your first customer

Wade Yeaman of Fluid IT Services tells us about his happy dance and how to land a Fortune 500 company as your first customer Read More
Kathy Steele of Red Caffeine on Culture Club and thriving after a “business divorce”

Kathy Steele of Red Caffeine on Culture Club and thriving after a “business divorce”

Kathy Steele of Red Caffeine on Culture Club and thriving after a “business divorce” Read More
The Glass Doctor Larry Patterson shares stories about a great mentor from his youth and confesses to kiting checks

The Glass Doctor Larry Patterson shares stories about a great mentor from his youth and confesses to kiting checks

The Glass Doctor Larry Patterson shares stories about a great mentor from his youth and confesses to kiting checks Read More
Scott Baradell of Idea Grove talks about ripping the band-aid off and why he’s sleeping better at night these days

Scott Baradell of Idea Grove talks about ripping the band-aid off and why he’s sleeping better at night these days

Scott Baradell of Idea Grove talks about ripping the band-aid off and why he’s sleeping better at night these days Read More
Kevin Winters of CompanyMileage talks about financing his first company with 13 credit cards and having to paint their first CompanyMileage office themselves

Kevin Winters of CompanyMileage talks about financing his first company with 13 credit cards and having to paint their first CompanyMileage office themselves

Kevin Winters of CompanyMileage talks about financing his first company with 13 credit cards and having to paint their first CompanyMileage office themselves Read More
Darin Klemchuk of Klemchuk LLP on fighting fires (literally) and his “Jerry Maguire” moment

Darin Klemchuk of Klemchuk LLP on fighting fires (literally) and his “Jerry Maguire” moment

Darin Klemchuk of Klemchuk LLP on fighting fires (literally) and his “Jerry Maguire” moment Read More
Ken Baker tells the story of having to come up with a company name in 15 minutes and using outplacement funds from his last employer to start his company

Ken Baker tells the story of having to come up with a company name in 15 minutes and using outplacement funds from his last employer to start his company

Ken Baker tells the story of having to come up with a company name in 15 minutes and using outplacement funds from his last employer to start his company Read More
Chris McKee of Venturity on trading Cowboys tickets for office furniture and what he says when he leaves the office every Friday

Chris McKee of Venturity on trading Cowboys tickets for office furniture and what he says when he leaves the office every Friday

Chris McKee of Venturity on trading Cowboys tickets for office furniture and what he says when he leaves the office every Friday Read More
Ches Williams of Frontera talks obnoxious ice breakers and hiring an Elvis impersonator to do sales

Ches Williams of Frontera talks obnoxious ice breakers and hiring an Elvis impersonator to do sales

Ches Williams of Frontera talks obnoxious ice breakers and hiring an Elvis impersonator to do sales Read More
Will Snook on being bizarrely open and why he did right by his former employer, even after he left

Will Snook on being bizarrely open and why he did right by his former employer, even after he left

Will Snook on being bizarrely open and why he did right by his former employer, even after he left Read More
Wayne Whitesell on “giving his all” and how he used activity to mask his inward panic

Wayne Whitesell on “giving his all” and how he used activity to mask his inward panic

Wayne Whitesell on “giving his all” and how he used activity to mask his inward panic Read More
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • The Venturity Way
  • News & Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact

Venturity is not a CPA Firm.
Venturity accounting services provided through an alliance with CM, CPA.
Photography by Ren Morrison.

©2025 Venturity®. All Rights Reserved.

972.692.0380

[email protected]

14841 Dallas Pkwy. Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75254

linkedin linkedin linkedin