John Hannum is the CEO of PPS Solutions, a business he leads with a focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth. With experience in the self-funded search model, John built his path to business ownership through rigorous deal evaluation and a commitment to hands-on management from day one.

At SMBash 2026, John joins Jackie Hirsch for a candid panel of war stories from decades inside the ETA community. As a seasoned operator who has navigated the full arc of self-funded search — from first deal through scaling — John brings the unvarnished operator perspective on what the journey actually looks like. Expect real stories, the lessons he wishes he'd known earlier, and a conversation built on decades of hard-won experience.