Family Business/Business Family

In this episode, Shane Foye, second-generation president of DW1, the Atlanta site services company his father built, talks about growing up with the business literally operating out of his childhood bedroom and the pushback he faced building DW1’s own software platform instead of buying off the shelf.

In part 2 of our conversation with Mike and Jon Abt, two of the four sibling co-presidents running their family’s 90-year-old Chicago retail business Abt, they explain how they make major calls — including on AI — without a board, why they’ll let one brother run with an idea the others aren’t sold on and what they hope the fourth generation takes from the culture put in place by their father.

Also, in part 2 of our conversation with Keri Neidig and her son Ethan Neidig, they talk more about Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics, the no-travel, no-tryouts youth flag football league run by three generations of their family. They discuss preserving GLVA’s values as the league has grown to nearly 600 kids.

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In this episode, Mike and Jon Abt, G3 sibling co-presidents of Abt, share the philosophies behind their family’s 90-year-old Chicago retail business: say yes to any reasonable customer request, “grow or die" and never lie. In addition, this episode features more of our conversation with Abhinav Jindal, a G2 leader of Jindal Group’s hospitality portfolio. He makes the case for treating mental health as a boardroom issue and discusses his own experience learning to speak calmly with his father instead of bracing for conflict. Also, mother and son Keri and Ethan Neidig discuss building Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics, a family-first youth football league with no fundraising or tryouts. They discuss the origins of the league and what it's like running it alongside three generations of family.

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In this episode of the “Family Business/Business Family” podcast, we chat with Abhinav Jindal, a G2 leader of family-owned Jindal Group's hospitality portfolio. He discusses why his father talked him out of taking an outside job before joining the company. He also opens up about learning to separate his self-worth from his last name. Also in this episode, we continue our conversation with Camille Johnson, Haslam Family Liaison at HF Capital, the Haslam family office. Camille discusses how she gets the youngest members of the family invested in its history long before they're old enough for ownership decisions, why educating the senior generation can matter just as much as educating the next one and what she's found to be both the hardest and most rewarding part of her job. And we’re joined once again by Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe, who returns to unpack his latest column on the responsibility of ownership.

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In this episode, we sit down with Camille Johnson, family liaison at HF Capital, the Haslam family's family office. She discusses the office's 2020 founding amid the family’s sale of Pilot (which operates the Pilot Flying J travel centers and truck stops), how it's grown from three employees to a team serving 43 family members across four generations and why she believes in starting imperfectly rather than waiting for the perfect plan. We also continue our conversation with husband-and-wife team Luke and Catherine Neumayr, G7 ranchers at V8 Ranch. They discuss how their business differs from the version of ranching most people know from “Yellowstone,” how they're raising their son to a G8 rancher and why patience matters more than boldness in their industry. Also, Jamie Shah, G2 president of Chem-Impex and an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business returns to talk about her latest column on "hat switching" in a family enterprise.

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In this episode, we sit down with husband-and-wife team Luke and Catherine Neumayr, seventh-generation ranchers at family-owned V8 Ranch. They discuss the unique realities of succession in agriculture, why ranchers often never truly retire, how they each found their way into the family enterprise and how they're blending tradition with modern marketing to help position the ranch for the future.

We also continue our conversation with Total Office Solutions Co-Founder Linda Monette and her daughters Amy Monette Linton and Megan Monette McDaniel, who share how their family handles conflict, balances work and family life and approaches succession.

And family business advisor and MLR Media Conference Chair Peter Begalla explains the concept of "shadow governance" and how rising-generation family members can begin practicing collaborative decision-making before formally taking the reins.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief ofFamily BusinessMagazine, at:zneedles@www.familybusinessmagazine.com.

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In this episode, we sit down with two generations of leadership at Total Office Solutions, a family-owned provider of comprehensive office services from workplace planning, furnishing, and technology to moving and decommissioning. Sisters and G2 leaders Amy Monette Linton and Megan Monette McDaniel, along with their mother, Co-Founder and Co-Principal Linda Monette, discuss the ongoing transition from G1 to G2 and their approach to growing a business that has employed generations of multiple families aside from their own.

In addition, this episode features more of our interview with David Kolbe and Amy Bruske, step-siblings and G2 leaders of Kolbe Corp., a behavioral assessment company built by the descendants of Eldon Wonderlic, creator of the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. They discuss what makes their co-leadership dynamic work.

This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Travis Hollman, G2 CEO of Hollman Inc., the world’s largest locker manufacturer whose clients include the major pro sports leagues, Apple and Nike. Hollman (who some listeners might know as the husband of “The Real Housewives of Dallas” alum Stephanie Hollman) talks more about his difficult journey taking over from his brilliant but complicated founder-father and discusses what he envisions for the future of the family business.

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In this episode, we sit down with Travis Hollman, G2 CEO of Hollman Inc., the world's largest locker manufacturer whose clients include the major pro sports leagues, Apple and Nike. Hollman (who some listeners might know as the husband of “The Real Housewives of Dallas” alum Stephanie Hollman) shares how he helped transform the business his father built into a global leader in the space. He also opens up about the often harsh realities of working alongside a larger-than-life founder. We also interview David Kolbe and Amy Bruske, step-siblings and G2 leaders of Kolbe Corp., a behavioral assessment company built by the descendants of Eldon Wonderlic, creator of the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. They discuss the company's roots, lessons learned from founder Kathy Kolbe (David’s mother and Amy’s stepmother) and how a carefully planned leadership transition helped the company continue its mission following her passing. And in Part 2 of our conversation with single-family office founder Ross Lazaroo-Hood, we explore how passion, purpose and impact shape both his investment philosophy and his philanthropic focus.

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In this episode, Ross Lazaroo-Hood, leader of the Lazaroo-Hood Group, explains how his family office backs founder-led businesses by investing not just in ideas, but in the resilience, hunger and character of the people behind them. We also hear more from Lundberg Family Farms' new CEO Suzanne Sengelmann, who discusses leading the multigenerational family business through its next chapter while balancing sustainability, regenerative farming and the expectations of 43 family shareholders. In addition, this episode features part 2 of our conversation with Rich and Brian Rogenski of second-generation Legacy Tire & Auto Repair, who talk about adapting to increasingly high-tech vehicles while maintaining a culture built on transparency and trust.

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In this episode, Suzanne Sengelmann, the new CEO of Lundberg Family Farms, talks about how experiences both inside and outside the company prepared her to step into the top role somewhat unexpectedly. This episode also features part 1 of our conversation with Rich and Brian Rogenski of Youngstown, Ohio-based Legacy Tire & Auto Repair, who discuss rebuilding a family business after splitting from a previous venture, bringing the next generation into leadership and balancing old-school instincts with new ideas and technology investments. We also continue our conversation with Peter Stenehjem, G4 CEO of Watford City, North Dakota-based First International Bank & Trust. Peter discusses the leadership transition at FIBT, the family’s decision to appoint a next-generation family member as CEO and how the bank’s western North Dakota roots continue to shape its culture more than a century after its founding. He also explains why the family has expanded beyond traditional banking into other entrepreneurial ventures.

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In this episode, Peter Stenehjem, CEO of First International Bank & Trust, reflects on leading a fourth-generation, $6 billion family bank founded in 1910. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Brent Thomas of Tepi Naturals, who talks more about building a family-owned natural skincare business from the ground up and gives his perspective on scaling the business while maintaining quality, sustainability and long-term family ownership. In addition, we chat with Jamie Shah, G2 president of Chem-Impex and an adjunct faculty member at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, about the latest entry in her “For What It’s Worth” advice column. She discusses how NextGen leaders can determine if they’re ready to step into leadership roles within their family enterprises.

Need some guidance on a family business issue? You can anonymously submit a question to Jamie right here.

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In this episode, Brent Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Tepi Naturals, shares the company’s unconventional founding story of a son-led startup-turned-multigenerational family business. Thomas discusses how the family turned a discarded coffee byproduct into a skincare business built on shared purpose and complementary strengths. We also hear more from sibling co-leaders Micaela Tuohey-McDonald, Sean Tuohey and Mary Tuohey-Fahy of The Collins Companies, who reflect on growing into their roles with the help of mentorship from family and non-family leaders, building trust across the organization and preserving culture as they grow the business. This episode also features a conversation with Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe, who discusses how families can run more effective meetings by focusing not just on what they talk about, but how they communicate.

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In this episode, Kala Tuohey-McDonald, Sean Tuohey and Mary Tuohey-Fahy discuss the next-generation leadership transition at The Collins Companies, a family-owned industrial distributor of pipe, valves and fittings and engineered specialties with more than a century of history. The siblings reflect on the 15-year succession planning process that culminated in them taking over for their father, how they divided leadership responsibilities based on their strengths and what it means to step into executive roles together after initially resisting the idea of joining the family business. This episode also features more of our conversation with Mitchell Kaneff and his sons Josh and Max of fourth-generation luxury packaging company Arkay, who talk more about their own succession plan. We also continue our conversation with Heath Ochroch, president of Werner Bus Lines, who discusses modernizing the transportation business while honoring his dad's legacy.

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In this episode, Mitchell Kaneff, the third-generation chairman and CEO of premium packaging company Arkay, and his sons Josh and Max, discuss the evolution of the company and its approach to succession. Also in this episode, Heath Ochroch, president of Werner Bus Lines, reflects on the history of the business and stepping into leadership after his father’s passing. In addition, this episode features Part 2 of our conversation with Ed Dikes, founder of Weston Jewelers, and his daughter Danni Dikes, who discuss growing the business while preserving its family-centered customer experience.

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In this episode, father and daughter Ed and Danni Dikes, of Florida-based Weston Jewelers, discuss growing their second-generation company from a 1,000-square-foot store in 2001 to a multi-location luxury brand preparing to open a 40,000-square-foot flagship on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Clarissa Surianello, third-generation president of Surianello Concrete, who reflects on stepping into ownership without a formal roadmap, modernizing operations while honoring craftsmanship and defining success. Also in this episode, we hear more from Kristin Anthony and her father, M. Pope Anthony Jr., of Anthony’s Ladies Apparel, who discuss a culture built on one simple principle: “It’s nice to be nice.”

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In this episode, Kristin Anthony and her father, M. Pope Anthony Jr., of Anthony’s Ladies Apparel trace their family’s retail roots to 1895 and discuss balancing a brick-and-mortar legacy with a growing e-commerce business. Clarissa Surianello, third-generation president of construction company Surianello Concrete, shares how hands-on experience shaped her leadership as she modernizes operations while protecting the company’s legacy. And in part 2 of our discussion with Michael LaVecchia and Danielle Rauso of LaMonica Fine Foods, they discuss how transparency, strong supplier relationships and generational adaptability help sustain one of the country’s last independent clam processors for the future.

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In this episode, Michael LaVecchia, vice president, operations at fourth-generation LaMonica Fine Foods, and Danielle Rauso, his niece and sales manager at LaMonica, trace their family seafood business from a Brooklyn fish store founded in 1923 to a multigenerational operation in New Jersey that remains one of the last independent clam processors in the country. They also discuss how they’re preparing both family and non-family stakeholders for the future.

This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with John and Joe Gaither, brothers and co-leaders of second-generation performance sock brand Feetures. They discuss how their family’s entrepreneurial roots, as well as community roots, have shaped the brand.

In addition, we continue our conversation with Matthew Powell, fourth-generation CEO of safety and security service provider Century Companies. Matthew explains how the principles of stewardship, humanity and compounding have guided his family enterprise. To hear more from Matthew on these topics, subscribe to his free newsetter, "The Steward's Journal." 

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In this episode, brothers John and Joe Gaither, second-generation leaders of premium performance sock maker Feetures, reflect on building a brand out of a legacy of family entrepreneurship. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Port Blakely’s newly installed CEO Mike Warjone and his cousin, Chairman and outgoing CEO René Ancinas, who delve deeper into their succession process and their vision for the future of the company. We’re also joined by returning guest Jamie Shah, second-generation president of Chem-Impex and a Polsky Center entrepreneur in residence at the University of Chicago. She joins us to discuss an exciting new advice column she’s launching here at Family Business Magazine. Need some guidance on a family business issue? You can anonymously submit a question to Jamie right here.

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In this episode, Port Blakely’s newly installed CEO Mike Warjone and his cousin, Chairman and outgoing CEO René Ancinas, discuss the carefully planned leadership transition at the company that became official at the end of 2025.

This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with fifth-generation co-presidents Jeannie Cullen Schultz and George Cullen of JP Cullen, who explain how a “field-first” mindset, people-centered leadership and clear expectations across the 133-year-old construction business have helped preserve the company’s culture and values as it has scaled.

Also in this episode, Pat Soldano, president of Family Enterprise USA and a contributing author to Family Business Magazine, makes a compelling case for why family business owners must advocate for themselves with lawmakers.

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In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Powell, fourth-generation CEO of safety and security service provider Century Companies. Matthew talks about what stewardship means to him, navigating succession at every level and why, even after more than century in business, leadership still requires a day-one mindset. Check out Matthew's newsletter, Steward's Journal, on his website. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Dana Gruber, third-generation president of Actco Tool & Manufacturing Company, who discusses leading the manufacturing business with empathy, building an emotionally safe workplace and balancing innovation with a deeply rooted family legacy. We also chat with Brad Bestgen of Bestgen Wealth Management, who shares what he’s learned from advising families through ownership transitions — and from living through one himself.

Support for this episode comes from Bestgen Wealth Management, a second-generation, family-owned and -operated boutique wealth management firm. Visit bestgenwealthmanagement.com to schedule your complimentary initial consultation. Bestgen Wealth Management: let ourfamily advise your family.

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In this episode of the “Family Business/Business Family” podcast, Jeannie Cullen Schultz and George Cullen, siblings and fifth-generation co-presidents of 133-year-old construction firm JP Cullen, reflect on their distinct paths into the business and how a thoughtful succession process equipped them to lead together while honoring the company’s legacy and keeping family dynamics out of the boardroom. Also, Dana Gruber, third-generation president of Actco Tool & Manufacturing Company, explains how stepping away — and ultimately returning with renewed clarity — reshaped her leadership approach and her understanding of resilience, generational expectations and purpose. And Family Business Magazine Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe discusses “Living Your Values,” his new book co-authored with Cynthia Scott and published through Family Business Press.

Support for this episode comes from Bestgen Wealth Management, a second-generation, family-owned and -operated boutique wealth management firm. Visit bestgenwealthmanagement.com to schedule your complimentary initial consultation. Bestgen Wealth Management: let ourfamily advise your family.

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In this episode, we sit down with Corinne Burton, G2 president of Teacher Created Materials, who shares how her family built a global company rooted in a love of learning, balancing innovation with tradition through a flexible and age-inclusive governance model. We also chat with Transformational Women in Family Business 2025 honoree Karen Alko, fourth-generation steward of ABC Recycling, who reflects on her path through the business, her leadership in governance and how formalizing philanthropy and NextGen engagement has helped preserve her family’s legacy. And, in part 2 of our interview, Michael Kaplan, whose family founded Lane Bryant, discusses why choosing purpose over fear is essential to long-term continuity — and how clarity around mission and values guides the companies he builds, the partners he selects and the leaders he empowers.

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In this episode, Jessica Johnson-Cope, CEO of Johnson Security Bureau, shares how she turned tragedy into purpose, guiding and growing her family's business beyond its 50-year milestone. Ryan Berg, co-president of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, reflects on working alongside his brothers to turn their father’s single Louisiana store into a multi-state luxury brand while keeping people and purpose at the center. And, in part 2 of our conversation, cousins Judd and Alex Loewenstein, fifth-generation co-leaders of Loewy Foods, discuss sharing the helm of a 130-year-old company.

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In this episode, Judi Sheppard Missett, founder and executive chair of Jazzercise, talks creating a family enterprise built on movement, joy and connection. Also, Michael Kaplan, whose family founded Lane Bryant, recounts how his great-grandmother revolutionized maternity wear in the 1890s, how his father’s attempt to buy back the business ended in disappointment and how those experiences shaped his own path as an entrepreneur and investor. And, in part 2 of our conversation with Jon Vaughan, former president of Brand Vaughan Lumber Company, he discusses what life looks like after the sale of a third-generation family business.

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In this episode, cousins Judd and Alex Loewenstein of Loewy Foods share how they’re ushering their fifth-generation company into a new era — blending gratitude, modernization and the enduring spirit of Thanksgiving to honor their family’s humble poultry-shop roots. Also, Michael Horn, former fourth-generation president and CEO of A.C. Horn Manufacturing, reflects on taking over his family’s struggling machinery business, leading its turnaround, and ultimately making peace with the decision to sell. And Pat Soldano, president of Family Enterprise USA, explains how tariffs, policy uncertainty and global trade shifts are reshaping the landscape for family-owned companies — and why advocacy on Capitol Hill matters more than ever.

Michael Horn will also be joining us as a panelist at the Transitions Fall 2025 conference, November 5-7 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa in San Diego. Learn more about the conference and register here.

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In this episode, Jon Vaughan, former president of Brand Vaughan Lumber Company, reflects on the emotional process of leading his third-generation family business through crisis, growth and, ultimately, sale. This episode also features part 2 of our interview with Deborah Jacob, owner and chairman emeritus of fifth-generation MJS Packaging, who discusses the importance of learning from other family enterprises. And Raffi Amit, the Marie and Joseph Melone Professor and a Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explains how prosperous families succeed through shared values, governance and a culture of entrepreneurship.

Support for this episode comes from Wharton Executive Education. Through world-class faculty and real-world application, Wharton’s Wealth Management and Family Office Programs offer participants a deep dive into the sophisticated financial concepts paramount to family office management. Learn more at whartonfamilywealth.com.

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In this episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, Bret Snyder, CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates, a global materials science company best known for its GORE-TEX products, talks building credibility within the business, balancing legacy with innovation and preparing the next generation of his 80-plus-member family to steward the enterprise. Also in this episode, Deborah Jacob, owner and chairman emeritus of fifth-generation MJS Packaging, recounts her journey from reluctant recruit to family business leader, the mentors who helped her gain footing and the stark contrasts between public companies and family-owned enterprises. And Family BusinessMagazine Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe explains why families must establish clear structures for decision-making, how to avoid the dangers of conflict avoidance and practical ways to create governance that balances fairness with effectiveness.

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In this episode, we sit down with Somia Farid Silber, second-generation CEO of Edible Brands, who shares how she’s reimagining the iconic gifting brand for a new generation while staying rooted in the founding values her father built the company on. We also hear from Justin Papadakis, Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer of the United Soccer League, who offers a behind-the-scenes look at growing the business of American soccer and the values that guide his family’s leadership. Finally, Scott Saslow, founder of single-family office ONE WORLD Investments, shares five pillars for building a sustainable family office.

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This episode features a conversation with Laird Norton CEO Brian McGuigan, who reflects on stepping into a family legacy as an outsider, offering strategies for leading with continuity, clarity, and respect for tradition. In addition, we chat with David Weekley, founder of now-second-generation David Weekley Homes. He outlines his mission-driven ownership model — splitting equity among family, employees, and a charitable trust — to foster shared purpose and reduce the pitfalls of inherited wealth. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Jason Diestel, Heidi Diestel Orrock and Jared Orrock, fourth-generation leaders of Diestel Family Ranch. They share how they lean on adaptability, not hierarchy, to lead through crisis and generational change.

Support for this episode comes from Wharton Executive Education. Through world-class faculty and real-world application, Wharton’s Wealth Management and Family Office Programs offer participants a deep dive into the sophisticated financial concepts paramount to family office management. Learn more at whartonfamilywealth.com

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In the latest episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, the fourth-generation leaders of Diestel Family Ranch — Jason Diestel, Heidi Diestel Orrock and Jared Orrock — discuss navigating family dynamics in their turkey farming business. Also, corporate C-suite veteran Tony Brausen rejoins the podcasts to explain why private boards should take it upon themselves to examine their organizations the way an activist shareholder would. And our conversation continues with BLT Enterprises’ second-generation sibling leaders Nikolette Huberman Jacob and Lukas Huberman, who discuss how their family business takes the long view.

Support for this episode comes from Wharton Executive Education. Through world-class faculty and real-world application, Wharton’s Investment Programs help leaders navigate capital strategy, valuation, and investor dynamics with precision. In an environment where the margin for error is low, Wharton equips leaders with the tools to make sharper decisions and smarter capital moves. Learn more atwhartoninvestmentprograms.com.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Nikolette Huberman Jacob and her brother Lukas Huberman, second-generation leaders of BLT Enterprises, a Southern California business that began with a single trash truck and blossomed into a real estate firm with tenants like Amazon, FedEx, Frito-Lay and PepsiCo. We also sit down with Kyle York, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of York IE, to discuss how his family’s legacy in athletic footwear inspired a broader family enterprise. In addition, this episode includes more of our interview with Craig Stevenson, Emily Griffin and Bryce Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms, a fourth-generation organic rice company in Northern California.

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This episode features part 1 of our interview with Bryce Lundberg, Emily Griffin and Craig Stevenson of Lundberg Family Farms. They discuss how family involvement has evolved and why hiring a non-family CEO was key to future growth. We also continue our conversation with Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh and Chairman Dan Mahar as they look ahead to the travel company’s second century. Plus, Brian Birdy of PMI Birdy Properties in San Antonio shares more about how he’s balancing running his third-generation family enterprise with building a new potential legacy business: managing indoor pickleball courts.

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This episode features interviews with Tauck Chairman Dan Mahar and CEO Jennifer Tombaugh, who discuss their careers and the keys to Tauck’s 100 years of success as a family-owned business. Also, Family BusinessContributing Editor Dennis Jaffe talks embracing your family’s evolution and NIX Companies President & CEO Matthew Nix discusses its recent, uniquely structured acquisition of a fellow fifth-generation family business.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

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In this episode, Tony Brausen, a veteran former executive and current board director for several major companies (including 2025 Private Company Board of Year honoree Adolfson & Peterson Construction), discusses how family businesses can marry career development and succession planning — and how the board can help. This episode also features an interview with Brian Birdy, leader of third-generation PMI Birdy Properties in San Antonio, Texas, who discusses balancing his family business with his new gig as the southern regional developer of indoor pickleball court franchise Dill Dinkers. This episode also features more of our conversation with previous guests Olivia and Brad Mountz, who recently sold their family business, torque tool manufacturer Mountz Inc., to Snap-On but stayed on as executives at the company.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

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In this episode, brothers Tom Cingari Jr. and John Cingari of Cingari Family Markets talk about the fourth generation’s efforts to spearhead a major rebranding of the 82-year-old family business that is aimed at reaching the modern customer while honoring their family’s legacy.

This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Brandi Harleaux, second-generation CEO of South Post Oak Recycling Center. In part 1, she described her journey from L.A.-based Disney executive to leader of her family’s Houston-based recycling business. In part 2, she discusses what it was like to be a NextGen entering an unfamiliar industry and the support system she leaned on as she grew into her new career in the family business. 

And Family BusinessMagazine Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe rejoins the podcast to discuss his latest column on how advisors can help families maximize the positive impact of their wealth on the world.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Don’t miss an episode! Follow Family Business/Business Family on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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In this episode, we sit down with John Darby and Dan Doyle of the Beach Company, a Charleston, S.C.-based residential and commercial real estate company celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Along with that milestone, the company has announced a leadership change: Dan Doyle is taking over the role of president from John Darby, who held the position for 33 years. Doyle is the first non-family leader of the business. In this interview they discuss that transitions process, as well as the history and future of the business.

We also chat with Pat Soldano, the president of Family Enterprise USA and the Policy Taxation Group, about the results of FEUSA’s annual survey of family businesses, as well as the tax issues that are top of mind for many family business owners.

And Jo LaBorde, corporate concierge at Wekiva Island, an environmentally friendly recreation destination in Longwood, Fla., discusses the skill set she brought to add value to the business her brother founded.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

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In this episode, we talk with Matthew Nix, president & CEO of 5th-generation NIX Companies, which started as a blacksmith shop in Indiana in the late 1800s and has since grown into a family holding company focused on service oriented businesses, real-estate, and other supporting services. Much of that expansion has taken place within the past two decades, under the guidance of the current generation. In this interview, Matthew talks about how that incredible growth was achieved and offers some advice on how NextGens can make their mark. He also discusses his company’s recent acquisition of another 5th-generation family business, taking an innovative approach to combining two storied legacies. To dive deeper into NIX Companies’ incredible story, check out the book, “Forging Ahead: How Five Generations of Small-Town Values Collided with Big Ambitions to Spark One of America's Fastest-Growing Companies."

We also chat with Randy Carr, president & CEO of South Florida-based World Emblem, the world’s largest producer of emblems and patches for sports headwear, footwear, garments and other apparel. Randy talks about being a second-generation leader who had to think like a founder when he and his brother took over their father’s fledgling business in 1990. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of bringing the third generation into the business.

And Dr. Michael Silverberg, a Board-certified concierge psychiatrist who specializes in advising executives, managers and family business stakeholders, as well as the treatment of individuals. He talks about the importance of boundaries and self-care for family business owners.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

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In the latest episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, we sit down with Marshall Klein, president of 100-year-old Klein’s Family Markets, based in Maryland. He discusses the sudden death of his father in a 2019 auto accident, which necessitated Marshall immediately stepping into the president role and trying to keep the family business together while attempting to process his grief.He also talks about keeping his father’s legacy alive through the Klein family’s philanthropy.

Also in this episode, we chat with Olivia Reilly-Mountz and her father, Brad Mountz, about the recent sale of their family business, Mountz Inc., to Snap-On Incorporated. They explain what led to their decision to sell and what it’s been like to continue working as executives in a company they no longer own.

In addition, we talk with David Savir and Kris Martin of Element Pointe about the many different definitions of “family office” and how families can begin deciding which configuration is best for their needs.

This episode is brought to you byElement Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

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In this episode, we sit down with David Savir, co-founder and chief executive officer of Element Pointe Family Office, to discuss key considerations in preparing for a family business sale. David also discusses how families can remain engaged in legacy building after a liquidity event.

We also chat with Ron Attman, CEO of Maryland-based Acme Paper & Supply Company, which celebrates its 80th anniversary next year. He discusses the importance of staying nimble in the face of challenging market conditions, and why successful family businesses need to be about more than just the family owners.

And finally, we feature Part 2 of our conversation with Peter Blommer, former chairman & CEO of the Blommer Chocolate Company. In the last episode, Peter talks about how the family narrowly escaped a sale to massive multinational food corporation Cargill by making an appeal from one family-owned enterprise to another. In this episode, he explains how that experience spurred Blommer Chocolates and the Blommer family to shore up their governance and improve their communication with each other. He also talks about how the family ultimately came to the difficult but necessary decision to sell the business to Fuji Oil Holdings in 2018.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, you can find it, along with every other episode we’ve released, right here or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is brought to you byElement Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

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In this episode, Peter Blommer, former chairman & CEO of the Blommer Chocolate Company, discusses the origins of the business, as well as how he came to be involved in it. He also tells the amazing story of how the company narrowly avoided a takeover by a massive multinational food corporation by making an appeal from one family-owned enterprise to another. 

We also chat with Andrew Koenig, second-generation CEO of CITY Furniture, about how he drew upon Toyota’s management philosophy and organizational structure to transform his family-owned furniture and mattress retailer.

And Glenda Bergey Leatherman, project manager at family-owned auto, truck and tire company Bergey’s, discusses how the business celebrated its 100th anniversary by giving thanks to its employees, customers and communities. And don't forget to check out our cover story on Bergey's for more on the business' history and future.

This episode is brought to you byElement Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle, and interpersonal matters—in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, Brandi Harleaux, second-generation CEO of South Post Oak Recycling Center in Houston, Texas, discusses her journey from Disney executive to CEO of her family’s recycling business — or, as she likes to say, “from pixie dust to real dust.”

We also sit down with Ashley Weinaug, director of marketing for Wekiva Island in Longwood, Florida. A few episodes back, we spoke with Ashley’s dad, Bill, the founder of Wekiva Island, about his decidedly laid-back attitude toward succession planning and preserving his legacy. In this interview, Ashley gives her perspective on one day succeeding her father in running the environmentally friendly island resort alongside her brother and several other family members.

In addition, Family Business Magazine Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe joins the podcast to explain how family councils can prevent stagnation and embrace a cycle of renewal. For more on this topic, check out Dennis' latest column.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Don’t miss an episode! Follow Family Business/Business Family on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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In this episode, we sit down with Torri Hawley, a wealth education expert and seventh-generation member of the Vollrath Company, and Peter Begalla, conference chair at MLR Media and founder of JPB Consulting Group. Together, they discuss how family businesses can better solicit honest, actionable feedback from their shareholders. (For more from Hawley and Begalla on this topic, check out their recent article on gauging shareholder sentiment).

Also, Christina Sorbara, vice president of corporate knowledge and lead of human resources and corporate responsibility for the Sorbara Group of Companies in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, talks about the challenge of keeping shareholders educated, engaged and informed as the company and family continue to grow.

And in part 2 of our conversation with Mayumi Allison, CEO and second generation owner of audio-visual equipment maker Hosa Technology Inc., she tells us what surprised her after taking the helm of the business her father founded.

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In this episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, Bill Weinaug, president of Wekiva Island — a family-owned, environmentally friendly vacation destination in Longwood, Florida — talks about the resort’s beginnings and why leaving a sustainable legacy requires learning to let go.

Also, Joanna Bergey Shisler, dealer principal at Bergey’s — a 5th-generation, family-owned auto, truck and tire company with locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland — discusses the importance of communication and forgiveness in family business.

And the third- and fourth-generation leaders of Accurate Box Company — G3 President and CEO Lisa Hirsh; her husband, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mark Schlossman; and their daughter, Director of Sales and Marketing Samara Ronkowitz — discuss the importance of culture on the longevity and growth of their family business.

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Brandon Adkins’ family legacy is deeply tied to the karting industry. When his father died in 2017, he was faced with the difficult decision of whether to take over the family business, Adkins Speed Center. It wasn’t an easy road, but today Brandon and his husband, Jamie Wince, run the karting track, which focuses on spreading a message of positivity and inclusivity. In this episode, they discuss how they connect with the community through go-kart racing. Also in this episode, Dan Berger, second-generation CEO of Berger Communities, talks about why values and culture are key to the longevity of his family business. And, in part two of our interview with Lisa Daniel, Education Chair of the Joseph Lodge Family Council, she discusses the crucial role of the family council in her family’s enterprise.

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In this episode, Mayumi Allison, CEO and second generation owner of Hosa Technology Inc., stops by to talk about how she learned to be a leader in the family business her father founded. And, building on that theme, Aaron Chin, CEO and second generation owner of Organika Health Products, discusses innovating as a NextGen in the company his father founded. Also in this episode, contributing editor and family business expert Dennis Jaffe is back to talk about trusts — specifically, why they tend to cause so many disputes in families and how to prevent that from happening in your own family.

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In this episode, we’re talking about the challenges and emotions surrounding generational transitions. Mike Crotty, fourth-generation president of one of America’s oldest family-owned and -operated uniform rental and facility services companies, Spirit Services, recounts taking over the company and making the difficult decision to fire his grandfather. Duane Bergey, the chief relationship officer of Bergey’s Family Corporation, discusses the career move that caused a temporary rift between he and his dad, and how they mended their relationship over regular — and occasionally awkward — lunches. And Karla Trotman, president & CEO of Electro Soft Incorporated and author of the new book, Dark, Dirty, Dangerous: Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing, offers some advice for NextGen leaders who are seeking to make major changes to their family businesses.

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In this episode, Katy Wilder Schaaf talks balancing her role as vice chair of the board of directors for her family business, E. Ritter & Company, with her career as a licensed clinical psychologist. She also talks about how the company utilized governance to reengage shareholders after a family rift. Then, Preston Root, fourth-generation steward of Root Glass Co., explains how a family constitution can bring your family together and help to pass its values down through the generations — provided it’s presented in a format with a bit more gravitas than a Word doc. And Katy Kothmann Abraham, president of Construction Cost Management, discusses the unorthodox career path that led her to buy her father's cost estimation company, as well as how she built confidence and credibility despite not having a traditional technical background.

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We're fresh off our Transitions Fall 2024 conference and talking — you guessed it — generational transitions. In this episode, Accurate Box Company G3 President and CEO Lisa Hirsh; her husband, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mark Schlossman; and their daughter, Director of Sales and Marketing Samara Ronkowitz, discuss how the company is planning for the transition to G4. Also, Meganne Wecker, the 3G president and chief creative officer of Chicago-based Skyline Furniture and founder of its sister brand Cloth & Company, explains how her father fostered entrepreneurship and innovation as he handed the reins to her. And Deloitte Private US Family Enterprise Leader Laura Pearson discusses the findings of a recent survey that shed light on the generational divide in many family businesses.

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In this episode of Family Business/Business Family, Lisa Daniel, Education Chair of the Joseph Lodge Family Council, explains how to make family governance work — and why it’s worth the effort. Also, Eric Johnson, partner and U.S. Family Office Tax Leader at Deloitte, discusses some of the recent trends they’ve seen in the growth of the single family office space. And Bill Rock, CEO of MLR Media, the publisher of Family Business Magazine and FO Pro: The Family Office Professional, provides a primer on how family offices serve families and discusses some of the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for family offices.

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In this episode of Family Business/Business Family, Karen Norheim, president and CEO of American Crane and Equipment Corporation, discusses how her family business got started somewhat by accident. Also, sisters Chelsea and Callie Sher, whose mother began building a family business in 2002 when she purchased the now 90-year-old brand Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company, explain how the family works together on the manufacturing side but competes with one another on the brand side. And Family Business Magazine Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe provides guidance on how current gens can embrace the role of the elder in their family businesses.

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In this episode of Family Business/Business Family, speaker, author and entrepreneur Octavian Pilati discusses the crisis that cost his family their business and their harmony. He describes the lessons he took from the experience and is now trying to pass along to other family business owners.

Also, Linda Fonner, CFO of family-owned and -operated Edmund Optics, director of HashWatt Inc. and member of the advisory board of TrainedArrow, discusses the do's and definite don'ts of building a board.

And Jamie Shah, president of her family's business, Chem-Impex, and a Polsky Center entrepreneur in residence at the University of Chicago, explains how family businesses can provide a unique pathway to entrepreneurship.

This episode is brought to you by Deloitte Private: serving family-owned companies, family offices, and privately-held businesses, and advising them on addressing a range of issues, from growth, talent and succession to the potential and perils of AI.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our inaugural episode of Family Business/Business Family, we sit down with Karla Trotman, president and chief executive officer of Electro Soft Inc., the nation's largest Black-owned electronics manufacturing and engineering firm. We discuss how she and her family handled her tricky transition to the top spot, which included the difficult decision to buy out her siblings. We also talk about her new book, “Dark, Dirty, Dangerous: Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing.”

Also, Katie Rucker and Jenny Dinnen, second-generation co-presidents of MacKenzie Corporation, drop by to answer an age-old family business question: Can co-leadership actually work?

And Dennis Jaffe, author of the book, “Borrowed From Your Grandchildren: Evolution of 100-Year Family Enterprises” and our newest Family Business Magazine columnist, tells us about a troubling trend he’s noticed recently: families failing to follow through on their estate and succession plans.

This episode is brought to you by Deloitte Private: serving family-owned companies, family offices, and privately-held businesses, and advising them on addressing a range of issues, from growth, talent and succession to the potential and perils of AI.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief ofFamily BusinessMagazine, at:zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.