Ms. "Dini" Cecil Pickering, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Biltmore Company, the great granddaughter of the founder of the Biltmore Estate, "America's Largest Home," and a key member of the fourth generation leadership team that has made this unique family business a success, was our guest speaker for the morning.  Biltmore is now into its fifth generation.  To learn more about the Biltmore story, click here.    

Breakout Sessions: 

Family Meetings: A Tool for Obtaining Family Business Goals

Legislative Development Affecting Family Business

 

Participant's Comments:

"I want to commend the Family Business Alliance for putting together an excellent conference on Weds. Oct. 7th. My nephew and I attended and found it to be extremely helpful, educational and full of many resources. We received current and valid information that we were able to share in our family meeting a week later. We were impressed with all aspects of the conference but were especially excited about the educational components and Executive Partners of the FBA. Not only did we discuss the organization but we voted unanimously to join! We hope to foster relationships and receive support from FBA for years to come! Thank you so much!" -Pam A.

Please check out the Photo Gallery for photos of the event!

 

View Other Dates                                             View Past Programs

   

• Contact Ellie Frey for more information on upcoming events.  

                                                                                                                                   

 

4/21/09 Workshop - Haworth: A Story of Succession Success. A discussion with Dick Haworth, then Chairman of the company, Matthew Haworth, then Director, Office of the Chairman, and Franco Bianchi, CEO, about strategies for succession success.  The event was moderated by Dr. Roger Jensen, CEO of Thinkwise.  Within days, Haworth, Inc. announced the news naming Dick Chairman Emeritus and Matthew Chairman.  

Participant's Comments: 

"The event was outstanding.  Listening to the CEO, Dick and Matthew was valuable.  Appreicate all  the effort.  The time from these men was really an honor when you consider how busy they are today."

"I was wowed by how open and sharing the Haworths were."

 "Fantastic program.  The honesty from the speakers was greatly apprecated!"

 View more photos.

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2/17/09 - Workshop: Between Generations - 2 Perspectives on Succession. Moderated by Tim Schad – 3^rd generation Chairman & CEO of Nucraft Furniture and creative force behind FBA’s newest program Next Generation, featuring Now Generation Panelists: Jeff Koeze, President, Koeze Company; Fred Cook, President, Cook Family Services; and Dave Custer, President, Custer Workplace Interiors; and Next Generation Panelists: Ben Thompson, Owner & General Manager, Thompson Remodeling; Bobbie Medema, Director of Marketing, Notions Marketing; and Steve Soet, Chief Operating Officer, Kent Quality Foods.

Comments from participants:

"First time attending. Solid program. Look forward to attending again."

"Thiswas an excellent program since I have two sons working into the business with hopes of taking over in the near future. It is good to know that there are businesses out there that are in the same or similar situation as we are with our business."

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9/30/2008 - Annual Family Business Forum - Preparing the Next Generation for Leadership in Family Businesses, at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Keynoter: Dr. Joseph Astrachan, internationally recognized family business researcher, author and educator, and director of the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia.

Comments from participants: "Best Forum yet." "Important topic, presented well..."

6/3/08 Workshop: Family Meetings: One Key to Family Business Success. This panel discussion focused on why family meetings are helpful, what they look like, how to get started, how to keep them productive. Moderator: Dr. Camille Donnelly, Donnelly Leadership Counseling. Panelists: Kevin M. Harris, Vice President, The Northern Trust Company, Chicago; Marie Haviland Director of Corporate Communications for Haviland Enterprises, Inc., and second generation FOB leader; and Robert W. Roth is President/CEO of RoMan Manufacturing, Inc. and second generation FOB leader.

4/29/08 Workshop: For Family Businesses Only: Strategic Planning with You in Mind. Presenter: Dr. Joe Astrachan's second for Family Business Alliance. Joe approaches strategic planning from a unique and new perspective, using a strategic orientation available only to family businesses.

2/19/08 - Workshop: Family Constitutions; A Framework for Family and Business Success. Presenter: Mark Harder, partner with the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, focusing on the representation of family owned businesses and their owners. He is a member of Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, the only national organization of lawyers dedicated to the effective representation of family held businesses.

10/9/07 - Annual Family Business Forum: From the Kitchen Table to the Board Room - The Path to Good Governance. Keynote Speaker: Jack Moore, a 4th generation family business member and former director of Benjamin Moore & Company. Breakout sessions: The Right Time to Form a Board led by Jack Moore; Effective Directors, led by Win Irwin, Irwin Seating Company, and Bruce Young of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, and Secretary of The Behler-Young Company; Recruiting and Compensating Directors, led by Tim Schad of Nucraft Furniture and Rob Gryer of Crowe Chizeck & Company LLC; I Have a Board, Now What? Using Boards Effectively, led by Ron Williams of MedBio and Joe Schmieder of The Family Business Consulting Group, Inc.; and Successful Shareholders - How to Be One and How to Cultivate Them, led by Happy fox of Henry A. Fox Sales Company and Harvey Koning of Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett, LLP.

6/12/07 - Workshop: Achieving Succession Success. Panelists: Mark Bissell, BISSELL Inc.; Larry Erhardt Sr., Erhardt Construction; Mark Harder, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP; Len Slott, Vi-Chem Corporation.

3/22/07 - Inaugural FBA Workshop: Dr. Joseph Astrachan's Three Keys to Family Business Success. Presenter: Dr. Joe Astrachan. The 3 keys: an active board, strategic planning and regular family meetings.