Welcome to the Family Owned Business Institute
The Family Owned Business Institute's mission is to champion and serve family-owned businesses through scholarship, education and advocacy.
In September 1999, the Seidman College of Business and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce (working with its Family-Owned Business Council) raised $301,000 from a salute to Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos. This became the seed money for the Family Owned Business Institute, housed at the downtown campus of Grand Valley State University.
SPGC x FERC Global Family Business Summit
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN | MAY 18-21, 2027
The Summit is convening the best minds in academia, business families and family business consultants to connect, share ideas and learn new strategies for achieving their mutual goals. With keynotes, workshops, expert panels, and discussions, we’ll explore essential and emerging family business topics. We aim to create a rich exchange of insights and experiences. Our goal is to ensure there is something new for every participant—be part of making it happen!
More information coming soon!
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Episode 5: Navigating Growth and Multi-Generational Legacy with Michelle Timmerman
In this episode, host Ana Cristina Gonzalez is joined by Michelle Timmerman, Vice President and General Manager of Direct Supply, Inc. As a second-generation family business leader and Vice Chair of the Family Business Alliance, Michelle brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the table regarding the unique intersection of business strategy and family dynamics. This episode explores what it looks like to navigate leadership transitions and maintain legacy across generations — and how community engagement and peer support shape both business growth and local success.
Interested in other episodes? Click the link below!
FOBI Scholar in Residence - Coming This Spring, Dr. Evelyn Micelotta!
Dr. Evelyn Micelotta
Save the Date: Dr. Evelyn Micelotta is Coming to Grand Rapids!
FOBI is excited to announce that Dr. Evelyn Micelotta, Associate Professor and holder of the Steven Grossman Endowed Chair in Family Business at the University of Vermont's Grossman School of Business, will join us as our 2025–2026 Scholar in Residence this May 4–15, 2026.
During her two-week visit, Dr. Micelotta will meet with Seidman faculty to explore new knowledge creation for family businesses, and connect with Grand Rapids family enterprises. In partnership with the Family Business Alliance (FBA), Evelyn will share insights and lead a conversation with the region's family business community on: "Leading or Following? How Family Businesses Navigate Technological Change — and What AI Means for What's Next." If you are not an FBA member and would like to attend, please reach out to [email protected].
An FFI Fellow and Certified Advisor with dual PhDs (University of Alberta & Milan Polytechnic), Dr. Micelotta serves as Co-Editor in Chief of Family Business Review and is one of the field's most respected voices on family enterprise strategy. Stay tuned for more details!
2024 GLOBAL FAMILY BUSINESS SURVEY AND REPORT
The STEP Project Global Consortium (SPGC) in collaboration with KPMG Private Enterprise is setting out to gain a deeper understanding of the “essence” and impact of legacy in family businesses in a global research survey of family business leaders. GVSU and FOBI are STEP affiliates and we are supporting data collection in West Michigan. Share your views in this 15-minute survey which should be completed by the senior family leader in the family business.
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The 2023 STEP Project Global Consortium - SPGC American Family Business Report
The 2023 STEP Project Global Consortium - SPGC American Family Business Report has launched! At FOBI, we're very excited to share it with the family business community of West Michigan, that supported data collection. It contains information on how family businesses are guiding the sustainability journey.
