Never Go Against the Family

Today you’re getting a sneak peek into the 2024 Iowa Family Business Conference. Dan Beenken interviews keynote speaker Kevin Hancock, who is the leader of Hancock Lumber, a six-generation family business in Maine. During the conversation, you’ll get a taste of Kevin’s ethos so you can be ready with all of your burning questions at the conference on November 6. Keep listening for more. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

In this episode, you’re going to hear from Pat Soldano. Pat is the president of Family Enterprise USA, a national organization that promotes generationally owned family business creation, growth, viability, and sustainability by advocating for family businesses and their lifetime of savings with Congress in Washington DC. The FEUSA team is bipartisan. And, as a bonus, Pat and her colleagues will be at the 2024 Iowa Family Business Conference in Des Moines to share updates following the 2024 election. Keep listening to hear about the state of family businesses in the U.S. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

In this episode, you’re getting double Dans. Our director Dan Beenken interviews Dann Van Der Vliet, who works with the Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell in Ithaca, New York. This year they put out a survey that asked Next Generation leaders about their experiences in the family business. Stay tuned to hear what the survey revealed. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

Robert Cramer leads Cramer and Associates, a family owned and employee owned bridge construction company, as VP of Land Development and Co-chair of the Board. Robert and Dan discuss the reason behind this family's move to an ESOP structure. Tune in to hear their conversation. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

While Matthew Cathy is a member of the Chick-fil-A dynasty, he also has found a way to follow his own path. Listen in to hear Dan and Matthew get into the evolution of the beloved restaurant chain and learn about Matthew's involvement with the family business. Plus, this episode is a preview of a panel on January 18, 2024, where Matthew will talk more in-depth about balancing legacy and innovation in a family business. Click here to learn more about that session: https://tinyurl.com/4n4r6smh The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

What does it mean to plan for a sale? What are the advantages in running a business like you're selling it? Andy Swanson and Maxwell Youngquist from RSM give a preview of this topic, which they'll do a deep-dive into at the UNI Family Business Conference on Nov. 2, 2023.

We're thrilled to welcome Jane Blain Gilbertson and Sarah Gilbertson to the podcast! Jane is president, CEO and owner of the Blain's Farm & Fleet empire. Sarah, her daughter, is also in the business. The pair discuss their paths to joining the family business, the importance of a next generation, outside work experience and much more. Listen in to learn more, and then register to hear from them directly at the 2023 Iowa Family Business Conference on Nov. 2, as they're providing the keynote presentation.