Family Business Generational Wealth 2018

Developing Wealth Strategies for the Family and the Business

 

Family Business Generational Wealth 2018, now in its second year, is the only wealth management conference for active family businesses and enterprises.

Family Business Generational Wealth, from Family Business magazine, is a different kind of wealth management conference, created by families for families, focused on real-world solutions to wealth management across generations, presented by family business executives and shareholders themselves.
 
This conference is ideal for:
  • Family business CEOs/Chairs/CFOs
  • Family trust directors and executives
  • Family business shareholders
  • Family council leaders and members
  • Family office leaders
 
Among the topics to be covered at Family Business Generational Wealth 2018:
 
  • What do you want your family business’ wealth legacy to be?
  • A deep dive into trusts
  • Ownership transfer from one generation to the next: How to fund, how to make it work.
  • Raising the NextGen with wealth
  • Building liquidity without selling the company
 
Breakout sessions on:
 
  • The impact of tax reform on family businesses
  • Charitable Giving and Involving the Next Generation
  • Choosing or Changing Wealth Advisers
  • Developing a Foundation
  • Family Offices as Investors in Family Businesses
  • How to Be a Great Trustee
  • Women and Wealth
 

Featured Speakers

Nannette de Gaspé Beaubien

Vice Chair, T Corp.

Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien III

President and Chairman, T. Corp.

Carol L. Bernick

CEO, Polished Nickel Capital Management

Mitchell Kaneff

Chairman and CEO, Arkay Packaging

 

Peter Willson

Chairman & CEO, Willson International Limited

Mitzi Perdue

Perdue Farms

Sam J. Susser

Director, Susser Holdings Corporation

Paula Marshall

Chief Executive Officer, Bama Companies

Julie Charlestein

President & CEO, Premier Dental Products Company

Bill Yoh

Chairman, Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann Company

Lansing Crane

Former Chairman and CEO, Crane & Co. Inc.; Chairman, Canal Insurance Company, SOG Specialty Knives & Tools and Wells Enterprises; Director, Ginsey Home Solutions

Cameron Nutting Williams

Director, Strategic Initiatives & Operations, The Nutting Company; Managing Director, TNC Ventures

Preston Root

President, Root Family Board of Directors

Scenic Root

5th Generation Family Member, The Root Glass Company

Tara Bahn

Director of Shareholder Services, The Clemens Family Corporation

Gary Katz

Managing Partner, Downtown Capital Partners

John Neretlis

Rowntree Enterprises

Allan Grafman

CEO, All Media Ventures

Ellie Frey Zagel

Vice Chair and Trustee, The Frey Foundation

Register Today!

Registration Information
 
Please Note: Attendance at this conference is limited to members, owners, senior executives (including non-family executives and non-family board members) or shareholders of family-owned businesses whose primary business is other than advising family-owned businesses. Senior advisers to family businesses may attend only with family members. 
 
All registrants receive a free one year subscription to Family Business magazine (a $79 value), or a one-year extension to their current subscription.  Subscriptions include free online access to the magazine's online archive of articles. Registration fees do not include hotel or travel expenses.
 

 

Standard Pricing (after December 10, 2017)

$2,235- First Attendee from your family company
$1,450- Each additional attendee
 
For general questions on attendance or help with registration, please contact Justine Wood at (703) 850-5497. Please register all attendees from your company on the same registration form. If you determine at a later time that you need to add registrants, we will need to process the registrations offline in order to apply the discounted registration fees. To register offline, please email registrant information (name, title, company name, mailing address, phone number and email address) to jwood@familybusinessmagazine.com. For the payment, please call  Jerri Smith at 215-405-6071 to provide the credit card number or use the Credit Card Authorization Form available here.
 
All attendees will be verified prior to acceptance of registration. A family company's advisers may contact Mike Bachman at (215) 405-6070 for information on attending.
 
Registration price includes all conference materials, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner on February 8 breakfast and lunch on February 9, and a welcome reception with buffet dinner on February 7, as well as refreshment breaks.
 
Registration contact:
Justine Wood
Events Director
(703) 850-5497
 
Cancellation policy: All conference cancellations must be made in writing and sent to Justine Wood, Generational Wealth Program Manager, 13631 Maidstone Lane, Potomac, MD 20854; faxed to (301) 987-0476 or emailed to jwood@familybusinessmagazine.com. Registrants who cancel more than four weeks prior to the program date are entitled to a full refund of the registration fee less an administrative fee of $150 per registrant; if canceled within four weeks, but more than 10 business days prior to the conference date, 50% of the conference registration fee will be refunded less an administrative fee of $150 per registrant; within ten business days of the conference date and no shows, no refund is possible. Family Business magazine may cancel the program if attendance does not meet required levels; in case of cancellation or rescheduling, full refunds of registration fees will be made. Travel fares and hotel deposits cannot be reimbursed.

Program

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

3 p.m. Registration Opens

5 p.m. Opening Session: Creating Your Family Business Wealth Legacy

Examining wealth within the context of your family’s values and vision will help you find the right balance between preservation and growth -- between risk and security for the future. This session will explore ways to structurally ensure the culture without inhibiting future generations’ ability to find fulfillment and forge their own paths.

Speakers:  Bill Yoh, Chairman, Yoh (A Day & Zimmermann Company); Preston Root, President, Root Family Board; Mitzi Perdue, Perdue Farms

Moderator:  Bobby Stover, Americas Family Office Leader, Ernst & Young LLP

6:15 p.m. Keynote Interview

Speakers:  Nannette de Gaspé Beaubien, Vice Chair, and Phillipe de Gaspé Beaubien, President and Chairman, T Corp.

Interviewed by Peter Begalla, Conference and Education Director, Family Business Magazine.

7 p.m. Welcome Reception and Dinner

 

Thursday, February 8, 2018

7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30-9:45 a.m. Transferring Ownership to the Next Generation

Multiple decisions are required in order to pass business ownership to the next generation. Should family members own shares directly, or should the enterprise go into a trust? When will both the older and younger generation be ready for the transfer? How formal, and how transparent, should the process be? What are the tax implications? If you don’t have a solid transition plan, this session is the place to start.

Speakers: Mitchell Kaneff, Chairman/CEO, Arkay Packaging, Peter Willson, Chairman & CEO, Willson International Limited; Julie Charlestein, President & CEO, Premier Dental Products Company

Moderator:  Rhona Vogel, CEO and Founder, Vogel Consulting

9:45-10 a.m. Networking Break

10-11:15 a.m. Trusts:  A Deep Dive for Family Companies

Everything you always wanted to know about trusts. There are a number of factors involved in setting up a trust, including the intent of the trust, trustee selection, guidelines for future beneficiaries and whether the trust should be revocable or irrevocable. This will be an open discussion about how to determine what you intend for your family and how to ensure the trust documents will reflect that intention.

Speakers: Carol L. Bernick, CEO, Polished Nickel Capital Management; Gary Katz, Managing Partner, Downtown Capital Partners; Tara Bahn, Director of Shareholder Services, The Clemens Family Corporation

Moderator:  Greg Rosica, Private Client Services Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

11:15 a.m.-12 noon Keynote Interview

Speaker:  Sam J. Susser, Director, Susser Holdings Corporation

Interviewed by Anna Nichols, Director of Communications, Altair Advisers

12 noon-12:15 p.m. Networking Break

12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30-2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions/Expert Briefings

  • Charitable Giving and the Next Generation:  Bryan Bloom, Counsel, Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP
  • Choosing or Changing a Family Wealth Adviser: Lynn Erskine and Erich Hickey, Drexel Morgan Capital Advisers
  • The Family Office--Start Your Own, or Join a Multi-Family Office: Sara Hamilton, Founder and CEO, Family Office Exchange
  • Family Offices as Investors in Family Businesses:  Rhona Vogel and Shannon Zur, Vogel Consulting
  • How to Be a Great Trustee: Francine R.S. Lee, Senior Manager, Fiduciary/Trust & Estate, Ernst & Young LLP 
  • Women and Wealth: Adrienne Penta, Senior Vice President, Center for Women & Wealth, Brown Brothers Harriman

2:30-3 p.m. Networking Break

3-4:15 p.m. Creating Liquidity for Shareholders

This session will offer a deep dive into strategies for providing significant shareholder liquidity without jeopardizing the family’s control of the company. Learn the details on the options (dividends, ESOPs, stock buyback, etc.) that enable the business to thrive while meeting the needs of family members who don’t work in the business.

Speakers:  Cameron Nutting Williams, Director, Strategic Initiatives, The Nutting Company; Lansing Crane, Former Chairman and CEO, Crane & Co.; Allan Grafman, CEO, All Media Ventures

Moderator:  Sara Hamilton, CEO and Founder, Family Office Exchange

4:15-4:30 p.m. Networking Break

4:30-5:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops

Tax Reform and Family Businesses:  Greg Rosica, Partner, Tax, Ernst & Young LLP

Family Governance and Wealth Management: Andy Busser, Managing Director of Strategy, Pitcairn

6:30 p.m. Group Dinner

Family-owned Graziano's Restaurant, Coral Gables

Friday, February 9, 2018

7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30-9:15 a.m. Keynote Interview

Speaker:  Ellie Frey Zagel, Vice Chair and Trustee, The Frey Foundation

Interviewed by Barbara Spector, Editor, Family Business Magazine

9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.  Networking Break

9:30-10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions/Expert Briefings

  • Charitable Giving and the Next Generation:  Bryan Bloom, Counsel, Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP
  • Choosing or Changing a Family Wealth Adviser: Lynn Erskine and Erich Hickey, Drexel Morgan Capital Advisers
  • The Family Office--Start Your Own, or Join a Multi-Family Office: Sara Hamilton, Founder and CEO, Family Office Exchange
  • Family Offices as Investors in Family Businesses:  Rhona Vogel and Shannon Zur, Vogel Consulting
  • How to Be a Great Trustee: Francine R.S. Lee, Senior Manager, Fiduciary/Trust & Estate, Ernst & Young LLP
  • Women and Wealth: Adrienne Penta, Senior Vice President, Center for Women & Wealth, Brown Brothers Harriman

10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Networking Break

10:45 a.m.-12 noon Raising the NextGen with Wealth

When families talk about children and wealth, they often say their goal is to prevent an entitlement mindset from taking hold. The first step is to get an early start by teaching age-appropriate financial concepts and giving young people a sense of fiscal responsibility. As parents and grandparents, how do we model responsible stewardship of wealth?

Speaker: Paula Marshall, CEO, Bama Companies; Scenic Root, Family Member, The Root Company; John Neretlis, Rowntree Enterprises

Moderator:  Ali Bauer Crouch, Vice President, Brown Brothers Harriman

12 noon Conference Close and Lunch

About Conference

Family Business Generational Wealth 2018 is sponsored by Family Business magazine, and is the only wealth management and growth conference created for family companies, by family companies.

Who Should Attend

Attendance at this conference is strictly limited to 150 owners, shareholders, family members and in-laws of family businesses/enterprises. The conference is designed to facilitate conversation on important family issues related to wealth management and growth in the acitve family business or enterprise.

NOTE: All attendees will be vetted to ensure that they are family company leaders, members or shareholders. This event is only for family-run companies or enterprises. Senior advisers to family companies may attend ONLY with the family company they represent.

For further information, contact conference director David Shaw at (301) 963-6162 or email dshaw@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Registration

Registration fees do not include hotel or travel expenses. Due to the customization of the conference seating and session assignments, registrations need to be submitted at least one week prior to the start of the conference.  On-site registration is not available.

Attire
The dress code for the conference is business casual to business. Meeting room temperatures will vary, so please bring and wear the appropriate layers of clothing to ensure your personal comfort.

Propose a Topic or Speaker

Contact Peter Begalla, Conference and Education Director, (386) 785-7856 or email pbegalla@familybusinessmagazine.com. Please note that the conference extends a complimentary registration for conference speakers.  In addition, conference speakers are featured in Family Business and Directors & Boards magazines and websites.  Speakers are responsible for their own expenses, to include hotel, meals and travel.  Proposals promoting company products or services will not be considered.

Advisers and Sponsors

If your company provides services to family businesses, please considering sponsoring the conference. Access to Generational Wealth conference attendees—by attending the conference, a tabletop exhibit and/or by participating as a moderator/panelist—is available only to conference sponsors. Alternatively, if you are an adviser to family businesses, you may register to attend the conference with a family member for a business you advise. Contact Mike Bachman, (215) 405-6070 or email him at mike.bachman@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Press
Press passes are not available for this conference.

What Attendees Say About Family Business Magazine's Conferences

“This is one of the best conferences I've ever attended.  The diversity of topics, the openness and candidness of the attendees, the structure. All of it was awesome.”
 
"The best ever!  Messages were clear, consistent and well organized.  People shared openly whether on stage or otherwise."
 
"I always learn something new and meet new people experiencing the same things I am.  I've never had a support network like this one."
 
"I was amazed at how open everyone was about sharing their stories.  I got several ideas on dealing with the issues facing our family and our business.  Very beneficial."
 
“Loved having access to dynamic family businesses in a helpful environment.  The speakers were so giving and open--a true gift!”
 
"Good cross section of different family companies dealing with a variety of relatable issues. I got a lot of very valuable information throughout the two days."
 
"Such an open environment--eye opening would be an understatement. I look forward to coming back next year and bringing more family with me."
 
"Best seminar I have attended.  Focused on family rather than sponsors."
 
"Excellent conference, superbly implemented and presented."
 
“Very well done, with friendly people.  The conference was set up to be very easy to talk to others and the crowd was really good.”
 
“Excellent. I appreciated all the takeaways from the conference and enjoyed meeting and talking with others. I liked the positive/negative shared experiences from the family businesses.”
 
“Transitions is just a great place to learn about family business issues.”
 
“I am a small business owner.  Initially, I was intimidated by the general body of large family businesses.  What was amazing to me is that, large or small, we all experience the same issues.  Very inspirational and comforting to know obstacles can be overcome.”
 
“This was an incredible experience!  I am so grateful to my family and my family company that I was asked to attend.  I particularly liked the format of the presentations: panels with excellent moderators and audience questions.”
 
“A wonderful family business conference!  I realized that all sizes of companies go through many of the same issues and we can learn from each other through story and question and answer.”
 
“We are sending our kids to Transitions as soon as possible as a condition to have anything to do with our family business!”

"This is the most rewarding conference I've ever attended.  Everyone has been so candid, genuine and open,  Love that the tone is showing and not telling people what to do."

"I think this was the best run conference that I have ever attended.  So much value.  We will be back."

"Oftentimes I'm excited to go to a conference and then it's unmemorable. This conference was well-planned, extremely relevant, extremely relevant, unpretentious...and we had a good time."

"Great interaction and sharing.  Brilliant!"

"Transitions is a great mix of information, networking with others in similar situations, and 'best practcice' for future planning."

"This is my sixth Transitions and I continue to learn priceless information and make valuable connections with other families."

"Very insightful conference, so many notes I can take back and implement ideas. Great validation of what we are doing right and where we need to improve."

"Incredible experience with more opportunities than possible to soak up. Such a unique conference!"

"I was hoping to get the family to raise questions and their awareness. I did not expect to actually walk away with a healthy to do list--things we need to change or do. Thank you!"

"Incredibly informative, efficient, and the most well-organized and intentionally designed conference I've attended."

"Transitions was an eye-opening experience to help our family business create the appropriate ownership and succession structure for the business to thrive into the sixth generation."

"My goal was to raise awareness within the family of how we could bring governance to the business to make it stronger. I had been receiving resistance to the idea and the family left inspired to start a more formal family council structure and create mission and values statements. Goal accomplished!" 

"It was wonderful being able to relate to all these families going through similar issues. I learned a great deal and will be able to bring this knowledge back to my fellow G3 cousins."

"Great conference, especially in generating NextGen interest and development."

"Very relevant information in settings that were non-threatening with easy and open discussions."

"I always take a number of practical ideas home with me--well worth the cost!"

"Thanks again for hosting a fabulous conference. My dad and I really got a lot out of it, from thinking about governance structures to new insights into executive compensation. For me, more than anything else it was nice to be in a room full of people who think about their businesses from a 'long-term' perspective. It's awfully hard to build anything substantial when your perspective is limited to 5-7 years...I look forward to attending many future Transitions conferences!"

"This is truly a conference 'created for family companies by family companies' and, once again, we enjoyed some great, honest presentations by some outstanding family business members, non-family executives and family business experts."

"Great forum for discussion, sharing and learning that can be applied to both our family and our business."

"I was overwhelmed by the value I received from this conference. You did a phenomenal job."

"Very good networking and very good speakers. I was glad to have experienced this conference."

"This was my first family business conference and I met a lot of good people and gained a lot of ideas I can bring back to my family's business."

"Transitions was very enlightening and gave a broader perspective of what others are facing and how they have overcome similar challenges to the ones we face."

Confirmed Speakers

Nannette de Gaspé Beaubien

Vice Chair, T Corp.

Nannette de Gaspé Beaubien is a seasoned marketing and finance executive with an emphasis on the biotech and beauty industries. She has spent her career in corporate banking, corporate finance and private equity in Toronto, New York and Montreal. Since 2003, Nannette has been Vice-Chair at T Investment Corporation (formerly Telemedia Ventures), a private holding company with a strong focus on scouting, funding, and nurturing industry disruptive and innovative companies and technologies. In 2014, Nannette took on the role of Strategic Advisor at Holt Renfrew, and in the same year, she was appointed to the board of the National Research Council of Canada. In 2015, Nannette took on the role of Executive Chair of Biomod Concepts, a biotech company with both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, where she spearheaded the commercialization of their proprietary technologies. In 2016, Nannette launched her own global luxury beauty brand, Nannette de Gaspé, and is the company’s Brand Founder and CEO.

Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien III

President and Chairman, T. Corp.

The president and CEO  of the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation and a founder of Adopt Inc., Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien is an accomplished entrepreneur who has established numerous start-ups and turn-arounds over the past 20 years. Currently working with 14 companies, Philippe has a number of key strengths that distinguish him from the general entrepreneurial environment.
 
Philippe loves finding trends before they become mainstream. He then starts or acquires companies to take advantage of these opportunities. Such trends include the consolidation of radio stations, growth of the cellular phone, cellular tower consolidation, broadband wireless expansion especially in machine to machine communications (M2M), redevelopment of inner cities, creation of niche brands in the spirits industry, the development of platforms for wearable devices, the opportunity for data mining and the exploding growth In the anti-aging revolution.
 
Philippe has been involved in 15 start-ups but more recently prefers finding companies that have a key product but have failed to properly commercialize it. He buys them at a significant discount, restructures them and uses them as a platform to consolidate an industry.
 
One of Philippe's fundamental beliefs is to focus on business to business companies (B-to-B) and develop niche strategies that will allow for the domination of an industry. He believes that most companies focusing on business to consumer (B-to-C) are in a far more competitive environment and even if they have a key strategic asset, the capital required for growth is too great for them to succeed without major outside support. Philippe loves acquiring these businesses as they exhaust themselves and redirect them to the B-to-B market. If Philippe does get involved in B-to-C he ensures that he is partnered up with a dominant player -- generally another family or organization who specializes in the industry.
 
He has two children, Philippe IV and Louis, and a wife, Nannette.

Carol L. Bernick

CEO, Polished Nickel Capital Management

Carol Bernick serves as CEO of Polished Nickel Capital Management, a privately held company that manages diversified investments and owned operating companies in retail and professional sports.  Ms. Bernick also serves as Chairman of the Board of Northwestern Memorial Healthcare.  

She served as Executive Chairman of Alberto-Culver Company, a $1.6 billion global manufacturer of consumer products including Alberto VO5, TRESemme, Nexxus, Motions, St. Ives, Noxzema, Simple Skin Care, Mrs. Dash and Static Guard -- the latter two brands which she created -- until the company’s May, 2011 acquisition by Unilever, a process which she initiated and directed.  Carol became president of Alberto-Culver’s consumer products unit in 1994 and served in that role until elected executive chairman in 2004.  In the president’s role, she reenergized the consumer businesses, dramatically increasing the company’s growth rate growth rate while instituting a nationally-recognized cultural overhaul of the company profiled in the June, 2001 Harvard Business Review and as recently as 2014 in Resurgence - The Four Stages of Market-Focused Reinvention [Palgrave MacMillan Trade].  As chairman, in 2006 Carol oversaw the process that separated the then $3.7 billion company’s consumer products business and its Sally Beauty Company into two free-standing public companies and she remained executive chairman of the consumer products company.

Among various community commitments, in addition to Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, a board she has served on for over 17 years, she serves as a vice chair of the Board of Tulane University, a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Club of Chicago, a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Advisory Board for Northwestern University’s Kellogg Management School and a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a member of the Women’s Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago,. She founded a support group for Prentice Women’s Hospital that has raised millions of dollars to benefit women’s and children’s health.  In 2005 she was named National Working Mother of the Year by the Moms in Business Network. Carol holds an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Lewis University and has recently been honored by Athena International and Legal Momentum for her role in mentoring and advancing women’s careers and by the Illinois chapter of Children’s Home & Aid with its Love of Children award.  Mrs. Bernick has three adult children and four grandchildren.

Mitchell Kaneff

Chairman and CEO, Arkay Packaging

 

Mitchell Kaneff, author of Taking Over: Insider Tips from a ThirdGeneration CEO, is the Chairman/CEO of Arkay Packaging, a 96-year old, family–owned and operated leader in the folding carton industry.  
 
Under Kaneff’s direction, Arkay continues to be a market frontrunner in providing companies, such as Revlon/Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oréal, with cutting-edge product packaging solutions.  Kaneff’s appreciation for customer satisfaction and his understanding of the industry has solidified partnerships with key customers, earning Arkay “Supplier of the Year” awards several years running.  
 
Kaneff, a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, began working at Arkay when he was still in high school, enabling him to expand and develop his expertise in print and management techniques, while refining his entrepreneurial skills – an ability which has contributed powerfully to Arkay’s growing success. 
 
In addition to locations in Hauppauge, New York and New York City, Arkay built a manufacturing facility in Roanoke, Virginia 22 years ago and in 2008 underwent an expansion to twice its size, a testament to leadership and the quality of the Arkay product.  
 
In addition to his role as CEO and author, Kaneff is involved with his band, The Young Presidents, performing original rock music in the New York metropolitan area.  The Young Presidents’ third album, FIREHORSE, was released in 2016 and the band recently released an EP, Break Away. 
 
Mitchell Kaneff lives in New York City with his twin 17-year old sons, Max and Josh, and his wife, Amy. 

Peter Willson

Chairman & CEO, Willson International Limited

Peter Willson joined Willson in 1997, and is the 4th generation of active Willson family management. Prior to joining the company Peter worked with Ernst & Young specializing in the audit of healthcare and mining companies.  Willson International specializes in Customs brokerage and transborder logistics with a predominant focus on Canada-US Trade. Peter is involved deeply in the community and currently sits on the Advisory Board for Heart & Stroke-Ontario. He has served as a Director and Chair of the Upper Canada Chapter of Young Presidents Organization, has been a member of the Regional council for YPO and of the Regional Board of Directors. Peter served as a director of the Trillium Health Centre Foundation, from 2007 to 2013 and as Chair of the Foundation from 2010 to 2013. During this time, he was also a Director of the Trillium Health Centre. In recognition of his community service, Peter was awarded Volunteer of the Year from the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.   Peter holds a Metallurgical Engineering degree from Queens University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.  He is a chartered accountant and a Certified Director from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Peter lives in Oakville, Canada with his wife Carol and d aughters Sofie (17) and Maya (15) and 3 dogs.  Peter is an avid cyclist, golfer & wingshooter.

Mitzi Perdue

Perdue Farms

Mitzi Perdue is the spouse of the late Frank Perdue and holds degrees from Harvard University and George Washington University, is a past president of the 35,000 member American Agri-Women and was one of the U.S. Delegates to the United Nations Conference on Women in Nairobi.  She currently writes for the Academy of Women’s Health,  and GEN, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.

Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms is a major chicken processing company based in Salisbury, Maryland, United States with annual sales in excess of $6 billion. The company was founded in 1920 and is 95 years old this year.

Most recently, Mitzi authored Tough Man, Tender Chicken, Business and Life Lessons from Frank Perdue, and I Didn't Bargain for This, her story of growing up as a hotel heiress. She also programmed a computer app, B Healthy U, designed to help people track the interactions of lifestyle factors that influence their energy, sleep, hunger, mood, and ability to handle stress.  In addition to being a programmer and software developer, Mitzi is also an artist and designer of EveningEggs™ handbags.


In addition, Mitzi is the author of the I Want to EggScape™ Book, A Quick Guide To Successful Media Appearances, and six cookbooks, including The Farmers' Cookbook series and the Perdue Chicken Cookbook. She is also the author of more than 1600 newspaper and magazine articles on food, agriculture, the environment, philanthropy, biotechnology genetic engineering, and women's health.
 
She was a syndicated columnist for 22 years, and her weekly environmental columns were distributed first by California’s Capitol News and later, by Scripps Howard News Service, to roughly 420 newspapers.  For two years she served as one of the commissioners for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
 
Mitzi also produced and hosted more than 400 half hour interview shows, Mitzi's Country Magazine on KXTV, the CBS affiliate in Sacramento, California. In addition, she hosted and produced more than 300 editions of Mitzi's Country Comments, which was syndicated to 76 stations. Her radio series, Tips from the Farmer to You, was broadcast weekly for two years on the Coast to Coast Radio Network.

Paula Marshall

Chief Executive Officer, Bama Companies

As Bama’s Chief Executive Officer, Paula Marshall provides strategic leadership and direction to the entire organization. Her vision stands as a beacon for Bama team members, inspiring the organization to achieve the Bama mission – “People Helping People Be Successful”.

Paula assumed responsibility as CEO of the Bama Companies in 1984, which now includes Bama Pie, Bama Foods, Bama Frozen Dough, Beijing Bama and Bama Europa. Under her leadership Bama has expanded to provide a wide variety of frozen desserts and baked goods to fast food chains and casual and family dining restaurants.

Paula received her Bachelor of Science in business from Oklahoma City University (OCU) in 1982, and her PhD in commercial science, also from OCU, in 1993.

Paula is the author of four books, the most recent was co-authored with New York Times bestselling author Jim Stovall. The Executive Entrepreneur is an important conversation starter about how all business people must embrace both entrepreneurship and management to succeed. 

Bama Companies was founded in the 1920s as the Bama Pie Company by Cornelia Alabama Marshall and her husband Frank. Since the 1960s, Bama Companies have been an innovator of wholesome bakery products that cater to the needs of the largest and most well known restaurant chains on the planet. The company’s core product lines are hand-held pies, biscuits, buns, pie shells, and pizza crusts and it develops and maintain long-term partnerships with customers that include:

  • the #1 hamburger chain in the world
  • the #1 pizza chain in the world
  • the #1 Mexican food chain in America
  • the #1 retailer in the world
  • the #1 fried chicken chain in the world 

Sam J. Susser

Director, Susser Holdings Corporation

Sam J. Susser is the former chairman and chief executive officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Susser Holdings Corporation. Previously, Mr. Susser was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Plexus Financial Services, a holding company based in Dallas, Texas, from 1987 through 1991. Mr. Susser's experience includes various positions with The Southland Corporation, Plexus Financial Services and CITGO Petroleum Company, 1 where he served as President. Mr. Susser is a director and past chairman of the Audit Committee of Alberto-Culver Company. Mr. Susser previously has served on the Board of Directors of Garden Ridge Pottery and Computer Craft, Inc. He is the father of Sam L. Susser, Susser Holding Corporations President and Chief Executive Officer and a director.

The Susser family's gasoline and convenience store business began when Minna Schwartz won the heart of an entrepreneur. In 1938 her husband, Sam Susser, took over operation of two service stations Minna had inherited and began selling fuel to local companies.

In his first year, Sam sold 360,000 gallons of gasoline. The business has flourished to become the largest non-refiner fuel distributor in Texas. Sam and Minna's two sons, Jerry and Sam J. joined Susser Petroleum Company in the 1960's. Together they invented the first system that allowed customers to purchase gasoline with a credit card from unattended stations.

Sam J.'s son, Sam L. Susser, joined the business in 1988. The company then became Southguard Corporation to acquire 26 7-Eleven stores. Southguard was merged into Susser Holdings LLC in 1998. The company's retail convenience store operations are conducted through its subsidiary, Stripes LLC. From 1988 to 2002, Susser successfully completed nine major acquisitions, including A. N. Rusche Distributing Company. Rusche was a well-respected Houston-based jobber, and significantly strengthened the Company's wholesale platform. Susser consolidated its wholesale operations in Houston through its subsidiary, Susser Petroleum Company LLC. Other significant acquisitions include Circle Ks, Tex Marts and Coastal/Maverick Markets. Susser Holdings Corporation also provides a broad range of environmental consulting, maintenance and construction management services to the petroleum and convenience store industry through another subsidiary, Applied Petroleum Technologies, Ltd.

At present, the company operates over 510 convenience stores under the Stripes® and Town & Country brands. The company also supplies fuel to 372 branded and unbranded dealers, five unattended fueling facilities and a significant number of other commercial customers.

Julie Charlestein

President & CEO, Premier Dental Products Company

Julie Charlestein is a 4th generation leader at Premier Dental Products Company. Started in 1913 by her great grandfather Julius Charlestein; Premier develops, manufactures and distributes innovative consumables to the dental professional worldwide. Julie currently serves as President & CEO. 
 
A native of Philadelphia.  Julie attended Emory University for her undergraduate studies and Temple University for her graduate work.
 
In her role at Premier, Julie was voted to The Top 25 Most Influential Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Report. Julie is proud to serve on the Board of Overseers for The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, the Dean's Advisory Council of Temple University Dental School, as well as  the Board of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders. She also serves on the Board of ASDOH (Arizona school of dentistry and oral health). 
 
Julie is an honorary member of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, and sat on the Board of Directors of the Dental Trade Alliance, where she Chaired the Government Relations Committee. She also served on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the School of Dental Medicine at Harvard University.
 
Julie is also a member of The Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), and sits on the Board of Directors for the ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease) Association.

Bill Yoh

Chairman, Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann Company

Bill Yoh is committed to all things family. His more than twenty years’ experience at his family's century-old, 42,000-employee company, Day & Zimmermann, has spanned myriad leadership, executive and operational roles. He is currently chairman of Yoh, D&Z's $700 million international recruiting and workforce solutions business. Bill also leads the family’s efforts on family business governance and succession.
 
Prior to D&Z, Bill worked as a management consultant specializing in process re-engineering. He has been a board member of and chaired the boards of a national trade association and one of the largest independent schools in the United States. A lifelong writer, Bill just published his first book, a biography on his father. He has also published business and literary articles and blogs, and produced a feature film on human relationships.
 
He earned a BA from Duke and an MBA from Wharton. He and his family live outside Philadelphia, where he is convinced the Eagles will one day win a Super Bowl.

Lansing Crane

Former Chairman and CEO, Crane & Co. Inc.; Chairman, Canal Insurance Company, SOG Specialty Knives & Tools and Wells Enterprises; Director, Ginsey Home Solutions

Lansing Crane retired in 2007 from Crane & Co. Inc. after 12 years as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. A member of Crane's Board of Directors from 1985 until 2007, He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Canal Insurance Company of Greenville, South Carolina, a Director of Wells' Dairy Inc. of Le Mars, Iowa, and a Senior Advisor on mergers and acquisitions and family corporate matters to Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Mr. Crane is also Executive-in-Residence at the Family Business Center of the Loyola School of Business in Chicago Illinois, and a member of the Business Advisory Board of the Family Firm Institute.

Mr. Crane is a sixth-generation descendant of the founder of Crane. During Mr. Crane's tenure at Crane & Co., the company moved from being a New England manufacturer of niche products to a diversified, global company while still retaining the values and culture of a unique legacy company. Mr. Crane led a professionalization of Crane's board of directors, management and family governance structures.

Trained as a lawyer, Mr. Crane practiced law in New Haven, Connecticut and taught in the Yale School of Medicine until joining Crane & Co. He and his wife, Katharine, now reside in Boulder, Colorado.

Crane was established in 1801 and has been privately owned by the Crane family since then. Crane is a world leader in the manufacture and sale of high security currency products, fine cotton stationery and high performance, nonwoven materials for filtration and insulation. Crane has supplied the U.S. Treasury with all of its currency paper requirements since 1879, and has developed banknote security features that are present in the currencies of the United States, the European Union, and many nations of the world.

With its 2001 acquisition and subsequent modernization of the banknote printing and paper facilities of the Central Bank of Sweden outside Stockholm, Sweden, Crane Currency has become a fully integrated supplier of banknotes, banknote paper and security features for governments worldwide.

In the United States, Crane's branded 100% cotton stationery has been the standard for business and social correspondence, and important social occasions, for generations.

Crane's nonwoven products are sold worldwide for fine water filtration, cleaning emissions from coal burning power plants and diesel engines, and safely insulating office panels and computer chips.

Cameron Nutting Williams

Director, Strategic Initiatives & Operations, The Nutting Company; Managing Director, TNC Ventures

Cameron Nutting Williams serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations for The Nutting Company, where she focuses primarily on acquisitions & other growth initiatives. Prior to joining The Nutting Company, Cameron led sales & customer strategy for Encore, a software company that was acquired in 2015.
 
Cameron graduated from Williams College in 2011, and earned a M.A. from George Washington University in 2014. She currently serves on the Inland Press Association Board, and has previously served on the Executive Board for West Virginia Independent Colleges.
 
The Nutting Company(TNC) is a diversified holding company operating a number of media, hospitality and entertainment businesses, along with other strategic ventures. Family owned and operated, TNC focuses on building long term value for its customers, employees, and the communities they serve. The company owns The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, four seasons resorts in Western Pennsylvania, Ogden Newspapers and Ogden Publications, Inc.

Preston Root

President, Root Family Board of Directors

Preston Root is President of the Root Family Board of Directors, a position that has been continuously occupied by a family member for 110 years.

He is the great grandson of C.J. Root who founded Root Glass Company in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1901. Root Glass Company designed , patented and manufactured the original 6 1/2 ounce Coca-cola bottle in 1916.

Root Company relocated to Florida in 1950 and started to build what would become one of the largest independent bottlers of Coca - Cola in the United States. Preston has worked for the family business for 35 years in roles ranging from route sales to radio station manager.

In addition, he currently works for MRN Radio--"The Voice of NASCAR"--America's largest independent sports radio network, broadcasting NASCAR and Rolex Grand-Am races from all across North America.

Preston has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Volusia County , Museum of Arts and Sciences of Daytona Beach and The Arc of Volusia and Flagler Counties. In 2010 Preston was named "Top Volunteer in the State of Florida" by The Arc. He also serves on Halifax Health Foundation.

Preston is a certified SCUBA instructor and an EMT. His interests include mountain biking and aviation.

Gary Katz

Managing Partner, Downtown Capital Partners

Gary Katz has invested in and counseled a wide range of businesses over the past 25 years. He is the Managing Partner of Downtown Capital Partners, which invests in and originates loans to middle market companies and real estate developers facing “special situations.”  Gary is also the Managing Principal of Downtown Realty Management, LP, a closely held partnership that owns and operates various real estate assets located primarily in Manhattan below Canal Street.  Downtown Capital and Downtown Realty are both arms of Gary’s family office, which he operates on behalf of himself and his two sisters Meredith Katz Gantcher and Wendy Katz Waxman. After leading and closing debt and equity investments with their own capital, the Katz’s then syndicate participation interests to a small network of family offices with shared value investing orientations.  
 
Prior to launching Downtown Capital Partners, Gary served as a Managing Director and the Chief Legal Officer of Delaware Street Capital, where he led the rescue financing and turn-arounds of numerous middle-market companies.  Before moving exclusively to the investing side of the turn-around world, Gary was an attorney in the Corporate Restructuring Group at Skadden, Arps, where he represented debtors both in and out of court in complex restructuring transactions.
 
As a capital sponsor of and “white knight” investor in middle-market companies, Gary was twice recognized by industry groups for "Deal of the Year"--by the Turnaround Management Association for a $65-million loan to Alpine Confections (owner of the Fannie May and Laura Secord brands) and by the M&A Advisor for a $75-million financing of Archibald Candy. Gary is also credited with the rescue of the Mississippi Chemical Corporation, to which he provided an 11th-hour $180-million DIP facility to avert a forced liquidation.  As a result of the financing, the unsecured creditors in the case ultimately obtained a full-par recovery on claims that had been previously trading at 7 cents on the dollar.
 
Recent representative senior secured loan deals Gary and his team have arranged through Downtown Capital Partners include a $103 million dollar acquisition and construction loan for a major residential rental development in Downtown Brooklyn; a $12.25million loan for the “short fuse” acquisition of an assisted living facility; and $50 million seasonal line of credit to a fintech company in the tax preparation business.  
 
Gary graduated cum laude from the Harvard Law School, after which he served as a law clerk to Judge Richard G. Stearns, a U.S. Federal District Court Judge.  Thereafter Gary was a criminal prosecutor in Massachusetts where he was lead counsel in over 30 jury trials.   From 1998-1999, Gary served as a law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel.  He received a BA magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College.  Gary serves on the executive committees of several charitable organizations.  Gary currently lives in White Plains, NY with his wife and four children, ages 17, 15, 13 and 9.

Tara Bahn

Director of Shareholder Services, The Clemens Family Corporation

Tara Bahn is Director of Shareholder Services for The Clemens Family Corporation.  She previously served as Corporate Counsel for the company.  She was formerly an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she was named a Washington, D.C. Rising Star in Environmental Law by Super Lawyers.  She also served as a trial attorney in the US Department of Justice.  She earned her JD at Tulane University.

Scenic Root

5th Generation Family Member, The Root Glass Company

Scenic Root is a 5th generation steward of Root Glass Company, which designed and patented the original Coca-Cola bottle in 1916. 

Scenic currently has a 4.2 GPA in high school and is completing the design of stylish sports clothing line for e-commerce. Scenic Root Sportswear debuts in 2018. 

Scenic is a lifelong soccer player, music lover and finds New York City the best place on Earth. A sports car fan, she attends the LeMans 24 hour race, and sometimes lets her Dad go with her. 

 

John Neretlis

Rowntree Enterprises

John Neretlis has spent much of life involved in various family businesses: as a Next Gen and Now Gen with his family, and as a married-in Next Gen with his wife’s. In addition to running his consultancy for Family Businesses, John has recently partnered with his teenage son in a new venture, and is chairing his married-in family’s Family Assembly where he directs the G3 training program. John holds an MBA from Queen’s University, is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and is certified as a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA). 
 
John volunteers on two boards: Rosseau Lake College, where he serves as Vice-Chair; and  Queen’s University Alma Mater Society. He is also an advisor in the development of Queen’s University’s Generational Wealth program. 
 
He resides in Toronto, Ontario with his wife Susan, son Matthew (15) and daughter Katie (13).  

Allan Grafman

CEO, All Media Ventures

Allan Grafman has served on eight boards, both public and private, three of which were family businesses.  He has served on Audit, Compensation, Governance and Nominating committees,  as Chairman of the Board, and is an SEC qualified ‘financial expert’ and media authority. Mr. Grafman’s board service and business activity includes these companies and investors: Mercury Capital, Accel Partners, Austin Ventures, Delta Private Equity, Morgan Stanley and others. 
 
He is a frequently published author and commentator in "Directors and Boards," “NACD Directorship,” "Licensing Book," ACG, MSNBC and other professional publications for board directors and industry leaders.
 
He is a founder and since 1996 CEO of All Media Ventures.  Previous executive roles include: Partner, Mercury Capital, Chairman of the Board of Majesco, President of Archie Comics, President & CEO of Modelwire, EVP & CFO of Hallmark Entertainment, VP & Managing Director of Tribune Company, VP & GM at ABC Cable. He began his career as an on-air announcer and ad salesman for KSHE Radio. 
 
Mr. Grafman received his BA from Indiana University (Phi Beta Kappa), Russian, his Masters, International Affairs, Columbia University (International Fellow), and his MBA, (Beta Gamma Sigma) Finance.
 
He serves on the board of Aspen Reit.

Ellie Frey Zagel

Vice Chair and Trustee, The Frey Foundation

Ellie Frey Zagel is the 3rd Generation Vice Chair and Trustee of her family’s Frey Foundation, based in Grand Rapids, MI.  For nearly a decade she has been deeply involved in working with the next generation of family business, family philanthropy, and family wealth, first as Director of the Family Business Alliance and now as President of Successful Generations, a company she recently founded.
 
Philanthropic since her early teens, Ellie personally supports worthy causes domestically and internationally.  Ellie earned her Bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from Boston University and has certificates in Family Business and Family Wealth Advising from the Family Firm Institute. She has spoken around the country on next-generation issues in family business and family philanthropy.
 
Ellie serves on several nonprofit boards including the National Center for Family Philanthropy, Council of Michigan Foundations, Frey Foundation, and Learning to Give.
 
Outside of work, Ellie is an avid fly fisherwoman. When she is not in a trout stream, you can find Ellie and her husband Chad in East Grand Rapids, MI with their toddler Steven Monroe.

Conference Location

Set in the upscale Miracle Mile district, this refined hotel is 4 miles from Villa Vizcaya museum and 12 miles from Miami Beach. 

Chic rooms with contemporary decor offer pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs and WiFi access (fee), as well as minifridges and coffeemakers. Suites, some with crystal chandeliers and/or skyline views, add living areas and sleeping lofts; some have balconies. In-room spa treatments and room service are available.

Dining options include a vibrant grill restaurant, a bar, a cafe and a coffee shop. There's also a heated rooftop pool, a hot tub and a 24/7 gym, plus a business center and 23,000 sq ft of meeting space.

 

Hotel Reservations

Attendees can make reservations by calling 1 (888) 625-4988 and referencing Family Business Magazine.  Or click here to reserve online. 

Reservations at the discounted group rate are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be made before January 17, 2018 to qualify for the group rate of $289 plus tax.

Register Today!

Registration Information
 
Please Note: Attendance at this conference is limited to members, owners, senior executives (including non-family executives and non-family board members) or shareholders of family-owned businesses whose primary business is other than advising family-owned businesses. Senior advisers to family businesses may attend only with family members. 
 
All registrants receive a free one year subscription to Family Business magazine (a $79 value), or a one-year extension to their current subscription.  Subscriptions include free online access to the magazine's online archive of articles. Registration fees do not include hotel or travel expenses.
 

 

Standard Pricing (after December 10, 2017)

$2,235- First Attendee from your family company
$1,450- Each additional attendee
 
For general questions on attendance or help with registration, please contact Justine Wood at (703) 850-5497. Please register all attendees from your company on the same registration form. If you determine at a later time that you need to add registrants, we will need to process the registrations offline in order to apply the discounted registration fees. To register offline, please email registrant information (name, title, company name, mailing address, phone number and email address) to jwood@familybusinessmagazine.com. For the payment, please call  Jerri Smith at 215-405-6071 to provide the credit card number or use the Credit Card Authorization Form available here.
 
All attendees will be verified prior to acceptance of registration. A family company's advisers may contact Mike Bachman at (215) 405-6070 for information on attending.
 
Registration price includes all conference materials, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner on February 8 breakfast and lunch on February 9, and a welcome reception with buffet dinner on February 7, as well as refreshment breaks.
 
Registration contact:
Justine Wood
Events Director
(703) 850-5497
 
Cancellation policy: All conference cancellations must be made in writing and sent to Justine Wood, Generational Wealth Program Manager, 13631 Maidstone Lane, Potomac, MD 20854; faxed to (301) 987-0476 or emailed to jwood@familybusinessmagazine.com. Registrants who cancel more than four weeks prior to the program date are entitled to a full refund of the registration fee less an administrative fee of $150 per registrant; if canceled within four weeks, but more than 10 business days prior to the conference date, 50% of the conference registration fee will be refunded less an administrative fee of $150 per registrant; within ten business days of the conference date and no shows, no refund is possible. Family Business magazine may cancel the program if attendance does not meet required levels; in case of cancellation or rescheduling, full refunds of registration fees will be made. Travel fares and hotel deposits cannot be reimbursed.
Ideal For:
 
Family business CEOs/Chairs/CFOs
Family trust directors and executives
Family business shareholders
Family council leaders and members
Family office leaders

Sponsors

Your Hosts

Conference Hosts: 
Barbara Spector, who grew up in a family business, has served on the editorial staff of Family Business Magazine since 2000 and has been the magazine's editor-in-chief since 2004. She has also compiled and edited six volumes in the acclaimed Family Business Handbook Series, most recently The Family Business Legacy Handbook. Previously, she was the managing editor of Jewelers' Circular Keystone, a trade magazine for the jewelry industry, which is primarily composed of family businesses.
 
Caro Rock is the publisher of Family Business Magazine, which is itself owned by a family company with interests in media and information technology research. She was the founder and publisher of Main Line Life, a weekly newspaper with 15,000 readers covering the western suburban communities of Philadelphia. She grew up in a family business that manufactured and sold flour under the labels Ceresota and Heckers Flour. The Uhlmann Company, formerly Standard Milling Company, also produced Wheatena and Maypo hot cereals, Patio Chef Charcoal and Just Add Water jelly mix. Today, her brother and his son-in-law are involved in the family business, which has ventured into additional related businesses.
 
Peter Begalla is a family business owner, Family Business Magazine's Conference and Education Director, and Adjunct Professor with Stetson University's Family Enterprise Center. He is at the forefront of Next Generation Leadership Development, having helped hundreds of college-aged students establish credibility and marketability with their family, with their family businesses or with non-family employers. He combines years of counseling experience with over 10 years of business development and marketing experience in online education.