Transitions Canada 2017
- The Successful Succession
- Family Governance
- When The Inevitable Happens: Divorce, Disability, Dependency and Death
- Employing and Compensating Family Members
- Preparing the Next Gen in the Business Family
- Estate and Tax Planning
- What is your Family Culture?
- The Ingredients for a Fantastic Family Meeting
- Developing Stewards
- Special Sessions for: Married-Ins, Siblings, Cousins, and a Next Gen Roundtable.
- Plenty of time and forums to network with other families.
- Shared pre-conference survey results.
- Our confidential and no sell environment.
- A pre-conference “Family Business Basics” session for first timers.
- Conference Pricing on Hotel Rooms the days before and after the conference.
- Assistance with scheduling and hosting your own family meeting or get together before; during or after the conference
- Limited attendance (150 guests from between 50 and 65 families). There are no outside advisors permitted. Families may bring a non-family executive or their own family advisor.
- FAMILY FOCUS: Transitions is brought to you by Family Business Magazine, a family owned company, and Next Gen Anesti Principal John Neretlis, a G2 in his family business and a G2 married-in of his wife’s family business.
Featured Speakers
Register Today!
Program
Wednesday September 13
Thursday September 14th
- Tax & Estate Planning with Luigi DeRose, PwC Canada
- The Ingredients for a Fantastic Family Meeting with The Family Business Consulting Group
- Family Business and the Capital Markets: Investing for the Future with Matthew Flynn and Ori Mandowsky, Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.
12:30pm -1:30pm – LUNCH
Friday September 15
- Tax & Estate Planning with Luigi DeRose, PwC Canada
- The Ingredients for a Fantastic Family Meeting with The Family Business Consulting Group
- Family Business and the Capital Markets: Investing for the Future with Matthew Flynn and Ori Mandowsky, Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.
About Conference
Transitions Canada 2017 is sponsored by Family Business Magazine, and is the only conference created for family companies, by family companies.
Who Should Attend
Attendance at this conference is strictly limited to owners, shareholders, family members, in-laws and executives of 75 family businesses/enterprises. The conference is designed to facilitate conversation on important family issues among generations. There is special programming for family business members aged 15-29, and for those who have married-in to the family business.
The Transitions conference is for family companies and family offices of all sizes. Approximately one third of attendees represent companies with revenues of under $25 million, one third of attendees have revenues of between $26 million and $300 million; and one third have revenues of over $300 million. And approximately a third of attendees are in the third generation or less; a third were in generations 4 and 5; and third were part of companies more than 6 generations old. What all attendees share is a desire to see their family enterprise grow successfully through generational transitions.
68% of attendees at Transitions are coming to the conference for the first time; 100% of attendees at our last conference say they'll attend again, and that they'd recommend the conference to other family members.
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 casual. 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 Transitions conference attendees—by attending the conference, a tabletop exhibit and/or by participating as a moderator/panelist is only available 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 at (215) 405-6070, or email mike.bachman@familybusinessmagazine.com.
Student Registration
Students who are interested in attending the conference should apply through the standard attendee registration process (submit a registration form for consideration). Complimentary student registrations are not available.
Press
Press passes are not available for this conference.
What Attendees Say About Transitions
Confirmed Speakers

Travis Klassen
CEO, Klassen Business Group
Travis Klassen has been working with the framework of family enterprise for as long as he can remember. Travis entered his family’s third generation, fifty-year-old business at the age of thirteen and worked all the way up to become CEO at the age of thirty; under his leadership his family was recognized as the Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement award winner by the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (Vancouver Chapter). Travis has extensive tried & true, first hand experience with complicated issues such as succession, transition, family legacy, philanthropy and family mission/vision and is a certified family enterprise advisor.

Murray Flanagan
Shareholder, Flanagan Food Service Inc.

Howard "Howdy" Holmes
CEO, Chelsea Milling Company/JIFFY Mix

Douglas B. Ford, Jr.
President, Deco Labels and Flexible Packaging

Brittany McKee
NextGen Development Planning, McKee Foods Corporation
Brittany McKee is a fourth-generation member of McKee Foods Corporation, manufacturer of Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Drakes, among other brands. Brittany grew up working summers at the company and has been involved for over 10 years. She is now mid-way through her journey as a Next Gen family member and is involved with Next Gen development planning. She has a BS in Health Science, and an MBA in Business Operations and Management from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She is now living in Chattanooga, Tennessee near the corporate headquarters and is a Client Success Manager at Vikus Corporation, a small tech start-up (also family owned) that provides web-based hiring services to Senior Care and Healthcare facilities across the country. Brittany is also a health and fitness expert and an accomplished CrossFit competitor. When she is not working, you can find her at the local CrossFit gym.

Trevor Baker
Operations, Family Communications

Charlotte E. Lamp, Ph.D.
Port Blakely Companies

Torri Hawley
7th Generation Family Member, Vollrath Company
Torri Hawley is a seventh generation member of the Vollrath Company, a stainless steel small-wares company in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. While not involved in the family business, she plays an active role in governance. She attended Stetson University where she graduated with a degree in Family Enterprise, and later completed the Family Firm Institute’s Certificate in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising. Torri has spoken on her perspective as a next generation stakeholder for the Transitions Conference as well as Daughters In Charge and Family Office Exchange. In 2014 she was nominated as one of Family Business Magazine’s “25 Under 35: Next-Gen Members to Watch”. She now lives in Denver, Colorado where she works for a fourth generation family business.

Justin Schinkel
Manager, Schinkel Properties

Susan Fulford
Managing Director, Dynamic Legacy

John E. Peller
President & CEO, Andrew Peller Limited
Mr. Peller was born in Hamilton, Ontario and attended the University of Western Ontario (LLB, 1980), Osgoode Hall, Toronto (Bar Admission Course, 1982), L'institute de Touraine, Tours, France (1984). He began his career with the law firm of Evans, Husband in Hamilton, Ontario, practising corporate and commercial law before moving to New Jersey as Manager, Corporate Planning and Development with Nabisco Brands Inc. Mr. Peller has been President & Chief Executive Officer for Andrew Peller Limited since 1994. He is currently Chair and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Peller has been a Director and Chairman, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving as Director, RBC Life Insurance Company of Royal Bank of Canada. He is a member of the Business Council of Canada, the Chief Executives Organization, and the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Maurice Fares
VP Operations, WM Fares Group

Wes Neichenbauer
CFO, Rowntree Enterprises
Wes Neichenbauer is the CFO of Rowntree Enterprises Inc., having joined the company in 2006. Prior to joining Rowntree Enterprises Inc. Wes was the CFO, a director and shareholder of Applewood Holdings Inc., which was purchased by one of the largest automotive groups in Canada. Previously, Wes was the CFO of a TSX-listed company and an analyst and investment banker with one of the largest Schedule A banks in Canada. Wes holds an Hons. B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and is a chartered accountant (CA), having qualified in the top 1% in Canada.
Rowntree Enterprises, based in Toronto, has completed a transition out of its original business -- car dealerships -- to focus on real estate and private equity investing.

Rosanne Longo
Spokesperson and Brand Ambassador, Longo's
Growing up in the family business, Rosanne Longo has a natural passion for food. Her purpose through her dual roles as Spokesperson and Chair of the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation is to connect and inspire healthier families through shared family values and a love of good food. Longo Bros. Fruit Markets was founded by three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus Longo in 1956. At the time, they simply wanted to be able to support their family. What started as a single fruit market has evolved into a chain of grocery stores focusing on quality, service and value, which has been the foundation for the last 61 years. Built on a strong belief and commitment to family, fresh food, opportunity and philanthropy, Rosanne Longo will share her family's story and how their entrepreneurial spirit, led by these cornerstones, remain as founding values that guide innovation in the next generation. Not only will you learn who the Longo family is and what they do, but be inspired by what motivates them to continue to do it.

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.

John Neretlis
Rowntree Enterprises
Conference Location

