Transitions East 2018

The conference for family businesses by family businesses

 
This conference is for family companies and enterprises of all sizes and ages.
 
How family members and shareholders can thrive, either in or outside the business.
 

Transitions East 2018 will address:

  • 'Whole System' Family Governance
  • Succession Planning: What Works and What Doesn’t
  • Women’s Changing Roles in the Family Business
  • Why I Joined/Didn’t Join/Left the Family Business
  • Healthy Conflict: How Family Disagreements Can Go Right

Plus:

  • Sleep Better! A workshop on what keeps family business shareholders awake at night
  • Building the Best Family Meeting
  • Creating a Family Development Plan For Steward Owners
  • Effective Mentoring in the Family Business
 
Special Bonus: To extend and enhance conference learning, all attendees will receive a free one year's subscription to Family Business Magazine (or a one-year extension to their current subscription). Subscription includes access to Family Business' online archive of more than 800 articles.
 
We continually strive to enhance your conference experience:
  • Smaller group sessions to facilitate discussion.
  • Topic-based expert briefings to allow you and your family members to drill down more deeply into areas of specific interest or need.
  • Some families bring family members who do not attend the conference itself. We've created the opportunity for these families to schedule a working family meeting prior to and after the conference, with a professional facilitator. (Limited space available, please contact Justine Wood at 703-850-5497 for details). Please note: our hotel room block allows families to book rooms before and after the conference, at our group rate, to extend the duration and value of your visit.
  • Family Business Basics--a pre-conference session focused on key family business terms and ideas, and on how to get the most out of the conference itself.
 
Transitions features:
  • Speakers from family companies: Our focus is on speakers from family enterprises, sharing real-life problems and solutions.
  • Intimate, open environment: Limited attendance, and a private "safe harbor" environment in which to openly share challenges and opportunities with other families.
  • Collaborative discussions: Opportunities to work through family issues via guided discussions.
  • No-Sell environment: Conference sponsors understand and commit to participating as thought leaders and experts, and are restricted from actively selling their products and services.
  • Special content and sessions for next-generation and married-in family members
  • Networking with families like yours: Hosted networking, opening reception, meals, breaks and workshops are all designed to allow you to meet many family enterprise attendees.
  • Family focus: Brought to you by family-owned Family Business Magazine. We use family-owned or family-controlled hotels, transportation services, restaurants and service providers whenever possible. We believe in, and invest in, America's family businesses.
  • Hosted family meetings: For attending families who want to meet before and after the conference, professionally facilitated. Limited availability.

Featured Speakers

Susan Marvin

Chair of the Board, The Marvin Companies

Andrew Cathy

Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Chick-Fil-A

John W. Reininger

Chief Relationship Officer, The Clemens Family Corporation

Ross J. Born

Co-CEO, Just Born, Inc.

Barbara Moran-Goodrich

Co-Founder, Chairwoman, CEO, Moran Family of Brands

Heath Nunnemacher

Director, Galland Henning Nopak, Inc.

Kent Lundberg

Chair, Governance Committee, Lundberg Family Farms; CEO, Howard Van Dyke Family Enterprise

Daniel Ariens

Chairman and CEO, Ariens Company

Letitia Hussey Beauregard

Chair of the Board of Directors, Hussey Seating Company

Michelle Clements

President, Synergy Trust Partners, LLC

Howard Holmes II

Regional Business Manager, Chelsea Milling Company

Ralph Brennan

President, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group

Laura M. Neiman

President & CEO, Neiman Brothers Company, Inc.

Travis York

President & CEO, GYK Antler 

Steve Napoli

Owner/Operator of SnapTop; Former Assistant Product Purchasing & Development Director for Idylwilde Farm
 

Tamara Smith

Chair, Smith Family Council, Menasha Corporation

Andrew D. Pitcairn

Pitcairn Family Council Chair

Carolyn Brown

Chair, Campbell Family Council, Mannington Mills

Register Today!

Begin Your Registration By Clicking Here.

 

The cost to attend is listed below. Members of families who have previously attended a Transitions conference receive a 10% discount on their cost of attendance. Your registration also includes a one-year subscription to Family Business Magazine or a one-year extension to your current subscription.

 

Standard Pricing (after February 18, 2018)

  • $1875 - First attendee from your family company
  • $1375 - Each additional attendee (age 30 and above)
  • $1150 - Each additional Next Generation attendee (age 29 and below)

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. Attendance is strictly limited to the first 75 family businesses/enterprises who register.

 

All attendees will be verified prior to acceptance of registration. A family company's advisers may attend only if accompanied by one or more family company members. Other family company advisers may contact Mike Bachman at (215) 405-6070 for information on attending.

 

All registrants receive a free one year subscription to Family Business Magazine ($79 value), or a one-year extension to their current subscription.  Subscriptions include free online access to the magazine's extensive online archive of articles. Registration fees do not include hotel or travel expenses.

 

Registration price includes all conference materials, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner on April 12, breakfast and lunch on April 13, and a welcome reception with buffet dinner on April 11, 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, Transitions Events Director, 13631 Maidstone Lane, Potomac, MD 20854, 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 10 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, APRIL 11

 
2:30-6:30 p.m. Registration Open
 
3:30-4:30 p.m. Family Business and Governance Basics and Best Practices
 
An optional, complimentary pre-conference session for first-time Transitions attendees and others who wish to brush up on key family business terms and practices. A special section has been added on private company governance/board best practices. The session will also offer tips on how to get the most out of the conference experience.
 
Speakers:  David Karofsky, Consultant, The Family Business Consulting Group; Steven R. Walker, General Counsel & Managing Director, Board Advisory Services Group, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD); Peter Begalla, Conference and Education Director, Family Business Magazine
 
4:30-5 p.m. Networking Break
 
5-6 p.m. ‘Whole System’ Family Governance
 
Panelists will describe the various governance bodies and governing documents that are in place in their company, the boundaries and intersections of each part of the family/business/ownership system, and how the different parts work to ensure smooth functioning throughout the system.
 
Speakers: Kent Lundberg, Director, Lundberg Family Farms; John Reininger, Chief Relationship Officer, The Clemens Family Corporation; Tamara Smith, Chair, Smith Family Council
 
Moderator:  Charlie Carr, US Family Enterprises Advisory Leader, PwC
 
6-6:30 p.m. Opening Keynote Conversation
Susan Marvin, Chair of the Board, The Marvin Companies
 
Interviewed by Jonathan Flack, U.S. Family Business Services leader, PwC
 
6:30-9 p.m. Welcome Reception and Dinner

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

 
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Registration Open
 
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
 
8:30-9:30 a.m. Succession Planning: What Works and What Doesn’t
 
A deep dive into the best practices for preparing and updating your succession plan. What should be the philosophical underpinnings of your plan? Have you set the tone for stewardship across your family and business? How do you start the process? Are you able to deal with unexpected leadership changes due to death or disability? As you think through succession, are you casting a wide enough net? Panelists will discuss their experiences in addressing these issues.
 
Speakers: Ross Born, Co-CEO, Just Born Quality Confections; Daniel Ariens, Chairman and CEO, Ariens Company; Letitia Hussey Beauregard, Chair of the Board of Directors, Hussey Seating Company
 
Moderator: Bryant W. Seaman III, Managing Director and Head of Private Asset Advisory, Bessemer Trust
 
9:30-10 a.m. Networking Break
 
10-11 a.m. Women’s Changing Roles in the Family Business
 
Thirty years ago, few women were seriously considered for key roles in their family or business -- decisions were likely made by an authoritarian patriarch. Now, women are increasingly given room to step up. Our panel will discuss what has changed, and what still needs to change.
 
Speakers: Barbara Moran-Goodrich, Co-Founder, Chairwoman, CEO, Moran Family of Brands; Michelle Clements, President, Synergy Trust Partners, LLC; Laura M. Neiman, President & CEO, Neiman Brothers Company, Inc.
 
Moderator:  Rhona Vogel, Founder and CEO, Vogel Consulting
 
11-11:15 a.m. Networking Break
 
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Expert Briefings
 

Philanthropy--Creating a Family Legacy and Building Family Engagement:  Kate Coughlin, Director, Kellogg Center for Family Enterprises

Philanthropy can be an excellent way to engage family members not involved in the business, and help to cement the legacy and values of the family.  This session will feature a discussion of engagement strategies and expected outcomes of philanthropic endeavors.

The Non-Family Executive and Family Relationships:  F. Douglas Raymond, Partner, Drinker Biddle Reath LLP

The three essential ingredients of a successful relationship between the family and non-family executives are timing, fit and an effective governance structure.  

Marrying-in and Dealing with Family Conflict:  Blair Trippe, Managing Partner, Continuity Family Business Consulting

Those who marry in to a family business are in a unique position, and can both create and help deal with family conflict.  This session will look at the positive roles married-ins can play in the overall emotinal health of a family.

Family History:  Your Past as a Bridge to Planning Your Future:  Jill Shipley, Managing Director and Mark Speltz, Senior Historian & Vice President, Abbot Downing

One of the greatest sources of joy within a family are the stories told about the successes, struggles and lessons learned across generations. In this workshop, we will explore how sharing a family’s history and stories creates meaningful engagement across multiple and diverse generations of a family and helps bridge the generation gap.  Included will be strategies for using family history and values to preserve a family’s legacy and to engage and prepare the rising generation for stewardship. Case studies and best practices for learning about your family history will also be discussed. 

How to Keep the Family Business in the Family:  Mike Pinkans, President, and Greg Stevens, Vice President, Capital Formation Counselors

Strategies families can use to ensure that the business remains family-owned, including concentration of voting control, shared values, the passing of stewardship values to each generation, and managing cash flow objectives.

Financial Readiness for Women: Diane K. Doolin, Senior Vice President, Wealth Management, The Doolin Group at Morgan Stanley

An in-depth discussion of the strategies women should employ to ensure their financial future.

How Should NextGen Family Members Prepare for Future Family Leadership?  Charlie Adams, US NextGen Program Leader, PwC

A research-based discussion of the key issues on the minds of Next Generation family members, with a focus on how they can prepare and position themselves for future leadership within the family and/or the business.

Choosing or Changing a Family Wealth Adviser: Lynn Erskine, VP, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Erich Hickey, VP, Chief Investment Strategist, Drexel Morgan Capital Advisers

Choosing a wealth adviser for your family can be daunting. A successful long‐term relationship with a trusted wealth adviser is key to generational wealth transfer and your family’s financial legacy. This interactive session will explore how to find the best fit for your family. 

 
12:15-12:30 p.m. Networking Break
 
12:30-1:45 p.m. Lunch
 
1:45-2 p.m. Networking Break
 
2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.  Workshop: What Keeps Family Business Members Awake at Night?
 
A solutions-oriented workshop centering on the key family issues that attendees face, based on feedback from our pre-conference survey. In this working session, we'll discuss potential solutions and outcomes. Sleep a little better!
 
Session Leaders:  Michael Fassler, Principal Consultant, and David Karofsky, Consultant, The Family Business Consulting Group
 
2:45-3 p.m. Networking Break
 
3-4 p.m. Why I Joined, Didn’t Join or Left the Family Business
 
NextGen members discuss the reasoning behind their decision to either join or not join the family business, or why they left the business after working there for a while. What can families do to increase NextGen engagement with the family business?
 
Speakers: Howard Holmes II, Regional Business Manager, Chelsea Milling; Travis York, President & CEO, GYK Antler: Steve Napoli, Owner/Operator of SnapTop; Former Assistant Product Purchasing & Development Director for Idylwilde Farm
 
Moderator:  Jill Shipley, Managing Director, Family Dynamics and Education, Abbot Downing
 
4-5 p.m. Intensive Workshops
 

Building the Best Family Meeting

This session will focus on great family meeting ideas and a planning processes that promote engagement across the generations.   Attendees will come away with a framework to plan and deliver family meetings that are fun and will promote clarity and cohesion across the whole family.  

Session Leaders:  Nancy Drozdow, Founder/Principal and Debbie Bing, President, CFAR

Creating a Family Development Plan
Family members can play many roles: as shareholders, or working in the business at various levels, or participating in family or business governance, or other roles—and they all could use help in growing as effective members of the family and the business.  This session will focus on creating plans to develop all family members, regardless of their role(s), and building the components of a systematic education and development program.  Sample curriculums will be provided, and discussion will focus on building and tracking the results of the family development plan.
 
Session Leader:   Janice DiPietro, Founder and CEO, Exceptional Leaders International
 

Effective Mentoring in the Family Business

Preparing family members for the various roles and responsibilities in a family enterprise can be daunting.  From the emerging family executive to the family champion and potential trustees, families have to cultivate skills and talents that are rooted in the family values & principles while insuring the technical competence is in firmly in place.  A well developed mentoring process helps families track and develop family members to steward the enterprise in their generation.

Session Leader: Andrew L. Busser, Managing Director of Strategy, Pitcairn

 

Compensation in the Family Business

Hiring and retaining the best people is crucial to growing a family business, and not all of this talent will come from family members. Compensation issues in the family business are different than compensation issues in investor-owned companies. These differences cause challenges at multiple levels; not only in compensating family members, but in compensating non-family member talent that the business needs to be successful. It can also be a potential source of family conflict. This session will discuss best practices in family business compensation for both family members and non-family members, including strategies for aligning compensation with both family and business goals. 

Session Leader:  Rhona Vogel, Founder, Vogel Consulting

 
6:30-9 p.m. Family Dinner
 
Speaker:  Andrew D. Pitcairn, Pitcairn Family Council Chair
Family Dinner Traditions
 

FRIDAY, APRIL 13

 
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
 
8:35-9:35 a.m. Expert Briefings
Repeats sessions from Thursday
 
9:35-10 a.m. Networking Break
 
10-11:15 a.m. Managing Conflict to Workable Resolutions
 
Sometimes, conflict within a family business can seem irresolvable. But there are ways to leverage disagreements into stronger family bonds, and better businesses. Panelists will discuss their experience with facing and managing complex family and business conflict.
 
Speakers: Heath Nunnemacher, Director, Galland Henning Nopak, Inc.; Ralph Brennan, President, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group; Carolyn Brown, Chair, Campbell Family Council, Mannington Mills
 
Moderator:  Daisy Medici, Managing Director of Family Governance and Education, GenSpring
 
11:15 a.m.-12 noon Keynote Interview
Andrew Cathy, Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Chick-Fil-A
 
Interviewed by Blair Trippe, Managing Partner, Continuity Family Business Consulting
 
12 noon-1:15 p.m. Lunch
 

About Conference

Transitions East 2018 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

“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."
 
“This was a great conference--the person-to person idea exchanges were vibrant”
 
"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. 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.”

 

Confirmed Speakers

Susan Marvin

Chair of the Board, The Marvin Companies

Susan Marvin serves as Chair of the Board of The Marvin Companies. She has been part of the third-generation management team for more than 35 years, in what is today a fourth-generation family owned and operated company.
 
Active in both profit and nonprofit boards, Susan serves on The Marvin Companies Board of Directors, M. A. Mortenson Company Board of Directors, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Board of Directors, the National Association of Manufacturers Board of Directors, and the University of Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Gold.
 
Prior to her current role, Susan was Vice Chair of the Board, and previously President of Marvin Windows and Doors where she oversaw the fenestration business. She joined the company in 1981 as Marketing Manager, was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1985, and was appointed President in 1995, serving in that position until 2015.
 
Susan is a 1979 graduate of the University of Minnesota where she earned an undergraduate degree in Journalism.  A native of Warroad, Minnesota, Susan now lives in both Warroad and Minneapolis with her husband, Keith Schwartzwald.

Andrew Cathy

Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Chick-Fil-A

Andrew Cathy is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. and a member of the company’s Executive Committee. In his current role, Andrew oversees selection, cultivation and development of corporate staff and franchised restaurant owners at Chick-fil-A, Campus Services of the Atlanta Support Center, and Chick- fil-A's International endeavors.
 
Prior to his work at Chick-fil-A, Andrew taught business courses and coached football and track at Landmark Christian High School.
 
He later joined the family business as a franchised restaurant operator. After 18 months of operating his own Chick-fil-A® restaurant, Andrew joined Chick-fil-A, Inc. in its West Coast office as a franchisee consultant. Since moving to the Atlanta headquarters, he has held jobs of increasing responsibility, most recently as the vice president of people.
 
In addition to his role at Chick-fil-A, Andrew serves on the board of directors for Pinewood Atlanta Studios and board of trustees for Point University.
 
After receiving his bachelor’s in business education from the University of Georgia, Andrew successfully completed the Stanford University Executive Program and the Harvard Business School Families in Business Program.
 
He and his wife, Mandy, have three children.

John W. Reininger

Chief Relationship Officer, The Clemens Family Corporation

John Reininger is the Chief Relationship Officer of The Clemens Family Corporation. John is a fourth-generation in-law family member.  He began working for Hatfield Quality Meats, the family’s legacy business in 1991. Prior to being named to his current post in April 2007, he spent time working in all areas of the business — livestock procurement, operations, marketing and sales.  As Chief Relationship Officer he serves a shareholder base of 337 shareholders and 400 family members ranging from the second through the seventh generations. 
 
He and his wife, Karen, have been married for 29 years and have three sons: Andrew 27, Brad 25 and Jason 24 .

Ross J. Born

Co-CEO, Just Born, Inc.

Ross Born is Co-CEO of Just Born Inc., a family-owned candy business located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Just Born was founded in 1923 in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Bethlehem in 1932. Just Born produces brand names MIKE & IKE™, Hot Tamales™, and Peanut Chews™ as well as marshmallow Peeps™. Just Born products are now distributed in all 50 states as well as in 45 countries. Ross joined the family firm in 1978 and shares the responsibility of managing the company with his cousin, David Shaffer, who shares the title of Co-CEO.

Ross, an Allentown native, is a graduate of Tufts University (1975) and received a law degree from Hofstra School of Law (1978). He and his wife, Wendy, have two daughters, Lisa and Amy, and a grandson, Jacob. Lisa's husband, Andrew Ellis, joined Just Born in 2007. Ross is involved in a wide variety of community activities and is the immediate past chairman of the National Confectioners Association.

Heath Nunnemacher

Director, Galland Henning Nopak, Inc.

Heath A. Nunnemacher is an owner and director of Galland Henning Nopak, Inc., a privately-held manufacturer of high-density balers and hydraulic and pneumatic valves and cylinders. The company is a member of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and a founding member of the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), and celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2017. He serves as chair of the executive compensation committee, and as a member of the investment committee, establishing policies and oversight of the company's passive investment portfolio.
 
He is currently Program Manager with Milwaukee Tool Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories, and hand tools for professional users worldwide. Reporting to the Senior VP of Engineering, he is responsible for strategy development and execution of innovation-driven new product development. 
 
Previously at Apple, Inc., he held global system-level product quality management responsibility within the desktop (Mac) operations group where he led quality oversight at contract manufacturing sites on three continents. Prior to Apple Inc., he managed new product launches and development engineering across facilities in the USA, UK, and China for Charter Automotive, a Tier 1 supplier of engine and transmission components. As China Business Manager, he held P/L responsibility for Charter Automotive’s distribution facility in Wuhu, Anhui, China. He has lived as an expat in both China and Germany. 
 
Mr. Nunnemacher holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a MBA from Michigan Technological University and lives with his wife Amy in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. 

Barbara Moran-Goodrich

Co-Founder, Chairwoman, CEO, Moran Family of Brands

Barbara Moran-Goodrich is one of Moran Family of Brands’ co-founders and she has served as a member of Moran’s Board of Directors since its inception in 1990. Ms. Moran has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Moran since 1999. In 2010, Ms. Moran was appointed as Chairwoman of Moran’s Board of Directors. Barbara Moran has also served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Transmission City, Inc., an automobile repair and service equipment supplier in Midlothian, Illinois since 1999. Barbara Moran began working for Transmission City, Inc., in 1995 and has served in many capacities including finance, marketing, customer relations, production and operations. Ms. Moran is also a co-founder of Mor Property Development and a general partner since its inception in 1994. She currently serves as Managing Member of Mor Property Development. She has served in that capacity since 2004.

Kent Lundberg

Chair, Governance Committee, Lundberg Family Farms; CEO, Howard Van Dyke Family Enterprise

Since 1937, the Lundberg family has been growing healthy, great-tasting rice while respecting and sustaining the earth. Today, the third and fourth generations carry on the family heritage by using eco-positive farming methods that produce wholesome, healthful rice, rice cakes, rice chips and risottos while improving and protecting the environment for generations to come.
 
Kent Lundberg, Ph.D, P.E. is an electrical-engineering consultant, accomplished educator, and family-business professional. He serves on the board of directors of Lundberg Family Farms, which pioneered organic rice farming in the United States. He chairs the Nomination and Governance Committees, and he has served on the Audit and Compensation Committees. He is also CEO of Howard Van Dyke Family Enterprise, which provides farm management, trust administration, and family office services. He is a fourth-generation farmer and an NACD Board Leadership Fellow.
 
Outside of his family business duties, Dr. Lundberg is founder and president of Keeling Flight Hardware, Ltd. (an engineering consultancy), and he has taught on the faculty of M.I.T., Olin College, and Stanford University, specializing in analog circuit design and feedback control systems. He has worked with several start-up companies, and he serves on boards and committees of nonprofit organizations in the Boston area, including Land’s Sake Farm and The Museum of Science. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and a senior member of the IEEE, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from M.I.T. He owns 58 vintage Tektronix oscilloscopes, and he obsessive-compulsively collects analog synthesizers, technology artifacts, and classic textbooks on radar, nuclear energy, analog computing, and control. 

Daniel Ariens

Chairman and CEO, Ariens Company

Based in Brillion, Wis., Ariens Company is a privately owned and operated corporation focused on outdoor products serving the needs of both consumer and professional customers. Established in 1933, the company manufactures original outdoor power equipment under the Ariens®, Gravely®, Sno-Tek®, Countax® and Westwood® brands. As a distributor of specialty equipment, supplies and gear, Ariens Company serves niche outdoor segments through direct marketing brands Gempler’s®, Ben Meadows® and AW Direct®. Manufacturing facilities are located in Brillion, Wis., Auburn, Neb., and Oxford, U.K. 
 
Dan Ariens, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ariens, joined the company in 1983 and became CEO in 1998. Since then, Dan’s leadership has been defined by a set of five core values and 15 management principles that clearly outline management expectations. His core values are simple and unwavering: Be Honest; Be Fair; Keep our Commitments; Respect the Individual; and Encourage Intellectual Curiosity.  A strong proponent of Lean manufacturing principles, Dan has created a culture of continuous improvement that has resulted in the creation of world-class manufacturing facilities by Lean standards. He was personally recognized in 2007 with the Eli Whitney Productivity Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and is frequently tapped as a mentor by organizations promoting Lean leadership. In 2012, Dan was inducted into the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) Hall of Fame in recognition of his ability to inspire others in their pursuit of manufacturing excellence. 
 
Over his tenure, he has led several strategic acquisitions, creating a family of brands that represent some of the most respected names in outdoor equipment, gear and supplies. Dan is also an active participant in industry issues, having served on the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Board of Directors since 2000, including two terms as Board Chairman.  Dan plays leadership roles in the Wisconsin business community, serving on several Boards of Directors for non-profit economic development groups in the state, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Authority Board (Past Vice Chair); Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (Past Chair); and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development – Council on Workforce Investment and the UW System Business Council. He holds the position of Corporate Secretary as a member of the Executive Committee of the Green Bay Packers’ Board of Directors. He is also on the Boards of Directors for Research Products Corporation, Sartori Company, U.S. Venture, Inc. and the Shrine of Our Mother of Good Help.

Letitia Hussey Beauregard

Chair of the Board of Directors, Hussey Seating Company

Founded in 1835, Hussey Seating Company is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Maine, and currently managed by the 6th generation of the Hussey family. Hussey is a world leader in developing and manufacturing seating solutions, and its full line of top-quality spectator seating products includes fixed plastic, padded and upholstered chairs, telescopic platforms and telescopic gym seats. Hussey serves the education and sports markets including installations in stadiums, arenas, gymnasiums, auditoriums, convention centers and performing arts venues. Hussey products can be found in more than 75 countries and are available from more than 60 dealers, some of which have been offering Hussey products for more than 50 years.
 
Letitia Hussey Beauregard is a sixth-generation shareholder and was recently elected as chair of the Hussey board of directors. Letitia was one of the founding members of Family Capital Trust Company, a New Hampshire trust company that was started in 1999. As director of personal trust at Family Capital, she is responsible for providing trust services for high-net-worth families and sits on the company’s board of directors and its investment committee. Prior to joining Family Capital, Letitia was at BankBoston for 16 years in the private bank and trust areas. She is a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council and the Essex County Estate Planning Council. Letitia is married to Tom, and they live in Marblehead, MA. 

Michelle Clements

President, Synergy Trust Partners, LLC

Michelle Clements is the President of Synergy Trust Partners, LLC. In addition to working with the Board of Managers on strategic planning and estate planning, Michelle serves on the Investment Committee.  She is a frequent speaker on family office, wealth management and governance topics.  Michelle is a consultant to families working in the areas of governance, organizational structure and the creation of private trust companies. Ms. Clements holds a B.A. degree in International Trade and French from Auburn University and a M.A., Ed. degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Michelle has studied at the Stanford Wealth Management program and the Cannon Financial Institute.  

Howard Holmes II

Regional Business Manager, Chelsea Milling Company

Chelsea Milling Company is operated by a family whose roots in the flour milling business date back to the early 1800s. Mabel White Holmes, grandmother of current president Howdy S. Holmes, developed and introduced to the homemaker the first prepared baking mix product, “JIFFY” Baking Mix, in the spring of 1930. Currently Chelsea Milling offers 22 “JIFFY” mixes. “JIFFY” is the market-share leader in retail prepared baking mixes. In 2007, Chelsea Milling entered the institutional market, selling to mass feeders such as large hotels and prisons. The company is currently investing $35 million to build additional facilities to provide products for the foodservice sector.

Howard S. Holmes II graduated from Albion College in 2011 with a major in business management and communications. He interned at Chelsea Milling Company for five years through his high school and college years, learning that “Understanding the various tasks within the company is important. Building relationships and earning trust and respect are critical.” After college he went on to work as the marketing director for Total Performance Racing in the World Challenge Championship Series for two seasons before returning to Chelsea Milling Company. Currently, he serves as regional business manager at Chelsea Milling Company.

Ralph Brennan

President, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group

Where the culinary culture of New Orleans is concerned, you don't get much more in-the-thick-of-it than Ralph Brennan. A third-generation scion of the family whose name is synonymous with New Orleans restaurants, he is steeped in the industry as a consummate professional - and as an enthusiastic wine and food connoisseur, in the truest sense of the word.
 
His professional life is all about welcoming tourists and visitors - and even potential visitors - to the New Orleans food culture, and welcoming his friends and neighbors who make his establishments part of their regular dining routine. In private life he is a fisherman, golfer, and skier, a highly competent cook, and a wine enthusiast with a rigorous social life.
 
In high school, Ralph Brennan was granted a summer job as a prep cook at Brennan's, boning chickens and peeling shrimp by the thousands before being promoted to the line, where he learned the basics - including the not-so-basic sauces at the heart of classic New Orleans cuisine.
 
He graduated from Tulane with a degree in economics.  Because of a well-documented dispute within the family, his re-entry in to the industry was delayed. Instead, he earned an MBA and spent eight years as a CPA with Price Waterhouse.
 
When he finally returned to the family business, he was armed with plenty of numbers-experience, as well as a whole-hearted love of it all. Today, The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group includes Red Fish Grill in the New Orleans French Quarter, Ralph's on the Park in Mid-City New Orleans, café NOMA within the New Orleans Museum of Art, Heritage Grill with its catering facilities in the Heritage Plaza complex in Metairie, café b in Metairie, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen® located in the Downtown Disney® District at the DISNEYLAND® Resort, and Ralph Brennan Catering & Events. In fulfillment of a long held dream, in partnership with his friend Terry White, Ralph Brennan now owns Brennan's, the iconic establishment on Royal Street where he played as a child, which they re-opened in 2014 following a complete renovation. Ralph Brennan is a co-owner of Mr. B's Bistro and Commander's Palace in New Orleans, and Brennan's of Houston. For twenty years, he owned and operated the DiRoNa Award-winning BACCO restaurant in the French Quarter.

Laura M. Neiman

President & CEO, Neiman Brothers Company, Inc.

Laura Neiman, President & CEO of Neiman Brothers Company, Inc., joined her family's business in the spring of 1997 immediately upon completion of her BA in Economics and Managerial Finance from Brandeis University. Ms. Neiman represents the third generation of her family who is dedicated to growing and continuing the 100+ year old business that manufactures, processes and distributes a full line of ingredients. Ms. Neiman has been instrumental in developing and expanding the market sectors in which Neiman Brothers operates and she has cultivated new opportunities in the ever changing food industry.
 
Ms. Neiman is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and she sits on the Chicago Alumni Board of Brandeis University, the Women’s Board of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, and the Lincoln Park Tennis Association.
 
Ms. Neiman lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter.

Steve Napoli

Owner/Operator of SnapTop; Former Assistant Product Purchasing & Development Director for Idylwilde Farm
 
Steve Napoli was in the 4th generation of a group managing a nearly 100 year old farm/retail/foodservice operation that produced fresh produce and grocery items through a very diverse supply chain it built over time. Before diving head first into the family operation, Steve graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2007 with a major in agribusiness and entrepreneurship. Interwoven with his schooling, he interned at Ocean Spray in Middleboro,MA and apprenticed at Sunview International in Sonoma, CA, learning the ins and outs of the cranberry and viticulture worlds, respectively. Both experiences sharpened the learning curve in both management and communication, especially across wide ranges of backgrounds and languages. After college he went on to backpack the world, visiting over 45 countries on 6 continents, including a brief work-stay on an olive grove in Italy. 
 
After his travels, Steve returned home to the family business in 2011 alongside nearly 10 family members that participated in day-to-day operations and decision making. After quickly realizing he did not share the same goals as the others in both scalability and risk management, Steve successfully opened his own food retail store in the Back Bay of Boston and operated it for 5 years, later selling the concept to a private buyer. 
 
Today, thanks to his branding and customer base, he pushed all-in towards corporate fruit supply throughout the city of Boston. He works with some of the top hedge funds and private equity firms to supply whole and value added fresh fruit items for their employees and partners. On the heels of solely word of mouth and referrals, Steve's business has grown from its first client into supplying over 50 offices in the Greater Boston area. 

Travis York

President & CEO, GYK Antler 

Travis York is the President and CEO of GYK Antler. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's top 25 small companies, GYK Antler is a full-service, mid-size and independent marketing agency.
 
Under Travis¹s leadership, GYK Antler has responsibly tripled in size to almost a hundred technologists, creatives, strategists, data hounds, and media planners who understand what it takes to pivot a brand into new territory. The agency has offices in Manchester, NH and Boston, MA and Indian Orchard, MA. Travis also co-founded GYK Antler¹s in-house, Emmy-winning video production arm, Big Brick Productions. Big Brick is a full-service production company that creates branded entertainment, commercials, digital content, broadcast features and original programming for a wide variety of brands, agencies and networks. He¹s also the CEO of Iron & Air, an internationally distributed media publication about motorcycles and the places they take us. Iron & Air was acquired by GYK Antler in 2016.
 
Travis co-founded YORK Athletics Mfg., a performance footwear and apparel brand continuing his family business legacy that started in 1946. He¹s also an investor and advisor for Noble & Cooley, a 7th generation high-end custom drum company.
 
Travis dedicates time to non-profit organizations that he is passionate about. He is a founding member and the President of the Board of Directors for the Rock On Foundation led by basketball players Luke and Matt Bonner, along with participating on the Board of Advisors for Stay Work Play New Hampshire. He invests in technology, music and fashion companies and lives in Manchester, NH with his wife, Danielle, and daughters, Madeleine and Lily.

Tamara Smith

Chair, Smith Family Council, Menasha Corporation

Tam Smith practices yoga and holding her tongue around her 2 fabulous kids. She is a long time advocate of school garden programs, zealous about healthy food, passionate about the value of family, and believes everything in life should work well and look better. A former retail maven at Marshall Field, Benetton, The Gap, and Marin Outdoors, she now utilizes her skills as a Sonoma Country Day School Trustee, Sonoma Academy Parent Board Member, and serving as chair of the Smith Family Council.

Jonathan Flack

Partner, US Family Business Services Leader, PwC

Jonathan Flack, U.S. Family Business Services leader for PwC, is a lead engagement partner to some of the U.S.’s largest family-owned businesses and leverages a strong global network of partners with a similar focus. He also taps external advisors (attorneys, family business counselors, trust advisors) as needed to deliver innovative solutions to multi-generational family businesses.
 
As part of his role in leading the U.S. family business practice for PwC, Jonathan spearheads the strategy, operations, talent development, thought-leadership and marketing for the family-owned business sector. He supports other client teams serving this sector and has published thought-leadership and led regional forums on family business issues.
 
Jonathan is also an assurance partner where he has extensive international experience with multi-billion-dollar, private clients. He assists clients with business transactions and new products. He started his career in the Carolinas working on large privately held businesses in multiple industries.
 

Andrew D. Pitcairn

Pitcairn Family Council Chair

Andrew Pitcairn, John’s Pitcairn’s great grandson, is a 4th generation member of the Harold Pitcairn Family line and is the current Pitcairn Family Council Chair. The Pitcairn Family Council was one of the first in the nation, established in 1982 as a platform for identifying family talent, educating family members about the operating business, identifying and implementing solutions for family connectedness and interfacing directors, management and owners, among other duties. Growing up in the small suburban town of Bryn Athyn and attending the community Swedenborg faith based school gave Andrew a spiritual sense that we are all here for a greater purpose and that to live life helping others was the highest calling one could achieve.  

After studying psychology at Temple University, Andrew entered the world as a small business owner and from 1999-2008 owned and operated two small businesses in the Philadelphia area. This proved to be invaluable in gathering real world experience and setting the path for the next chapter in his life.

As a Pitcairn Family member Andrew has spoken at many events, including Transitions, South Eastern Family Office Forum, Hamptons Family Office, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Opal Financial, Delaware Family Business Center and the Private Asset Management Group.

In 2009 Andrew moved from a Family Council member to the Co-Chair position, and after one year he took over as Chair of the Board. In 2010 he became a committee advisory member of Pitcairn's Capital Committee, a member of the Governance Committee as well as Chair of the Nominating Committee. Recently Andrew completed a course from Cannon Financial for qualification to sit as Co-Trustee with Pitcairn Trust Company on Family Trusts. Andrew sits on the Board of Directors for Pitcairn as well as Chairman of the Board for LighTouch Medical.

Carolyn Brown

Chair, Campbell Family Council, Mannington Mills

Carolyn Brown was named to the board of directors of Mannington Mills Inc. in 2014. Mannington is in its 100th year as a family-owned business, now in its fifth generation. Mannington manufactures (in the United States and England) a wide variety of commercial and residential flooring products including carpet, luxury vinyl tile, wood, laminate and porcelain tile. Carolyn was also named by the family to head up and formulate the Campbell Family Council, now in its second year. Carolyn worked in the telecom industry for over 35 years and held several management positions. She first worked for AT&T and then MCI, where she was vice president of global sales and then vice president of global customer service before retirement.

Conference Location

The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, from family-owned Marriott Hotels, is near the area's most popular attractions, including the Salvador Dalí Museum, the Morean Arts Center, Tropicana Field and a variety of pristine Florida beaches. The hotel also offers easy access to Tampa International Airport (TPA), St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and a variety of shopping and restaurants. Guest rooms feature stylish decor, expansive marble bathrooms, plush bedding and LCD TVs. The Vinoy Renaissance is also home to five celebrated restaurants, a full-service spa, beautiful 18-hole golf course, ultramodern fitness center, and shimmering outdoor pool.

The hotel is 19.5 miles from Tampa International Airport (TPA) and does not  provide shuttle service.  Estimated taxi fare is $60 one way.

Our special conference room rate is $269 plus tax (net non-commissionable), and reservations must be made before March 21, 2018 to earn this rate.  You may book online by clicking here.

To book by phone, call:  

Reservations Toll Free: 1-888-789-3090
Reservations Local Phone: 1-888-303-4430

Ask for the Transitions East 2018 Conference group rate.

 
 
 

Register Today!

Begin Your Registration By Clicking Here.

 

The cost to attend is listed below. Members of families who have previously attended a Transitions conference receive a 10% discount on their cost of attendance. Your registration also includes a one-year subscription to Family Business Magazine or a one-year extension to your current subscription.

 

Standard Pricing (after February 18, 2018)

  • $1875 - First attendee from your family company
  • $1375 - Each additional attendee (age 30 and above)
  • $1150 - Each additional Next Generation attendee (age 29 and below)

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. Attendance is strictly limited to the first 75 family businesses/enterprises who register.

 

All attendees will be verified prior to acceptance of registration. A family company's advisers may attend only if accompanied by one or more family company members. Other family company advisers may contact Mike Bachman at (215) 405-6070 for information on attending.

 

All registrants receive a free one year subscription to Family Business Magazine ($79 value), or a one-year extension to their current subscription.  Subscriptions include free online access to the magazine's extensive online archive of articles. Registration fees do not include hotel or travel expenses.

 

Registration price includes all conference materials, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner on April 12, breakfast and lunch on April 13, and a welcome reception with buffet dinner on April 11, 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, Transitions Events Director, 13631 Maidstone Lane, Potomac, MD 20854, 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 10 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.
 

 

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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.

 

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