Professionalizing Your Family Enterprise Board

Join Carin Robinson, Director, Family Enterprise Advisory Services, PwC, Michael Bench, President, Jake’s Finer Foods, and David Shaw, Publishing Director, Family Business Magazine, as they discuss how to approach and manage board development from a strategic and process-driven viewpoint.

Many family businesses are more interested in corporate governance today than a decade ago.  As a family business grows in size and complexity or undergoes a major milestone like a generational transition, governance becomes more important than ever as a way to effectively and efficiently oversee and manage the business.  While some family businesses have a board only to satisfy legal compliance requirements, more are thinking strategically by moving towards more mature policies, procedures and structures for their governance systems.

How do you know if your family business is ready for a formal board of directors? How can you get the most value out of your board?

Join Carin Robinson, Director, Family Enterprise Advisory Services, PwC, Michael Bench, President, Jake’s Finer Foods, and David Shaw, Publishing Director, Family Business Magazine, as they discuss how to approach and manage board development from a strategic and process-driven viewpoint.

This webinar will highlight:

• The roles and responsibilities of a family business board
• The evolution of a family business board – from a ‘family only' board to ultimately independent director majority, with various stages along the way
• Who should be on the board, and advantages of having independent directors
• How to assess your board composition and approach to director recruitment
• Board effectiveness – good governance at a minimum

Carin Robinson

Director, Family Enterprise Advisory Services, PwC

Carin is a Director in PwC's Family Enterprise Advisory Services, with a focus on family and business governance. Throughout her career she has provided advisory and implementation services that enable family businesses to efficiently and effectively fulfill their company strategies and meet their governance, risk management, legal and regulatory responsibilities. She also assists organizations with integrating governance considerations into their strategy setting, business planning and performance management processes. Her focus has been on helping companies succeed in responding to regulatory requirements, shareholder and board demands, and a changing business environment in a cost-effective and sustainable manner that reduces risk to an acceptable level. Her background includes corporate governance strategy and structure; corporate governance training; managing board relations; strategic planning & analysis; risk management & controls; policy & process development; and operations & tactical planning.

Carin works closely with her clients to develop their corporate governance strategies, including successor development programs and board director training programs. She also helps organizations review and expand their current corporate governance policies to address governance principles and standards for company boards. She serves as the subject matter expert for these initiatives, leading stakeholder interviews, facilitating client workshops, and creating tools that document and disseminate internal and external best practices for corporate governance.

Michael Bench

President

Michael Bench is President and part owner of Jake's Finer Foods, a Houston based foodservice distribution company founded in 1946 by his grandfather.  Jake's sells protein and grocery items to restaurants, hotels, retail grocery stores, etc. throughout Texas and Louisiana.

Michael is passionate about leadership and investing in people personally, professionally and spiritually.  In his role at Jake's, he directs Strategic Planning, Accounting & Finance, Operations, HR and IT.  Jake's also owns its own meat processing company, Gourmet Ranch, and he provides oversight for that company as well.

Prior to Jake's, Michael worked for 4 years in corporate finance with both Arthur Anderson and Quanta Services.  Michael earned his BBA in Finance and Management from Texas A&M University in 1997 and his CFA designation in 2003.

Michael and his wife have been married since 1998 and they have three children.  Michael's greatest desires include being the best husband and father God has called him to be, loving and encouraging others in the name of Jesus and helping lead his family's business.

David Shaw

Publishing Director, Family Business Magazine

David Shaw is the publishing director for MLR Media. He also co-founded and serves as conference director of the Transitions conferences, the Private Company Governance Summit and Family Business Legacy. David writes frequently on governance issues for public and private companies, and develops and maintains close relationships with multi-generational family-owned businesses. He is married, with two grown children.