The career paths of our NextGens to Watch Class of 2024 illustrate the many ways a rising-generation family member can make a valuable contribution to the family business.
The exceptional NextGens we recognize this year include direct descendants who brought a love for their family's business history and married-ins who brought new ideas. Some entered their family business right after college. Others began their careers outside their family company (even, in some cases, outside the country where their family company is based). Several started out in the family firm, then left it and returned later with outside experience on their resumes.
Our Class of 2024 also includes NextGens who are contributing significantly to family governance while pursuing careers outside the family enterprise. They're working to educate and connect their large extended family. Some of our honorees are parents who are thinking about how they will teach their young children about the family business.
Many members of the Class of 2024 are on track to rise to top leadership posts. Also included among our honorees are those already serving in executive roles. Some founded their own companies.
Among the varied life experiences of this year's NextGens to Watch, there is one common thread: respect and appreciation for the family's business legacy. Says third-generation family member Collin Thompson, vice president of corporate banking at Country Club Bank in Kansas City, Mo.: “The intertwining threads of family heritage and banking expertise have created an environment where I'm more motivated than ever to achieve and drive forward progress every day.”
Eliza Foster, 25
Sixth generation
Gideon Hixon Fund, Malibu, Calif.
Eliza is an associate in the Gideon Hixon Fund, the venture capital arm of the Hixon family. She graduated from the University of Denver, where she majored in psychology with a double minor in gender and women's studies and in marketing.
“While working in a summer internship role for my family venture capital division, I researched the topical application of a technology we had invested in that was being used for medical foods,” Eliza says. read more
John Michael Elder, 33
Third generation
Wellspring Family Group, Spearfish, S.D.
John Michael (JM) Elder has been working for his wife's family's real estate and development enterprise since 2020.
“John Michael married into the family in 2017 and quickly saw a need for some structure around the transition of business to the next generation,” says his mother-in-law, CEO Vicki Furnish. read more
Brita Lundberg, 32
Fourth generation
Lundberg Family Farms, Richvale, Calif.
Brita Lundberg is communications manager and chief storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms, a grower of Regenerative Organic Certified rice. As a fourth-generation farmer, Brita has boots-on-the-ground experience in the fields.
After growing up on the farm and gaining experience in different areas of the company, Brita studied literature at Pepperdine University, attended the Columbia Publishing Course and spent several years honing her storytelling skills in the New York book publishing world, most recently at Simon & Schuster. She notes, however, that her favorite story to tell is her family's. read more
JC Darby, 35
Fourth generation
The Beach Company, Charleston, S.C.
JC Darby, The Beach Company's director of operations, oversees all business divisions and ensures the organization is managed effectively and performs efficiently. Prior to his current role, he served as development manager, overseeing multiple ground-up mixed-use projects in the Southeast, including The Foundry at Stovehouse and The Range in Huntsville, Ala. read more
Merjan Bubernack, 31
Third generation
ET&T, Bethlehem, Pa.
Merjan Bubernack joined her family's business, ET&T — a telecommunications and technology company founded by her grandfather, George M. Bubernack, in 1968 — as the director of customer success in July 2023.
Merjan grew up in and around the business in Bethlehem, Pa. She was encouraged to explore opportunities outside ET&T while knowing she could join the family firm if and when she was ready. read more
Hannah Broderick Gerard, 31
Sixth generation
Gilbane, Providence, R.I.
Hannah Broderick Gerard graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2016 with a degree in economics and anthropology. After graduation, she joined Accenture in the firm's NYC office. In her role at Accenture, she has spent the last eight years working with Fortune 500 and federal government clients to deliver digital transformation strategies. She is currently a technology consulting manager at the firm.
After interning at the family business in college, Hannah began volunteering with the Gilbane Family Council in 2019. Gilbane, founded in 1870, is a leading global builder and real estate developer. read more
Ryan Gilbane, 29
Fifth generation
Gilbane, Providence, R.I.
Born and raised in Providence, R.I., Ryan Gilbane attended the University of Denver, graduating in 2018 with a major in real estate and a minor in finance. After graduation, he worked as a wildland firefighter and commercial fisherman before joining Propeller Aero, a drone technology and data solution company.
Ryan joined Propeller Aero in 2019 through an internship and is currently a business development executive at the Sydney, Australia-based company, which helps customers map, measure and manage their jobsites through drone analytics. read more
Griffin Hanna, 34
Third generation
Hanna Oil & Gas, Fort Smith, Ark.
Griffin Hanna graduated from the University of Denver with a bachelor of science in business administration in 2012. After graduation, he worked as a financial analyst in the telecom industry, analyzing and reporting subscriber data and assisting with financial filings. “This experience helped me understand the importance of budgeting and how to model realistic financial projections,” he says. “More importantly, the experience gave me the opportunity to work with — and learn from — senior-level officers within the company.” read more
Sebastián Fernández Rivera, 33
Second generation
Grupo Rosul, Villa Nueva, Guatemala
Sebastián Fernández, the eldest of four siblings, serves as commercial director at Grupo Rosul, his family's real estate business. He oversees critical aspects of the business, including finance and marketing, with a team of over 50 individuals reporting directly and indirectly to him.
“His strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in driving the company's growth and profitability,” says his father, Leonel Fernández, founder of the company. read more
Alejandro Fernández Rivera, 31
Second generation
Grupo Rosul, Villa Nueva, Guatemala
Alejandro Fernández currently serves as the director of operations at Grupo Rosul, a real estate and construction business founded by his father, Leonel Fernández, 25 years ago. He oversees procurement, construction and machinery operations for the group, managing a team of over 70 individuals. read more
Amanda Weisiger Cornelson, 34
Fourth generation
Weisiger Group, Charlotte, N.C.
Amanda Weisiger Cornelson has worked in various departments at Weisiger Group, an equipment and service provider for the construction, electric power generation and material handling industries. Weisiger Group, founded in 1926, represents Caterpillar, Hyster-Yale and other equipment manufacturers through the Carolina Cat and LiftOne businesses, which operate 33 branches in five states across the Southeast. read more
Collin Thompson, 30
Third generation
Country Club Bank, Kansas City, Mo.
Collin Thompson is a member of the third generation of family ownership at Country Club Bank, where he serves as vice president of corporate banking. His grandfather, Kansas City entrepreneur Byron Thompson, acquired majority ownership of the bank in 1985 and was its chairman and CEO until his passing. Collin's uncle, Paul Thompson, is the bank's current chairman and CEO, and his father, Mark Thompson, is vice chairman. PJ Thompson, Collin's cousin, is CFO, and an aunt and several uncles also hold leadership positions in the bank. read more
Tara Tanjasiri, 26
Second generation
Crema Artisan Bakers, Irvine, Calif.
Tara Tanjasiri is the operations manager at her family's bakery and restaurant, Crema Artisan Bakers and The Crema Café. She has been with the company since graduating from the University of Southern California in December 2018.
The Crema Café is a breakfast and brunch restaurant that was started 18 years ago on Main Street in Seal Beach, Calif. “Crema Artisan stemmed from that business because of my dad's love of baking,” Tara says. “Now, we have a wholesale bakery that provides bread and pastries to about 140 coffee shops, restaurants and hotels.” Last year, the bakery became a supplier to Disneyland. read more
Haley Hutchison-Quick, 34
Third generation
Infinity Foils Inc. – A UEI Group Company, Lenexa, Kan.
Haley Hutchison-Quick started working at Infinity Foils Inc., a UEI Group company, in 2005 after school and during holiday and summer breaks. Infinity Foils offers durable colored foils for do-it-yourself projects and commercial packaging and printing. The UEI Group companies supply and manufacture foil stamping and embossing products for the graphic arts, social stationery, printing, packaging, labeling, plastics and textile industries. read more
Max Vonachen, 25
Fourth generation
Vonachen Group, Peoria, Ill.
Born and raised in Peoria, Max Vonachen graduated from the University of Dayton in 2021 with bachelor's degrees in finance and entrepreneurship. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Chicago to join Crowe LLP as a Microsoft cloud solutions consultant in the firm's consulting division. He spent two years at Crowe, focusing on ERP software implementation for large supply chain companies throughout the country. read more
Brittany Sykora, 35
Second generation
Harrison Properties, Phoenix, Ariz.
Brittany Sykora studied business administration and real estate at the University of San Diego. She worked outside the family business, honing her skills in retail brokerage, and then pursued an MBA with an emphasis in real estate from the University of Wisconsin. She joined LBA Realty, where she ascended to a position overseeing asset management and leasing for a sizable office building in Phoenix. She later managed the firm's industrial portfolio across multiple states, playing a pivotal role in acquisitions. read more
Jeffrey Marx, 35
Fourth generation
Piedmont National Corporation, Atlanta, Ga.
Jeffrey Marx joined Piedmont National Corporation after graduating from college in 2011. The company, founded in 1950 by his great-grandfather as Piedmont Paper Company, is now an independent wholesale distributor of shipping supplies and equipment.
Jeffrey's first role at the company was as a buyer in the purchasing department. He worked his way up, managing the Atlanta warehouse and then the Atlanta customer service and purchasing departments. He then served as general manager, overseeing all operations for the company, which includes 18 brick-and-mortar distribution centers. He was promoted to chief operating officer in 2024. read more
Katlyn Foulks, 34
Third generation
Bennett Family of Companies, McDonough, Ga.
Katlyn Foulks has served in various roles at the Bennett Family of Companies, a transportation and logistics enterprise, for the past decade. “Today, I am honored to serve as our culture ambassador, a role that aligns with my deep belief in the importance of fostering a positive and values-driven work environment where people are treated through faith like family,” she says. read more
Jacob Reid McBrayer, 32
Third generation
Bennett Family of Companies, McDonough, Ga.
Jacob McBrayer has served in a variety of roles at the Bennett Family of Companies, a transportation and logistics enterprise founded in 1974 by his grandmother, Marcia Taylor. He started out at a young age assembling packets sent to truck drivers' families at anniversaries and holidays.
Spiritual commitment is part of the company culture. “I grew up in a Christian home and went to a Christian school from pre-K to high school,” Jacob says. “Afterwards, I attended Georgia Southern.”
Jacob joined the company officially about 10 years ago. read more
Alexandra Nelson, 32
Third generation
Nelson Container Corp., Germantown, Wis.
Alex graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a bachelor's degree in marketing and a minor in 3-D arts. She joined Nelson Container after graduation as a customer service representative. About a year later, she left to take a position at Alsip MiniMill LLC, a manufacturer of corrugated medium, as a logistics specialist and backup scheduler. After two years, she returned to Nelson Container as customer service manager.
“A few years later, new opportunities arose to grow my skills and take on additional leadership responsibilities,” Alex says. “I took over both HR and accounting with the help of MRA – The Management Organization and a part-time CFO from Lauber Business Partners. I am now the controller for Nelson Container.” read more
Joel House, 34
Second generation
La Crosse Sign Group, Onalaska, Wis.
Joel House currently serves as president of La Crosse Sign Group. The company creates signage throughout the tri-state area, which includes parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Joel's father-in-law, Paul Fuchsel, started working in the business in 1975 and purchased the company in 1988.
Joel began his career at the La Crosse Sign Group in the shipping and receiving department in 2013. He worked his way up to purchasing manager and then became a sign consultant. He was named the company's president in June 2022, when his father-in-law retired. read more
Louis Lees-Jones, 27
Seventh generation
JW Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd., Middleton Junction, U.K.
Louis Lees-Jones is the first member of the seventh generation to work at his family business, which was founded by John Lees in 1828.
“After sixth form at Uppingham School in 2014, I began my B.Sc. in hospitality management at Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne,” Louis says.
He studied business management and strategy, followed by six-month internships at The Ritz Hotel London and The Peninsula Paris hotel. Upon graduating with honors in 2018, Louis joined The Peninsula Paris as a financial analyst, handling an €11 million annual budget. read more