Family Business Magazine’s NextGens to Watch Class of 2024 consists of 22 standout rising-generation members who are making a difference in their family enterprises.
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.
“I have always been passionate about joining our family business, and after two years of working my corporate job, I quickly knew that my goal was to move home and join the Vonachen Group,” Max says. At the company, which provides janitorial, healthcare, logistics and other services, he has worked in procurement and project management. In the procurement department, he specialized in sourcing, distribution management and fleet management. In his current project management role, he has been involved in software implementation, fleet management, quality assurance reporting and custom requests from clients, among other areas.
“Being a family member, I wear many hats, but always have the end goal of helping the company in any way possible,” Max says. “The Vonachen Group’s exciting growth has presented many project opportunities, and I am excited to take on a role where I can manage those prioritized projects and bring the ideas to life.”
Family friend Griffen Wilson, vice president of The Wilson Companies, notes that Max’s experience at Crowe gave him exposure to different industries and enhanced his understanding of business operations and strategy.
At the Vonachen Group, “Max’s proactive approach to learning the day-to-day operations of the company aligns with the family’s philosophy of gaining comprehensive experience before assuming management positions,” Wilson says. “His involvement in various projects, including software implementation and operations performance analysis, highlights his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.”
“Throughout the previous three generations, the family business has evolved from selling industrial cleaning supplies to distributing cleaning products, commercial cleaning, and now facility maintenance and janitorial services,” Max says. “Today, we have over 3,000 employees in 14 states and provide a variety of services to our janitorial customers.
“Growing up, I witnessed my grandfather and father dedicate every day to the family business’ operations. Watching their commitment to their career, which also directly impacted our family as a whole, immediately provided me an example of what I wanted for my personal career. These experiences instilled in me a combination of an entrepreneurial spirit, passion for our family business, and enthusiasm for the cleaning industry.”