In the latest episode of the Family Business/Business Family podcast, the fourth-generation leaders of Diestel Family Ranch — Jason Diestel, Heidi Diestel Orrock and Jared Orrock — discuss navigating family dynamics in their turkey farming business. Also, corporate C-suite veteran Tony Brausen rejoins the podcasts to explain why private boards should take it upon themselves to examine their organizations the way an activist shareholder would (for a deeper dive into this topic, check out this article). And our conversation continues with BLT Enterprises’ second-generation sibling leaders Nikolette Huberman Jacob and Lukas Huberman, who discuss how their family business takes the long view.
Support for this episode comes from Wharton Executive Education. Through world-class faculty and real-world application, Wharton’s Investment Programs help leaders navigate capital strategy, valuation, and investor dynamics with precision. In an environment where the margin for error is low, Wharton equips leaders with the tools to make sharper decisions and smarter capital moves. Learn more at whartoninvestmentprograms.com.
Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.
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Guests
Heidi Diestel Orrock
Heidi Diestel grew up alongside her mom, Joan Diestel, working on the ranch, helping with customer service, and getting meat lovers excited about the bold taste of turkey at demos and trade shows across the country—when she wasn’t serving aces on the court.
Her mission (yes, she chose to accept it) is to help people eat better with pure, nourishing, whole foods — things like the lean, clean, protein raised on the Diestel Family Ranch. Heidi believes in advancing peoples’ understanding of nutrition and health so much that she received her Certified Personal Trainer Certification in 2006 from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. It’s really that important.
Jason Diestel
Jason Diestel has loved food and farming since growing up working alongside his dad, Tim Diestel, and his grandpa, Jack Diestel, on the ranch he now helps run.
Jason turned his attention to sustainable farming in college, where he led a humus composting project—the first of many excuses to nerd out on carbon farming and creating more nutrient-dense food, and what ultimately led to his role on the farm today.
Jared Orrock
Growing up in Sonora, Jared Orrock spent Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks helping his friends, Jason and Garrett Diestel, out around the farm, lending a hand with holiday distribution and attending the occasional trade show.
After several years in Silicon Valley working as a public accountant for various technology companies, Jared married Heidi Diestel and traded SaaS for sass, moving back home to join the Diestel Family Ranch team—first as Controller, then CFO, and now President, a role for which his M.S. in Agricultural Business and his MBA are well suited.
Tony Brausen
Tony Brausen has extensive Board of Directors, Compensation Committee and Audit Committee experience and has previously served on boards for Imation Corporation, FEMAC, and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Currently, Tony is serving on the three Boards, including Adolfson & Peterson, Inc., where he is the chair of the Compensation Committee and serves on the Audit Committee; Fraser, Inc., where he serves on the Finance/Audit Committee; and is serving as Chair for Opus College of Business (University of St. Thomas) Strategic Board of Governors where he is also the Chair of the Executive Committee. Tony also currently serves as an adjunct professor in the MBA program at the University of St. Thomas and is a frequent guest speaker in their Law School and Executive MBA program.
During his career, Tony was Senior Vice President of Finance for The Mosaic Company. At Mosaic, Tony led the 700-person Global Finance and IT organizations, led the strategic planning process and worked closely with the Board of Directors, Audit Committee, and Compensation Committee. Prior to that, Tony was the CFO of Tennant Company, where he led a 100-person team. Prior to that, he was a Finance Executive in a variety of roles at International Multifoods Corporation (subsequently acquired by the JM Smucker Co.). Tony began his career at KPMG.
Nikolette (Huberman) Jacob
Nikolette (Huberman) Jacob is Vice President, Manager of Real Estate Investment and Partner of BLT Enterprises. She has over 10 years of experience in real estate, with a background in commercial real estate finance. Nikolette is responsible for managing capital markets, overseeing philanthropy initiatives, handling public relations, and conducting property due diligence to support strategic decision-making.
Lukas Huberman
Lukas Huberman is Vice President, Director of Acquisitions and Partner of BLT Enterprises. Lukas has nearly a decade of experience in managing commercial real estate transactions. He spearheads BLT’s acquisition strategy, overseeing the sourcing, underwriting, and execution of new investment opportunities. He also plays a key role in the firm’s asset management, leasing activities, and disposition efforts.