Family Business debuted in late 1989 with one simple mission, as our first publisher wrote in the premier issue: “to help the members of family-owned companies achieve the dual goals that are inextricably woven together—to operate a successful business that can be handed on to succeeding generations, and to maintain the family pride, harmony and satisfaction that the founders had in mind from the beginning.”
Fifteen years later, that’s still our objective. Along the way, we’ve added a number of offerings to help you build and manage your family company: our Family Business Handbook Series; our online archive, now featuring more than 700 articles; and the Family Business Magazine E-Newsletter, delivered free of charge. You can learn more about these benefits at www.familybusinessmagazine.com.
In this 15th-anniversary issue, we examine how the world has changed in the past decade and a half, and what these changes mean for you. We also visit with some family companies that started up or were acquired the same year our magazine debuted. The owners of these businesses share the pleasures and frustrations of growing a family enterprise during this fascinating era. In another special report, experts offer advice on a popular way of commemorating a milestone—by creating a company history book.
As we mark our own anniversary, we celebrate the longevity of 100 family firms from the U.S. and 15 other countries. Family Business began listing the oldest U.S. family companies in 1999; since then, we’ve broadened the scope of our now-famous lists and made them publicly available on our website.
While we’re looking back at our accomplishments over the past 15 years, I’d like to acknowledge the contributions of several people who helped make them possible. Contributing editor Jayne Pearl and art director Bill Cooke have been with Family Business since its very first issue. Our chairman, Milton L. Rock, and our president, Milt’s son Robert H. Rock, along with our co-chairman, Charles E. Fiero, have been unwavering in their dedication to family businesses and their support of our efforts. To them, and to our many other friends and contributors over the years, we are most grateful.