Transitions East 2014 Program




Wednesday March 26, 2014

1:00-3:00 PM

Optional Family Meetings

Facilitated sessions for families bringing eight or more family members to the conference.

4:00 pm

Transitions 101 (optional session)

A special “how to get the most out of the conference” session for first time attendees.

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6:00 pm

Opening Session


Recent Trends in Family Business



Speakers:

Greg McCann, Professor, Stetson University; Barbara Spector, Editor-in-Chief, Family Business Magazine


Panel Conversation-Leading the Business: Succession Strategies

Family enterprise succession is a unique process for each family. This process can be surprising, incredibly rewarding and invigorating for the family and the enterprise. Our panelists will focus on their challenges and successes in transitioning to the next generation of leadership.


Speakers:

Stan Sheetz, Chairman of the Board, Sheetz, Inc.; John Kittle, Vice Chairman, Kittle’s Home Furnishings; Steven W. High, Chairman, and Robert J. High, President, H.J. High Construction


Moderator:

Martin G. Janowiecki, Tax Partner, PwC

7:30 pm Welcome Reception and Buffet Dinner

Thursday March 27, 2014

8:00-8:30 am Breakfast

8:30-9:00 am

Keynote Address

Chris Herschend, Vice Chairman, Herschend Family Entertainment

“Beyond ‘Agent’ of the Family: How Non-Family Leadership Helps Your Family Thrive”

9:00-10:15 am

Panel Conversation-Leading the Business: Non-Family Executives and Board Members in the Family Business

Experienced non-family members who are named to key executive positions or board seats in family firms can help the controlling family take the company to the next level. In this session, panelists-who include family business owners as well as non-family directors and managers-will offer suggestions for finding outside executives who are a good fit, and will discuss strategies for fostering teamwork and avoiding the pitfalls that can arise when family and non-family members work together.


Speakers:

Hank Meijer and Mark Murray, co-CEOs of Meijer Inc.; Tim Schad, Chairman & CEO, and Robert Bockheim, President, Nucraft


Moderator:

Stephanie Brun de Pontet, Senior Consultant, Family Business Consulting Group

10:15-10:30 Networking Break

10:30-11:45 am

Panel Conversation-Leading the Family: Family Councils, Family Foundations, Family Meetings

Leading the family is as important as leading the family business. This conversation will explore various family governance forms, including family councils, philanthropic groups and the value of bringing the family together for formal meetings.


Speakers:

Chris Vernon, President and COO, The Vernon Co; Mary Schmid Daugherty, Board Member, Crescent Electric Supply Company and Associate Professor, University of St. Thomas; John Neretlis, Property Manager, Rowntree Enterprises; Andrew D. Pitcairn, Pitcairn Family Council Chair


Moderator:

Rhona E. Vogel, CEO and Founder, Vogel Consulting

11:45 am-Noon Networking Break

Noon-1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm

Focus Sessions: Family Business Governance

Breakout sessions with emphasis on the unique family and business governance challenges of the family enterprise by the current generational stage of the company (the managing generation).

G1/G2: Facilitated by Justin Zamparelli, Partner, Withers Bergman LLP; Doug Pugliese/Sue West, SEI Private Wealth Management

G3: Facilitated by Dirk Jungé, Chairman, Pitcairn; Lloyd E. Shefsky, Founder and Co-Director, Center for Family Enterprises, Kellogg School of Management

G4+: Facilitated by Sara S. Hamilton, Founder and CEO, Family Office Exchange; Susan Mucciarone/Michael James, Glenmede

2:00-3:15 pm

Panel Conversation-Leading the Family: Key Family Documents

Developing, ratifying and revising the foundational documents for governing a family business, including the family constitution, mission/vision statement, shareholder agreements and family policies. This session will focus on the process as well as the result, and example family documents will be included and discussed.

Speaker: Bruce Lemire-Elmore, Director, Port Blakely Companies; Alicia Clemens, Owner’s Advisory Council Member, Clemens Family Corporatio; Marc Wittwer, COO, Boulevard Home Furnishings


Moderator:

Arne Boudewyn, Managing Director–Family Dynamics, Education and Governance, Abbot Downing

3:15-3:45 pm Networking Break

3:45-4:45 pm

Focus Sessions by Topic


Teaching financial literacy to the Next Gen

Facilitator: Anna Nichols, Director of Communications, Altair Advisers LLC



Married-Ins-creating effective interfamily communications

Facilitator: Greg McCann, Professor, Stetson University



Family Dynamics-managing emotional and sensitive family issues


Facilitator: Thomas J. Pauloski, J.D., National Managing Director, Wealth Management Group, Bernstein Global Wealth Management

Wealth Management-value creation and value preservation


Facilitators:

Susan Mucciarone/Michael James, Glenmede


Trusts & Ownership-setting ownership structures in motion now


Facilitator: F. Douglas Raymond III, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP


Tax and Estate-tax issues for families and family businesses


Facilitator:

Martin G. Janowiecki, Tax Partner, PwC

Next generation roundtable-making meaningful contributions to the family and the business


Facilitator:

Arne Boudewyn, Managing Director–Family Dynamics, Education and Governance, Abbot Downing

Prenuptial agreements

Facilitator:

Mark E. Haranzo, Partner, Withers Bergman LLP

5:00-5:45 pm

Optional Sessions

Prescheduled one-to-one meetings with a member of a nother family attendee OR group conversations on topics of mutual interest.

5:45-6:30 pm

Stetson University Reception

6:30 pm

Group Dinner

Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Speaker: Joseph Orsino, Chief Executive Officer, Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant Group

Friday, March 28, 2014

8:00-8:30 am Breakfast

8:30-9:45 am

Panel Conversation-Leveraging the Family Business Brand, Legacy and Human Capital

There are a number of ways that a family business can leverage its brand and human capital to grow the current business, and leverage capital and legacy to create new and often unrelated businesses. This session will explore each of these approaches.


Speakers:

Kyle York, Chief Revenue Officer, Dyn (and Indian Head family member; Wendy Yuengling Baker, Chief Administrative Officer, Yuengling Brewer; Wanda S. Ortwine, Chief Family Officer, Luck Companies


Moderator:

Bryant Seaman, Managing Director and Head of Private Asset Advisory Services, Bessemer Trust

9:45-10:00 am Networking Break

10:00-11:15 am

Panel Conversation–The Next Generation

Next-generation members can play a valuable role in the family and the business even if they end up working outside the family firm. In this session, panelists who are members of the next generation discuss what they want and need from the family business in order to become major contributors.


Speaker:

Alex Schwan, The Schwan Companies; Erica Boyle, Vice President, Administration, The Complete Logistics Company; William J. Barrett, Menasha Corporation; Will Hollis, student, Stetson University Family Enterprise program


Moderator:

Nancy Drozdow, Principal and Vice President, Center for Applied Research

11:15-Noon

Closing Keynote Address

Campbell Brown, Vice President, Director Midwest Division, Brown-Forman

“Building Family Engagement Through Strong Governance”

Noon Lunch and conference close

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