“Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs in Family Businesses”
Presenter Gregg Lichtenstein, Ph.D. contends that family’s businesses are founded by entrepreneurs. Many families are preparing the next generation to manage the existing business by sending them to business school. But does the next generation have the ability, not just to maintain what has already been created, but to re-invent or re-create the business in the event that the market changes drastically? That outcome requires entrepreneurial skills, not just management skills. Given the accelerated pace of change in global markets today, the future value of the family’s wealth depends on the entrepreneurial skills of the next generation. This session will address the growing challenge of maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit and skills within family businesses. 

“What about Thanksgiving Dinner?”
This interactive presentation by Gerard Donnellan, Ph.D., will focus on three aspects of the dynamics that operate in many families that are in business together:

• Avoiding conflict: to the detriment of the business and the health of the family
• The deadly trio: favoritism, entitlement and incompetence (How to kill a business and ruin a nice bunch of people.)
• A flawed (or missing) decision-making process (governance issues)

Dr. Donnellan’s presentation will use cases of family business to illustrate each of these areas.

“Mergers and Acquistions Panel: Is an M&A the Right Course for Your Business?  Several sides of the M&A equation will be represented and discussed by panelists including Mike Mitchell of Amelia’s Grocery Outlet, Justin McClure of Daflure Heating and Cooling, and John Reed of Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law.

 “Strategy is What You Do, Not What You Say”  Presenter Nancy Drozdow knows that strategic planning  in family businesses is like strategic planning for all businesses: figuring out how to effectively, profitably compete in an increasingly uncertain world. But that’s just the start – family businesses always want to consider how their history, their customer and employee relationships, their family’s economics and participation, their dreams and their aspirations for continuing their firm, get turned into something concrete. Owner and founder of the Center for Applied Research (CFAR), a management consulting firm specializing in strategy and organizational development, Drozdow will share ideas about how to make strategic progress, using stories of families with whom she’s worked over the last 30 years

“The Emotional Side of Money and its Impact on Families of Wealth” Presenter Franco Lombardo is renowned as a speaker and advisor, having coached some of North America’s wealthiest families for almost twenty years. Lombardo will discuss the universal dynamic and unexplained connection between the individual and the relationship they have with money and the impact this relationship has on their families and businesses.

“Developing the Next Generation of Leaders“ Phil Clemens will be offering information on successful leadership transition from one generation to the next while maintaining family unity.

“Think Like an Entrepreneur to Expand Your Business“ Jay Goltz is an entrepreneur who owns five businesses and will be speaking on the topics of training everyone in your organization to be revenue generators and evaluating business opportunities.

“Maximizing Shareholder Value: Essential Steps for Building Ownership Wealth and Family Harmony“ Kurt Trimarchi, CPA and partner, and Eric Blocher, CPA and principal at McKonly & Asbury, will be presenting on the topic of creating and retaining ownership value from year to year.

“Understanding Your Estate Planning Options“ Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law as well as Clermont Wealth Strategies will be presenting on the challenges and opportunities available during estate planning.

“Motivating Employees and Improving Employee Performance: An Executive Conversation with Phil Clemens“ Clemens Family Corporation Chairman and CEO Phil Clemens shares his experience and insights motivating employees as chief executive at Hatfield Quality Meats.

“The 2020 Workplace: How to Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow’s Employees“ Jeanne Meister, a senior business executive, will be presenting on the following topics: Competitive Advantage, Managing Multiple Generations, and Social Media for Human Resources.

“High Center Brand Summit! “ This event includes insights and advice from one of the most successful brand management experts in the region, Kae Groshong Wagner, President of North Star Marketing, joined by Jere Stauffer and Debi Drescher, key personnel from Stauffers of Kissel Hill, one of the top retailers in Central Pennsylvania by the Central Penn Business Journal, with sales topping $100 million.

“Your Values and Your Bottom Line“ Sam Davis from the Davis Group in Richmond, Virginia will talk about how a culture of values can drive solid operations and financial success.

“Leadership Transition- Making Your Leadership Transition Happen“ Panel discussion featuring Phil Clemens of Hatfield Quality Meats, Dana Chryst of the Jay Group, and Tony Martin of Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe with Mike McGrann as a moderator.

“New ‘Bricks to Clicks’ E-Commerce Workshop“ If online exposure to potentially thousands more customers interests you, then sign up for this executive workshop for those interested in launching E-Commerce operations. This seminar is open to members and non-members and will be presented in conjunction with the Elizabethtown College Marketing/Communications Department. Must register by November 10.

“Leading in Crisis- Lessons from Apollo 13“ Presented by Michael N. McGrann, Executive Director of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College. RSVP requested.

“15th Anniversary Seminar–A Salute to our Family Business Giants“ 15th Anniversary Seminar features Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants, and is a special salute to “Our-Family Business Giants.” RSVP requested.

“New! Family Business Young Professionals Networking Event“ Join us for a first-ever mixer just for young professionals from family businesses, age 21 to 35.

“Question and Answer with Tom Corbett“ Tom Corbett, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, is interested in hearing from Central PA family businesses. RSVP requested.

“New Member Celebration “ The S. Dale High Center invites current member family businesses and new members to a summer social.

“Social Media Seminar: Is it for you? Is it in you?“ Free seminar on social media for members, employees of members, and prospective members. For this session, you are encouraged to attend and/or send next-tier management in areas such as Marketing/ Communications and IT.

“Good Governance: Impacting the Bottom Line“ Presented by William H. Alexander, Senior Associate, The Telos Group and Professor of Family Business Studies at the Wharton School of Business. RSVP requested.

“Joint Affinity Group Meeting on “Social Media”“

“Real Estate: Your Other Asset for Wealth Creation“ Presented by Peter Linneman, principal of Linneman Associates and the Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Public Policy, and Finance at the Wharton School of Business. RSVP requested.

“Discovering your Family’s Competitive Advantage“ Presented by Michael N. McGrann, Executive Director of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College.. RSVP requested.

“The Power of Participatory Leadership: Tools for Each Generation“ Presented by Stephen R. Treat, DMin, LMFT, Senior Therapist, Director and CEO of The Council for Relationships which is Philadelphia’s preeminent non-profit counseling, education and research center, and the nation’s oldest, founded in 1932. RSVP requested.

“Escaping a Culture of Entitlement: Six Generations of Family-Based Entrepreneurship in the Wolf Family“ Presented by Tom Wolf, Chairman and CEO of the Wolf Organization, a family-owned building materials business based in York, PA, that was founded in 1843. RSVP requested.