Families in Business Conference Schedule

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Daniel G. Van Der Vliet, John and Dyan Smith Executive Director of Family Business

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Kevin McGovern ’70 is the Chairman and CEO of McGovern Capital, a single-family office. McGovern Capital serves as an investment, strategy, and licensing participant and advisor to global businesses. Through McGovern Capital and its affiliates, McGovern has co-founded over twenty-five (25) companies, six of which have become world/category leaders, and he has been lead negotiator/principal in over fifteen (15) global joint ventures.  It was for these reasons, and many more, that Mr. McGovern was chosen as the 2007 Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year. Kevin will share his perspectives on innovation, working with family, and the role of his family office as an instrument for impact investment, family engagement, and value generation.  His son, Jarrett McGovern ’04,  will be joining this session to talk about family innovation, his experience starting Rise, and the role of family in his entrepreneurial efforts.

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

The Smith Family Business Initiative is dedicated to expanding the knowledge base in family business. Through direct research by our academic director and faculty fellows, as well as s well as other partnered research and surveys, we will examine the latest knowledge generated for families in business.

• Wes Sine, Ph.D. ’01, John and Dyan Smith Professor of Management and Family Business, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
• Grady Raines, Ph.D. ’28, Candidate of Management and Organizations at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
• Pat Soldano, President, Family Enterprise USA

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Featuring –

• Dr. Konstantin Frank
• Frosted
• Harney and Son’s Tea
• Indian Milk & Honey
• Ivy’s Macs & More
• Junior’s Cheesecake
• L’uva Bella
• Red Jacket Orchard
• Rise Brewing Co.
• Salamida
• Sheldrake Point
• Spekld
• Teddie Peanut Butter
• Trinity Valley Dairy
• Via’s Cookies

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

After dinner conversation: Smith Family Business Initiative –  An Impact Statement  

The Smith Family Business Initiative was founded to support the students and alumni who work in, for, or with a family business. As the SFBI enters its tenth year, we reflect back on the many students, now alumni, who have helped to define our success.

Facilitator: Matthew Unger, MBA ’23, Founder – Focus Asset Management

• Carolina Hernandez, MBA ’20, Founder – Colorchain
• Marisa Sergi-Schumann, ’15, CEO & Co-Owner, L’uva Bella Winery
• Sofia Tryfonopoulou, MMH ’23, Principal – Tryfon Leisure SA
• Parth Vedawala, MBA ’19, Vice President – Kush Gold & Jewel

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Facilitator: Pat Soldano, President – Family Enterprise USA

• John Smith, MBA ‘74, Chairman, Hillcrest Holdings

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

 For any business owner, exiting the business is inevitable. There are many pathways to ownership succession, both within the family and from outside. This panel discussion will explore various exit avenues, including partnering, private equity, and sale.

Moderator: Laurie Barkman, ’93, SmallDotBig – “The Business Transition Handbook”

• Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, Head of Policy, Chase Travel, formerly Co-President, Valerie Wilson Travel
• Kevin Juin, MBA ’23, Principal – JC Capital Partners
• John Zaruka , ’73, Founder & Director – Wedgewood Weddings

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

As families grow and organize, the family office or family foundation becomes the vehicle by which they direct their philanthropic efforts. With each new generation, the focus and energy behind those efforts may evolve and change. Measuring impact, engagement with new populations, and aligning with family values continue to be important benchmarks to ensure that the giving is doing the greatest good.

Facilitator: Angela Mwanza, MBA ’00, Rockefeller Global Family Office

Panelists:

• Zach Bubolo, MBA’ 21, Director of Operations, Watson Foundation
• Emma Gergin, Principal, Carlson Private Capital Partners

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Statler Hotel,

Carrier Ballroom

Only a small fraction of family businesses survive the past two generations.  In this session, experts in business and estate planning will discuss some of the best practices for family businesses, by reviewing estate and business planning, communicating and planning among generations, and building flexibility into these plans for now and in the future. Whether preparing the next generation for leadership, weighing options for maintaining the lifestyle of those in, and outside, the business, or sustaining a legacy through trust and charitable planning, resiliency can add value to your business.

Facilitator: Brian Balduzzi, MBA ’18, Private Client Services Attorney, Faegre Drinker

• Alisa Cowen, ‘76, Cowen Design Group
• Brett Tillou, DVM ’04, Tillou Veterinary Hospital