Monday, March 31, 2014


Hug Your Family
Hug Your People
Hug Your Customers
Join us to hear the Story and Experiences of Jack Mitchell
Jack Mitchell is Chairman of the Mitchells Family of Stores (Mitchells/Richards/Marshs and
Wilkes Bashford), a three-generation family business that operates men’s and women’s specialty stores in Connecticut, New York and California that are nationally renowned for their personal service touches and strong relationships. Jack himself has been recognized as one of the top ten retail visionaries of his time by the Daily News Record, one of the most widely read retail trade publications in the country.

After completing a B.A. at Wesleyan University in 1961 and an M.A. at the University of California-Berkeley, Jack joined the family business, Ed Mitchell, Inc., which was founded by his parents, Ed and Norma, and later became Mitchells of Westport.  In 1995, Mitchells acquired Richards, the leading men’s clothing store in Greenwich, Connecticut, and in 2006, added Marshs of Huntington, Long Island, to the group.  In December of 2009, they also proudly acquired Wilkes Bashford in San Francisco and Palo Alto, California.

Under his leadership, the Mitchells Family of Stores have become well known for employee engagement and longevity and providing exceptional customer service and high quality merchandise in an exciting, friendly, and visually dynamic atmosphere.  Jack is an active leader on the floor listening and learning along side his brother Bill, wife Linda, his three sons and three nephews.

In 2003, Jack Mitchell launched a “second career” as a speaker and author.   His first book, Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results, was a Wall Street Journal best seller and received rave reviews in the New York Times.  In addition, it was endorsed by Warren Buffet on the cover with the following quote:  “It’s a gem.  I wish everyone at Berkshire would follow his advice – we would own the world.”   In 2008, Jack published his second book, Hug Your People:  The Proven Way to Hire, Inspire, and Recognize Your Employees to Achieve Remarkable Results where he illustrates a business blueprint to personalize relationships to drive success and achieve greater satisfaction at work.

Jack has become known as a passionate enthusiastic public speaker, keynoting at over 200 events for corporations including Morgan Stanley, Conde Nast, Payless, Nike, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, Luxottica and Harvard University addressing audiences of all sizes and reaching over 50,000 people globally with Hug Your Customers/Hug Your People presentations.   Jack has appeared on The NBC Today Show, and Kudlow & Cramer TV show as well as numerous radio interviews and online and print articles.   Jack has been quoted in national magazines as a customer service and management leadership expert.  In April 2005, INC Magazine listed Jack as one of the 26 Entrepreneurs We Love.

Jack shares with his family a number of Community leadership Awards from the Anti-Defamation league, The Menswear Division of UJA-Federation of New York, and Sacred Heart University.  Jack is on the Yale Cancer Board and is an Executive in Residence at the Columbia University School of Business.

Join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Jack Mitchell.




For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Saturday, March 1, 2014

What A Family Office Is and Is Not

Anecdotally, Family Offices are booming. There is a buzz and that is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. More and more Business Families are considering a Family Office.
What is a Family Office? Is a Family Office right for your Family and Business? How are your advisors or team of advisors working and interacting with each other, and how are they working and interacting with your family?
With each additional advisor a family chooses to retain, there is more likelihood of a negative consequence and a Families Legacy will be impacted. Communication is the most critical component of a successful Family, communication between the family and the advisor is also critical, yet frequently neglected.
What questions need to be asked:
            What areas of expertise will benefit you and your family that you’re not receiving today at the professional level you expect?
             Are the professionals you employ providing a highly integrated set of solutions to meet the many different needs / wants of your family?
            How would you and your family benefit if you were able to ensure greater harmony and coordination between your professional advisors?

“Transferring wealth and legacy is complicated by vastly different generational habits, ideologies, and priorities.”
This webinar will help you understand what the questions are you need to ask to gain the correct holistic service that is best for you and your family and your Legacy.
Read the MarchWhite Paper and join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Pete Roland and Chuck Porter, of Canon Capital Investment Advisory


Peter Roland - Managing Director, Canon Capital Wealth Management and Family Office Services. A
founder and managing director of an integrated client focused financial services group consisting of a certified public Accounting firm, a wealth management firm, a payroll service company, and a computer solutions firm. Canon Capital Management Group has been serving their clients since 1987.

Pete serves as an independent fiduciary and places his clients’ best interest first and foremost. As a fiduciary he is able to utilize his financial experience to bring together and manage teams of individuals with the required talents and skills to best meet the needs of the client.




Chuck Porter, Jr. AIF® - is a Senior Investment Advisor who manages investment assets for high-net
worth individuals and families, focusing on multi-generational wealth transfer and the transfer of legacy and values. Chuck also holds a Certificate in Financial Management for the Family Office (CFMFO) from Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management.




For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com