Thursday, December 19, 2013

Tis The Season

For some families that is a dreaded phrase and for other families that brings warm memories of family gatherings. 

At a time of year when activities tend to outpace the number of hours in a day and the days keep running together, it is important to keep in mind that it is our families that make the season.

In this time of busy-ness, remember to take time for family.
May this season be one of peace, joy, and happiness as you intentionally seek family time.

From my family to yours,
Enjoy the blessings God has bestowed and may your family experience a prosperous 2014.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Mark Your Calendars


 Mark Your Calendars

The Upcoming Schedule
  
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 @ 11:00 AM ET 
Human Resources Primer for Family Businesses
         -  with Aaron Moyer and Terry Broach
                  Consultants with SKM Associates – Family Business Advisors

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 @ 11:00 AM ET 
Successfully Transitioning Out of The Family Business
         - with Paul Cronin, Partner
                    Successful Transition Planning Institute (STPI) in Cambridge, MA

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 @ 11:00 AM ET 
What A Family Office Is And Is Not
         - with Peter Roland and Chuck Porter
                  Cannon Capital Wealth Management and Family Office

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 @ 11:00 AM ET 
Hug Your Family
         - with Jack Mitchell
                  Chairman of the Mitchells Family of Stores 
                  (Mitchells/Richards/Marshs and Wilkes Bashford)



                                                            

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

For Immediate Release: November 2013 The Network of Family Businesses Expands



THE NETWORK OF FAMILY BUSINESSES
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The Initiative For Family Business & Entrepreneurship
St. Joseph’s University
Joins The Network of Family Businesses

The Network of Family Businesses is pleased to announce that the Initiative For Family Business & Entrepreneurship of St. Joseph’s University has joined The Network.
  Mike McGrann, Executive Director of the Initiative for Family Business and Entrepreneurship stated their goal is to provide family business owners, entrepreneurs and the University students the tools necessary to increase long-term competitiveness, ownership prosperity and family unity for generations to come. This will be accomplished through a combination of world-class education, unique experiential learning programs, an innovative curriculum, and applied research. Family-owned businesses are fundamentally important to the U.S. and regional economy and comprise the backbone of our economy, strengthening entrepreneurial families has a great impact on the community.

The Network of Family of Businesses, an exclusive online network that connects families who want to stay on top of trends while building their family legacies. The online organization, www.netfamilybusiness.com, was developed to meet the businesses owners’ limited time and schedule to get away from the office and attend seminars. An online meeting place also cuts down on the increasing cost of travel.
President of The Network of Family Businesses, Steven K. Moyer, stated this is an exciting step in continuing to provide a growing network of families in business access to educational resources as they strive to build their family legacy.

The Initiative For Family Business & Entrepreneurship joins The High Center Elizabethtown College, The New York Family Business Center at The Madden School of Business at LeMoyne, and The Family Business Forum Wilkes University in a growing network with The Network of Family Businesses.

For more information, or to discuss how The Network of Family Businesses may be able to serve your organization, The Network can be reached at steve@netfamilybusiness.com or 215-256-5997.


Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Story of a Family Business CEO Transitioning:

Philip A. Clemens, Chairman and CEO of the Clemens Family Corporation

As the Clemens Family Corporation moves into the seventh generation of ownership, the family has a goal of continuing to build the family legacy that started in 1895 by John C. Clemens. Phil Clemens stated the key to their owners’ satisfaction is the functioning and nurturing of what they call their “Trust Triangle.” This ‘Trust Triangle’ is comprised of the Owner’s Advisory Council, the Independent Board of Directors, and the Management team operating their businesses. Clemens stated the unique relationship of these three groups is built on Core Values the Clemens family has adopted for the family and the business. The Core Values of Integrity - doing what I say I will do; Ethics - doing the right thing; and Stewardship - building a foundation for the future.

What are the hidden issues in developing the next generation for leadership?

How do you choose a successor when the family has over 500 members?

How do we keep the family & the business intact through the transition?

Phil has spent his entire working career with the family business. He began working in the legacy business, Hatfield Quality Meats, on a part time basis while going to school. He began his full-time
career in 1967 while attending Peirce College. His career has allowed him to work in all areas of the business. He began on the clean-up crew and worked his way to be the CEO of the Company. He began both the Data Processing and Human Resource Departments. He spent 20 years of his career in Human Resources and 7 years as CEO and President of the legacy business. The Corporation has annual sales of $750 million, employs about 2,200 people, and markets products all over the US with a concentration in the northeast part of the US.

Active in his community and other organizations, Phil serves on many non-profit boards and on the boards of several family owned businesses.

Phil is a national and international speaker on family business issue and has a passion to teach leadership skills to next generations.

Join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Thursday, November 21st, 2013 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Phil Clemens.


For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

For Immediate Release


SKM ASSOCIATES LLC
************************************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2013

Aaron Moyer Joins SKM Associates, LLC

            SKM Associates, LLC is pleased to announce that Aaron Moyer has joined its team. 

Prior to joining SKM Associates, Aaron practiced employment law at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In his practice, Aaron counseled employers on a variety of employment matters – such as issues with individual employees, policies and practices, handbooks, severance agreements, employment agreements, wage and hour issues – and defended employers in litigation brought by former and current employees under various federal, state, and local laws.  His work in these areas includes experience in federal court, state court, the EEOC, and other federal, state and local agencies, as well as the investigation of such claims.  Aaron has extensive experience enforcing and defending non-compete  and restrictive covenant agreements.  He has worked on teams with corporate lawyers and other specialists providing due diligence and labor and employment advice for mergers and acquisitions.  Aaron has also provided a broad range of pro bono legal counsel to recently started non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. 

Aaron earned his B.S. in Business Management from Grove City College and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.  While in law school, Aaron was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review and the Vanderbilt Moot Court Board, and he graduated Order of the Coif.

Aaron is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, especially with his wife and three daughters. 

            For more information, or to discuss how SKM Associates may be able to serve your organization, SKM Associates can be reached at skmoyer@comcast.net, or 215-256-5997.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Talkin' 'Bout My G-G-Generation



Generations Working Together in the Family Enterprise

If you got the reference in the title to the famous song by The Who, you were likely a Baby Boomer in your teens or early twenties when the album (and The Who) made its debut. Possibly you are a Gen X-er exposed to the album a decade or so later. Maybe even a Gen Y/Millenial riding the recent wave of retro rock popularity.

For the first time in the history of humans, it is quite common for 4 generations of family members to be alive at the same time. This creates challenges and opportunities for enterprising families.

This webinar will present:

An overview of the 4 generations (Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y/Millenials), their life experiences and the characteristics of their members.

How to handle the challenges and face the opportunities presented by these diverse groups owning and managing together.

Simple and effective best practices for enterprising families working together across generations.

Read the October White Paper and join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Thursday, October 24th 2013 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Jeff Savlov.

Jeff Savlov is a principal at Blum & Savlov, LLP, a consulting firm serving family businesses, high net-worth families, family offices and their advisors with a focus on balancing family dynamics with ownership and management of shared assets across generations. - See more at: http://www.blumandsavlov.com

For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Swedish Proverb

"Rough waters are truer tests of leadership. In calm water every ship has a good captain.


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Entitlement: Epidemic of Our Era


How does entitlement present itself?
What are its causes and consequences?

How do we cure it?

Webster’s describes entitlement as “the belief that one is deserving of certain privileges.” Family Business Wiki says, “Entitlement refers to a sense of being ‘owed’ such benefits as: wealth; employment; and status without having to work to achieve these benefits. Some children who grow up in a successful family business can be inclined to a feeling of entitlement.” Entitlement is more than feeling “owed” or “deserving,” it’s about expectation as well. Indeed, usually the problem isn’t the feeling of entitlement; it is how family members act, and how such actions are perceived by others. The consequences can be dire.

Wanting their children to have all the trappings of the good life, parents help their kids buy homes and even furnish them; they set up trust funds and 529 college savings plans for their grandchildren. And in these actions, there lies an expectation -- that this might go on forever, that there’s a bottomless well
somewhere.

So, have the parents been the enablers? Have they unwittingly fostered the belief in their children that money will always be available? Perhaps so.
Many expected that they’ll be able to take the same luxury vacations with their children as they’ve enjoyed with their parents. For most, however, it just won’t happen. Thanks to the economy, “forever” seems to have come to a screeching halt.

As a result, many kids turn to the Family Business as a natural source of opportunity.
But is that opportunity to further entitlement?

Read the SeptemberWhite Paper and join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Thursday, September 26th 2013 at 02:00 PM Eastern Time, with Paul and David Karofsky.

Paul Karofsky is founder/CEO of Transition Consulting Group Ltd. He was the third-generation CEO of his family’s business and is executive director emeritus of Northeastern University’s Center
for Family Business. David Karofsky is president of Transition Consulting Group Ltd. He has more than 15 years of experience coaching executives and working with companies across the globe (www.ForTCG.com).

For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Marketing & the Family Business


Creating the Ideal Customer Experience
Many marketers have been taught the concept of the marketing funnel. The idea being that you bring leads into the top of the large opening in a funnel and push the ones that become customers through the small end. The problem with this approach is it turns all the focus on the chase. Bill Brelsford happens to think that real payoff in marketing comes from expanding and focusing your thinking on how to turn a lead into an advocate for your business.

When you overlay our definition of marketing – “getting someone who has a need to know, like, and trust you” with the intentional act of turning know, like and trust into try, buy, repeat, and refer you get the entire logical path for moving someone from initial awareness to advocate.

The key is to systematically develop touch points, processes and product/service offerings for each of the 7 phases of the hourglass.
            Know – Your ads, article, and referred leads
            Like – Your web site, reception, and email newsletter
            Trust – Your marketing kit, white papers, and sales presentations
            Try – Webinars, evaluations, and nurturing activities
            Buy - Fulfillment, new customer kit, delivery, and financial arrangements
            Repeat – Post customer survey, cross sell presentations, and quarterly events
            Refer – Results reviews, partner introductions, peer 2 peer webinars, and community building

Far too many businesses attempt to go from “Know” to “Buy” and wonder why it’s so hard. By creating ways to gently move someone to trust, and perhaps even creating low-cost offerings as trials, the ultimate conversion to buy gets so much easier.

Read the AugustWhite Paper and join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Wednesday, August 21st 2013 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Bill Brelsford.

Bill Brelsford is the owner of Rebar Business Builders and a Certified Duct Tape Marketing Consultant. As one of the original members of the Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network, Bill has been helping business owners and professional service providers install the Duct Tape Marketing System since 2004.






For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Monday, July 8, 2013

So What Is The Plan?


The Mystery or the Value of Exit Planning

ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO BUSINESSES IS FORECASTED TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS!

Experts say that 80% of the companies up for sale, FAIL TO SELL.

Over 90 % of business owners have not developed written exit strategies and 75% don’t have any plans!

Over 75% of business owners, who do sell, are dissatisfied after the sale!

Failure to plan destroys businesses and legacies.

Learn what a good exit planning strategy process looks like and how to get it done, so that owners can get back in control of their life and their future.

During this presentation participants will learn tools to immediately work “on” their business as well as work “in” their business.

Learn the Answers to Critical Presentation Questions:
• Why business owners should Exit Plan now! Why don’t they?
• Solving the Exit Planning Mystery and achieve greater value for your life’s work!
• How do company “value gaps” affect your future and what to do about them?
• The effect of company valuations on your financial planning!
• What a good Exit Planning process looks like! What it accomplishes now and in the future!
• On a scale of 1-100, how prepared are you and your company for your future?
• How do you get started planning the second half of your life?
• When do you get started?

Join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Tuesday, July 25th 2013 at 02:30 PM Eastern Time, with Peter Christman.


Peter Christman - The “Original Exit and Succession Planning Coach" CEO and Founder of the CHRISTMAN Group, CEO and Co-Founder of the Exit Planning Institute Peter Christman is an experienced entrepreneur, corporate executive, coach and investment banker. After spending 25 years as an investment banker with other firms, Peter founded The CHRISTMAN Group, LLC to provide middle market business owners with a comprehensive and integrated suite of services that simplify the exit planning process while maximizing the value of the client’s business. The Christman Group mantra is that we want our clients to be “SET" for life. During his 30+year career Peter has successfully sold more than 200 companies in a wide variety of industries. Transactions have ranged in size from several million dollars to over one hundred million dollars. Peter is also the co-founder of the Exit Planning Institute that educates business advisors on how to implement business owner “exit planning" into their practices. The Institute has developed its own proprietary certification program. Peter has written articles on the importance of the exit planning process. He is the Co-Author of the book, “The $10 Trillion Opportunity".

For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Monday, June 24, 2013

Change is Critical


How rapidly is your world changing?
It has been said in the past, that the only thing constant in today’s world is change.  

Change is inevitable.

Yet, how many of us really like, or are capable of managing the change?
What is the reaction or process or thought when we are confronted by change? In many situations change is initially denied, ignored, resisted or ‘kicked down the road’. This is when the leader must be astute and help the family and the business understand why the change is critical, how the change will impact them, the value of the change for the future and how each individual can support the change.

Change is critical for survival and growth of any system, especially families and business families. Change cannot be seen as self-serving and negotiated behind closed doors.

How are you communicating change?
How transparent is the change you are leading?

Change requires casting the Vision for a better future to guild the legacy for the business family.

What change is your family business facing?

Let us know      


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Language, Influence, and Performance


Every single one of us are in the business of moving others.  At work, we aim to move our team members to action, move our customers to extend trust and confidence in us, move our suppliers to deliver consistently.  The list goes on and on and it doesn’t stop when we get home.  We’re selling our children on the benefits of being honest, we want them to take responsibility and make healthy choices. 

Essentially, we are cajooling, convincing, persuading, influencing, twisting arms, and sometimes dragging them kicking and screaming.  Even when we would like five whole minutes of peace and quiet to drink our coffee and read the latest issue of HBR, we still want everyone else in the family to cooperate.

Recognizing that spending your time moving others is critical to your business and life success, Cathy Maday will teach tools that you can use to better influence and generate greater performance for your entire team, including yourself

Read June’s White Paper, Language, Influence, and Performance and the Participant’s Guide and join The Network of Family Businesses for a virtual educational Webinar on Tuesday, June 18th 2013 at 11:00 AM EST, with Cathy Maday.

Cathy Maday, Founder, Wingspan Performance provides motivated business leaders with tools to achieve higher levels of individual, team and business performance. Their proven coaching, training, and leadership development solutions deliver real-world strategies and practical hacks for greater profit in business and life. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Wingspan Performance has served entrepreneurs, large corporations and the Energy and Utility industry for nine years.

Their value proposition is simple, to provide the highest quality professional services while developing long lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships with clients.  They accomplish this by integrating their seasoned, values-based and client-focused professionals directly with client leaders and teams, ensuring a win-win alliance as well as tangible results.  The vast majority of their clients have engaged Wingspan Perform to provide a variety of professional services continuously for several years. 

Registration to join The Network of Family Businesses and be eligible for the On-Line Educational Seminar is available at: http://www.netfamilybusiness.com

For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Leaders and Entrepreneurs


The Guru and Father of management, Peter Drucker defined eight characteristics for effectiveness:
         - Asking “what needs to be done?”
         - Asking “what is best for this organization?”
         - Develop Action Plans
         - Take responsibility for actions and decisions
         - Take responsibility for communicating to all stakeholders
         - Focus on opportunities rather than problems
         - Run productive meetings
         - Think and act in the “WE” rather than the “I”

How are you doing on this scale of effectiveness?