Entitlement and Succession: The Key is Communication

With Phil Clemens, Chairman

Clemens Family Corporation

Communications in family businesses are often tough.  We generally go to extremes – we tell way too much or we say nothing.  This is especially true when it comes to two critical subjects – Succession and Entitlements. 

With Succession a lot is assumed by the Nxt Generation – and most times it is wrong.  The same is true with Entitlements.  In most cases, the younger generation assumes they are entitled to many things, one of which is to be the next leader of the business.  The older generation assumes that their children clearly have received the messages that they aren’t entitled to anything and that certainly includes who will lead the family business in the future.

Communications are critical to have a smooth running family business.  My experience is that the older generation think they are communicating; the younger generation knows they aren’t and neither will tell the other.  Thus assumptions go on and on and on.

In this session Phil will provide ideas on how to communicate more effectively between generations and build healthier family businesses for the future. 

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 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 this exciting Webinar on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with Phil Clemens.

For additional information email: steve@netfamilybusiness.com