Whether they’re in the top echelons of
administration, or serve as mid-level
managers, non-family personnel can play
a crucial role in the success of a family
business. In this lively panel presentation,
three non-family individuals who serve as
presidents of their respective companies
will speak from experience as they discuss
best practices for hiring and integrating
non-family members into the family
business. Each will be introduced by a
Leading Generation family member of
their company, who will provide the
context for why a non-family professional
was put into the president role at their FB.

Whether they’re in the top echelons of
administration, or serve as mid-level
managers, non-family personnel can play
a crucial role in the success of a family
business. In this lively panel presentation,
three non-family individuals who serve as
presidents of their respective companies
will speak from experience as they discuss
best practices for hiring and integrating
non-family members into the family
business. Each will be introduced by a
Leading Generation family member of
their company, who will provide the
context for why a non-family professional
was put into the president role at their FB.

Whether they’re in the top echelons of
administration, or serve as mid-level
managers, non-family personnel can play
a crucial role in the success of a family
business. In this lively panel presentation,
three non-family individuals who serve as
presidents of their respective companies
will speak from experience as they discuss
best practices for hiring and integrating
non-family members into the family
business. Each will be introduced by a
Leading Generation family member of
their company, who will provide the
context for why a non-family professional
was put into the president role at their FB.

Gordon Food Service began in the late 1800s
when Isaac Van Westenbrugge began
peddling butter and eggs from a
horse-drawn wagon. Today, Dan, Jim and
John Gordon, Jr., are the fourth generation of
family leading the Grand Rapids, MI based
company. In addition to sharing some of
the history, progress and direction of GFS,
Jim Gordon will review their family’s
perspective on governance, including the
importance of outside board members, the
role of non-family in key leadership roles,
and policies regarding family employment in
the business.

Clarity plus accountability equals success.
But what is accountability, and how do you
get it? Chris Eckrich will address both the
organizational and individual components of
accountability in the family business. He’ll
explain why all employees must be crystal
clear regarding their job responsibilities and
goals; organizational goals must be realistic
and achievable; and individuals must be held
responsible for accomplishing their goals.
He’ll also give practical advice on how all this
can be achieved within the family business.

Succession planning is a process, not an
event. Using video clips captured over a
10-year period during her work with an
actual FB client, presenter Kathy Wiseman
will provide a revealing look at a real-life
father and son who tackled the intricacies of
succession planning. The program combines
structured group discussion with carefully
chosen video segments. Participants will get
an inside view of succession planning via the
example of this father and son, and be able
to apply lessons learned to their own
situations.