Non-operating family owners may focus on dividends, while leaders in the business feel the pressure of reinvesting for long-term stability. Learn how to align family around a shared vision that strikes the right balance.
Parents, children, siblings, and cousins may be working together, each with their own priorities, timelines and values. Discover frameworks for honoring the wisdom of prior generations and empowering emerging leaders to carry the legacy forward in their own way.
Trusted executives can feel sidelined or caught in the crossfire of family dynamics. Explore how to build trust, share authority and create career paths that keep top non-family talent committed, while maintaining the unique character of family ownership.
Rivalries, resentment and unspoken conflicts can fracture relationships. Learn how to strengthen communication, resolve disputes and reinforce the culture that makes your enterprise distinct, so the business thrives without tearing the family apart.
Chief Executive Group Introduces
The Family-Owned Business Summit brings together leaders from companies that have survived and thrived across generations. They’ve solved challenges around succession, talent, and governance—and delivered strong results for their families and their businesses.
Through candid conversations, peer-driven roundtables and real case studies, CEOs, founders, next-gen leaders and non-family executives will explore what makes family-owned businesses thrive and what quietly holds them back.
Whether you’re succession planning, leading through transition, or navigating governance challenges, this is your opportunity to gain clarity, benchmark with others and lead your company with confidence into the next generation.
What really keeps a family business together? For Adam Farver, 5th-generation Chair of Pella Corporation, the answer is trust—defined, practiced and renewed across generations.
In this opening keynote, Adam will share what his family’s century of ownership has taught him about balancing heritage with innovation, building governance that fits your family’s reality and creating structures that last.
For family-owned companies, sustaining success across generations means learning how to evolve while honoring what came before. Harvard Business School professor Josh Baron, author of the essential Family Business Handbook and one of the most influential thinkers on family business strategy in the world today, explores what it really takes to drive innovation and reinvention inside a family business, where emotions, traditions and long-term thinking all shape decision-making.
Chairman of the Board
Pella Corporation
Keynote Session
What really keeps a family business together? For Adam Farver, 5th-generation Chair of Pella Corporation, the answer is trust—defined, practiced and renewed across generations.
In this opening keynote, Adam will share what his family’s century of ownership has taught him about balancing heritage with innovation, building governance that fits your family’s reality and creating structures that last. From personal experiences that reshaped his view of resilience to lessons passed down from prior generations, Adam will show how enduring family enterprises cultivate engaged owners and preserve clarity, while still evolving for the future.
Why Attend
Board Member, Lodge Cast Iron & Thrall Enterprises; Former Board Member, Valco Industries
President, Huntington Learning Center
CEO & President, Lodge Cast Iron
Why Attend
This Summit is for leaders navigating the unique challenges of family-owned business—whether you’re planning for what’s next or managing through it now.
Pre-Event Add-On
Attendees of the Family Business Summit can kick off their experience with an exclusive golf outing at the private Pelican Golf Club. The course features a classic layout inspired by Donald Ross’s 1920s design and is recognized for its well-maintained fairways and greens. Pelican has hosted events such as The Match with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, and the LPGA tournament The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
The outing will be held on February 11 for an additional $95. You’ll have the opportunity to walk the same fairways as the greats while connecting with fellow Summit attendees. Golfers of all skill levels are welcome. Availability is limited, and advance registration is required. Please note the course is walking-only unless a medical exemption applies.
Here’s what past attendees of Chief Executive Group events had to say about their experience:
“Great quality, lots of networking breaks and conversation prompts. Not rushed and small size to meet many people.”
“Best in class resources; great attendees; lots of networking opportunities & peer learning.”
“This is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and share and hear unique business practices. Very thought provoking. So much experience in this organization.”
registration
Registration incentives are available for groups of 3+. Contact us at events@chiefexecutivegroup.com.
Book by Oct 24
$2,195
$1,895/person
Book by Dec 5
$2,295
$1,995/person
Book by Jan 16
$2,395
$2,095/person
Book by Feb 12
$2,495
$2,195/person
Our program agenda was developed in collaboration with CEOs and Board Members of family-owned businesses, ensuring the program addresses the most critical and relevant topics for this community.
Board Member, Basic American Foods and Vollrath Manufacturing
CEO, The Bradbury Co.
Board Member, Cibo Vita (Nature’s Garden) and Balcan Innovations
CEO, CUI Equipment
President, The Dixon Group
Chairman, Amstore
Stay in the Loop
We’re continuing to announce new speakers and sessions—let us know a bit about your role and we’ll make sure you’re among the first to get agenda updates, along with highlights most relevant to your business.
The Family-Owned Business Summit will take place at the Raymond James headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The venue offers a comfortable setting for candid discussions and is just a short drive from the Gulf Coast’s beaches and vibrant downtown area.
Address: Raymond James Financial, 880 Carillon Parkway,
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Address: The Karol Hotel, 2675 Ulmerton Road,
Clearwater, FL 33762
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Download “5 Succession Strategies from Leaders Who’ve Actually Done It” – a free guide from Chief Executive Group.
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
