Pre-event Add-on
Golfers attending the Family Business Summit have the rare opportunity to play at the private Pelican Golf Club. Nestled along the Gulf Coast in Belleair, Florida, the course is known for its immaculate conditioning and classic layout, inspired by the original Donald Ross design from the 1920s.
Pelican has served as the stage for some of golf’s most celebrated moments, including The Match featuring legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy paired against Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth. Pelican Golf Club also welcomes the world’s top women golfers as host of the annual LPGA tournament The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, further cementing its reputation as a premier championship venue.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or simply appreciate the game’s traditions, this is a rare chance to walk the same fairways as the greats, in the company of other Summit attendees. Availability is limited, and advance registration is required. Transportation from the hotel will be provided. *Please note the course is Walking Only unless participant has a medical issue that prevents them from walking.
President of the Private Client Group, Raymond James and Associates
CEO, Chief Executive Group
Family-owned businesses face their own set of challenges—but they also possess powerful advantages that are difficult to replicate. Chief among them: the ability to build enduring cultures rooted in trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships. These traits are often elusive in short-term-focused public and private equity-owned firms.
Our opening keynote will share how long-term orientation, loyalty and shared values can be a competitive edge— but only when paired with business discipline and adaptability. This case study sets the tone for the unique opportunities (and landmines) facing family business leaders.
At the heart of the succession process are often complex founder and family dynamics that threaten to derail the best intended plans for the future of the family and business. Factors such as ego, identity, attachment, and the meaning of the business to all involved must be attended to ensure a successful transition.
Going beyond the legal and financial succession mechanics, this session will explore the human side of transition. A seasoned family business psychologist and experienced second-gen leader will unpack the hidden dynamics that often derail succession. We’ll tackle the emotional, strategic and structural dimensions of generational transition—whether your successors are family, non-family or still undecided. Attendees will walk away with tools to recognize emotional roadblocks, initiate candid conversations, and apply practical strategies to preserve both the founder’s legacy and the family’s future. Whether you’re the founder or the next generation, this session offers a fresh lens—and a path forward.
President, Huntington Learning Centers
Family Business Advisor with expertise in family psychodynamics
Professionals outside the owning family have their own challenges and opportunities. The ability to impact a closely-held business is unique, as is navigating the dynamics of an organization that is not always operating to optimize business outcomes. This session will allow for frank discussions about effective ways to navigate these challenges with skill and sensitivity.
Facilitated by:
CEO Coach, Chief Executive Group
Not every next-gen family member wants to be CEO—or even work in the business—but that doesn’t mean they can’t be influential contributors to the family legacy. This roundtable explores how to prepare future family members to be responsible stewards: as owners, leaders, or advocates of the business’s long-term purpose. From instilling values and work ethic to setting expectations and offering non-operational paths (like board roles, family council seats, or external experience), we’ll share candid lessons on how to raise engaged, empowered contributors without guilt or entitlement.
CEO Coach, Chief Executive Group
Few topics spark more tension in a family business than compensation—especially when family members, non-family executives, and inactive shareholders are all in the mix. This roundtable will explore how to set fair, transparent compensation policies that reflect role, contribution, and market realities—without damaging trust or morale. We’ll discuss real-world approaches to aligning pay with performance, addressing perceived inequities, and navigating tough conversations when family dynamics and business logic collide.
CEO Coach, Chief Executive Group
Whether you’re planning to pass the business to the next generation or considering a sale, the steps you take today will shape your options tomorrow. In this roundtable, we’ll explore how family business leaders can position their companies for maximum value—regardless of the eventual exit path. The discussion will cover how to view your company through a strategic lens: aligning leadership, governance, and capital structure with future goals. We’ll dive into practical considerations like how to assess readiness and avoid common pitfalls in both generational transitions and external exits. Whether your timeline is two years or ten, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what it means to run your company with optionality—and legacy—in mind.
Managing Partner, KLH Capital
Partner, Ready for Next
Private equity-backed firms often have deeper pockets—but family businesses have powerful advantages of their own. This roundtable will explore how to attract and retain top talent when you can’t always match the biggest offers. From culture and stability to purpose and long-term thinking, we’ll discuss how to position your business as an employer of choice, structure compelling (but sustainable) compensation packages, and win over candidates who might otherwise lean toward flashier offers.
CEO Coach, Chief Executive Group
Strong governance can be a game-changer for family businesses—but there’s no one-size-fits-all model. This roundtable will unpack how to design a board (or advisory board) that fits your company’s stage, size, and family dynamics. We’ll explore how to bring in independent directors, define roles for family members, establish family councils, and build governance systems that improve decision-making, succession, and long-term strategy. Whether you’re starting from scratch or evolving an existing structure, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to strengthen your governance foundation.
Facilitated by:
Board Member, Lodge Cast Iron, Thrall Enterprises and Valco Industries
As family enterprises grow, so do the complexities of protecting and passing on wealth. From estate planning and tax mitigation to structuring trusts and gaining consensus around charitable giving, this session will explore what it takes to preserve assets—and family harmony—across generations. A panel of seasoned advisors will unpack real-world strategies for building structures that last, including how to balance family trustees with corporate oversight, when to use foundations or donor-advised funds, and how to align wealth planning with family values and legacy goals. Whether you’re planning for liquidity events or navigating the second and third generation transitions, this session will help you avoid common pitfalls and create clarity that benefits both the balance sheet and the family dynamic.
Chairman & President, Raymond James Trust, N.A.
Attracting and retaining top talent is hard for any business—but family businesses face unique hurdles and hidden advantages. Should you prioritize internal family development or outside professionals? How do you keep rising stars engaged when succession plans are unclear or emotionally charged?
This session brings together family business leaders and advisors to share strategies for building high-performing teams that endure. We’ll discuss how to design career paths that motivate, create cultures that retain, and structure compensation that’s both competitive and sustainable. Whether you’re preparing for generational transition or professionalizing your team for growth, this conversation will offer practical tools and fresh perspective.
From sibling disputes to founder reluctance to misaligned expectations between generations, conflict is part of every family business. And yet, unresolved conflict is one of the biggest silent threats to continuity. This highly interactive session will offer a proven 7-step framework and include role-play exercises to equip leaders with the tools to surface and solve tensions that stall progress. Whether you’re navigating succession, dealing with power imbalances or trying to move past old wounds, you’ll walk away with tools to change the conversation and protect what matters most.
Enjoy an evening of connection and inspiration at The James Museum, right off the coast in downtown St. Petersburg. Join fellow attendees for a private dinner while surrounded by the history of the American West, and wildlife around the world.
With nearly three decades of experience and a sharp eye for connecting macroeconomic forces to real-world business decisions, Larry Adams will unpack what the year ahead could hold for markets, interest rates, inflation and labor trends—and what it all means for companies balancing growth, legacy, and long-term planning. Tailored uniquely to the realities of family-owned businesses, this session will explore how family-owned firms can anticipate inflection points, time key investments and adapt to shifting financial conditions while staying true to their core values. It’s not just an economic update—it’s a strategic briefing for leaders focused on building resilient, enduring businesses.
Chief Investment Officer, Raymond James
Legacy can be a powerful foundation—or a weight that holds you back. For many family-owned companies, sustaining success across generations means learning how to evolve while honoring what came before. This session 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.
We’ll hear from a leader who has helped a legacy company embrace change: launching new product lines, entering new markets or reinventing the business model while staying true to core values. Learn how to manage risk in a family business, create space for innovation and make decisions that benefit the next generation without erasing the past. Whether you’re facing disruption or simply want to stay ahead of the curve, this session will offer practical insights on how to build a company that’s built to last—and evolve.
Senior Vice President, Warburg Pincus; former CMO, Marketo
What happens when a 100+ year-old family company turns to its first non-family CEO? For Lodge Manufacturing, the result has been remarkable: doubling growth, a renewed focus on core values and a culture that honors the past while embracing the future.
In this candid conversation with Mike Otterman, CEO of Lodge Manufacturing, we’ll explore what it really takes to lead a legacy business when the legacy isn’t your own. What does it mean to preserve values—but evolve culture? Where is the line between business decisions and family decisions? And how do you earn trust while still challenging old assumptions
Drawing on lessons learned over six years at the helm, Mike will offer practical insights for both family members and non-family executives: how to position a non-family CEO for success, what family leaders can do to create the right guardrails and support, and how to build mutual respect that strengthens—not strains—the legacy. Whether you’re leading from inside the family or outside of it, this session will help you think differently about trust, clarity and long-term performance.
CEO & President, Lodge Cast Iron
0
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.