Coggin
College Hosts
Family & Closely Held Business Forum
The Coggin College hosted the 4th Annual Family & Closely
Held Business Forum in November. The Forum explored critical
transitional issues for today’s family and closely
held businesses.
Family or closely held businesses account for 78 percent
of all new jobs created nationwide and comprise 90 percent
of all American businesses. These businesses face
specific problems and challenges as they pass the reins
to future generations. Among family companies, less than
30 percent survive into the second generation, barely 10
percent make it to the third and only about 4 percent
to the fourth.
“We hope the relevant topics and timely discussions at the Forum helped
our local businesses to grow,” said Dr. John McAllister, dean of
the Coggin College of Business at UNF. “The Forum is so important
because studies show within the next five years, 30 percent of family-owned
firms will experience a change in leadership due to retirement or semi-retirement.”
The keynote speaker was Jean Davidson, granddaughter of
Harley Davidson founder, Walter Davidson. She shared
incredible family stories and “The Three Keys to
Success in Family Business.” She began riding a Harley
at the age of 12 and was the owner of the largest Harley
Davidson dealership in Wisconsin. Davidson rubbed shoulders
with famous racers, Hell’s Angels and even Evil Knievel.
“None of this would have been possible without our sponsors,” acknowledged
McAllister. Corporate support was provided by presenting sponsors Bank of North
Florida and Cygnet Private Bank, as well as support from PL&E Wealth Management,
Presser Lahnen & Edelman, the Jacksonville Business Journal, and Dagher
Printing.
Break-out sessions featured Max “Mickey” Block
and Andrew Block of Darifair Foods, Inc. They spoke
about “Transition Planning: Changing Lanes;” Sue
Butts, North Florida Building Services, “Change
Management: Introducing a New Model;” David Cooksey
and John Cooksey, McCall Services, Inc., “Family Leadership:
Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?;” and
George Knapp, Stonewood Capital Management, Inc., “Non-Family
Leadership: Preventing a Stall-Out.”
To learn more about resources available to
Small Businesses, visit www.sbdc.unf.edu. |
