Media Advisory: Wake Forest University Family Business Center – Charlotte Metro announcing 2012 Spring forums
January 19
Bob Businessman’s Bad Day
Imagine the worst day of your life as a business owner. How would you handle it? Robert Norris of Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman will lead a panel of the firm’s experts in a discussion about “Bob Businessman’s Bad Day” — providing survival tools needed to address cash management, employment issues, IRS audits, ownership issues, asset protection, bank defaults and marital problems related to running a business. The event will be held at the Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Rd., from noon to 4 p.m. Robert Norris has represented family and privately-owned businesses for more than 34 years.
February 1
From White Castle to the White House
Family firms are the primary drivers of our economy and they significantly shape our society. In the last 25 years, family businesses have developed into an area of academic study all their own. At Wake Forest University’s Uptown campus, 200 North College Street, Suite 150, Ann Kinkade, president of Family Enterprise USA, and Jamie Richardson, vice president of government and shareholder relations for White Castle, will present “From White Castle to the White House.” The discussion will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Kinkade will discuss the importance of FEUSA’s work as an advocate for family firms. Richardson will share the story of White Castle and how the company maintains its culture in the context of government affairs, public relations and community engagement.
February 24
The Challenges Facing Next Generation Leadership
“The Challenges Facing Next Generation Leadership” at Wake Forest University’s Uptown campus, 200 North College Street, Suite 150, is a multi-generational workshop on how to develop human capital and make a personal action plan for transferring a business from one generation to the next. The workshop, held from noon to 4 p.m. will be led by author, educator, consultant and speaker, Greg McCann who works with family enterprises in the areas of succession, communication, conflict resolution, and gender issues. McCann is the founder and director of the Family Enterprise Center at Stetson University.
March 19
Types of Growth Capital for the Family Business
Private equity, mezzanine lender, SBA loans, business brokerage and investment banking — this session on “Types of Growth Capital for the Family Business,” aims to demystify financial terminology and determine which of these resources, if any, are appropriate tools for companies to use and when. The session will be held at The Whitehead Conference Center, 5901 Sardis Road, from noon to 4 p.m. and will be moderated by Joe Donlevy, a relationship manager with Wells Fargo Business Banking in Charlotte. Donlevy has worked with closely held businesses for 12 years, 10 years as a commercial banker and 2 years as an investment banker.
About the Wake Forest University Family Business Center (FBC) The FBC is a member-based organization that uses the educational resources of Wake Forest University to provide closely held and family firms the assistance they need to grow and succeed from generation to generation. As a program of the Office of Personal and Career Development, the FBC also provides family business education and experiential learning opportunities to WFU students, WFU alumni community and their families.
Family Business Center forums are only open to Family Business Center members, sponsors and their guests. For information on FBC membership and guest policies, please contact Rhonda Stokes at (888) 925.3622 or stokesrj@wfu.edu , or visit http://familybusiness.opcd.wfu.edu.
###
Brett D. Eaton, eatonbd@wfu.edu, 336.758.5237
Kim McGrath, mcgratka@wfu.edu, 336.758.3209
