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Are Cybercriminals Knocking on your Door?

It's officially Tech Week in Grand Rapids! The non-conference conference is designed to showcase the region’s vibrant tech community, and we’re excited to share insights from a few of our family business members in this fast-paced industry.

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Tech Week GR: K Group Companies

It's officially Tech Week in Grand Rapids! The non-conference conference is designed to showcase the region’s vibrant tech community, and we’re excited to share insights from a few of our family business members in this fast-paced industry.

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FBA Announces the Leadership Class of 2023

Family Business Alliance is excited to announce the participants for Leading Forward, The Institute to Inspire and Develop Michigan’s Family Business Leaders.

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Doyle & Ogden Celebrates 65 Years

To honor and celebrate our members who have achieved "Milestone" anniversaries, we are sharing insights into their business journeys. Read what third generation leader, Shannon Heads, shares as she reflects on the 65th anniversary of Doyle and Ogden Insurance.

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Stronger Together: WM Uniform and Wildman Business Group Partner for Long-Term Success

West Michigan family businesses, WM Uniform, recently announced their partnership with Wildman Business Group, a family-owned, Indiana-based laundry and rental company. We sat down with Patrick Van Tuinen and Josh Wildman to learn more about the partnership and what it means for their businesses.

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SecurAlarm Celebrates 30 Years

To honor and celebrate our members who have achieved "Milestone" anniversaries, we are sharing insights into their business journeys. In our first highlight, read what second generation leaders, Todd and Brent Van Haren, share as they reflect on the 30th anniversary of SecurAlarm.

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Small Business Week Feature: Ludema's Floral & Garden

FBA sat down with Allison Ludema from Ludema’s Floral and Garden to understand their small, family business story and what makes them tick.

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Small Business Week Feature: GL Resources

FBA sat down with the family behind GL Resources to learn about their business and what it’s like working together as a small, family-owned business in West Michigan

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Succession: Why Logan Roy Was Doomed to Fail

If you are a family business owner, don't be a Logan Roy. What family business leaders can learn from HBO's Succession.

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Get to Know Your Ambassadors: Alex Boelkins

Family Business Alliance Ambassadors are volunteers for FBA who are committed to helping members get the most out of their membership. They are all individuals who have been very involved with the organization and have used resources and programs to help strengthen their businesses and families. Ambassadors are available as a resource to our members for any questions they may have from a member’s perspective. Alex Boelkins is one of FBA’s committed ambassadors serving the family business community on his own time. Get to know Alex with his answers to our questionnaire below. How did you first get involved in FBA? I read an MiBiz article about family business succession and learned about the Family Business Alliance and their presence in West Michigan. It sounded like an intriguing organization, so we reached out to learn more and became FBA members within a few weeks. Why is FBA important to you? The FBA provides a safe forum for discussing the unique challenges and opportunities within family businesses. What has been your favorite FBA event or activity? I had the opportunity to immediately join a new Peer Group, and it has exceeded my expectations. Meeting monthly with a group of NextGen peers has provided the sounding board and external feedback I’ve been looking for as a young leader in a family business. Why do you think family businesses are important to West Michigan? “Family businesses can be capitalism at its best”, and in West Michigan, there are a lot of examples being lived out on a daily basis. If we can build and steward long-lasting, privately held companies, we will continue to enjoy a strong business community that puts people first. What are some of your favorite hobbies? I’m a father to three young kids, so I work hard to get them outside as much as possible! Bike riding, canoeing, and camping are all family favorites.

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Get to Know Your Membership Engagement Manager: Mary Cline

Why do you think family businesses are important to West Michigan? Family businesses are the backbone of a vibrant community. Business families are deeply rooted in their communities. This connection facilitates close and long-term relationships all while making a positive impact within their community. Additionally, the family values tend to translate throughout their employees and into the greater community. Tell us a little about your career/background before FBA. I am a graduate of Hope College. I started my career working in advertising and marketing and worked in both Chicago and Denver. I took time away from the work force when my 3 sons were born. As they started school, I began to explore my yoga practice and pursued my 200-hour teacher training and then my 500- hour teacher training. I taught at a yoga studio in Redmond, Washington. When I went back to work full-time, it was a yoga student who invited me to interview, and eventually hired me to be the events and communications manager for the not-for-profit where she has served as Executive Director. I moved back to Michigan in 2016 and have worked in events and corporate relations for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and Samaritas. What do you enjoy most about living in West Michigan? Some of my favorite memories are my summers spent in Northern Michigan. What is your favorite (non-work related!) hobby? I love to practice yoga, ski, both X-country and downhill, play tennis, sail, bike, water ski and float on a tube in a lake. Tell us a little about your family. I have 3 sons. Two are attending Purdue University. One is a senior and will move to Cary, NC upon graduation this spring for a job. The second is a freshman in First Year Engineering, he will enter into the Electrical Engineering major next year. My youngest son is a junior at East Grand Rapids HS. He plays Water Polo and swims. I have 2 cats that were feral and starving when I encountered them. I just felt the need to feed them and make them comfortable with human touch. They now rule the home. Fun Facts about Mary: Favorite GR Restaurant: San Chez Favorite TV Show or Movie: Succession Favorite Book: Pillars of the Earth

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Shop Local Family Businesses: West Michigan Holiday Gift Guide 2022

In West Michigan, we are fortunate to have a thriving culture of not only locally owned businesses, but also family-owned businesses that contribute to the vibrancy of our city.

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Key Questions for West Michigan Family Businesses

Identify critical elements for family and business harmony.

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EPIC Awards: Family Owned Business of the Year

As part of our mission to advance family business, we are excited to announce a new collaboration with the Grand Rapids Business Chamber. Since 2010, The Grand Rapids Chamber's EPIC Awards have recognized the amazing organizations that are building this thriving community and supporting our region through EPIC (Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative, and Collaborative) proportions. This year, Family Business Alliance teamed up with the Chamber to establish a category exclusively for family business organizations to engage and be honored for their efforts and innovation.We are all aware that family run organizations positively impact our community and economy, so we are excited that an FBA member will have the opportunity to be recognized as the Family-Owned Business of the Year! The award will be given to a family business that is either a Family Business Alliance Member or Grand Rapids Chamber member and exhibits the criteria below: EPIC Organizational Awards Criteria: Has a growth mindset and supports/demonstrates equitable entrepreneurship throughout the organization’s services and programs Creates an organizational culture that is progressive – not afraid to put new ideas into practice and has an intentional focus on belonging and inclusion Seeks out innovative opportunities to be creative in their designated industry and community by leveraging the organization’s diversity Gives back to the larger community and is actively collaborative with other organizations and initiatives to create a thriving West Michigan for all As an organization, you can either nominate yourself, or be nominated by anyone from outside of your organization. To nominate a deserving organization, complete the nomination form. Nominations close on Thursday, August 4th. After all applications are reviewed by an independent Chamber Peer Selection Committee, finalists are notified. Award recipients are announced the night of the event, keeping finalists and attendees on the edge of their seats. We are thrilled to be able to formally acknowledge the positive impact that family businesses make in our community. Happy Nominating! Timeline: August 12th: Nominations Close September 5th: 3 Finalists are chosen & contacted October 4th: Finalist Reception October 19th: EPIC Awards Gala For more information, please visit the EPIC Awards page or email Aislinn Teachout, FBA Marketing & Events Coordinator, at aislinn@fbagr.org or Megan Steenwyk, Business Services Manager, at megan@grandrapids.org.

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Why Won't My Parents Retire and Let Me Run the Family Business

These issues and others can create barriers to planning for a transfer of the business to the next generation.

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Understanding the Key Transitions in the Family Business Life Cycle

Understanding the key stages of the family business in relation to ownership, leadership, and business.

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The Family Constitution: A Foundation for Family Alignment

Family constitutions (and similar documents referred to as “charters” or “protocols”) are often a centerpiece of family agreements and governance for mature family enterprises; yet, the purpose and origin of the constitution can be very different from family to family.

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Changing Disagreement into Dialogue: How to Manage Conflicts and Enhance Communication

Conflict is a natural component of family relationships, and it affects family enterprises in several ways. Many families benefit from the healthy expression of disagreement and managing conflict proactively. Still, others struggle with conflict that may originate from years before and continues to impede the family’s ability to make business decisions or enjoy their family relationships.

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Building Trust in Sibling and Cousin Partnerships: Moving from Partners of Chance to Partners of Choice

Family business expert Dana Telford will share his seven fundamental principles critical to evolving your partnership from one of biological chance to strategic choice. You’ll discover how to think objectively about where you might improve as a partner while also striving to identify and enhance these qualities in your family partners.

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Your 7-Step Plan for Creating Chaos in Your Family Business

If you have spent your career preparing to take over the family business, it can be frustrating to wait for the senior generation to decide that they are ready to retire.

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Rightsizing Risk Series: Creating Value for the Future

As the economy begins to emerge from beneath COVID-related restrictions, many uncertainties remain in the small business sector.

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Rightsizing Risk Series: Fraud in the Family Business

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners expects employee embezzlement to increase by 71 percent over the next 12 months. Is your business prepared? Kristen Spence, Fraud & Litigation Manager for Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, and Katy Felver, Business Advisor for Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, shared their advice for managing fraud risk.

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Leadership Skills that Deliver

Do you know who you really are? You better if you want to be an effective business leader. Self-awareness is crucial to leadership, says Rob Elliott, a partner in Pondera Leadership Consulting. He talked recently with Sheri Welsh for The Welsh Wire podcast, sponsored by the Family Business Alliance.

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The Secret to Effective Family Business Leadership

“You have to know who you are before you can lead effectively, and that’s really the core of it,” says Tom Emigh, Leadership Coach & Principal for Acorn Leadership. “Identity is about the question, who am I?” Emigh talked recently with Sheri Welsh for The Welsh Wire podcast, sponsored by the Family Business Alliance.

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