Ascendants

Chris Kaspar is the founder of Techless and creator of Wisephone, a minimalist phone for families and digital minimalists. Before starting a variety of different start ups Chris worked with his family company, Kaspar Companies.  Kaspar Companies is a diversified 5th generation family business founded by his great-great grandfather in 1898. 

Claiborne Haw is currently working with Blue Trust as a family legacy advisor in Atlanta, Georgia. Claiborne’s family has been stewarding a multi generational rock aggregate mining and production company.  

Tom Lernihan is the chief investor for His Fund, a family owned faith driven fund that strategically invests to generates employment opportunities for those in poverty while addressing the world’s greatest social concerns.  Tom and his family are some of the most prominent leaders in the faith driven investing space, and are commonly referred to as thought leaders.  

Ian Strommen is a 4th generation member of his family business, Process Displays.  Process Displays is a retail displays designer and manufacturer working with many of the largest brands in the world. Ian is currently the director of research and development where he focuses on where is focuses on driving the future of the retail experience.  Ian recently married Leigha Coors and they live together in Minnesota. 

Hank Bowen works on the investor relations team at Sovereigns Capital, a faith driven asset management firm operating across private equity, venture capital, real estate, public markets, and fund of funds. Hank lives in Franklin Tennessee with his wife and two kids. 

Today we welcome Rose Shoen: granddaughter of the founder of U-Haul, soccer coach, and accomplished athlete. She has devoted much of her life to the question, “How do we provide access to soccer at any income level?” Discover her three t’s and how they inform her coaching business, how she translated her experience working for her family to coaching Spanish-speaking kids’ soccer, and her advocation of “sustainable philanthropy” through the combination of “public” resources and “private” knowledge.

This week’s guest is Caleb Tannehill. Caleb, a Gen-5, openly shares his family history dating back to the late nineteenth century and his mission to develop multi-generational family cohesion. Discover his efforts to engage his family 365 days a year, what he tells quarrelling family members, and how he strives to prevent family issues from becoming corporate issues with a “family constitution.”

Second-generation philanthropist Logan Angel joins Kate and Parker today to discuss a value near and dear to her heart: generosity. Discover how she became inspired to make her family’s foundation her life’s work, how she handled her family’s transition to wealth, and how she stepped out of fear and isolation to embrace her identity.

Welcome to Season 2 of Ascendants! In our first episode of the season, we speak with Muhammad (Mo) Amdani: general partner at Adapt Ventures and a Gen-2 member of GK. Discover the impact of growing up around his family business in Miami and Dubai, why competition between him and his siblings allowed him to thrive, and the value instilled in him by his father that he treasures most.

In the final episode of the season, Kate and Parker sit down with their good friend Mikey: entrepreneur, youth pastor, and co-founder with his father of Restoration Apparel. Discover the importance of treating workers with dignity, how his father’s love for entrepreneurship (including selling grass seed, of all things) inspired and planted deep roots in Mikey, and what it means to be a “horizon painter.”