Anne Smart is a former family business center director and has continued to support family-owned enterprises as an advisor at Generation6. Anne and Dan talk about well-performing family businesses and how Anne would advise families on the soft skills that are so important to a family business.

What does it mean to plan for a sale? What are the advantages in running a business like you're selling it? Andy Swanson and Maxwell Youngquist from RSM give a preview of this topic, which they'll do a deep-dive into at the UNI Family Business Conference on Nov. 2, 2023.

On this episode, Dan talks with Jerry Foster, the founder and former CEO of Foster Group in Des Moines. Jerry recently led a workshop for our legacy group about this concept of the third phase of life. What does retirement look like? How do you let go of a business you’ve worked hard to build? Keep listening as Dan and Jerry explore these questions.

We're thrilled to welcome Jane Blain Gilbertson and Sarah Gilbertson to the podcast! Jane is president, CEO and owner of the Blain's Farm & Fleet empire. Sarah, her daughter, is also in the business. The pair discuss their paths to joining the family business, the importance of a next generation, outside work experience and much more.

Listen in to learn more, and then register to hear from them directly at the 2023 Iowa Family Business Conference on Nov. 2, as they're providing the keynote presentation.

Martha Sullivan with the Family Business Consulting Group has insights for us today. She chats with Dan about growing your business longterm and keeping people happy in the short term—an especially tricky balance in a family business. Tune in to hear this conversation about family business best practices!

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

In this episode of Never Go Against the Family, Dan talks with Mike Wells, retired CEO of Wells Enterprises. You might recognize them from their iconic Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Recently, this Le Mars, Iowa, family business made the decision to sell. Dan and Mike chat about some of the decision-making process.

To hear more from Mike Wells and ask your own questions, tune into the Virtual Breakfast Series featuring Mike Wells on Thursday, Aug. 24. Register now!

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

In this episode, we’re jumping into the middle of a conversation between Dan and Maxwell Youngquist. Maxwell is part of RSM’s family office enterprise practice and has worked for and with many family businesses. We start the conversation today about succession and then dive into governance strategies that family businesses can employ to see the most success for both the business and the family. Keep listening to hear their conversation.

RSM is a Founding Partner of the UNI Family Family Business Center.

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

Rebecca Zabel is a business development manager for Trusted Family, which helps family-owned businesses with technology solutions. She and Dan dive deep into the power of peer learning and how a family-owned firm has challenges that are different from other privately-held businesses.

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

Jody Schulte is a fifth-generation family member and marketing manager at Jefferson Telecom in Jefferson, Iowa. She and Dan discuss her experience of finding her place in the family businesses, the pressures of succession, a board training program and more.

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.

Iowa State Senator Adrian Dickey is president and a third-generation family member of Dickey Transport out of Packwood, Iowa. Adrian shares his advice for Iowa families, touching on his experience inheriting leadership and surviving the transition between generations.

The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps toward success at https://unifamilybusinesscenter.com.