Loyola University Chicago

  5th Annual Conference:  Family Business Network USA

Thursday, April 23rd - Friday, April 24, 2009

Conrad Hotel - 521 North Rush Street, Chicago Illinois 60611 

The Conrad Chicago lies on the Magnificent Mile, just off Michigan Aveune, a prestigious location offering easy access to The Shops at North Bridge shopping corridor and adjacent to Nordstrom.

Rooms have been reserved at a special conference rate of $295 per night.  To reserve a room, please call 312-645-1500 and ask for the special Loyola/FBN Conference Rate.  You can also reserve a room by calling 312-915-6490.

This two-day conference hosted by the Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center - the U.S. chapter of the Family Business Network (FBN), the premier international network for business owning families - will focus on how families can create a vision for their  family and business that aligns ownership interests, builds stronger communication between family members, and articulates a viable strategy for the future of their organization.

Open exclusively to large and mid-sized family-owned businesses from across the globe, the conference will offer sessions on:

• New ways to look at leadership
• Aligning interests of family, management and ownership
• Tools for strategy development
• Creating a family continuity plan
• New developments in transitioning the business
• Family and business governance
• Engaging the next generation

FAMILY CASE STUDIES

CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Brochures & Pricing Structures

Non-Member

Member

Conference Attire: Casual business attire is appropriate for all conference programs.

Please review our agenda

julia Flynn Siler

Julia Flynn Siler is the author of The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, a New York Times bestseller , detailing the turmoil found within the Mondavi family’s wine empire. 

The blood feuds are as spectacular as the business triumphs. In the 1960s, Cesare's sons Robert and Peter, who together ran their family’s Charles Krug winery, literally came to blows during a dispute touched off by the purchase of a mink coat. Robert's subsequent exile resulted in his founding the Robert Mondavi Corporation—and setting off a revolution in American winemaking.

At times as impetuous as their visionary father Robert, Michael and Timothy for decades battled for control of the Robert Mondavi Corp. Michael's expansive ambitions eventually led to a board coup and a takeover by an international conglomerate, run by another American wine dynasty.

A meticulously reported narrative based on more than five hundred hours of interviews, The House of Mondavi is bound to become a classic of narrative nonfiction.

Julia Flynn Siler earned an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and holds degrees from both Columbia University and Brown University’s Graduate School of Journalism.  Julia has reported on regional and international business matters as correspondent for BusinessWeek, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. 

Keynote: House of Mondavi, Friday, April 25 2009

In her Keynote address, Julia Siler will explore some of the turmoil that beset the Mondavi family's wine empire, as detailed in her New York Times bestseller.

ANDREW RAZEGHI

 Andrew Razeghi is a best-selling author, adviser, and educator to organizations on growth strategy, creativity, and innovation. He is a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University where he teaches a popular course on innovation.

As an adviser, his works spans industries – from consumer products to media to professional sports teams. A few of his clients include Allstate, GE, PepsiCo, Televisa, and the country of Switzerland. Professor Razeghi’s work has been featured in a number of media outlets including BusinessWeek, CBS Interactive, China Daily, El Norte (Mexico), and Investor’s Business Daily.

He is the author of several articles and books including his most-recent book THE RIDDLE: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Betters Ones (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2008). THE RIDDLE was chosen by FAST COMPANY magazine as one of its “Smart Books of the Year”.

KEYNOTE: Innovating through recession: when the going gets tough, the tough get creative

Moments of economic turbulence provide the unique opportunity to start new businesses, launch distinctive new products, and strengthen customer loyalty - often at a discount.  During these challenging times, Professor Razeghi will offer a few pointers on what to do, why to do it, and what to avoid.  To quote Charles Dickens, Razeghi will offer a tribute to organizations who have successfully innovated through the "worst of times."  When the going gets tough, the tough get creative. 

LAIRD KOLDYKE

Laird Koldyke became Chairman of the Laird Norton Company Board of Directors in 2004. He is a partner at the Chicago-based investment firm Winona Capital Management, and director of Top Driver, as well as Laird Norton Company. Laird has served on the boards of numerous consumer companies, including: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Einstein’s Bagels, Wild Oats Markets, Home Fashions Inc., Marks Bros. Jewelers, and Leewards Crafts.

Laird holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a master’s degree from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Keynote: Tradition and Innovation: Friend or Foe?, Thursday, April 23 2009 

Founded in 1855 as a frontier logging operation, Laird Norton has grown into one of the longest-standing family enterprises in the western United States. The seventh-generation company, with more than 380 family members, encompasses diverse interests.

Building on its family integrity, inclusive culture and philanthropic spirit, Laird Norton has continued to thrive while managing change, making new investments and developing new operating companies. Laird Koldyke will discuss the decision to sell Laird Norton’s largest operating company, and how that decision may impact the family, the company and its shareholders.