Past Events

April 16, 2024 | In-person

Charting a Course for Family Business Legal Leadership

Families and their trusted advisors, including their in-house or outside legal counsel, attended our legal counsel event at Katten’s Chicago office.

April 10, 2024 | Online

From Family-Owned to Employee-Owned

Explore transitioning your family business to an ESOP with insights on incentives, community benefits, hurdles, processes, team requirements, and family involvement strategies from experts and experienced owners to guide your decision-making effectively.

February 29, 2024 | In-person

Women in Family Business

Our annual event designed exclusively for women in family business, including family members, non-family executives, board members, and facilitators.

February 22, 2024 | Online

Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention

Insights on how to assess the risk landscape and important actions you can take to proactively safeguard your family business.

January 30 or 31, 2024 | In-person

Economic Outlook for Family Business

Our annual economic outlook event empowered attendees with knowledge and foresight tailored exclusively for family businesses.

January 10, 2024 | Online

Integrating Non-Family Execs Into Your Family Business

This interactive workshop aimed to equip family business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively lead their business and harness the potential of non-family executives for lasting success.

November 21, 2023 | Online

Family Business Connect

Our virtual end-of-year toast brought together fellow family business community members.

November 16, 2023 | In-person

CFO Roundtable Luncheon

An exclusive luncheon for family business CFOs.

October 19, 2023 | In-person

Quad Cities Happy Hour

An intimate gathering of family business members from the Quad Cities area.

September 28, 2023

Rethinking ESG in Family Business

BDO's Managing Partner of Sustainability and ESG, Christopher Tower explored ESG through the lens of family business and led a panel discussion.

July 26, 2023

Summer Member Social

This fun-filled summer evening gives members a chance to catch up with other Family Business Center members.

June 22, 2023

Family Business General Counsel Seminar

Our strategic partner Katten delivered this continuing legal education program designed for those in family business.

June 6, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (CT)

Managing Enterprise Risk: Top Priorities for Family Boards

Managing risk is a serious concern and top priority for family businesses and their boards. This webinar explored the top trends as well as ways families and their boards can support the business and effectively navigate through times of turbulence.

April 21, 2023

Adventures in Family Business

This half a day event at Crust Brewing in Rosemont included an estate planning presentation, an adaptability workshop, and networking with peer advisory group members over lunch.

April 13, 2023

Spring Webinar

Mark Biegel and Matt Gotlin from BDO discuss why the policies to fight inflation have ignited new problems, as well as created new opportunities.

February 23, 2023

Women in Family Business

Our annual Women in Family Business event was back in person in 2023! We enjoyed an evening of drinks, dinner, delightful conversation... and bocce!

September 20, 2022

The Thing About Family Business is... the Family!

A virtual conversation with Dr. Edward Monte, who shares his most valued takeaways from a long career working closely with families in business.

August 9, 2022

Leading with Values

A special in-person gathering, featuring Heroes from our 2022 Family Business Heroes Campaign.

March 24, 2022

ESG and Your Family Business

BDO's Christopher Tower shared the practical and powerful business case for adopting an ESG strategy.

March 1, 2022

Family Foundations

Laura Coy, Head of Philanthropy, Strategy, and ESG Integration at William Blair and VP of William Blair & Company Foundation, shared her fresh and enterprising take on family foundations.

February 24, 2022

Women in Family Business

An evening of drinks, dinner, and delightful conversation with Meghan Juday, Chair of the Board of IDEAL Industries.

January 21, 2022

Michael Gregory, Managing Director at BMO, returns to share his team’s projections for the first quarter of the year. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about impacts from inflation, wages, supply chain, the markets and taxes.

June 7, 2021

Economic trends 2021. Where we are. Where we are going.

Michael Gregory of BMO Capital Markets discusses the current economic state coming out of the pandemic, and the economic trends he's seeing for the next year.

November 12, 2020

Adapting at the Speed of Change

Global futurist, Anders Sörman-Nilsson shares his energizing view of business adaptation, innovation and transformation.

September 22, 2020

Economic Predictions for Family Businesses

Experts from BMO Harris share scenario planning ideas based on two different election outcomes and thoughts about the expected duration of the economic impacts of the pandemic.

September 2, 2020

Crossing the Crisis: Common and Best Practices in Family Business: COVID-19

Gain insights from the latest research based on 1000 family businesses from around the world. Learn about the practices that they are adopting in response to COVID-19 and what they are doing to prepare for future crises.

July 28, 2020

Responding to Racism and Social Injustice

An intimate discussion about how family businesses can respond authentically to issues around racism and social injustice.

July 16, 2020

Main Street Lending: The Next Frontier

Guest expert Dan Murphy of BMO Harris discusses the Main Street Lending Program—a key component of the federal government's response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 24, 2020

Leveraging Your Family Business Board in Times of Crisis

A practical guide to leveraging your board amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Featuring family business thought leaders Andrew Keyt and Joe Astrachan.

February 13, 2020

Women in Family Business

This annual event gives women from various generations and family businesses the chance to connect, network, and learn, all while enjoying an evening of dinner, cocktails, and conversations.

September 26, 2019

Learning Journey at Gold Eagle

Gold Eagle hosted an on-site Learning Journey for members of the Family Business Center.

July 23, 2019

Family Business Center Member Social

FBC Members Bob and Mary Buddig of Carl Buddig and Company opened up their home to host this year's annual event.

June 2019

Strategies for Monetizing Private Shares Without Losing Control

Special guests Stephanie Van Vlerah and Laura Clark of Oxford Financial share their expertise on liquidity options for family businesses and their shareholders.

March 27, 2019

Family Business Movie Night: Taking Stock

A special screening of Taking Stock, an award-winning documentary that shares the story of two men and the complications they face in the business of family.

March 7, 2019

Spring Conference: Marketing the Family Brand

Conference attendees met the Smithe sisters from Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design and heard what it's been like to take on leadership roles in the company founded by their great-grandfather in 1945.

February 7, 2019

Women in Family Business

Now in it's 6th year, our annual Women's Networking event is designed to teach, build community, and promote togetherness.

September 27, 2018

Family Business Conference: Crisis Recovery

At this conference, attendees took home practical strategies that will help your family business prepare for the unpredictable.

July 19-20, 2018

FBC Young Adult Family Business Camp 2018

A two-day journey that deepened knowledge of yourself, your family, and family business.

July 18, 2018

Family Business Center Member Social

A summer social for the whole family.

March 22, 2018

Leadership, Culture, and Performance

This immersive conference provided hands-on opportunities to explore the attendees leadership skills, values, and behaviors and evaluate their family business culture.

February 15, 2018

Women in Family Business

Attendees got inspired and met women from various family businesses while enjoying an elegant evening of dinner, cocktails, and conversation.