Past Events
Revisit past events below or browse our webinars to watch our virtual gatherings.

February 6, 2025 | Online
AI for Family Business
Kirstie Tiernan, BDO’s Digital Market Leader, shared insights on AI trends and strategies for family businesses.
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January 29, 2025 | In-Person
Economic Outlook Breakfast
Join us for our annual economic outlook event, designed to equip family businesses with insights and foresight for the year ahead. Enjoy breakfast at Gibsons in Oak Brook.
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January 7, 2025 | Online
Virtual Ideas Fair
A fast-paced, round-robin exchange of innovative ideas for family businesses and beyond.
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October 30, 2024 | In-person
Legacy of Trust
Accelerate your business growth, build your legacy, and engage next-gen leaders with actionable strategies at this daylong event.
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July 31, 2024 | In-person
Family Summer Social
A memorable summer evening for all ages, filled with food, drink, fun, and bite-sized learning sessions for your entire family.
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July 10, 2024 | Online
Navigating Leadership Blindspots
This virtual workshop gave attendees the opportunity to explore the power of polarity thinking, unlock leadership potential, and navigate blind spots with confidence and effectiveness.
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June 6, 2024 | In-person
Government Impact on Family Business
Guests gathered for lunch to learn about the latest developments in Washington, DC and their impact on family businesses.
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June 4, 2024
Chicago Family Office & High Net Worth Annual Conference
The Family Business Center participated in a panel discussion during this year's conference at the University Club of Chicago.
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May 8, 2024 | Online
KPI Creation Workshop for Family Business
How is your business measuring its success? This interactive workshop explored key performance indicators (KPIs) for family business.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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November 21, 2023 | Online
Family Business Connect
Our virtual end-of-year toast brought together fellow family business community members.
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November 16, 2023 | In-person
CFO Roundtable Luncheon
An exclusive luncheon for family business CFOs.
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October 19, 2023 | In-person
Quad Cities Happy Hour
An intimate gathering of family business members from the Quad Cities area.
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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.
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July 26, 2023
Summer Member Social
This fun-filled summer evening gives members a chance to catch up with other Family Business Center members.
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June 22, 2023
Family Business General Counsel Seminar
Our strategic partner Katten delivered this continuing legal education program designed for those in family business.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
WATCH
August 9, 2022
Leading with Values
A special in-person gathering, featuring Heroes from our 2022 Family Business Heroes Campaign.
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March 24, 2022
ESG and Your Family Business
BDO's Christopher Tower shared the practical and powerful business case for adopting an ESG strategy.
WATCH VIDEO
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.
WATCH VIDEO
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.
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January 21, 2022
Economic Trends 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.
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November 12, 2020
Adapting at the Speed of Change
Global futurist, Anders Sörman-Nilsson shares his energizing view of business adaptation, innovation and transformation.
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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.
WATCH
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.
WATCH
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.
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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.
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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.
WATCH
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.
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September 26, 2019
Learning Journey at Gold Eagle
Gold Eagle hosted an on-site Learning Journey for members of the Family Business Center.
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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.
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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.
WATCH
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
WATCH VIDEO
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.
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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.
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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.
READ MORERevisit past events below or browse our webinars to watch our virtual gatherings.