Virtual Breakfast Series

Hear from seasoned professionals with this panelist series! Five times each year, family business members and service providers share their experiences on a variety of family business-related topics. You'll get a chance to interact with families who have been through some of the same experiences as you. All sessions are hosted on Zoom and provide an opportunity for breakout discussions and a Q&A with the panelists.

The Virtual Breakfast Series is free to families with a UNI Family Business Center membership. Prospective members are welcome to one free trial session. Register for the sessions below!

Family businesses can sometimes reach a crossroads for various reasons: economic, leadership, liquidity, next-generation, or succession and family challenges. The UNI Family Business Center is focused on keeping family businesses owned and operated by Iowa families. However, we recognize things change, often times out of our control, and appreciate the learning that can happen through the lens of another family’s experiences.

Mike Wells took the stage for the kickoff Virtual Breakfast Series of 2023-34, Wells Blue Bunny: The Story of a Legacy Family Business. He discussed how Wells Blue Bunny, the second-largest ice cream manufacturer in the country, made the decision to sell to the Italian-based Ferrero Group. Looking in the review mirror can help others look at their own business families and use the lessons the Wells family has learned course of 109 years.

Leaders of some of the most successful family businesses credit creating a Board with independent directors as one of the instrumental turning points for their family businesses. Laura Neiman, president and CEO of Neiman Brothers Company, and Dennis Kessler of Midwest Family Business Advisors, took center stage for this virtual panel. They discussed their points of view on different stages in the process of developing and managing a board of independents for their family businesses. Better performance that is a benefit of designing a board with independent directors helps families build wealth inside and outside the business, contribute to their community and causes that are important to all ages and stages of the family.

Family businesses are loyal to the product that they were founded on. But, when you get multiple generations down the family tree, there's not always room in the business or interest in the roles available for upcoming generations. Is it possible to branch out and create a new venture that's different than your existing legacy business? Matthew Cathy has done just that.

We welcome Matthew to the virtual stage on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 8 a.m. CST, to share his experience growing up in the famous family of Chick-fil-A and now leading his own venture, Clayton Fixture, which creates cabinets and fixtures for the restaurant industry.

Matthew is the youngest member of the third generation in the Cathy family, son of Bubba and Cindy Cathy. Under Matthew’s leadership, Clayton's Fixture has grown tremendously. Despite running his own successful business, he is one of the most engaged Chick-fil-A Ambassadors. He attends and facilitates events for team members, operators, and CFA staff, and he serves and contributes to the Family Council. Matthew serves on several nonprofit boards as well, with a particular passion for WinShape Homes, which is dedicated to care and love of foster children.

The perfect time to tackle estate planning is before your family starts a transition of leadership. Join Steve Wells, founding partner of American Food & Vending Corporation, for the next installment of the Virtual Breakfast Series on March 28, 2024: Estate Planning: Steering Early to Avoid Pot Holes Later.