The Network of Family Businesses continues to grow with multi-generational families joining; the Myers Family, publishing family of Highlights for Children and The Clemens Family, of Hatfield, Inc. Family businesses are the very fabric of global economies and their success is vital to any economic recovery. In the turmoil of today’s economic environment Family Business Leaders desire to network with advisors, colleagues, and friends to preserve their family and their families’ business legacy and provide additional resources to their family members.
Highlights for Children began with a vision—the vision of what a magazine for children should be. The founders, Dr. Garry Cleveland Myers and his wife Caroline Clark Myers, had a lifetime of experience teaching children and adults to read and write. Today, with five generations and 70 family members the commitment to the founders’ vision remains the same, to provide quality content for children. “The one thing I've discovered about our family ownership is that it's a journey with no end. As a family business, we don't want the journey to end; we want to keep it alive for generations to come. As we evolve as a group, our needs change, our business and family become more complicated, and we need to be able to tackle issues as they arise. There is no steady state. I'm encouraged that the Network of Family Businesses will give us some of the resources and network we need to continue our journey.” George Brown, fourth generation.
The Clemens Family, family business dates back to 1895 and today has 229 family shareholders that span from the 2nd generation to the 6th generation, and employs 21 family members in the business from the 3rd to the 5th generation. “Learning about Family Business issues in the 21st century is more than just reading a book or joining an Affinity group. You need new ways and new methods to get new ideas.” Philip A. Clemens, third generation and Chairman / CEO Clemens Family Corporation.
Family leaders frequently feel isolated as they face the issues of transferring the business to the next generation, building family unity, and growing the business. However, family business leaders are learning they need not walk this journey alone. The Network of Family Businesses provides a global, on-line business network for families in business. This network has key capabilities like social networks but with a Family Business twist and an educational component. Family Business Leaders are able to network with advisors, colleagues, and friends to preserve their family and their families’ business legacy. In addition, these leaders can learn from monthly educational seminars and tap into a variety of on-line articles and materials. The website www.netfamilybusiness.com provides a public on-line forum for dialoging with other families in business as well as confidential on-line forums to discuss critical questions families in business face.
