Nov 17, 2021

UNI Family Business Program supports Iowa’s family businesses

While every business faces challenges, the benefits and importance of family businesses networking together are clear. Family businesses are different because of the unique challenges during their start up, and those which continue through the life of the business.

The focus of UNI’s Advance Iowa Family Business Forum is to create a community of family businesses that will have the ability to learn about business governance, continuity, strategic planning, leadership transition and growth together.

Last week, the UNI Family Business Program held the first of what will be an annual event, the 2021 UNI Family Business Conference. It was held at EFCO Corporation in Des Moines and presented by BrownWinick Law Firm.

Created in 2018, the UNI Family Business Program is now a standalone program within UNI’s Business and Community Services with staff dedicated to this unique and important business sector. The program provides consulting, peer learning, events, programming, and networking opportunities to strengthen Iowa’s family-owned businesses.

Featured keynote addresses at the conference included Craig Culver, chief executive officer and chairman of the board for Culver’s Restaurants, and Tom Hubler, chief executive officer of Hubler for Business Families, Inc.

Over 130 Iowa family business members attended breakout sessions led by Culver, Hubler, and eight other experts who work in family businesses like Vermeer Corporation, R&R Realty Group, Weiler, United Equipment Accessories, and Todd & Sargent. The Family Business Program also chose family-owned vendors to support the event with promotional items, printing needs and catering.

More information about the program can be found here.