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46. Episode 46: The Big Move From G1 to G2 | A Complicated Founder-Son Relationship | Evolving Without Abandoning Values
49:12||Ep. 46In this episode, we sit down with two generations of leadership at Total Office Solutions, a family-owned provider of comprehensive office services from workplace planning, furnishing, and technology to moving and decommissioning. Sisters Amy Monette Linton, who serves as chief operating officer, and Megan Monette-McDaniel, who serves as vice president of national accounts, as well as with their mother, Linda Monette, co-founder and co-principal of the company, discuss the ongoing transition from G1 to G2 and their approach to growing a business that has employed generations of multiple families aside from their own.In addition, this episode features more of our interview with David Kolbe and Amy Bruske, step-siblings and G2 leaders of Kolbe Corp., a behavioral assessment company built by the descendants of Eldon Wonderlic, creator of the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. They discuss what makes their co-leadership dynamic work.This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Travis Hollman, G2 CEO of Hollman Inc., the world’s largest locker manufacturer whose clients include the major pro sports leagues, Apple and Nike. Hollman (who some listeners might know as the husband of “The Real Housewives of Dallas” alum Stephanie Hollman). He talks more about his difficult journey taking over from his brilliant but complicated founder-father and discusses what he envisions for the future of the family business.
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45. Episode 45: Getting ‘Real’ About Working With Family | The Human Side of Succession | Investing With Purpose and Passion
41:34||Ep. 45In this episode, we sit down with Travis Hollman, G2 CEO of Hollman Inc., the world's largest locker manufacturer whose clients include the major pro sports leagues, Apple and Nike. Hollman (who some listeners might know as the husband of “The Real Housewives of Dallas” alum Stephanie Hollman) shares how he helped transform the business his father built into a global leader in the space. He also opens up about the often harsh realities of working alongside a larger-than-life founder. We also interview David Kolbe and Amy Bruske, step-siblings and G2 leaders of Kolbe Corp., a behavioral assessment company built by the descendants of Eldon Wonderlic, creator of the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. They discuss the company's roots, lessons learned from founder Kathy Kolbe (David’s mother and Amy’s stepmother) and how a carefully planned leadership transition helped the company continue its mission following her passing. And in Part 2 of our conversation with single-family office founder Ross Lazaroo-Hood, we explore how passion, purpose and impact shape both his investment philosophy and his philanthropic focus.44. Episode 44: How One Family Office Finds Hungry Founders | Leading with Values at Lundberg | Cars, Computers and Culture
35:14||Ep. 44In this episode, Ross Lazaroo-Hood, leader of the Lazaroo-Hood Group, explains how his family office backs founder-led businesses by investing not just in ideas, but in the resilience, hunger and character of the people behind them. We also hear more from Lundberg Family Farms' new CEO Suzanne Sengelmann, who discusses leading the multigenerational family business through its next chapter while balancing sustainability, regenerative farming and the expectations of 43 family shareholders. In addition, this episode features part 2 of our conversation with Rich and Brian Rogenski of second-generation Legacy Tire & Auto Repair, who talk about adapting to increasingly high-tech vehicles while maintaining a culture built on transparency and trust.43. Episode 43: An Unexpected but Prepared CEO Succession | Rebuilding a 'Legacy' Auto Business | G4 Ventures Beyond Traditional Banking
31:29||Ep. 43In this episode, Suzanne Sengelmann, the new CEO of Lundberg Family Farms, talks about how experiences both inside and outside the company prepared her to step into the top role somewhat unexpectedly. This episode also features part 1 of our conversation with Rich and Brian Rogenski of Youngstown, Ohio-based Legacy Tire & Auto Repair, who discuss rebuilding a family business after splitting from a previous venture, bringing the next generation into leadership and balancing old-school instincts with new ideas and technology investments. We also continue our conversation with Peter Stenehjem, G4 CEO of Watford City, North Dakota-based First International Bank & Trust. Peter discusses the leadership transition at FIBT, the family’s decision to appoint a next-generation family member as CEO and how the bank’s western North Dakota roots continue to shape its culture more than a century after its founding. He also explains why the family has expanded beyond traditional banking into other entrepreneurial ventures.42. Episode 42: Four Generations of Family Banking | Scaling a Sustainable Startup | Are You Ready to Lead?
36:08||Ep. 42In this episode, Peter Stenehjem, CEO of First International Bank & Trust, reflects on leading a fourth-generation, $6 billion family bank founded in 1910. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Brent Thomas of Tepi Naturals, who talks more about building a family-owned natural skincare business from the ground up and gives his perspective on scaling the business while maintaining quality, sustainability and long-term family ownership. In addition, we chat with Jamie Shah, G2 president of Chem-Impex and an adjunct faculty member at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, about the latest entry in her “For What It’s Worth” advice column. She discusses how NextGen leaders can determine if they’re ready to step into leadership roles within their family enterprises. Need some guidance on a family business issue? You can anonymously submit a question to Jamie right here.41. Episode 41: A Reverse-Engineered Family Startup | Growing Into Leadership Together | Rules for Better Family Meetings
47:40||Ep. 41In this episode, Brent Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Tepi Naturals, shares the company’s unconventional founding story of a son-led startup-turned-multigenerational family business. Thomas discusses how the family turned a discarded coffee byproduct into a skincare business built on shared purpose and complementary strengths. We also hear more from sibling co-leaders Micaela Tuohey-McDonald, Sean Tuohey and Mary Tuohey-Fahy of The Collins Companies, who reflect on growing into their roles with the help of mentorship from family and non-family leaders, building trust across the organization and preserving culture as they grow the business. This episode also features a conversation with Contributing Editor Dennis Jaffe, who discusses how families can run more effective meetings by focusing not just on what they talk about, but how they communicate.40. Episode 40: A 15-Year Succession Plan | 4 Generations of Father-Son Leadership | Moving a Transportation Business Forward
36:30||Ep. 40In this episode, Kala Tuohey-McDonald, Sean Tuohey and Mary Tuohey-Fahy discuss the next-generation leadership transition at The Collins Companies, a family-owned industrial distributor of pipe, valves and fittings and engineered specialties with more than a century of history. The siblings reflect on the 15-year succession planning process that culminated in them taking over for their father, how they divided leadership responsibilities based on their strengths and what it means to step into executive roles together after initially resisting the idea of joining the family business. This episode also features more of our conversation with Mitchell Kaneff and his sons Josh and Max of fourth-generation luxury packaging company Arkay, who talk more about their own succession plan. We also continue our conversation with Heath Ochroch, president of Werner Bus Lines, who discusses modernizing the transportation business while honoring his dad's legacy.