Family Business/Business Family

In 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.

In 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.

In 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. 

In this episode, Mitchell Kaneff, the third-generation chairman and CEO of premium packaging company Arkay, and his sons Josh and Max, discuss the evolution of the company and its approach to succession. Also in this episode, Heath Ochroch, president of Werner Bus Lines, reflects on the history of the business and stepping into leadership after his father’s passing. In addition, this episode features Part 2 of our conversation with Ed Dikes, founder of Weston Jewelers, and his daughter Danni Dikes, who discuss growing the business while preserving its family-centered customer experience.

In this episode, father and daughter Ed and Danni Dikes, of Florida-based Weston Jewelers, discuss growing their second-generation company from a 1,000-square-foot store in 2001 to a multi-location luxury brand preparing to open a 40,000-square-foot flagship on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Clarissa Surianello, third-generation president of Surianello Concrete, who reflects on stepping into ownership without a formal roadmap, modernizing operations while honoring craftsmanship and defining success. Also in this episode, we hear more from Kristin Anthony and her father, M. Pope Anthony Jr., of Anthony’s Ladies Apparel, who discuss a culture built on one simple principle: “It’s nice to be nice.”

In this episode, Kristin Anthony and her father, M. Pope Anthony Jr., of Anthony’s Ladies Apparel trace their family’s retail roots to 1895 and discuss balancing a brick-and-mortar legacy with a growing e-commerce business. Clarissa Surianello, third-generation president of construction company Surianello Concrete, shares how hands-on experience shaped her leadership as she modernizes operations while protecting the company’s legacy. And in part 2 of our discussion with Michael LaVecchia and Danielle Rauso of LaMonica Fine Foods, they discuss how transparency, strong supplier relationships and generational adaptability help sustain one of the country’s last independent clam processors for the future.

In this episode, Michael LaVecchia, vice president, operations at fourth-generation LaMonica Fine Foods, and Danielle Rauso, his niece and sales manager at LaMonica, trace their family seafood business from a Brooklyn fish store founded in 1923 to a multigenerational operation in New Jersey that remains one of the last independent clam processors in the country. They also discuss how they’re preparing both family and non-family stakeholders for the future.This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with John and Joe Gaither, brothers and co-leaders of second-generation performance sock brand Feetures. They discuss how their family’s entrepreneurial roots, as well as community roots, have shaped the brand.In addition, we continue our conversation with Matthew Powell, fourth-generation CEO of safety and security service provider Century Companies. Matthew explains how the principles of stewardship, humanity and compounding have guided his family enterprise. To hear more from Matthew on these topics, subscribe to his free newsetter, "The Steward's Journal." 

In this episode, brothers John and Joe Gaither, second-generation leaders of premium performance sock maker Feetures, reflect on building a brand out of a legacy of family entrepreneurship. This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with Port Blakely’s newly installed CEO Mike Warjone and his cousin, Chairman and outgoing CEO René Ancinas, who delve deeper into their succession process and their vision for the future of the company. We’re also joined by returning guest Jamie Shah, second-generation president of Chem-Impex and a Polsky Center entrepreneur in residence at the University of Chicago. She joins us to discuss an exciting new advice column she’s launching here at Family Business Magazine. Need some guidance on a family business issue? You can anonymously submit a question to Jamie right here.

In this episode, Port Blakely’s newly installed CEO Mike Warjone and his cousin, Chairman and outgoing CEO René Ancinas, discuss the carefully planned leadership transition at the company that became official at the end of 2025.This episode also features part 2 of our conversation with fifth-generation co-presidents Jeannie Cullen Schultz and George Cullen of JP Cullen, who explain how a “field-first” mindset, people-centered leadership and clear expectations across the 133-year-old construction business have helped preserve the company’s culture and values as it has scaled.Also in this episode, Pat Soldano, president of Family Enterprise USA and a contributing author to Family Business Magazine, makes a compelling case for why family business owners must advocate for themselves with lawmakers.