Education

Optimizing Talent in an Age of Uncertainty In an era of relentless economic uncertainty, talent shortages, and generational transitions, Central Ohio family businesses can’t afford to treat people as just another expense—they are your greatest competitive advantage and the key to preserving your legacy. Join John Broer of Real Good Ventures for practical, family-business-specific strategies to attract, retain, and develop the right people, turn workforce challenges into growth drivers, and build a resilient organization that thrives no matter what the economy throws at you. Discover how to solve today’s hiring and retention challenges while preparing the next generation of leaders—so your family business doesn’t just survive the next decade, it leads it. ... read more

Most family businesses treat strategy as an event — a once-a-year offsite, a binder that gets filed away, a conversation that resurfaces only when something goes wrong. But strategy isn't a document. It's a discipline. And like any muscle, it atrophies without regular use. In this practical session, Brian Zuercher, Co-Founder of Northbound Group, will show family business leaders how to move strategic thinking out of the annual retreat and into the regular rhythm of running the company. Rather than another framework to file away, this session will focus on building the habits, cadence, and decision-making structures that keep strategy alive between offsites — so it actually shapes what the business does next. Attendees will learn how to: Shift strategy from an annual event to an ongoing leadership discipline. Build a simple cadence for revisiting and adjusting strategic priorities throughout the year. Involve the right mix of family and non-family leaders in strategic conversations without losing speed or alignment. Turn strategic intent into decisions the team can actually execute — not just talk about. ... read more

Got HR questions? Bring them. This candid, peer-driven roundtable gives you a rare opportunity to ask the things you've been wondering about - out loud, in a safe space with fellow family business owners and leaders who are navigating the same issues. Sharon DeLay, President of GO-HR and longtime Conway Center member, will facilitate the conversation and bring her frontline expertise navigating the HR challenges family businesses face every day. Whether you're wrestling with compliance, employee relations, recruiting, or policy decisions, Sharon creates an environment where no question is too basic and no challenge is off the table (as long as it's HR-related!). Come prepared with your real questions — and leave with practical insights, fresh perspective, and a few ideas you can actually put to work. Don't miss this in-person chance to dig in, engage with peers, and get the kind of guidance that only comes from experience. ... read more