CORVALLIS, Ore. - Most businesses in Oregon - and the nation - are family-owned or managed, and the unique challenges these companies face are the focus of the 2006 Austin Family Business Program May 9-10 at Oregon State University.
OSU's Austin Family Business Program has established itself as a national leader in working with family businesses and this annual conference brings together top professionals and business owners and managers who will explore issues ranging from succession to risk management.
"The mingling of family issues with business issues requires constant attention and most importantly, clear communication," said Mark Green, director of the Austin Family Business Program. "The family businesses that acknowledge these challenges and work through their issues are more likely to survive and prosper than those that don't."
The conference will be held at OSU's CH2M-Hill Alumni Center. Registration information is available online at: http://www.familybusinessonline.org/programs/afbc/default.aspx
Sessions for the conference include:
"Thriving Theatre!" - An improvisational interpretation of typical family business situations that have gone awry.
"Herding Cats and Sleeping Dogs: Tools for Managing Your Intangible Assets," led by Joe Paul of the Aspen Family Business Group in Portland.
"The Ultimate Challenge of Living, Working and Loving Together: Exploring the Couple-led Family Business," by Mark Green, director of OSU's Austin Family Business Program.
"Family Negotiations Don't Have to be the Hardest Negotiations," by Bryan Johnston, a former state representative and interim president of Willamette University, now a family business consultant.
"What's in a Name? Family Name, Equity and Multigenerational Growth," by Katherine Cleland and David Persohn, the respective heads of Cleland Marketing and David Persohn Consulting in Corvallis.
"When Women Lead in Family Businesses: Similarities, Differences, Challenges, Opportunities," a panel discussion of women in family businesses, facilitated by Patricia Frishkoff, founder of the Austin Family Business Program at OSU.
"Preparing for Disaster: A Practical Introduction to Risk Control, Network Protections and Crisis Communication," facilitated by Dave DeLap, a financial consultant with DeLap White Caldwell & Croy LLP in Lake Oswego.
"Strategies for Employing Family Members," facilitated by Jim Baumgartner, of Black Helterline, LLP in Portland.
"GenderSmart: Improving Workplace Communication Between Men and Women," by Jane Sanders, founder and president of Authentic Leadership Resources in Malibu, Calif.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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