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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University's Austin Family Business Program will launch a series of monthly workshops for family businesses in Portland. The first session, "Family Policies Today Help Family Business Tomorrow," will be held Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the Governor Hotel (614 S.W. 11th Ave.).

This new "Business for Breakfast" series will address fundamental aspects of running a family business.

"The family business community is ready to come together and examine some key management and governance issues in running a family business," said Sherri Noxel, interim director of the Austin Family Business Program. "This series will be the beginning of extensive programming addressing more advanced family business issues in the future."

The series will feature networking and in-depth discussions with experienced advisers and each session will be facilitated by an Austin Family Business Program board member. Participants will learn about new resources available to help businesses and gain perspectives on issues such as governance, leadership and finances.

All sessions are from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and include breakfast. The cost is $30 per session or $100 for the entire series of four topics. For tickets or information, call 800-859-7609 or http://familybusinessonline.org.

The Feb. 9 session will be facilitated by Clint Bentz, a member with Boldt, Carlisle & Smith, a full-service CPA firm with offices located in Albany, Salem and Stayton.

The speakers are June Wiyrick Flores of Ater Wynne LLP and Terri Bennink of Columbia Leadership Institute. Flores is an attorney who works with families and businesses to develop and implement succession strategies. She is also experienced in estate and trust administration. Bennink is an organizational development consultant who specializes in assisting and advising family businesses.

Noxel said many family business owners have expressed that a common barrier to improving their business was the lack of written policies and agreements. The development of agreements help families connect and strengthen their shared understanding of core issues in the family and the business. This session will facilitate an extensive discussion to help family business leaders discover how policies such as family employment and compensation and family charters are being used to strengthen today's family businesses.

The rest of the Business for Breakfast series includes:

March 10:

Topic: "Family Business Boards and Advisors: Outside Directors Bring Insight." Facilitator: Mark Kralj, Ferguson Wellman; Speakers: Mike Henningsen, Henningsen Cold Storage, and Richard Simmonds, Simmonds Associates. Location: Tonkon Torp., 888 SW 5th Ave., Portland;

April 13:

Topic: "Family Business Banking for Long-Term Success." Facilitator: Kay Abramowitz, Ater Wynne LLP. Speakers: Justus Poling, Umpqua Bank, and Leif Hansen, Leif's Auto Collision Centers. Location: Governor Hotel;

May 10:

Topic: "Family Business Tax Matters in 2011." Facilitator: Ken Madden, Madden Industrial Craftsmen. Speaker: Gwen Griffith, Tonkon Torp, LLP. Location: Tonkon Torp.