The Third Layer

In this episode of The Third Layer, host Marshall speaks with Sena Wheeler, co-founder of Sena Sea, about navigating a profound family legacy that traces back hundreds of generations to commercial fishermen in Norway. Sena shares the journey of evolving her family's historic Alaskan commercial fishing operations into a modern, direct-to-consumer enterprise. The conversation highlights the strategi...

In this episode of The Third Layer, host Marshall connects with Nick Perrino, Chief Revenue Officer at Home Run Inn, to explore the evolution of his family's century-old, Chicago-based pizza business. Now in its fourth generation, Home Run Inn has scaled from a Prohibition-era tavern into a massive restaurant and frozen food enterprise, but its success remains deeply anchored in its foundational v...

In this episode of The Third Layer, host Marshall speaks with Ben Etherington, a seventh-generation leader of Nathan Trotter & Co., North America's largest manufacturer of tin and solder and one of the longest-running continuously operating businesses in the United States. Ben shares the profound responsibility and unique dynamics of leading a historic enterprise deeply rooted in foundational Quak...

Cameron Young, a fourth-generation leader at Behler Young, shares lessons on resilience, leadership, and culture behind his family's nearly 100-year-old HVAC distribution business. He reflects on how strong family dynamics, adaptability, and a commitment to integrity have sustained long-term success. Cameron also opens up about overcoming a life-changing spinal cord injury in college, drawing para...

In this episode, Jeff Oddo shares the journey of transforming his family's janitorial business into a nationwide franchise powerhouse. From early leadership failures and emotional burnout to rediscovering purpose through significance and servant leadership, Jeff reveals how vision, values, and vulnerability fueled massive growth. Learn how City Wide grew from one company to over 100 franchises, al...

In this insightful episode, Ben Hutton, President of Hutton, shares his transformative journey from a twelve-year-old shop sweeper to the leader of a thriving 400-person construction and facility services company. The conversation explores the unique challenges of second-generation leadership, specifically the pressure to emulate a founder's style. Ben candidly discusses his "3 a.m. moment"—a poin...

Jonathan Coors, Co-CEO of CoorsTek, details the evolution of a fifth-generation family enterprise that expanded from the iconic Coors brewery into a global industrial ceramics leader. Jonathan shares his personal journey from working in politics to navigating the family business, emphasizing the necessity of earning credibility through mentorship and humility. A central focus of the conversation i...

Ben Hertzman, President of Progress Luv2Pak, shares the century-long evolution of the packaging company, from a family-run factory to a modern, diversified enterprise. After his father, David, acquired the business, it evolved from domestic manufacturing into a global sourcing operation, adapting to customer needs and changing markets. Hertzman emphasizes that lasting culture is built on trust and...

Sam Kennedy, the fourth-generation leader of Kieve Wavus Education, details the hundred-year journey of the family-founded summer camp and non-profit, offering critical lessons on building an enduring organizational culture. The organization was transitioned to a non-profit in the 1970s by his grandfather to ensure its long-term health and good governance. Kennedy emphasizes that the culture is bu...

Anthony Contrucci, a married-in fifth-generation family member of the Schrage family that built the 130-year-old Centier Bank, details the intentional work required to transition from a single family-owned business to a thriving, multi-generational family enterprise. Serving as a key leader and family historian, Contrucci emphasizes that the true legacy is the culture and the people, not the finan...

Al Doan details the company's explosive growth from a small family venture born out of necessity—following family bankruptcy and a move to rural Missouri—into a nearly $100 million enterprise. Drawing on his background in computer science, Mr. Doan pioneered a successful model focusing on Content, Commerce, and Community for a previously neglected demographic. MSQC successfully scaled by creating...

Jose Paolo Delgado, a fourth-generation leader, offers an international perspective on guiding a multi-generational family enterprise rooted in the Philippines, tracing its history from the Spanish Inquisition and World War II. Paolostepped into a leadership role around 2009 during a period of intense crisis, requiring decisive, "firefighting" action to restructure the company which was suffering...

This episode features Meghan Juday, Chairman of the Board, and Mary Nicoletti, Family Council Chair, discussing the evolution of governance and culture within Ideal Industries, a 100-year-old global manufacturing company. As a fourth-generation leader, Ms. Juday recognized that the family's governance structure, while policy-driven, lacked the "heart and soul" necessary to connect the increasingly...

Brandon Johnson's story is a powerful testament to the idea that true success in family wealth lies in cultivating human potential and purpose over mere financial accumulation. His journey, deeply shaped by his family's generational experiences, underscores that a "healthy, thriving, fulfilled family legacy" is ultimately guided by how financial capital supports the "thriving of the human capital"...

Michael Hoehn, President or CEO of ASI for over 20 years, shares a compelling narrative of leadership, growth, and the unique dynamics of a family business that builds the "heart of automotive plants" by designing and installing automated handling systems. The company's journey began over 40 years ago when Michael's father, a former GM engineer, acquired it with a partner in 1981, seeing an opport...

Dhruv Pandit, a prominent Kenyan family business leader, offers a compelling account of his family's century-long entrepreneurial journey, rooted in his grandparents' immigration from India to East Africa. He details his father's impressive self-made success in banking, insurance, and real estate, emphasizing the founder's outgoing nature, continuous learning, and ability to connect across diverse...

Nike, an esteemed advisor at Northern Trust and a leader within her own Nigerian family enterprise, shares profound insights into the intricate world of family businesses. Her journey began by managing her family office without a "playbook," a decade she describes as both the most meaningful and challenging of her life. Faced with "drowning in complexity," Nike spearheaded the creation of a family...

Jeff Cloud, President and CEO of IBT Industrial Solutions and its parent company, Cumulus Companies Inc., shares the rich history of his family's 77-year-old industrial distribution business, founded by his grandparents in 1949. Born from his grandfather's entrepreneurial spirit after a sales territory dispute, IBT's core "Yes, we can do that" mantra and sales-driven approach fueled its growth fro...

Spence Wilson Jr., a principal at KWC Management, a single-family office, shares the compelling journey of his family's entrepreneurial legacy, from his grandfather Kemmons Wilson's founding of Holiday Inn to the current multi-generational operation of KWC Management. The discussion highlights the importance of intentional leadership, robust family governance, and a values-driven culture in sustai...

Brittney Ray, the full-time Family Council Chair for E. Ritter & Company, provides a compelling look into stewarding a 136-year-old family enterprise. As a "married-in," or "outlaw" as they humorously refer to them, Brittney's journey into family leadership underscores the importance of curiosity and inclusivity in family businesses. A pivotal moment for the Ritter family came in 2019 with a signi...

Rachel Wallis Andreasson, a third-generation leader of Wallis Companies, shares the compelling narrative of her family business, transformed from a single gas station in 1968 to a billion-dollar enterprise. Her father, Bill Wallis, an American entrepreneurial archetype, instilled a foundational culture built on strong work ethic, deep intuition for people, and a profound focus on employee well-bei...

Kristin Keffeler, a family wealth consultant, provides profound insights into the human side of wealth and family businesses, focusing on fostering human peak performance and thriving. While her own family story differs from multi-generational businesses—her entrepreneurial father successfully built, took public, and sold a company, creating wealth—her personal journey profoundly shaped her work....

Anne E. McGregor, a fourth-generation owner of Herschend Entertainment, the family behind Silver Dollar City, offers insights into their transition from family operators to engaged owners. Her grandparents, Hugo and Mary Hershend, founded the business by purchasing a cave in the Ozarks for tourism in 1950, which later evolved into Silver Dollar City in 1960. Anne's father, Pete, and uncle, Jack, f...

Ganesh Iyer, the non-family CEO of Etnyre, a 127-year-old family business, shares his journey from a diverse upbringing in India to leading a company through significant transformation. Joining Etnyre after a distinguished career at Caterpillar, Ganesh sought an environment where deep care for people and purpose transcended singular focus on shareholder return. His partnership with fourth-generati...

William Etnyre, a fourth-generation owner and current Chairperson of Etnyre, shares the compelling evolution of his family's business, from its 1898 roots in farming equipment to a leading road construction manufacturer. Despite a period where his direct family branch was not involved in operations, William, a social worker with a deep commitment to human well-being, unexpectedly ascended to lead...