Generation Excellence Podcast

Stanley Chen is the CEO of Telamon Corporation in Carmel, Indiana in suburban Indianapolis. Stan (as he prefers to be called) is a leader, a thinker, a father, and a teacher. On this 51st episode of GENeration EXcellence Stan talks about how his father and his mother built what is now one of the largest privately-held businesses in Indiana. As the business has transitioned into the second generati...

Edmond Hagopian and I sat down in his company’s award-winning Novi, MI showroom and operations center to talk about the founding of Hagopian rug and carpet cleaning services in Detroit. Edmond takes us on a magic carpet ride across the organization’s 84 years from its roots in chemistry to post-WW II expansion in retail to multiple growth periods to family fractures all while landing gracefully wi...

Scott Snider is president of the Cleveland based Exit Planning Institute (EPI). EPI regularly counsels generational businesses and in fact they are one as well. Scott works closely with his father as the second generation leader of the Institute’s business operations. I was introduced to the Exit Planning Institute via a webinar they conducted to educate family businesses on employee ownership pla...

Doug Gray has spent 25 years helping family businesses go and grow as a consultant, most recently for The Family Business Consulting Group. No surprise issues around communication, competition, conflict, chance and 75 other C-words or so can invade the C-suite of family business leaders. Family businesses across industries and around the world turn to Doug for guidance in leadership development, s...

Dean Friedman whose family was in the steel business became attracted to the advertising world (it is magnetic) at age 14 and never looked back. In fact, in his storied career he regularly looked forward. Dean had an innate understanding of the value of consumer research. From that research he gleaned true insights that inspired many iconic brand campaigns. Dean’s first two decades in the business...

Jim Gatward is someone I was fortunate to meet recently. Trying to talk over loud music at a beautiful wedding in Jamaica, we discovered we were both part of generational businesses back home in Detroit. I learned that starting in the 1950’s Jim’s father had built a company called LaSalle Electric into a major supplier of electrical and lighting supplies to commercial businesses. As you’ll learn i...

When I first had the idea of doing a podcast about leaders of unique generational family businesses Dan Musser was gracious enough (crazy enough?) to volunteer to be guest #1. That was in late 2018. Just one year later in fall 2019 he and his family made the decision to sell their business, Grand Hotel to KSL Partners/Davidson Hotels. I thought it would be interesting to do a follow-up episode wit...

David Techner represents third generation family leadership of The Ira Kaufman Chapel and brings passion and compassion to funeral arrangements, pre-planning, and after-care. David is a past president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, he wrote a children's book “A Candle for Grandpa,” and proudly co-produced the Emmy® Award winning documentary “Generation to Generation.” David is lead...

Laura Ries is a marketing strategist, bestselling author and media personality. In 1994, she founded Ries & Ries, a consulting firm with her father and partner Al Ries, the legendary positioning pioneer. I was fortunate to get this sought-after-speaker to speak with me about building a global, generational business. It’s clear that Laura lives by the fundamental and immutable laws of branding that...

Jason Eddleston is the second-generation leader of Sterling Oil and Sterling Services located in Hamtramck near Detroit. Jason has humbly evolved a unique lubricant and petrochemical business started by his parents in the 1970’s into a diversified, international operation today. Leading a growing business, you’ll learn how Jason is deeply committed to serving multiple communities, celebrating art...

Ellie Frey Zagel is a leadership coach specializing in multi-generational family businesses. She helps next generation leaders thrive in times of uncertainty and crisis. Ellie’s coaching includes management of time and stress. In fact, she provided a Six Step approach right in our conversation. We also talked about “The Ideal Week” and Ellie’s unique journey to now as she did something for herself...

David Libertson leads Ronin Gallery a leading Japanese and East Asian art gallery in New York City. This is a business started by his parents, initiated by his grandfather’s collecting and vision. Whatever type of family enterprise you may be part of David’s eye for Japanese art from the past four centuries combined with his ability to leverage leading-edge digital channels is unique. I’m proud th...

Jody Lipton of Lipton Law leads, along with her brother Marc a personal injury law firm started by their father William Lipton in suburban Detroit. Jody has an incredible way of tackling what’s in front of her and dropping the baggage of the past. She refers to it as “Over. Done with Gone.” Learn more about that philosophy of management and leadership along with how Jody has embraced the law, her...

Brian Yessian, Partner & Chief Creative Officer of Yessian Music leads, along with his brother Michael a business started by their father Dan in suburban Detroit. Today’s Yessian is doing music and sound design work in advertising, film, gaming, and attractions ... all over the world. In our conversation we get into the founding of the business and how it has so smartly “traveled” to NY, LA and Ha...

Marc Schechter’s entrepreneurial talents have led him to become CEO of a third generation firm that advises clients around the country on financial matters including investment advisory services, life insurance planning, income and estate taxes, business succession, and charitable planning. Marc started, built and grew numerous businesses after college. You’ll hear about one venture that didn’t qu...

Michael Simmons of Simmons & Clark Jewelers added some sparkle and bling to the podcast. As a third-generation owner, operator and an attorney Michael brings a refreshing perspective to GENeration EXcellence. This is a special episode in that our agency, when known as Simons-Michelson Co. did advertising work for Simmons & Clark Jewelers. Some of that work from over 60 years ago graces the store t...

Joe Kinville of Guernsey Farms Dairy joins the podcast to outline how a third-generation business doesn’t automatically mean maturing or declining. Guernsey is growing by investing in facilities, logistics, and people. In that way their high-quality premium dairy products (e.g. killer coffee ice cream) can be enjoyed by more families. And you can enjoy learning about how a legacy business celebrat...

John Carter is an attorney and experienced M&A advisor. He turned to counseling businesses on succession so that they avoid the drama that is the hit show “Succession” on HBO. He named his firm Absolute Succession. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with John Carter on this episode of GENeration EXcellence. John explains how leaving a business via a sale, transfer, gift or any form of exit is a...

While skimming through the Food & Wine best ice cream in every state story online I reached out to the winner for Pennsylvania, Bassetts Ice Cream in Philadelphia. Why for this podcast? Because Bassetts has been the best ice cream since ... 1861. In this episode we get “the scoop” on this fascinating business story from Alex Bassett Strange, who represents the 6th generation of his family at Basse...

I received a store grand opening postcard from Premier Pet Supply. (Yes, snail mail got my attention.) I was intrigued and came to learn that Mike Palmer represented the second generation of this fast-growing pet supply store operator. In this episode Mike talks about his involvement in the business from a young age and how he remains as fired up about the opportunity as when he was a teenager. Pr...

Episode #31: Stephanie Stuckey, President and CEO, Stuckey’s Corporation by Jamie Michelson

Ron Chapman II is the Chairperson, White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice at Chapman Law Group. Chapman Law Group is a firm solely dedicated to representing licensed healthcare providers. I got to know Ron as we were regular early morning gym goers. I’ve since come to learn about Ron’s unique career path and inspiring leadership principles. This is one of my favorite episodes so...

I recognize there’s great admiration for founder/entrepreneurs. Silicon Valley lauds those individuals. I would argue stepping into a very successful family business, earning respect when your name is on the door (and 100’s of trucks), and managing a legacy business through times that threaten the organization’s very existence – that takes a special skill set too! Steve Don has humbly done that an...

What are the challenges for someone becoming the CEO of a large family-owned business while representing the fourth generation? For answers I turned to Andrew “Bubba” Berenzweig a business leader and change-maker at Hylant, one of the nation’s largest insurance brokers. Berenzweig explains how Hylant is celebrating their 85th year of operations while recognizing the need to commit to significantly...

The newest GENeration EXcellence episode, #27, spins the 107-year-old tale about the Becharas Brothers Coffee Co. family business. Nick and Dean represent the third generation running the operation and tell us their story - with humility and humor. So, grab a steaming cup and take a listen. Hopefully your coffee is smooth. But it’s worth remembering the reality: the journey isn’t always smooth for...