Never Go Against the Family

In this episode of Never Go Against the Family , Dan talks with Mike Wells, retired CEO of Wells Enterprises. You might recognize them from their iconic Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Recently, this Le Mars, Iowa, family business made the decision to sell. Dan and Mike chat about some of the decision-making process. To hear more from Mike Wells and ask your own questions, tune into the Virtual Breakfast Se...

In this episode, we’re jumping into the middle of a conversation between Dan and Maxwell Youngquist. Maxwell is part of RSM’s family office enterprise practice and has worked for and with many family businesses. We start the conversation today about succession and then dive into governance strategies that family businesses can employ to see the most success for both the business and the family. Ke...

Rebecca Zabel is a business development manager for Trusted Family, which helps family-owned businesses with technology solutions. She and Dan dive deep into the power of peer learning and how a family-owned firm has challenges that are different from other privately-held businesses. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long hau...

Jody Schulte is a fifth-generation family member and marketing manager at Jefferson Telecom in Jefferson, Iowa. She and Dan discuss her experience of finding her place in the family businesses, the pressures of succession, a board training program and more. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your next steps for...

Iowa State Senator Adrian Dickey is president and a third-generation family member of Dickey Transport out of Packwood, Iowa. Adrian shares his advice for Iowa families, touching on his experience inheriting leadership and surviving the transition between generations. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help your business—and family—succeed for the long haul. Take your nex...

Tom Hubler is a consultant in the family business space and a true wizard at working with families. He talks about his history as a family therapist and how he helps families through their resistance to change and tackling the toughest of conversations. Listen in to hear more about Tom and his perspective when working with families. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help...

Joel Weiler is a human resources operations manager at Weiler, his family’s manufacturing company in Knoxville, Iowa. Joel had a nontraditional route to working for his family and even practiced as a dentist for five years before joining up. He talks about Weiler’s forward-looking family governance and communication, among other challenges unique to family businesses. Listen to learn more about Jo...

Evan Reiman is a married-in family member of Krause Group and its subsidiaries, Kum and Go and Krause+. Evan shares the process he went through to join the business and how he’s truly seen how he adds value and perspective. Listen in to hear more about Evan and his positive experiences working as a married-in in the family business. The UNI FBC offers a variety of family business resources to help...

Heidi Vermeer-Quist is a clinical psychologist and owns her practice, VQ Consult, with her husband. She is also a member of a family business, Vermeer Corporation, and moonlights as a peer group leader with the University of Northern Iowa Family Business Center (that's us!). In this episode, Heidi takes us through what leadership really looks like for an emerging generation, how to make a successf...

In this episode, Dan Beenken interviews Dennis Passis, who founded the Family Wealth Library and once led his own family’s business. Dennis shares his story about how a lack of succession planning ended his leadership and his relationship with his family. Now, he’s dedicated to collecting resources and engaging with centers like the UNI FBC to ensure that families are well-educated about successio...

Never Go Against the Family is a production by the University of Northern Iowa Family Business Center. We know that family-owned businesses are different. We interview a member of a family business and experts from all different industries to hear their perspectives. As our favorite godfather Vito Corleone advises, never go against the family.