The Business of Family

What happens when three brothers help lead the family business their parents built? In this episode of The Business of Family Podcast, Tammy Buss sits down with Scott Berg, co-owner of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, to explore the realities of working alongside siblings, balancing family relationships with business decisions, and carrying forward a family legacy. Scott shares his perspective on growin...

What does it take to successfully run a family business with your sibling? In this episode of The Business of Family Podcast, Tammy Buss sits down with Ed Etheridge, co-owner of Black Walnut Bakery Café, to discuss the realities of building and growing a family business alongside his sister. From navigating roles and responsibilities, to overcoming the devastating impact of an arson fire at their...

What does it take to successfully transition a family business from one generation to the next? In this episode of The Business of Family Podcast, Tammy Buss sits down with Steve Kustermans of Kustermans Family Farm to explore the journey from a small family farm to one of Southwestern Ontario's most beloved family destinations. Steve shares stories from growing up in the business, stepping in...

Family businesses today often extend far beyond one city, one province, or even one country. Whether it's children living abroad, international investments, cross-border operations, or family members with ties to multiple jurisdictions, the tax implications can be more complex than many families realize .In this episode of Family Matters – Legal Edition, Tammy Buss and Yola Ventresca sit down...

In this episode of  Legacy on Repeat , Tammy sits down with Brett Thompson, PRINT-certified communication consultant, to unpack how understanding your unique wiring can transform the way family businesses communicate, collaborate, and grow together. When family and business overlap, complexity is inevitable. But with the right tools, conflict can become clarity and communication can become connect...

Preparing the next generation for financial transition takes more than passing down wealth, it takes intentional communication, shared values, and a clear framework for what comes next. In this episode of  The Business of Family Podcast , Tammy sits down with Mehendi Kamani, President & Portfolio Manager of Tall Oak Capital Advisors, to unpack what it really means to prepare NextGen family mem...

In this episode of  The Business of Family Podcast , Tammy sits down with Donna and Bailey Pinsonneault of She’s Got Leggz, a women-led brand built on confidence, community, and bold entrepreneurship. From Donna’s journey as a CPA-turned-CEO to Bailey stepping into the business and shaping its creative direction, this conversation dives into what it  really  looks like to work alongside family. Th...

What happens when siblings become business partners? In this episode, Tammy and Yola sit down with George Hamzo, Partner at Lerners LLP, to explore the legal and relational complexities of sibling-run family businesses. From ownership, control, and decision-making to roles, compensation, and accountability, the conversation highlights where family dynamics can create both strength and tension in b...

You don’t set out to build a successful family business… sometimes, it just happens. But navigating the dynamics that come with it? That’s the real work. If you’ve ever felt alone in the challenges of working with family—this episode will remind you that you’re not. On this Legacy on Repeat episode, Tammy sits down with Terry & Justine Zavits, a mother-daughter duo who built, transitioned, and...

In this episode of  The Business of Family Podcast , we sit down with Ryan Berg, President of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, to explore the journey of a second-generation family business built on strong values, trust, and long-term vision. Ryan shares the story of how his dad founded the business in 1978 and how it has grown into a multi-state operation. We dive into what it really looks like to step...

What happens when love, craft, and entrepreneurship come together? In this episode, Tammy sits down with Nathalie Rousseau, Co-Founder & COO of ROUSSEAU Chocolatier, to explore what it really looks like to build a business alongside your spouse. From the early days of taking a leap together to navigating roles, relationships, and tough decisions, Nathalie shares an honest and thoughtful look b...

Artificial intelligence is changing how business owners access information, but when it comes to legal matters, especially in family enterprises, the stakes are higher than ever. Tammy Buss & Yola Ventresca sit down with David Jordan, from Lerners LLP, to unpack: • The difference between legal information vs. legal advice • Why AI-generated answers can be misleading • Risks to confidentiality,...

In family businesses, communication isn’t just about being polite, it’s about making sure everyone can contribute their best. Misunderstandings, misaligned strengths, and different approaches to work can slow things down or even create tension. That’s where tools like the  Kolbe Assessment  come in. Kolbe doesn’t measure personality, it measures how people  take action . It shows how each family m...

In this episode of  The Business of Family , Tammy sits down with father-and-son team  Jeff Tounge  and  JT Tounge  of  Tounge Associates  to talk about the real conversations behind exit planning, succession, and family dynamics. We explore: • Navigating active vs. non-active children in the business • The emotional barriers founders face when considering exit Plus, as a father and son running a...

What does it look like when business and family all grow under the same roof? In this episode of  The Business of Family Podcast , we sit down with Chantel and Zack of  Pettengill Academy  to talk about building a purpose-driven, first-generation childcare business from the ground up. What started as a small home-based program has grown into a thriving multi-site early childhood organization roote...

What does it take to grow a family business for nearly  75 years,  without losing what makes it special? In this episode, Tammy sits down with  Tom Estabrook of Estabrook’s , a Maine staple that started as a poultry farm and evolved into a thriving, multi-generation garden center. From  chickens to peppers to petunias , Tom shares: • How Estabrook’s evolved across four generations • What it’s real...

When family and business overlap, clarity matters more than ever. When people hear the word  governance , they often picture big boards and corporate boardrooms, but in family businesses, governance can be the difference between harmony and conflict. In this episode,  Tammy and Yola  break down: • What governance really means (in plain language) • Why “we trust each other” isn’t a governance strat...

Legacy isn’t built from just one point of view. When you look at your business through three distinct lenses — business, family, and ownership — everything changes. Decisions get clearer. Conversations get more honest. And alignment becomes possible. In this Legacy on Repeat episode, I revisit my conversation with Chris Deleaney, Trust and Estate Practitioner, lawyer, and author of The Naked Opus...

What happens when you mix entrepreneurship, creativity, and family —then add a campground, a quilt shop, and three very different daughters? In this episode, we sit down with  Marlene Greenlaw , who shares her remarkable journey from owning a campground in Maine to opening a quilt shop rooted in passion, perseverance, and family support. Marlene and her husband David run  two businesses side by si...

How does a family business grow from a single founder’s vision into a global industry leader, and stay grounded along the way? In this episode, we sit down with Randy Carr and JC Carr of World Emblem, the world’s largest emblem and patch manufacturer, to explore the remarkable evolution of their family enterprise. From growing up inside the business, to navigating leadership roles, sibling dynamic...

🎙️The Business of Family Podcast ⚖️ Family Matters – Legal Edition We’ve all heard the saying: don’t wait until there’s a fire to buy insurance. The same rule applies to legal planning in family businesses. In this Family Matters – Legal Edition episode, hosts Tammy & Yola unpack why reactive legal decisions (made during conflict, crisis, or transition) often cost family enterprises far more t...

In every family enterprise, there are three circles:  Family. Business. Ownership. They overlap, and where you sit shapes how you see the business and the family. But what does it mean to belong in the  family  circle while choosing not to be part of the  business ? In this  Legacy on Repeat  episode, I revisit a conversation with  Caverleigh Tuer , my daughter-in-law, who grew up surrounded by fa...

What does it take to steward a legacy across generations, while staying true to the relationships that matter most? In this episode,  Tammy sits down with Howie Grossinger , Camp Owner and Director of  Camp Robin Hood and Camp Walden , to explore a family business story more than six decades in the making. In this conversation, Howie shares how he and his wife,  Sari , stepped into leadership, car...

What happens when you build a business  together,  as partners in life and in work? In this episode, we sit down with  Grant and Erin Stahla , the husband-and-wife team behind  Stahla Services , a company redefining the portable restroom and shower trailer industry with a focus on quality, values, and an exceptional customer experience. Grant and Erin share: • The realities of running a business a...

Farming is more than a business. It’s land, legacy, and generations working side by side. And that makes the legal side of farm family businesses uniquely complex. In this episode of  The Business of Family Podcast  - Family Matters: Legal Edition , Tammy Buss and Yola Ventresca are joined by  Joseph Hentz of Lerners LLP  to explore the intersection of  farming, family, and the law . Together, the...