Conference to tackle challenges facing family businesses

The Premier Family Business Consulting Inc. (PFBC), the only family enterprise consulting firm in Southeast Asia, is inviting family businesses, practitioners, and stakeholders to join a conference that will tackle the challenges facing family businesses.

Now on its third year, the Family Enterprise Excellence Conference (FEEC) will be held on October 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. With the theme “United, we unite families in business,” the one-day event will not only feature talks but also serve as an occasion for sharing experiences and best practices among family businesses as well as for networking.

International expert Dr. Dennis Jaffe of the US-based Family Firm Institute will lecture on the topic “Bridging the Gap of the Senior and Younger Generation” to address the issue of nurturing effective working relations between generations of a family business.

Considered one of the architects of family enterprise consulting as a field, Jaffe has taught at Hult University in Dubai and is on the Advisory Board of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Stetson University. He has also served on the Boards of the World Business Academy and Saybrook University.

Renowned inspirational speaker Francis Kong will meanwhile give a talk on “The Value of Family Unity and Parenting” to emphasize their role as the main drivers in family business perpetuation.

Engr. Leonora Salvane of GT Cosmetics and Edward Hayco of the Port Restaurant will lead a discussion on the “Founder’s Challenge” in family businesses. Charles Ong of Innoland and Edmun Liu will tackle the “Second Gen Challenge” in running the business together with the founder.

Assets and ownership expert Atty. Jim Lopez will talk on the great value of “The Family Constitution” as well as its limitations. Edward “Wowie” Roguel of the Punongbayan & Araullo will give a presentation on “Inescapable Taxation Challenges for Families in Business” while Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Happee Toothpaste and Lamoiyan Industries will be talking on “Learning from an Experienced Successful Family Business.”

Fr. Tony Salas SVD, who is Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the University of San Carlos, will also give a talk on the role and impact of families in business on the Church and society. There will also be talks on the role and impact of “Non-Family Executives” and “Joint Ventures.”

The whole day conference will be capped with synthesis by Jacob Cabochan of Premier Family Business Group and former Acting Director of Ateneo Family Business Center.