The Family Biz Show
Welcome to the Family Biz Show
Running a family is hard. Running a family business is harder.
Join host Michael Palumbos and new guests every episode as they talk about everything from navigating family business transitions, business growth strategies, family conflict, leadership and team development and more. Catch episodes here, on Libsyn, Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with others. Tag us with #thefamilybizshow!

CEO of Redlee/SCS Christi Redfearn shares her journey of joining the family business and the history of her company, the struggles she faced, such as making payroll and dealing with cash flow issues, company growth and how they expanded into new markets. She also shares her favorite family traditions and how she has taken lessons in management from practicing Jiu-Jitsu!

CEO of Mac Products Eddie Russnow talks about the challenges his company has faced, including taking gambles on new products and solutions, and how they have become known for providing solutions to customers' pain points. Eddie also covers the transition of leadership within the family business, how he prepared heirs for the assets they will inherit, and the importance of company culture.

On this incredibly feel-good episode, three-time returning guest Jay Hughes Jr. joins us to talk about his experience working with families and his passion for helping them flourish and evolve. Jay explains the idea behind the Family Bank and how it can help families manage their wealth and legacy, emphasizing the importance of growing spiritual and social capital within the family, rather than just focusing on the financial.

Returning guest Joey Coleman talks about his new book, "Never Lose an Employee Again," which focuses on the employee experience and the eight different phases an employee goes through. Joey discusses the importance of recognizing the emotional and mental journey of being an employee and how it is crucial to create a remarkable employee experience to have happier customers.

On this episode of The Family Biz Show, Kirby Rosplock, founder of Tamarind Partners, shares her journey growing up in a multi-generational family business and becoming a consultant. We covered topics such as the history of Kirby's family business, challenges faced by women in patriarchal family businesses, and planning for the future of family wealth. Kirby also discusses managing wealth and services available for families with varying net worth.

We talk to Dr. Jamie Weiner and discuss the challenges faced by children of successful parents, including the pressure to measure up to achievements and the importance of finding one's own path. Jamie shares stories of breaking moments that lead to personal growth and finding their own purpose that lead to their own success.

We sat down with local logistics giant Ken Johnson of Leonard’s Express. Ken delves into his personal life to explore his favorite family traditions and the unique ways they’ve created lasting memories and the importance of having “the right people in the right places” to scale a company.

Stephanie Stuckey joins us to share her story about taking back & growing the family business after a extremely successful career in law, the values that shape Stuckey’s and how important it is for family businesses to keep those values while at the same time, needing to evolve how they are presented to stay generationally relevant.

Returning guest Jay Hughes Jr. talks about the powerful way family businesses can build and maintain a strong sense of purpose and legacy across the generations by utilizing philanthropic activities and create a shared vision for making positive impacts on society. Share this episode with other family business owners who are interested in the power of generational giving!

Listen in as we talk to Mark Bronfman from Bold Value about his journey into how he ended up helping family businesses, the specifics of strategic compensation planning why that all matters to family businesses who continue to struggle with attracting and retaining top talent!

Join us as we dive deep into Popeye Plans with Gary Shepherd CFP®,CBEC®,ChFC,CLU of Shepherd Financial Group as we discuss the history of and what exactly Popeye Plans are, how they work and some tips on successful business transition. Don’t miss it!

Join us for a packed episode with Alex Kirby & Katie Jesionowski of Total Family Management as they discuss how to apply “total family management” to the ten domains for successful family business, the importance of investing in the development of communication and trust in the family and the truly emotional (over financial) nature of succession planning.

Celebrate National Peanut Month with this episode from Hub’s Virginia Peanuts owner Marshall Rabil as he discusses the triggers unique to family businesses, the importance of actionable culture in his company and the story behind how Hub’s became one of Wegman’s “Danny Brands”.

Fourth generation owner of Rochester favorite Giuseppe’s Marciano Chinappi joins us to talk about the history of his company, how the pandemic affected businesses around them, how they had to pivot multiple times to adapt and thrive and what his hopes are for the future of his family business. You might also find out which pizza place was the very first to ever serve pie in the Flower City.

Join us for a Family Biz Show first as we talk to Alaska-based fishing & processing company owners Sena & Rich Wheeler* of Sena Sea about the sacrifices that come with navigating a business when one of the owners is away for several months of the year (and the grit it takes!) the unique challenges that come with their business and how their time apart adds value and depth to the time they do spend as a family.

In this episode, Dr. Jim Kestenbaum* joins us to talk about why consulting a psychologist for family business succession can be one of the best choices a business owner can make today, how using an in-depth leadership assessment process can identify the kind and degree of leadership development areas needed in your business and the reality that many family businesses struggle knowing which family members should do what, especially as talents from the current generation may differ for the next one.

Fourth-generation owner of Speach Family Candy Shoppe Michael Speach Jr.* joins us to talk about his very sudden & unexpected pivot into the family business, the origins of the business and how it survived the Great Depression and the reality of “legacy guilt”. If you’re a Syracuse local, you especially won’t want to miss this one!

In this episode, founder of Illumination360 Kristin Keffeler joins us to discuss the hidden tripwires of inherited wealth and how family business owners can identify the clutter that family money can bring.

Guest Heenle Turner teaches us about attracting, retaining & hiring golden talent, her entry into the HR industry (and her connection to Rochester-giant Paychex), the changes the pandemic forced upon many employers in terms of work-life balance demands and what simple processes you can implement into your hiring to help get 5-star employees.

It’s our first Family Biz Show in the health & beauty space and we’re excited to have guest Ryan Margolin* from Professional Hair Labs introduce us. Listen in to hear about how a serious health situation with Ryan's mother led to the development of his business, the specific values that drive his company within a under-regulated industry & the systems they had that broke when they hit 7 figures. Don’t miss this one!

Shannon Byrne Susko* joins us on this episode to talk about why mastering the "people" side of an execution strategy matters more than you know and that business coaching is so much more than business wisdom. This episode is jam-packed with actionable guidance that any CEO can pull from, especially the part about not reading her books... like a CEO. Don’t miss it!

Listen in as Steve Davis* of Tapecon talks about the machine that his grandfather invented that put the stage girl of yesteryear out of business, the entrepreneurial pivots that the company made over its long history & the “BYOE” (bring your own experience) family charter that drives the family business.

A Family Biz Show podcast alumni returns! Listen in as guest Nike Anani* of African Family Firms talks about supporting the next generation of family business leaders through education and navigation of roadblocks and how to work on the family not for the family. This is a great episode you won’t want to miss.

Listen in as members of the Wetzel family, Lawrence & Michael*, of Air Innovations discuss the need to constantly seek the advice of others, Michael’s unique entry into the family business and a fun story about an exciting design they developed for a major Las Vegas attraction.

This episode is “Boulter Strong”! Join us as we talk to 5th generation owner William S. Boulter* of Boulter Industrial Contractors about why his company’s values go far beyond making sure “everyone just gets home”; that each employee knows their inherent value and worth – and how that reflects in the service provided to their clients.

Join us as we talk to the 4th generation owner of New York state’s oldest brewery (and the second oldest in the entire nation) Fred Matt* of F.X Matt Brewing Company (Saranac) about the importance of discarding platitudes and truly delighting the customer to ensure your businesses longevity.

Could there possibly be any common denominators between the family room, the board room and the war room? Founder of the Gardin Group Rachel Llanes* knows so! Listen into this episode of the Family Biz Show to learn about advanced leadership concepts family business owners need to know to help their company's flourish.

Listen in as we talk with Danielle Mercuri*, CEO of DD Hospitality Group and owner of Rise n Shine Diner & LODED in Syracuse, NY about how she inherited Rise n Shine from someone who wasn’t “blood family”, how she continues the original owner's legacy and yet makes it her own, plus sage advice for the next generation of family business owners that cannot be overlooked.

Listen in as we talk with 5th generation co-owner of Fee Brothers Jon Spacher* about the near-100 year long history of Fee Brothers, his transition from the insurance industry into the cocktail industry, and the necessity of trust when it comes to family business transitions.

Listen in as we talk with father and son duo Robert* & Trevor Stevenson* of Eastman Machine Company about the evolution of their business, the hard decisions they’ve had to make regarding family members over the years and the intriguing connection they have to a very famous person in history!

Listen in as we talk with the DiLaura family* of CADimensions about their long history of “pivoting” well before COVID-19, the risks of trying to reinvent the wheel when difficulty strikes and their unique company (and family) mission statement they affectionately named CADLIFE.

Listen in as private wealth consulting behemoth Russ Alan Prince* of Private Wealth Magazine lays out the surprising mindset of many “middle-class millionaires”, the mistakes they often make and why it’s important to re-evaluate your entire advisory team every few years.

Listen in as we talk to guests Bill & Steven Rott* of William C Rott & Son Inc. in Buffalo, NY about the draw to join the family business, favorite business memories, their family traditions and why doing everything with great love, for their clients and employees, is at the center of their business model.

Listen into this exciting new episode with guests Yale Levey*, Ryan Ponsford* and Scott Farnsworth* of Gateway for Good as we discuss the world-saving power of family philanthropy!

Listen in as we talk to Colby Clark* and Jennifer Donahoe*, third-generation owners from Feldmeier Equipment of Syracuse, NY about the "big hairy audacious goal” that the family helped execute, the crisis the family rallied around in the mid-2000's and exactly what Feldmeier did alongside Pfizer and Moderna to help get vaccines to the world during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Join us for one ouf our biggest episodes yet as Lisa & Jay Daniel* of Lodge Cast Iron talk with us about how to create a family council, catch some truly precious stories of how the Lodge family stays close and how their brand evolved from it’s humble beginnings. You may also catch how excited Michael is, now that he learned how to season his cast iron pans.

Listen in as we talk with Chris Yonker*, speaker & author, about creating a vision for transition within the family business.

Listen in as we talk to Heather Maio-Smith* of Storyfile about the intersection of human emotion with technology for future generations to come and how it can help share what really matters; stories that are the foundation of a family and about the history of StoryFile; how Heather wants to provide the ability for future generations to have conversations with Holocaust survivors.


Listen in as we talk to Jennifer Murphy* (5th generation) and her father Dan Judge* (4th generation) from NetPlus Alliance, a leader in industrial distribution and a multi-generational family business in Lockport, NY about family succession, what the road into the family business looks like (or doesn’t look like) and more!

Listen in as we talk to Dr. Jamie* & Evan Traeger-Muney* about the variety of values and approaches when it comes to money in family enterprises and the “Three C’s” to live by to navigate the territory with love & compassion.

It's the 3 Michael's episode! We had an absolute blast talking about business transfer agreements with lawyers Michael Robinson* and Michael Paiva* and the utter nightmares that can occur when business owners are lulled into complacency and don't prepare one.

In this episode, we talk to the author of the “One Way Out” Dan Prisciotta* and discover when selling may or may not make sense to an outside party and how to prepare your business to maximize it’s value.

During this episode, we’ll discuss the 831(b) plans with expert Van Carlson* about why the IRS recently sent out a “soft warning” letter to 831(b) plans and
what it means for Captives and when a Captive Insurance Company is NOT right for your business.

One of Buffalo’s Most Powerful Women joins us on this episode of The Family Biz Show. Listen in as we talk to the owner of *Chiavetta Catering, Kathleen Chiavetta* about Family Relationships & Succession Planning.

We're going to talk all things conflict! Kathy Holub* & Greg McCann* join us as we discuss how it can actually become a catalyst for good within the family enterprise.
During this live episode, you’ll learn the three components of a thriving family enterprise, the cost of not dealing with conflict and how changing our mindset can better frame your family’s involvement with the business.

On this episode of The Family Biz Show, listen as we talk to three members of the Shine Family* of Manitoba Corp. about the various ways a family business can re-invent itself over the generations to stay fresh and on top.

Don't miss this wild episode with Rob Norris* and Genevieve Brown-Norris* of Seabreeze Amusement Park about how their family business has now survived two pandemics; the 1918 flu and COVID-19.

Psychological and Practical Pitfalls in Family
Business Transitions with Steven Rolfe* & Renee Fellman*

Listen as we talk to Jack & John Doyle of Doyle Security Systems, Inc.* , about securing the future of your family business by building a strong family culture that lasts.
We chatted about how to build and maintain family harmony, how to keep both your family strong and your business strong without sacrificing one for the other & how to use your existing team members talents to grow your business.

Listen in as we talk to Nike Anani* and Tsitsi Mutendi* about the intricacies of navigating change within the family enterprise, specifically the unique challenges that come with building the “generational bridge”.

Join us for this all-American episode with Julie Camardo* of Zweigle's and Naomi Silver* of the Rochester Red Wings about succession planning and multi-generational family business success.
We discuss how Zweigle’s has successfully transitioned into the fifth generation, how Morrie Silver managed to save baseball for Rochester and what advice a fifth-generation owner would give to any company with hopes of successfully transferring the family business to generation to the rising generation.

When the Family Business Leader Won't Let Go With Dr. Michelle Clark* and Dr. Moira Somers*

How Your "Why" Affects the Family Business With Dr. Gary Sanchez*, Chris Kenny* & LaVerne Sessler III*.

A Deep Dive into the Three-Circle Model of Family Business Systems With Guest Jay Hughes Jr*.

Succession Planning for the Family Business With Rob Ferguson* and Alison Comstock-Moss*.

Ignoring Non-Managing Family Shareholders Can Undermine Your Business With Guests Patricia M. Armstrong, Ph.D* & Arne Boudewyn*.

Boundaries Within the Family Business With Guests Melissa Mitchell-Blitch* & Paul Edelman*.

The New Ambassadors: When the Next Gen Rises to the Occasion With Guests Justin White* & Jonathan Goldhill*.

Family is the Heart of Family Business with Guests with Kathy Wiseman* and Thomasina Williams*.

How to Avoid the Three Things Holding Most Family Businesses Back with Meghan Lynch* & Ruth Lund*.

How Family Philanthropy Can Strengthen your Family and Your Family Business with Bruce DeBoskey* & Deborah Goldstein*.

Tune into this episode of The Family Biz Show as we go over what objective science and multi-sourced data are showing us right now - and what it means and why it matters to your family enterprise in the next 12-24 months, how your own objective mindset about COVID-19 and depoliticizing your reference points around the virus could hold the key to your business survival, and how to outwit, outlast and outplay your competition.

During episode 10 of The Family Biz Show, you'll learn how strong families major in the majors, why family meetings are a necessity and how to conduct a meaningful meeting.

It's a solo episode of The Family Biz Show today with Michael discussing the so-called “unfair” advantage family businesses have over non-family owned competitors and why family businesses should utilize trust as a leading KPI.

Listen in on this episode of The Family Biz Show as we talk to George Issac about the signs to know when it’s time to grow the business, transfer it, or sell it & what business strategies are needed to be implemented now to ensure family business success tomorrow.

During this episode of The Family Biz Show, you’ll learn why sharing the company story means more today than any other time, how to actively involve the next generation and actions you can take today, as the leader, to amplify the smarts and capabilities of the Next Gen & their mindset.

On this episode of The Family Biz Show, we'll talk about the first decision every growing company must get right & how to manage family members, and balance the family and non-family team with Cathy Carrol* & Mike Goldman*.

Find out why family business consultants cry themselves to sleep at night with Ira Bryck* & Jeff Savlov* on this episode of The Family Biz Show.

Listen in as we talk about Family Governance During the COVID-19 Crisis with Ella Chase Hyland* & Steve Legler* and how to find the silver linings during difficult times.

We'll be talking to Daniel Van Der Vliet* & Tim Belber* about how to strengthen your family business during uncertain times.

We'll be talking to Dr. Dennis Jaffe* & Pierre duPont* about strengthening your family business in uncertain times. We'll discuss how your company can pivot to flourish now and post-COVID “normal” & what other families have done to survive difficult times.