Family Business Forum
Navigating What's Next
Thriving amid the complexity of growth, ownership, and leadership.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | Cobb Chamber of Commerce
As family businesses grow, so does their complexity. New generations enter the business, ownership expands, leadership evolves, and families face decisions that become increasingly interconnected.
This year's Family Business Forum brings family business leaders together to explore how successful families embrace that complexity while preserving the relationships, values, and long-term perspective that make family enterprise unique.
Practical Application
Learn practical strategies from Cerity Partners for preparing families, ownership groups, and future generations to navigate increasing complexity with confidence. Cerity helps business owners navigate complex financial decisions through integrated financial planning, investment management, tax and estate strategies, retirement planning, risk management, and succession guidance.
Peer Exchange
Join fellow family business leaders for facilitated roundtable discussions on key challenges, including preparing the next generation, welcoming in-laws, growing the family, and preserving relationships.
Research Insights
What do people really think about family businesses? Jenny Dinnen and Katie Rucker, twin sisters and co-founders of NextGen Collaborative and 2nd generation co-owners and co-presidents of MacKenzie, share the results of their most recent research, complete with strengths family businesses can lean into as well as challenges you may consider addressing.
Family Business Spotlight
Hear directly from the leaders of Osprey Corporation as they share their journey as a fourth-generation family business navigating growth, leadership transitions, and increasing complexity.
Agenda
8:30 AM
Breakfast & Connection
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Craig Aronoff, Founder of the Family Enterprise Center at KSU & Co-Founder of the Family Business Consulting Group
Dr. Lou Marino, Director of the Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality at KSU
9:15 AM
Research Insights
Sisters and family business experts Jenny Dinnen and Katie Rucker share their emerging research impacting family businesses. Discover fresh insights, surprising shifts, and what it means for your future.
10:30 AM
Family Business Spotlight
A candid conversation with leaders from Osprey Corporation, exploring their journey, decisions, and lessons learned.
Noon
Lunch & Conversations
1:00 PM
Peer Exchange
Facilitated discussions designed to help members share experiences and connect around similar opportunities and challenges.
2:45 PM
Practical Application
Expert-led education from Cerity Partners connects the themes explored throughout the day.
4:00 PM
Community Reception
Stay for one final opportunity to continue the day's conversations.
What does the general public really think about family businesses, and why should family business leaders care?
Drawing from the 2026 Public Perception of Family Businesses Study, a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults, second generation family business owners Katie Rucker and Jenny Dinnen will share what the research reveals about the trust advantage family businesses hold, where perception gaps exist, and how age and firsthand experience shape understanding.
Together, we’ll explore:
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Why trust, authenticity, and community connection are powerful family business advantages
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What the “visibility gap” means for your business
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How perceptions differ across generations
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Practical ways to make your values, impact, innovation, and family business story more visible
Research Insights
Founded in 1974, Osprey Corporation has grown from an entrepreneurial vision into a global leader in industrial air filtration and recycling systems. Today, the company is led by David Ankenbrandt and serves customers around the world while remaining family owned and operated.
Now entering its fourth generation, Osprey continues to navigate many of the questions facing successful multigenerational family businesses:
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How does leadership evolve as new generations enter the business?
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How do you prepare emerging leaders while experienced leaders being planning their transition?
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How do you thoughtfully welcome in-laws into the family enterprise?
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How do you preserve family relationships while leading an increasingly complex organization?
Family Business Spotlight
Osprey Corporation
Family Business Forum
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
8:30am - 5pm
Cobb County Chamber of Commerce
Wellstar Community Room
1100 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30339
FAQs
The Family Business Forum is available exclusively through Signature Membership. Signature Membership is $2,500 per business per year and includes participation for multiple leaders from your business, including owners, family members, next-generation leaders, and key non-family executives. Signature Members receive access to peer groups, guided experiences, and other exclusive programming throughout the year.
Because membership belongs to your business, not an individual, we encourage you to bring the leaders who will benefit most from the conversation. Many businesses attend with a combination of owners, family members, next-generation leaders, and trusted non-family executives. Learning together creates a shared perspective that extends beyond the Forum.
No. While this Forum's spotlight family business has grown into an international company, the conversations are designed for family businesses of all sizes. Every family business experiences increasing complexity as it grows, and the lessons shared throughout the day are intended to be relevant whether you're preparing for your first leadership transition or your fourth generation.
The Forum is intentionally designed as a collaborative learning experience rather than a traditional conference. Throughout the day, you'll hear an authentic family business story, engage in facilitated peer conversations, explore current family business research, and leave with practical ideas you can apply in your own business.
The Family Business Forum is designed exclusively for family businesses. Creating a room filled with family business leaders allows for open conversations, shared experiences, and discussions that are uniquely relevant to family enterprise. If you support family businesses as an advisor or service provider, we invite you to explore our Affiliate Partnership opportunities and other programs offered throughout the year.
We'd love to welcome your business to the Family Enterprise Center community. Simply complete our online membership application, and we'll contact you to answer any questions, complete your membership, and help you get started. From there, you'll receive access to Signature Member experiences, included the Family Business Forum, peer groups, and other exclusive opportunities.