Media Release: Mohawk College Launches Workshops For Family Businesses
May 4, 2016 (Hamilton, Ontario) – An estimated 70 per cent of family-run businesses won’t survive the hand-off to the next generation, according Canadian Association of Family Enterprise.
Mohawk College wants to help family businesses beat those odds. Mohawk’s McKeil School of Business is launching a series of workshops this month that will include an introduction to family business, ownership and governing models, strategic planning and operations, conflict management and negotiations, succession planning, transfer of ownership and philanthropy.
Mohawk’s Family Business Series is designed by successful Hamilton, Burlington and Niagara family business owners. Founding families and guest speakers include:
- Ward, Brandon and Carley Campbell (Starwood Homes)
- Dennis Concordia (POWERGROUP Resources)
- Dale McDonald (Ira McDonald Construction Ltd.)
- Ben Gould and family (Milli)
- Blair McKeil (McKeil Marine)
- PJ and Joe Mercanti (CARMEN’s Group)
- Sam Mercanti (CARSTAR)
- Lisa Mercanti-Ladd (Southbrook Golf and Country Club)
- John Peller (Andrew Peller Limited)
- Michael Schwenger Jr. (Stresscrete Group)
- Robin, Teresa and Michael St. Jean (St Jean Realty)
- PJ Vermeer (Westbrook Group of Companies)
- Chris White (Fruitland Manufacturing)
The first Family Business Service workshop will be offered May 19. For more information on the Family Business Series, go to www.mohawkcollege.ca/familybusiness.
QUOTES:
“Family-run businesses are the backbone of our regional economy and a major employer of our graduates. We’re proud to be working with some of the region’s most successful founding families to share their expertise and experiences with other family businesses.”
“There are many rewards and challenges with running a successful family business. Having a reputable college like Mohawk offer a program like this is a fantastic opportunity for Canadian family businesses.”
FAST FACTS:
According to research by the University of Alberta and the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, family businesses:
- Generate approximately 60 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product
- Employ six million Canadians
- Create 70 per cent of all new jobs in North America
- Account for 55 per cent of all charitable donations
A 2014 Deloitte Family Business Survey found that only 17 per cent of businesses surveyed had formal leadership succession plans in place.
According to the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, 70 per cent of family businesses will not survive the hand-off to the second generation.
The Mohawk Family Business Series is facilitated by Janice Locke, a past CEO and CFO of a family business.
Each Family Business Series workshop costs $199 or $999 for all nine workshops.
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For more information, contact:
Jay Robb, Mohawk College Director of Communications, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca
Mohawk College educates and serves more than 32,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at four main campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk, as well as at the Mohawk College Mississauga Campus in partnership with triOS College. Mohawk is committed to upholding an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning, working and engaging environment for students, employees and the community. The college is among the top colleges for applied research in Canada. It has been named one of Hamilton-Niagara’s top employers and one of Canada’s greenest employers, and holds a GOLD STARS rating from AASHE for sustainability achievements. More than 165,000 people have graduated from Mohawk since it was founded.