- Affinity Groups -

The Forum community places a high value on the opportunity to learn together and to discuss strategies and concerns with one another in a problem solving and leadership development mode. Membership in the Forum is a pre-requisite for participation in these groups.

The Best Practices group meets over lunch to discuss bottom line issues, to learn about management trends, to develop resource sharing opportunities, and to explore effective ways to integrate best business practices with the benefits of family ownership. The composition of this group varies depending on the topic of the meeting.

The Generation Now group is made up predominantly of individuals who have ta ken over responsibility for operating their family business within the last 5 years.  However, there are group members who have been responsible for operations for a longer period of time and some who do not yet have these responsibilities.  Much of the group's meeting time is spent with the group members helping each other think through issues and potential solutions.  The varieties of background and experience levels combined with a very high trust level within the group are critical assets in the group's ability to support each other. The group also has speakers on a variety of topics - the general focus being on business topics that are beneficial to the group members. Topics have included: managing conflict, understanding health care costs, information technology for group members and strategic planning.

The Green Bay Chapter is a heterogeneous group of family business owners and advisors. The group meets to discuss issues identified by them as relevant and to spotlight a group member. The group has invited family business advisors to discuss a particular topic with them. They have also used a roundtable format for some of their meetings.

Information Technology Professionals group is composed of individuals who are responsible for all or part of the information technology of a member or sponsor business. The businesses represented vary significantly in information technology staffing. Participants find mutual benefit from discussing technology challenges and lessons learned with one another.

The Non-Family Executives group is composed of non-family presidents, chief financial officers, human resource directors, operations and general managers. The group focuses on their unique roles and responsibilities as part of a family-owned business. Sue Schierstedt helps identify topics and family business advisors to lead group discussions on topics of interest. This group is facilitated by group members.

The POPs group is composed of next generation family business members who are focusing on their personal and professional development. These individuals may or may not be next generation leaders of their family businesses.

The Senior Executives group regularly welcomes additional members. Group members represent the senior leadership in member businesses. They are focusing on topics including transitioning the business to the next generation, letting go, coaching and mentoring, life after retirement, and other areas of interest.

The TBD group named is composed of individuals whose exact roles in their organizations are TO BE DETERMINED (TBD). However, these individuals all anticipate being in ownership/leadership roles in the foreseeable future. They focus on issues associated with being the next generation leaders.