Join us for a panel discussion with those who are or have taken the lead in the Next Generation
Family-owned businesses make up over eighty percent of Maine’s businesses. In any five-year period nearly 40% of family businesses will pass the baton to the next generation and, when that occurs, statistics are alarming: only 30% survive to the second generation, 13% to the third generation, and 3% to the fourth.
The Institute for Family-Owned Business is committed to supporting, strengthening and empowering family-owned businesses throughout Maine which includes empowering the next generation to take the reins of the family business.
Doing so can be a challenge so we’ll hear from the following panelists about how they have tackled these topics in their family business.
1. Balancing personal and professional life in your family business
2. Financial decisions- Knowing when to take risks
3. Learning from experience- How to turn failures/setbacks into lessons
4. Understanding transparency- How much is too much?
5. When to be passionate vs. when to be practical
Panelist: Jason Agren, Agren
Jason is President of Agren, Maine’s largest independent retailer of appliances and mattresses. Founded in 1969, Agren is family-owned and operated, and has retail stores in Auburn, Norway, South Portland, and Topsham. Since taking over as President, Jason has been responsible for rebranding and expanding the company. Most recently, Agren built a new location in Topsham and renovated their original store on Minot Ave, in Auburn. Agren regularly supports the community that has supported his business. Corporate social responsibility has been, and always will be, a founding block of the company.
Panelist: Joe Capozza, Capozza Tile & Flooring Center
Joe is Vice President and part of the 3rd generation now managing Capozza Tile & Floor Covering Center. He also oversees the operations of its Commercial Projects Division. Joe graduated in 2005 from Bryant University with a BS in Business Administration. From 2006-2009 he worked for Bentley Prince Street, a Commercial Carpet Manufacturer, as a Sales Representative in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. In 2009 he joined the family business as a Commercial Project Estimator & Project Manager and was named Vice President in 2014.
Panelist: Maureen Costello Wedge, Sun Media Group
Maureen is Vice President, Human Resources and part of the fourth generation ownership who manage Sun Media Group, which includes a daily newspaper, 12 weekly newspapers and their websites, a commercial printing division, real estate holdings and a software development company. Maureen has worked at the Sun Journal since 1988 and has served in leadership positions in a variety of industry and community associations. Maureen has extensive knowledge in all aspects of managing a family business, including human resources, employee relations and benefits and compensation.
Moderator: Theresa Cloutier, DMM, Inc.
Theresa is a Managing Partner with two sibling’s partners at DMM, Inc. a manufacturing company her father founded in 1983. The company specializes in digital document and direct marketing solution’s and was named a Xerox Global Service Provider. Theresa is responsible for the marketing and customer experience as well as board governance. She has a BA in Psychology and Marketing from the University of Southern Maine, a Master’s in Educational Psychology from Boston College, she was recently named the 2015 recipient of the Crystal & Company FFI GEN Scholarship in Family Business from The Family Firm and is a graduate of USM’s FastTrack Program for entrepreneurs.
Attendees will have the chance to share their experiences and ask questions of the panel along with networking with other businesses. Continental breakfast included.
For more information contact: catherine@fambusiness.org )
Remote access is available to dial in. You must have hi-speed Internet access and a camera on your computer to connect and dial-in to the forum remotely. If you are dialing in to the forum you must pre-register so we can send you the remote instructions.
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