Join Chris Yonker and Sara Belletetes, the successor of her family’s 125-year-old New England business, for a revealing conversation on the real challenges facing family businesses today—beyond just continuity and succession. This session is designed for leaders grappling with the hard questions: “How do we manage competing visions for the future? How do we ensure our next-gen leaders are truly ready?”

This isn’t just a workshop on continuity—this is about identifying the hidden obstacles, both visible and invisible, that can derail your leadership transition. Learn how to engage both family and non-family leaders in the process, fostering collaboration and avoiding the frustrations that can drive key leaders out of your business.

Chris Yonker, an FFI Certified Family Business Advisor, and Sara Belletetes, a leader and successor of her family business, will share actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and changes in being to help you navigate the minefield of competing visions, ensuring a successful leadership transition that respects the needs of both the business and the individuals involved.



We’ll also learn about the IFOB’s Next Gen Peer groups that are confidential facilitated discussion groups of about 8-10 family business members (or their employees) in non-competing companies that meet regularly. Members explore family business subjects of mutual interest, provide accountability and feedback, and define issues of importance for each member in a safe and open environment. Relevant topics include but aren’t limited to discussions similar to this program and negotiations with family, gaining employee respect, etc. We hold all discussions in the strictest confidence. Members sign a confidentiality agreement and they are facilitated by a coach. We open up these programs in the new year so now is the time to sign up if you want to join them.

Sponsored by : Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Maine Trust for Local News