Peer groups, professional development programs, and roundtables are all powerful learning opportunities.
Peer groups are small groups that offer the space to exchange experiences, and work together to address shared difficulties. Professional development programs and roundtables are facilitated by industry experts on specific topics addressing family-owned businesses.
All programs are collaborative and present the opportunity to learn by seeking advice from peers and professionals who have "been there, done that" and who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge.
Peer Groups
CEO
This peer group is for Presidents/CEOs. Non-competing family business leaders come together monthly in a confidential environment to discuss business, personal or family business related issues. Participants can seek input and advice when discussing executive level business issues. Accountability, personal support, and feedback from peers are important components of this group.
Facilitator: Jill Hofmans, Executive Director
Frequency: Monthly
Fee: $1,750/year
Pre-approval to join? Yes
C-Suite Non-Family Leaders
This peer group is for non-family executives. Non-competing family business leaders come together monthly in a confidential environment to discuss business, personal or family business related issues. Participant can seek input and advice when discussing executive level business issues and the challenges and opportunities of being a non-family leader in a family run business.
Facilitator: Jill Hofmans, Executive Director
Frequency: Monthly
Fee: $750/year
Pre-approval to join? Yes
Rising CEO
This peer group is for next gens who are imminently next in line or who have recently taken over running the family business. Non-competing family business leaders come together monthly in a confidential environment to discuss business, personal or family business related issues. Participants can seek input and advice when discussing executive level business issues and the challenges and opportunities of being a next gen.
Facilitator: Jill Hofmans, Executive Director
Frequency: Monthly
Fee: $1,150/year
Pre-approval to join? Yes
Professional Development Programs
EOS Integrator
This professional development program is for EOS Integrators or the equivalent on the leadership team. These facilitated sessions will provide group members the opportunity to get and share advice on EOS best practices as well as implementation challenges and other issues they are facing.
Please note, this group is for companies that are already running EOS and limited to one member/company.
Facilitator: Kim Troy, Founder and CEO of Civilis Consulting
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? Yes
Leadership Development
This professional development program addresses relevant leadership challenges and opportunities while providing the strategies to effectively manage them. This is a very collaborative group open to all that encourages peer-to-peer discussions, provides support to one another while gaining clarity on key leadership challenges.
Facilitator: Jackie Schetter, founder of Lead for Culture
Frequency: Monthly
Fee: FREE for all Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No, this is a drop-in group, but meeting RSVP is required
Generously sponsored by Park National Bank
Manufacturing/Logistics C-Level Peer Group
This professional development program is for C-Level executives in manufacturing or logistics family-owned businesses. The group meets quarterly over breakfast to discuss industry-specific trends and topics, as well as family business issues. The session topics are decided in advance.
Facilitator: Jeff Cope of JACO Advisory Group
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? Yes
Next Generation Leaders
This professional development program is for next generation family business members who are interested in assuming greater leadership roles in their family-owned business. Specific content and group discussion relevant and necessary for growth as a next gen family business leader is addressed each month. This is a very collaborative group, each session allows for dedicated time is allotted to work through particular coaching scenarios and provide tools for relevant issues and situations.
Facilitator: Mike O'Donnell of Integrated Leadership Systems
Frequency: Monthly
Fee: FREE for Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No, but this is a drop-in group for family business members only, meeting RSVP is required
Practical Tools for Managers
This professional development program provides practical education and tools to help manage your business and operate more effectively. You'll learn the "What," the "Why," and the "How" of some of the most useful management tools - like how to build vulnerability-based trust with your team, how to delegate for growth, and how to provide clear expectations and feedback. The sessions apply to all managers (new and experienced) regardless of whether or not you are familiar with EOS.
Facilitators: Varies each session with EOS Worldwide Professionals: Ryan Yeoman, Jason Block, Chad Eddy, and Becky Fromkes
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No
Quarterly Roundtables
Human Resources
These collaborative roundtables explore hot topics in Human Resources from a family-owned business perspective. The content and collective knowledge of the group provides resources and insight to help make good decisions in a changing business environment. Topics include HR strategy and compliance, recruiting and on-boarding, training and development, non-traditional benefits, and more! These sessions are most beneficial to members who manage the HR functions by default and HR professionals with training and experience - all are welcome.
Facilitator: Sharon DeLay of GO-HR
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for all Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No, this is a drop-in group, but meeting RSVP is required
Generously sponsored by Morgan Stanley
Succession Planning
These roundtable sessions provide the foundation for how to best transition the family business to the next generation, addressing inter-family dynamics, strategic planning, and estate planning just to name a few. This program is not just for founders/owners - attending together with successors or next gens is very important and beneficial.
Facilitator: Bea Wolper of Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin and Meredith Sugar of Taft/ Law
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for all Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No, this is a drop-in group, but meeting RSVP is required
Generously sponsored by Morgan Stanley
Women in Family Business
This roundtable is for women - both family and non-family - who own, work for, or play a supporting role in a family business. Topics addressing leadership, effective communication, and skills for managing conflict resolution will be the focus of these sessions, providing real-world perspectives on working in a family business.
Facilitators: Bea Wolper and Kelly Jasin of Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin
Frequency: Quarterly
Fee: FREE for all Conway Center members
Pre-approval to join? No, this is a drop-in group, but meeting RSVP is required
Interested in participating in a group? Not sure how to get started?
Professional Development Programs and Roundtables are open to all Conway Center members and their employees. You just need to RSVP and show up! Peer Groups require pre-approval, contact Jill Hofmans, Executive Director at JHofmans@FamilyBusinessCenter.com
If you have any questions, visit the Peer Group FAQs or contact Amy Dotts, COO and Events Manager at ADotts@FamilyBusinessCenter.com
Educational Opportunities Frequently Asked Questions
Peer Groups require prior approval to join, are facilitated peer-to-peer discussions with a maximum of 10 group members. Monthly attendance is required, and there is an additional fee to join peer groups.
Professional Development Programs are all facilitated by industry experts. There is no fee to join, they are drop-in (RSVP required), and held monthly or quarterly. Group size ranges from 6-25. Peer-to-peer interaction and learning from each other is incorporated into these programs.
Roundtables are larger groups, up to 30 in each session and most are held quarterly, though we will be adding some additional roundtables throughout the year. The peer-to-peer interaction and learning from each other is still an integral part of the sessions, but these are often more didactic in nature, led by expert facilitators. There is no fee to join, they are drop-in (RSVP required).
Session descriptions, dates, times and locations for each specific group can be found by clicking the Learn More button in each description above. Facilitators keep the unique needs of family businesses in mind while preparing and delivering best practice-based content.
Prior approval is required to join a Peer Group. Each peer group description will further delineate who may attend. Click the Learn More button in the group description for further specifications.
Contact Jill Hofmans, Executive Director at jhofmans@FamilyBusinessCenter if you are interested in joining a Peer Group.
Most Professional Development Programs and Roundtables are open to all Conway Center members and their employees. Note that each session description will further delineate who may attend. Click the Learn More button in the group description for further specifications.
All Professional Development Programs and Roundtables are drop-in, you just need to RSVP and show up! Simply RSVP via the register button through the website. If you have any difficulties registering, email Amy at: adotts@familybusinesscenter.com.
On select Professional Development Program and Roundtable pages, you will see a mailing list form. By joining a mailing list, you will receive an email invitation of the topic and location one week prior to each session, along with a link to RSVP. You do not need to belong to a mailing list to attend, it is just a convenience to alert you to upcoming sessions.
Note that not all programs have mailing lists as some groups are not open to all. Roundtable and webinar invitations are sent to the entire membership. If you are currently on a mailing list and wish to be removed, please contact Lorna at lflint@FamilyBusinessCenter.com
No. Service Providers are not eligible to participate in the three types of Peer Groups - CEO, Rising CEO, and Non-Family C-Suite Leaders.
Yes, with some exceptions. Services Providers cannot attend the following professional development programs: EOS Integrators, Next Gen Leaders, and Manufacturing/Logistics.
Service Providers are welcome to attend the Leadership Development and Practical Tools for Managers professional development programs. Service Providers are also welcome to attend the Human Resources, Succession Planning, and Women in Family Business roundtables - and any other roundtable programs we add throughout the year.
Service Providers are welcome and encouraged to attend all our Monthly Educational Programs and Webinars! For full list of programs, visit the Programs page of our website.
All Peer Groups have an additional annual fee to attend. Click the Learn More button for each group to view the fees.
All Professional Development Programs and Roundtables are FREE as part of your Conway Center membership. This includes all family AND non-family employees - if your business is a Conway Center member, so is everyone in your organization!
Note that the Monthly Ed Programs and Webinars are also free for Conway Center members.
Most of our programs are held on the 2nd floor of the Griffin Student Center at Ohio Dominican University, 1215 Sunbury Rd, Columbus, OH 43219. There is free parking in the lot but you must display a PARKING PASS. Session descriptions, dates, times and locations are found here.
Sure! We ask you to register so we can have a name tent for you and make appropriate arrangements based on group size. If you forget, please come anyway!
Please just send Amy an email at adotts@familybusinesscenter.com if you know in advance that you are unable to attend.
Only Conway Center members are eligible to participate in Peer Groups, Professional Development programs, and Roundtables.
If you are interested in Conway Center membership, you are welcome to attend a monthly educational program as our guest. Please contact Amy at adotts@familybusinesscenter.com for more information.
Feel free to reach out anytime to Amy Dotts, COO and Events Manager at adotts@familybusinesscenter.com or 614-847-0160.
I still have questions. How can I get more information about Peer Groups and Roundtables?
Contact Amy Dotts, COO and Events Manager at adotts@familybusinesscenter.com or 614-847-0160
Not yet a member?
Learn more about membership and APPLY TODAY to access these Educational Opportunities and other Conway Center offerings!