BLACK SCHOOL LAUNCHES
New Center for Family Business D
oug Neckers is sort of a unicorn: As a third-generation leader of a family-owned business, he navigated one of the most difficult transitions a business may face. Just 30 percent of family-run companies continue into a second generation. Even fewer than that—12 percent—continue into a third. Neckers is president and CEO of Maplevale Farms, which distributes food and kitchen products to restaurants, schools, and assisted-living facilities in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. His grandfather, Norman Neckers, founded the business in 1951. Today, Maplevale has 200 employees and a line of nearly 10,000 food, paper, and cleaning products. Neckers spends much of his work time looking forward, positioning the business for the moment he no longer is in the president’s office. “It can be a challenge to set aside time to plan for the future of the business,” he said. “And yet, at this point, my greatest contribution to the business is ensuring that it continues, and that we do all the things we need to do for the business to not just survive but thrive.” Lately, he’s been relying on a new resource: The Center for Family Business at Penn State Behrend. The center, an outreach effort of the Black School of Business, is building a network of family-owned businesses, backed by the expertise of Black School faculty, to help members navigate issues related to family dynamics, financing, and succession
Dr. Christopher Harben, left, and Doug Neckers, president and CEO of Maplevale Farms.
planning, among other topics. “Family businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy,” said Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of the Black School. “Because they often hire neighbors and friends, and even other family members, those business owners are committed to their employees. They feel acutely responsible for them, and for the community around them. “That sense of responsibility can, over
time, become a burden on the business,” Filbeck said. “Too often, business owners think they have to fix every problem themselves. They are so busy running the day-to-day business that they can’t always adequately plan for the long term. That’s where we can help.” The Center for Family Business will host monthly forums led by experts in the field and focused on the unique needs of family-run businesses, from the pressure
The Center for Family Business, an outreach effort of the Black School of Business, is building a network of family-owned businesses, backed by the expertise of Black School faculty—to help members 8
