BUILDING A LEGACY

By LISA LOEWEN & TYLER STRUNK

Photos by TYLER STRUNK

Running a family business is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor that many entrepreneurs aspire to achieve, as it embodies the dream of building a legacy to be passed down through generations. The obstacles that come with running a business, such as changing markets, rising competition and technological advancements can make this dream difficult to realize. For two local family businesses, however, a willingness to adapt and innovate while respecting core founding principles has made a successful generational transition look easy.

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[Dan Cooper] observed my leadership style, but that meant he watched me do things right, and he watched me make mistakes. Hopefully, he learned from both.”