History
Family businesses occupy a special place in driving America's growth and prosperity.
In fact, family-owned businesses comprise as much as 80 percent of all businesses.
Importantly, family-owned businesses are unique business entities whose dynamics require special understanding, care and training to optimize their growth, prosperity and longevity.
It was with this in mind that the Conway Center for Family Business was founded in 1998 with a singular vision: to be Central Ohio's best resource for the challenges and issues specific to family businesses.
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Conway Center for Family Business provides educational and networking opportunities to family business owners and their employees to promote business success. To learn more about these programs, click here. And, to learn more about the benefits we offer members, click here.
Key Dates in our History
1998 — The Family Business Center of Central Ohio is incorporated as a not-for-profit Ohio corporation. The founders are J. Richard "Dick" Emens, Bea Wolper, Carol McGuire and T. Michael McGuire.
1999 — First Family Business Awards Program is held at Ohio Dominican University (ODU). To date, more than 115 awards have been presented to local family-owned businesses.
2000 — An affiliation is established with Ohio Dominican University.
2003 — The Center hires Becky Blatt as Associate Director.
2004 — Center moves into campus office space donated by ODU.
The first Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at Anthony Thomas Candy Company.
First Family Business Course is offered by the Business Department at Ohio Dominican University. Building, Operating and Passing on the Family Business is an undergraduate course appropriate for students who may have employment opportunities in a family-owned business, individuals who may be currently working in a family-owned company or those who seek greater understanding of family business terminology, strategies and issues.
2005 — The second Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at Laser Reproductions.
The Maish Scholarship/Family Business Endowed Scholarship at Ohio Dominican University is established by Judy and Tom Maish, on behalf of their family. Mr. Maish was a long-standing Advisory Board Member of the Center. The Maish Scholarship provides merit-based assistance to an ODU student whose family has a family business and who has demonstrated a desire to work in a family business after graduation.
2006 — The Family Business Center creates a peer advisory group, Women in Family Business, for women in family-owned businesses. Bea Wolper, Center advisory board member and partner in the law firm of Emens and Wolper, LPA launched the first meeting with a presentation entitled "Are You Getting the Respect You Deserve? Professional Advice for Women Family Business Leaders."
Jeremiah Guappone, an incoming freshman from Lisbon, Ohio was selected as the first recipient of the Maish Family Business Scholarship.
The third annual Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at The Ohio Fire Academy, a construction project of Center member R.W. Setterlin Building Company. Read more →
2007 — The Center moves into its current home -- Las Casas House at ODU.
James R. Conway, former owner of Marion Steel Co., pledges $1 million to the Family Business Center. Read more →
The fourth annual Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at Corporate Interior Concepts.
Center Service Provider GREENCREST gives the Center an updated look by providing the Center with a new logo (want to see the old one?).
2008 — Thaddeus O'Brien, PhD conducts the first Next-Generation Peer Group, giving younger family business members opportunities to explore personal and professional leadership issues in a safe and supportive environment.
The name of the center is changed to the Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio to honor and show appreciation for Mr. Conway's generous gift.
The fifth annual Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at White Castle's home office, 555 Goodale Boulevard. (Have photo)
Center hires third staff person, Deana Gordon, to coordinate educational programming.
2009 — Thaddeus O'Brien, PhD kicks off meetings with the second class of Next-Generation Leaders that will meet monthly during 2009.
The sixth annual Family Business Tour and Networking Event is held at the Charles Penzone Grand Salon on Polaris Parkway.
Center membership surpasses 100 family owned businesses and service providers.
2010 — The Center's name is changed to the Conway Center for Family Business to more clearly reflect the focus and purpose of the Center.
