In the mid-1990’s, two attorneys who represent numerous family-owned businesses in their practice, J. Richard “Dick” Emens and Bea Wolper, saw a considerable need for a local organization to support and educate the substantial number of family-owned businesses in central Ohio.

As members of the Attorneys for Family Held Businesses (AFHB), Emens and Wolper frequently interacted with leaders of several Family Business Centers across the nation.

After much research, they discovered more than 70 Family Business Centers affiliated with colleges or universities with the primary function of providing educational resources to family businesses.

In discussing the concept with Central Ohio Family Business leaders, Emens and Wolper were urged to start a Family Business Center to serve the numerous family businesses in central Ohio.

The Family Business Center of Central Ohio was incorporated as a not-for-profit Ohio corporation on September 22, 1998.

Founded by J. Richard “Dick” Emens and Bea Wolper of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe L.L.P. and Carol McGuire and T. Michael McGuire.

It is led by an Advisory Board consisting of family business owners and service providers.