Successful Generations

In this episode, we hear the story of a seventy year old family business in Northern Michigan. My guest, Chris Shepler, is part of the third generation of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service and today serves at the helm as President.   Chris shares what it was like growing on the docks, his coming of age adventure leaving the business to pursue his dreams as a professional sailor, and how his family came together to fight for their business when it mattered most. Through it all, Chris has worked to establish his own identity in a small town and carry on his family’s tradition.   Topics discussed in this episode:   About Chris Shepler (2:10) From ferry boat to America’s Cup (3:46) The magic of Mackinac Island (10:15) The book and the legal battle (13:33) “We’re finished” (27:43) The turnaround point (30:39) About the previous generations (33:20) Guest experience trumps all (38:25) Grandfather’s passing, “Flowers on the Water” (40:10) Creating your own identity (44:33) The makeup of good family business ow

The holidays— full of magic, wonder, traditions, and more. For many families, especially those with young children, the holidays also involve presents, presents and more presents. (Seriously, so many presents).   My husband and I, like many of our friends with kiddos, are working to raise our little one to be mindful about money, spending, giving and investing. Through all the hustle and bustle, we find this time of year is packed with opportunities to create teachable moments with our son.   In this episode I’m sharing 10 of my favorite things you can do this season as a family to help raise financially responsible kids.   Topics discussed in this episode:   Discuss wants vs. needs (3:10) Practice one in, one out (5:35) Set gifts aside for later (7:29) Give an experience (8:52) Make gifts (10:25) Give together (12:48) Pick a charity to support together (13:48) Invest together (17:47) Watch The Ultimate Gift (22:51) Start a tradition of gratitude (24:28) Write thank you notes (25:25)   Resources mentioned i

Research says that the rising generation of family philanthropy will take a different approach to giving. For us, impact drives our giving decisions and we want to see, touch and feel the difference our gifts are making in the world. That said, while some things change, others stay the same. Our core values, commitment to legacy and giving close to home connect us to our previous generation. I’ve personally experienced this around the boardroom of my family’s foundation, so I was thrilled to dive into the topic deeper with Michael Moody, Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. Michael is also co-author of Generation Impact How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving.   Topics discussed in this episode:   Meet Michael Moody (2:10) Why ‘generation impact’ and why now? (4:20) Welcome to the ‘golden age of giving’ (6:15) What is the impact revolution? (10:56) Define impact (12:05) Honoring family legacy (15:41) Multigenerational bo

The estate planning process can seem a little daunting. Having gone through the process, I remember walking into my lawyer’s office and not having a clue what was going to happen— much less how much it would cost. In this episode, with my younger pre-estate planning self in mind, I interview Susie Meyers who is an estate planning attorney with Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. Susie gives real, practical and actionable advice on why you should have an estate plan, and what you can do to prepare to save yourself a few dollars in the process.   Topics discussed in this episode:   About Susie Meyers (2:11) What is estate planning? (4:15) Why do I need an estate plan? (??) What does the first meeting look like? How can I prepare? (14:00) How do I find an attorney? (19:00) Do I bring my spouse? (21:30) The process (~25:00) Role of the advisor (31:30) Resources (~35:55) At the very least: Have a Durable Power of Attorney (36:15) Bonus Questions (38:00)   At a Glance—The Estate Planning Process: Meet with your esta

Engaging Family in Family Philanthropy   The question I get asked the most, is “Ellie, how can I engage my family in philanthropy?” In this episode, Virginia “Ginny” Esposito, Founder and President of the National Center of Family Philanthropy, highlights what family philanthropy is and common trends in the work she has been in for over 30 years. She has lots of wisdom for parents and great resources, whether you are just getting started or if you’ve been giving for decades.   Topics discussed in this episode:   About Ginny Esposito (1:43) What is family philanthropy? (3:56) Trends in family philanthropy (11:51) Issue-based vs. place-based giving (14:45) Engaging family in family philanthropy (28:30) Resources (38:20) Why are you engaging your family? (something to consider) (45:00) Bonus Questions (46:12) Notable and Quotable:   “Family philanthropy has been around as long as there have been families.”—Ginny Esposito #familyphilanthropy #successfulgenerations   “Many times the tradition of giving precedes

Leadership, Wellness, and Concierge Medicine   Are you struggling with your health and wellness? Are you feeling stretched thin, in a mental fog, constantly fatigued, and left with no time for yourself?   As a fellow young leader balancing all of life’s demands, I GET IT.     In this episode, I talk about my own health journey.   In May of this year, I took a health and wellness sabbatical from my full-time job. I was burnt out—unhappy with my lack of productivity, attention to detail, and the fact I had zero energy for my husband and toddler (or for much of anything, really). It was time to do something about it.   My journey towards health and wellness finally gained traction when I found the right physician. For me, it is Dr. Bill Baer, who you will hear from in this podcast. He introduced me to concierge medicine—something that many of my peers have also adopted with success.   Since that time, I’ve developed a strong team approach to my health. My team and I are in constant contact—we bounce ideas off ea

  This is not a happy ending.   Do you have a strong matriarch or patriarch? Do you have more drama in your family business than is healthy? Do you know someone who has sued a family member?   If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this episode is definitely for you.      Doug Box, 2nd generation of Box Energy Corp, experienced all of these things and more. In fact, Doug’s life pretty much reads like a Hollywood movie. He shared many of the details in his recent book, Texas Patriarch: A Legacy Lost and I was thrilled for the chance to interview him and talk about his experience specifically through the family business lense.      I usually want to keep our interviews to 30-45 minutes, but I couldn’t help but ask Doug additional questions.   Topics discussed in this episode:   The rags to riches story of Cloyce Box—from a child of the Depression, to a Marine, professional football player, and prolific businessman   A look at life in the shadow of strong, charismatic Patriarch How a rift between brot

Welcome to the first episode of Successful Generations, a podcast for the next generation of family business, family philanthropy, and family wealth! Together, and with the help of some great guests, we'll tackle the taboo topics our parents and grandparents always told us not to discuss: money, succession, inheritance, and more.   Welcome to the first episode of Successful Generations, a podcast for the next generation of family business, family philanthropy, and family wealth!   Together, and with the help of some great guests, we'll tackle the taboo topics our parents and grandparents always told us not to discuss: money, succession, inheritance, and more.   The goal for this podcast is to have real, authentic conversations that help us work towards being the very best leaders we want to be in work and in life. Let’s do this!   Topics discussed in this episode:   My upbringing on a farm in rural northern Michigan. How my life changed at an early age. A look at my experience trying to make sense of it all.