Sam Ballweg, Endres Manufacturing

"The Family Business Center has been invaluable as we work towards transitioning the family business from one generation to the next. Endres Manufacturing Co. has survived into the fourth generation, and with the help of FBC we hope to survive several more. The opportunity to network and talk with other family businesses going through the same challenges have been instrumental to our success."

Bucky Badger

Buckingham U. Badger (Bucky) is the official mascot of UW. Known as "the Badger State" because of early lead miners, UW adopted the badger as their official mascot in the late 1800s and Bucky has been the iconic symbol of a university that is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the world.

As a member of the UW FBC you have access to the same resources that make the University of Wisconsin-Madison a world class institution of higher learning.

Stephen DiTullio, Stuart Herro, Wrede Smith, Bryan Esch, DeWitt Ross & Stevens, S.C.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of the FBC since its beginning. Just as the Center's membership has grown from year to year, the quality of the programming continues to improve each year. It has been fun to get to know many outstanding business owners and to witness the vibrancy and excellence which our members and fellow sponsors have brought to the Center over the years."

Students

The University of Wisconsin is home to over 40,000 students from all 50 states, every county in Wisconsin and all over the world. This next generation will enter the workforce amongst over 350,000 living alumni.

The Terrace

The Memorial Union terrace is a fixture for social gatherings by UW and Madison residents. The 'Terrace' provides for "the communal life of instructors and students in work, in play, and in social relations."

The community of the UW FBC is as diverse as the people who visit the 'Terrace'. Since 1996, hundreds of family businesses have chosen to join the FBC in industries ranging from construction to retail to health care. The size of member companies also varies widely--from a handful of employees to more than 6,000.

Neil Fauerbach, Smith & Gestland

"As founding sponsors of the Family Business Center, we are proud of the progress the center has made and the growth of the resources available to our clients. As consultants to family businesses, we are always looking for opportunities to help our clients flourish. The FBC provides not only a great source of knowledge and ideas in the programs, it provides a safe place for members to share ideas, challenges, and best practices."

Bascom Hall

Bascom Hall, named for University president John Bascom (1874), was originally named Main Hall. It now houses the offices of the chancellor, vice chancellors, and other leaders of UW.

The Fluno Center

Designed exclusively as an educational learning facility, the Fluno Center connects the resources of the University with the professional community. The beautiful interior, reflecting the Arts and Crafts style, includes and auditorium, classrooms, meeting and conference space, overnight guest rooms, dining, fitness room and a study pub. For the fifth consecutive year, the Financial Times of London has ranked the Fluno Center in the top 2 worldwide for food and accommodations for custom programs. The UW Family Business Center is proud to call the Fluno Center home.

Grainger Hall

Grainger Hall is the home of the Wisconsin School of Business. Opened in 1993, with an addition for the MBA program (including the Executive and Evening MBAs) in 2008, Grainger is a state of the art facility that helps to foster a sense of comunity among the students and faculty of the Wisconsin School of Business. The School of Business consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the nation. According to BusinessWeek, 14 of the CEOs at S&P 500 companies hold undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin, putting UW in a tie with Harvard for first place.

Sverre Roang, Whyte Hirschboeck & Dudek

“The Family Business Center surprises me at nearly every turn, bringing unique insights to businesses and the families who own them. It is a critical resource that allows us to take the time out of a hectic day-to-day schedule to take a broader view and focus on structural, strategies, and long term issues in a welcoming and supportive environment. I would strongly and unequivocally recommend the Center to any family business.”

Patrick Ryan, Ryan Brothers Ambulance

“We have found the UW Family Business Center invaluable as we have taken over the operations of our second generation family business. The FBC provides us with the opportunity to learn about the specific and unique aspects of a family business, as well as interact with others who meet the same everyday challenges that we experience. There is no other resource anywhere that can provide us with the vital information and networking opportunities which help us strengthen both our family and our business.”

Kurt Welton, Welton Enterprises

“The Family Business Center has helped Welton Enterprises, Inc. immeasurably. From helping us with tax strategies that saved us millions, to helping us form a Board of Advisors that have given us the advice we needed to grow in a healthy way. I depend on the FBC for relevant, timely and sage advice that I can count on to help me be the best possible steward of our family assets. The FBC takes their mission seriously, and their leadership has led them from a small parochial organization to become one of the finest Centers of its type in the county.”

Tom and Nancy Mohs, Placon Corporation

“As true believers in the concept of family business, we have learned at the FBC that there is so much to know about how to make your family business – and your family – successful. At the FBC, we have heard from experts with first-hand knowledge how and how not to transistion our businesses from one generation to the next and at the same time keep the extended family strong and loving. What can be more important than that?”

Gerry, Jim, Mike and Joe Ring, Park Towne Development Corporation

“The Family Business Center has been a valuable resource for the past 10 years, both for our family members and key employees. The topics are relevant to any kind of business, not just a family business, which is important in order to keep the information fresh after 10 years. We’ve enjoyed seeing the Center grow into a dynamic organization and look forward to being part of it for the next decade.”

Eric Schwartz, Sara Investments

“The Family Business Center is a wonderful place to listen and learn what we really are all going through in today’s business world.”