“ We started on this journey of saying if the passion rate is so high , why is the mortality rate so high ?” he says . “ It wasn ’ t about estate planning , it wasn ’ t about whether the next generation has the skill set , it was more about relationships and governance and , ‘ How do we get along ?’”
Now , amid a changing and increasingly complicated ( and competitive ) business landscape , many owners are seeing the value of an outside perspective , especially as business grows . “ The challenges today are a lot more difficult than my generation or the current ( leader ’ s ) generation ,” Glassman says . “ These large family businesses , they ’ re more and more complex .”
For previous generations , passing down some knowledge and skills from generation to generation might have been sufficient . But interpersonal dynamics can complicate those efforts . Lois Lang , an executive coach who works with family businesses at Stockton-based Evolve Partner Group , says she has watched many parents at the helm of a family business fall into a mentor role , where “ there ’ s more advice giving than giving adult children assignments that are going to stretch them and help them develop into the leader the business needs them to be .”
She says a coach or consultant can help fill in that gap . “ As an outsider , you ’ re not as emotionally involved ,” she says . “ You know if this adult professional who is their child does not do XYZ behaviors , they will not go very far in the company . You ’ re able to say those things that are very hard for most parents to say .”
The need to develop stronger communication skills to tackle sensitive topics goes both ways , experts say . For the younger executives in family businesses , introducing a new vision or style without totally disrupting the culture can be a challenge . One common quandary , Premo says , is how does the next generation “ make proposals to the founding generation or the current managing generation of things they want to change that might be a little risky , where you have someone that ’ s risk averse ?
“ A lot of them are centered around personal and professional growth ,” she says . “ How can this next generation ( develop ) their management style in a way that ’ s going to add ( to ) their family legacy or add ( to ) their family ’ s core values … in a way that their personal style will trickle down to have a more productive workforce ?”
Looking inward first
After starting Accendo Cellars in St . Helena with her parents and brother in 2013 , Jaime Araujo Bézian started to think the family could benefit from coaching as they sought to grow their winery . Araujo Bézian recalled hearing classmates at her MBA program talk about how coaches helped their family businesses . “ Do this sooner than later ,” they told her . “ By the time you think you need it , it ’ s too late .”
NOR-CAL BEVERAGE
THRIVING , EXPANDING AND HIRING !
Founded 83 years ago , Nor-Cal Beverage Co . Inc .. continues to thrive
and , remarkably , even expand in hard times , growing its customer base , and its workforce , offering excellent employment opportunities . Nor-Cal , based in West Sacramento , is the largest independent co-packer of teas , ades , juices , waters and energy drinks west of the Mississippi .
Shannon Deary-Bell , president and CEO of this third-generation family business , says , “ We ’ re currently building a 422,000-square-foot building next to our 475,000-square-foot distribution center . At 40 feet high , it will be one of the tallest buildings of its size in West Sacramento and will enable us to store raw materials and full goods , allowing for future expansion needs . We anticipate taking occupancy by early November .”
This third-generation family company maintains a portfolio of multiple prominent beverage brands and continues to grow and expand with Bodyarmor , a top isotonic drink . To meet demand for all products , Nor-Cal has hired more than 100 people since January and has plans to hire more . “ Currently , we ’ re pleased to be able to offer 40-50 open positions and eager to bring on new team members as we open our new facility ,” Deary-Bell says .
2286 Stone Boulevard West Sacramento , CA 95691 916.372.0600
www . ncbev . com
FAMILY BUSINESS
SINCE
1937
SPONSORED PROFILE
October 2020 | comstocksmag . com 49