ARCC Succession Summit presented by the Women's Business Council

ARCC Succession Summit presented by the Women's Business Council
 
Succession and Continuity Planning are key business activities that frequently take a backseat to growing revenues, trimming costs, or running day-to-day business operations.  Whether you are a community leader, business owner, executive, or a next generation rock star, join us virtually, September 23, 2020 at 8:30 am as we and our panel invest an hour to discuss why succession is a critical business activity in which you should engage. Together, we can create a culture of regular succession planning and development to ensure our community’s upward economic trajectory continues.

Featured Panelists:

Gary Dake is the third generation of the Dake family who serves as President of Stewart’s Shops Corp. Stewart’s is a chain of 337 convenience stores in eastern New York and Southern Vermont. Because Stewart’s is vertically integrated, Gary manages the company’s manufacturing, distribution, and real estate development businesses as well. Stewart’s has over 5000 employees and over $1.5 Billion in sales. Gary shares an office with his father, Bill, who still is in the office every day and is a very involved Chairman of the Board. Gary continues to work on the inevitable transition from Bill to him while simultaneously working on developing his successor. His successor will be the first non-family member to run the company.


Sherry Finkel Murphy, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, is the lead advisor in the ADK region for The Atrium Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual, a Financial Times 400 wealth management practice. Financial Planning is Sherry’s second career, having retired from the technology sector after developing and leading over 2000 sales professionals and sales leaders in a variety of companies. Sherry works with individuals on retirement distribution strategies; and with businesses and families to create and fund continuity and succession plans, to develop family, company, and community legacies, and to facilitate founders’ exit strategies.  She is a founder of the ARCC’s Women’s Business Council.


Juan Gonzales serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Hunt Companies, Inc., a second- generation General Contractor specializing in light commercial projects. Juan oversees the financial and administrative aspects of this multi-million dollar company. He's grounded by the financial truths that maintain the strength of a corporation, while finding solutions that keep the heart of a small business. Juan has spearheaded HCI’s succession to the second generation over the last five years. Previously, he retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer after a 20-year career and holds an MBA from Strayer University. Currently, Juan is a member of the ARCC Board.  Hunt Companies, Inc. is proud to sponsor the Family Legacy Award, made to individuals joining their family’s business to extend their family legacy and to master operations and finance. 
 
Rebecca Wood is the President of Six Flags Great Escape Resort since March 2019. A tourism marketing and communications professional, Rebecca has been with Six Flags for 11 years.  Prior to Six Flags, she served as the director of marketing at Wilton Mall in Saratoga. Rebecca is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a degree in Mass Communications where she also played Division I college basketball.  In June 2016, Rebecca completed the High Potentials Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. Rebecca sits on the board of the Tri-County United Way and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Six Flags Great Escape operates 365 days with 1700 employees during peak season. Nearly 1 million visit the resort annually, making it a highly efficient contributor to Six Flags’ $1.3 Billion annual revenue.


Moderated by:
Michael Bittel is the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce President/CEO and an employee of the USDA New York State  Farm Service Agency Committee. Prior to joining the ARCC, he was COO at Hometown Healthcare and prior to that Co-CEO of The King Arthur Flour Co. in Norwich, Vt.  As COO at Clifton Park-based Hometown Healthcare, Michael was responsible for human resources, operations, customer service, sales, marketing, insurance payer and government relations, and new business development. He currently serves on the Warren Washington County Industrial Development Agency Board, the Saratoga/Warren/Washington Counties Workforce Development Board, the Glens Falls BID Board and is Treasurer and a Sunday School Teacher at Hoosic Valley Community Church.  Michael has also served on the Board for the March of Dimes New York, the Glens Falls Hospital Board of Governors, and the Northeast NY Salvation Army Board. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and government from Skidmore College. Bittel resides in Greenwich with his wife Wendy, and two sons Christian and Reagan.
 

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We’ll discuss:
 
Community succession and philanthropy:  How deep is our community bench? How can the torchbearers pass their knowledge, resources, and passion to a new group of leaders, securing vibrant business and local economic growth?
 
The commitment to mentor and the selection of proteges:  Whether developing or hiring, how can a leader build their successor(s) and commit to continuity and quality within their organization? Where is the bank of human capital for future work in our area?
 
Securing the family business: What planning can multi-generational family businesses do to support continuity and sustain business health over multiple generations?
 
The plan:  What planning strategies are employed to create continuity and succession plans in different types of businesses?