Today, two out of five Fortune 500 firms are family businesses. (Think Ford Motors and Wal-mart.) The majority of all U.S. companies are owned, operated, or otherwise managed by mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters.

Clearly, family ties can make business strong. But they can also make business more complicated.

The Cox Family Enterprise Center is here to help.

NEWS FLASH:

The Cox Family Enterprise Center will be editorial offices of the new scientific journal, Journal of Family Business Strategy. It is an honor to be selected by the esteemed publisher Elsevier to oversee one of their newest ventures. Joe Astrachan is Editor and Torsten Pieper is Assistant Editor.

Upcoming Events:

Family Business Forum

On June 16, 2009 Dr. Joe Astrachan will talk about the importance of Family Boards of Directors and the details of establishing and using them to maximize family and business survival and prosperity. This will be a workshop in which participants dive into the topic. In addition, we will have participants who have well-established boards sharing their experiences. Boards are a demonstrable key to success, you won't want to miss this event! For more information or to register please contact us at 770-423-6045.

The 17th Annual Awards The Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards

The 2009 Awards Gala Dinner was held on May 28, 2009 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. It was a great celebration of the best in Georgia's business community. For a list of previous winners click here. For more information or for sponsorship opportunities for next year's program please contact us at 770-423-6045.

Research Alert

The Family Business Casebook Annual 2007 is now available. Contact us if you would like a copy.

Mechanisms to assure family business cohesion: Guidelines for family business leaders and their families, by Torsten M. Pieper and Joseph H. Astrachan is now available. Contact us if you would like a copy.