By Hannah Gordon
Assistant News Editor
The SBU Family Business Club is planning a variety of opportunities to students that are interested in business-related programs, seminars or entrepreneurship, Carol Wittmeyer, associate professor of management, said.
According to Wittmeyer, membership in the Family Business Club gives students access not only to informative club meetings but tours of alumni businesses, seminars and guest speakers.
“We have classes in family business, as well as a minor or concentration. Students in family businesses have unique opportunities and challenges,” Wittmeyer said. “We provide a venue for them to discuss these and learn how to negotiate, or even start, a family business that is valuable for them.”
According to Wittmeyer, getting involved with the club will help prepare students for the varying circumstances and experiences they will encounter in the business world.
“Most businesses in the world are family-controlled,” Wittmeyer said. “Students will own one, work for their parents’ firms, work for a family firm owned by someone else, or work with other family firms as vendors, customers or advisors,”
Other than teaching business tactics and proper etiquette, the Family Business Club has a full schedule of events for the 2013-2014 school year.
“We will be touring regional family businesses,” Wittmeyer said. “All of them have St. Bonaventure connections, either to current students or to alumni. Students have the unique opportunity to meet the owners, employees and learn about their products or services. It’s the Bona network like no other.”
Specifically, the club will be touring Ainsworth Pet Nutrition Company on Oct. 18.
New this year to the club is the Family Business Seminar Certificate Program. According to Wittmeyer, this program, aimed to prepare students for working in or owning a family firm, will be taught by faculty from the School of Business as well as Psychology and Counseling.
According to Wittmeyer, another new goal for the SBU Family Business Club is the establishment of mentoring and exchange internships for students to work with other family firms.
“It’s an exciting idea and we are the only place in the nation pursuing it,” Wittmeyer said.
