EntreLeadership Our Family C-Suite Can’t Get Through a Meeting Without Yelling
Apr 8, 2026
Ryan Miller, a second-generation CEO who co-leads a $47M manufacturing firm with his two brothers. He discusses family-run company tensions, meeting structure and tone, treating relatives as executives, and practical ways to de-escalate heated partner meetings.
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Family Ownership Sparks Heated Partner Meetings
- Ryan Miller runs a $47M second-generation manufacturing company with 190 team members alongside his two brothers as partners.
- He describes their dynamic as highly passionate, competitive, and prone to arguing especially when the three meet alone.
Bring Meeting Structure To Partner Sessions
- Run partner-only meetings with a clear agenda, note-taker, and defined purpose to prevent meandering conversations that escalate.
- Ryan admits their partner meetings lacked discipline compared to executive meetings and suggests adding an agenda and minutes.
Wear The Executive Hat Even As Co-Owners
- Treat family members by their company roles during business meetings to preserve professionalism and avoid personal attacks.
- John Felkins points out that in the office they act like CEO and VPs, but partner meetings revert to family dynamics and that fuels escalation.