The Business of Family

What does it look like when business and family all grow under the same roof?In this episode of The Business of Family Podcast, we sit down with Chantel and Zack of Pettengill Academy to talk about building a purpose-driven, first-generation childcare business from the ground up.What started as a small home-based program has grown into a thriving multi-site early childhood organization rooted in culture, leadership, and a deep love for children and families.In this conversation, we explore:✨How Chantel’s entrepreneurial upbringing shaped her leadership✨ Zack’s evolution from supporter to operational backbone✨ Balancing business partnership and marriage✨ Raising kids inside the family businessPettengill Academy isn’t just about childcare, it’s about creating spaces where children are celebrated, educators are empowered, and families truly belong.If you care about family business, leadership, and building something that lasts, this episode is for you.🎧 Tune in now!#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #LegacyBuilding #PurposeDriven #FamilyEnterprise #NextGenLeadership #FamilyOwned #FamilyRunBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #EarlyChildhood #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #LeadershipPodcast #BlueRoots

What does it take to grow a family business for nearly 75 years, without losing what makes it special?In this episode, Tammy sits down with Tom Estabrook of Estabrook’s, a Maine staple that started as a poultry farm and evolved into a thriving, multi-generation garden center.From chickens to peppers to petunias, Tom shares:• How Estabrook’s evolved across four generations• What it’s really like working alongside siblings, cousins, and the next generation• How communication keeps the family, and the business, strong• Why “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” isn’t just a saying• And how failing occasionally can be one of your greatest teachersWhether you’re navigating succession, balancing tradition with innovation, or figuring out how to work with family, this conversation is packed with wisdom.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #FamilyOwnedBusiness #MultiGenerationalBusiness #FamilyEnterprise #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #SuccessionPlanning #NextGenerationLeadership #BusinessLegacy #BuiltToLast #GardenCenter #MaineBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BlueRoots #Estabrooks

Clear explanations of what governance looks like in family-run companies. Differences between family councils and boards, and when outside directors help. Practical rules for hiring, pay, dividends, and succession across family, ownership, and business. Tips for running structured family meetings and using neutral facilitators to prevent conflict and legal exposure.

Legacy isn’t built from just one point of view.When you look at your business through three distinct lenses — business, family, and ownership — everything changes. Decisions get clearer. Conversations get more honest. And alignment becomes possible.In this Legacy on Repeat episode, I revisit my conversation with Chris Deleaney, Trust and Estate Practitioner, lawyer, and author of The Naked Opus to explore how these three circles can communicate more effectively and support long-term continuity.If you’re navigating complexity in a family enterprise, this one’s worth another listen.🎧 Listen on your favorite listening platform#FamilyBusiness #FamilyEnterprise #LegacyOnRepeat #BusinessOfFamily#FEA # FEAAdvisor #OwnershipMindset #SuccessionPlanning #Governance#BusinessStrategy #LongTermThinking #FamilyLeadership #NextGeneration#PodcastEpisode #BlueRoots

What happens when you mix entrepreneurship, creativity, and family —then add a campground, a quilt shop, and three very different daughters?In this episode, we sit down with Marlene Greenlaw, who shares her remarkable journey from owning a campground in Maine to opening a quilt shop rooted in passion, perseverance, and family support.Marlene and her husband David run two businesses side by side,  a KOA campground and a thriving quilt shop,  while gradually welcoming their daughters and sons-in-law into the fold, each in their own way and at their own pace. From late-night sewing machine repairs and fudge making, to raising kids, pursuing careers, and planning for the future, this conversation is a beautiful look at how family businesses evolve over time.We talk about:🧵 Turning a personal passion into a thriving business🏕️ Running two businesses as a couple👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Letting the next generation choose how (and if) they get involved🔄 Succession, stewardship, and learning by doing💛 The challenges, and the gifts, of mixing family and businessIf you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to build something together as a family, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SuccessionPlanning #SmallBusinessStories #FamilyEnterprise #LegacyInTheMaking #Maine #BusinessPodcast #NextGen #Podcast #BlueRoots

Randy Carr, long-time CEO who scaled World Emblem into a global leader; JC Carr, third-generation newcomer learning the business through rotations. They talk about growing a family company into a global brand. They discuss leadership across generations. They explore succession, family-management boundaries, and preparing the next generation.

🎙️The Business of Family Podcast ⚖️ Family Matters – Legal EditionWe’ve all heard the saying: don’t wait until there’s a fire to buy insurance. The same rule applies to legal planning in family businesses. In this Family Matters – Legal Edition episode, hosts Tammy & Yola unpack why reactive legal decisions (made during conflict, crisis, or transition) often cost family enterprises far more than money. From shareholder disputes and succession surprises to outdated agreements and silent partners, we explore the warning signs families too often ignore.This conversation covers:• Why waiting for a legal “emergency” damages both businesses and relationships• The core legal foundations every family enterprise should have in place• Practical steps to start fireproofing your family business todayLegal planning isn’t about expecting the worst, it’s about protecting what matters most: the business and the family behind it.#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyMattersLegalEdition #FamilyBusiness #LegalPlanning #SuccessionPlanning #Governance #BuiltToLast #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #LegalPodcast #BlueRoots #LernersLLP

In every family enterprise, there are three circles: Family. Business. Ownership.They overlap, and where you sit shapes how you see the business and the family. But what does it mean to belong in the family circle while choosing not to be part of the business?In this Legacy on Repeat episode, I revisit a conversation with Caverleigh Tuer, my daughter-in-law, who grew up surrounded by family business and brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective on supporting a family enterprise without working inside it. We talk about boundaries, identity, and the often-overlooked role of family members who support the legacy from the sidelines.A must-listen for families navigating roles, expectations, and generational legacy.#TheBusinessOfFamily #LegacyOnRepeat #FamilyBusiness #FamilyAndBusiness #GenerationalLegacy #FamilyEnterprise #ThreeCircleModel #BlueRoots 

What does it take to steward a legacy across generations, while staying true to the relationships that matter most?In this episode, Tammy sits down with Howie Grossinger, Camp Owner and Director of Camp Robin Hood and Camp Walden, to explore a family business story more than six decades in the making. In this conversation, Howie shares how he and his wife, Sari, stepped into leadership, carrying forward her parents’ vision while shaping the camp for the next generation.Together, they discuss:• Growing into a legacy rather than inheriting it overnight• Lessons passed down from Sari’s parents that still guide leadership today• Navigating blurred lines between family and business• Welcoming their daughter, Jordanna, into the camp and what that transition has meant• Creating space for the next generation, without pressure• Building a future-focused vision rooted in traditionThis episode is a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t just about longevity, it’s about intention, trust, and thoughtful transition.#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #GenerationalLegacy #CampRobinHood #LeadershipAcrossGenerations #SuccessionPlanning #FamilyEnterprise #Podcast #BuinessPodcast #Camp #CampPodcast #BlueRoots #CampWalden

What happens when you build a business together, as partners in life and in work?In this episode, we sit down with Grant and Erin Stahla, the husband-and-wife team behind Stahla Services, a company redefining the portable restroom and shower trailer industry with a focus on quality, values, and an exceptional customer experience.Grant and Erin share:• The realities of running a business as a married couple• How they divide responsibilities and protect family time• The core values guiding their decisions• Their vision for legacy, both in business and at home• Advice for the next generation of family business leadersWe also explore their unique path, both coming from family business backgrounds, yet choosing to build something entirely their own, and how that experience shapes the way they lead today.If you’re navigating family, ownership, partnership, or legacy, this conversation is full of honest insights and practical wisdom.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #HusbandAndWifeTeam #ValuesBasedLeadership #LegacyBuilding #FamilyEnterprise #PodcastEpisode #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #BlueRoots