c elebrati N g 10 Years
suCCessors level supporters
Greetings,
welcome to the smith Family business initiative’s 10th anniversary conference: celebrating 10 Years of success! as we gather to commemorate a decade of dedication, growth, and achievement, we reflect on the remarkable journey that has brought us to this milestone.
Over the past ten years, the smith Family business initiative (sFbi) at cornell University has been at the forefront of supporting and nurturing family businesses. From fostering mentorship for students to advancing research and facilitating peer leadership forums, sFbi has become a cornerstone of family business education and support. Our courses, including the popular Family businesses in italy trek, our executive education offerings, along with the many resources for students, alumni, and the broader community, have greatly contributed to our mission and impact.
this year’s conference promises to be a memorable celebration of our accomplishments and a platform for envisioning the future. we will commence with a keynote dinner on wednesday, October 9, at the sanctuary on roosevelt island in NYc, featuring cristina Mariani-May of banfi Vintners.
On thursday, we will begin the day with a conversation with John Mba ’74 and Dyan smith, whose generous gift enabled the founding of our initiative. this will be followed by a panel with former Family business club officers, titled: “celebrating 10 Years of smith Family business initiative — Former club Officers reflect.” Next, we will present two concurrent panels, “greener g enerations: sustainable solutions from Family businesses,” focusing on sustainability and waste solutions, and “cultural crossroads: bridging cultures for business success,” which will delve into how family businesses are impacted by culture and cultural differences. in the afternoon, in another set of concurrent panels, we will feature a conversation with luis carlos sarmiento of grupo aval, “growing the Family business in the third g eneration: challenges and Opportunities — the case of grupo aval,” and “in a New York Minute,” a look at New York family businesses. the conference will culminate with a closing keynote entitled “Family businesses as a Force for social good” with Fred keller ‘67, Founder of cascade engineering.
as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our team and look forward to achieving even more in the coming years. we would also like to extend our thanks to our sponsors, whose generous support has made this event possible. Your contributions have been invaluable to our success and continued growth.
thank you for joining us in this celebration. May this conference inspire you, enrich your knowledge, and strengthen the bonds within our vibrant community.
susan Hu, assistant Director kaitlyn Mann, initiative coordinator wes sine, John and Dyan smith Professor of Management and Family business Dann Van Der Vliet, John and Dyan smith executive Director of Family business
agenda
WedneSday, OctOBer 9, 2024
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Welcome reception the sanctuary, roosevelt island the sanctuary on roosevelt island is a one-mile walk from the cornell tech campus, accessible via the roosevelt island walking path, or the free public shuttle that picks up in front of the graduate Hotel.
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm: Opening comments and Welcome message ............................. the sanctuary, roosevelt island
Daniel g. Van Der Vliet, John and Dyan smith executive Director of Family business, cornell University
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm: dinner the sanctuary, roosevelt island
8:15 pm – 9:00 pm: deans Welcome message ............................................................ the sanctuary, roosevelt island andrew karolyi, charles Field knight Dean of the cornell sc Johnson college of business keynote speaker — cristina Mariani-May, President and ceO at banfi Vintners banfi is a name that all cornellians are familiar with. banfi is the sole U.s. importer of the Mariani family’s internationally renowned wine estates in italy — castello banfi of Montalcino, tuscany, and banfi Piemonte of strevi, Piedmont. banfi wines, family-owned since 1919, is currently led by 3rd generation family proprietor and ceO cristina Mariani-May. we welcome Ms. Mariani-May to share the story of banfi wines, its founding in the Us as an importer of fine italian wines, and its eventual entry into the italian market with castello banfi in Montalcino, italy.
thurSday, OctOBer 10, 2024
8:00 am – 9:00 am: registration, networking & Breakfast.......... Verizon executive education center, cornell tech
9:00 am – 10:00 am: conference Kick-Off: celebrating 10 years of Smith Family Business initiative ..... Verizon 121
Join wesley sine, the John and Dyan smith Professor of Management and Family business, and Daniel Van Der Vliet, the John and Dyan smith executive Director of the smith Family business initiative as we reflect on the 10 years that have helped to create the sFbi as we know it today. Dann and wes will be joined by John Mba ’74 and Dyan smith as we take a look forward into the next 10 years, and beyond.
10:15 am – 11:15 am: Panel i — celebrating 10 years of Smith Family Business initiative: Verizon 121 Former Club Officers Reflect
we welcome several of our most influential Family business club Officers back to cornell to share their experiences post-Mba , where they are now, and the role their family business, and the sFbi, have played heretofore.
Moderator: Vishal gaur, anne and elmer lindseth Dean of the Johnson graduate school of Management
• christopher “ck” chua, Mba ‘17, Managing Director, wong chu king Holdings inc.
• Maria Virginia Dellizzotti, Mba ’18, chief strategy Officer, Molinos san José s a
• bryan wong, Mba ’17, senior Vice President, Papillion ribbon & bow, inc.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Panel ii — greener generations: Sustainable
Verizon 215
Solutions from Family Businesses .............................................................................................. with environmental concerns at the forefront of global discussions, family businesses are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in sustainability and waste reduction. this panel delves into the innovative solutions and best practices that family-owned enterprises are implementing to create a greener future. Panelists will share their personal experiences, successful strategies, and potential solutions for going easy on the earth and promoting sustainability within their businesses. Join us to learn how family businesses can make a significant impact on environmental conservation and inspire future generations to prioritize sustainability.
Moderator: rochelle clarke, cornell Family business Mentor
• Jeremy brunner ’94, President, espoma Organic
• alessandro Magnani, business Development, Davines
• chris Noble, Mba ’09, co-owner, Noblehurst Farms
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Panel iii — cultural crossroads: Bridging cultures for Business Success .............. Verizon 225 in today’s globalized world, family businesses often face the unique challenge of navigating cultural differences. this panel explores how family-owned enterprises tackle cross-cultural diversity in various scenarios, such as immigrant owners managing businesses in new countries, operating in foreign markets, and conducting business across multiple nations. Panelists will share insights and strategies on overcoming cultural clashes, adapting to different business practices, and leveraging cultural diversity to enhance business success and cohesion.
Moderator: benjamin berger, tax Partner, rsM
• cathy choi ‘93, President, bulbrite
• Deborah erickson, executive, servenco Management
• lola Famuyiwa, Mba ’24, Muyis Photography
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: lunch and networking Verizon 201
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Panel iv — growing the Family Business in the Verizon 215 third generation: challenges and Opportunities — the case of grupo aval. .................................................................................................................
Moderator: wes sine, John and Dyan smith Professor of Management and Family business, samuel curtis Johnson graduate school of Management
• Doug baumoel ‘78, Founding Partner, continuity llc
• luis carlos sarmiento, Mba ’20, Managing Director, grupo aval (joining via Zoom)
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Panel v — in a new york minute: taking a Bite Out of the Big apple Verizon 121 in this rousing visit with four New York city family business leaders, we will explore the challenges and reality of running a business in the big apple. Humorous, poignant, and entertaining.
Moderator: stefanie kyles, cornell Family business Mentor
• Michael Harney ’77, Vice President & ceO, Harney & sons tea
• kevin leichter ’97, President, Premier Paint roller
• lloyd robinson ’87, President, awiscO
• alan rosen ’91, Owner, Junior’s cheesecake
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm: conference closing Keynote — Family Businesses as a Force for Social good ...........
121 Fred keller ’67, Founder, cascade engineering
Moderator: wes sine, John and Dyan smith Professor of Management and Family business, samuel curtis Johnson graduate school of Management
doug Baumoel ‘78
Doug baumoel is the Founder of continuity, llc and offers an extensive background in family business operations and executive management in his work with clients. He served as a second-generation executive in his own family’s business and has held key executive positions in other family and non-family businesses. Doug started and ran businesses in both the U.s. and europe, and lived overseas for six years while establishing and managing the european offices of his family’s business. He has applied more than 20 years of business experience to the development of a process for analyzing key variables affecting family business conflict. Doug is the co-author, with continuity Managing Partner blair trippe, of Deconstructing conflict: Understanding Family business, shared wealth and Power.
Doug earned an Mba from the wharton school at the University of Pennsylvania and a bs in electrical engineering (78) from cornell University. a dual certificate holder in both Family business a dvising and Family wealth a dvising from the Family Firm institute, he has been awarded the additional distinction of FFi Fellow. among Doug’s numerous professional achievements, he holds a certificate in civil Mediation from Mcle and is a graduate of the Director Professionalism program of the National association of corporate Directors (NacD), which recognized him with Fellow status. Doug also served as President of the New england chapter of the Family Firm institute.
Benjamin Berger
ben serves as the national family office enterprise markets leader at rsM Us llP and is on the firm’s global family office advisory board.
ben helps families succeed in achieving their goals by developing collaborative and trusting relationships. since 1995, he has served families and family offices, addressing their full range of needs, including tax, operations, and technology. ben enjoys working closely with families to uncover and prioritize solutions to complex challenges in the areas of structuring, governance, succession, philanthropy, multigenerational wealth transfer, and sophisticated tax and estate planning. ben spends considerable time working with family offices to address structuring, governance and tax optimization issues.
at rsM, he enjoys developing and mentoring colleagues to provide them with opportunities for advancement and career growth. He is a member of the firm’s Family First employee network group and volunteers with many charitable and civic organizations.
Jeremy Brunner ‘94 after graduating from cornell University with a degree in business Management and Marketing, Jeremy went on to obtain a law degree from rutgers University. Jeremy then joined the espoma company as the fourth generation of family ownership and management. espoma is now celebrating 95 years in business as the leading organic fertilizer manufacturer for the lawn and garden industry.
cathy choi ‘93
cathy choi is President and ceO of bUlbrite, a leading manufacturer and supplier of energy-efficient lighting solutions. Founded 53 years ago by her parents, bulbrite is a familyowned business renowned for its commitment to innovation, education and exceptional service. choi oversees all aspects of the company’s operations including sales, marketing, operations, manufacturing and product development.
recipient of the 2021 women in lighting leadership award and residential lighting industry leadership award in 2010, choi is an active leader in the lighting industry, current serving as a board of governors of the american lighting association (ala) as well as a co-chair of the ala women in lighting committee. she is an ala certified lighting specialist and requires that her team receives ala certifications to provide the highest level of industry expertise and customer service.
choi has an Mba from New York University and a ba from cornell University. she serves as a NYU stern alumni council member and is co-chair of the NYU stern women in business (swib) alumnae group. she also served on the President’s council for cornell women (Pccw) and sits on several corporate boards for both public and private companies. she supports her local community by serving as a former board of Director for the ridgewood Public library Foundation. she lives in ridgewood, NJ with her husband, two daughters and pandemic “puppy”.
cK chua, mBa ’17
ck is the Managing Director of wong chu king Holdings, inc., a family office based out Manila, the Philippines with interests in logistics, petroleum, real estate, and food industries. in his position, he oversees operations in the logistics and real estate businesses and while functionally oversees treasury, corporate Finance, and corporate Planning functions for the whole group.
Prior to joining wong chu king Holdings inc., he was based in bangkok, thailand and served as the country Director of the kraft Heinz company for both the Philippines and thailand. His background spans extensive experience in the investment banking, corporate Finance, and Venture capital fields.
in 2020, he turned his passion for coffee into a business by establishing exponential concepts group. today, exponential concepts is one of the leading independent green coffee traders in the country. a dditionally, it is also one of the leading specialty coffee roasting companies and cafe operators in the Philippines.
ck obtained his bachelor of science in Management from the ateneo de Manila University and his Master’s in business administration from the samuel curtis Johnson graduate school of Management at cornell University, where he was part of the Family business club. He is currently finishing his joint Masters in global Finance at the New York University stern school of business and Hong kong University of science and technology business schools.
rochelle clarke
rochelle clarke is the ceO and Founder of succession strength and continuity strength, where she leads global efforts to help businesses navigate leadership transitions and protect against operational disruptions. with a focus on risk Management and business continuity, rochelle has dedicated her career to ensuring that businesses remain resilient and thrive through significant changes.
rochelle is also an entrepreneur in residence at iNseaD and serves on the board of directors for the risk Management a ssociation. Her thought leadership is recognized worldwide, with contributions to prominent publications such as Forbes and the New York times.
at cornell University, rochelle mentors family businesses, sharing her expertise in succession planning, business continuity, and maximizing value during transitions. she holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s wharton school and is committed to helping the next generation of business leaders succeed.
virginia dellizzotti, mBa ‘18
Virginia is a seasoned executive and third-generation leader at Molinos san José s. a ., a prominent food company from argentina, specializing in milling wheat flour and manufacturing dried pasta. with 15 years of dedicated service, she has spent her entire career at Molinos san José, joining as an undergraduate and steadily advancing through every division to reach the executive ranks.
Virginia’s academic journey includes a major in accounting and advanced studies in finance in italy and germany. in 2018, she further enhanced her expertise by earning an Mba from cornell University’s sc Johnson college of business.
as chief strategy Officer and board member, Virginia plays a crucial role in steering the company’s financial operations, accounting, and innovation, ensuring the facilities are equipped for the future. she is a key driver of strategic initiatives, leading the development of new business ventures and expanding the company’s product portfolio.
balancing her demanding career with motherhood, Virginia is deeply devoted to her 3-year-old daughter, Michella, who is the biggest fan of the company’s noodles. the business is truly a family affair—Virginia’s parents, who established the company, and her husband are also deeply involved in its success.
deborah erickson
Deborah is the third generation to lead a 75-year-old multi-national real estate development and asset management business founded in rio de Janeiro, brazil. she serves as the chief executive Officer of her family’s single family office, servenco Management inc., based in Old greenwich, ct. since joining the family office in 2011, Deborah has focused on international trust and estate planning, corporate restructuring, family governance, and modernizing internal financial reporting platforms. she co-manages servenco’s U.s. real estate portfolio that has acquired commercial and multi-family assets in Denver, cO and Dallas, t X. she leads her family’s philanthropic
foundation and serves on the board of their rio de Janeiro based foundation, instituto rogerio steinberg, which has received awards from the United states Department of state.
Prior to joining the family office, Deborah was a litigator with a focus on commercial and employment law. she received her b. a . from Duke University with highest distinction and her J.D. from the george washington University school of law. she earned a certificate in Private wealth Management from the wharton school, institute of executive education.
born in rio de Janeiro, Deborah currently resides in Old greenwich, connecticut with her husband and three children.
Omolola Famuyiwa mBa ‘24
lola earned her bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences from stony brook University and an executive Mba/ Ms in Healthcare leadership from cornell University. as a teenager, she volunteered at her father’s photography studio, Muyis Photography, which he established in 1978 in Nigeria after graduating from the school of Visual arts. Her father’s work focused on capturing the rich tapestry of Nigerian culture, including still life, traditional attire, and woodcraft.
lola currently works at cerus corporation as Market Development Director. she holds a New York state license and is board-certified with the american society of clinical Pathology (ascP) as a specialist in blood banking (sbb). lola is also a member of the american association of blood banks (aabb) and its journal club. she serves as a volunteer transfusion Medicine inspector for the college of american Pathologists (caP).
lola lives in New York city and is a proud mother of a twelve-year-old son.
vishal gaur
Vishal gaur is the anne and elmer lindseth Dean and professor of operations, technology, and information management at the samuel curtis Johnson graduate school of Management at the cornell sc Johnson college of business. For a full bio, please visit Vishal’s faculty page
michael harney ’77
Mike Harney graduated from cornell’s Hotel school in 1977. He has been the master tea buyer and blender of Harney & sons for more than 25 years. He, too, is a published author and educator who loves to scour the globe to meet with tea producers from all the major tea countries, looking for the best teas to deliver to his customers. Mike focuses on tea tasting, finances, and web sales.
andrew Karolyi
andrew karolyi is the charles Field knight Dean of the cornell sc Johnson college of business. also the Harold bierman, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Management, he is a scholar of investment finance with a specialization in the study of international financial markets. For a full bio, please visit andrew’s faculty page.
Fred Keller ’66
Fred believes that business has the unique opportunity to complement its efforts on financial performance with important work in the social and environmental arenas. He has emphasized the key role business can play in building financial, social and ecological capital, often through partnerships with government and community agencies.
Fred recently completed 17 years as a senior Visiting lecturer at the samuel curtis Johnson graduate school of Management at cornell University. He served as an executive-in-residence at the University of Michigan –ross school of business. He was a member of the U.s Department of commerce Manufacturing council with two years as chair under Presidents bush and Obama. keller also served on the w k kellogg Foundation board for 14 years with two years as chair. Fred is a trustee for the gerald r. Ford Presidential Foundation.
a grand rapids, Michigan native, Fred earned his b s. in materials science and engineering from cornell University and an M.s. in business management from rensselaer Polytechnic institute.
Stefanie Kyles stefanie is a former 4th generation ceO who took the helm of her family’s 100year-old business, Vassilaros coffee, amidst a succession crisis. Merging her corporate experience with family business realities, stefanie turned around and reorganized her family’s interests, unlocking multi-generational value while ushering in a new era of family cohesion.
Prior to joining her family’s business, stefanie was a global executive focused on international corporate law and finance in shipping and commodities. she began her career as an attorney with Norton rose Fulbright before moving to Jefferies as an investment banker. stefanie then joined Poten & Partners, a leading ship and commodity broker, where she was a member of the senior management team. in these roles, she served corporate and family enterprises with a focus on complex ownership structures and strategic and capital solutions in a variety of industries.
today, stefanie heads the family office she established and serves as trustee. she is also an independent advisor to other family-owned entities. stefanie supports the next generation of family business leaders through her work with cornell business school’s smith Family business initiative. she serves on the U.s. board of bocconi University, Milan, italy where she has lectured on family business strategies.
Kevin leichter ’97
kevin leichter is ceO of Premier Paint roller co llc, located in Queens, New York. Premier is a third-generation manufacturer of premium paint rollers, paint brushes, and related accessories, with offices and/or factories in New York, Phoenix, Mexico city, ireland, and china. kevin is a 1997 graduate of the cornell Hotel school with a bachelor of science. He often lectures in both the cornell engineering and Dyson schools on topics such as global supply chain, Family businesses, and global strategy. kevin currently lives in New York city with his family.
alessandro magnani
alessandro Magnani is a bba graduate in business administration at Universitá cattolica in Milan, italy, and an Msc graduate in international business at ieseg school of Management in lille, France. after completing the studies, He decided to join the family’s business, along with his older brother,
representing the 3rd generation involved in the company. alessandro started doing the so-called italian “gavetta” (apprenticeship) working as a sales rep in the NYc market and now as a business Developer for asia & Pacific. Davines group was founded in 1983, in Parma, by alessandro’s grandparents, his current bedroom is the old laboratory of the company. the company started as a research lab producing high-end hair care products for renowned cosmetics companies worldwide. today, led by Davide bollati, alessandro’s uncle, Davines group, home to skincare brand comfort Zone and haircare brand Davines, has an international presence in more than 90 countries and has 9 offices worldwide. the company distinguished itself throughout the years leading the sustainable movement in the beauty industry.
cristina mariani-may
cristina Mariani-May is the ceO and president of banfi, a global wine brand that includes the internationally renowned castello banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, tuscany; leading Us importer banfi Vintners; and Us Northwest wine specialist Pacific rim & company. the youngest daughter of banfi chairman emeritus, John F. Mariani, Jr., Ms. Mariani-May, represents the third generation of family leadership in the company founded by her grandfather, John Mariani, sr. in 1919. soon after completing her studies at georgetown University and columbia University’s graduate school of business, Mariani-May joined banfi in 1993.
a “pursuit of excellence” serves as a personal mantra for Mariani-May. it extends to every aspect of her work, in particular her family’s wines and nowhere more so than with the brunellos for which castello banfi is renowned. alone among producers of brunello di Montalcino wines, castello banfi has conducted groundbreaking research aimed at defining and isolating the finest clones of the sangiovese grosso grape.
For Mariani-May and banfi, innovation extends beyond winemaking — it begins in the vineyards, and includes responsibility and respect for nature. For her many ecofriendly initiatives, Mariani-May was named one of “the Most innovative women in Food and Drink” by Fortune and Food & wine magazines in 2015.
Mariani-May’s immediate family includes her husband, Marshall May, and their three children. a hands-on mother, she divides her time between Montalcino and long island, NY, home to banfi Vintners.
christopher noble ‘03, mBa ‘09
chris is co-owner of Noblehurst Farms, a diversified multi-family farm located in western New York. Noblehurst milks 1,800 dairy cows and crops over 3,000 acres of farmland in livingston, genesee and wyoming counties. Noblehurst also participates in a number of affiliated businesses where chris currently spends the majority of this time. those businesses include Noblehurst green energy, a state-of-the-art complete mix anaerobic digester that creates renewable electricity, and Natural Upcycling, a food waste collection business that counts wegmans Food Markets among its major customers.
lloyd robinson ‘87
lloyd is a business owner serving as President of awiscO, a leading distributor of welding, safety and industrial supplies. lloyd has been at awiscO since 1990 and became the president and owner in 2000.
lloyd has served, and currently serves, as an officer and director of many not-for-profit organizations. Of particular note, he is the current President of the New York welding supply Distributors association, board Member and past President of the gases and welding Distributors association, and a former trustee of the aws Foundation. in addition, lloyd is very involved in the NYc PeNcil program, past President of temple israel of New rochelle and past Vice-chair and board member of the New rochelle industrial Development a gency. lloyd is currently a Vice-President of the giving circle of l ower westchester and a caaN alumni ambassador.
lloyd lives in New rochelle, NY with his two sons ari and ben. He is a long-time member of bonnie briar country club where he is an avid golfer and tennis player.
alan rosen ’91
alan rosen: the third generation of the rosen family to lead the venerable brand. born and raised in New York, he grew up watching his father, walter, run the original Junior’s restaurant.
after graduating from cornell University’s school of Hotel Management in 1991, alan spent three years working at other restaurants before returning to Junior’s as the Director of Marketing, with a goal towards expanding the business beyond the original brooklyn location.
and grown it has. today, alan oversees five restaurants, retail bakeries, and wholesale and mail order operations, which generate over $100 million in sales annually. Junior’s serves over 5,000 customers daily and sells approximately 30,000 cheesecakes every week.
as the public face of Junior’s, alan appears on QVc 30 times every year and has also appeared on dozens of national t V shows. He is also the co-author of three books, including the best-selling Junior’s cheesecake cookbook: 50 to-Die-For recipes for New York style cheesecake. He is on the board of Fulton Mall improvements a ssociation as part of the Downtown brooklyn Partnership, a member of the Food service establishment a dvisory board in the city of New York, and on the Dean’s advisory board of cornell University’s school of Hotel administration.
luis carlos Sarmiento, mBa ’20
luis carlos sarmiento graduated with honors from the University of Miami in 2015, earning a double major in business administration and accounting. He further distinguished himself by graduating at the top of his class with an Mba from cornell University in 2020, where he specialized in corporate finance and investment banking.
luis carlos sarmiento is currently the Managing Director for grupo aval’s investment bank. since assuming this role, he has overseen a remarkable tenfold increase in fees. Under his leadership, the bank has gained a reputation for its expertise in leverage and debt deals, significantly enhancing its market position. luis has accumulated over six years of experience in investment banking with notable institutions such as Merrill lynch and JP Morgan. He is recognized for his strategic acumen in corporate finance and investment strategies, contributing to high-impact projects and transactions..
Wesley Sine, Ph.d. ‘00
Professor wesley sine is the John and Dyan smith Professorship of Management and Family business. His research focuses on the emergence of new economic sectors and entrepreneurship in the United states, latin america, the Middle east, and a sia. He explores issues related to institutional change, industry and technology evolution, technology entrepreneurship, and new venture structure and strategy. He has examined a diverse set of economic sectors, including the electric power industry and the emergence
of the internet. teaching interests include entrepreneurship, commercializing university technology, new venture growth, the management of technology and innovation, and organizational change. He has consulted and taught executives in latin america, asia, and the Middle east.
sine has published papers in the following journals: administrative science Quarterly, academy of Management Journal, Management science, Organization science, strategic Management Journal, and research Policy. sine is currently a senior associate editor at Organization science and is the book review editor at a dministrative science Quarterly.
dyan Smith
Dyan has served on the board of directors of Hillcrest Holdings since 2012. she began her career as a teacher conducting educational research. Dyan is currently active on several nonprofit boards, including Mount Mercy University and the czech and slovak Museum, and she was a founding member of Opera cedar rapids.
Dyan graduated from the University of iowa with a bachelor of arts in education and a Master of arts in educational Psychology and statistics.
John Smith, mBa ‘74
John smith earned his Johnson Mba in 1974. His son, ian smith, also earned an Mba from Johnson in 2014.
Mr. smith is the chairman and president of Hillcrest Holdings, which operates trucking, real estate, and security companies, including great Plains casualty, southgate companies (ian smith, chairman), converged security solutions, and crst international, inc., the largest long-haul trucking carrier in iowa and one of the top ten largest carriers in the country. His parents founded cedar rapids steel transport in 1955, growing the business and acquiring others, leading to their consolidation as crst international in 1995. He has been with crst since graduating from Johnson in 1974. He has been actively involved in the transportation industry, including leadership with the american trucking a ssociation, the truckload carriers a ssociation, and the iowa Motor truck association.
He and his wife, Dyan, have given generously to Johnson over the years. in 2014, they made a gift to establish the John and Dyan smith Family business initiative, which has
done much to strengthen and advance Johnson’s and cornell’s research, teaching, and outreach in areas related to family business, as well as to engage a growing network of family business owners, advisors, and other practitioners.
Parth vedawala, mBa ’19
Parth Vedawala is a Johnson Mba class of 2019 alumnus. He was with his family’s business, kush g old and Jewelry, for two year prior to business school. after business school, he worked at citibank in a Marketing strategy role for 3 years before rejoining the family business in 2022. at kush g old, Parth has been streamlining the operations and modernizing the business infrastructure to put the company in a position to manage growth for the future. in his free time, Parth enjoys playing beach volleyball and going to music shows with his friends. Parth lives in New York city with his wife and their three cats.
Bryan Wong, mBa ‘17
bryan wong is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital strategy, business development, and strategic partnerships. currently serving as the sVP and Head of Digital strategy at Papillon ribbon & bow, inc., a family-owned business specializing in packaging ribbon and boxes, he led the launch of a b2c application that increased sales revenue by 400% within six months. His responsibilities include overseeing logistics, maintaining cost structures, and cultivating key partnerships, which resulted in a 20% sales increase and strengthened the company’s market position. His family business has sales offices in 6 countries and manufacturing facilities in china and Myanmar.
before joining Papillon ribbon & bow, bryan held leadership roles at liberty Mutual insurance, where he drove significant growth in the Hong kong Motor division, boosting topline growth by 57% in 2019 and achieving market leadership. His background is rooted in strategic planning, team management, and digital transformation, supported by an Mba from cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mcgill University.
Smith Family BuSineSS initiative FellOWS and SchOlarS
smith Family business initiative Faculty Fellows, academic scholars, and Practitioner scholars are distinguished family business thinkers and leaders from foremost institutions and businesses across the globe. all are selected for their breadth of experience, knowledge, and understanding of family business. collectively, our fellows, scholars, and practitioners are helping to create curriculum, programs, and opportunities for our students and alumni.
cOrnell Faculty FellOWS
lourdes casanova — senior lecturer and academic Director | Johnson emerging Markets institute
Steven gal, ‘88 — senior lecturer of Management | Johnson school
Karl Pillemer Professor | weill cornell Medicine
daniela Scur — assistant Professor of strategy | Dyson school of applied economics and Management
Wesley david Sine, Ph.d. ’01 — Professor | Johnson graduate school of Management
michael van amburgh, Ph.d. ’96 — Professor, animal science | cornell University
Family BuSineSS FellOWS
Our Family business Fellows are faculty members and practitioners affiliated with other higher ed institutions or business organizations.
Joseph astrachan — Professor emeritus | kennesaw state University
christine Blondel — adjunct Professor of Family business | iNseaD
Kimberly eddleston ’95 — Professor of entrepreneurship | D’amore-Mckim school of business
rania labaki — associate Professor of Management | eDHec business school
greg mccann — senior Professor of Family enterprise | stetson University
alessandro minichilli — associate Professor & Director of the Msc in Management | bocconi University
michele Williams — assistant Professor of Management and entrepreneurship | University of iowa
carol Wittmeyer — Visiting associate Professor & interim associate Dean | st. John Fisher University
Family BuSineSS PractitiOner FellOWS
eric allyn — Former chairman | welch allyn, inc
doug Baumoel ’78 — Founder | continuity, llc
ann dugan — Founder | aduganllc
John engels — President | leadership coaching, inc.
dennis t. Jaffe, Ph.d. — research associate | wise counsel research
holly isdale ’86 — Founder | wealthaven
Kevin Omar Williams ’99 — alternative investments | Family Office
cOrnell Family BuSineSS mentOrS
Patrick abouchalache — Founder & Managing Director | Pega group
Peter asch — ceO | twincraft skincare
Joe astrachan — Professor emeritus | kennesaw state University
douglas Baumoel ’78 — Founding Partner & ceO | continuity Family business coaching
candace Benzel ’00, mBa ’06 — Vice President | Merrill lynch
Barry Berman — Founder | grandma Mae’s country Naturals Pet Food, the NexPet retailer group
daniel Bernstein ’70 — President | alexander wolf & sons
evan cagner ’95 — Partner | raisol capital, llc.
Savio chan — President & ceO | Us china Partners, inc.
rochelle clarke — Founder and Managing Director | succession strength
carrie dilauro ’91 — Director of Operations | Hamilton robinson capital Partners
Pierre duPont — Partner | cerity Partners
ann dugan — Founder & behavior Design coach | aduganllc
Walter erike, mBa ’21 — enterprise architect
Jason Fein ’85, mPS ’91 — associate Managing Director | abs Partners real estate llc
Steven gal ’88 — entrepreneur and Professor | cornell University
Felipe garza, mBa ’80 — consultor | alFa (Mexico)
emma gergen — Principal | carlson Private capital Partners
michael harari — Vice President | canada Direct
Katelyn husereau — senior Manager | cFar
holly isdale ’86 — Founder and Private wealth advisor | wealthaven
dennis Jaffe, Ph.d — research associate | wise counsel research
Stefanie Kyles — Former ceO | Vassilaros coffee company
rania labaki — Director eDHec | Family business centre
Kevin leichter ’97 — ceO | Premier Paint roller co. llc
heather madland, ’99 — Partner, business Development | Huron capital
martin magida — Managing Director | berkery, Noyes & co.
Jonathan mayblum esq., Jd ’87 — ceO | arcturus
greg mccann — Principal | Mccann and associates
Franco mora, mBa ’12 — Mentor | cleantech Open
alyana Popat, mmh ’21 — chief Hospitality Officer | simba corporation
lloyd robinson ’87 — President & ceO | awiscO
angie Sabel — Managing Director | abbot Downing
Judy lin Walsh — Principal | banyanglobal advisors
Kevin Omar Williams ’99 — alternative investments | Family Office
carol Wittmeyer — Family business Director & Visiting associate Professor | st. John Fisher University
James Wood, mBa ’16 — Managing Director | ernst & Young
thank you for your attendance!
a very SPecial thanKS tO
adedoyin Oladele adewodu Mba ‘19
sara andress
Joe astrachan
linda barrington
Doug baumoel ‘78
barry berman ‘73
karen costa
Delta croudace, Mba ’12
Virginia Dellizzotti Mba ‘18
rustom J. Desai, Mba ‘95
ann Dugan
Daniel Feng ‘97
lori gitomer
Michael Harney ’77
alicia Holmes
libby Hutton
Holly isdale ‘86
kevin Juin Mba ‘23
kevin kang Mba ‘18
alex koch ‘04
stefanie kyles
tracy luckow
alessandro Magnani
Veronica Maldonado ‘93
cristina Mariani-May
Joshua Montler
angela Mwanza, Mba ‘00
Mickey Myatt Mba ‘23
robin rashbaum ‘89
Michael riley ‘87
benjamin roberts ‘10
lloyd robinson ‘87
alan l rosen ‘91
Petru sandu
Derrick spatorico
sam seltzer ‘48
John, Mba ’74 and Dyan smith
Matthew Unger Mba ‘23
annie Van Fossen
Parth Vedawala Mba ‘19
shauna wilson betof ‘01
carol wittmeyer
thanK yOu tO Our cOnFerence vOlunteerS FOr cOntriButing yOur time
Mina abdulla, Mba ‘24
J. alex albarracin, MPs ‘23
katherina balram ‘13
andrew Foley, Johnson PhD candidate
Fati Mixha ‘25
Orley Pacheco, Mba ‘18
It is with deep gratitude that we thank all who have supported the Smith Family Business Initiative and our work throughout the years. Together, we have accomplished great things,with more to come.
Thank you!
Johnson Women in Technology
Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell 389 Statler Hall Ithaca, NY 14853
https://business.cornell.edu/familybusiness blog: fambizsuccess.wordpress.com #CornellFamBiz
