VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

“Family Philanthropy” and “Entrepreneurship: The Key to Building Family Enterprises” are the topics of the upcoming fall Virginia Family and Private Business Forum seminars presented by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Foundation.

Bobby Thalhimer of The Monument Group will present “Family Philanthropy” on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Thalhimer’s name is synonymous with philanthropy in the Richmond region. His broad experience on nonprofit boards includes serving as president of the William B. Thalhimer Jr. Family Foundation, executive director of the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation and senior vice president for philanthropic services for The Community Foundation.

Shannon Leon, founder, CEO and co-owner of BreathLes Printing, BreathLes Publishing and Clover Entertainment, will present “Entrepreneurship: The Key to Building Family Enterprises” on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Leon is a member of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners and Developers and is on the board of the Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.

Seminars feature leading experts and family business owners who address current issues of importance to family-owned firms. The format of these seminars provides business owners the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of their peers. For the complete schedule of 2016–2017 speakers, visit http://business.vcu.edu/media/school-of-business/images/familybusiness/VirginiaFamilyPrivateBusinessForumSchedule2016-2017.pdf.

The Virginia Family Business Forum provides education and consultative services to dynamic and progressive family-owned firms throughout the region. The forum, housed at the VCU School of Business, focuses on many of the problems encountered by family-owned firms and is sponsored by Ernst & Young, GenSpring Family Offices, Hirschler Fleischer, Mitchell Wiggins and Morgan Stanley.

Individual events are open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve space, contact Sam Davis III, director, at sdavis39@vcu.edu.