Club Activities Description

  • Guest Speaking Events / Panels

    –We will bring in managers of family companies and/or academic professionals (including Wharton alumnae and faculty) to present topics related to family business such as family office operation, succession practices and philanthropy. These events will provide students the opportunity to learn from thought leaders and practitioners in the field, to discuss family business issues with peers who share a similar interest, and will serve as networking opportunities.

  • Group Socials

    – These socials will provide a forum for students to discuss prior experiences and interests within the area of family business.

  • Wharton Global Family Alliance Events

    – Club members will assist the WGFA in planning and preparing for regional and global conferences/events. Members will also participate in said events as student representatives of the Wharton Family Business Club.

  • WGFA Research Initiative

    – Club members will assist the Wharton Global Family Alliance research initiative by providing access to the club’s network of family business.

Upcoming Events

Spring Social

Come join the club for post-DIP drinks and food.
Place: Black Sheep Pub
(17th St between Locust and Spruce)
Date and time: Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30 PM. 


Spring 2008 Speaker Series:

  • March 26, 2008 - John King: President, J.A. King & Company
    J.A King & Company was founded in 1939 by Jim King Sr. and is a third generation family business.  The 75-person firm is currently expanding its offerings to meet their customers' needs across the full range of measurement parameters, including Electronic, Temperature, Pressure, Dimensional, Physical, Torque, Force/Weight and Timing. They are also looking to significantly increase their presence in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greenville, S.C. Major clients of J.A. King include Nortel, Krispy Kreme, Solectron and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

  • April 8, 2008 - Katherine Grady: Senior Associate, Lansberg, Gersick & Associates
    Topic: "On Being a Shareholder (but not working) in the Family Business"Katherine Grady (Senior Associate) is a specialist in leadership, career development, and family dynamics in family companies. In addition to her work with LGA, she is an Associate Clinical Professor at Yale University, where she has been involved in teaching, service and research related to families and organizational development. She is also a trainer and chief assessor for the Leadership Development Program, a joint program of Rensselaer at Hartford and the Center for Creative Leadership. In this role she is engaged in comprehensive assessment and development of senior executives in both public corporations and family businesses. Katherine earned her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Vanderbilt University.

  • April 24, 2008 - Phil Clemens: CEO, Hatfield Quality Meat
    For 110 years, Hatfield Quality Meats has been satisfying customers with delicious pork products, operating as a family-owned company since 1895. That's when John C. Clemens began selling his pork products in the Philadelphia farmer's markets. In 1940 four of John's sons continued the family business, maintaining the quality, integrity and values of their father. Today, as a manufacturer and supplier of over 1,200 fresh and manufactured quality pork products, Hatfield Quality Meats has distribution from Maine to Miami, as well as several international markets.

Past Events

Speaker: Raphael (Raffi) Amit
Robert B. Goergen Professor of Entrepreneurship
Professor of Management
The Wharton School
Date: November 14th 2007 http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/faculty/amit.html

Harold L. (Hal) Yoh, III, Chairman and CEO
Day & Zimmermann
Date: November 29th 2007
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
Location: JMHH 360
See Bio >>

Robert J. Riethmiller Jr.
Philadelphia Tramrail Co. - 2002 Pennsylvania Family Business of the Year.
Date: November 1st 2007
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM Location TBA
Learn more about >>