What does a successful business transition really require?

In this episode of The Family Business Experience, Erin Weber and Jason Petner of the Weber Group of Raymond James join the conversation to explore the questions business owners need to ask long before they are ready to sell, retire, transfer ownership, or step back from day-to-day leadership.

Erin and Jason discuss the Business Owner Strategy Summit, BOSS, coming to the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township on November 5. The event brings together specialized professionals across legal, tax, valuation, investment banking, private equity, lending, wealth management, and other areas to help owners better understand the choices in front of them.

The conversation moves beyond the mechanics of a transaction to the personal side of transition. What happens when the business is tied to your identity, family, employees, and community? How do owners prepare the company to run without them? Is the next generation ready? What does “fair” look like when family, leadership, ownership, and legacy overlap?

Erin and Jason share why the strongest transitions begin early, why communication is often the central challenge, and why owners should think about three things at once: the business, the transaction, and the owner.

Whether you are considering a family transition, external sale, management buyout, strategic partner, or simply want to make your business more prepared for the future, this episode offers a practical starting point.

This podcast is sponsored by Zac Wild CFP, CEPA financial advisor with Edward Jones. Zac works for business owners who are interested in maximizing their investments in tandem with efficient tax strategies. this includes fully leveraging the benefits of 401k's, SIMPLE IRA, and other more unique tax advantaged accounts.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Lantinen and Brandon Borgia of Borgia Art Studios to talk about Northwest PA Made—a nine‑month accelerator that is reshaping how artists and makers grow their businesses in our region. We explore how the program blends group classes, one‑on‑one coaching, and service stipends to help established makers optimize websites, pricing, bookkeeping, branding, and legal protection, while connecting them to powerful resources like the Beehive Network, Bridgeway Capital, Trellis Legal, and the Idea Lab at Blasco Library.

Brandon shares how Northwest PA Made helped him turn his passion for art into a thriving business, from SEO and trademarks to partnerships with other local makers. Chris explains the “made local, buy local” mission behind the program and why building networks among creatives, small businesses, and resource partners is key to long‑term success in northwestern Pennsylvania.

In this episode of the Family Business Experience, we sit down with Mike Malley, third‑generation leader of Malley’s Chocolates, a 90‑plus‑year icon in Northeast Ohio. Mike shares the origin story that began in Meadville, PA during the Great Depression, the high‑stress growth years of expanding factories and ice cream parlors, and his transition into the CEO role.

We dive into sibling dynamics, buy‑sell agreements, stock transfers, and the strategic shift from seasonal firefighting to long‑term stewardship of a valuable family asset. Mike also opens up about exploring outside capital and potential exits while protecting legacy, values, and relationships.

If you lead or work in a family‑owned company, this conversation offers real‑world insight on governance, succession, and what it truly means to be the generation that grows the business instead of becoming the cocktail‑party punchline.