Family Business Forum
Presented by WMC Foundation
Building a Future for Your Family Business
Join the WMC Foundation for the Family Business Forum taking place at The American Club in Kohler, April 29-30. This invitation-only event is an opportunity for middle market and upper middle market family business owners and executives to convene, benchmark and share best practices on timely topics such as: governance, succession planning, family office, family meetings, philanthropy, geopolitics and economic outlook.
Registration is limited to 100 executives from across the state.
Extending to the Next Generation
A third of Wisconsin businesses are family owned, employing about 40% of all employees. But nationally, only about a third survive through the second generation, 12% through the third.
Family businesses leaders experience a spectrum of challenges not experienced by leaders of other forms of business ownership: limitations to capital and talent, succession planning, business ownership, family wealth transfer, and more.
Opportunities like the WMC Foundation Family Business Forum can extend the family business ownership to the next generation. I highly recommend active participation in this program to all family business stakeholders, family and non-family leaders, stockholders, board members and others surrounding the family business.
Rusty Schieber, Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
EVENT AGENDA
2026 Program
Program subject to change
WEDNESDAY
April 29
Session Sponsored By
12:00PM
Lunch & Registration
1:00PM
Opening Remarks
Wade Goodsell
President, WMC Foundation
1:15PM
Family Legacy Beyond Financial Success
How do families remain connected, pass down shared values from one generation to the next, and support a thriving family rather than just the family business? Tom Rogerson will share practical advice to help strengthen communication, prepare future leaders, and support strong family ties.
Tom Rogerson
Founder, GenLegCo
2:00PM
Break
2:30PM
Executive Spotlight
Kurt Bauer will host an in‑depth conversation with Kevin Honkamp, who has spent nearly 30 years with Hydrite Chemical Co. as it approaches its 100‑year milestone. Kevin will share his story of joining the business, navigating succession planning and governance, and helping guide a third‑generation family company into a nationwide industry leader with more than 1,000 employees.
Kurt Bauer
moderator
President & CEO, WMC
Kevin Honkamp
CEO, Hydrite
3:15PM
Ask the Experts: Trust & Estate Planning Best & Worst Practices
Hear from experts in accounting, law, and insurance on the most common trust‑ and estate‑planning best and worst practices family businesses encounter, along with strategies to strengthen long‑term financial success.
Jon Mariano
moderator
CFO, Evans Transportation
William Grady
Director - Private Wealth, Baker Tilly
Bradley J. Kalscheur
Partner & Sub-Group Leader, Wealth Planning, Michael Best
Michael Paulsen
Executive Vice President, Lockton
4:15PM
Hotel Check-In
6:00PM
Cocktail Hour
7:00PM
Dinner
8:30PM
Reception
THURSDAY
April 30
7:30AM
Breakfast
8:30AM
Family Business Leader Panel
Featuring second‑ to fifth‑generation Wisconsin family business leaders, the panel will explore what it’s like to work with relatives from multiple generations, the dynamics that emerge across family branches, and the key lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Wade Goodsell
moderator
President, WMC Foundation
Coral Didion
General Counsel, Didion
Steve Maahs
CEO, Alto-Shaam
Jeannie Cullen Schultz
Co-President, JP Cullen
9:30AM
Large Group Economic Discussion
Kurt Bauer and Wade Goodsell will lead an interactive session focused on today’s most pressing economic and workforce challenges. The discussion will highlight key trends and policy developments to help business leaders make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving environment.
Kurt Bauer
facilitator
President/CEO, WMC
Wade Goodsell
facilitator
President, WMC Foundation
10:45AM
Closing Remarks
11:00AM
Adjourn
Lodging
To make your room reservation at The American Club in the event block, please call (844) 297-0174 and reference 720337(AC6019) and the group block name Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce – WMC April 2026. Rooms under the block are available until 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2026.
WISCONSIN FAMILY BUSINESS FORUM
Founding Partners
Host Committee
GEORGE CULLEN & JEANNIE CULLEN SCHULTZ
JP Cullen (5th Generation)
PATRICK FLESCH
Gordon Flesch Co., Inc. (3rd Generation)
JANE BLAIN GILBERTSON
Blain’s Farm & Fleet (2nd Generation)
KEVIN HONKAMP
Hydrite Chemical Co. (3rd Generation)
RYAN KEEPMAN
Evans Transportation (2nd Generation)
THEODORE PERLICK MOLINARI & LAURIE BERGUM
Perlick Corporation (5th Generation)
JOE POEHLING & KATIE POEHLING SEYMOUR
First Supply, LLC (4th & 5th Generation)
RACHEL PREGONT
Prent Corporation (3rd Generation)
RUSTY & CHARI SCHIEBER
Brakebush Brothers (3rd Generation)
ROBERT WAHLIN
Stoughton Trailers, LLC (2nd Generation)
EVENT
Sponsors
Special thanks to our WMC Foundation Sponsors for their commitment to our events and programs throughout the year!