For some, family businesses mean spending more quality time with their families, financial freedom and so much more while for others it feels like a prison sentence. There are so many pros and cons, positives and negatives and so we wanted to create a space for folks who have experiences with family businesses to discuss the pros and cons.

Michael Georgopoulos

I think generally, people think it’s a bad idea to work with family because you may not get along or you never get away from each other, but at RMD we’ve been able to strike a good balance. It’s been a great experience and it’s allowed us to all spend time together. At one time my mom, sister, and stepdad all worked for the company. My wife was even our lawyer at one time. Right now, my two partners are my uncles. I think some of our success comes from our East Coast and Boston mentality. Read more>>

Tim Schwartzman

I am so very grateful to be part of a small family business. We might have some challenges, limitations and disadvantages due to our size but I happen to think the number of advantages we have number far greater. Something we pride ourselves on at Sawgrass Recreation Park is our ability to adapt and adjust when the tide turns. When we face obstacles like hurricanes, wildfires, COVID etc we are able to reinvent our course in a matter of hours to prepare our staff, facility and animals for what lies ahead. Our staff are told to prioritize their health and wellness above any job or task and we truly value their happiness in the workplace and in their lives so for this reason our co-workers become and extension of our family. Read more>>

Terrance Hill

Since the inception of the Great Slave Trade in 1619, there has been a huge gap in Wealth Development between African Americans and other races in the USA. The concept of Families building Generational Wealth should be everyone’s ultimate goal. Historically, black-owned companies, like Madam C.J. Walker’s hair-care line and the businesses that formed Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street, were developed in direct response to racial discrimination. “These segregation patterns then created market opportunities for black entrepreneurs to step in, make money and meet the demands of the black community,” Read more>>