By Alexandra Napoli
Contributing Writer
“A man should never neglect his family for business,” Walt Disney once said. One campus organization, Family Business Club (FBC), establishes a compromise in Walt Disney’s eyes by combining both family and business.
About one in four students at St. Bonaventure have a parent who owns a business, according to a survey conducted by the school last year. Because of the overwhelming amount of students who have grown up around a family business, the late John G. Watson, former dean of the School of Business, invited Carol Wittmeyer, associate professor of management to create a club specifically designed to cater to students and their family businesses, known as the Family Business Club.
“(Family businesses are) a very important topic in the business world and one that few institutions treat as significant,” Wittmeyer said. “One of the interesting things is that these students bring a wealth of business experience to SBU.”
The goal of the FBC is to help students who are involved in family businesses, plan to create their own, or simply interested in entrepreneurship, learn about the work that goes into it, Wittmeyer said.
Dr. Carl Case, chair of the management department, emphasized what the FBC teaches students.
“(It helps the students) better understand the complexities and issues related to running such a business,” Case said.
A major aspect of the club is learning from one another by listening to students’ experiences.
Throughout the year, the FBC takes a trip to one of the students’ or alumni family businesses and has the opportunity to see what goes on in that particular business. Students become knowledgeable in the various types of industries, systems of management and operation.
The FBC can prepare students for their futures in the business world while helping them better understand their interests and goals.
Some of the benefits students receive come simply from being a part of the FBC. They learn networking, problem solving and collaborating with their peers and superiors, Wittmeyer said.
“Anytime students with similar interests can network, that’s a great thing. They talk about common goals and problems – often times dealing with how to be more effective when working with their parents.”
Aaron Schichtel, a senior business major, works with his family business called Schichtel’s Nursery Oregon, Inc. Schichtel joined the business because of his desire to become more involved with his family’s nursery as he grows older.
“I encourage everyone to join the Family Business Club,” Schichtel wrote in an email. “You can learn so much by being part of the club and attending the trips to other family businesses.”
Senior business major, Kristen Cappellino’s family owns Cappellino’s Buick GMC Saab and Nissan car dealership.
“We went to my dad`s business last spring and I want to get more involved rather than just going on the trip,” Cappellino said.
Last year, 45 students joined the FBC and the club is only expected to grow in size, Wittmeyer said.
The FbC, and their efforts were recently featured in an issue of Buffalo Business First.
The first club meeting will be held on Sept. 13 at 6:00 p.m. in Murphy 105.
