“The Entrepreneurship of Family Business”

May 15 and 16, 2024      Penn State Behrend Burke Center

Sponsored By:     

Robert S. Castellini is Managing Director for Sentinel Private Wealth Group in Cincinnati, OH. He has deep history with family business and the unique challenges that come along with that.

He is inspired by the experiences of both his father and grandfather. They are poignant stories of trial and triumph; overnight wealth and near financial disaster; potential generational failure followed by recovery and success. Hear about how his grandfather worked though the depression to ultimately create Minute Maid, but died nearly broke. Hear about how his father started off broke, to become majority owner of the Cincinnati Reds.

These experiences drive him, guide him, and motivate him to help families avoid some of the mistakes that can be made and enjoy the generational benefits that can be had! We look forward to hearing his inspirational story!

Richard Seaman is the Chairman of Seaman Corporation, where he served as CEO from 1976 to 2015. He assumed the leadership role of his family business in 1978 after his father passed away at the young age of 55. Under his leadership, Seaman Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial-coated fabrics, grew from $10 million in annual sales to over $250 million in sales today.

Richard serves as Chairman of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, whose mission is to support entrepreneurship and the free enterprise system. In 2012, he was asked by the Governor of the State of Ohio to serve as a Commissioner of the Ohio Third Frontier, a billion-dollar initiative focused on creating an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state. In addition, he is a member of the Young President’s Organization and an Emeritus Trustee on the board of the College of Wooster.

Richard was recognized as an Honored Life Member of his industry trade organization, the Industrial Fabrics Association International, and was selected as a Wall of Fame Honoree by the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Richard was chosen by Ernst & Young as Entrepreneur of the Year in the Family Business category.

Richard is an avid skier, sailor, photographer, and tennis player. Richard and his wife, Judy, live in Wooster, Ohio. They and the families of their three children are committed to being active owners and stewards of their family business enterprise.

James Bly is Managing Director and National Practice Leader for EY’s Family Enterprise Business Services. James is responsible for working with business-owning families and family offices, which own family business holding companies and upper middle market companies, on matters related to growing larger, more valuable businesses both internally and through acquisitions; financing the growth of family-controlled businesses, while maintaining family control; completing generational transitions of operating businesses; and on designing and implementing shareholder liquidity plans.
He is viewed as a strong believer and advocate of the important purpose of private family businesses in the North American economy, the lives of their employees, the needs of their customers, the fabric within their communities, and for a civil society.

He has served as a trustee, director, committee member or advisory board member to various single family offices, family business holding companies, large-scale family controlled corporations, and business- owning estates. He has also either chaired or served on finance, investment, risk management, or nominating and governance committees of the boards of various multigenerational family businesses.

James is a 4th generation member of a business owning family from Western Pennsylvania. graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1973. He has been certified as an advisor for merger and acquisition transactions (CMAA) by the Alliance of Mergers & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA). He is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), the Private Directors Association (PDA), Board Prospects, and AM&AA.

James’ talk is sponsored by