Program Descriptions

Webinars:
Without leaving town, you can learn from numerous experts over the telephone line. It’s a 60-minute topic oriented educational forum highlighting experts and family businesses from across the country. You can join other area family businesses at a host site near you and enjoy lunch while learning! There are between 7-10 topics throughout the year.

Affinity Programs:
These groups are small, confidential discussions groups that meet regularly, allowing members to share experiences and learn from each other. Members informally explore what to do and what not to do in day-to-day interactions among family, owners, employees, and board members to make family leadership a competitive advantage. Each group is customized based on the needs and interests of the participants. Trained moderators understand the complexities of integrating business, family and personal issues. Join the group the best matches your needs: Current Leading Generation, Transitioning Generation, Next Generation.

Legacy Tour and Family Business of the Year Event:
Join us for tours of local family businesses and hear their Legacies. "Legacy" is the story behind the families and businesses. From lucky breaks to costly mistakes; precise planning, to "flying by the seat of the pants”; family harmony to the family feud ~ these stories are sure to inspire. As you create your own legacies, learn from the wisdom of those who have walked the long and winding road of family enterprise.

Rapid City: The Tom Didier Excellence in Family Business Award has been an annual event for family businesses in West River area for 14 years. The program (usually held late September) begins with a late afternoon tour of a local family business and a presentation from the family highlighting their history and development over generations of family business success. The award presentation follows at the Alex Johnson with fine food and refreshments.

Sioux Falls: The Boyd Hopkins, Sr. Excellence in Family Business is presented in November, a Sioux Falls area family business hosts a “legacy tour” and shares their family struggles and successes as they strive to preserve a family legacy. Following the tour, a fine dinner and award program features a Sioux Falls area family business as the recipient of the Sioux Falls Area Family Business Award.

Local Awards:
The PFBA has a desire to recognize the successes of exemplary family firms - those with a rich heritage, strong values, community involvement, and that have weathered the metaphorical storms of family enterprise. The Association now presents Excellence in Family Business Awards at several local Chamber events annually. These honored families are then considered for The Prairie Family Business of the Year Award, as well as a runner-up. We also present annually, The Heritage Award to a family firm that has been in the family for 75 years or more. These prestigious awards are presented at the annual conference in April.

Annual Prairie Family Business Conference:
This two day event, held in April, is recognized as the #1 networking event in the region for business owning-families. The conference features national educators, consultants, local experts along with local and national family business leaders who come together to share the latest research and planning tools to help your family business create a legacy to last for years. The Prairie Family Business of the Year Awards are presented at the Thursday evening banquet.

Family Business Retreat:
A family business retreat is one of the most important strategies used to help strengthen the communication system in a family-owned business. This two day event, located at world-class lodges in the region, features a national family business consultant and educator. Both large group and private family session with facilitators are offered. Families have the opportunity to spend some quality time away from the office, switching from working “in the business” to working “on the business” and “on the family”.