Many family-owned business executive teams include senior-level professionals who are not family members.  Assimilating into the business and achieving success can be challenging both for the family-business and for the executive.

Our show on Thursday, March 25th will feature two guests who can shed a great deal of light on this topic. We will be welcoming Dean Harby, PCC Executive Advisor & Coach with Internal Innovations, along with Fritz Schlabach, CPA and currently the CFO of a family-owned business.  Dean and Fritz have worked together as coach and client,  and Fritz is a seasoned veteran of the family-owned business having served for 20 years in executive roles as a non-family member.

This hour-long  broadcast will explore the role an executive coach can play in guiding non-family members to success within a family business from Dean’s perspective.  Fritz will share his insights and real-life stories of the benefits of taking on a leadership role in a family-business—along with many insights on the challenges and how to navigate the waters.

You won’t want to miss this lively discussion.  And as always, we promise it will be full of useful information and tips, so be sure to have your notebook handy!

Our Guests:  Dean Harbry, PCC and Fritz Slabach, CPA

Dean Harbry is credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation and is best know for his executive coaching competentcies.  Dean brings a long history of visionary leadership and managerial leadership to his coaching practice.  He has worked with individuals from banking, finance, technology, manufacturing, media and sales.  As a trusted advisor, he partners with executives to achieve results.

His own career included significant experience with mergers and acquisitions, including a multi-bank acquisition.  His IT skills were honed when he created national IT infrastructures from scratch in financial services environment.  He has served as President and COO and has consulted with State government, educational institutions, financial professional firms, law firms, the auto industry, medical research, nonprofit institutions, boards of directors and leadership training.

Dean’s personal mission is to create clarity in next steps, promoting forward movement.  Dean holds a BA in Organizational Management and is completing his MA/PhD in “Professional Coaching and Human Development” at International University of Professional Studies.  When not helping his clients create forward momentum, Dean can be found on the running trail training for his next marathon–he has completed 20 to date.

Internal Innovations – Telephone 770-783-2765

Fritz has over twenty years of experience as a senior executive in privately-held companies.  Currently holding a CFO role in a family-owned business, he began his professional career with Arthur Andersen in their auditing and small business development segment.  Upon leaving Andersen in 1990, he gained his CFO and senior executive expertise, including the position of COO for a $20 million direct marketing firm, in various industries ranging from manufacturing to management consulting.

He has extensive experience in all aspects of strategic planning, budgeting, process improvement, and management information systems, including specializing in turnaround situations.  Strong interpersonal and leadership skills have enabled Fritz to quickly gain trust and influence with owners/stakeholders as a key executive management team member in these often less structured and fluid environments.

Growing up Amish and serving in the US Marines are two significant forces in Fritz’s background which acted to forge a strong work ethic, a passion for building cohesive teams, and a commitment to excellence.  After leaving the Marines, Fritz graduated with highest honors from Washington and Lee University, having started college with an 8^th grade education and a GED since the Amish are exempt from compulsory education beyond the 8^th grade.