Forward Janesville - TheReport - Fourth Quarter 2023

F or many, looking back on that journey may not appear straightforward, but surrounding yourself with the right people resonates for Jane Blain Gilbertson, CEO and owner of Blain’s Farm and Fleet. Blain Gilbertson remembered a pivotal time in the company’s history when her father died in 1993 and there was no succession plan. “The two families sat around the table and George Steil Sr., the company’s corporate attorney and key advisor, literally brokered a deal for who would take on which key leadership role,” she said. “It is a moment I will never forget and one that I committed not to repeat.” That started a journey of reaching out, leaning on others and personal growth. And not always easy paths. Today Blain Gilbertson looks back on that journey with great appreciation for networks and experts who are out there that can help a family business owner not feel they are alone. “We were always fortunate to have or find trusted advisors with real expertise and an appreciation for what made our business so special,” she said. “In 2004, I participated in a program at the Kellogg Family Business Center at Northwestern University and later brought our entire Senior Leadership Team to a week-long family business leadership program there. It really opened my eyes to things we were going to have to transform and to things we needed to accentuate!” “I continued to focus on my personal development as a leader, while bringing the organization along the journey with us,” she said. “In 2006, George Steil Jr., connected us to the Family Business Consulting Group (FBCG) who focus on privately held family businesses. By 2012, we had hired a board of independent directors and an organizational design firm to focus on the structure we would need for the future. This positioned us well for the retirement of my brother and my succession to CEO and President in 2014.” “I am always amazed at how open and honest other family business owners are with each other when they are in these settings. It’s a great place to network and find more resources from like-minded owners.” Blain Gilbertson continues to grow Blain’s Farm and Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. “As a family business focused on growth the right way, we get to do things differently. We don’t have to perform to quarterly expectations by outside owners. We get to focus on long-term, strategic investment decisions that our family supports 100%.” The Wisconsin Family Business Center, a 501c3 and affiliate of the Wisconsin School of Business at UW-Madison, is another resource that Blain Gilbertson said can be an invaluable partner for a Wisconsin family business. Executive Director Shelley Herwig knows how vital family-owned businesses are to any economy. They traditionally are the companies who are invested in your community, support your local chamber work, and focus on the employees and their families. “Our mission is to support family business education, prosperity, and succession in Wisconsin and beyond and we do that by working closely with our members, their families and leadership teams to help them navigate very specific issues they face,” shared Herwig. “Being family owned brings a whole different set of dynamics to the table of running a business. Your mom is your boss one day but the next day you are at the family holiday table.” The Center focuses on monthly educational programs, peer groups, resources, referrals and networking. Membership is diverse with more than 60 companies, four of which are from Janesville and are Forward Janesville members. Company size can range from just a few Finding The Right Resources: A Family-Owned Business Perspective By Oakleigh Ryan Richard Branson once said, “A big business starts small.” Sherry Herwig, Director, Wisconsin Family Business Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison Jane Blain Gilbertson 12 | FORWARD JANESVILLE "I am always amazed at how open and honest other family business owners are with each other when they are in these settings. It's a great place to network and find more resources from like-minded owners." said Blain Herwig said "Being family owned brings a whole different set of dynamics to the table of running a business. Your mom is your boss one day but the next day you are at the family holiday table."