FGCU Family Business Conference

John Resnick is a founder of The Resnick Group of Naples, Florida. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in providing life insurance guidance, estate planning, and business succession for affluent families and executives. His clients are recognized as some of the most successful families and business leaders in America.

A former adjunct professor, John has lectured extensively at schools and universities, including The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has co-presented Wharton educational conferences with Steve Forbes, Jon Huntsman, Sr., Wharton School Dean Patrick Harker, Jon Huntsman, Jr., Prof. Jeremy Siegel, and Prof. Stuart Diamond.

He is a co-author of The American Bar Association’s 2018 national book, “Due Diligence of Trust Owned Life Insurance”, a guide for estate planning attorneys, family offices, and professionals. His continuing education courses have been attended by more than 3,000 attorneys and CPAs. John is an advocate of the team approach and believes that clients are better served when their professional teams work in concert.

In January 2002, John and Billie Resnick created the radio program Legends of Success which aired on WHP-AM 580 in Harrisburg, PA and is now syndicated on over 100 radio stations in the U.S.  Legends of Success shares John's rare one-hour interviews with America’s top CEOs, the Forbes 400, and entertainment icons. Guests have included: Steve Forbes of Forbes Media, Evelyn Lauder of The Estée Lauder Companies, Jack Welch of GE, Sara Blakely of SPANX, Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Farms, Jonathan Tisch, of Loews Corporation and NY Football Giants, Alan Hassenfeld, former Chairman & CEO of HASBRO, Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A, blues legend B.B. King, entertainment legend Jerry Lewis, and William Randolph Hearst III, and many others.

Billie Resnick, J.D., is a founding principal of The Resnick Group, LLC based in Naples, Florida. She has been strategically involved in designing and conducting university-based family business programs that assist family enterprises in successfully transitioning to the next generation. In addition to serving her client base of affluent families, executives and business owners, she frequently provides support to attorneys, CPAs and other professionals on behalf of their clients. 
Billie was the lead author and editor of the book “Due Diligence of Trust Owned Life Insurance,” published by the American Bar Association in 2018, and was recently asked to co-author a second edition. Her articles on life insurance and estate planning have appeared in national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Journal of Practical Estate Planning and Journal of Retirement Planning, both published by Commerce Clearing House, as well as many others.

Billie co-created and instructed numerous educational courses for CPAs and attorneys on the proper use of life insurance in estate planning that were presented at the Annual Estate Planning Conference for the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida State University’s College of 
Business and the Pennsylvania Bankers School of Trust and Wealth Management conducted at Bucknell University.
Although The Resnick Group does not offer legal services, Billie became a licensed attorney as a support to clients’ attorneys, if needed. She received her juris doctorate and graduated magna cum laude from the Widener University School of Law where she was business/external managing editor of the Widener 
Law Journal. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and was the recipient of academic achievement awards for receiving the highest grade in her law class. She graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson College with a bachelor of arts in political science.

Michael is the past chair of the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He is a member and former chair of the board of directors for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, former chair of the Leadership Collier Foundation, chair-elect for Leadership Florida and the second vice chair of NCH Healthcare System. He is part of the Florida Council of 100 and a gubernatorial appointee to the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees, of which he is currently chairman. Michael also received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida in 1997 and an MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005. He was awarded the 2017 FGCU Alumni of Distinction, the 2019 Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen of the Year and one of Business Observer’s 2019 Icons of Business. Michael was also voted the 2017 Gulfshore Business Best Boss for a Large Company. The publication also dubbed Sunshine Ace Hardware a Best Place To Work in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Other honors include being recognized as one of Florida Trend's top 500 most influential business leaders, Gulfshore Life's Men of the Year for 2023 and the Florida Chamber's Chairman Award in 2024. 

Michael resides in Naples with his wife Kristen Coury and has two children.

Mr. David Hoffmann is the chairman of the Hoffmann Family of Companies and founder of DHR International, the largest privately held global executive recruiting firm, and Osprey Capital, LLC, a multi-billion dollar private equity enterprise.

The Hoffmann Family business’ desire to invest and enhance the Southwest Florida region started with just four employees and a few buildings and has grown to over 2,300 employees, 35 properties and 35 operating businesses in Florida, primarily in the hospitality sector including the Hertz Arena and the ECHL Florida Everblades hockey team. Worldwide, the Hoffmann Family of Companies employs over 6,000. 

Named 2019 Man Of The Year by Gulfshore Life Magazine and Grand Marshall of the Naples St. Patrick's Day parade. Mr. Hoffmann has been recognized in the 2020 &2021 Florida Trend 500 list, Naples Top 100, is a member of the Florida Council of100 and has been featured in numerous business publications such as the cover of Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago SunTimes, The New York Times, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Business Journals, Crain’s Chicago Business, Smart Money Magazine, The Pioneer Press and Fortune magazine. He has also made multiple appearances on Fox Business, CNN and CNBC.

Learn more about how Hoffmanns grow their enterprise

Shelly Stayer is co-owner and Chairperson of the Board of Johnsonville, the nation’s No. 1 sausage brand that has grown from a small butcher shop into a multibillion-dollar global operation.  Johnsonville is now the number 1 brand in the USA and over 40 countries.

Beyond business, her true passion is philanthropy. She founded the Shelly Stayer Shelter for Human Trafficking Victims in 2018. Located in Florida, the 15,000-square-foot shelter provides a safe haven for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.  Shelly is the founder of Reilly’s Ranch of Recovery, an equine facility dedicated to the recovery of woman of addiction, located in Wisconsin.

Shelly has been Entrepreneur of the Year in the state of Wisconsin and Florida. Shelly is a member of the Boston College board.  A Florida magazine has named Stayer “The most sought after event chair in Naples”.

Blake Gable is the CEO of Barron Collier Companies, a fourth-generation private investment, agriculture, and land development company based in Naples, Florida. Blake began his career with Barron Collier Companies in 1999, serving various leadership roles including project manager during the establishment of the new hometown, Ave Maria, Florida; and vice president of mineral management and real estate.  Blake now oversees a team of 140 employees, 1.3 million square feet of commercial properties, private land holdings of more than 80,000 acres, and one of South Florida’s largest citrus operations.

Blake graduated from Tulane University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a History major. For five years after having received his undergraduate degree, he was Legislative Director of United States Representative Ed Pastor (AZ) in Washington. Upon moving back to Florida, he received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Executive MBA program of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Commitment to his community is a priority for Blake, who has graduated from both the Leadership Collier and Leadership Florida programs.  As the Chairperson of the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees, Gable directs his efforts towards the future of higher education for the state of Florida and the business opportunities available to young professionals post-graduation. He also sits on the Audit and Governance Committees for the Board at Consolidated-Tomoko Land Company, a real estate company with a portfolio of income investments in many markets in the United States. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Enterprise Florida- the statewide economic development arm, a former Trustee of the area YMCA, a former Director of The Immokalee Foundation, and previously involved with the area American Heart Association, United Way, and the Randy Roberts Foundation.

Blake, an avid traveler and sports enthusiast, spends free time with his wife, Janet, and their two children.

Jim Perdue has been the Chairman and advertising spokesman of Perdue Farms since 1991. He is a third generation leader of the company founded by his grandfather in 1920.

In 1983, Jim Perdue accepted the invitation from his father, Frank Perdue, to return to the family business. Over the next eight years, he worked various plant management jobs and was then named vice president of quality improvement.

Under Jim’s leadership, Perdue Foods has grown from an East-coast centered label of premium fresh chicken to a national roster of premium protein brands which includes chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and Perdue AgriBusiness went from a regional grain and oilseed business to a multi-faceted international player. His leadership guided Perdue to become a leader in workplace safety and associate health, including innovative wellness programs.

Jim’s commitment to earning consumer trust guided Perdue to become the first major poultry company to move all of its chicken to no antibiotics-ever protocols. In 2016, Jim announced the company’s Commitments to Animal Care, a groundbreaking initiative that is transforming Perdue’s approach to raising chickens. 

As Chairman, Jim is responsible for ensuring the company stays true to its vision and values, and ensuring that the company continues to build on its strong corporate responsibility programs, especially continued leadership in elevating animal care and in strengthening relationships with farmers.

He received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in Marine biology from the University of Massachusetts at North Dartmouth, a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington Seattle, and his MBA from Salisbury University in Maryland.

Jim is a member of the board of the National Chicken Council. He is active in the local community, and serves on the board of the Oyster Recovery Project.

Jeremy Siegel is the Russell E. Palmer Professor Emeritus of Finance at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, having recently retired after 44 years of active service. He graduated from Columbia University in 1967, received his Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and taught four years at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago before joining the Wharton faculty. 

Prof. Siegel is the author of numerous professional articles and two books. The sixth edition of his bestselling book, Stocks for the Long Run, was published in September 2022 and have been named by the Washington Post and Business Week as one of the ten-best investment books of all time. His other book, The Future for Investors was named one of the best business books published in 2005 by Business Week, the Financial Times, and Barron’s magazines.

Prof. Siegel has received many awards and citations for his research and excellence in teaching. In November 2003 he was presented the Distinguished Leadership Award by the Securities Industry Association and in May 2005 he was presented the prestigious Nicholas Molodovsky Award by the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute.  Other awards include the Graham and Dodd Award for the best article published in The Financial Analysts Journal and the Peter Bernstein and Frank Fabozzi Award for the best article published in The Journal of Portfolio Management.

In addition to his professorship at Wharton, Prof. Siegel has served for more than 30 years as the Academic Director of the Securities Industry Institute and is the Chief Economist of WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Keith Koenig is Chairman and owner of City Furniture which was co-founded by Keith and his late brother, Kevin Koenig. City Furniture is a $750 million enterprise with 21 City Furniture and 14 Ashley Furniture HomeStores in South and Central Florida, and a 900,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution facility in Tamarac. City Furniture is South Florida’s leading furniture retailer and employs more than 3,000+ Associates plus 125 more in the manufacturing subsidiary, Kevin Charles Fine Upholstery, in New Albany, Mississippi.

Mr. Koenig is a member of the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, is Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and is past Chairman of the Broward Workshop, past Chairman of Holy Cross Hospital and serves on the Orange Bowl Committee and the Florida Council of 100.

He received a BS degree in 1973 and an MBA degree in 1975 from the University of Florida. He received the 2001 Furniture Retailer of the Year award, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2003, Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and the University of Florida’s Distinguished Alumnus award in 2017, and was inducted into the Furniture Hall of Fame in 2018. Keith was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II. Keith is married to Kelly and has two children and five grandchildren.  

Andrew Koenig graduated with degrees in Finance and Accounting from Elon University in 2005 and received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern University – Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Andrew began his full-time career with CITY Furniture in January 2006 in the Receiving Department unloading furniture on containers, and has worked his way up through the company and in almost all divisions of the company. He spent a significant time streamlining the Operations Department in the first 8 years of his career to become one of the industry’s best. Currently, Andrew is serving as CEO of CITY Furniture, overseeing all departments of the business.

Shortly before joining CITY Furniture, Andrew studied Lean Philosophy at Toyota’s headquarters in Toyota City, Japan. After learning from Toyota and other Lean companies in the United States and abroad, Andrew introduced Lean Thinking to CITY Furniture in 2007.  Ever since, CITY Furniture has been on a Lean Journey to create a culture of mutual trust and respect, teamwork and a deep sense of urgency to continuously improve. Since the implementation of Lean, the company has seen many major breakthroughs in turnover reduction, operational process improvement, customer experience, safety, associate satisfaction, strategic planning, financial success and much more. The journey is never over and Andrew along with the Senior Team are working very hard to implement Lean Thinking, now called “The CITY Furniture Operating System (CFOS),” throughout the company.

Andrew is extremely lucky to have one amazing wife Deana (who he met during his MBA) and three beautiful kids (Aaron 9, Daya 8 & Christian 7). Andrew is the son of Keith Koenig and nephew to Kevin Koenig, the founders of Waterbed City in 1971 which ultimately converted to CITY Furniture in 1994.

Dr. Timothy Habbershon is a Managing Director at Fidelity Investments, where he has focused on generational succession and governance. He is also the founder and leader of the Fidelity Center for Family Engagement (FCFE). As a thought leadership center of excellence, FCFE envisions a world where families grow closer as they navigate their financial lives. It achieves this vision by helping families and their advisors build capabilities for engaging around the emotional, relational, and generational aspects of wealth.

For more than thirty years, Dr. Habbershon has been an advisor, consultant, and coach to ownership and management teams of large family-controlled firms and family offices worldwide, focusing on their family and organizational transitions. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, he founded three research and practice institutes for enterprising families, including the Babson Institute for Family Enterprising at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, where he is an Adjunct Professor.

Dr. Habbershon holds a BA from Grove City College in Grove City, PA; a MDiv from the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA; an MBA from the University of South Dakota; and an EdD, also from the University of South Dakota. He continues to serve as Senior Advisor and Board Member of the Berwind Group, as Operating Partner and Board Member of AUA Private Equity Investors. He and his wife Allison spend their winters in Naples and summers on the Jersey Shore.

John Macchia, Jr. was born in Jackson, MI to John Macchia Sr. and Julie. From a very young age, Macchia Jr. was intrigued by the machining industry and knew that one day he would follow in his father’s footsteps.

Macchia, Jr. is the CEO of Advance Turning and Manufacturing, Scott Machine, and Hytrol Manufacturing. Prior to assuming the role of CEO in 2010, John was president of Advance Turning and has been in various roles of the company since 1988. John’s father, John Macchia, Sr., founded the company in 1968 and started manufacturing aerospace parts for Aeroquip Corporation during the height of the Vietnam War. The father-son duo has worked very closely together to build this 55-year success story. 

Since becoming CEO, Macchia, Jr. has led Advance Turning’s expansion from one location with 35 employees in 1997 to five locations and over 270 employees today. John has created a prominent and respected manufacturing company with a widely praised culture that embraces the power of partnerships with team members, suppliers, customers, and the community. He was voted “Manufacturer of the Year” by the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association along with being featured in Jackson Magazine in 2022 for acquiring, and successfully navigating Scott Machine with growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2024 was named Michigan Manufacturer of the Year (large tier).

Macchia, Jr. has previously served on many local boards and is currently serving as a board member of Jackson Preparatory and Early College, Jackson School of the Arts, and The Macchia Family Foundation. 

Macchia, Jr. resides in Jackson, Michigan with his wife Florencia, and his three daughters Rachel (27), Maria (21), and Isabela (6). Apart from his CEO duties, he enjoys camping, managing a small orchard, connecting with the outdoors and most of all, taking his daughters to Disney World.

Martin Czachor, Jr., Vice President and Lead Software Engineer, has been the driving force behind ASD’s innovative answering service system. Building the platform from the ground up, Marty led the evolution of its technology with over 10,000 iterations and numerous enhancements. His leadership enabled ASD to pioneer mobile integrations, resulting in the award-winning ASD Mobile app, now widely adopted across the funeral profession. Marty also played a key role in developing other groundbreaking solutions, including MobileFH™, the S.T.O.P. System for suicide prevention, and Web Form WatchDog™. Recognized repeatedly for innovation, his work demonstrates how telecommunication technology and constant iteration can modernize and elevate essential services.

Dr. Chengyi Qu joined FGCU as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing & Software Engineering in the fall of 2023. Previously he was a research assistant at the University of Missouri - Columbia and the Department of Energy at Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Qu graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2023 with a Ph.D. in Computer Science. He also serves as faculty director of the student cybersecurity research lab, EagleCyberNest, at the College of Engineering.

Jonathan M. Tisch is Co-Chairman of the Board of Loews Corporation and Executive Chairman of its subsidiary Loews Hotels & Co. Prior to assuming the role of Executive Chairman, Tisch was Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels & Co. and has been an officer of the Company since 1986.

Tisch has led Loews’ expansion and emergence as a prominent and respected hotel company with a widely praised culture that embraces the power of partnerships—with team members, guests, communities, and owners. He was voted “Hotelier of the World” by HOTELS magazine.

Recognized nationally as a statesman for the multibillion-dollar travel and tourism industry, Tisch is Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Travel Association and previously served as chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Committed to a vibrant tourism industry locally, Tisch served for nearly six years as chairman of NYC & Company, New York City’s official tourism agency, and was chairman of New York Rising, which was established to bring back visitors and revive the economy after 9/11. Crain’s New York Business named him one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Business Leaders” and inducted him into its Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have transformed the City in both their professional work and in their civic and philanthropic activities.

Tisch is the author of three bestselling books: The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships, Chocolates on the Pillow Aren’t Enough: Reinventing the Customer Experience, and Citizen You: Doing Your Part to Change the World. He hosted the Emmy-nominated television series Beyond the Boardroom.

Tisch is a champion of corporate responsibility and active citizenship. More than 25 years ago, he initiated the Loews Hotels Good Neighbor Policy, a recipient of the US President’s Service Award. He is currently Vice Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Tufts University, and is the naming benefactor of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts. In 2017, he was honored by the New York University School of Professional Studies with the naming of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, of which he has been a driving force for years. He is a founding board member and Chairman of The Shed, New York City’s cultural center for arts and ideas, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Special Surgery.

A co-owner of the New York Giants, Tisch was instrumental in bringing the 2014 Super Bowl to the NYC metropolitan area and served as co-chair of the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee.

Alan Hassenfeld is Chairman Emeritus and former Chairman of the Board and CEO of HASBRO, Inc., a multi-billion dollar international toy company. Under his leadership, HASBRO has become a worldwide leader in children's and family entertainment. Its brands and products are some of the most recognizable and respected throughout the world.

Alan is a business leader with a passion for philanthropy. Through his charitable work and foundation participation, he has had far reaching impact that has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. His primary focus includes children’s issues, social entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and political reform.  At present Alan is leading an effort by the Toy Industry Foundation in helping Ukrainian children refugees. Alan and his family have made significant contributions to improving the lives of children’s health through the HASBRO Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island, the Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone in Manhattan, and the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University.

His goal is always to focus on what can be done better and what needs to be developed in order to establish foundations for future success. The goal of the family foundation is to be a catalyst for positive change and collaboration. 

Alan has been honored many times for his efforts. His awards come from diverse organizations, including universities, charitable organizations, political and religious communities as well as corporate institutes. He is co-chairman of The International Business School at Brandeis University and sits on the board of Salesforce.com. He has received three Emmy® awards from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his work in children’s television programming and tell-all documentaries.  Alan has focused much of his life on issues and concerns throughout the world. He is committed to breaking barriers and building foundations, positively affecting the lives of people across the globe.  

Alan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has ten honorary degrees from prestigious universities around the world and has been elected to four Halls of Fame.

Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.

Steve’s webcast, “What’s Ahead,” which comes out several times a week, gives listeners signature insights to help them better navigate these turbulent times.  Steve helped create the highly acclaimed and award-winning public television documentary, In Money We Trust? which was produced under the auspices of Maryland Public television. The film was inspired by the book he co-authored, Money.

Steve is co-authoring a much-anticipated book on inflation due to be published early next year. 

Steve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.

In both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.

John Resnick is a founder of The Resnick Group of Naples, Florida. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in providing life insurance guidance, estate planning, and business succession for affluent families and executives. His clients are recognized as some of the most successful families and business leaders in America.

A former adjunct professor, John has lectured extensively at schools and universities, including The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has co-presented Wharton educational conferences with Steve Forbes, Jon Huntsman, Sr., Wharton School Dean Patrick Harker, Jon Huntsman, Jr., Prof. Jeremy Siegel, and Prof. Stuart Diamond.

He is a co-author of The American Bar Association’s 2018 national book, “Due Diligence of Trust Owned Life Insurance”, a guide for estate planning attorneys, family offices, and professionals. His continuing education courses have been attended by more than 3,000 attorneys and CPAs. John is an advocate of the team approach and believes that clients are better served when their professional teams work in concert.

In January 2002, John and Billie Resnick created the radio program Legends of Success which aired on WHP-AM 580 in Harrisburg, PA and is now syndicated on over 100 radio stations in the U.S.  Legends of Success shares John's rare one-hour interviews with America’s top CEOs, the Forbes 400, and entertainment icons. Guests have included: Steve Forbes of Forbes Media, Evelyn Lauder of The Estée Lauder Companies, Jack Welch of GE, Sara Blakely of SPANX, Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Alan Hassenfeld, former Chairman & CEO of HASBRO, Dan Cathy of Chik-fil-A, blues legend B.B. King, entertainment legend Jerry Lewis, and William Randolph Hearst, III, and many others.

Billie Resnick is a founding principal of The  Resnick Group. She has worked on the creation and design of programs for family businesses to help further the success and survival in passing the business to the next generation. As an advocate of the team approach, Billie frequently provides support to clients’ CPAs, attorneys, trust officers, and other professionals to design and coordinate the estate and succession planning with life insurance programs for family owned businesses, individuals, and senior executives. Billie was the lead author and editor of the book, Life Insurance Due Care, 3rd Edition, published by the American Bar Association and has been a contributor to articles on life insurance for The Wall Street Journal. Billie received her Juris Doctorate and graduated magna cum laude from the Widener University School of Law where she was Business/External Managing Editor of the Widener Law Journal. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and was the recipient of numerous academic achievement awards for receiving the highest grade in her law class. She graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Political Science.

Michael A. Wynn has served as board chairman of the Wynn Family Companies and President of Sunshine Ace Hardware in Naples, Florida since 2005.

Mr. Wynn is the immediate past Chair of the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.  He is also a member of the board of directors for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce (past-chair), Leadership Collier Foundation (past-chair), Moorings Park Institute (Vice Chair), and the NCH Healthcare System (2^nd Vice Chair.)  He is a member of the Florida Council of 100 and is a gubernatorial appointee on the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Board of Trustees.

He is a proud graduate of Barron Collier High School and received a BS in business administration from the University of South Florida in 1997 and an MBA in business administration from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005.  He was awarded Hardware Industry’s Top Gun Award presented by the National Retail Hardware Association in 2014, Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014, 2017 FGCU Alumni of the Year, voted the 2017 Gulfshore Business Best Boss for a Large Company, Business Observer’s 2019 Icons of Business and awarded the 2019 Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Sunshine Ace Hardware has been recognized by Gulfshore Business Magazine as a 2022 Best Place To Work.

Michael resides in Naples and has two daughters Sydney and Olivia.

Mr. David Hoffmann is the chairman of the Hoffmann Family of Companies and founder of DHR International, the largest privately held global executive recruiting firm, and Osprey Capital, LLC, a multi-billion dollar private equity enterprise.

The Hoffmann Family business’ desire to invest and enhance the Southwest Florida region started with just four employees and a few buildings and has grown to over 2,300 employees, 35 properties and 35 operating businesses in Florida, primarily in the hospitality sector including the Hertz Arena and the ECHL Florida Everblades hockey team. Worldwide, the Hoffmann Family of Companies employs over 6,000. 

Named 2019 Man Of The Year by Gulfshore Life Magazine and Grand Marshall of the Naples St. Patrick's Day parade. Mr. Hoffmann has been recognized in the 2020 &2021 Florida Trend 500 list, Naples Top 100, is a member of the Florida Council of100 and has been featured in numerous business publications such as the cover of Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago SunTimes, The New York Times, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Business Journals,Crain’s Chicago Business, Smart Money Magazine, The Pioneer Press and Fortune magazine. He has also made multiple appearances on Fox Business, CNN and CNBC. Learn more about how the Hoffmans grow their enterprise

Shelly Stayer is co-owner and Chairperson of the Board of Johnsonville, the nation’s No. 1 sausage brand that has grown from a small butcher shop into a multibillion-dollar global operation.  Johnsonville is now the number 1 brand in the USA and over 40 countries.

Beyond business, her true passion is philanthropy. She founded the Shelly Stayer Shelter for Human Trafficking Victims in 2018. Located in Florida, the 15,000-square-foot shelter provides a safe haven for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.  Shelly is the founder of Reilly’s Ranch of Recovery, an equine facility dedicated to the recovery of woman of addiction, located in Wisconsin.

Shelly has been Entrepreneur of the Year in the state of Wisconsin and Florida. Shelly is a member of the Boston College board.  A Florida magazine has named Stayer “The most sought after event chair in Naples”.

Blake Gable is the CEO of Barron Collier Companies, a fourth-generation private investment, agriculture, and land development company based in Naples, Florida. Blake began his career with Barron Collier Companies in 1999, serving various leadership roles including project manager during the establishment of the new hometown, Ave Maria, Florida; and vice president of mineral management and real estate.  Blake now oversees a team of 140 employees, 1.3 million square feet of commercial properties, private land holdings of more than 80,000 acres, and one of South Florida’s largest citrus operations.

Blake graduated from Tulane University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a History major. For five years after having received his undergraduate degree, he was Legislative Director of United States Representative Ed Pastor (AZ) in Washington. Upon moving back to Florida, he received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Executive MBA program of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Commitment to his community is a priority for Blake, who has graduated from both the Leadership Collier and Leadership Florida programs.  As the Chairperson of the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees, Gable directs his efforts towards the future of higher education for the state of Florida and the business opportunities available to young professionals post-graduation. He also sits on the Audit and Governance Committees for the Board at Consolidated-Tomoko Land Company, a real estate company with a portfolio of income investments in many markets in the United States. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Enterprise Florida- the statewide economic development arm, a former Trustee of the area YMCA, a former Director of The Immokalee Foundation, and previously involved with the area American Heart Association, United Way, and the Randy Roberts Foundation.

Blake, an avid traveler and sports enthusiast, spends free time with his wife, Janet, and their two children.

Jim Perdue has been the Chairman and advertising spokesman of Perdue Farms since 1991. He is a third-generation leader of the company founded by his grandfather in 1920. groundbreaking initiative that is transforming Perdue’s approach to raising chickens.

In 1983, Jim Perdue accepted the invitation from his father, Frank Perdue, to return to the family business. Over the next eight years, he worked various plant management jobs and was then named vice president of quality improvement.

Under Jim’s leadership, Perdue Foods has grown from an East Coast centered label of premium fresh chicken to a national roster of premium protein brands which includes chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and Perdue AgriBusiness went from a regional grain and oilseed business to a multi-faceted international player. His leadership guided Perdue to become a leader in workplace safety and associate health, including innovative wellness programs.

Jim’s commitment to earning consumer trust guided Perdue to become the first major poultry company to move all of its chicken to no antibiotics-ever protocols. In 2016, Jim announced the company’s Commitments to Animal Care, a groundbreaking initiative that is transforming Perdue’s approach to raising chickens.

As Chairman, Jim is responsible for ensuring the company stays true to its vision and values, and ensuring that the company continues to build on its strong corporate responsibility programs, especially continued leadership in elevating animal care and in strengthening relationships with farmers.

He received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in Marine biology from the University of Massachusetts at North Dartmouth, a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington Seattle, and his MBA from Salisbury University in Maryland.

Growing up in South Florida, David was inspired by Walt Disney's innovative, creative genius, which led him to study art, architecture, and construction management at the University of Florida. 

David co-founded DeAngelis Diamond and, as CEO, drives the company’s culture, vision, strategy, and growth, and leads the Innovation and DD Leadership Development programs. 

David, together with his son Brett, co-founded Venture X, one of the world’s largest premium coworking brands, with 76 global locations.

A serial entrepreneur and angel investor, David cofounds and invests in innovative startup entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, New York City, and South Florida, and is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist on entrepreneurship and angel investing.

A restless traveler, David also brings aid and raises awareness of the global magnitude of human trafficking, the plight of refugees in Darfur, orphans in Sudan, Kenya, and the Favelas, and in relationship building in the Caucasus of southern Russia.

Joseph Suresky is a third-generation business owner, and President of R I Suresky & Sons, Inc. in Goshen, New York.  Joseph’s grandfather, Ike Suresky founded the business 108 years ago selling automotive products such as tires, motor oil, batteries, and accessories at a small storefront.  Ike started selling cars in the 1920’s such as the Hupmobile, Durant, Nash, Rockne, Pierce Arrow and Whippet.  Ike was awarded the DeSoto franchise in 1934.  Cars were delivered by freight train into the Erie Freight Depot in Goshen. 

During World War II, Ike’s business flourished even though there were no cars to sell due to a shortage of material.  Ike sold gasoline (which was rationed), second-hand parts (since new parts were not readily available) and repaired tires (since tires were also rationed), just to keep people on the road.  Ike’s son, Harold is a World War II Veteran.  Harold graduated from Middlebury College through the government funded G I Bill in 1949.  Harold entered the family business in 1949.  Harold’s wife Helen (of 71 years) joined the business in the 1970’s after a teaching career.  Helen was an integral part of the company’s success and growth.  The company today has three dealerships.  Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Hyundai, and Genesis. 

Joseph has been working in the business since attaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at Northeastern University in 1982.  Joseph has worked in every department at the dealership.  Joseph attained an MBA degree at Strayer University graduating with a perfect 4.0 average in 2019.  Each year on Veterans Day, the dealership hosts a luncheon for over 500 local Veterans with catered food, entertainment, and special gifts for Veteran attendees.  The dealership also is a major sponsor for the local Alzheimer’s Association annual walk-a-thon.  Joseph is married to his wife Lorraine of 37 years.  They have two children Jared and Rachel.  Harold and Helen reside at the Gray Oaks campus of Moorings Park in Naples.

8:30 AM Registration 

9:00 AM Welcome - Michael Wynn, Immediate Past Chair to Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees & Chairman and President, Sunshine Ace Hardware

9:10 AM Legacy Under Construction: Lessons in Trust, Transition, and Growth - Michael Wynn, Chairman and President, Sunshine Ace Hardware; David Diamond, CEO and Co-Founder, DeAngelis Diamond; and Brett Diamond, CAO and Principal, DeAngelis Diamond

10:00 AM  Break

10:10 AM From Insight to Impact: Business Problem Solving with Artificial Intelligence - Mark Bole, Instructor Florida Gulf Coast University, Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship

11:00 AM Strategic Decision Making with Artificial Intelligence in Family Enterprises - Bill Daubmann, President of MY Shower Door

11:40 PM Closing Remarks before Lunch - Billie Resnick, Founder The Resnick Group

11:45 PM Lunch 

12:45 PM Jim Perdue: What I’ve Learned Leading Perdue Farms Family Business - A Fireside chat with Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Farms and John Resnick, Founder of The Resnick Group

1:55 PM Closing Remarks - Billie Resnick, Founder, The Resnick Group

2:00 PM  Event Ends 

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Brett is a native of Naples, Florida, and currently serves as the CAO of DeAngelis Diamond and is President of Future Bylt, a construction technology company. He focuses on Human Resources, Talent, Marketing, Technology, and Innovation, and is an expert in developing and implementing strategies that increase efficiency.

He is passionate about creating a positive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation. 

In 2012, he and his father, David Diamond, launched Venture X, a luxurious office space designed with health and well-being in mind. The brand has expanded to locations worldwide, including Canada, England, Spain, India, and Dubai. 

He has received recognition for his work, having been named a 40 Under 40 honoree by Gulfshore Business and Business Observer.

He is a member of the Foundation Board at Florida Gulf Coast University and enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. Outside of work, Brett enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three children, attending dance competitions, and birthday parties.

Mark Bole teaches entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University and advises Southwest Florida businesses on practical AI adoption. As a faculty fellow with FGCU's Ain Technology and Design Hub, he leads student teams that deliver AI-enabled solutions for community partners. Previously, Mark held finance roles with multinational firms and led entrepreneurial initiatives across North America and Europe. In Digital Technologies and New Venture Lab, students scope problems, prototype solutions, and ship real products using the tools, methods, and AI applications Mark applies in industry. He holds a BBA from UT Austin and an MBA from the University of Tennessee, and in 2025 earned the university's Junior Instructor of the Year and the School of Entrepreneurship's Faculty of the Year awards.