The Resnick-Wynn 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, 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 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.

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.

Elyse Lipman is the CEO of Lipman Family Farms, the largest supplier of tomatoes and fresh vegetables in North America. As a family-owned business in its fourth generation of leadership, Lipman is dedicated to fostering connections between people and their food while exploring innovative ways of making fresh produce accessible to all under Elyse’s leadership. Elyse is an experienced strategist with a unique blend of skills in international team management, strategic communications, and partnerships.

Before assuming the role of CEO at Lipman, Elyse worked at the World Economic Forum, where she played a pivotal role in launching its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Her focus was on emerging technologies and fostering collaborations among diverse stakeholders. Elyse holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics, & Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an MBA in Innovation Management from The Wharton School.

Under Elyse's leadership, Lipman continues to innovate and explore new avenues for growth while maintaining a commitment to sustainable practices. She leads a passionate team dedicated to the long-term success of the company and ensuring that Lipman remains a leader in the industry for generations to come.

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 - Dr. Timur, FGCU President and Billie Resnick, Founder The Resnick Group 

9:20 AM Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: Navigating Critical Crossroads Across 4 Generations of a Family Business - Elyse Lipman, CEO Lipman Family Farms 

10:10 AM How Family Businesses Reinvent Themselves Each Generation to Thrive - Dennis Jaffe, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow at BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors  

11:00 AM  Break 

11:10 AM Critical Crossroads: Options When There’s Not a Next Generation To Lead - Panel with Joseph Suresky, President RI Suresky & Sons, Inc.; John Macchia, Sr., Founder and Chairman Advance Turning & Manufacturing; Russell Budd, Founding Partner PBS Contractors; Timothy Cartwright, Partner and Co-Founder Fifth Avenue Family Office 

12:00 PM Lunch 

1:00 PM History of Loews and Leadership Insights - A Fireside Chat with Jonathan Tisch, Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels & Co, Co-Chairman of the Board of Loews Corporation and Co-Owner NY Football Giants  and John Resnick, Founder The Resnick Group  

1:50 PM  Closing Remarks – Michael Wynn, Chairman and President Sunshine Ace Hardware and Chair, FGCU Board of Trustees

2:00 PM  Event ends 

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Dr. Jaffe, a San Francisco-based advisor to families about family business, governance, wealth, and philanthropy, is Senior Research Fellow at BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors. He is an author of

· Wealth 3.0: The Future of Family Wealth Advising,

· Borrowed from Your Grandchildren: The Evolution of 100-Year Family Enterprises;

· Finding Her Voice and Leaving a Legacy;

· Cross Cultures: How Global Families Negotiate Change Across Generations;

· Stewardship in your Family Enterprise: Developing Responsible Family Leadership Across Generations and

· Working with the Ones You Love.

The Family Firm Institute awarded him the 2017 International Award for service, and in 2005 the Beckhard Award for service to the field. In 2020 he was awarded a special commendation as an individual thought leader in the field of wealth management by the Family Wealth Report. His global insights have led to teaching or consulting engagements in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. He has a BA degree in Philosophy, MA in Management, and Ph.D. in sociology, all from Yale University, and professor emeritus of organizational systems and psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco.

Timothy J. Cartwright is a partner and co-founder at Fifth Avenue Family Office. Fifth Avenue Family Office serves a select group of high net-worth families with multigenerational wealth. Fifth Avenue provides a broad range of services from investment management to sophisticated estate planning, evaluation of private equity and venture investment opportunities, succession and exit strategies for closely held businesses, and thoughtful multi-generational legacy transfers. Prior, he co-founded By-Products Interactive, an electronic trading, market research and publishing company which he sold in 2021 to Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, a FTSE 250 Public Company. Earlier, he founded Benchmark Solutions, a supply chain consulting company, which was sold in 1999. He began his career working with middle market companies at Arthur Andersen in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Cartwright recently completed a 12-year term as a member of the Florida Gulf Coast University’s Foundation Board, finishing as Chair of the Board. During this time, he was a prime mover in starting the Institute for Entrepreneurship which grew into the DK School of Entrepreneurship at FGCU where he served as Adjunct Professor for six semesters. For the fifth consecutive year, he was named by Florida Trend Magazine to their list of Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders due to his venture capital and private equity activity with the Tamiami Angel Funds and Adrenaline Venture Fund. He resides in Naples with his wife and three children. He is a softball coach, a soccer coach, and an active member of First Baptist Church of Naples.