R. L. “Dick” Wittman, Wittman Consulting Services
37737 McCormack Ridge Road
Culdesac, ID 83524
Empowering Proficiency in Agricultural Farm Management
Work (208) 843-5595, Fax (208) 843-5595,
To Whom It May Concern:Re: Consulting Contacts(Updated 11-25-12)
The following resources provide consulting assistance in family farm business management, peer networks, managerial accounting, conflict management and/or succession planning. These resources include people with whom I’ve collaborated, mentored in train-the-trainer programs and/or share a similar philosophy and approach to assisting clients with problem identification and solutions building.
Centrec Consulting (Champaign, IL) Steve Hofing, Managing Partner, 217-352-1190, Wittman Consulting has associated with this firm since the early 1980’s on topics including lender training, family business, strategic planning, public policy, CFO support functions, and financial feasibility.
CliftonLarsonAllen has offices in several mid-west and eastern states and the PNW after a recent merger with LeMaster & Daniels. Paul s AgriBusiness and Cooperatives Partner focusing on financial and tax management including succession planning; he is a Top Producer magazine columnist and writes the FarmCPA blog on and at 509-823-2920 (direct), 509-961-9739 (cell). 610 N 39th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902. Other resources: Darel Thompson (Tri-Cities, WA); David Thomsen (Quincy, WA), , 509-787-4513.
Brenda Duckworth – formerly with Texas Ag Extension; now working with individual clients on Management Accounting and family business management issues, P O Box 161, Happy, TX 79042; C-940-357-9777,
Eide Bailly LLP, Steve Eckroth (ND) 701-255-8446, tax and consulting; Steve Troyer (Fargo, ND), , 701-476-8307; Jim Hauge, Bismarck ND, 701-255-8484; Duane Thompson (Mankato, MN), , 507-386-6290.
Bernie Erven, Ohio State professor who operates under the company Erven HR Services. Bernie teaches at TEPAP in Austin, TX covering personnel management; very down to earth grasp of personnel management implementation strategies; and does lots of work in adult education. Contact at 5987 Rocky Rill Road, Columbus, OH 43235, 614-888-9953,
Terry Betker, CEO, Backswath Management Inc, ,
O-204-275-0458; C-204-782-8200; 1024 Kilkenny Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3T5A5, Canada. Formerly with MyersNorrisPenney, Betker works with a network of consultants working on business continuity/succession planning, benchmarking, growth and risk management, and external management resources/advisory boards.
Jon R. Farquharson (Pendleton, OR), ISU Insurance Services - The Stratton Agency, (541) 276-2302, , Estate, Business, Asset protection & succession planning; Insurance; Retirement Plans & Investments; Jon worked with me on the Farm Financial Standards Council board and managerial accounting training project with the Clearwater Direct Seed Peer Networking group.
Farm Credit East Business Consulting – approx. 20 consulting staff throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey.Consulting Group goal is to match local folks up with local consultants with expertise specific to client’s needs or project. Contact: Erin S. Pirro, Business Consultant, Enfield, CT, 860-741-4451, ,
Mark T. Green, Family Business Consulting Group, Inc. Mark formerly ran the Austin Family Business program at Oregon State University and now works with a consortium of consultants that work in the U.S. and several foreign countries. Contact information: 1888 Olympia Avenue NW, Salem, OR 97304, 503-510-0591, ,
Donald Jonovic,PhD, Family Business Management Services Inc, has been an advisor to family business owners since 1973, focusing on management development, growth and ownership transition. Clients include industrial and agricultural firms, often with a significant proportion of non-family key managers. He’s authored several books on family business. We’ve collaborated at workshops and as instructors at the TEPAP Ag Executive Program for a number of years. Contact at: Post Office Box 201400 Cleveland, Ohio 44120, W-216/752-7970; FAX: 216/752-4100;
Kennedy & Coe, LLC, Brad Palen (Salina, KS), 785) 825-1561, ; Greg Wolf (Pratt, KS), , 620-672-7476; Hubert Brown (Wichita, KS), , (316) 685-0222; Todd Jennison (Garden City, KS), (620) 275-9670. Kennedy and Coe work closely with family farm businesses in tax and financial analysis, strategic planning, family business consulting, conflict management and succession planning.
Joe Kluender, Farm Family Dynamics, Mankato, MN, C-507-276-6368; , Joe was formerly associated with Larson Allen and formed his owned business in 2011. He has a certificate in Family Business Advising through the Family Firm Institute and has also attended Wittman Consulting train-the-trainer programs. Joe currently specializes in family dynamics of farm estate planning and farm transition as well as business management system implementation.
Kuenzi & Company CPA’s & Business Consultants, Kyle Walter (Salem, OR) PH: 503-428-3098. Email: website: 4 Kuenzi owners all come from farming backgrounds and have committed their firm’s resources to work extensively with family businesses in areas of corporate governance, family dynamics, business and succession planning, and tax and financial analysis.
Henry Landes, Delaware Valley Family Business Center, has served over 600 family firms since 1988;is popular speaker andcontributing editor of Family Business Magazine. He focuses on building effective family councils, shareholder groups and executive teams, policy development and transitioning to the next generation.Contact at: 340 North Main Street, Telford, PA 18969; Voice (215)723-8413; Fax (215)723-8351
Latta, Harris, Hanon & Penningroth (Tipton, IA). Mark Penningroth CPA, and John McNutt, MBA , (563) 886-2187; Both have been through my train-the-trainer program. Mark has a strong background in tax accounting and financial consulting. Mark and John both have strong interest in family business management and succession planning. John is also a well-respected consultant working in managerial accounting with larger scale family operations especially with pork producers. LHHP works with clients across the Midwest.
Lookout Ridge Consulting operates largely in Minnesota and Idaho; focus is succession planning and financial management. Founder Mike Salisbury oldbusiness to AgStar, a regional farm credit institution in Minnesota (Tim Tracy, AgStar manager). Barb Dart and Mike Fassler are excellent resources in this firm; (866-734-2065).
Steve Lytle, Clearpath Family Advisors, , 503 724 4868, Steve works with leaders across the country on family business planning and management from his Portland, Oregon base. Specific work includes purpose, vision, values, mission, governance, team dynamics, personal leadership, conflict resolution, communication, generational transition, and succession planning.
Northwest Farm Credit Services, Business Management Center (BMC); (800) 827-6505; Michael Stolp, (ext. 5264); Carl Sohn, (ext. 5543). The BMC offers financial workshops, educational programs, and facilitation services in business succession, communications, human resources, and strategic planning.
Paul Sessions, Director, Center for Family Business at the University of New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1994 the Center serves over 50 member family businesses; mission is to foster the health and continuity of family businesses by providing a variety of educational and informational services to family business owners and their advisors begin_of_the_skype_highlightingPh(203)-932-7421end_of_the_skype_highlighting,
Legacy by Design,Farm Journal succession planning project sponsored by Pioneer shadows producers going through succession planning and sharing experiences publicly. Contact Information: 2550 Lakewest Drive, Suite 10, Chico, CA 95928; (877) 523-7411; ;
John Ward is Clinical Professor of Family Enterprises at the Kellogg School of Management. He teaches and studies strategic management, business leadership, and family enterprise continuity. He is one of my favorite family business authors having penned six best sellers on a range of family business topics. Contact: P.O. Box 6197, Evanston, IL 60204,Wk-847-475-3000;F-847-4765-3024, ,
Lance Woodbury (Garden City), ,(620) 704-4275, previously with Kennedy & Coe,Lance now works independentlywith family farms in conflict management, peer group organization, financial analysis and succession planning.
For a comprehensive listing of family business centers, professional firms and financial institutions serving family owned businesses globally, visit the Directory of Advisers at .
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