Succession Planning Series
August 18 @ 8:00 am – 9:30 am
The Columbus Chamber Succession Planning Series is designed to help business owners, executives, and leadership teams approach succession with intention. Through a four-part workshop series, participants will gain practical guidance on increasing business value, preparing future leaders, building the right advisory team, and planning for life after transition.
Whether you are preparing for an eventual sale, considering family transition, exploring employee ownership, or simply building a more resilient organization, this series will provide insights to help you lead with the future in mind.
Workshop One | Aug 18 | Preparing for Life after Business
Before determining how to exit, it’s critical to understand what you’re exiting to. In this workshop, we will focus on defining life after business ownership—helping participants clarify personal goals, envision their next chapter, and quantify the financial resources needed to support that vision. Attendees will evaluate how their current business value compares to future lifestyle needs, identify potential gaps, and begin thinking about how those gaps could influence timing, growth strategy, and exit decisions. Participants will leave with greater clarity on their future direction and a foundation for maximizing business value in the next stage of the series.
Date: August 18, 2026, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Workshop Two | Sept 22 | Keys to Maximizing Business Value
You’ve spent years building your business—how do you maximize its value when it’s time to transition? Join a panel of experts in banking, mergers and acquisitions, and law as they share practical insights into what drives business value in today’s market. From understanding different buyer profiles to improving EBITDA and quality of earnings, this discussion will highlight what buyers look for—and what raises red flags through a sales process. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to enhance value in the next 12–24 months and position their business for a successful exit.
Date: September 22, 2026, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Workshop Three | Oct 20 | The 360° Exit Advisory Team
A successful exit requires more than individual expertise—it requires coordination. In this workshop, we will focus on building a 360° exit advisory team, helping participants understand the critical roles needed and how collaboration between advisors impacts outcomes. Participants will evaluate their current advisory structure, identify gaps, and explore how misalignment can lead to lost value, increased risk, or delayed timing. Through discussion and examples, attendees will gain clarity on how to assemble and align the right team to support their goals.
Date: October 20, 2026, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Workshop Four | Nov 17 | Executing the Right Exit to Preserve Your Legacy
You’ve identified your goals, grown your business value, and put a team of trusted advisors together. Now, it’s time to pass the torch to the next generation. How do you execute though? In this workshop, we will explore how to evaluate and implement the right transition strategy for your business, employees, family, and personal financial goals. Participants will compare family succession, ESOPs, and third-party sales; discuss how transaction structure, taxes, and timing affect overall outcomes; and learn how to prepare leadership and stakeholders for a successful transition. The session will also examine the key drivers behind successful and unsuccessful ownership transitions, helping attendees move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Date: November 17, 2026, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Thank you for your interest. We are currently sold out for this event. Our next Member Orientation will be in July.
Location:
Parking:
- Park in the on-site garage.
The Columbus Chamber reserves the right to cancel or reschedule this event in the case of severe or unsafe weather conditions. Registrants will be notified via email in the event of a cancellation.
Registration Questions – Contact Events – events@columbus.org
Thanking Our Partners!
