Speakers

Transition Consulting Group Catalysts for Change in Family Business Paul Karofsky, Founder/CEO and Father Paul Karofsky is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard Business School’s OPM Program. After 22 years, mostly as third generation CEO in his family’s distribution business, he sold the company and earned his Ed.M. from Harvard University focused on the psychosocial lives of families and intergenerational relationships. He is Executive Director Emeritus of Northeastern University’s Center for Family Business where he facilitated the Center’s Leadership Development Forum which was endowed and named in his honor. Paul is a former member of the Board of Directors of the […]

Transition Consulting Group Catalysts for Change in Family Business David Karofsky, President and Son David Karofsky has over 20 years of experience coaching and consulting to individuals, families and companies to develop better cross team communication and build alignment among the senior management team. His client work is focused on executing the transition of ownership and leadership, professional development, conflict resolution, strategic planning and forming governance structures for family and closely-held businesses. David is a graduate of Bowdoin College and received his Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Boston University and his MBA from Northeastern University where he was awarded a full […]

  Karen A. Benz, M.S. Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst Karen’s focus is on business consulting, strategy and leadership development with an emphasis on improving individual and organizational performance. She has owned a consulting practice since 1996 working with clients in many industries including manufacturing, finance, hospitality, health care, and non-profits. Her varied business career includes working in a large nonprofit medical facility as the Chief Operating Officer where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations and a staff of over 100. Her responsibilities included human resources, business operations, marketing and public relations, project management, facility planning and construction management, and community […]

     Rich Locher Financial Advisor    Kades-Margolis Corporation Wayne, Pennsylvania Financial Services Rich brings with him 30 years experience in the investment and financial planning industry. His strengths are in helping his planning clients understand the impact their financial decisions have on their quality of life- now and in the future, especially the outcome of delaying decisions regarding family protection, estate planning or keeping investments in line with long-term goals. 

For 17 years, Rich worked with chief investment officers and portfolio managers at banks, insurance, and mutual fund companies to help them maximize investment returns. During the next 12 years, […]

Kathi Smith – Executive Coaching For Family Businesses Kathi received her education in working with family owned businesses by being a daughter of a family owned business for forty-five years!   As one of six children the family owned business was the central focus for learning life’s rewards and challenges. As a coach to family owned businesses, Kathi takes their entrepreneurial spirit to encourage and motivate them to move from where they are, point A to where they want to be, point B. Kathi is a full time coach and is one of 80 coaches certified in the state of NJ through […]

Chris Durante Visco – Social Media and the Family Business PJ’S & Coffee Social Media Marketing Chris Visco, President of PJ’s & Coffee Social Media, works with family businesses, as well as, small, medium, and large brands, to develop social media strategies in order to build lasting relationships with users online. As a retail buyer for nearly 20 years, she has a long, successful history of building marketing campaigns to not only increase revenue, but also spread brand awareness and launch businesses from the ground up. In 2005 she left retail and moved into wholesale manufacturing taking a defunct company to […]

James Cox – Creating Supplemental Income For The Business Family Using Life Insurance With over 15 years experience in the financial services industry, James Cox brings a record of leadership, success and entrepreneurial spirit to his clients through AXA Advisors. The practice James has built specializes in Socially Responsible Investing. He provides customized strategies to help clients match their investment portfolios to their individual values. James strives to educate people about the basics of Socially Responsible Investing and the importance of sustainability through seminars he hosts throughout the Philadelphia area. He also works with small, medium, and large businesses to provide a […]

Jay Desko – Is Perception Reality in a Family Business Jay is the Executive Director of the Center for Ministry Advancement and serves on the Senior Leadership Team at Calvary Church in Souderton, PA.  He holds a B.S. in Bible, and M.Ed. in Instructional Systems, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership.  Jay brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, strategic improvement and board development. Jay Desko – Executive Director, Consultant