Legacy Through Transition: When Selling Is the Right Succession Plan
Presented By: Brown Rudnick / Charles Schwab & Co.
Not every family business has a next generation ready—or willing—to take over. In those moments, selling can become the most responsible way to protect founders, employees, and long-term value. This session explores a real-world case study in which founders without a formal succession plan worked with leadership, investors, and advisors to design a thoughtful exit that preserved culture and continuity. Panelists will discuss aligning family priorities, ownership structures, and wealth strategies to ensure legacy endures through transition.
Moderator:
Partner
Brown Rudnick LLP
John Cushing is an experienced attorney and business advisor with over 20 years of legal expertise guiding family-owned and public companies, management teams, and boards through complex transactions, strategic decision-making, governance matters, and transformational growth initiatives. He currently serves as a Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, where he advises clients on corporate strategy, joint ventures, strategic alliances, succession planning, capital formation, and corporate governance matters across a number of industries, including logistics, life sciences, medical transportation, technology, energy, hospitality, media, and manufacturing. Mr. Cushing brings a deep experience in corporate finance, risk oversight, strategy, and governance best practices, supported by a foundation in financial analysis and operations.
Division Executive
Charles Schwab & Co.
Behzad Mansouri is a Division Executive at Charles Schwab where he helps lead the growth of the firm's UHNW and Institutional client business, across all asset classes. He serves on the Board of a VC Fund and clean energy company, complimenting his background in capital markets and investment management. An alumni of Columbia University and Harvard Business School, he has previously worked for both US and International firms including Merrill Lynch, Barclays Captial, BNY Mellon and Credit Agricole.
Panelists:
Managing Director
Gemini Investors
Rob joined Gemini in 2007 and has been actively involved in completing over 30 transactions for the firm in a variety of industries including technology, business services, education, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution. He’s served on the Board of Directors of 20 portfolio companies. Previously, he worked at RBC Capital Markets where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, public equity financings, and private placements for middle market businesses in the technology sector. Rob received his B.S. in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University.
CEO & Co-Owner
Winterberry Gardens
Bryan Stolz is the Chief Executive Officer of Winterberry, a full-service, diversified landscaping company based outside Hartford, Connecticut. Bryan joined Winterberry in 2007 as a junior landscape designer and has grown with the organization, advancing into senior management in 2016 after receiving his MBA from The University of Connecticut and being appointed CEO in 2020.
Founded in 1985 by two brothers, Winterberry is a family-founded business that generated approximately $10 million in revenue in 2016 and has grown organically to over $40 million in 2025, with a team of more than 240 people. Bryan played a central role in developing and executing the company’s long-term transition plan for the founders, ultimately negotiating a transaction to bring in Gemini Investors as a financial partner. The deal closed in October 2024, allowing the two founding brothers to retire while retaining the third original owner as a fulltime employee and board member.
Since the transaction, Bryan has led the ownership transition and continues to operate the business as CEO, overseeing ongoing organic growth while also pursuing strategic acquisitions.