Plotting the Future of Your Family Business: Evaluating the Paths Ahead
Presented By: Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe / Trinity Financial Advisors
For family business owners, determining what comes next is about much more than a transaction—it’s about finding the right path for the business, the family and its future. From transitioning leadership and ownership to the next generation or pursuing an ESOP to bringing in a financial partner to fuel growth or selling the company outright, this session explores how families can evaluate their options, navigate competing priorities and determine which path best aligns with their long-term goals.
Moderator:
Partner
Trinity Financial Advisors
Ben Hartings, CFP® joined Trinity Financial Advisors in 2018 as a Partner at the Columbus-based multi-family office. With over 20 years in wealth management and a prior career in capital markets at PNC and First Merchants, Ben specializes in comprehensive investment strategy and holistic wealth planning for affluent families. His family's entrepreneurial roots span car dealerships, agricultural businesses, and retail operations.
Panelists:
President
Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe LLC
Christopher Brodman is a founding member of Metz Lewis. He is the President of the Firm, a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee and a member of the Corporate Group. His diverse client base values him as a dedicated, practical, and experienced business advisor and general counsel.
He has a wealth of business experience which allows him to help clients identify and achieve strategic business and legal objectives. Chris also has vast experience representing clients in business transactions, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.
VP/Sales
Bruns Construction Enterprises DBA: Ohio and Indiana Roofing
Kevin Bruns is a 3rd generation leader at Bruns Construction Enterprises. BCE, founded by his grandfather Robert E. Bruns in 1951. Bruns has been serving the community for 75 years in commercial construction, roofing, development and real estate. Kevin oversees the Ohio and Indiana Roofing-South division. Where they service clients from CBRE, JLL, Colliers, Nationwide, Exeter. Kevin has designed several high profile, high rise roof replacement projects downtown Columbus, OH (PNC Plaza, Chase Tower, Huntington Center, One Miranova, Summit Chase). BCE has close to 400 associates and are lead by their strong faith and family values.
Founder & former CEO
RevLocal, Inc.
Marc Hawk is a Founder and former CEO of RevLocal. The company started in Columbus and scaled over 14 year to become a leading national digital marketing company with over 400 employees before it was acquired in the fall of 2024. Marc and his brother have been entrepreneurs for over 20 years and have started and operated multiple businesses. Marc is passionate about developing business ideas that can scale.