Legacy & Leadership: The Next Chapter of Two Iconic St. Louis Family Businesses
Presented By: Merrill
Family enterprises often define the economic and cultural fabric of a community. In this fireside conversation, Rachel Wallis Andreasson of Wallis Companies and Jacob Herschend of Herschend Entertainment reflect on the legacy of two of St. Louis’ most recognized family businesses. Together they explore the responsibilities of multi-generational ownership, the challenges of leadership transition, and how family enterprises evolve while preserving the values that built them.
Moderator:
Managing Director | Senior Resident Director
Merrill
Tom has spent the last 22 years at Bank of America/Merrill where he considers himself an “Intra-Preneur”. He is the founder of a 9 person boutique within the company called Singh & Associates.
He and his team specialize in pre-exit planning for business owners looking to sell their company in 12-36 months. By using their Proprietary financial Modeling Process, they run various simulations and prescribe strategies to help owners maximize their desired outcome.
He also oversees the Avalon location of Merrill Lynch managing 9 Billion of client assets and has been named the top 13 “Best in State Wealth Advisors” list by Forbes Magazine – 4 years in a row.
Panelists:
3rd Generation Shareholder & Education
Herschend Entertainment
Jacob A. Herschend is a third-generation stockholder of Herschend Entertainment. He is deeply committed to helping families establish or build their legacies, with a vision of becoming families that are in business together. To that effort Jacob serves on the Education Committee for the family.
Most recently he has returned to Marsh McLennan in St. Louis, Missouri (MMA:StL), after a two-year hiatus. He now serves as Senior Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency, where he leads the Family Business Practice Group for the region, with a particular focus on multi-generational family-owned and operated businesses. Jacob has also built an extensive network of privately-owned businesses operating throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Prior to returning to MMA:StL Jacob spent two years with Brightstar Capital Partners a Private Equity Firm based in New York City. He was responsible for Business Development for the Midwest and building a robust network across many different industries.
Co-Founder
The Sixth Level
Rachel Wallis Andreasson, MBA, a Co-Founder of The Sixth Level Collaborative is committed to creating a culture no one wants to leave. Rachel is a second-generation owner of Wallis Companies and has a proven track record of building sustainable infrastructure and governance systems. Rachel is known for her ability to unlock individual and group potential, making her a transformative force in every endeavor she undertakes.