Family Business Council

Join FBC

Becoming a member of the UIC Family Business Council is like joining a family who cares; a family that addresses your unique needs and helps you succeed in your goals with the collaboration and complete support of the council and your peers. To learn more about FBC membership, please read below where you will find detailed information about the member benefits and process for becoming a member. Please e-mail FBC Program Coordinator Robyn Traub at rtraub@uic.edu with any questions you may have regarding membership.

Programs and Benefits

The Family Business Council provides its members with a full range of educational and social networking experiences, an outstanding peer network and access to many of the resources of a first-rate business school.



CEO & Peer Forums

One of the greatest privileges of FBC membership is participation in forum. Forum has been described as the antidote to the phrase, "It's lonely at the top." Forum provides an ongoing opportunity for members to discuss the unique issues that arise out of a family business, with a group of peers. Each forum is comprised of approximately 12 members who meet on a regular basis in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust to talk about business, family and personal issues. Members who join forum must make the commitment to participate in all activities of their forum, and agree to its conditions and protocols.

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Educational Presentations and Workshops

The FBC holds three General Meetings each year, plus an annual Family Business Day, which provide opportunities for the entire membership to gather to learn, network and interact with other member business owners and with UIC faculty and students. General Meeting keynote presentations include well known business and cultural leaders discussing strategies for business growth or tips for developing a personal leadership style. Past FBC keynote presenters have included Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase, Christie Hefner of Playboy Enterprises, Inc., Bill Rancic - first season winner of "The Apprentice," Doris Christopher - founder and chairman of The Pampered Chef and Diane Swonk of Mesirow Financial.

Workshops offer specific answers to members' business and personal development questions. Taught by industry experts, these interactive sessions provide real take-home value which can be used in members' businesses the next day. Recent topics have included:

  • Maximizing Results through Effective Sales Management
  • Traits CEOs Need to Drive Shareholder Value in the Right Direction
  • Business Planning: Purpose, Content and Finding Your Vision

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Resources Available

As a member of Family Business Council, you have an abundance of resources at your disposal. A few of these resources include the UIC College of Business Administration, and the FBC's Strategic Partners. However, the greatest sources of information available to you are the diverse members of the business council - your peers. They are always available when your business needs them.

The Family Business Council is affiliated with the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The College of Business Administration is nationally recognized for its outstanding programs, including its Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. The FBC works closely with the CBA to bring the latest research ideas to our members' attention. FBC also works to bring real-world, family business leaders into the classroom through member-volunteer lectures, case study presentations and as adjunct faculty.

Member companies can also take advantage of their preferred relationship with UIC through the discounted registration fees to university-conducted education programs, access to undergraduate and graduate interns, student project teams and employee recruiting opportunities.

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Membership Process

Joining the UIC Family Business Council is a simple process. If you are interested in becoming a member, please send a letter to the FBC director stating your interest. The letter should include the following information:

  • Company Name
  • President/CEO Name
  • Short description of your business
  • Approximate volume and employee count
  • Number of family members involved in the business
  • Contact Address
  • Contact Telephone Number
  • Contact Fax Number
  • Contact E-mail Address

The letter should be sent by e-mail, fax or U.S. mail to:
Robyn Traub
UIC Family Business Council
815 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 321
Chicago, IL 60607
Fax: 312 996 9988
Email: rtraub@uic.edu

After your letter is received, someone from the FBC will contact you, and will arrange an appointment to meet with you to discuss how the FBC may be of assistance to you and your family.

Next, you will be invited to participate in one of the organization's general meetings or introduction programs. This meeting provides an opportunity for you to meet other business leaders firsthand who can share how the FBC has helped them in their businesses and with their family relationships.

Following this series of meetings and follow-up discussions, you will be invited to join the council.

As a new member, you will attend an orientation meeting with other new members and will be introduced to forums with openings for new members. We will work with you to ensure that you become acquainted with the programs of the FBC and develop your own network of member contacts within the council.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are there a lot of meetings to attend?

That depends. There are approximately three general meetings a year for the entire membership, along with two social events per year - a summer social and late summer golf tournament. Additionally, the FBC hosts several workshops and seminars throughout the year. However, the real value of the FBC is found in forum participation. Forums are comprised of approximately 12 members, who meet regularly on a predetermined basis (usually half a day once a month). For those who participate in forum, attendance is considered mandatory, except for emergencies.

Is the FBC only open to family business CEOs?

Membership in the UIC Family Business Council is open to any family-owned or closely-held business in the Chicagoland area. In addition to the CEO/president, other family members (co-owners, immediate family members) may also participate in FBC programs, including forum.

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New Member Forms

Congratulations! By electing to join the UIC Family Business Council, you have made a decision that will positively affect your business for generations to come. To help us learn more about your company, please complete the following new member forms and send to the FBC Program Coordinator Robyn Traub via e-mail at rtraub@uic.edu or fax (312) 996-9988.


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