Foundations for Family Business Success

Foundations for Family Business Success: Join us as we dive into what it takes to build a foundation for a successful family business through an overview of best-practices coupled with real world applications. Attendees will gain insights into key findings from two recent studies designed to understand the motivations, experiences, and interests of the next generation. Now and Next Generation panelists will offer their perspectives and experiences as we explore topics on:
 

• Early Involvement and Emotional Connections to the Business
• Training and Preparation of the Next Generation
• Advantage and Benefits of Mentoring and Roles of Peer Professionals 
• Finding the Right Role  

Panelists:


Adrienne Heidema
 
Adrienne is a member of the fourth generation working in the family business and is the current President and CEO.  She returned to the business in 2020 after a career of over twenty years in banking, including her last role as IT Auditor at Mercantile Bank.  Adrienne now enjoys working with Brad, her husband of 36 years, who is the Chief Human Resources Officer and her son Brennan, who is the East Region Ready Mix Account Manager.  Adrienne and Brad also have two other children and two grandchildren.  Adrienne’s focus is on leading according to the company’s established core values and preserving the legacy of her family.


Cameron Shields
 
Cameron is the 2^nd generation owner of Blackberry Systems. He grew up working various roles at Blackberry Systems, a business his father started in 1980. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in finance. After graduation, he moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and worked in corporate finance and accounting. In 2018, Cameron returned to Michigan and Blackberry Systems as the Residential division General Manager. He purchased the business from his father in 2025. Cameron and his wife, Ally, live in Kalamazoo with their daughter.


Sheri Welsh
 
Sheri Welsh is the President and CEO of Welsh & Associates, Inc. a full-service executive search and professional recruiting services firm. Founded in 2002, the boutique firm is recognized as a regional leader in the search industry. 
Sheri holds a BS in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) and Certified Employee Retention Specialist (CERS). 
Sheri is a graduate of Leadership Kalamazoo and a Past Board Chair of the Leadership Kalamazoo Advisory Council, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves as the Board Chair for the Small Business Association of Michigan. She also serves on the board of directors for Kalamazoo Communities in Schools and Kalamazoo County Ready 4’s.