Each year the Pacific Family Business Institute (PFBI) conducts comprehensive surveys of family businesses to better understand the benefits and liabilities of owning and operating a family-owned business in the Pacific Northwest. In 2014, PFBI spoke with nearly 200 family businesses leaders in more than ten industry sectors in Oregon and Washington, asking them about government policy, economic conditions, and even management structure. Survey questions covered business history and future, management and governance structures, and the influence of multiple generations on family-owned businesses. The resulting report is the 2014 Northwest Family Business Survey.
PFBI co-directors Rich Simmonds and Mark T. Green discussed key insights derived from the survey findings, which challenges are keeping family business leaders up at night, and what trends make them feel hopeful for the future.