The FEW Conference

Engaging, Educational, Enlightening, Entertaining by design

FEW (family|enterprise|wealth) is a conference design for high performing families and their advisors.  This invitation only annual event is where thought leaders share a world full of emerging opportunities.  Now in its fourteenth year, FEW provides a marketplace of ideas gathering “the right people with the right ideas at the right time.”

“A powerful and unforgettable program”

At the FEW CONFERENCE, every minute counts; carefully selected topics, no panel discussions, no sponsors, none of the tired clichés from the usual round of so-called experts, no sales pitches, no glory stories.  Each thought leader presents their very best ideas in thirty minutes or less.  In addition to a stellar program, FEW participants have ample opportunities to share ideas with presenters and other attendees.

An extraordinary event.  Very relevant, informative and lively.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The discussions were enlightening and inspiring; attendees and presenters were first class.

FEW X Conference – 2018

Chicago, IL | September 27th

FEW IX NYC Conference Presenters – 2018

Philip K. Howard

America Needs a New Governing Philosophy

Founder, Common Good, Author, The Death of Common Sense, The Collapse of the Common Good, Life Without Lawyers and The Rule of Nobody.

Mark Rittmanic

Accelerating Your Family Business Performance

CEO, ForteONE

Brigadier General Peter B. Zwack

Why Russia Matters

Retired U. S. Army, Senior Russia, Eurasia Fellow Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Nassir Ghaemi

A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness

M. D. Tufts University, Author, A First-Rate Madness

Jerry Z. Muller

The Tyranny of Metrics

Professor of History, The Catholic University of America, and Author, How Our Obsession with Quantifying Human Performance Threatens Our Schools, Medical Care, Businesses and Government

Mark Yusko

Alternative Investments: Predictions for a Digital Age

CEO & CIO, Morgan Creek Capital Management

Blair Hull

Market Timing

Founder & Chairman, Hull Investments, Ketchum Trading, Hull Trading Company

Charlotte Beyer

Who Will Prevail When Authenticity Challenges the Money Culture

Principle Quest Foundation, Founder, Institute for Private Investors

Arden O’Connor

The Launching Years: Counteracting the Effects of Unearned Privilege

Founder, O’Connor Professional Group

Ned Hallowell M. D.

A Path of Excellence: What the Ideal Childhood, Education and Workplace Have in Common 

The Hallowell Center, Author, Driven to Distraction

Akash Chougule

Incentives, Transparency, and Taxes

Director of Policy, Americans for Prosperity, Named “30 Under 30” for Law & Policy by FORBES Magazine.

John E. Messervey

Understanding Donald Trump: From Family Business Entrepreneur to President of the United States 

NFBC President & Private Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

Another outstanding program, high level content and excellent speakers.  Diverse set of topics threaded into larger themes. Each session was insightful, high energy, and engaging.

Truly inspiring day, such a meaningful and important experience with so many wonderful presenters making connections!

FEW VIII Conference Presenters – 2017

Michael Gfoeller

Oil, Arms Sales and Military Intervention; How Russia Projects Power in the Middle East

U. S. Ambassador (ret.), U. S. Department of State, Former Senior Advisor to General David Patraeus.  Middle East counter-terrorism operations advisor.

Jerry Harrison

From Rock and Roll to Levelling the Investor Playing Field

Co-Founder, Red Crow, Songwriter, Musician and Producer, Talking Heads

Brian Smith

From Rock and Roll to Levelling the Investor Playing Field

CEO and Co-Founder, Red Crow

Laird Koldyke

Understanding the New America Consumer: Fads, Trends and Market Shifts

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Winona Capital

Mark Yusko

The Global Search for Alpha: All Roads Lead to Private Markets 

Founder, CEO & Chief Investment Officer, Morgan Creek Capital

Philip K. Howard

The Rule of Nobody: The Urgent Need for Regulatory Reform and Infrastructure Improvement in America

Founder, Common Good, Author, The Death of Common Sense, The Collapse of the Common Good, Life Without Lawyers and The Rule of Nobody

John Leboutillier

Perspectives on the Current State of Government, Politics and Media

FOX News Commentator, Former U. S. Congressman (NY-6th)

January Miller

What is Really Happening on the South Side of Chicago

Chief Program Director and Co-Founder, EMBARC

Johnny C. Taylor Jr.

Strategies that Allow Fragile Communities to Flourish

President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Kurt Reiman

Do Politics Trump Economics?

Director, Global Investment Strategist, Blackrock

Jay Ellison

Why Free Expression on Campus Matters

College of Arts and Sciences, University of Chicago

Thomas Stewart

Woo, Wow and Win: Service Design, Strategy and the Art of Customer Delight

Executive Director, National Center for the Middle Market, The Ohio State University, Former Editor Harvard Business Review, Author, Woo, Wow and Win…

John E. Messervey

The Psychology of Entrepreneurial Leadership: Understanding Donald Trump

NFBC President & Private Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

FEW VII Conference Presenters – 2016

Scott Harris

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE WINNER IN THE UBER COMPETITIVE MLB ENVIRONMENT

Director, Baseball Operations, Chicago Cubs Baseball Club

Ti Brennan Martin

THE CHALLENGE AND JOY OF HONORING A LEGEND: ONE FAMILY’S STORY

Co-Proprietor, Commander’s Palace Group

Charlotte Beyer

THE POWER GAMES: WEALTH MANAGEMENT UNWRAPPED

Principle Quest Foundation, Founder, Institute for Private Investors

Timothy Farrell

INVESTING IN COMMERCIAL LITIGATION FINANCE

Managing Director, Longford Capital

Arnette Heintze

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY IN A TECHNICALLY AGILE WORLD; BEST PRACTICES IN PHYSICAL AND CYBER SECURITY

CEO & Co-Founder, Hillard-Heintze

Kurt Reiman

GAME CHANGE: INVESTING IN A LOW GDP/HIGH DEBT ENVIRONMENT

Director, Global Investment Strategist, Blackrock

Blair Hull

MARKET TIMING, BIG DATA AND MACHINE LEARNING

Founder & Chairman, Hull Investments, Ketchum Trading, Hull Trading Company

Mark Achler

CREATING A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR INNOVATION

Managing Director, MATH Venture Partners, REDBOX, 1871, Northwestern University

Ned Hallowell

THE CHILDHOOD ROOTS OF ADULT HAPPINESS

M. D., The Hallowell Center, Author, Driven to Distraction

Ira Perlmuter

FAMILY OFFICE LOWER/MIDDLE MARKET BANKRUPTCY BUYOUTS

Managing Director, T5 Equity Partners

Linda Mack

WINNING THE RACE FOR TALENT IN YOUR FAMILY OFFICE

Founder & President, Mack International, LLC

John E. Messervey

BEYOND THE LOSS OF FAMILY WEALTH; WHEN HEIRS STUMBLE

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

FEW VI Conference Presenters – 2015

Adam Hitchcock

THE ROAD AHEAD: INTERCONNECTED ECONOMICS, DOMESTIC POLITICS AND GEO POLITICS

Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners, Former Chief of Staff, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS

Harry G. Broadman

CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITIES AND MITIGATING RISK IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Director, Global Enterprise and Emerging Markets Initiative, PROA Global Partners, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Thomas Stewart

MOMENTS OF TRUTH: HOW MIDDLE MARKET COMPANIES NAVIGATE CRITICAL TRANSITIONS IN INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Former editor, Harvard Business Review, National Center for the Middle Market

Matthew Kaplan

SHARED VISION: A 35 YEAR “FAMILY BUSINESS” SUCCESS STORY

President & CEO, KapStone Paper

Mark Achler

HOW TIMING AND LUCK MATTERS

Managing Director, MATH Venture Partners, REDBOX, 1871, Northwestern University

Sarah B. Barber

THE NEW WORLD OF STRATEGIC PRICING: DISRUPTIVE APPROACHES THAT DRIVE MAXIMUM RETURN

Director, Strategic and Analytics, VANTIV

Jonathan Blue

NAVIGATING THE NEW RULES OF PRIVATE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY: CUBA, LATIN AMERICA AND BEYOND

Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity, LLC

Amy Dunham

HIGH INTEREST, LOW TRUST; EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS UNDER FIRE

Managing Director, Strategic Communications, The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Norton Rainey

WHY CHOICE MATTERS: ACCELERATING EDCUATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA

President & CEO, Alliance for Choice in Education (ACE)

Angela Geiger

THE ECONOMICS OF AGING: ALZHEIMER’S AND ITS IMPACT

Chief Strategy Officer, Alzheimer’s Association

Scott D. Livingston

CHINA’S TECHNOLOGY REFORMS AND THE FUTURE OF THE GLOBAL INTERNET

Esq. Covington & Burling, Beijing, PRC

John E. Messervey

EVALUATING FAMILY, BUSINESS & WEALTH PERFORMANCE, THE NEXT GENERATION: WHAT MATTERS AND WHY

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

I was struck by the refreshing difference in the FEW format and overall intimacy of the day.  The right size group with John’s facilitation seems to be the key to this conference’s consistent success.

This is the right sized group–small enough to be personable, large enough to matter.

FEW V Conference Presenters – 2014

J.B. Pritzker

ENTREPRENEURIAL MOMENTUM IN THE MIDWEST

Managing Partner, Pritzker Group

Pradeep Ramamurthy

REACHING YOUNG URBAN CONSUMERS: THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH

Former Senior Director for Global Engagement, National Security Council, The White House

Gregory Curtis

BEING RICH

Chairman, Greycourt & Company

Philip K. Howard

CAN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT GET FIXED?

Founder, Common Good, Author, The Death of Common Sense, The Collapse of the Common Good, Life Without Lawyers and The Rule of Nobody

David A. Thurm

BUILDING THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR MUSEUM:  THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

COO, The Art Institute of Chicago

Arden O’Connor

SOLVING THE CHALLENGES OF ADDICTION: MENTAL HEALTH & EATING DISORDERS WITH HNW FAMILIES

Founder & CEO, O’Connor Professional Group

Tready A. Smith

A WOMAN’S FAVORITE PASTIME: (INVESTMENT) SHOPPING

Founder & CEO, Bayshore Capital Partners

Sarah J. Baker Esq.

GAME CHANGE:  THE NEW ECONOMICS OF LEGAL PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE

Sarah J. Baker, P. C.

Brad D. Akason

SELLING THE FAMILY BUSINESS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR, WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Managing Director, Lincoln International

Mackenzie Herzog

KEEPING OUR FAMILIES HEALTHY AND SAFE: WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM SPORTS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Ph. D. Candidate, University of North Carolina, Founder and CEO, PRISM Group

Paul Abrahams

THE FUTURE OF BASEBALL:  HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL DRIVE AMERICA’S PASTIME

COO, The Light Stryker Group

John E. Messervey

FROM STUCK TO THRIVING: HOW HNW FAMILIES ACCELERATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEALTH CREATION AND CONTINUITY

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

FEW IV Conference Presenters – 2013

Anthony Pritzker and Paul Carbone

CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION FAMILY INVESTMENT GROUP

Managing Partners, Pritzker Group

J. Randall Waterfield

FINDING SLIVERS OF HIGH PERFORMING INVESTMENTS IN A LOW PERFORMING MARKET

Co-Chairman, The Waterfield Group

YPO International Chair

Lorraine George-Harik

ACCELERATING OPPORTUNITIES: THE MILSTEIN FAMILY’S STARTEGIC DECISIONS FOR GROWTH

Founding Partner, HPM Partners

Kurt Reiman

POLITICS TRUMPS ECONOMICS

Director & Senior Editor, UBS Wealth Management Research

Jeffrey Sharfstein

SELLING THE FAMILY BUSINESS: A CASE STUDY IN RISK/REWARD IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT

President & CEO, The Strive Group

Mark Rittmanic

A VIEW FROM THE TRENCHES: WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO THINK ABOUT NOW

Founder & CEO, ForteONE

Joseph Bourgraf

IS THERE A SILVER LINING IN THE OBAMACARE CLOUD?

President & CEO, Ferno Group of Companies

Bret Alexander and Lauren Jordan

TRANSFORMING A FAMILY TRAGEDY INTO A MODEL FOR PHILANTHROPY

Advisory Directors, QUAD W Foundation

Randy Williams

BUILDING THE WORLD’S LARGEST ANGEL INVESTOR NETWORK

Founder & CEO, The Keiretsu Forum

John E. Messervey

MICRO THINKING IN A MACRO WORLD: AN EMERGING PSYCHOLOGY OF FAMILY WEALTH

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

Outstanding – best lineup of speakers and topics at any conference that I have attended.

Exceeded my expectations – met some amazing people doing amazing things.

FEW III Conference Presenters – 2012

Laird Koldyke

MANAGING DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY ENTERPRISE

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Winona Capital, Chairman, Laird Norton Company

Richard Waterfield Jr.

CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR WEALTH CREATION IN THE NEW ECONOMY

Co-Chairman, The Waterfield Group

Rege Eisaman

MANAGING PORTFOLIO RISK IN A VOLATILE ENVIRONMENT

Principal, InterOcean Capital

Thomas Farrell

MERGER & ACQUISITION TRENDS: WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD

Executive Vice President, Generational Equity

Blair Hull

THE ILLUSION OF LIQUIDITY

Founder & Chairman, Hull Investments, Ketchum Trading, Hull Trading Company

Robert Kudwa

30,000 ASSOCIATES UP IN THE AIR: LESSONS LEARNED, COMMUNICATING IN A CRISIS—9/11 AND BEYOND

Vice President and Director of Operations (D. O.) American Airlines, (ret.) Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps (ret.)

Rocky Henderson

FRACKING WEALTH: HOW THREE GENERATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA CHANGED OUR FAMILY

Founder & CEO, Quest Inc.

Angelo J. Robles

CREATING A FAMILY OFFICE FOR FAMILY WEALTH PRESERVATION & LEGACY

Founder & CEO, Family Office Association

Randall Rother

INSURANCE BUILT AROUND YOU: ACCELERATING THE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OF YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Principal, The Oakmont Group

Michael Foltz

NEW SKILLS, NEW PERSPECTIVES: MANAGING THE TRANSITION FROM OWNER TO INVESTOR

Principal, Balasa, Dinverno Foltz

Marc J. Grens

THE FLATTEST GENERATION: WHAT MOTIVATES THE NEW AGE OF ENTREPRENEURS?

Managing Director, Alpha Strategies

John E. Messervey

PRIVATE CONCERNS IN UNCERTAIN TIMES: DECISIONS HNW FAMILIES ARE MAKING NOW

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

FEW II Conference Presenters – 2011

Steve Seabolt

GAME ON: GLOBAL BRANDING AT ELECTRONIC ARTS

Vice President, Electronic Arts

Renee Duba

IF WE ALL PLAY “FOLD IT”, COULD WE CURE CANCER?

Senior Advisor, Wm. Blair & Company

Georgette Wong

IMPACT INVESTING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF CAPITAL MARKETS TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

CEO, Correlation Consulting

Gil Crawford

STORIES FROM THE FIELD: HOW MICROFINANCE BECAME THE FIRST RISK ADJUSTED SCALABLE IMPACT INVESTMENT

CEO, MicroVest Capital

Holly Isdale

THE UNFULFILLED PROMISE OF FAMILY OFFICES: SINGLE, MULTIFAMILY AND BEYOND

Founder & CEO, Wealthaven

Patty Phillips

CAREER LAUNCH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WEALTH CREATORS

Vice President, Campus2Career

Bruce Werner

[P+F+I+C+E]*AE=Opportunity

Managing Partner, Kona Advisors

Brad Warrick

HEALTHCARE REFORM: ACCELERATING UNTAPPED COST REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES

Founder & CEO, Warrick Optimal Workforce Wellness

Ernie Vesta

“To Know You is to Care for You” A NEW APPROACH TO RECONCILING MEDICAL NEEDS

M. D. & CEO, Vesta Healthcare

John Messervey

FAMILY BEHAVIORS THAT INHIBIT OR ENHANCE LONG TERM WEALTH CONTINUITY

NFBC President & Private Family Advisor to America’s Leading Families™

FEW I Conference Presenters – 2010

Jonathan Blue

SEIZING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES – LAUNCHING A STRATEGIC, DIVERSE PRIVATE EQUITY PLATFORM

Founder & CEO, Blue Equity/ Lagardère

Scott D. Livingston

THE RAPID RISE OF CHINESE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT UPON AMERICAN ECONOMIC GROWTH

AllBright Beijing

Laird Koldyke

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY OFFICE CHALLENGE: LEADING EIGHT GENERATIONS OF TALENT AND DIVERSITY

Co-Founder and Managing Director, Winona Capital, Chairman, Laird Norton Company

Michael Schonbrun

BEYOND THE DEMOGRAPHICS, SERVING THE RAPIDLY GROWING SENIOR CARE MARKET

Founder & CEO, Balfour Senior Living

John LaMotte and Scott Freres

TRENDS IN PLANNING|DESIGN|DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING COMMUNITIES

Co-Founders, The Lakota Group

Jeff Klein

RESOLVING THE GRIDLOCK OF HOUSING IN DISTRESS

Founder & CEO, Lifeline Capital

Frank Schroeder and Gretchen Cooper

BEYOND FAILURE TO LAUNCH: GUIDING MILENNIALS INTO CAREERS THAT MATTER

Founder and Principal, Campus2Career

John Couzens

WEALTH TRANSFER PLANNING FOR LGBT INDIVIDUALS AND NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES

Northern Trust

Jeff Sharfstein

SURVIVING MARKET VOLATILITY IN A THREE GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS

CEO, The Strive Group

Brad Warrick

AN UPDATE ON HEALTHCARE REFORM: ALTERNATE APPROACHES IN COST CONTAINMENT

Founder & CEO, Warrick LLC

Bruce Werner

NEW ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE AND FAMILY BUSINESSES

Managing Partner, Kona Advisors

Tom Neyer Jr.

BEYOND THE STORM; CREATIVE STRATEGIES IN REAL ESTATE AND MERCHANT BANKING

Founder & CEO, Neyer Holdings

Compelling, mind changing presentations.

An invaluable opportunity to meet some dynamic people in similar orbits.