Why Family Businesses Matter - Dann Van Der Vliet, Cornell University

Dann Van Der Vliet is Executive Director of the Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University. The Smith Family Business Initiative provides education, networking and research for family business owners, successors and students from across the globe. Previously, as Director of the Family Business Initiative at the University of Vermont (UVM) for 12 years, Dann helped to grow a respected program that included numerous peer groups, statewide business forums and was co-founder of the Family Enterprise Case Competition, the only global competition devoted to family business. He received his B.S. in Natural Resources and his M.Ed., both from the University of Vermont. Dann can be reached by going to Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell | Cornell Johnson