The Family Enterprise Center at Stetson University is hosting a free half-day seminar, “Branding the Family Enterprise — Does It Work, or Does It Hurt?”, on March 28, 1-4 p.m., in Rinker Auditorium at 419 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand.

Sponsored by Vistage Florida, the event will explore how the family business brand affects performance, whether branding a family firm affects the attractiveness to potential employees and, ultimately, the keys to successful family branding.

It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all businesses in North America are family owned, managed or controlled.

“Family-owned firms are the backbone of the global economy and include leading businesses in every industry,” said Neal Mero, Ph.D., dean and professor of management in the School of Business Administration. “Among our impressive portfolio of majors, we are honored to host the country’s only existing major in Family Enterprise Management.”

The conference will be led by Isabel C. Botero, Ph.D. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Management and a researcher at the Family Enterprise Center at Stetson University.

Although free to attend, seating is limited and registration is required.

The School of Business Administration created the Family Enterprise Center in 1998 to address the challenges that family-owned and family-managed businesses face.

-Marie Dinklage