Live, Love, and Serve Together: Anne McGregor shares the Herschend Family story and how they create stability and connection.
Release Date: 08/28/2025
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info_outlineAnne E. McGregor, a fourth-generation owner of Herschend Entertainment, the family behind Silver Dollar City, offers insights into their transition from family operators to engaged owners. Her grandparents, Hugo and Mary Hershend, founded the business by purchasing a cave in the Ozarks for tourism in 1950, which later evolved into Silver Dollar City in 1960. Anne's father, Pete, and uncle, Jack, further developed the enterprise, notably contributing to the "boom" of Branson by realizing the community needed to grow with them to provide amenities for visitors. Today, the Herschend family emphasizes intentional family engagement and governance to ensure the business's long-term stability and success, with a non-family CEO since the 1990s. Anne plays a pivotal role in strengthening family connections through philanthropic initiatives via their "Neighbor" company, which also serves as a unifying platform for over 60 family members across multiple generations. The family's purpose is "bringing families closer together," and they strive to live their mission of "live, love, and serve together" through their business and family structures.
Key Themes:
Intentional Governance and Family Stability
Culture of Connection through Family Meetings
Philanthropy as a Unifying Force
Next-Generation Education and Engagement
Learning from Peers
People-First Purpose and Legacy
Timestamps:
01:06 - Founding story of Herschend and Marvel Cave
06:31 - Growing up in a theme park-owning family
08:05 - Branson’s boom and role of community collaboration
12:30 - Anne’s background and early career
13:26 - Creation and purpose of Share It Forward
15:46 - Beginning of philanthropic work and founding of Neighbor
19:46 - Family governance: structure of the Family Council
24:19 - Family Office and programming for unity
30:25 - Family meetings and intergenerational bonding
37:38 - Future Owners Group (FOG) and mentoring the rising gen
48:58 - Community impact through Neighbor and family giving
Additional Resources:
Anne McGregor, Chairperson, Neighbor Company: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mcgregor-5bbabb166/
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