Legacy on Film: How Eriksen Dickens Helps Families Preserve Their Stories | The Family Biz Show Ep. 113
Release Date: 04/24/2025
The Family Biz Show
What if succession didn’t need to be announced—because it had already happened? In this episode of The Family Biz Show, we sit down with Peter Roberti, third-generation leader of custom clothier Adrian Jules, to explore what family business governance looks like when it actually works—across generations, personalities, and pressure. Peter’s story isn’t about theory. It’s about lived governance: earned leadership, deeply rooted trust, and decisions made with legacy—not ego—in mind. 🔹 When Leadership Is Earned, Not Handed Down “The employee should say, ‘I thought he...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
What Makes a Family Business Last Across Generations Episode 125 of The Family Biz Show delivers one of the most grounded and insightful family business leadership stories in recent memory. Hosted by Michael Palumbos, a seasoned financial advisor for family business owners, this episode features Domenic Cortese of Cortese Construction Services—a second-generation leader actively transitioning a thriving company to the third generation. Through honest family business conversations, this episode explores the real mechanics behind longevity: trust, governance, wealth discipline, and intentional...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
Why Brand Can Make or Break Family Business Succession & Legacy In Episode 124 of The Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos welcomes back Megan Lynch of Six Point Strategy for a wide-ranging conversation that connects branding, trust, and reputation to the real drivers of Family business succession, Family business leadership, and long-term enterprise value. What makes this episode especially powerful is that Megan isn’t approaching brand as “marketing”—she approaches it as an essential part of family business strategy, Legacy planning, and Business continuity for families. Megan...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
In Episode 123 of the Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos welcomes Brad and Olivia Mountz of Mountz Incorporated for a powerful conversation that challenges traditional assumptions about family business succession and passing on the family business. This episode blends heartfelt storytelling with practical frameworks in family business leadership, legacy planning, and long-term business continuity for families. As Brad and Olivia share their journey—from working together across generations to ultimately choosing a strategic sale of the company—they offer deep insights that any Family...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
The Family Biz Show dives deep into the real-world journey of Family business succession through the story of SynAct, a Microsoft-partnered CRM consulting firm founded by Ken Compter and successfully transitioned to his daughter, Sarah Compter. The episode offers practical lessons in Family business leadership, Legacy planning, Business continuity for families, and the emotional intelligence required for Passing on the family business. With the strategic lens of a seasoned Family Business Advisor and the lived experience of a Family Business Consultant,...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
In this episode of The Family Biz Show, family business consultant Michael Palumbos is joined by Shawn Barberis of More Than Money 360 to explore how high-net-worth families can protect and grow their family wealth by focusing on communication, values, and legacy—not just dollars. Together, they unpack proven strategies to strengthen generational continuity, including the five pillars of success and six laws of family advancement. 1. Shawn’s Journey & “More Than Money” (02:23–08:18) Shawn shares why he left law to launch a firm focused on the relational and cultural side of...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
Jerry Aliberti, construction industry veteran and founder of Pro-Accel, joins Michael Palumbos to reveal what it really takes to design a smooth succession plan in family-owned construction businesses—and why most founders wait too long to start. With two decades of experience leading complex projects and advising second- and third-generation owners, Jerry brings grounded, practical wisdom to one of the hardest transitions in business: handing over the hard hat. He unpacks how family construction leaders can shift from doing the work to building people, delegate without losing control, and...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
Family businesses face unique pressures — leadership misalignment, succession uncertainty, and legal blind spots that can undermine decades of hard work. In this episode of The Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos sits down with Mike Hayes, CEO of GLC Business Services, to unpack the strategies that have allowed GLC to thrive across generations. Mike’s journey from West Point graduate and Army officer to family business CEO is a case study in resilience, vision, and people-first leadership. He shares how his father co-founded GLC in 1992, pivoting away from a declining printing industry...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
What does it take to lead a $1.5 billion dairy cooperative without losing the soul of the family farm? In this episode of The Family Biz Show, Michael Palumbos sits down with Kevin Ellis, CEO of Upstate Niagara Cooperative, to explore the path from third-generation dairy roots to modern-day manufacturing leadership. This isn’t just a story about dairy. It’s about what happens when a family business mindset meets scale, legacy meets innovation, and community values get tested in a corporate structure. Whether you're navigating your own transition, scaling fast, or wondering how to bring...
info_outlineThe Family Biz Show
In this deeply resonant episode of The Family Biz Show, Michael Palumbos sits down with Mike Young, fourth-generation family business leader and author of The Farmer’s Code. From a humble start farming rice in the Californian desert to exiting a vast family farmland portfolio, Mike offers a masterclass on pivoting, stewardship, and enduring family cohesion. Key Themes: Roots in the Soil (00:00–06:30) Mike recounts the origins of Wegis & Young—his great-grandfather's immigration, renaming, and pioneering efforts in California's Central Valley. Their early crops, including rice and...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos is joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Eriksen Dickens of Platinum Peak and Dickens Brothers to explore the power of legacy documentaries in preserving family stories for future generations.
Eriksen shares the inspiring story of building a creative business with his brother—starting with childhood movies on their family ranch to directing legacy films for philanthropists, founders, and family foundations. They discuss the unique dynamics of working with family, the evolution of their business, and the challenges of leadership, delegation, and growth as their team expanded.
This heartfelt conversation dives deep into the emotional and strategic value of storytelling for family enterprises. Eriksen explains the Seven Storytelling Pillars his team uses to bring generational narratives to life, and how these documentaries foster connection, healing, and clarity across generations. Michael and Eriksen also reflect on the importance of identity post-succession, what people regret at the end of life, and why every family should consider capturing their story on film—before it's too late.
🎯 Takeaways
- Legacy documentaries help families preserve stories, values, and identity across generations.
- Working with family requires communication, trust, and self-awareness.
- Sales is about understanding people—not pitching.
- The “Seven Storytelling Pillars” provide a framework for meaningful legacy content.
- Growth requires delegation, leadership development, and team trust.
- Storytelling is a powerful tool for founders transitioning out of leadership.
- Emotional moments in legacy films can lead to healing and deeper connection.
- Many families regret not capturing stories until it's too late.
- Legacy storytelling is ideal for family foundations, successful entrepreneurs, and multigenerational families.
- Story is one of the most powerful tools for business communication and family legacy planning.