Since its inception, FFI has always been committed to excellence, fostering academic research, encouraging best practices, and inspiring professionals. In that light, each year FFI honors excellence in the field by granting Achievement, Academic, and FBR Awards. This week, we are pleased to feature recent editions from the 2024 Achievement Award and Academic Award recipients as well as the Best Article in FBR this year.

We hope you enjoy these editions from some of the leading minds in the field!

Achievement Awards

Richard Beckhard Award

The Richard Beckhard Practice Award was established in 1992 to honor an FFI founding member and distinguished practitioner in the family enterprise field. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of multi-generational family enterprise practice.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient, James Grubman.

James Grubman recently published an article in FFI Practitioner titled, “A Renewed Call for Accurate Research about Family Wealth Longevity”.

Barbara Hollander Award

The Barbara Hollander Award was established in 1995 to honor the late founder and first president of FFI, to perpetuate her profound interest in family business, her love for education and learning as well as her strong societal commitment. Award recipients exemplify Barbara Hollander’s love of education and learning, commitment to social causes, dedication to civic responsibility, and belief in the human capacity to change for the better.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient, Francesco Barbera.

Francesco Barbera recently published an article in FFI Practitioner titled, “Differences Among Family Firms: What the Research Shows”.

Interdisciplinary Award

The Interdisciplinary Award was established in 1999 and recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding achievement in the advancement of interdisciplinary services to multi-generational family-owned enterprises.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient, Lloyd Steier.

Lloyd Steier recently published an article in FFI Practitioner titled, “Family Enterprise Advantage: Overcoming the “Liabilities of Newness””.

International Award

The International Award was established in 2000 and recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding achievement in furthering the understanding of international issues and global networks in multi-generational, family-owned enterprise.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient, Peter Jaskiewicz.

Peter Jaskiewicz recently published an article in FFI Practitioner titled, “To Empower Members of the Next Generation, We Need to Answer Their Questions”.

FBR Award

Best Article

The Best Article Award recognizes the best article published in FBR in the previous calendar year. It is given to recognize and celebrate the strongest contribution in FBR, highlighting FBR’s pioneering and anchoring role in the field of family business studies.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients, Roy Suddaby, Wilson Ng, Natalia Vershinina, Gideon Markman, and Matthew Cadbury for their article titled, “Sacralization and the Intergenerational Transmission of Values in Cadbury.”

Go here to read the article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08944865231188788

Academic Awards

Best Doctoral Dissertation

The Best Doctoral Dissertation Award is given to encourage and recognize outstanding academic achievement in the field of family business study. The Best Dissertation Award is awarded annually after a blind, peer review of all submissions.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient, Philipp Jaufenthaler for his dissertation titled, “Reputational Consequences of Signaling Family Business: An Investigation Across Stakeholders, Cultures, and Contexts.”

Philipp Jaufenthaler is a co-author of “Consumer Responses to CSR News of Family Business Brands: An Experimental Approach” an article that will appear in the December 2024 edition of FBR.

Go here to read the article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08944865241285488

Best Unpublished Research Paper

The Best Unpublished Research Paper Award is awarded annually after a blind, peer review of all submissions.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients, James J. Chrisman, Hanqing “Chevy” Fang, and Vitaliy Skorodziyevskiy for their research titled, “Toward a Property Rights Theory of the Family Firm.”

Jim Chrisman and Vitaliy Skorodziyevskiy were co-authors of “Strategic Change in Family Firms: A Review From an Institutional Environment and Firm Size Perspective,” which was published in FBR earlier this year.

Go here to read the article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08944865231221841

Thank You to the 2024 Academic and FBR Award Sponsors

Best Doctoral Dissertation Award

Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont

Best Unpublished Research Paper Award

Relative Solutions

Best FBR Article

Lansberg Gersick Advisors (LGA)

Outstanding FBR Reviewer

D. Randolph Waesche