A Founder's Farewell: Stepping Down as CEO to Pass the Torch
For many years, the phrase Build a Business, Build a Life has served as more than just a column title for me. It has acted as a personal compass, guiding my journey through the complex world of entrepreneurship. This principle consistently reminded me that while businesses must grow and expand, lives must remain whole and balanced. True success, I have learned, is not measured by size or revenue alone, but by the meaning we create and the equilibrium we maintain between professional ambitions and personal fulfillment.
It is with this foundational spirit that I have made the significant decision to step down from my role as Chief Executive Officer of our family business, effective February 3, 2026. My eldest son, John, will be taking over my position, marking a new chapter in our company's storied history. This transition represents a carefully considered move, not one born out of burnout or a loss of passion for the enterprise we have nurtured together.
Clarity in Transition: Understanding When to Step Back
This pivotal choice emerged from a place of profound clarity about what our business now requires for its continued growth and what this particular season of my life is quietly demanding. In the early years of our venture, leadership meant being present everywhere, making every critical decision from a single desk because survival demanded speed and unwavering certainty. That hands-on approach was essential and helped us establish a strong foundation.
However, what builds a business at one stage can potentially limit it at another. Over the decades, I came to understand that effective leadership is not solely about driving momentum forward relentlessly. It is also about possessing the wisdom to recognize when your continued presence in a central role might inadvertently hold others back from developing their full potential. Stepping aside, therefore, is not an act of disengagement but rather an intentional demonstration of trust in the next generation.
Identity Beyond the Title: Evolving with Changing Responsibilities
After three full decades serving as CEO, the role naturally became intertwined with my identity. My daily schedule had structure, my presence carried authority, and my decisions shaped our company's trajectory. Letting go of that identity is certainly not an easy process. This transition has compelled me to confront a deeply personal question: who am I without the CEO title?
The answer that emerged has been both reassuring and enlightening. I remain a responsible stakeholder, but my responsibilities are now different. I am still involved in the business, yet I can contribute with greater perspective and strategic oversight. Building a meaningful life, I have realized, involves allowing your identity to evolve gracefully as your professional responsibilities shift over time.
Empowering Authentic Leadership: Removing Dependence to Foster Growth
If a business cannot move forward without its founder at the helm, then the process of leadership transfer has not been fully realized and has, in a sense, failed. True leaders are not developed through constant protection or micromanagement. They grow by being entrusted with real responsibility, by making consequential decisions, by living with the outcomes of those choices, and by learning in real-time from both successes and setbacks.
By stepping down from the CEO position, I am not removing my guidance or support from the organization. Instead, I am consciously removing an element of dependence, thereby creating the necessary space for new leadership to flourish and assert its own vision.
From Daily Execution to Long-Term Stewardship
As I transition into the role of Chairman, my primary focus will shift from the day-to-day execution of operations to the stewardship of what we have collectively built over the years—our core values, our organizational culture, and our long-term strategic direction. The business now deserves leaders who are fully immersed in today's dynamic challenges and opportunities, not those who might be anchored to yesterday's operational habits or outdated methodologies.
Final Reflections on Building Both Business and Life
The philosophy of Build a Business, Build a Life was never about holding on to control forever. It was fundamentally about doing what matters most, at the right moment, for the right reasons. It is about understanding that lasting success is a collective endeavor, achieved together with family, team members, and the community we serve. This transition embodies that very principle, ensuring the legacy continues while making room for new energy and innovation.
