Since its inception in 1989, the Goering Center for Family and Private Business has made a remarkable economic impact of $13.5 billion on the Greater Cincinnati region. Recognizing that family and private businesses often lack the resources available to larger public companies, John Goering, an accounting professor at the University of Cincinnati, and his wife, Gloria, provided the initial funding to establish the Goering Center. Together with Professor Sid Barton, they launched this initiative 35 years ago, supported by what is now known as the Carl H. Lindner College of Business. Today, this nonprofit organization boasts over 400 member companies, accounting for 64,000 jobs across 19 counties. While the Goering Center embraces businesses of all shapes and sizes within its Core, Associate, and Corporate Partner memberships, it particularly caters to those in its “sweet spot”—enterprises with 10 to 100 employees and annual revenues ranging from $1 million to $50 million.
“We support, nurture, and educate both family and private businesses. We focus on helping owners and leaders work on their business not just in their business. We are heavily driven by volunteer engagement, with 150 to 200 volunteers every year,” says Carol Butler, president. “I often say—those who know us love us, but not enough people know who we are—so we remain on a mission of expanding our reach into the community. We are built for more and strive to deliver on the promise to positively impact businesses in our region.”
In 2017, Butler was appointed president of the Goering Center, having already dedicated five years as a volunteer. Her journey has indeed come full circle: she grew up in her family’s orchard business, Butler’s Orchard, gained over 30 years of experience in the corporate sector, and ultimately shifted her focus to supporting family and private enterprises.
The Goering Center offers a range of specialized services through its various institutes. The Next Generation Institute™ is a comprehensive 12-session program that prepares families for the seamless transition of business ownership from one generation to the next. Both LaRosa’s Pizzeria and Graeter’s Ice Cream have graduated from this program and speak highly of its effectiveness in facilitating their generational changes.
Another key offering is the Business Boards Institute, which employs a seven-step framework to help businesses establish advisory boards aimed at achieving their goals and driving meaningful change. Additionally, the Leadership Development Institute is led by expert facilitators who support business leaders in reaching their highest potential while fostering the exchange of ideas among peers in the program.
“Every program we design is based on our core principles of knowledge, connection, and community, and our institutes are excellent examples of those principles in action,” says Carol Butler, president of the Goering Center.
