What It Takes to Sustain a Family Business Across Generations

What allows some family businesses to survive for decades while others struggle to make it through a single transition?

In this milestone 100th episode, Mark Lacona, President of Simcona Electronics and co-founder of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, shares the story of a family business that has successfully navigated multiple generations of leadership. From humble beginnings in 1962 to building a thriving electronics company, Mark reflects on the values, decisions, and relationships that helped sustain the business over time.

Listeners will learn how trust between founders shaped the company's culture, why leadership transitions require both patience and courage, and what it means to balance innovation with stewardship. Mark also shares lessons from buying the company, leading organizational growth, and preserving the legacy of those who came before him. Whether you're preparing for succession, leading a growing family enterprise, or thinking about your own legacy, this episode offers practical wisdom from someone who has lived it.

Succession Planning Next Generation Leadership

“It was liberating to say, I may be wrong, but I'm making this decision.”

Marc lacona

Key Takeaways

➜ Strong family businesses are built on trust long before succession begins.
The transition from the founders to the next generation worked because trust had been established over many years. Customers, suppliers, employees, and family members already had confidence in the incoming leadership team.

➜ Leadership growth often happens outside the family business.
Mark's experience at Xerox gave him sales, marketing, and leadership skills he later brought back to Simcona. Outside experience can accelerate personal development and increase credibility within the family enterprise.

➜ Founders who prioritize people create lasting legacies.
Both founders came from difficult backgrounds and never forgot the importance of taking care of employees. That commitment became part of the company's culture and continues to influence leadership decisions today.

➜ Successful transitions require letting go—and stepping up.
Founders must eventually release control, while successors must accept responsibility for decisions and outcomes. Sustainable transitions happen when both generations embrace their respective roles.

➜ Growth requires balancing respect for the past with a vision for the future.
After acquiring full ownership, Mark expanded Simcona into manufacturing while maintaining the company's distribution business. Long-term success often comes from evolving the business without abandoning its core strengths.

Guests Appearing in this Episode

Marc lacona
President of Simcona Electronics, a family-owned company founded in 1962 that serves manufacturers through electronics distribution and contract manufacturing services. He is also a co-founder and leader of the internationally recognized Rochester International Jazz Festival, one of the premier music festivals in North America.

➜ Website