Biography

Co-founder and principal of The Family Business Consulting Group, Inc., Craig Aronoff is a leading consultant, speaker, writer, and educator in the family business field.

As the founder of the Cox Family Enterprise Center and current professor emeritus at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA, Aronoff invented and implemented the membership-based, professional-service-provider sponsored Family Business Forum, which has served as a model of family business education for some 150 universities world-wide. Until his retirement in January 2005, he held the Dinos Eminent Scholar Distinguished Chair of Private Enterprise and was a professor of management in Kennesaw State's Coles College of Business.

As a consultant, Aronoff has worked with hundreds of family companies in the U.S. and abroad on issues including generational transitions, developing business and family governance processes and structures; finding and articulating family missions and value,; facilitating decision making and conflict resolution, managerial development, family compensation and dividend policies; family meetings, and more. As an inspiring, informative and entertaining speaker on a variety of family business topics, he speaks regularly to trade and professional groups and has lectured at over 100 universities.

With co-author John L. Ward, Aronoff is perhaps the most prolific writer in the family business field. He has authored, co-authored or been editor of more than thirty books, including the 22-volume Family Business Leadership Series and is the founding editor of The Family Business Advisor.

Listed in Who's Who and widely acknowledged for his work in the area of family business, Aronoff has received, among other honors: the Family Firm Institute?s Beckhard Award for Outstanding Contributions to Family Business Practice, The Freedom Foundation's Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education, and the National Federation of Independent Business Foundation's Outstanding Educator Award. The Aronoff Professorship of Family Business at Kennesaw State University was named in his honor.

His present and past activities in civic and community organizations include: president of the Family Firm Institute (1992-94), president of the Marietta Kiwanis, vice chairman of the Cobb (County, GA) Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Cobb Transit Advisory Board, member of the Marietta Planning Commission; and president of the Association of Private Enterprise Education.

Aronoff grew up in a family business. He received his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, his Masters from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. The parents of three grown children, Craig and his wife Jane live in Marietta, Georgia.

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Testimonials

"By encouraging and recognizing those companies which stress family values in business, you have made an important contribution to our society."
 

 

 

"Having you as a vital part of our kick-off conference at The University of San Diego Family Business Institute was wonderful! Your presence gave us added legitimacy and energy . . . your enthusiasm, humor, and warmth . . . gave families attending the comfort level they needed to begin sharing."
 

 

"Your address last week in Scottsdale was inspiring and reflected a lot of our collective feelings in the field."