Entrepreneur and Family Business Council

The Entrepreneur and Family Business Council (EFBC) exists to educate and empower the people of family and entrepreneurial businesses through impactful programs and a unique community of peer support.

To put it simply, we believe in helping people be the best leaders they can be in all aspects of their lives.

EFBC has been serving Chicagoland for more than 25 years. Our deep roots date back to 1993, when James P. Liautaud approached the University of Illinois at Chicago about underwriting an organization dedicated to family businesses. The Family Business Council (FBC) welcomed its first members in 1994 and operated under UIC’s College of Business Administration for nearly two decades.

Our organization became an independent nonprofit in 2011 and changed its name to Chicago Family Business Council (CFBC). We formed an affiliation with DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business in 2012 and remain closely connected with one of U.S. News and Report’s “25 Most Innovative Schools” for 2015.

In July 2019, the CFBC kicked off its 25th Anniversary with a rebrand. To celebrate 25 years of educating and empowering the people of family and entrepreneurial businesses, the Chicago Family Business Council became the Entrepreneur and Family Business Council (EFBC). The organization moved its offices into the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center and launched a new logo, mission, vision and values.

EFBC’s members include 135 business leaders from 85 companies in a wide array of industries. Family-owned businesses make up 70% of our membership, while 30% of our companies are privately held and entrepreneurial businesses. Our members lead our organization, serving on the Board of Directors to oversee our strategic direction.

Click the image below to read more about our founder, Jim Liautaud, and see his memorial video.