Houden_200x3001Dr. Deb Houden, Family Business Consulting Group

A consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group, Inc., Deb Houden specializes in helping family-owned businesses with family communication, transition, and next generation development by providing resources, tools, and knowledge that are needed to navigate their specific issues.

Deb has worked with numerous families on developing effective communication and conflict resolution skills, developing family meetings, beginning stages of board development, and working with next generational members of family firms (including adolescents). She is adept at developing processes that help families go through changes within the business and family systems.

She is a regular presenter to industry groups, family business centers, and individual company retreats on topics including the next generation and succession, communication and conflict resolution, and perceptions of fairness. In 2015, Deb achieved Fellow status from the Family Firm Institute (FFI) for her ongoing expertise and commitment to the field of family enterprise. She also holds a Certificate in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising from FFI.


Jamie Richardson HeadshotJamie Richardson, White Castle

Jamie T. Richardson is an “Ultimate Craver” who took his love of White Castle hamburgers to its logical extreme, joining the White Castle home office team in 1998. Jamie serves as Vice President, White Castle System, Inc. with responsibilities for government affairs, shareholder relations, public relations and corporate philanthropy.

Prior to this role, Jamie served as Director of Marketing. Jamie’s craving for White Castle was nurtured during time he spent working on the business as part of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency team, where he also had assignments on a range of accounts like Domino’s Pizza, Tenneco Automotive and Carhartt Outdoor Apparel. As a marketer, Jamie has played a key role on teams that have earned 4 EFFIE awards – the highest industry recognition for advertising effectiveness.

In recent years, Jamie has led White Castle’s involvement in entertainment projects like “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”, “Undercover Boss” and “Impractical Jokers”. He has made over 40 national television appearances on behalf of White Castle on shows including CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, “Your World with Neil Cavuto”, CNBC’s “Closing Bell” and a range of Fox Business News programs like the “Melissa Francis Show”, “Varney and Co.” and “After the Bell”. Jamie is also frequently quoted in publications like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and Forbes.

As a 4th generation family member “in-law” Jamie invests his time and passion in the White Castle vision of “remaining a family owned business for generations to come”.


George Brown_05_2016George Brown, Highlights for Children, Inc.

George is Director of Customer Experience for the Highlights Foundation—a nonprofit organization hosting workshops for children’s authors and illustrators. The mission is to raise the level of offerings to children by supporting, teaching, and coaching the adults who create books for children. He currently works for his father, the Executive Director who founded the Highlights Foundation. As well, George is a fourth-generation family member of Highlights for Children, Inc., an internationally recognized children’s media brand. He worked directly in the company for 15 years before transitioning to the Highlights Foundation. George is active with family governance and currently serves roles on the family council and voting trust. He has been on the advisory board of the Family Business Alliance in Wilkes-Barre, PA.