Family Business: Fulfillment vs. Folly

Leaning into the family business with all you have to give can lead to singular personal and professional fulfillment. However, settling for the family business is folly, and can lead to an unfulfilling career, and possibly estrangement. There is another option. Family business as a stepping stone. Should I stay or should I go?

FEC members and guests will be engaged and entertained by Patrick Sbarra. He will challenge our family businesses to ask the right questions and to have the tough conversations...with each other and with the person in the mirror.

Patrick comes from a diverse background, and has held leadership positions as the non-family member and within his family’s business. He will challenge founders, owners, next gen, and non-family members to find and pursue the fulfillment they deserve.

Patrick Sbarra is like many of you. He has been the outsider in a family-owned business, worked for his own family’s business, and has been the founder of two successful businesses. Currently Patrick is an active partner in Lamplighter Restorations, a Northwest Arkansas residential real-estate developer with a mission of Crafting Community. Patrick came out of the University of Rhode Island as a pharmacist, was the sales manager of a number of family-owned radio stations, the VP of sales for family-owned Stribling Packaging in Rogers, and the co-founder of in-store marketing company New Creature, which served Walmart and its suppliers. He has served on the boards of The Soderquist Center, Mercy Hospital Foundation, and The Cancer Challenge of NWA. You see the pattern of “R’s.” Rx. Radio. Retail. Real estate. Relationships. And you will find Patrick to be a colorful Raconteur.

Free for FEC Members (up to 5 employees) & UAFS Employees
$25 for Non Members 


*If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact Justin.Smith@uafs.edu