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Sally Derstine

Owner, Senior 5 MOUNTAIN® Advisor & Coach

Meet Sally

Sally delights in facilitating conversations at the intersection of family, management, and ownership with the outcome of developing healthy family business governance processes and systems. Sally guides the development of clear boundaries and roles – often culminating in structured processes to create teams including energizing Family Councils, aligned Shareholder groups, and high-performing Management teams. In short, Sally charts the path, teaches principles, develops leaders & teams, and guides the path for healthy and sustainable families & businesses. In addition to her role as a lead advisor, as President she leads the DVFBC team.

Sally is passionate about family business education so families can learn early & together about the complexities, challenges & opportunities they face given their overlapping roles. These intermingling roles & relationships have emotional, strategic & life-altering implications which, if understood, will be easier to navigate. In 1992 Sally was key in launching our Family Business Learning Community which continues to gather today for educational FORUMS featuring successful enterprising families and thought leaders.

A graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and Ashford University, Sally’s background is in organizational management and psychology. She integrates her invaluable training in Family Systems Theory at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Georgetown into her work. Sally is an 22-year member and a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute through which she earned certifications in Family Business Advising and Advanced Family Business Advising. Sally is also a member of the Kaleo Network of Family Business Advisors, a group of premier family business advisors who learn and collaborate together in service to family business systems.

Sally and her husband Doug have 3 adult children, 3 “first round draft picks,” and two precious grandchildren.  Sally enjoys being active in the great outdoors, time with family, and contributing to their church and broader community.

Sally charts the path, teaches principles, develops leaders & teams, and guides the path for healthy and sustainable families & businesses.