Growing, Diversifying, and Sustaining Your Family Enterprises

Featuring: Erik Kesting, G5 CEO & Board Director,
E. Ritter & Company

Join us for a powerful Educational Forum featuring Erik Kesting, G5 CEO and Board Director of E. Ritter and Company, as he shares lessons and strategies from his family’s experience in stewarding a thriving, multi-generational enterprise. As the fifth-generation leader of a 135-year-old family business, Erik offers a unique perspective on balancing family dynamics with the demands of business growth, governance, and diversification.

Join us to learn how the Ritter family is sustaining growth in their 5 MOUNTAINS®

Strategic Diversification:

• How E. Ritter & Company has expanded its portfolio beyond its agricultural roots into agribusiness, fire & life safety, IT services, telecommunications, and landscaping — ensuring resilience and growth across shifting markets.

Governance Across Generations

• Explore the roles of the Family Council, Owners’ Committee, and Board of Directors in creating a cohesive governance structure for over 80 family members and 35 shareholders, while keeping the family engaged and aligned.

Maintaining Family Connection as Business Evolves

• Strategies for preserving family identity and engagement, even as the company diversifies and adapts to new sectors.

Balancing Shareholder Interests

• Insights into managing a complex shareholder base with varying motivations and expectations, ensuring that all voices are valued in decision-making.

Erik’s unique perspective combines years of experience both inside and outside his family business, allowing him to draw on expertise in governance, diversification, and intergenerational alignment. He brings a well-rounded approach, grounded in both for-profit and nonprofit experience, making him uniquely equipped to address the challenges family enterprises face today.

Whether you’re exploring diversification or seeking to deepen family connections across generations, this Forum promises essential insights for guiding and sustaining your family enterprise. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most seasoned leaders in the field!

About E. Ritter & Co.:

Established in 1889 as a humble mercantile store, E. Ritter & Co. has evolved over five generations into a thriving, multi-industry enterprise, with a diverse portfolio of strategic investments across various sectors. The Ritter family continues its legacy of community-centered growth and strategic partnerships, building value that supports and sustains healthy communities.

About Erik Kesting:

Erik Kesting is a fifth-generation family member and CEO of E. Ritter & Company. With a multi-faceted career, spanning roles in the Family Council, Owners Committee, and Board of Directors – and now CEO, he has helped guide the company’s strategic diversification and adaptation to the modern economic landscape. Erik holds a Bachelor of Science from Tufts University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.

Erik has worked in the nonprofit and global healthcare sectors and is also a co-owner of a local business in Madison, Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife. He is passionate about skiing and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.