Join us for a generational journey into the world of family-run businesses and private equity. In this captivating talk, we'll explore the nuances and strategies behind building a successful family office and private equity (PE) firm from the ground up.
Monday, Nov 27th 11AM-1PM at Olin Hall’s Design Zone on Babson’s Wellesley Campus.
Gary was the fourth generation of the Furst family to own and run American Brush Company, a manufacturer of paint applicator products. As president and CEO, he oversaw significant growth, began importing products from China in 1980 and then sold the company to The StanleyWorks Company, where he stayed on for three years as President of their paint applicator division. Under Gary’s CEO leadership, he has built and sold two family enterprises to Fortune 500 companies.
Gary was also the CEO and co-owner of Kryptonite, the manufacturer of portable security products including bicycle locks. Gary led the 25-year-old family business through a strategic transformation that resulted in doubled revenues, dramatic increases in profitability, and an improved balance sheet. Under Gary’s leadership, Kryptonite was sold to Ingersoll Rand in the summer of 2001.
About fifteen years ago, Gary made the transition to being an investor by founding Generation Equity after having the realization that there were very few equity providers with experience running or advising companies at a size similar to his own experience at American Brush and Kryptonite.
Gary has served on the board of directors and taken on advisory roles for over a dozen businesses and nonprofits. Gary earned his B.A. from Clark University and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Gary was the winner of The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for New England for consumer products in 2000. He is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker at Babson College, Baruch College and various family business and private equity conferences.
Generation Equity Capital is part family office and part private equity firm, part consultancy and part operating partnership.
The firm is an opportunistic investment firm focused on the success of closely-held small and medium sized businesses, many of which are family owned and managed. Businesses like these make up the vast majority of companies across the country, yet are overlooked and dismissed by the majority of private equity firms and institutional investors.
