UToledo Family Business Center

Executive-In-Residence

Thanks to Mike and Karen Langenderfer, owners of The Countertop Shop, for their generous donation to the UToledo Family Business Center, we are excited to announce the start of our Executive-in-Residence (EIR) program. For the next 4 years, the Center will bring in a different EIR in areas of expertise that will be most beneficial to our members. Each EIR will focus on a small group of members in an area that outside guidance will be most beneficial.

2025-2026 Program

Following the powerful impact of last year’s experience with Dr. Clint Longenecker, Delivering Great Results: The Amazing Power of Exceptional Leadership! returns in 2026.

Offered as part of the UToledo Family Business Center’s Executive-in-Residence Program, this cohort-based experience delivers practical leadership tools that participants applied immediately during critical moments in their organizations.

“I almost didn’t attend this program because I didn’t think I had the time. Looking back, I can’t imagine not participating. The timing could not have been more critical for our business. The very first session changed how I approached difficult conversations, and the result was meaningful organizational change and stronger leadership throughout our team.”
— 2025 Participant, Family Business Owner

Program Overview

The Executive-in-Residence Program is an immersive, cohort-based leadership development experience designed to strengthen leadership effectiveness, decision-making, and organizational impact. Led by Dr. Clinton O. Longenecker, an award-winning leadership expert and educator, the program draws on four decades of research and real-world leadership experience.

Participants will engage in:

• Dynamic presentations that challenge thinking and elevate performance
• Interactive discussions that encourage reflection and peer learning
• Real-world case examples and applied leadership tools
• Coaching, accountability, and peer connection within a trusted cohort

2026 Program Dates & Sessions

• Friday, February 20, 2026 (9:00 a.m.–Noon | 1:00–4:00 p.m.)
  • Session #1: The Trustworthy Leadership Challenge – Developing Your Character and High-Performance Leadership Competencies
  • Session #2: Why Leaders Succeed and Fail – Building Your Results-Delivering Leadership Process (Part I)
• Friday, March 13, 2026 (9:00 a.m.–Noon)
  • Session #3: Building Your Results-Delivering Leadership Process (Part II)
• Friday, March 27, 2026 (9:00 a.m.–Noon)
  • Session #4: Real Leadership in Action – Instructional Tour of the Toledo Museum of Art
• Friday, April 17, 2026 (1:00–4:00 p.m.)
  • Session #5: Leading Change and the Two-Minute Drill Approach for Rapid Organizational Improvement
• Friday, May 1, 2026 (9:00 a.m.–Noon | 1:00–4:00 p.m.)
  • Session #6: The Power of Great Coaching and Player Development
  • Session #7: Capstone Session and CEO Panel Discussion

Schedule subject to change. Final details and locations will be shared with accepted participants.

Why Participate?

• A proven program: Offered again based on participant experience and outcomes
• Intentional cohort design: Limited to 45 participants, with no more than two participants per company
• Practical leadership development: Tools and insights that can be applied immediately
• Peer connections: Build relationships with leaders facing similar challenges

Program Details & Application

The Executive-in-Residence Program is free to attend, made possible through the generous support of the Langenderfer family, and is offered through a competitive application process. This opportunity is open exclusively to members and sponsors of the UToledo Family Business Center. It is designed for individuals who are committed to becoming better leaders, regardless of their current role or title.  Participants are often those recognized by their organization as high-potential leaders and supported in their continued development.

Past participants are encouraged to share this opportunity with others in their organization who may benefit from the experience.

Application deadline: Friday, January 23, 2026

Apply here: https://forms.gle/DNsqTUo3d8Y3rMAM6

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Past Executives-in-Residence

2024-2025 Program

The UToledo Family Business Center was proud to host the 2025 Executive-in-Residence Program with Dr. Clinton O. Longenecker, one of America’s leading experts in leadership and organizational improvement. Over the course of five sessions, 35 participants engaged in dynamic presentations, interactive discussions, real-world leadership experiences, and peer-to-peer learning designed to elevate their performance, career trajectory, and life impact.

This competitive, cohort-style program brought together emerging leaders from across our membership to build skills, accountability, and lasting connections.

About Dr. Clinton O. Longenecker

 

2023-2024 Program

The UToledo Family Business Center was proud to welcome Dr. Donald Levitt as our 2023–2024 Executive-in-Residence. With more than 30 years of experience coaching and consulting senior executives in global corporations, public institutions, and family-owned businesses, Don brought unparalleled expertise in leadership and organizational development.

His program focused on guiding the Next Generation Group, helping participants prepare for leadership and ownership transitions within their family businesses. In addition to working closely with our standing Next Gen Roundtable, Don led a specialized cohort designed as a roadmap for success—offering a practical framework to support and equip future generations of family business leaders.

About Dr. Donald Levitt

 

2021–2022 Program

The UToledo Family Business Center was honored to welcome Andrew Keyt as our 2021–2022 Executive-in-Residence. An internationally known family business strategist and succession planning expert, Andrew brought decades of experience advising business-owning families across the globe.

His program centered on family governance, guiding participants through the ins and outs of boards in a family business, how to build effective boards, and the real-life challenges their boards might face. Each session fostered open, honest conversations among participants, and by the conclusion, every business walked away with a customized governance plan to strengthen their family enterprise.

About Andrew Keyt