1/28/02 — Joe Astrachan Named Director of Cox Family Enterprise Center at KSU's Coles College of Business

Dean Tim Mescon is pleased to announce that Joseph H. Astrachan, Ph.D. is the new director of the Cox Family Enterprise Center at The Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.

"I am looking forward to building on our international reputation in research and education, as well as providing high quality educational programming to our Southeastern community," Astrachan says.

Founded in 1986, the Cox Family Enterprise Center pioneered the field of family business research. It is one of the largest and oldest ongoing programs of its kind in the country.

Founder and former director Craig E. Aronoff, Ph.D., who holds the Dinos Eminent Scholar Chair of Private Enterprise, will continue his valued work with the Cox Center. Helping family businesses cultivate new generations of leadership is one of the Cox Center's strengths. Its emphasis on facilitating succession allowed the Center to put its theories into action during the leadership transition.

"Craig will remain one of our chief strategists and ambassadors for the Cox Center, and for family business everywhere," Astrachan says.

Astrachan has appointed Kristi McMillan as associate director to help the center realize its evolving vision, and expand its international leadership. Linda Williams continues as assistant director, and Susan Bowen remains critical to the effort as managing editor of Family Business Review, a scholarly publication Astrachan edits in conjunction with the Family Firm Institute (FFI).

Astrachan's goals include strengthening the Cox Center's research function, and increasing membership. The center plans to offer nationally-based educational programs through an alliance with Loyola University Chicago and Pepperdine University. With the help of the Raymond Institute and other sponsors, the center will also engage in new research programs including a national survey and a study of the impact family businesses have on the U.S. economy.

Astrachan earned his B.A., M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D. degrees at Yale University, where he studied in the School of Organization and Management. He came to KSU in 1992, where he holds the Wachovia Chair of Family Business, and is professor of leadership and professional development. He is Distinguished Research Chair of Family Business at Loyola University Chicago's Business School. He is also a principal of The Family Business Consulting Group Inc. His many honors include the Richard Beckhard award and the McGregor Award. He is a founding board member and fellow of the International Family Business Research Academy.

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The Cox Family Enterprise Center was founded in 1986 and has been a leader in family business research. Jack Dinos, former co-chairman and CEO of Southern Tea Company, helped lay the groundwork for the center by endowing the Dinos Distinguished Chair of Private Enterprise, held by Craig Aronoff. The center assumed the Cox name in 2001 in appreciation of the support given by Atlanta's Cox family, which owns the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSB-TV, and media outlets across the nation. The Center's programs include the Family Business Forum, in which business people confront issues important to the survival of their families and businesses; the Family Business Academy, which helps train new generations of family business owners; and the Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards, which honors the state's best family-owned businesses. Sponsors of the center and its programs include Wachovia Bank, N.A., A. Montag & Associates, Babush, Neiman, Kornman & Johnson, LLP, Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, Grant Thornton, LLP, myCFO, KSU's MBA-EP program, J. Smith Lanier & Company, and Bennett Thrasher.

Kennesaw State University, a progressive, comprehensive institution with a growing student population of 14,100, offers more than 50 degree programs. Out of 34 institutions, KSU is the sixth largest in the University System of Georgia.