Meet Henry Hutcheson: The Family Business Expert Who's Been There
I’m not just a consultant who studies family businesses—I’m someone who’s lived the reality of working with family, navigating succession, and dealing with the unique challenges that come with mixing blood and business.
As a 3rd-generation member of Olan Mills Portrait Studios (once the largest portrait company in America), I experienced firsthand both the incredible advantages and potential pitfalls of family enterprise. This personal experience, combined with 25 years of professional consulting and my role as Director of Business Transformation at IBM, gives me a unique perspective that my clients find invaluable.
I started working at Olan Mills at age 13, learning the business from the ground up. I witnessed our family navigate succession challenges, sibling dynamics, and the eventual sale of our 80-year-old company. These experiences taught me that family business success isn’t just about strategy—it’s about understanding the deep emotional and psychological factors that drive family behavior.
After a successful career at IBM, where I specialized in business transformation, I founded Family Business USA with one mission: help family businesses succeed across generations while preserving family harmony.
Every family business is unique, which is why I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I take time to understand your family’s specific dynamics, challenges, and goals before developing a customized roadmap for success.