Building the Future Workforce: Reflections from the CMA Family Business Forum in St. Louis
May 28, 2025
Building the Future Workforce: Reflections from the CMA Family Business Forum in St. Louis - On May 20, I had the privilege of serving as a guest speaker at the CMA Family Business Forum in St. Louis, Missouri—an insightful and energizing convening of Presidents from multi-generational, family-owned businesses. This unique group, composed of individuals who are not only executive leaders but also members of their respective family ownership groups, meets monthly to share strategies, challenges, and lessons learned from leading legacy-driven companies.
Jami Wolfe is the Managing Partner at CMA, based in Clayton, Missouri. With a deep passion for helping organizations build stronger, more effective teams, Jami leads CMA in its mission to support companies in hiring, developing, and understanding their people. Under her leadership, CMA has partnered with businesses across a wide range of industries, offering expertise in areas such as leadership development, ownership transition consulting, and organizational health.
Jami also chairs the Family Business Forum, a peer group facilitated by CMA for family business owners. The forum meets monthly to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of family-owned enterprises, covering topics from succession planning and conflict resolution to governance and long-term growth strategies.
A Cohort of Legacy Leaders
This month’s discussion brought together a dynamic and diverse group of leaders from across industries. Attendees included Jacob Herschend of Herschend Family Entertainment, representing a national portfolio of theme parks and family experiences; Eddie Cler of Pauls Machine & Welding, a stalwart in the manufacturing sector; and Chris Eckert of Eckert’s Orchard, whose family farm has grown into a beloved agricultural and agri-tainment destination.
Construction was well represented by Ryan Poettker of Poettker Construction, Steve Haberberger, Jr. of Haberberger Inc., and Ryan Duggan of Duggan Contracting, known for its expertise in custom and complex finish carpentry. The advanced manufacturing and industrial supply spaces were covered by Chris Seyer of Seyer Industries (aerospace manufacturing) and Will Dempsey of Consolidated Truck & Caster (industrial material handling equipment).
Financial and home improvement services were also present with Bob Zeitler of PH Financial Services, which provides third-party billing and loan servicing solutions; Ken Bennett of C. Bennett Building Supply, a supplier of high-end home products; and Walter Knoll of Walter Knoll Florists, a household name in floral design and retail.
This group of leaders, representing a broad cross-section of industries—from agriculture to aerospace, and entertainment to engineering—brought a wealth of insight and shared concern over one of the most pressing issues they face today: building and sustaining a qualified, reliable workforce.
A Timely and Urgent Conversation: Workforce Development
The theme for this session was both timely and urgent: workforce development, with a focus on talent attraction and retention in technical roles. As family-owned businesses continue to navigate the complex realities of today’s labor market, many are feeling the acute pressure of talent shortages, particularly in skilled trades and technical sectors that are essential to operations and long-term growth.
The Forum invited me to help lead a candid discussion around these challenges, and I was joined by three exceptional leaders whose work spans education, workforce systems, and community empowerment:
Cynthia Walker is the owner of Career WayZ, a national leader in expanding Registered Youth Apprenticeships and mentoring Gen Z for long-term career success.
Ali Hogan, Founder and Board Chair of Rung for Women, an organization transforming the economic trajectory of women by offering co-located educational, financial, and professional resources.
Bill Mitchell, Executive Director of Access Point Foundation, with a 25-year track record in education, workforce development, and DEI initiatives.
Exploring the State of Talent in St. Louis
Our discussion kicked off with an honest assessment of the current state of the skilled labor and technical talent pipeline in St. Louis. Several business leaders shared their frustrations with finding qualified candidates, particularly in industries like manufacturing, construction, logistics, and IT.
We explored workforce readiness trends, noting a growing generational shift in expectations and work habits among younger employees. Cynthia highlighted how apprenticeship programs are helping bridge this gap, providing clear career pathways while developing hands-on competencies from day one.
Bill emphasized the importance of meeting learners where they are—through flexible programs, second-chance opportunities for returning citizens, and direct alignment between training providers and employers. Ali brought in the critical voice of equity and access, reminding us that many capable individuals are still shut out of opportunity due to systemic barriers, not a lack of potential.
Sourcing and Growing Talent Differently
A central theme of the conversation was rethinking traditional hiring channels. Many family businesses rely heavily on word-of-mouth, referrals, or long-standing vendor relationships—yet this approach may be limiting access to emerging talent pools.
We encouraged the group to explore deeper partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and nonprofits, which are often on the frontlines of workforce training and community engagement. Veteran organizations, reentry programs, and career switcher networks also offer untapped talent ready to contribute.
For those asking, “Where do we start?” the answer is: start by getting involved. Join advisory boards at local career centers. Offer internships or job shadowing. Host site tours for students. Invest in internal mentorship and leadership development programs. As Cynthia noted, “If you want to build a talent pipeline, you have to be part of it.”
Policy and Systemic Support
We also touched on funding and policy infrastructure. State and federal grants, USDOL-registered apprenticeships, and local workforce investment boards can all play a key role—but only if businesses are aware of and engaged in these systems.
Bill and Ali stressed the need for a coordinated ecosystem, where employers, educators, government, and nonprofits work collaboratively rather than in silos. Advocacy from business leaders is key to building a more resilient, inclusive workforce strategy for the region.
A Call to Action
The session closed with a reflective but powerful prompt: If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about how we develop technical and skilled talent in St. Louis, what would it be?
Responses ranged from universal access to paid apprenticeships, to eliminating the stigma around non-college pathways, to better alignment between K-12 education and workforce realities. The common thread? A desire for more intentional, inclusive, and strategic workforce development efforts—and a recognition that business leaders must help lead the way.
Final Thoughts
As the conversation wrapped, I was struck by the willingness of these family business leaders to think beyond their immediate needs and toward legacy-minded solutions. Their companies are often pillars of the local economy, and their leadership in workforce development can shape not only the future of their enterprises but the future of the St. Louis region.
It was an honor to be part of this dialogue, and I look forward to continuing the work of building stronger, smarter, and more equitable talent pipelines for all.
Follow Career WayZ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-wayz-missouri/
Follow Cynthia Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-walker-46b8087a/
