Business Boards Institute™ (BBI)
The Business Boards Institute™ guides family business owners in creating advisory boards that accelerate growth and success. Register today.
Build the Board That Builds Your Business
Successful business owners know the value of expert guidance. The Business Boards Institute™ helps family and private business leaders create trusted advisory boards that offer strategic insight, objective feedback, and real-world experience. When you’re ready to take your business to the next level, BBI equips you with the tools to build the right board for your growth.
The Benefits of Joining BBI
Gain Strategic Insight
Surround yourself with trusted advisors who offer fresh perspectives and real-world business experience.
Solve Complex Challenges
Use proven frameworks to overcome growth barriers and lead with confidence for the future of your business.
Follow a Proven Process
Build your advisory board step by step—from goal setting to onboarding—without the guesswork.
Make Stronger Decisions
Lean on your board for trusted guidance that helps you move forward with clarity, speed, and long-term focus.
Access Top Talent
Tap into the Goering Center’s registry of qualified board candidates aligned with your business needs.
Support Long-Term Success
Create a board that drives strategy, supports succession planning, and provides you insights to strengthen long-term success.
Program Information
The Business Boards Institute™ helps family and private business leaders create trusted advisory boards that offer strategic insight, objective feedback, and real-world experience. When you’re ready to take your business to the next level, BBI equips you with the tools to build the right board for your growth.
What to Expect:
The most successful business owners don’t go it alone. They surround themselves with trusted advisors who bring fresh perspectives, strategic guidance, and real-world experience. That’s exactly what the Business Boards Institute™ helps you do—build a highly engaged advisory board tailored to your business needs, when you’re ready to get started.
WHY AN ADVISORY BOARD?
Many Family and Private Businesses hesitate to create a board because of common myths:
- “We’re too small to need one.”
- “They’ll try to take control of my company.”
- “I don’t have time for more meetings.”
The reality? A well-structured advisory board puts you in control, offers practical, actionable insights, and helps you make better decisions faster—without the red tape. Whether you’re facing leadership transitions, scaling for growth, or tackling industry challenges, a strong board is a game-changer for long-term success.
The BBI Process:
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. We meet you where you are—whether you’re exploring the idea, building from scratch, or refining an existing board. Using a proprietary program developed by Aileron and refined by Goering Center advisors, we provide a structured yet flexible framework to help you:
THE FRAMEWORK
- Identify your business’s biggest opportunities and challenges
- Define the right mix of advisors to accelerate your growth
- Provide best practices for running your board effectively
- Connect you with high-quality candidates who align with your vision
- Equip you with tools to maximize engagement and results
Our Business Board Advisors:
MEET OUR ADVISORS
David Deye has more than 35 years of experience in executive leadership, general management, marketing and sales management, and consulting. He has worked in or with private companies that serve a wide range of markets such as retail and wholesale distribution, hospitality, health care, commercial and residential construction, automotive, capital equipment and information management. Currently, David serves as a Board Member for several manufacturing and service companies. Previously, David served as CEO/COO of Adam Wuest, Inc. dba Serta Mattress Company, a six-generation, family-held business where he implemented professional management, disciplined strategic planning, marketing, and financial and operational procedures. David initiated efforts to establish an outside board for the company. He is a member of the World Presidents Organization, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Georgetown University, has studied Masters-level business classes at Xavier University, and attended the WPO Harvard Presidents’ Seminar in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Upon graduating from Bowling Green State University, Jim began his career as a tax accountant at international CPA firm, Arthur Andersen, where he primarily served closely held and family owned businesses. In 1989, Jim was admitted as a partner and developed a leadership position in advanced estate and wealth transition planning. Jim left Andersen to develop his skills in the investment business before he was recruited to run a single family office in 2001. The family had successfully monetized several operating businesses prior to Jim’s joining them, but they continued with another startup medical device enterprise in which he was involved. Since 2013, Jim has consulted with high net worth families and family businesses in defining issues surrounding intergenerational wealth transition and developing the communication systems that enable families to stay together. He is actively involved with several programs offered by the Goering Center.
Pricing Information:
MEMBER PRICING
$7,500
NON-MEMBER PRICING
$9,000
Hear Directly From Our Members
“Our board has been a tremendous benefit. When you start anticipating the board asking ‘why’ and ‘what will the impact be’, you start developing a deeper understanding of your own organization.”
Ross Votel
Manager, KOI Precast Concrete
BBI Graduate 2017
“It only took one meeting for me to realize that this was one of the greatest things we’ve ever done. In terms of numbers, our revenue on the employee benefits side has almost doubled in the 7 years since we did BBI.”
Terry Horan
President/CEO, HORAN Associates
BBI Graduate 2011
“The Goering Center’s Business Board Candidate databank and institute advisors provided me with experts that are a perfect fit and they have become such a wonderful resource for me and are a combination of sage voices.”
Terry Segerberg
CEO, Mesa Industries, Inc.
BBI Graduate 2017
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your most common questions about the Business Boards Institute™.
What is the Business Boards Institute™?
The Business Boards Institute™ helps Family and Private Business leaders create trusted advisory boards that offer strategic insight, objective feedback, and real-world experience. When you’re ready to take your business to the next level, BBI equips you with the tools to build the right board for your growth.
How much does the Business Boards Institute™ program cost?
MEMBER PRICING
- $7,500
NON-MEMBER PRICING
- $9,000
What should you expect?
This is a turnkey program, establishing highly functioning advisory boards in seven steps:
- The fundamentals – what, why and how
- Learning your business
- Documentation and preparation
- Selecting your Board of Advisors
- Planning your board meetings
- Meeting support & coaching
- Follow-up
When are the sessions scheduled?
session dates
The Business Boards Institute™ is a customized program. Business owners work individually with Goering Center advisors and sessions are scheduled at the convenience of all parties.
Interested in the Business Boards Institute™?
Interested in being apart of our Business Boards Institute™? Fill out our interest form and a member of our team will be in touch soon.