## Our Mission: Growing Together The Family Business Consortium is an organization of family entrepreneurs united in our understanding that, whether large or small, family businesses have much in common — unique challenges and complexities, but also opportunities for growth. These opportunities are not merely economic. Our consortium shares a commitment not just to building strong businesses — but strong families. Our mission is to help generations of like-minded family businesses grow in the fullest sense of the word. By providing resources for current family business owners, and through forming the next generation of family business leaders — we grow closer, wiser, and more prosperous — together. ![](/themes/custom/cua_standard/idfive-component-library/public/images/divider-line.svg) ![Front doorway from street to Busch School.](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/optimized_original_size/public/2026-05/Maloney-Street-Doorway.jpg?itok=dXapfgJ4) ## Our Meetings The Family Business Consortium meets once a semester for conversation, guest speakers, and inspiration. The day-long meetings include mass, social hours, and a reception. [Spring 2026 Meeting](/connect-contact/news-events/all-events/2026-spring-meeting-family-business-consortium "2026 Spring Meeting: Family Business Consortium") [Fall 2026 Meeting](/connect-contact/news-events/all-events/2026-fall-meeting-family-business-consortium "2026 Fall Meeting: Family Business Consortium") ![](/themes/custom/cua_standard/idfive-component-library/public/images/divider-line.svg) ## Engage with Us ![View of Maloney Hall from the Michigan Avenue entrance.](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_feature/public/2026-05/Maloney-Hall-Street-View.jpg?h=ef60f9eb&itok=2n5c7rSf) ### Spring Meeting: Family Business Consortium On Friday, April 17th, 2026, we welcomed back our fellow family business partners to Maloney Hall for our Spring Meeting and the University's Cardinal Weekend, as we continued to explore the numerous sources of *family capital*. - [ Event Details ](/connect-contact/news-events/all-events/2026-spring-meeting-family-business-consortium) ![people listening to a speaker at the family business consortium](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_feature/public/2026-04/untitled-131.png?h=c9f93661&itok=bc1ASeKu) ### Support the Family Business Consortium Our mission is to help generations of like-minded family businesses grow in the fullest sense of the word. By providing resources for current family business owners, and through forming the next generation of family business leaders - we grow closer, wiser, and more prosperous - together. - [ Donate ](https://advance.catholic.edu/giving/to/fbc) ![stained glass image of the Holy Family](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_feature/public/2026-04/4566949257_1a87864538_o-1.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=SzzSRZHd) ## Our Story: Why here? Why now? Pope Francis has dedicated the year 2021 to Saint Joseph, patron of workers and fathers. 2021 also marks the 40th anniversary of two of Pope St. John Paul II’s most influential encyclicals on work and the family: *Laborem exercens* (Sept. 1981) & *Familiaris consortio* (Nov. 1981). The Family Business initiative is our response to St. John Paul II’s call in *Laborem exercens* to continually study “new meanings of human work" and to his challenge in *Familiaris consortio* to remember that the “future of humanity passes by way of the family.” - [ Read our story ](/explore-our-school/centers-initiatives-entrepreneurship/family-business-consortium/our-story) ![](/themes/custom/cua_standard/idfive-component-library/public/images/divider-line.svg) - ![young business professionals taking a selfie](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_card/public/2026-04/pexels-kampus-production-8463152-1-1.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=Z8bg8jRH) ### [ Join the Consortium ](/explore-our-school/centers-initiatives-entrepreneurship/family-business-consortium/join-consortium) The Catholic University’s Family Business Consortium accepts all businesses that identify as family businesses. - ![professor widmer working at his desk](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_card/public/2026-04/121.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=TRY3rpBL) ### [ Our People ](/explore-our-school/centers-initiatives-entrepreneurship/family-business-consortium/people) Learn more about the people that lead the Consortium - ![professor widmer lecturing to his class](/sites/business.catholic.edu/files/styles/ks_card/public/2026-04/vocation_biz_00199-1200-1-1.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=aYn-1gXq) ### [ The Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship ](/explore-our-school/centers-initiatives-entrepreneurship/arthur-carlyse-ciocca-center-principled-entrepreneurship) The Family Business Consortium is an initiative of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship. ![](/themes/custom/cua_standard/idfive-component-library/public/images/divider-line.svg)