KENNESAW State University’s Cox Family Enterprise Center is an internationally recognized leader in family business education. Known for its research, outreach and recognition programming as well as design and delivery of family business education, the Cox Family Enterprise Center has won the Cox Center is both one of the oldest centers and the largest center devoted to family businessnumerous accolades for its success. Among the many awards and recognitions received, Kennesaw and the Cox Family Enterprise Center was recently distinguished by being named one of the top six family business programs in the United States by CNNMoney.com and Fortune magazine. Started in the late 1980s and with three endowed positions, the Cox Center is both one of the oldest centers and the largest center devoted to family business.
The Center began humbly with one small outreach program designed to regularly bring family business owners together to exchange ideas and hear from experts. The program, named the Family Business Forum, became a model that was adopted and adapted by more than 150 educational institutions throughout the world. In the early 1990s the Center grew with new faculty and began to add a research focus that is now unsurpassed. In addition, two other programs were started, the Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards program-- a first in the family business arena and now seen throughout the United States-- and classroom education as part of the regular graduate and undergraduate curricula.
The center’s work is among the most cited in both popular press and academic literatureFamily Business Research
The Cox Center has an award winning track record of research having pioneered national and international family business surveys. The center’s work is among the most cited in both popular press and academic literature. The Cox Center housed the editorial offices of the academic journal Family Business Review, from 1995 to 2008 and recently became the editorial office of the new Elsevier published journal the Journal of Family Business Strategy, with an expected first issue to appear in early 2010. The center publishes research reports as well as the Family Business Casebook Annual. The DBA program at the Coles College of Business allows faculty to directly mentor next generation leaders and scholars as they develop theory and conduct research.
The center’s significant networks in the field of family business helps explain why our faculty and staff have been asked to take key positions and make crucial presentations including:
- Presenting at the United Nations
- Chairing the newly established Family Enterprises USA
- Chairing the annual conference and research conference of the Family Firm Institute
- Serving on the Next Generation and Executive Committees of the Family Business Network International
Center faculty have collaborated on research projects with scholars from more than two dozen universities on six continents.
Undergraduate and Graduate Options for Families in Business
In addition to undergraduate courses, graduate courses, and study abroad programs in family business, the Cox Center launched the Executive MBA for Families in Business in 2008. Using classmates’ and other family businesses to provide real examples for learning with instant application, students discover how to use natural talents and abilities to their fullest for business, family, and self, ultimately creating life-lasting networks, experiences, and mentors.
