SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State University’s Center for Family Enterprise (CFE) will host the inaugural Heart of Texas Family Business Summit on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.
The event, hosted by the CFE with the support of McCoy College, brings together family business owners, next-generation leaders, professional advisors, faculty, and community partners for a day of insight, storytelling, and connection.
The summit's theme is “Building Legacy and Continuity Across Generations,” and it will explore how family enterprises preserve their values, navigate generational transitions, and build continuity for the future.
Through keynote presentations, academic perspectives, and real family business stories, attendees will examine topics including legacy and stewardship, succession and continuity, next-generation readiness, governance and family alignment, values-led growth, and innovation.
“Family enterprises have built Texas for generations, but legacy is never static. It has to be tended, interpreted, and renewed by each generation,” said Dr. Sanjay Ramchander, dean of McCoy College. “The Heart of Texas Family Business Summit reflects McCoy College’s commitment to being a place where enterprising families can learn, connect, and plan for the future.”
The program will feature leaders and experts from across the family business community:
- Opening Keynote: Maryann Bell, partner at Wingspan Legacy Partners, will present “Family Enterprises in Texas: Challenges and Opportunities.”
- Featured Family Story: Patrick and Kathy Terry, co-founders of P. Terry’s Burger Stand, will share “Building a Values-Led Texas Family Business: The P. Terry’s Story.”
- Family Enterprise Panel: Brian McCoy, board chairman of McCoy’s Building Supply, and Earl Ingram, president of Ingram Readymix, will discuss “Building a Multigenerational Family Business.”
- Closing Keynote: Dr. Randel S. Carlock, leading researcher, author, speaker, and advisor to family enterprises, will present “Building the Future: A Family Business on the Moon.”
The program will also include welcome remarks from Dean Ramchander and an introduction to the Center for Family Enterprise by Salvador Cerón, the center’s director, and Dr. Josh Daspit, professor of management at the college. Attendees will also have a networking lunch discussion among peers and the option to attend a networking reception.
The Summit is open to the public. Members of the same family are encouraged to attend together. Registration is $100 per person. Register now, seating is limited.
For more information, visit familyenterprise.mccoy.txst.edu or contact the center at familyenterprise@txstate.edu. ✯
About the Center for Family Enterprise
The Center for Family Enterprise at Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business empowers family enterprises and their leaders to grow with purpose and achieve multigenerational success through research excellence, transformative education, and meaningful engagement. The center connects current and future family enterprise leaders, faculty, students, and industry partners with insights, networks, and resources that support continuity, innovation, and long-term impact in Texas and beyond.
For more information about this story or other news, email Valerie Figueroa, communications specialist for the McCoy College of Business, at vlf23@txstate.edu.
About the McCoy College of Business
Established in 1970, Texas State’s business school officially became the McCoy College of Business in 2004 following a transformational gift of $20 million by Emmett and Miriam McCoy. The college, which offers classes in San Marcos, Round Rock, and online, is accredited by AACSB in both business and accounting, and has graduated more than 46,000 alumni.
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