Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM EDT
September 18, 2018
3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Hotel Indigo Traverse City
263 W. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684
$35 per person includes Undefeated - the Shepler's Story
Link to register - https://grandrapidsmicoc.wliinc16.com/events/Undefeated-The-Sheplers-Story-80/register?entityDomainId=3&secure=True&settingBatch=%2Ffbagr%2F
Operating in the historically rich Straits of Mackinac waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, Shepler's Mackinaw Island Ferry is a three-generation family-owned and family-operated business that has had to fight for survival for nearly 70 years. Fierce competition from other ferry lines, treacherous weather conditions, costly maintenance on passenger and freight vessels, changing governmental regulations, and depressed economic conditions in the State of Michigan are but a few of the challenges the Sheplers have faced over the years.
During this Family Business Alliance event, Shepler's Ferry President Chris Shepler will engage in on-stage conversation with Saginaw native Dr. Don Steele. Co-author of the recently-published book Undefeated: The True Story of How the Family-Owned Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service Survived and Advanced through Three Generations, Don will talk with Chris about Shepler's founding, its advancement through the years, the existential threat of potential monopolization of Mackinac Island ferry services, and the recent generational succession.
The son of Bill Shepler and grandson of Cap Shepler " founder of Shepler's Ferry " succeeded his father in the leadership of the family business, and follows in Bill?s footsteps with many of his avocations as well as literally being "at the helm" of the family enterprise. He is a licensed "Master of the Great Lakes" pilot through the United States Coast Guard.