SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 Julia Klein Chairwoman and CEO C.H. Briggs Company, Reading, Pa. Generation of family ownership: Third.
About the company: We have six locations on the East Coast and are the largest independent distributor in our niche
[specialty building materials].
Number of employees: 180.
Years with the company: 25.
First job at this company: Branch manager for a startup location.
At what age? 29.
Most memorable thing I learned from my father: Independence and innovation as two pillars of a great life and a
great business.
Most memorable thing I learned from my mother: The importance of always extending yourself and going out of
your way for people in every part of your life, including those with whom you work, customers and vendors.
Best thing about this job: Working with fantastic people and serving customers who create things that are useful and
beautiful, like furniture and buildings. Companies like ours and our customers' are the backbone of our economy. It
gives me a lot of pleasure to be part of that, and it's given me a platform to do interesting things and keep learning. I
serve on the boards of several organizations that make a real impact in the world.
One of our greatest successes: Creating a company that provides jobs for people. We've grown from a hyper­local
business to a large player and have been a technology leader.
Best advice I ever got: Your partner in life is the most important choice you will ever make—so glad I chose well!
Quote from our company's mission statement: Our entrepreneurial spirit drives us.
On my wall: I have a large painting called Growing in All Directions by Andrew Saftel that reminds us of what we
have to keep doing.
One of my greatest accomplishments: Growing a tiny business to one of scale through the ups and downs of a
cyclical industry. To take that experience, serve on boards of private companies, and help other entrepreneurs and
family businesses thrive has been important to me. We are now a business family even more than a family business.
Best thing about working in a family business: I'm the sole shareholder, which is unusual. From that perspective,
it's real independence that's built on a strong foundation of family values.
Worst thing about working in a family business: People assume it's a mom­and­pop business as compared to a
professionally run enterprise. We have a different situation from most family businesses that should be included in
how we think about family enterprises. It's a model that really works.
My advice for other family business leaders: Be cognizant about what hat you're wearing (family, shareholder or
executive) at what time. Declare it, and don't get the roles confused.
On a day off I like to. . . read all types of books, cook, travel and recharge.
Philanthropic causes our family supports: The Berks Conservancy, an environmental organization; Berks County
Community Foundation; The College of Wooster, my alma mater; and political and women's organizations.
Books I think every family business leader should read: On Becoming a Leader, by Warren Bennis; The Art of
Possibility, by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander; and Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman.
I realized I had emerged from the previous generation's shadow when. . . I became responsible for paying my
parents for the business and when I hired my own leadership team.
Future succession plans: We have a talented son who will do something in international relations after college, so
we plan to find a capital investment partner and keep investing in our top team. That sounds blasphemous in the
family business world, but there are many different family business models that can work.
Words I live by: To thine own self be true.
— As told to Patricia Olsen
Copyright 2015 by Family Business Magazine. This article may not be posted online or reproduced in any form,
including photocopy, without permission from the publisher. For reprint information, contact
bwenger@familybusinessmagazine.com.