2026 Pittsburgh Business Legacy Conference

Preserving Businesses.
Strengthening Communities.

June 9, 2026

8 AM – 3 PM

University Club

123 University Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

About

Schedule

Panelists

About The Conference

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Governance and Markets are hosting an educational conference to help small business owners develop their succession plans and preserve the legacies they have worked so hard to build.

Small businesses are vital to our community — employing neighbors, anchoring business districts, and sustaining relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners built over many years. This conference is designed to help protect everything they have created. While registration is required, there is no charge for this conference.

This isn’t just a day of lectures. It’s a tactical workshop where owners can:

  • Hear from business owners who have transitioned their companies to legacy structures.
  • Explore planning tools to better understand your succession options.
  • Develop strategies to protect your biggest financial asset and provide for your family’s future.
  • Talk with service providers to understand the legal, financial and other assistance available.
  • Better understand the full range of legacy-focused succession pathways, including employee ownership, purpose trusts, multistakeholder partnerships and main street business legacy planning.

Who should attend

  • Owners of small businesses
  • Family members of small businesses
  • Nonprofits
  • Foundations
  • Regional governments
  • Financial institutions

Keynote Speaker

mayor oconner headshot

Corey O’Connor
Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

Schedule

Time Session
8:00 – 8:30 AM Breakfast and Registration
8:30 – 8:45 AM Welcoming Remarks and Introduction to the Conference
9:00 – 10:00 AM Workshops on Legacy Preparation
10:30 – 11:30 AM Panels on Founder Experiences
12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch Keynote from Mayor of Pittsburgh, Corey O’Connor
1:30 – 2:30 PM Panels on Legacy-Oriented Succession Options

Confirmed Panelists

  • Mayor Corey O’Connor
  • Joe Massaro and Joel Burstein, Beam Collaborative
  • Kevin McPhillips, PA Center for Employee Ownership
  • Albert Ciuksza, Solutions 21
  • Ron Gaydos, Keystone Development Center
  • Sonali Kothari, Zolidar IQ
  • Chris Gassman, University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business
  • Patrick Gallagher, Management Science Associates

Registration closes May 1, 2026

Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, and shape the future of your business. Reserve your seat now!

Questions?

Have questions about the event? Connect with us and a member of our team will reach out.