And that the real winners in the battle for the future will be the traditional privately held, family owned companies - who have an internal agenda oriented toward growth.

Below are profiles of successful family businesses, giving our subscribers an opportunity to learn from the experiences of their peers.

None of us, if we want to succeed, have the luxury of "figuring it out for ourselves".

We are telling the stories of business owners respected in their industries across North America. We invite you to join us in our efforts.

Now our interviews with successful business owner, experts, and 21st Century thought leaders are available as live interactive conference calls. Once completed the unedited audio and a brief story are published here. Joining our iBiz Monthly newsletter will allow you to receive advance notice of upcoming interviews.

Profile: Eric Deniger, The Working Person Store.
In the 21st Century, more and more organizational leaders have come to understand that happy, respected employees, empowered by their managers to meet and exceed customer expectations, provide the best service and feel more personally fulfilled by their work

Profile: Tony Hutti, Leader of Facilitated Peer Groups of business owners. Tony brings over 35 years of leadership and management experience to business owners working to help each other “Execute their Vision”

Profile: North Main Ventures & www.WorkingPerson.com
The story of the journey from a Main St. furniture store, to www.FurnitureFind.com and then from a small town shoes store for working people, to www.WorkingPerson.com.

Profile: John Jowers, www.Antiqueappliances.com
When John Jowers went to work at his father´s appliance company, he never thought it would lead to a sideline business restoring antique refrigerators. But at www.antiqueappliances.com, these "cool" appliances are doing a hot business on the web.

Profile: Arctic Wire Rope & Supply
Sometimes, opportunities come when you least expect them. Case in point: The Exxon Valdez spill took Arctic Wire Rope from a small company to the state´s leader in the rigging industry. In this profile, we´ll take a closer look at Alaska´s premier rigging and manufacturing company.

Profile: Joshua Feinberg
Joshua Feinberg is an internationally recognized small business technology expert, computer consultant, columnist, author, keynote speaker, and trainer. Joshua provides simple technology and computer support strategies for the small business on a shoestring budget. And Joshua especially enjoys teaching you all about the so-called "secrets", that your highly paid small business computer consultant "doesn't want you to know".

Profile: Premier Truck Sales, Inc.
When you hear the words "trucking" and "high technology" in the same sentence, your first thought might that we´re talking about something under the hood. But what about Internet technology? Premier Truck Sales, Inc., a Cleveland-based firm, believes that technology is just as important on the desk top as it is in the engine.

Profile: Dawn Gentry
Dawn Gentry and CSG Incorporated provide market development and network service to the packaging industry. We spoke with her to find out how Internet technology has helped keep her company a step ahead of the competition.

Profile: Griswold Special Care
In the costly and competitive home care industry, quality is of paramount importance. Perhaps that´s why GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE is such a success story. Their insistence on quality through controlled growth and a commitment to their business philosophy has won them true customer loyalty as they provide high-quality and consistent service. Here´s their story.

Profile: Vincent Zurzolo and Metropolis Comics
Were you a Batman fan? Perhaps, as a kid, you hid under your blankets with a flashlight and the latest copy of Dick Tracy. Or maybe, as a parent, you´re watching your kids save their allowance for the new issue of X-Men. Most of us read comic books as a kid… but if you think comic books are something people grow out of, think again. For Vincent Zurzolo, Vice President of Metropolis Collectibles, comics are a way of life—and a way of business.

Profile: O´Brian Manufacturing
Think a company´s fortunes have to rise and fall with the local economy? Rubbish, says O´Brian Mfg. In this week´s Featured Profile, we find a family business who has met the challenges of the new economy the old fashioned way: through hard work and incredible ingenuity.

Profile: Ian Ginsberg, Bigelow Chemists
When my daughter and I meet for lunch in Greenwich Village, we always pass by Bigelow's Apothecary. I asked her if she shopped there, and she remarked that their Alchemy mascara is the best ever. (I had to take her word for it.) I spoke with Bigelow´s current proprietor, Ian Ginsberg, and the Bigelow´s story is both a fascinating piece of New York nostalgia, and a demonstration of the importance of change in business.

Profile: Stan Coben & Global Link Partners
I´ve done over two dozen exclusive profiles of established privately held companies monetizing their past successes into the 21st Century. Stan Coben is the only interview subject I have been able to monitor for almost four years (we vacation in the same place) – so I have seen the conversion from a traditional mainstream company to one that takes full advantage of Cyberspace – getting the job done for his clients and having more time for his grandchildren.

Profile: Neal Magaziner & Hughes Enterprises
For over a half century, Hughes Enterprises has been a leader in the packaging industry. We had an opportunity to speak with company President, Neal Magaziner, to hear his thoughts on building a company through affiliate programs, tackling problems through peer groups, using technology, and the challenges of running a family business.

Miami Awning Co: Keeping Ahead of the Times
With its roots firmly in the past, Miami Awning has its sights aggressively fixed on the future. In this issue´s featured profile, we take a closer look at a family business in its fourth generation, meeting the 21st century with continued success and innovation.

Profile: The Estrella Insurance Group
Authentic leadership is more than just a concept: it's a necessity for success in today's competitive world. Estrella Insurance Group embodies authentic leadership through integrity and commitment to service. Dan Elash spoke with the men behind Estrella Insurance Group and learned how this company has flourished by doing it right.

How They Do It
The Euclid Industrial Maintenance and Cleaning Contractors Inc. of Cleveland has kept their business strong for over a century and four generations. What´s their secret? Family, commitment and loyalty.

Profile: Norbert Hoffman, Novenco Consultants Ltd
When Norbert Hoffman, CEO of Ontario´s Novenco Consultants, came to Canada in the early 1960´s, he was looking for an adventure. What he found was a way to revolutionize his industry, and in doing so, he has created a niche for himself and his company which is nearly free from competition.

Profile: Cree Inc.
Cree is an LED manufacturer with operations in Durham, NC and California. Cree is bucking the current trend of high tech companies downsizing in a struggling economy: while their bottom line has been smaller in recent years, they´ve managed to create innovative strategies to keep from laying off any of their employees, and they´re keeping themselves on the cutting edge by reinvesting in research and development. They are another example of a company Doing It Right.

Profile: Fireworks By Grucci
Since Grucci, a major fireworks manufacturer, moved into the Roanoake´s Radford Arsenal – a facility built with big explosions in mind – six years ago, it has seen growth because of and in spite of terrorism.

Profile: The Kneadery
The Kneadery, a popular family-owned eatery in Ketchum, Idaho, is Doing it Right - They have grown their business and their reputation for nearly 30 years through a commitment to their customers and to their family. Now they´re dealing with the greatest change of all, a change of ownership.

Profile: Gold Data Management
Gold Data Management may be a young company, but it´s already in the fast lane for success. This high tech company understands the ins and outs of the cutting edge, but its growth and success are also a product of old-fashioned values like hard work and customer satisfaction.

Profile: Reily Foods
New Orleans, Louisiana, is the not only the home of hot jazz and Mardi Gras, it´s the home of Riley Foods Company. Founded in 1902, this 600-person family business, famous for-- among other products-- Luzianne ice tea, has withstood the test of time by keeping pace with the changing demands of grocery distribution and selling.

Profile: Glawe Awnings
Glawe Awning and Tent Co. practices the fine art of being at the right place at the right time...with the right products. In this week´s Featured Profile, we take a closer look at a company whose "customers first" credo has kept them at the top of their game for over a century.

Profile: Steve Antisdel & Furniturefind.com
Furniture isn´t the first item people think of when it comes to e-commerce. But Steve Antisdel, CEO of Furniturefind.com, has the numbers to prove that this perception is rapidly changing.

Profile: The Jack Ricks Glass Company Story
Family businesses are struggling in the face of a sluggish economy and increased competition from the chains. So how do they succeed? By working smarter. They know their niche, and they know how they can best serve their customers, and how they can get the most out of their brand. This week, we visit Jack Ricks Glass in Atlanta, Georgia, to see how they are growing their family business.

Mitchells Offers the Perfect One-to-One Fit
Mitchells is a successful family-owned clothing retailer based in Connecticut. CEOs Jack and Ed Mitchell were honored last year by the Today show´s Matt Lauer at the UJA-Federation of New York Menswear Division dinner. The secret to their ongoing success is the personal, individual attention they give to each and every one of their 150,00-plus customers. How do they do it? Read this week´s profile to find out.

Profile: Daniel Elash
We interviewed Dan Elash - a frequent contributor to our newsletter - asking him to shed some light on the work he has been doing, creating a roadmap for family business success in the 21st Century. For the first time, Dan is sharing bits and pieces about his upcoming leadership positioning toolkit. It is only fitting that he does it here, since he has worked closely with the profiles presented in our newsletter over the past year.

Profile: Ben Burkholder
It seems that the longer we work at something the more (hopefully) we know what we are doing. Unfortunately, that knowledge often locks us in. Ben Burkholder knew a great deal about management – on a global scale. But it did not keep him from making a 180-degree shift into a totally different world.

Profile: Woody Kaye, Corporate Values
According to Woody Kaye, "Sometimes businesses start out doing ´X,´ but end up doing ´Y.´" This certainly holds true for Woody, who began his career in big business, but ultimately used his expertise create his own business.

Profile: Alexander & Hornung
Bernie Polen is guiding a fifty-year-old family business through many changes: The incorporation of Internet technology, balancing inovation with tradition, and encouraging company growth at a time when the role of small family businesses in the meat industry is uncertain. His story is this week´s featured profile.

Profile: Chicopee Provision Company, Inc.
The Chicopee Provision Company, Inc. has survived many challenges over it's 70 year history. Under the leadership of Tom Bardon, it is poised to tackle some of its biggest challenges yet, including the launch of a new web site, and planning ahead for the transition into the 4th generation.

Profile: JoAnn Hines & Women In Packaging
In the 21st century, more and more women are heading up family businesses. JoAnn Hines of Women In Packaging has spent over two decades promoting and encouraging the presence of women in the packaging industry. For family businesses, now is the time to take our daughters to work, and to tell her "Some day, all of this will be yours..."

Profile: Transport Services & Thunder Tech
Most family businesses are looking toward the next generation to carry the company into the future. For Transport Services, Inc., that meant relying on their son´s skills as a web developer to put them online.

Profile: Swiss Meat & Sausage Company
Swiss Meat & Sausage Company is known for their award-winning meats and sausages, and they´ve made quite a name for themselves in east central Missouri. In this week´s profile, we´ll see how Swiss Meat is using the Internet to extend their sales from Missouri to the rest of the country.

Profile: NuAir Windows & Doors
In this week´s profile, FBNews puts the spotlight on NuAir Windows & Doors, a company in the initial stages of establishing their web presence. We´ll follow their progress as they build out their site, and update our readers in future articles.

Profile: Tom Johnson, Johnson Commercial Agents
Tom Johnson, CEO of Johnson Commercial Agents, may not be using the Internet to grow his business per se, but he knows it´s a crucial tool for client support. Tom, one of the creators of MAFSI´s Technology Certification program, talked to FBNews.net about the MAFSI program, and about the way the Internet supports his 2nd generation family business..

Profile: Jim McBride, Affiliated Warehouse Companies
Many companies seem to believe that having a web presence means having an e-commerce site. This is an unfortunate misconception. Take Jim McBride and Affiliated Warehouse Companies as an example-- Their site has no e-commerce functionality, and yet it has helped to expand their business across the globe.

Profile: Greentrucks.com
Greentrucks.com is the brain child of Jim Villers and Jack Massari, two friends who met through their local Rotary Club chapter. This site has helped Contractors Heating & Cooling, Inc., a Nashville area family business, stand head and shoulders above their competition.

Profile: Fernley & Fernley
When your business has survived- and thrived- for over one hundred years, you know you´re doing something right. For association management pioneers Fernley & Fernley, that "something right" includes a move into cyberspace.

Profile: Scott Hendricks and Central Distributing
Scott Hendricks, president of Central Distributors, has been active in his family's business for most of his life. Last year, he helped the company step into cyberspace and has positioned them for success in the wholesale flooring industry, both online and off.

Profile: E.P. Henry
The concrete industry has existed for over a hundred years, but when it came to the Internet, this industry is still, well, in the stone age. The E.P. Henry Company has changed all that, bringing their hardscaping business online and using the Internet to brand their concrete as a consumer product.

Profile: Houghtaling´s Garage
Tioga County, Pennsylvania, may be only a speck on the map, but local family businesses can thrive by extending their reach to the Internet. Houghtaling´s Garage has successfully taken a Do-It-Yourself approach to their web presence that allows them to keep their profits in the community.

Profile: World Wide Web Communications, Inc.
What do surgical supplies, a New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, a beaded handbag and a funeral parlor have in common? They´ve all gone online with the help of World Wide Web Communications, Inc.

Profile: Carol Kimmel Schary and NathanKimmel.com
Nathan Kimmel´s business began in his garage and grew through hard work and a reputation for quality. His spirit of entrepreneurship, and his simple philosophy of how to do business, live on in his daughter Carol, who has taken this family business out of the garage and into cyberspace.

Profile: Fred Gaston and Insurenewmedia
Fred Gaston of Insurenewmedia has positioned his company for success by melding advanced Internet technology with the traditional resources of his family´s 106-year-old company.

Profile: Blair Candy
The sweet taste of success! Blair Candy Company, a third generation family business, has taken their company from Altoona to Fargo- through cyberspace.

Profile: Wayne Messick, CO-founder of Family Business Strategies
Wayne Messick understands America´s family business owners, and he´s built a solid reputation in helping them understand how to profit from new technologies. Interviews with dozens of business owners who are embracing the Internet as a tool to help them grow – will be presented as weekly Featured Profiles in this newsletter.

Profile: Jon Lancaster
Gotham Bikes and Toga Bike Shop are familiar names to New York City’s biking community. We met Jon Lancaster, the General Manager for both Gotham and Toga in October at the Crain’s Business Expo. We wanted to know what he thought were the challenges and benefits of taking their shops on line.

Profile: Rob Boffa, Personnel Coordinators, Inc.
Employee leasing became a business buzzword in the 1990’s, but for Robert Boffa, Jr. of Personnel Coordinators, Inc, employee leasing was business as usual. Rob and his brothers Brian, Jon, and Daniel represent the third generation of PCI, a company that has been at the forefront of employee leasing for over 40 years.

Profile: Kevin Rosen of Junior's Cheescakes
Junior’s, The World’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake, is a household name in New York City. For over 50 years, Junior’s has been selling its desserts from its flagship store in downtown Brooklyn, and recently opened a second location in Grand Central Station. Earlier this month, Junior’s re-launched a revised version of its e-commerce site, www.juniorscheesecake.com, so that true connoisseurs (and new fans) can get a piece of the action even if they’re far from the Big Apple.

Profile: Rhodes Furniture
In the early days of the Internet revolution, many people believed that e-commerce would eclipse traditional brick-and-mortar shops.

Profile: Ronald M. Friedman
Ronald Friedman is president of DollarDays.com, a B2B site for independent business owners, mainly retailers, searching for close-out products. The site connects the country's largest close-out distributors with millions of independent and home-based businesses.

Profile: Phillip Choi
Phillip Choi, CEO of Silla Cooling Systems, is one small business owner who understands the importance of integrating innovative technology into a brick and mortar business. In this article, Choi discusses what he has learned as he endeavored to grow his web presence.

Profile: DeAnna L. Runyan
As Marketing Manager at the ERA-Richmond Real Estate office in Meadville, Pennsylvania, DeAnna oversees development of a web site selling 19th Century homes using 21st Century technology.