Family Business Forum Highlights Importance of Governance

Family business leaders from across the region learned about the importance of family governance for successful succession transitions during a forum hosted by the Family Business Program at St. John Fisher University.

Held on Wednesday, May 14, the forum, “Creating Family Governance for Business Continuity: The Mirabito Family Journey,” offered attendees a deep dive into the experiences of leaders at Mirabito Holdings, Inc. and experts from the program’s Cardinal Sponsor, Key Private Bank. The University also honored Tuthill Lighting with its 100 Year Legacy Award.

Angelina DeMent ’26, a junior marketing major at Fisher whose father owns Giovanni Food Co., offered welcoming remarks.

“It’s encouraging to know that we have so many great examples of legacy family businesses. Although we are not quite 100 years old yet, it’s exciting for me—as I represent the fourth generation—to see companies that have been successful in continuing their family business through such a transition,” Dement said.

Dr. Carol Wittmeyer, director of the Family Business Program, then introduced the morning’s panelists. Joe Mirabito, executive chairman of Mirabito Holdings, Inc., who served as president and CEO for 38 years, was joined by his son, Jason Mirabito, current president and fourth-generation leader with over 18 years of experience across multiple divisions of the company.

The Mirabitos shared the history and governance of his family’s business, beginning with introductions of key family members who have played significant roles in expanding the company’s energy operations and retail presence. As a third-generation leader, Joe Mirabito reflected on the Binghamton, New York-based company’s nearly 100-year journey. He shared how the business has evolved from its early days into a diversified enterprise encompassing convenience stores, residential heating and cooling, commercial fuel, and natural gas.

He highlighted the importance of family governance, recounting how regular family meetings—initially prompted by encouragement from relatives—became a cornerstone of their decision-making process, crediting his brother, John Mirabito, for the guidance. He emphasized the critical role of proper governance structures and accurate business valuation in maintaining both family harmony and long-term business sustainability.

“In the Mirabito family, if nothing else, the one thing we all had in common was that we wanted to grow and perpetuate the family business. But within the growth of our company, there were things that we may not have wanted—but needed—to hear,” Mirabito said. “Thanks to my brother John, who was our family’s moral compass, started to steward the family governance in our company. To me, family business was elusive. I just wanted to run the business, that’s all I signed up for. But thanks to John, he showed the rest of my family and I that the family business is more than that.”

Jason Mirabito emphasized that their family knows the strengths and weaknesses of each other. “Over time, we have come to learn our family dynamic. Whether that dynamic is collaborating with family members and our ‘silver spoons,’ who we call the married family members, or being able to find a good time to have everyone sit down in the same room. We are in a spot where we know it is more successful to be more formal when it comes to shared governance,” he said.

The discussion concluded with words of advice.

“You have to love the work and don’t force it. If you don’t love the work, then it’s okay not to be a part of the family business. Don’t do it for the family, do it for yourself,” Jason Mirabito said.