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When Jill Gardner married at 24, she had little knowledge of her husband’s family business. Her husband belongs to the fifth generation of the family behind U.S. investment firm Laird Norton, according to Business Insider.

Her interest in the company began after the birth of their first daughter. “As I read up on our family history, I became absolutely fascinated,” she said.

Gardner said she grew up with two brothers and that regular contact became more difficult after their parents died because they no longer had a common goal that brought them together. In her husband’s family, however, she said family business acts as that link, where 551 members across seven countries share ownership of and involvement in the company.

Gardner now serves as Family President, overseeing efforts to connect family members across the globe. She also helps produce the family’s journal, which publishes news about relatives, family activities and important life events. The family recently welcomed its first eighth-generation member.

A company 170 years in the making

William Harris Laird, Matthew G. Norton and James L. Norton founded the business in 1855 with a sawmill in Winona, Minnesota State, according to regional history encyclopedia HistoryLink.

The family moved its headquarters to Seattle, Washington in 1955. Its assets are now managed through Laird Norton Company, which focuses on private equity and real estate investments, and Laird Norton Wealth Management, who is estimated to worth more than US$15 billion by digital financial advisor platform Wealth Management.

“We disagree about everything under the sun, but agree about making the right decision for the company,” Gardner said.

Jill Gardner, Family President of Laird Norton. Photo from the company’s website

She attributed the family’s long-term success to Norton Clapp, a third-generation descendant and grandson of founder Matthew G. Norton. He played a major role in shaping Laird Norton in the mid-20th century and established a governance model separating family affairs from business operations.

The family created a Family Council to represent members and publish newsletters covering family news, interests and major life events. Business decisions are overseen by a family-elected board of directors consisting of seven family representatives and five external directors.

The family also established the Laird Norton Family Foundation to engage the family in charity as a platform for strengthening family connections.

Laird Norton has long involved married-in family members in its governance. Sons-in-law have participated in company decisions since the second generation, and the practice has since expanded to daughters-in-law, including Gardner.

The family holds an annual summit that combines shareholder meetings with bonding activities.

“When my husband was growing up, the company was less intentional about engaging family members. The cousins who are his age jokingly call themselves ‘the lost generation’,” Gardner said.

The family recently introduced new initiatives to strengthen connections among members, especially the younger generations. Around 350 family members are expected to gather in Salt Lake City this summer. While adults attend shareholder meetings, the children will participate in a separate summer camp.

Gardner said her children enjoy attending these events because they can spend time with their cousins.

Family members are also introduced to the business from age 14 through presentations on the family’s operations. The company offers internship programs and a biennial event for members aged 21 to 40 to help them understand the business and its long-term goals.

“Continuing to hold an eighth-generation business takes a lot of work. Having events that foster connection with the company and the cousins helps us ensure the Laird Norton family legacy continues,” she said.