FAYETTE, Mo. – When Bucky Pescaglia began thinking about retiring from his family business, MO Pac Lumber, after nearly 50 years, he Googled “I need help with doing a strategic plan for my business,” and the Missouri Small Business Development Center came up. He contacted the Missouri SBDC and was connected with business counselor Paul Zacharias.

MO Pac Lumber’s owners are always looking to the future, Pescaglia said. “This business is not planned to be sold at the end of my time, or my father’s time, or my grandfather’s time,” he said. “It was intended to be moved down to the next generation. We have to look at how we prepare for that transition from generation to generation.”

Zacharias recommended Missouri SBDC’s Elevate program, which is designed to help businesses identify and address growth opportunities. “It is about taking businesses to the next level,” Zacharias says. “It gives access to a number of high-level consultants in a wide variety of areas.”

“Participating in it has been really tremendous,” Pescaglia says. “They are super-efficient at zooming in on what you need and providing resources for it.” For MO Pac Lumber, Pescaglia needed help with succession planning, and Elevate has provided resources and contacts to assist.

In a recent episode of the “Show-Me MO Success” podcast, guest host Mike Quinata, assistant director with University of Missouri Extension Business and Communities, interviews Pescaglia and Zacharias. Pescaglia shares his journey of handing over the family business to the next generation and his tips for other small businesses working on succession planning.

The Missouri SBDC helps business owners and entrepreneurs get the information needed to make confident decisions and help Missouri businesses succeed. The business experts of the Missouri SBDC are your neighbors, dedicated to helping businesses grow. Learn more and find a center near you at missourisbdc.org

The Missouri SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partner of the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program.

MU Extension has programs to benefit Missourians throughout the state. This podcast features faculty members and their clients discussing the impact of these programs on communities and businesses in Missouri. Podcast listeners will hear how to reach out to MU Extension to access resources.

“Show-Me MO Success” is available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon Music. Go to linktr.ee/BusinessAndCommunity to listen to ways you can improve your business and community with the help of MU Extension.