A Leading Resource
Alum John Goering partners with UC to help students, alumni and family-owned businesses develop strategies for success.
John Goering's connection with UC and the College of Business began more than 50 years ago as an undergraduate and continues to this day through his establishment of the Goering Center for Family and Private Business in 1989. The Goering Center is not only a leading educational and informational resource for family-owned business, but it also offers one of the few undergraduate programs in the country with a major in entrepreneurship.
When Will McIntosh was introduced in 2005 as the eighth dean in the College's history, it dawned on Goering how deeply entwined he was with the college. He realized he had served under eight College of Business deans in some capacity. “I sometimes feel like a historian,” he says. In fact, the Cincinnati native has a long history with the College that started in 1951, when he was an undergraduate working in his father's meatpacking company as part of UC's co-op program. And it was a difficult decision the family made to close the meatpacking house that ultimately led him to begin a career with UC.
However, all of these experiences were merely a precursor to his greatest contribution of UC: the Goering Center. “There was nothing in (UC's) curriculum that addressed family and privately owned businesses,” Goering explains. “I was involved in the dynamics of the family business. And over the years, while my brothers and I were able to handle all of our business and family issues without any serious conflict, we knew plenty of other situations where the family conflicts were serious and in some cases led to the business's demise.” An important goal of the Goering Center is to provide members and community partners with programs that focus on the unique issues that family businesses face, including succession planning, conflict resolution and leadership development.
Locally based Hamilton Caster is just one business that has benefited from its affiliation with the Goering Center. When invited to join a group of other local businesspeople to China, Mark Lippert, Vice President of Marketing at Hamilton Caster, jumped at the opportunity. He and his colleague, Steve Lippert had been talking about the need to go to China, particularly because more and more of their suppliers were outsourcing to Asia. “We wanted to get an idea of the business climate and culture, while getting contacts and networking,” Lippert explains. “And the Goering Center provided the framework to do that.” The trip not only opened their eyes to how formidable a competitor China is, but also offered a unique opportunity to connect with other local businesspeople.
It's just one example of how the Goering Center helps connect the dots for local businesses. Goering calls it, “My most significant and interesting contribution to UC,” adding, “It's a new idea and a new approach, so to watch it grow and have a hand in its direction has been incredibly meaningful for me.” That's no small feat for someone who, along with his wife, Gloria (UC, 1955), runs the John and Gloria Goering Foundation. The couple is also active in a number of civic organizations, including the founders Society of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Northern Kentucky Symphony, Playhouse in the Park and the Cincinnati Zoo.
However, much of their time and philanthropy is dedicated to UC. He is a co-founder of the UCATS Club (UC Athletic Team Scholarships), a past president of the CoB Alumni Association, past president of the UC Alumni Association, and was chair of the Co-op Centennial; she is president of the Women's Club of the University of Cincinnati; and together, they are members of the UC Alumni Association and Circle of Honor Benefactors. In 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Goering were the first co-recipients of the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement, which is awarded every year by the University. They credit UC with not only giving them an educational advantage, but also with introducing them to a number of people who have enriched their lives.
“Gloria and I both really enjoy the people we've gotten to know at UC.” Goering stays. “I don't think we've ever met such an interesting and stimulating group of people as we have known through the University. That's what keeps drawing us back.” Furthermore, their commitment to UC underlines a philosophical commitment to education, the importance of which was ingrained for Goering by his father, who earned his high school diploma while pursuing a UC degree at night. “It really made an impression on me that education is important,” he explains. And, thanks to that commitment, numerous students and members of the local community are reaping the rewards.
Geoff Wiswell (MBA '08) is a Cincinnati-based writer.
