Navigating Legacy and Leadership: A Family Business Journey with COE Press Equipment

In this special episode of Scaling Smarter: The Leader’s Edge Podcast, recorded live at Fab Tech, host HR Huntsman engages in a transparent and powerful conversation with Reid Coe and Kathryn Chun from COE Press Equipment. As the next generation leading a company with nearly 50 years of history, Reid and Kathryn share the raw realities of managing family dynamics, earning respect from long-tenured staff, and the delicate art of succession planning. This episode provides essential insights for any leader balancing the weight of a foundational legacy with the necessary innovation required to scale in a modern, multi-generational manufacturing landscape.

Mastering the Evolution of Family Business Leadership

Transitioning leadership within a family-owned enterprise is often cited as one of the most difficult "cliff moments" a business can face, yet the siblings at COE Press Equipment have navigated this by prioritizing earned authority over entitlement. In a culture where long-term loyalty is celebrated—symbolized by traditions like gifting a Rolex to 30-year veterans—new leadership must demonstrate a deep commitment to the founder's core values of quality and integrity while implementing modern systems for accountability. By starting in entry-level roles and proving their worth through performance rather than lineage, Reid and Kathryn have bridged the gap between the "old guard" and the next generation of talent, ensuring that the company’s history serves as a launchpad rather than an anchor.

The successful scaling of a multi-generational team requires a shift from purely relational management to a structured operational framework, such as the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This structure allows for "creative conflict," where team members are encouraged to challenge ideas respectfully to reach the best possible outcome for the organization. For COE Press Equipment, this means maintaining a balanced hierarchy that values the wisdom of Boomers alongside the growth-driven perspectives of Gen Z. Implementing clear metrics and a consistent meeting cadence ensures that the "curating of numbers" is replaced by radical transparency, allowing every team member to see exactly how their contributions move the needle.

Sustainability in a family business ultimately rests on the ability to cultivate a culture of psychological safety and authentic communication. Reid and Kathryn emphasize that being "teachable" and seeking external mentorship are non-negotiable for young leaders who want to avoid the common pitfalls of succession. Whether through "twin therapy" sessions to resolve sibling tensions or engaging with third-party advisors to maintain objectivity, the goal is always to keep faith and family values at the center of the business. By focusing on hiring for attitude and constructive resilience, the leadership ensures that as the company grows, it remains grounded in the human-centric principles that first sparked its success in 1976.

About Reid Coe & Kathryn Chun

Reid Coe serves as the President and Kathryn Chun as the Product Manager of COE Press Equipment. As second-generation leaders, they bring a unique blend of operational expertise and a deep-rooted passion for the manufacturing industry. Their leadership is defined by a commitment to preserving their father’s legacy while modernizing the company’s internal structures to ensure long-term stability and competitive growth.

About COE Press Equipment

Founded in 1976, COE Press Equipment is a pioneer in the design and manufacture of premium coil handling and feeding equipment. Based in Michigan, the company serves the global metal stamping and fabrication industries with a focus on durability, precision, and customer-centric innovation. Known for its strong family culture and high employee retention, COE continues to set the standard for quality in the manufacturing sector.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Guest Company: COE Press Equipment

• Reid Coe's LinkedIn: Connect with Reid

• Kathryn Chun's LinkedIn: Connect with Kathryn

Key Episode Highlights:

• Earning Authority: Why starting from the bottom is the only way for next-generation leaders to gain genuine respect from a veteran workforce.

• The EOS Advantage: How implementing a structured operating system prevents the "family drama" from spilling into business operations.

• Creative Conflict: The importance of building a team that is comfortable challenging ideas to drive better engineering and business solutions.

• Succession Realities: A candid look at the emotional and logistical hurdles of transitioning a 50-year legacy to the next generation.

• Cultural Anchors: How faith and family values provide the "North Star" for hiring decisions and long-term strategic planning.

Conclusion

This conversation serves as a roadmap for leaders who realize that honoring the past doesn't mean standing still. By embracing accountability and fostering intergenerational mentorship, COE Press Equipment is proving that family values and high-performance scaling can go hand-in-hand.

To discover more strategies for scaling your business and sharpening your leadership skills, visit Your Leader’s Edge for resources tailored to your growth.

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