J. Richard Emens

J. Richard Emens joined the Foundation Board in 2001 

J. Richard Emens, JD, is a partner with Emens & Wolper Law Firm, Columbus, Ohio.  He has more than 40 years experience as a business lawyer with major areas of practice being business and succession planning, corporate finance, family owned and closely held businesses and oil and gas law. Emens has advised hundreds of family controlled businesses, ranging in size from New York Stock Exchange companies to family business start-ups. He is co-founder, with Beatrice Emens Wolper, and president of the Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio and has practical experience as part owner of a family-owned real estate business. He has spoken and written widely on business and succession planning.  Emens and Wolper teach the course “Building, Operating and Passing on Family Business” at Ohio Dominican University. Emens has been a board member and/or officer of numerous for profit and non-profit entities. He currently serves as chairman of the Ball State University Foundation.