Don C. De Soto, CPA and partner in the Fort Smith office of BKD, LLP, will speak on “Ownership Succession — Passing the Torch” for the June 30 quarterly breakfast meeting of the Family Enterprise Center at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.

The meeting is slated for 7:30-9 a.m. in Latture Conference Center of the Business and Industrial Institute, N. 50th and Grand Ave. The event, which has a registration deadline of June 25, is free to FEC members and has a $10 fee for non-members.

FEC director Dave Robertson of Mulberry said De Soto will provide an overview of several options for ownership succession and the pros and cons of each option.

“The issues of ownership succession that have to be confronted and the decisions to be made are numerous and can be both worrisome and confusing,” said Robertson, who advocates allowing sufficient time for the ownership succession process.

De Soto has more than 19 years of experience providing financial solutions to family-owned and other closely held manufacturers, real estate and construction entities and employee benefit plans. He works closely with his clients on strategic, succession and financial planning issues.

De Soto is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a 1990 graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Future FEC events include a July seminar co-sponsored by SPMI, a human resources outsourcing company, and two September events — a quarterly breakfast and a trip to Post Familie Vineyard & Winery, giving participants an opportunity to view a successful family business.

The Family Enterprise Center is a business outreach program of the College of Business at UA Fort Smith. The FEC acts as a regional catalyst for the family in business, serving as a bridge between UA Fort Smith and the business community through educational programs and other activities that support and enhance family business.For more information, contact Robertson by telephone at 479-788-7931 or by e-mail at droberts@uafortsmith.edu