A LEGACY
100 Years in the Life of a
Successful Family Business
A Legacy: 100 Years in the Life of a Successful Family Business chronicles the Rosses and their company that spanned into the fourth generation. From the rural Allegheny Mountains to Silicon Valley, their business grew from a Depression Era mom-and-pop shop to a phenomenally successful multinational corporation. Against shirtsleeve-to-shirtsleeve odds, this entrepreneurial family overcame heartbreaking setbacks with a powerful moral compass and matriarchal (not just patriarchal) spirit.
The Ross family story is more than a history of a successful Pittsburgh-based company— it is an American Dream story that parallels the rise of American industrial and technological dominance. And it is a roadmap for navigating the complexities of multigenerational business, preserving values, and building something that lasts.
A LEGACY traces four generations of the Ross’s Pittsburgh enterprise from Depression-era subsistence to global industrial-tech leadership. This book is packed with real-world tested guidance on strategic growth, corporate culture, market agility, and pro-active succession planning for family business owners and entrepreneurs alike.
A LEGACY chronicles the evolution of the Ross family enterprise—tracing its origins, growth, and transformation across generations. Through moments of success, uncertainty, and reinvention, it reveals the human side of business: the relationships, values, and decisions that define long-term success. At its core, this is a story about resilience, stewardship, and the responsibility of carrying something meaningful forward.
Readers will gain insight into:
01
Navigating Generational Transition
Generational transition is one of the most pivotal and delicate moments in any family business. This book explores how leadership shifts can be approached with clarity, respect, and a long-term vision that honors both legacy and future growth.
02
Balancing Tradition with Innovation
Sustaining a business over time requires knowing what to preserve and what to evolve. The Ross family story illustrates how deeply rooted values can coexist with forward-thinking strategies to remain relevant in a changing world.
03
Managing Growth, Risk, and Change
Growth brings opportunity, but also complexity and risk that must be carefully managed. Through real-world decisions and turning points, this book reveals how thoughtful leadership can navigate uncertainty while continuing to move forward.
04
Preserving Family Unity While Building a Business
A successful multigenerational family business depends not only on financial performance, but on the strength of its relationships and a thoughtful approach to succession planning. This story highlights the importance of shared purpose, mutual respect, and preparing the next generation..
Legacy isn’t just bricks and mortar, it’s a mindset…an ideology. It joins the past to the present on a journey of purpose and worth.
Joel Ross
Upcoming Events & Appearances
October 3, 2026 - 3pm
The story of A LEGACY: 100 YEARS IN THE LIFE OF A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY BUSINESS includes compelling coming-of-age experiences in a small college town in south-central Iowa for generations of Rosses, about whom the book was written. A LEGACY will be a featured book launch event at 3pm on Saturday, October 3rd in the Carol Room of the Shaw Center at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.
Graceland Alumni Joel Ross and Leeanne Seaver, co-authors of A LEGACY, will be interviewed by Graceland Vice President Kristi Hettrick, followed by an interactive audience discussion. Ross and Seaver are both alums of GU and were delighted to be invited to Homecoming festivities October 2 to 4.
“My undergraduate years set the stage for a remarkable career that serendipitously put me in touch with Joel and Kathy Ross,” Seaver said. “It was fascinating and inspiring to partner with Joel to share the story of his family and their business.”