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Darnel Group Family Business Succession And Coaching Proposal

Understand how DNA Behavior supports family business succession through behavioral intelligence, executive coaching, and board alignment.

The Darnel Group Family Business Succession and Coaching Proposal is a structured engagement designed to help a multi-generational family business navigate leadership succession with greater clarity, alignment, and long-term continuity.

The proposal combines confidential executive coaching with behavioral intelligence and facilitated board discussions to help family members better understand their natural strengths, career direction, and leadership potential. Rather than relying solely on experience or assumptions, the process uses scientifically measured behavioral insights to support informed succession planning.Darnel Group Family Business Succession and Coaching Proposal

Organizational Background

The Darnel Group is a multi-generational, family-owned global enterprise operating in the recyclable packaging and construction materials industry.

The organization is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, with operations throughout South America and the United States. It employs approximately 5,000 people across its international business.

The leadership team includes:

  • Elis Douer – Founder (Miami)
  • Albert Douer – Executive Chairman and son of Elis (Panama City)
  • Elana Douer – Executive leader (Miami)
  • Vanessa Douer – Executive leader (Naples, Florida)
  • Salvador Minarro – CEO (Bogotá)

The proposal focuses on supporting the next generation of family leadership while maintaining alignment across the broader executive and governance structure.

Project Objectives

The engagement has two primary objectives:

1. Support Individual Career Development

Provide independent executive coaching for Elana and Vanessa Douer to help them:

  • Better understand their natural talents
  • Clarify their long-term career direction
  • Maximize their contribution within the family enterprise
  • Build confidence around future leadership opportunities
2. Support Family Business Succession

Create alignment between family members and the executive leadership team to establish a clear succession pathway that supports both business continuity and family relationships.

The process recognizes that individual career decisions directly influence broader succession planning and long-term organizational stability.

How the DNA Behavior Methodology Works

The proposal is built around DNA Behavior's behavioral intelligence methodology.

Rather than measuring learned behaviors, the process identifies a person's natural, hard-wired behavioral tendencies and financial decision-making patterns.

The DNA Natural Behavior Discovery process measures:

  • 8 primary behavioral factors
  • 24 behavioral sub-factors
  • 5 dimensions of trust
  • Financial decision-making behaviors and money attitudes

The methodology has been used by more than 3.5 million people globally and focuses on understanding enduring behavioral patterns rather than temporary or situational behaviors.

The engagement is led by Hugh Massie, Founder of DNA Behavior, who brings more than 30 years of experience working with family businesses, leadership development, and succession planning.

Implementation Process

1. Phase One – DNA Quantum Leap 360° Coaching

The first phase is a three-month executive coaching program focused on Elana and Vanessa.

The objective is to help each participant develop a deeper understanding of:

  • Personal purpose
  • Core values
  • Passions
  • Natural behavioral talents
  • Long-term career direction

The coaching program consists of:

  • One in-person half-day introductory session
  • Five online coaching sessions
  • Six individual sessions in total
  • Bi-monthly coaching throughout the engagement

Confidential Coaching Environment

Although the overall program is coordinated through the Chief Human Resources Officer, Maria Wiesner, every individual coaching conversation remains completely confidential.

This allows participants to explore career aspirations openly while maintaining psychological safety throughout the process.

2. Phase Two – Board Facilitation

The second phase expands the process to include the broader leadership team.

Participants include:

  • Elis Douer
  • Albert Douer
  • Salvador Minarro

Each participant completes the DNA Natural Behavior Discovery process before attending the facilitated board session.

The objective is to create an environment where succession discussions can occur with greater trust, transparency, and behavioral understanding.

The facilitated board meeting is designed to:

  • Build psychological safety
  • Improve trust between family members and executives
  • Align leadership expectations
  • Clarify future executive and governance roles
  • Establish agreed career pathways for the next generation

Possible outcomes include leadership within executive management or future service as non-executive board directors, depending on each individual's strengths and aspirations.

Behavioral Intelligence Capabilities

The DNA Behavior platform continues to provide value beyond the initial coaching engagement.

Hard-Wired Behavioral Insights

The platform identifies enduring behavioral characteristics that represent a person's natural tendencies rather than learned adaptations.

Financial Behavior Insights

Behavioral insights are combined with financial behavior analysis to understand how money attitudes influence leadership and business decisions.

Communication Guidance

The platform provides communication keys that help individuals adapt their communication style based on another person's behavioral preferences.

This reduces misunderstanding and supports stronger working relationships.

Enterprise Applications

The behavioral intelligence platform can also support:

  • Hiring and talent selection
  • Employee onboarding
  • Team development
  • Leadership coaching
  • Merger and acquisition culture integration
  • Organizational development initiatives

Why This Approach Matters

Family business succession involves more than selecting future leaders.

It requires understanding how individuals naturally make decisions, build trust, communicate under pressure, and contribute to the long-term success of both the family and the organization.

By combining behavioral science, confidential coaching, and structured board facilitation, the proposal creates a practical framework for making succession decisions with greater confidence and alignment.

The result is a succession process that supports both individual development and sustainable business continuity.

Engagement Requirements

Before the engagement begins, the following information is required:

  • Organizational structure
  • Current board roles
  • Professional biographies
  • Job descriptions for Elana and Vanessa
  • Details of their remuneration structure

Providing this information enables the coaching and facilitation process to be tailored to the organization's structure and succession objectives.

Engagement Fees

Phase Investment
Phase 1 – DNA Quantum Leap 360° Coaching 30,000 (15,000 per individual)
Phase 2 – Board Facilitation $10,000

Summary

The Darnel Group Family Business Succession and Coaching Proposal combines behavioral intelligence, executive coaching, and facilitated governance discussions to support informed succession planning.

Through scientifically measured behavioral insights, confidential coaching, and board alignment, the engagement helps family members and business leaders make leadership decisions that strengthen both organizational performance and long-term family continuity.