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Call for Papers: 2026 Theories of Family Enterprise (TOFE) Conference

📍 Dallas, TX | April 9–11, 2026
📝 Extended Abstract Deadline: November 1, 2025

We are excited to announce the 20th Theories of Family Enterprise (TOFE) Conference, hosted by the University of North Texas in partnership with the Journal of Small Business Management. This limited-attendance, highly competitive conference convenes leading scholars in strategy, entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, finance, economics, and family business to advance theory-building and empirical research on family firms.

Accepted submissions will form the foundation of a Special Collection in the Journal of Small Business Management (ABDC A | ABS 3 | IF 6.0). Select papers will be fast-tracked for publication consideration.

Submission Guidelines

• Scholars are invited to submit 5-page extended abstracts by November 1, 2025. Submissions must be made through the JSBM submission system (select TOFE 2026 from the special collection menu).

• Abstracts may draw on a variety of theoretical lenses (e.g., stewardship, agency, institutional, resource-based, property rights, prospect, transaction cost, stakeholder, network, justice, etc.) and disciplines (e.g., strategic management, entrepreneurship, OB, economics, sociology).

• One author from each accepted paper will receive complimentary lodging and registration (April 9–10, 2026).

Key Dates

• Nov 1, 2025: Extended abstracts due
• Dec 1, 2025: Acceptance notifications
• Mar 1, 2026: Full manuscripts due
• Apr 9–11, 2026: Conference in Dallas, TX

This conference is an unparalleled opportunity to refine your research through feedback from top scholars and to contribute to the advancement of family enterprise theory. 

Sponsor Institutions:

• University of North Texas (host)
• Florida State University
• Louisiana Tech University 
• Mississippi State University
• University of Memphis

Organizing Editors

• Laura Marler, Mississippi State University
• Christopher Penney, University of North Texas
• James Vardaman, University of Memphis
• Eric Liguori, Florida State University

Full details and call for papers at http://www.TOFEcon.com/. 

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Eric Liguori
Associate Dean
Florida State University
Tallahassee FL
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