You won’t be around Lonnie long before you pick up on his passion for helping families and companies thrive—and create a lasting, positive impact on society. For over two decades, he has been learning to lead his family as strategically as he leads businesses. That integrated pursuit has shaped a lifelong mission: helping high-capacity families flourish in all five forms of capital—spiritual, relational, human, societal, and financial. Today, Lonnie is frequently invited to coach families of influence around the world on how to build multigenerational alignment, purpose, and impact.
He is Partner and CEO of Wilkinson, a family-owned national real estate investment management platform that has transacted on over $3 billion of real estate with a team that is creating industry-leading impact results and investment returns. He has also been Chairman and CEO of a senior housing ownership and operations company, growing it from startup to over 2,000 employees in 18 states.
Over the years, Lonnie has not only led organizations but has also connected with, interviewed, and learned from many of the most successful multigenerational families in the world—gleaning their keys to long-term flourishing. His exposure to these families, paired with his business and personal journey, continues to shape the principles he now teaches.
For more than 25 years, Lonnie has co-founded and chaired two global leadership development firms, coaching thousands of executives across corporate, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors. His journey to integrate purpose, profit, and people led him to author the book Beyond Business: How Your Company Can Build a Better World. He and his wife are releasing a new book and online course to help families of wealth grow stronger together—relationally, spiritually, individually, and in their impact on society.
Lonnie has been married for 41 years to his childhood sweetheart and best friend, Shelley. The titles they cherish most are PopPop and MiMi—to their seven grandchildren. Together, they’ve built not only a strong marriage and close-knit family, but also a shared mission of impact that spans generations. Their four adult children and their spouses each own and operate thriving businesses that actively create positive value in their communities. As a family, they prioritize time together and share a deep love for nature, adventure, and music—often hiking, traveling, skiing, or backpacking together.
They reside at their lakeside lodge in the Cascade Mountains, where they love to host families and business leaders from around the world. The environment reflects their values—rooted in beauty, growth, connection, and legacy. Whether through family adventures or mentoring others, Lonnie and Shelley are devoted to helping people live with greater intention, health, and enduring purpose.
Born from decades of hands-on leadership and family-building experience, The Thriving Family System is Lonnie’s signature framework designed to help families of wealth grow and sustain multigenerational purpose, well-being and impact.
It’s built on the belief that true legacy involves more than just financial capital—it includes five key dimensions of family wealth: spiritual, relational, human, societal, and financial.
Through thought leadership, resources, and guided tools, Lonnie equips families and family offices around the world to build intentional systems that foster alignment, trust, and flourishing across all five forms of capital.
The Thriving Family System equips families to lead with shared values, develop the next generation, and align their businesses and resources toward meaningful, lasting impact. Whether navigating succession, governance, or the complexities of growth, this process brings clarity, structure, and heart—creating space for families to truly thrive more now and for generations.
I believe flourishing families are the foundation of a flourishing world. When families grow in all five forms of wealth: spiritual, relational, human, societal, and financial; they create legacies that reflect God’s design for generations to come. I know this because it changed my life. Decades ago, another family came alongside ours and shared the principles and practices that helped us grow stronger, more connected, and more fulfilled. That experience transformed everything, and it’s why I’m passionate about helping other families lead with the same intentionality and purpose.
- Lonnie Gienger
