Brookwood’s FIE Club Welcomes Chris Herschend for Lunch and Learn

Brookwood School’s Finance, Investment, and Entrepreneurship (FIE) Club continues to connect students with leaders in business and innovation. On Monday, Upper School students gathered during lunch to hear from Chris Herschend, Owner and Chairman of the Board of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation.

FIE is open to all Upper School students and is led by an Executive Board comprised of Catherine Stewart ‘27, Emmett Street ‘27, Wesley Warren ‘27, Brooks Clay ‘27, Lucy Donaldson ‘28, Brinson King ‘27, Luke Stewart ‘28, Ava Bodell ‘27, and Stafford Davis ‘27. While these students guide the organization, approximately 25 additional students regularly attend the club’s monthly meetings.

Founded with the mission of bringing guest speakers engaged in finance, investment, and entrepreneurship to campus, FIE provides students with access to personal stories, professional insight, and meaningful conversations about leadership and philanthropy. Over the past three years, the club has hosted both local and national leaders who share not only their successes but also the challenges and lessons that shaped their journeys.

Monday’s speaker brought a global perspective. Herschend Family Entertainment is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, owning well-known properties including Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Callaway Gardens, and Wild Adventures in Valdosta. With 75 years of history as a faith-based, family-owned business, the company has built its reputation on values-driven leadership and long-term vision.

Chris Herschend, who frequently speaks to large audiences and teaches at business schools across the country, shared insights on stewardship, family legacy, and leading with purpose. Students had the opportunity to learn what it takes to sustain and grow a multi-generational company while remaining grounded in core values.

Through experiences like this, Brookwood’s FIE Club continues to inform and inspire students who are curious about the worlds of finance, investment, and entrepreneurship, and who are eager to lead with both excellence and integrity.