1985

• The Family Business Program, College of Business, Oregon State University, is suggested by Joan Austin of A-dec and the program is founded by director Dr. Patricia "Pat" A. Frishkoff (OSU President John Byrne and College of Business Dean M. Lynn Spruill). After Wharton School's at the University of Pennsylvania, the program is second in the world to be established.

1986

• First family business conference begins the program's educational events, held at OSU, featuring Dr. John Ward.

1987

• Family business workshop series begins. Topics include communication, women, non-family managers in family business.

1988

• Oregon Family Business Awards are held for the first time. These awards were the first to be held by a University-affiliated family business program.

1989

• Business Contributions to Community Service by Patricia A. Frishkoff and Alicja Kostecka is published with support from a contract with the U.S. Department of Economic Research, marking the program's first research funding.

1990

• Washington Business Succession Project of 24 seminars receives a grant, leading the program to its outreach focus and workbooks. 

1991

• Bonnie Brown serves as director while Pat Frishkoff takes sabbatical (1991-1992); Bonnie continues as director through 1993.
• Family Business Management course starts bringing to the classroom, via the L.W. "Bill" Lane Distinguished Lectureship, outstanding family business owners as distinguished lecturers, beginning with L.W. "Bill" Lane, Sunset magazine, Menlo Park, Calif. 

1992

• Family Business Initiative is launched to provide long-term funding base ($1.65 M) as state funds are cut by Measure 5.

1993

• First series of workshops begins for professional service providers to family businesses.

1994

• OSU's program is renamed the Austin Family Business Program after it is endowed by Ken and Joan Austin.

1995

• Family Business Initiative completes funding to support AFBP in perpetuity.

1996

• AFBP produces its first videos: Women in Family Business and Couples in Business Together, hosted by Dr. Joyce Brothers.

1997

• Corporate Partnership with U.S. Bank expands outreach to family businesses.

1998

• OSU's Fishing Families team, including Pat Frishkoff, receives the Interdisciplinary Achievement Award given by the Family Firm Institute.

1999

• Farm Succession Risk Management Checklist is produced and offered on AFBP's website via a grant from the USDA's Risk Management Agency.

2000

• First interactive live web cast of a family business conference highlights Torrini in Florence, Italy with speakers John Ward and Stephen McClure. 

2001

• Tax Cuts on the Web is produced then distributed through AFBP's website with funds from the USDA Risk Management Agency, OSU Foundation, Colleges of Forestry and Business and with contributions from U.S. Bank and U.S. Bancorp.

2002

• Patricia A. Frishkoff retires May 1; Mark T. Green assumes directorship and the A.E. Coleman Chair.

2003

• Portland Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award, honoring Portland's most successful and civic-minded individuals under the age of 40, is given to Mark Green.

2005

• AFBP hosts the first independent research conference in family business in North America - 2005 Family Enterprise Research Conference 

2008

• Robin Klemm, Ph.D., a former Wharton School faculty member and family business consultant, is selected as the new Director of the Austin Family Business Program

2011

• Sherri Noxel, the former Associate Director of the Austin Family Business Program is selected as the Director

• Oregon State University is selected as one of ten North American universities to participate in the global Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) research consortium.

• AFBP launches its new workshop series and companion podcast, Family Business 360

• The Family Enterprise Research Conference (FERC) returns to Portland for its 10th anniversary and is hosted by the AFBP

• The Family Firm Institute awards the 2015 Interdisciplinary Award to the AFBP

• The Austin Family Business Program offers a Family Business option as part of the Business Administration major in the College of Business. Students majoring in fields outside of business can now earn a minor in Family Business.

• The Austin Family Business Program is renamed The Center for Family Enterprise, expanding educational and outreach opportunities for family businesses, and creating a research arm of the Center that puts us at the cutting edge of knowledge. Ted A. Paterson, Ph.D. is named Director of the Center.