1998: Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks Begin Their Partnership 

Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks meet at a professional publishing company. There, they ghostwrite and publish custom resources and thought leadership books. Working side-by-side, they develop the editorial rigor and strategic thinking that will later define their approach to family business stories. 

1998 - 2000: Melissa Pursues Her Ph.D. 

While working, Melissa pursues her Ph.D. in English literature at Loyola University.

1999: Dave Attends Stanford Publishing Course 

Dave attends The Stanford Publishing Course, an international executive course, learning about the changes in business models in magazine and book publishing. He sees an opportunity to build his own business.

2000: CZ Strategy Launches 

Dave launches CustomZines (later shortened to CZ Strategy), a strategic marketing company with a focus on custom online publishing. Melissa joins a year later. CZ Strategy quickly becomes known for its specialty in publishing, including content marketing and thought leadership.

2005: Entry into the Family Office World

Dave is invited to the Family Wealth Alliance conference. He’s introduced to the world of family offices and the unique dynamics of multi-generational wealth. At a time when family offices are just beginning to gain prominence, CZ Strategy is positioned at the forefront of understanding their communication needs. This access gives Dave and Melissa early insights into how family businesses think about legacy, governance, and storytelling.

2007: Death by Suburb Is Published

Dave publishes his debut memoir, Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul with Harper Collins

2009 - 2010: First Steps into the Family Business Publishing Space 

Dave and Melissa provide developmental editing and publishing consultative services for The Legacy Conversation by Carolyn J. Friend and Jamie Weiner. This deep editorial collaboration marks their formal entrance into the family business publishing space. The project establishes their signature approach to their work with advisors: partnering with experts to shape important ideas into books of influence.

2012: The Launch of a Publishing Imprint for Families 

Dave and Melissa recognize that families want to publish their stories with complete creative control—and without the constraints of traditional publishers. They create their own imprint: Big Snowy Media. Big Snowy Media gives families a boutique publishing home for their most personal narratives. This move signals a commitment to being not just consultants, but true publishing partners.

2012: Dave Publishes His Second Book 

Dave publishes his second book, Native Tongue: Translating Your Message into the Language of Prospects.

2012 - 2014: Dave Studies Multi-Generational Family Enterprises 

Dave conducts a qualitative study of the multi-generational families that comprise The Gathering, a peer community of high-net-worth families dedicated to philanthropy and stewardship. The experience gives him unprecedented access to the stories of prominent family enterprises and their families.

2014: CZ Strategy Relocates

CZ Strategy moves its operations to a single family office.

2013 - 2015: Research Partnership with Andrew Keyt 

Melissa and Dave partner with Andrew Keyt, founder and Chairman of Generation6, to develop the thesis for Myths and Mortals. They help Keyt shape his qualitative research with global family businesses into a cohesive narrative. The book becomes a touchstone in the field.

2015 - 2016: Zaidie Becomes the First Legacy Keepsake 

South African business founder Frank Kleinman approaches Dave and Melissa to write and publish a limited edition of his family legacy story. Zaidie is their first founder memoir, and it becomes the foundation for creating various story forms for families, what they call a Legacy Keepsake.

2017: Dave Co-Authors a Book on Fly Fishing 

Dave, along with co-author Steve Mathewson, publishes The Fly Fisher’s Book of Lists: Life is short. Catch more fish.

2017 - 2021: A Multi-Year Legacy Series with Randy Brewer

Founder Randy Brewer engages Melissa and Dave on their first multi-year legacy memoir series. Over four years, Dave and Melissa ghostwrite, edit, and publish three books, including a legacy book for the Brewer Foundation, which capture Randy’s philanthropic vision and personal reflections on generosity, faith, and work. This depth of collaboration becomes a model for how they can serve as ongoing legacy partners.

2018: New Roots in the Midwest 

Melissa and Dave work with Les Banwart on Long Live the Family Business, a consultative publishing project that strengthens their position in the central Midwest family business market. The book reinforces their reputation as specialists who understand both the business and cultural nuances of family enterprises.

2020: Journey Sixty6 Is Founded 

Journey Sixty6 spins out of CZ Strategy as a separate business, launching as a creative consultancy and publishing firm focused exclusively on family business storytelling.

2020 - Present: A Book-Writing Coaching Program for Advisors 

Journey Sixty6 offers a new publishing coaching program for advisors in the family business space. The programs diverse projects include, Cathy Carroll’s leadership guide Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business with Both Love and Logic, Dennis Passis’s fable Founder Paralysis: A Family Business Fable about a Founder’s Loss of Identity, Buddy Thomas’s legacy and wealth book Love Wisdom Money: The Family Fiduciary’s Guide to Generative Wealth, and more.

2022: New Connections with Leading Wealth Advisors 

Journey Sixty6 becomes a sponsor of the Purposeful Planning Institute, connecting with the nation’s leading advisors to families of wealth.

2023 - Present: Partnership with the Family Wealth Library 

A partnership with the Family Wealth Library leads to Journey Sixty6 curating family business-specific articles for families and advisors. The library is the go-to resource for staying informed in the family business industry.

2023 - 2024: First Multi-Media Legacy Keepsake

Journey Sixty6 works on its first multimedia Legacy Keepsake project with Neuco, Inc. From print to video, this project introduces more dynamic ways to capture and share family stories.

2024: Journey Sixty6 Launches Its Newsletter

The Journey to the Family Business Story newsletter launches. Beyond highlighting Journey Sixty6’s own projects, the newsletter celebrates advisors’ recent book releases and notable family business stories.

2024: Melissa and Dave Featured on Familybusiness.org

Dr. Kimberly Eddleston of Familybusiness.org interviews Melissa and Dave on how family businesses can immortalize their family story. 

2024: New Sponsorship in Sioux Falls

Journey Sixty becomes sponsors of Prairie Family Business Association in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which is part of the University of South Dakota.

2025: A Stronger Midwest Presence

Journey Sixty becomes a sponsor with the Loyola Family Business Center, which is part of the Quinlen School of Business at Loyola University Chicago.

Journey Sixty6 sponsors a summer social for business families and an owner transitions conference in November. Regional sponsorships deepen Journey Sixty6’s roots in the Midwest family business community and create regular opportunities to connect with families and advisors.

2026: Journey Sixty6 Launches Podcast for Families

Melissa and Dave launch their podcast, One Generation to Another. They tackle the questions families actually ask about capturing their stories—all while demystifying the process.

2026: New Stories from Iconic Family Businesses

Journey Sixty6 continues its work with legacy family businesses. Among our recent projects, we published Made with America: The Jel Sert Story for the iconic Chicagoland company and Wired to Figure It Out: The Muth Electric Journey. And we debuted our latest Legacy Keepsake: employee onboarding booklets, giving new hires a living connection to the company's history from day one.