New book charts 100 years of a Pittsburgh family business

LEGACY: 100 Years in the Life of a Successful Family Business goes on sale Sept. 22 and tells the story of how the Ross family built Universal Electric Corporation from Western Pennsylvania roots into an international company. The book connects that century-long rise to Pittsburgh’s broader industrial and technology history.

Why it matters: - The book turns a family business history into a case study in succession, resilience, and long-term value creation. - LEGACY also reflects Pittsburgh’s shift from an industrial economy to a technology-driven one. - The story may resonate with entrepreneurs and family-owned companies facing generational transition.

What happened: - LEGACY: 100 Years in the Life of a Successful Family Business will be available beginning Sept. 22, 2026. - The book is written by Joel Ross and Leeanne Seaver. - The book traces four generations of the Ross family and the growth of their business from Western Pennsylvania roots to an international company. - Universal Electric Corporation, the family enterprise featured in the book, is known for its Starline power distribution systems. - The book will be sold through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

The details: - The Ross family story begins in the Allegheny Mountains and the Pittsburgh region. - The family business navigated the Great Depression, economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and family succession. - The company expanded alongside the growth of computing, telecommunications, the internet, and data centers. - The book says the family enterprise remained grounded in hard work, ingenuity, resilience, loyalty, and commitment to family and community. - Joel Ross is a fourth-generation member of the Ross family and a former leader of Universal Electric Corporation. - Leeanne Seaver worked with the Ross family to document and shape the book. - The book draws on family history, business records, personal recollections, and decades of experience. - The book aims to show how a company can survive the often-cited “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” challenge. - The authors frame the book around questions about preparing the next generation, preserving values while embracing change, and balancing ambition with responsibility.

Between the lines: - The Ross family story is being presented as both a private family narrative and a broader Pittsburgh business story. - The timing fits growing interest in succession planning and multigenerational ownership as many family firms face leadership change. - The book also positions Pittsburgh as a place where builders and innovators have repeatedly adapted to new economic eras.

What's next: - Readers can buy the book starting Sept. 22, 2026. - The authors say the book is meant to offer lessons for business owners, entrepreneurs, and family enterprises. - The project may also invite renewed attention to Universal Electric Corporation’s role in industrial and digital infrastructure.

The bottom line: - LEGACY uses one company’s century-long rise to explore how family businesses endure, adapt, and pass values across generations. - More information is available on social media.