For the Connecticut Family Business Awards, we asked 31 of the best and finest family businesses in the state what sets them apart from the competition, how they stay ahead in the marketplace, and how they remain true to their founding principles in a modern world.
The overwhelming answer, unsurprisingly, was family.
For these companies, the key is treating everyone like family: customers are taken care of, so they keep bringing back their business; employees are treated well, so they stay longer and help companies maintain their institutional knowledge; family members are kept apprised of the business¹s strengths and challenges, so they can adjust in ways that don¹t compromise their values.
The Connecticut Family Business Awards (click here for the digital edition) honor those companies that had particularly strong success over the last 12 months: completing expansions, growing in the marketplace, fulfilling major projects, and breaking new ground in the local and state business community. Companies were put in their respective categories based on the number of full-time employees on Aug. 25. The employee figures in their profiles reflect headcounts as of Oct. 2.
Yet, as they find success, these companies stay rooted in their traditions, even if those traditions mean changing with the times.
‹ Brad Kane
Managing Editor
Family Businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees
- First Place: United Gear & Machine
- Second Place: Hartford Prints!
- Third Place: D’Addario’s Auto Service
Family Businesses with between 25-75 full-time employees
- First Place: The Associated Construction Co.
- Second Place: Advanced Performance Glass
- Third Place: Precision Computer Services
Family Businesses with between 76-169 full-time employees
- First Place: Windsor Marketing
- Second Place: Carla’s Pasta
- Third Place: Connecticut Lighting Centers
Family Businesses with 170 or more full-time employees:
- First Place: J.E. Shepard Companies
- Second Place: Fairfield Processing Corp.
- Third Place: EBP Supply Solutions
