The search is on for Connecticut's most outstanding family firms to be honored at the 2009 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards!

It’s that time of year again!  A time to reflect on the achievements of your family firm as well as those of your peers – and to show all that, once again, family businesses in the state have faced down adversity to emerge alive and well.  For 14 years, the University of Connecticut Family Business Program has been honoring family firms that have bettered our communities, our prospects for jobs, our prospects for security, and our prospects for wellbeing.  And while this past year has been among the  most challenging of recent memory, it is more important than ever to recognize those outstanding firms that have weathered these distressing conditions while also doing all they can to lift their suppliers, customers, community, and industry in its wake. 

Family businesses play a crucial role in Connecticut’s economy and society, a role too frequently overlooked as the public's eye is directed to public corporations. To emphasize the tremendous and positive contributions provided by family firms, large and small, the UConn Family Business Program holds the annual Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards ceremony - a prestigious way to recognize and honor those family businesses that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise.

To date, the UConn Family Business Program, through the annual Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards ceremony, has honored 143 outstanding firms from across the state – creating jobs, investing in new technologies, supporting philanthropic causes, fostering innovation, and serving as champions of their industry and community.   It comes as little surprise that family businesses continue to prove themselves as the backbone of Connecticut’s economy, and the central nervous system of American free enterprise – and so it is important to recognize them and congratulate them on all they do and all they are.

We invite you to apply for the 2009 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Award, or to nominate those family firms that you feel deserve such an honor.  Finalists are chosen by a panel of outside judges and evaluated based on proven business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational involvement, contributions to community/industry, and innovative business practices/strategies.  The application process can be extremely rewarding as firm members reflect on their organization’s history and achievements throughout the years – a tremendous morale boost for all! 

For more information on the awards, and to download an application, please click here: http://www.business.uconn.edu/familybusiness/awards.asp

UConn’s Family Business Program joins efforts with CBIA
to survey Connecticut's Family Business Community

Storrs, CT - August 17, 2009

Together, we at CBIA and the University of Connecticut Family Business Program, continue our efforts to understand the most compelling issues facing Connecticut's family firms and deliver programming and content that is relevant and timely. We are proud, once again, to submit the 2009 Connecticut Family Business Survey – and we are asking for your participation!

The 2009 Family Business Survey, developed jointly by CBIA and the UConn Family Business Program and sponsored by Kostin, Ruffkess & Co.,  is an important assessment in understanding the economic and strategic status of Connecticut's family firms. The survey is an effort to provide opportunities for family firms to benchmark their business in relationship to businesses of similar size and scope while providing UConn and CBIA valuable information by which to coordinate efforts on behalf of Connecticut’s family business community.

The survey should take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete and will be collected through Monday, August 31.  Findings will be released and discussed on December 3rd at the 2009 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony – an annual celebration honoring Connecticut’s most outstanding family firms.  For more information about the Family Business Awards, click here: http://www.business.uconn.edu/familybusiness/awards.asp.

Honorees Announced in the 2008 Connecticut Family Business
of the Year Awards Ceremony - Wednesday, November 12th

Storrs, CT - October 5, 2008

The University of Connecticut Family Business Program proudly announces the honorees for the 2008 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards!

The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Award recognizes and honors exceptional family businesses that exemplify core family values and the best of American free enterprise. Ten honorees will be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, November 12th 2008.  Honorees are chosen by a panel of judges from a pool of state-wide nominees and are evaluated based on business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies. This year's honorees are:

Allied Printing Services, Inc.; Manchester
Baronet Coffee, Inc; Hartford
Marcucio Gardens; Derby
Nursing Services, Inc.; East Hartford
Olender’s, Inc.; Vernon
Paine’s, Incorporated; East Granby
Peter Paul Electronics Company, Inc.; New Britain
Shawmut Equipment Company, Inc.; Manchester
The Willington Companies; Stafford Spring
William B. Meyer, Inc.; Stratford

Kevin A. Bouley, President & CEO of Nerac, Inc., will present the keynote address at the awards celebration . A successful entrepreneur who has a passion for helping companies develop and commercialize innovative products and technologies, Mr. Bouley joined Nerac in 1981 and, after swiftly moving through several management positions, acquired it in 1999.  He has since built Nerac into an internationally known research and advisory firm for companies developing innovative products and technologies helping companies identify pathways for growth.  Nerac has been recognized in each of the past three years by Deloitte Technology Fast 50 as one of the fastest growing technology companies in the state. 

Click here to read more about the 2008 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony on November 12!

UConn’s Family Business Program joins efforts with CBIA
to survey Connecticut's Family Business Community

Storrs, CT - September 24, 2008

The University of Connecticut Family Business Program, in conjunction with CBIA, is proud to sponsor the 2008 Connecticut Family Business Survey – and we are asking for your participation!

The 2008 Family Business Survey is an important assessment in understanding the economic and strategic status of Connecticut's family firms. The survey is an effort to provide opportunities for family firms to benchmark their business in relationship to businesses of similar size and scope while providing the University of Connecticut School of Business Family Business Program and CBIA valuable information for future programming.

To participate in the survey, click here: http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p151891414.aspx.  

Survey results will be released on November 12th and results published thereafter on the UConn Family Business Program website at www.business.uconn.edu/familybusiness.

In Memorium - Andrew G. Bachmann, Founder & Chairman
of Dymax Corporation in Torrington, CT

Dear Friends~

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you.  On Monday, September 15th, our friend Andy Bachmann of Dymax Corporation (husband of Clai Bachmann, father to Greg and Brian) passed away.  He was Founder and Chairman of Dymax Corporation in Torrington – and an avid member of our program.

Andy will be sorely missed.  He was blessed with talent, passion, a loving family, and a depth of emotion that allowed him to experience and create in ways unimaginable to most of us.  He was a mentor, a friend, an exemplary sounding board, and an inspiration to those that knew him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Clai, Greg, Brian, Sage, Connor, Bryn and Ilyana -
and the extended family of this extraordinary man.

Please click to read more about Andy's extraordinary life.

In Memorium - John A. Klein, President & CEO of People's United Bank

Bridgeport, CT - January 25, 2008
A champion for family firms in the state, and a founding sponsor of the University of Connecticut Family Business Program - John A. Klein, President and Chief Executive Officer of People's United Bank and its parent, People's United Financial, Inc. passed away January 25 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was 58 years old.

Mr. Klein, who had been battling cancer since 2004, succumbed earlier today to the disease. He is survived by his wife, Carla Klein; daughter, Kristen Klein Chiodo;and
son, Eric Klein. Click here to read highlights of Mr. Klein's life...

Also of Interest:
People's United Financial, Inc. Press Release

Joint UConn Family Business Program & CBIA survey
on Connecticut's Family Firms Released

Results show Connecticut's family-owned businesses face unique challenges, but high cost of doing business is most onerous...

Storrs, CT - November 15, 2007
The University of Connecticut Family Business Program and CBIA proudly release the state’s inaugural Family Business Survey.  This survey, the first to deal specifically with family-owned businesses in Connecticut, explores key issues facing family-business owners today and examines concerns they have about the future.

The survey is part of a partnership between the UConn School of Business Family Business Program and CBIA – and is designed to expose family-owned companies to relevant trends related to business planning, development and operation. Click here to view the full highlights and news release...

Also of Interest:
Joint UConn Family Business Program & CBIA Survey on Connecticut's Family Firms

Winners Announced in the 2007 Connecticut
Family Business of the Year Awards

Schmitt-Sussman Enterprises, Motorlease Corporation, and The Hawley Companies achieve top honors at the University of Connecticut Family Business Program's
12th annual Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony

Storrs, CT - November 15, 2007
The University of Connecticut Family Business Program announced the winners of the 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards 12th Anniversary Celebration. This prestigious award honors Connecticut family firms that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise. Nine finalists were honored at the ceremony held at the University of Connecticut's South Campus Rome Ballroom on Wednesday, November 14th 2007. The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards recognize successful family firms in three categories: small--sized businesses, medium-sized businesses and large-sized businesses. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges and evaluated based on business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies. The 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Award winners are... Click here to read more...

Finalists Announced in the 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards to be held on November 14, 2007!

Storrs, CT - October 15, 2007
The University of Connecticut Family Business Program proudly invites you to attend
the 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony. The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Award is a prestigious way to recognize and honor those family businesses that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise. Nine finalists will be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, November 14th 2007. The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards celebration recognizes successful family firms in Connecticut. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges with placements announced on the evening of the awards ceremony. Finalists are evaluated based on business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies. This year's honorees include... Click here to read more...

Jack Mitchell, critically acclaimed author, Chairman, and CEO, will join the University of Connecticut School of Business to discuss how he’s turned into one of the world’s most sought after “huggers”! 

Storrs, CT - August 20, 2007
Jack Mitchell - author of Hug Your Customers, The Proven Way to Personalize Sales
and Achieve Astounding Results, and Chairman and CEO of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs,
a three-generation family business that operates three upper-end brand men's and women's specialty stores in Westport and Greenwich, CT, and Huntington, NY - will
join UConn School of Business students, faculty and family business owners to
outline a series of principles that can be adopted by any company to gain a larger
share of current customer business and to attract new customers. Read more...

UConn Family Business Program joins efforts with CBIA
to survey Connecticut's Family Business Community

Storrs, CT - August 13, 2007
The University of Connecticut Family Business Program, in conjunction with CBIA,
is proud to sponsor the 2007 Connecticut Family Business Survey.

The 2007 Family Business Survey is an important assessment in understanding the economic and strategic status of Connecticut's family firms. The survey is an effort to provide opportunities for family firms to benchmark their business in relationship to businesses of similar size and scope while providing the University of Connecticut School of Business Family Business Program and CBIA valuable information for future programming.

The Family Business Program and CBIA will release survey results on November 14.

UConn Family Business Program sponsor, RSM McGladrey, releases
results of National CEO/CFO Survey - Indicating Positive Growth for
Small, Middle-Market Companies

Minneapolis – June 14, 2007
The manufacturing and wholesale distribution segments in the United States continue to see positive growth across several industry segments, according to the RSM McGladrey 2007 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution National Survey, released today.

Conducted this spring, the second annual RSM McGladrey survey provides insights into what CEOs, CFOs, and other senior industry executives are thinking, doing and planning to grow their businesses in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Participants were asked questions about cost structure, profitability, technology initiatives, operations, globalization and more.

A total of 947 surveys were completed, representing a strong cross sample of U.S. companies in varying industry segments and revenue size. Click here to view the full highlights and news release...

Also of interest:
2007 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey
2007 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey - Executive Summary
2007 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Fact Sheet - New England