First Place Winners

The Ashforth Company - Large Business Category
Currently run by the fourth generation of family members, The Ashforth Company celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. Handling diversified aspects of Real Estate including corporate ownership, development, investment management, brokerage, general contracting, asset/property management and construction management helps to make The Ashforth Company one of the largest full service real estate organizations in the Northeast and the Northwest. The company is presently owned by Henry A. Ashforth, Jr., his sister Eleanor Ashforth Harvey and many members of both families who integrate their family values and principles of commitment, quality, teamwork and integrity into their business practices. These are the ingredients that contribute to an impressive growth in all aspects of the company. The Ashforth Company has also contributed significantly to the community. Through their involvement in community philanthropic events such as the Bennett Cancer Center walk, the Ashforth and Harvey families exemplify the true spirit of family business.

Walter Stewart Company - Medium Business Category
Established in 1904, Stewart's Market has become an integral part of the New Canaan community. Founder Walter Stewart was one of the first independent grocers to join with other independents to form a cooperative buying warehouse. Walter Stewart, Jr. then helped to establish a second cooperative warehouse in an effort to combat the onslaught of chain supermarkets. This tradition is maintained by Bailey Stewart, the current company president, who heads Allied Grocer's Cooperative and is director of the Connecticut Food Stores Association. Presently, Walter Stewart Company is instituting a new gourmet line of prepared foods to respond to the needs of busy New Canaan residents and has established a rapidly growing catering service. Profits have doubled and tripled in produce and catering respectively over the last three years. Six family members are currently employed by the Walter Stewart Company which helps to foster the "hometown ambiance" that the Stewart family prides itself on. Being in close touch with the community through dedication to a wide range of activities, charities and fund raising events, the family has nurtured an important relationship that has extended into the business community.

Karl Chevrolet - Small Business Category
For 70 years, Karl Chevrolet has been committed to family and community. In their third generation of ownership, five members of the Karl family are employed by the company. Saturday business hours, beepers for service customers who can't be reached during the day, inexpensive rental vehicles and other innovations have been incorporated into their business practices ensuring a rating in the top 5% of all Chevrolet Dealers nationally for customer satisfaction. In an industry with high employee turnover, eleven of Karl Chevrolet's non-family employees have served the company for 25 years or more - a sign of a long-standing commitment to treating employees like members of the family. Succession planning well before it is needed has been the key to two successful transitions of leadership at Karl Chevrolet. Through educational scholarships, active leadership roles in community events, philanthropy and extensive involvement in various New Canaan organizations, the Karl family have fostered a solid bond with their community. Yet, they still find the time to sustain a five-year growth rate for their business of over 20% each year.

First Runners-Up

Crystal Rock Water Company - Large Business Category
Tracing its roots back to the true "Mom & Pop" family business founded by Henry Baker Sr. in 1914, Crystal Rock Water Company has consistently responded to changes in the office refreshment market. One major innovation developed by Jack Baker was their patented "No-Spill Water Safe Water Cooler" that allows the replacement of water bottles without having to open them. Supplying coffee, soda and a variety of snacks to offices all over the state, as well as providing home delivery has encouraged continuous sales growth over the years. Currently managed by the third generation, the Baker family has consistently implemented its management philosophy to "look to the future while being firmly grounded in the present." This philosophy corresponds to their commitment to the Stamford and Watertown communities. Through scholarships, charitable donations, and contributions of time and energy to many community organizations, the Bakers earned the 1996 "Company of the Year" award given by the Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

Stevens Company, Inc. - Medium Business Category
Stevens Company was founded in 1945 by engineer and technological innovator Carlton R. Stevens. Specializing in drawn metal components and stamping, the company has steadily grown into a creative and profitable family business. Stevens manufactures nearly microscopic-sized eyelets and stampings and is the largest producer of silver capacitor cans worldwide. Five members of the Stevens family are presently involved in the business and their emphasis on hard work and quality control has ensured the company's prosperity. After the death of her husband Ralph, Jannette Stevens, the current company president, has worked to stimulate company growth. A major plant expansion and office renovation completed in 1996 is a good indication of her success. Stevens Company and the Thomaston community have both benefited greatly from the strong foresight and environmentalism of Ralph C. Stevens, who was deeply involved in the town of Thomaston's land preservation movement.

American Standard Company - Small Business Category
Founded in 1937 by R. Steuart Florian, American Standard Company is enjoying its third generation as a market leader in the design and manufacture of garden tools. Inventors of the patented Ratchet Pruning Shear, the Florian family consistently researches engineering advances in an effort to stay on the cutting edge of product design. Having successfully overcome intense global competitive pressures from manufacturers of cheap imitations, American Standard Company is a well-established manufacturer of high quality products, fully protected by warranty maintenance with no questions asked. This emphasis on quality has nurtured a heartfelt customer loyalty that upholds the company's reputation for excellence and generates business through word-of-mouth. Currently, eight Florian family members are involved in business activities from company president to sales - with Judy Florian as the television spokesperson for their QVC segment. The Southington community has benefited from members of the Florian family who are active in a number of town organizations.

Finalists

The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company - Large Business Category
In 1907, with a degree in horticulture and arboriculture, Francis A. Bartlett founded the F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co. They have since grown into the largest private tree care company in both the United States and Europe. A world leader in private tree and shrub care, Bartlett is the only company of its kind to establish research laboratories. All findings and services of the scientists at the laboratory are made available to the general public, the government, universities and even their competition at no cost. For three generations, the Bartlett's have been concerned with environmental issues and in the past have cooperated with power companies in the development of line clearance techniques designed to assist in the prevention of power outages. Their efforts to encourage efficiency in tree services have secured the future of their business. Bartlett family members have continually supported many civic and charitable organizations all over the country. They are responsible for the development of the state owned Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford and house the International Society of Arboriculture on Bartlett property.

Jonal Laboratories, Inc. - Large Business Category
Originally a supplier of non-metallic parts to the aerospace industry when the company was founded in 1965, Jonal Laboratories has achieved success by remaining "true to their roots". After surviving turbulent family times, a difficult recession, and numerous unprofitable acquisitions, the founder John Nemeth and his son Marc, currently the company president, realized that in the long run more lucrative forms of expansion for the company existed within their original aerospace field and the related fields of molded rubber parts. This and other valuable lessons have given the Nemeth family the wisdom to rebuild their company. They persevered by relying on basic and fundamental philosophies that business must be the first priority, and that one must look to long range goals when allowing one's company to change. Jonal Laboratories is based in the Meriden community, and the Nemeths have become deeply involved in the Meriden school systems as well as taken leadership roles in many town projects.

L.H. Gault & Sons, Inc. - Medium Business Category
In 1863, one hundred and thirty-four years ago, Robert Gault established L.H. Gault & Son, Inc. as a freight hauling business. Through the leadership and foresight of fie generations, the business evolved into a prosperous oil company that also handles mason supplies, burner service, air conditioning, and sand and gravel. In addition to offering different types of service contracts and budget plans, the company offers "loyalty credits" that help to earn money toward furnace replacement. The Gault's philosophy is to "treat each customer as if they are part of the family". Also treated like family, many employees of L.H. Gault & Son have been with the company for over twenty-five years. In 1995, L.H. Gault & Son was presented with the Community Commitment Award by the Westport Chamber of Commerce. The Gault family has consistently been involved in the Westport community; one example is "Gault Field" where the local Little League teams play.

Shaw Mudge & Company - Medium Business Category
While the Mudge family has been involved in the fragrance composition industry for 75 years, Shaw Mudge & Company was established in 1969. Shaw Mudge, Sr., still occupies a "kind of ambassador's role" at the firm to facilitate managerial transition, and sons Grant and Shaw Jr. hold top level positions. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding the secret recipes for fragrances, but rest assured that Shaw Mudge's olfactory creations are found in household products of all kinds. In 1996, the company outgrew its Stamford locations and moved to a larger facility in Shelton, which is now the firm's headquarters. Family members have been strong advocates of small business development nationwide. Shaw Sr. has been Chairman of the Connecticut Delegation for the first two White House Conferences on Small Business; he and Shaw Jr. were delegates to the third; both have also served on the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Small Business Administration. As part of its growth strategy, the company has recently turned to expansion of their family business in overseas markets.

Van Wilgen's Garden Center - Small Business Category
When William Van Wilgen came to America in the early 1920's as a bulb salesman, it marked the beginning of a family business that would involve three generations of his family. William and his brother Art established Van Wilgen's Garden Center as a nursery and landscape company, collaborating on the hybridization of different rhododendrons, some resulting in patents. The business has since blossomed under the management of the next two generations. The opening of a new garden center facility to accommodate a large retail flower house, ten growing greenhouses, and two growing fields can be attributed to the 30% annual growth of sales over the past seven years. Offering telephone assistance, a one year warrantee on trees and shrubs and promotional incentives has allowed this family business to grow. In addition to numerous charitable donations, the Van Wilgen Garden Center joins with the community throughout the year by hosting a Spring Garden Party, an Easter Egg hunt, Halloween parties, Octoberfests, and Christmas open house.

The Vanilla Bean Café - Small Business Category
In 1987, the need for a "middle of the road" restaurant in Pomfret, Connecticut was finally met. Building on the commitment to their century old family business - called the Sales Record Publishing Co. - four members of the Jessurun family have succeeded in establishing a charming and prosperous restaurant. Praised by local newspaper critics, as well as the New York Times, the Hartford Courant and Connecticut Magazine, The Vanilla Bean Café was recently named the 1997 "Editor's Pick" in Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide to New England. A renovated barn housed with original ice cream and sandwich shop that has since undergone a truly remarkable expansion, the company has established an innovative in-house credit card system that awards a discount for dollars spent and a monthly newsletter entitled "Bean Soup" that announces upcoming performers and developments. The Jessurun family hosts local and regional benefits and is actively involved in numerous community organizations. Featuring local artwork and providing weekend entertainment by local musicians, The Vanilla Bean Café has become the true heart of Pomfret and surrounding communities.