First Place Winners

Schmitt-Sussman Enterprises, Inc. – Large Business Category
In 1973, Stan Sussman, decided to leverage his UConn insurance degree and established reputation to provide affordable insurance products to the average wage earner. He found a partner in John Schmitt II whose major clients were credit unions. Together, the Schmitt & Sussman families founded Schmitt-Sussman Enterprises to serve the 80% of wage earners in the US.Their principal product is the Family Security Plan, a Portfolio of Protection that includes affordable life, disability, and critical illness insurance that enables credit union members to protect their paychecks - and their families.

As the company grew, so did the family involvement! To ensure the successful stewardship of the family business strict guidelines were established. Every family member must have a college degree, two years of outside work experience, experience numerous positions throughout the company (including sales), must be supervised by a non-family manager and employment eligibility extends to each child or spouse of the child – but not to both. As an example of their dedication to stewardship, when Stan Sussman retired as President, Valerie Coffin, previously serving as COO, became interim president for a 5-year period to allow the second generation the opportunity to determine positions within the company most suitable to their individual talents.

The second generation of employees include Mark Sessel, (Stan’s son-in-law) who currently serves as President; David Sussman (Stan’s son) who develops and manages the company’s Member’s Benefit Call Center; John Schmitt III, (John’s son) who currently is responsible for the acquisition of new clients; and Timothy Schmitt, (John’s son) who manages the firm’s largest and most productive sales territory – New York City. To maintain successful communication, the Board meets quarterly, and all six members have voting rights. Two non-family members sit on the Board and provide outside perspectives. True to form, the Board established and clearly outlined issues related to stock transfer, compensation, matters related to death, disability, or the withdrawal from the company employ. PFP now has 217 full-time employees, over 300,000 active policies representing six billion dollars of benefits, and sales in excess of $35,000,000 of annual premium. They serve credit unions in 17 states, and are on target to have 240 field sales representatives by 2012, thereby doubling the value of the company and extending the geographic reach.

The families’ commitment to their communities is broad and deep –supporting medical research, poverty, education, diversity, religious organizations, athletics, and dozens of other organizations far too numerous to list. In doing so, the Schmitt and Sussman families capture their vision to not only create strong relationships with the general public and their communities, but to protect families in the process.

Motorlease Corporation. – Medium Business Category
Motorlease Corporation was founded in 1946 as a joint effort between three budding entrepreneurs – Daniel Leary Sr, Horace Corbin, and Philip O’Neil. The partners looked to fill a niche by supplying individual automotive lease transactions. Daniel Leary Jr. entered the business in 1960, and was soon joined by Philip O’Neil’s son, Charlie.

During the 1970’s the nature of the automobile leasing industry shifted from individual lease transactions, to an environment in which “small fleet leasing” was in demand. As a result, Motorlease adapted its operations to service business transactions.

Sixteen years later, in 1976, Daniel Jr assumed sole management of the Company and welcoming his son Jack into the business! To learn the business from the ground up, Jack began by changing tires, the moved to traffic manager and into field sales. Jack’s sister, Beth Kandrysawtz joined the business in 1985 after graduating with an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and working in Ford Motor Company’s finance division.

In 1987, Jack succeeded his father as President, overseeing the Sales and Auto Operations, and Beth was elected as Vice President/Treasurer overseeing Finance and Administration. The business has become a sophisticated operation, implementing a Kaizen team-based approach to remove waste, re-document the processes and seek new ways to approach them. The family has also cross-trained employees in their “One Call One Answer” concept where each employee can address 80% of every customer’s questions or issues. This concept has enabled the company to operate as lean as possible. The results are astounding as 35% of their customers have been with them for over 16 years and 14% have been loyal for over 30 years!.

An industry pioneer, Motorlease Corporation was a founding member of the American Automobile Leasing Association (AALA), an international organization where Jack has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1991. They are also an active member of the National Vehicle Leasing Association, a member based organization representing the vehicle leasing industry. As an organization, Motorlease provides financial support and encourages employees to participate in charitable events and fundraisers, giving them one paid day off to volunteer at organizations of their choosing.

The Leary/Kandrysawtz family and the Company support organizations such as Juvenile Diabetes, Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, Farmington Police & Fire Departments, the After You Adopt organization, Canton Board of Education, the Kent School, Ethel Walker School, and numerous other organizations that support needy families during the Thanksgiving and Holiday seasons.

The Hawley Companies – Small Business Category
Ervie “Bud” Hawley was born an entrepreneur. Growing up on a dairy farm in the Germantown section of Danbury, Bud learned the value of a strong work ethic – balanced by an equal devotion to family, faith, community, and patriotism. Recognizing an opportunity, Bud started a milk wholesaling business, buying his family’s milk, and distributing it to stores and homes via a route he established. In 1955, when Bud’s uncle decided to sell of part of the family’s farm, Bud bought the land and began a long and illustrious career as a homebuilder and development pioneer in the Danbury community.

After selling his milk distribution business, Bud bought more farmland, ultimately building over 150 homes. However, in 1960 he set his sights on buying property along Route 6 to answer the need for shopping centers. In 1961, with his uncle Elbert as a partner and wife Carolyn as a financial and administrative manager, Bud opened the Berkshire Shopping Center which was the first strip mall to be built in Danbury.

Carolyn and Bud welcomed four children, Gary, David, Barbara and Nancy into the business. Nowadays, Gary is President of Hawley Construction and David serves as President of Hawley Management Company. Together, the companies have expanded into developing medical office buildings – and embraced the vision of not just building infrastructure, but building communities.

A buttress of the Danbury community in construction and property management, the Hawleys own and maintain over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping centers, retail stores, and suburban office buildings boasting a 98% occupancy rate. In recognition of his contributions to the community, Bud, a US Army veteran, was awarded the highest international award given by the Lions Club for service to family, club, community and nation. He also received the Cecil J. Prevedi Memorial Award as Danbury’s Leading Entrepreneur in 1994.

Their business success is rivaled by their devotion to the community. Bud, Gary and David alone serve as members/Directors of more than 20 different professional, civic and/or fraternal organizations. 27 local groups have been recipients of Hawley’s philanthropic generosity. These include Danbury Hospital, Danbury Chamber of Commerce, USA Deaf Soccer Association, Charles Ives Center for the Arts, BSA and Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society Kiwanis Club and Multiple Sclerosis Association – to name just a few.

First Runners-Up

Curtis Packaging Corporation – Large Business Category  
Curtis & Sons was founded by Samuel Curtis in 1845 as a manufacturer of fancy combs and buttons. The delicate nature of the buttons and combs required Samuel to manufacture special boxes to ensure no damage occurred during shipment. When fancy buttons and combs lost their appeal their packaging business flourished! In the 1920’s Samuel’s grandson, William, encouraged the family to focus on packaging as their primary business – and Curtis Packaging, concentrating on designing, printing and converting folding cartons, was born.

For five generations, the Curtis family expertly managed the company until its sale to the Don Droppo, Sr. in 1989. Don, a partner at Curtis Packaging’s accounting firm acquired the company and immediately implemented new technologies to automate its workflow and keep Sam Curtis’ vision on track. Curtis Packaging is now a luxury cartons manufacturer whose primary clients include Titleist, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, and Crabtree and Evelyn.

In 2003, Don Droppo Jr. joined the business after a decade-long career in finance. As a result of his outside perspective and experience, the company charted a course to become the first “100% carbon neutral” printing & packing company in North America - an achievement applauded and admired by many worldwide. In the four short years Don Jr. has been with the organization, Curtis Packaging’s sales have doubled to $40 million while showing a commitment to innovation and the environment.

Curtis packaging continues to innovate – developing and trade marking CurtCHROME, a proprietary, eco-friendly metallic printing process; CurtCRYSTAL, a proprietary printing effect that exhibits the rich feel and texture of micro-embossing; and CurtCOAT, an ultra-gloss eco-friendly UV coating proprietary product that provides a mirror like shine of film lamination without the high costs of an off-line process.

Amongst their other eco-initiatives, Curtis Packaging purchases 100% of its energy from renewable sources helping qualify the town of Newtown as a “Clean Energy Community” and earning the town a free solar panel. Curtis Packaging is also Forest Stewardship Council certified, to boot.

Curtis Packing is as socially conscious as it is environmentally responsible. It provides support to several social causes, including the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Hurricane Katrina relief organizations, and Ability Beyond Disability.

Century Spring Manufacturing Company – Medium Business Category
Century Spring was established in 1976 by Walter Waseleski and his son, Bill. Like many family firms, they worked out of Walter’s garage until 1980 when they moved to a 2000 square foot facility on Riverside Avenue in Bristol. Originally, they served other spring manufacturers in need of additional capacity to fulfill their orders. However, in the 1980’s, the business evolved from supplying other spring companies to working directly with OEM’s.

In the mid-1980’s Walter began to transfer ownership to Bill, who is now sole owner. However, Walter continues to share his 60+ years of experience in the spring manufacturing industry while Bill’s mother, Theresa, helps out as receptionist and bookkeeper.

In 1990, Century Spring relocated to a 14000 square foot facility on Middle Street in Bristol and evolved into manufacturing high-end products for the electronics, medical and aerospace industries – markets less susceptible to foreign competition – a positioning that would carry them into the 21st century.

Century Spring now occupies three locations along Middle Street and is engaged in the development and implementation of an integrated marketing and sales plan. The Company looks to support its expansion by focusing on development of their organization and personnel in areas such as executive recruitment, organizational design, compensation, employee training, and growth through acquisition. As a result of this focus, they have become ISO 9000-2001 certified, invested in capital equipment such as CNC machines, established an apprentice program for spring making, offer flextime scheduling, and have developed a Rapid Sample Value Prototypes (RSVP) program which allows them to produce small volumes of springs with minimal turnaround time.

Bill’s son, David, recently graduated from college and is involved in the company’s information technology initiatives where Century Spring is looking to link directly to their customers to monitor inventory level and ship new product as needed.

The Waseleski family supports many community programs such as The United Way, The Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, Zion Lutheran Soup Kitchen, Bristol Lion’s Club, Bristol Police Department. At E.C. Goodwin Technical High School they helped establish a spring maker training program and helped make it a site for the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute. The company donates money for books and trophies to the Stafford School, winter clothing for lower income families, money for golf fundraisers, and funds for scholarships.

Cavaliere Industries – Small Business Category
What began in 1955 with a single Oliver tractor equipped with a Pippin backhoe and a front loader bucket became one of the area’s most trusted contractors – milling and excavating projects such as the “Q” bridge in New Haven, Memorial Parkway in Cambridge, the Holland Tunnel in Manhattan, Logan Airport, and Foxboro Stadium.

Frank Cavaliere founded the small excavating business with his brother-in-law, Tony and younger brother Dominick. At that time, C&P Excavating Contractors specialized in digging additions, foundations, sewer/water lines, and even did work for local cemeteries. During the 1960’s the company diversified by purchasing real estate in Stamford and developing distinct responsibilities for the three owners and introducing 6 members of the second generation to the business during the summers. Eventually, all members of the second generation would gain experience by working outside the family business for a few years before joining the family firm full time.

In 1991 Dominick consolidated the company and became the sole owner. Dominick’s two sons, DJ and Lou, worked by his side and continued to expand the business to include road milling work. The increase in services now made a name change appropriate, and C&P Excavating became Cavaliere Industries in 1996.

When Dominick retired in 2004, he left the business to his two sons, but developed succession agreement between shareholders. The succession was successful due in part to the family’s commitment to good communication between owners, employees and customers. Dominick’s daughter, Maria, joined the business in 1993 and now runs the entire front office, Human Resource initiatives,and manages all contracts.

In 2004, Cavaliere Industries moved into a new state-of-the-art office and repair facility in Stamford, and added a new mini-excavator, topsoil screen asphalt paver to meet customer requests for expanded services. In 2007, they introduced the Cavalier Onsite Recycling service which crushes and recycles rock, concrete, asphalt, block and brick into a usable product. They are now a factory authorized dealer for Rubble Master Products.

Their presence in the community is pervasive. Lou is not only available during business hours but has a business line that rings at his home. Their commitment does not end with the customers, it extends to the community. They contribute countless hours to youth sports, animal shelters and school programs. They dedicate time and company equipment for community projects and even offer their equipment to be used in holiday parades or parades honoring returning troops.

Finalists

ProMold Plastics – Large Business Category
Riccardo Puglielli emigrated to the United States from Italy in 1959 with a dream to “make it” in the land of opportunity. A skilled machinist who believed that the recipe to success was working harder than competitors, Riccardo founded ProMold Plastics in 1967 as a one-man Tool & Die Shop that focused on innovation and strong customer service.

The company entered into the mold making business in 1976 where they found a new market and opportunities for growth. In 1990, Riccardo’s son Rick joined the firm after working for several years as an engineer at different firms throughout the Northeast. With Rick’s background, ProMold grew to become a full service company offering in house operations for Engineering and Design, Mold Making, Injection Molding and Secondary Operations. They are ISO 9001:2000 certified and a UL Recognized molder serving the medical, electronic and industrial market place. Recently, ProMold Plastics purchased a larger 43,000 square foot facility in Portland, which will allow for more capacity and office space.

ProMold Plastics has recently invested in technology that allows them to monitor pressure in the mold cavity to catch any inconsistencies. The eDART systemTM has allowed them to continue to improve upon its existing Quality Assurance Program – and they are having outstanding results. Rework has decreased from 3800 hours annually to 90 hours, and scrap rates have been reduced by over 70%. The eDART system ensures that all suspect parts are diverted to a separate area for further inspection – ensuring that no bad parts are ever shipped to the end user.

Rick, his sister Lorella, and their management team have made it a central initiative to provide significant training in leadership, management and continuous improvement to all employees. All members of the management team has completed a 12-week Dale Carnegie class, and have also participated in executive coaching and leadership courses. In fact, the team environment is so pervasive that when a manager encounters an issue, they can page a “5-minute huddle” on the intercom and every manager must stop what they are doing to help out. This not only eliminates placing blame on others but is an effective means of breaking down barriers across divisions.

In 1999, Riccardo officially retired, and Rick was honored as one of the top 40 business leaders under the age of 40 by the Hartford Business Journal, an honor that Rick shares with his employees by sponsoring employees’ charitable activities in the community. Recently, over 20 ProMold employees participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life – earning them the distinction of having “Best Team Spirit”.

Teddy's Transportation System, Inc. – Medium Business Category
In the 1970’s Ted and Shelly Wisniewski recognized a need for a quality executive limousine service in Fairfield County. In 1978, the Wisniewskis mortgaged their house and along with their children (Charlie, Linda and Teddy III) purchased Teddy’s Taxi, a Westport taxi and car rental franchise.

Thirty years later, Teddy’s Transportation System is a recognized leader in full-service corporate ground transportation. They are one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated services in the tri-state area. Their fleet consists of over 30 sedans, SUVs, limousines and executive vans. They employ technology that tracks flights through a direct connection to the FAA’s radar grid; communicates clients’ preferences and directions the chauffeur’s trip ticket; and can make arrangements for clients in more than 500 destinations throughout the world.

Teddy passed on in 1995, but developed a strong foundation for the company, which is now managed by his family. Shelly oversees all billing and client record maintenance. Charlie serves as President and CEO and is responsible for the company’s strategic planning an vision, marketing and client service programs. Linda serves as CFO and is responsible for all banking, trade and employee relations, and Ted III manages the client call center. As a testament to their capabilities, Teddy’s Transportation System was named to the Inc. Magazine list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the United States in August of 2007. Since 2003 the company has grown at nearly 43% and the company now has almost 50 employees in customer service, administration, and on-road operations.

The Wisniewski’s have been deeply involved in their industry and community. More than 20 years ago, the senior Ted and son Charlie founded and directed the industry trade group ‘Limousine Operators of Connecticut’ (LOC) - now a part of the New England Livery Association. They also held seats on the executive board of the National Limousine Association and in 1993, Charlie was elected their youngest president at age 31. Ted was also recognized as one of the “Ten Most Influential People” in the limousine business by Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation magazine, which was facilitated by Ted’s orchestration of a 1988 “sting” of all unauthorized and unlicensed limousine services – an investigation that the Connecticut Department of Transportation has been conducting ever since.

They are active in local charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as both financial supporters and volunteers, and sponsor after-school programs and special events in Norwalk and throughout Fairfield County.

BGR Radiator – Small Business Category

Brooklyn General Repair was founded in 1966 by Frank and Alice Davis as a general repair shop for vehicles and equipment owned by local farmers, construction companies, and businesses. Their son, Michael, joined the firm in 1976 after graduating from high school and radiator repair training. He expanded the business’s services to include welding, soldering, and radiator recoring, as well as grew the customer base to include truck, commercial vehicle work, and off-road equipment repair. Michael’s wife, Mary Jane, joined the firm in 1991, learning office functions and bookkeeping from Alice. The 90’s were a period of growth as Michael and Mary Jane took on larger industrial customers and focused on converting from a general repair facility to a radiator shop. In fact, BGR Radiator found a niche in on-site radiator repair at end-user’s facilities.

In 1998, Michael hired Ed Dymek to help with outside sales to manage the firm’s growing accounts in Southern New England. However, on March 8, 2001, while traveling to an onsite radiator repair, Michael met an untimely death at the age of 42 in a traffic accident. Mary Jane was left with 2 young sons, aged 5 and 10, and a business that looked to her for leadership. As Mary Jane struggled to pick up the pieces, she relied heavily on the expertise of her employees. She hired Ed Wagner as BGR Radiator’s General Manager, transitioned office operations to Nancy Blake, cross-trained employees, and underwent extensive product and service training which allowed her to pick up where Michael left off! Mary Jane’s territory was CT, RI, MA, NH and Long Island NY. In her first year of sales, particularly of Hy-Cap – her group won 3 of Hy-Cap’s top sales awards for Largest increase over 2002, Largest Percentage over 2003 Goal, and Top Radiator Purchases!

Mary Jane gained confidence and turned her focus to expanding their territory to New York City and Northern New Jersey. Her management team professionalized their internal processes, leveraged technology to improve accounting/operations efficiency, developed a website, and hired Connstep to help them develop lean processes in their new 7200 square foot Plainfield facility, which opened in July 2007.

Mary Jane, Ed Dymek and Ed Wagner’s team focus has paid off. Today, inquiries come from as far away as the Bahamas and Saudi Arabia. This past spring, the company put a remote radiator unit on top of the tattered Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. They are also working on product innovations while continuing to support their community giving over $20,000 in scholarships in Michael’s Memory to Killingly High School students pursuing engineering in college. BGR Radiator also contributes to many local organizations including the CT State Police, Mortlake Fire Department, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce.