First Place Winners

Wayside Furniture - Large Business Category
From its modest beginnings in 1928 in a 5,000 square foot highway roadhouse, Wayside furniture is arguably America's first wayside store. It has been cited by the Wall Street Journal as the originator of the concept of suburban highway shopping. Family management has continued the policy of founder J. Yale Rubin, namely, to look at the business from the customer's point of view - and this has been largely responsible for the company's success. At the top of the company's organization chart is "the customer." While overall corporate responsibilities lie within the second generation, divisional responsibilities have been passed to the third generation. Weekly family meetings review objectives, strategies, and tactics, and decisions are made by consensus. The company has repurchased the stock of non-operating family members but has made each a joint owner in the real estate leased by the company at most of its locations. Family members are heavily involved in the communities in which they live and serve on the boards of charitable institutions. The company is immensely philanthropic.

Simscroft-Echo Farms, Inc. - Medium Business Category
Simscroft-Echo Farms was founded by Lionel Girard in 1941 as a dairy farm in Simsbury. After deciding to develop the 150-acre farm into a residential sub-division, Lionel built the sub-division roads and spawned a construction company, which expanded into site excavation, road, and utility construction. Through the years, the company grew markedly, adding two solid waste management operations and a gravel pit operation. After exiting the waste management industry, the company focused on commercial and industrial construction as well as public utility and road construction work for municipalities and the State of Connecticut. Family members are instilled with the philosophy of working together toward common goals. There is a strong work ethic originating from early dairy farm living. Simscroft promotes the Merit Shop philosophy and encourages all employees to advance in his or her career at their chosen pace. Compensation and position are reflected by the individual's efforts, production, quality, and level of responsibility accepted. Family members actively participate in both industry and civic leadership and the company financially supports numerous organizations.

Kitchens by Deane - Small Business Category
Peter M. Deane, Sr. founded this very successful, high-end, residential kitchen design firm with a philosophy to "give the customer more than you promised." Deane emphasized customer satisfaction through quality design and service. With his untimely death in 1991, Peter's wife Ingrid and daughter Carrie became active in the business until they could find a CEO to help them ensure the company's survival during the most difficult time. Soon after the hiring of the new non-family CEO, Ingrid assumed the role of Chairman of the Board and Carrie took a leave of absence to earn her MBA. During the same period, Peter Jr. finished his undergraduate education. Carrie and Peter Jr. rejoined the firm, Carrie with her MBA and Peter, after a year working for and gaining experience at the manufacturing facility of the company's largest supplier. Both Carrie and Peter are learning all aspects of the business under the mentoring of the non-family CEO and will one day soon fill their father's shoes in leading the family business. Kitchens by Deane is actively involved in supporting numerous community programs.

First Runners-Up

LaBonne's Epicure Markets - Large Business Category
LaBonne's Epicure Markets was founded in 1962 and has grown from a small meat market to a chain of upscale independent supermarkets. Today, the company employs 255 people and is run by the second generation. LaBonne's growth has been achieved through hard work and dedication from both family and non-family members. Management listens to suggestions of employees as well as customers to constantly improve the operations. The company's philosophy is to offer the highest quality products available, served by friendly, knowledgeable people. Family involvement plays a big role and family members are trained in the many facets of the business to better serve the company's needs. LaBonne's shows a deep commitment to the communities in which the stores are located. The commitment is implemented with a "never say no" policy that supports charitable donations and sponsored events that benefit several Connecticut communities.

Connecticut Lighting Center - Medium Business Category
Connecticut Lighting Center was founded in 1970, dedicated to serving the residential lighting market. The company was a major force in innovative showroom displays with lighting specialists available to assist with consumer needs. Family security and well-being are very important to the Director family. They treat their employees like family as evidenced by their comprehensive benefit package and caring attitude. This philosophy has resulted in low workforce turnover and their employees' high commitment to excellent service and customer satisfaction. Careful planning, low overhead, and hands-on supervision have made the business both a marketing and financial success despite the continued downdraft in the retail lighting market. At a time when other residential lighting stores and showrooms are closing, Connecticut Lighting Center is thriving. Family members are involved actively in a variety of civic, non-profit, and religious organizations.

Wolff-Zackin & Associates, Inc. - Small Business Category
Founded in 1954, Wolff-Zackin & Associates is a multiple lines insurance business with specialties in personal and corporate life insurance, personal and commercial property and casualty insurance, and profit sharing plans. The company promotes a "service beyond the contract" policy. The Wolff family name is known as one of the top group of agents in the life insurance industry. Thomas Wolff designed two innovative insurance selling systems, Capital Need Analysis and Financial Need Analysis, which are used by over 100 life insurance companies nationwide. Wolff-Zackin provides training to its employees to keep them abreast of any new developments in the insurance industry. Family members are very involved in the communities where they live, the industry of which they are a part, and are immensely philanthropic.

Finalists

Tri Town Foods, Inc. - Large Business Category
Tri Town Foods was founded twenty-six years ago by Edward J. Sharr, Sr. and is an independent supermarket chain. It is the company's goal to improve the family's standard of living at each generational level through entrepreneurship, diligence, hard work and concentrated efforts. Tri Town takes great pride in the product and services that it offers and the Sharr family takes an active part in the operations. From twenty-five employees to nearly 200 today, Tri=Town has always maintained a family atmosphere. Employees work together but also play together at company outings and picnics. The company is currently managed by the second generation and promotes education of its workers. Family members are very active in their community and contribute to numerous public and private organizations with food donations and innovative programs of financial support.

Intergrated Industrial Systems - Large Business Category
Intergrated Industrial Systems was incorporated in 1974, with minimal finances and four employees who worked out of the basement of Robert Herbst's home. Today, the company employs nearly 200 workers and has customers all over the world. Intergrated Industrial Systems manufactures and sells rolling mill machinery and controls. When confronted with a constraint or bottleneck in completing product deadlines, it has actively sought out equipment, people, and technology and brought them in-house under the company's control. Intergrated Industrial Systems rewards honesty and hard work with more responsibility, good pay and a clean and comfortable working environment. It fosters cross-training of employees in order to create a more flexible workforce. This family business is known as the most active designer, builder, manufacturer, servicer and installer of steel mill machinery in the United States.

Diversified Technologies Corporation - Medium Business Category
Diversified Technologies Corporation is a consulting engineering firm founded in 1979 specializing in environmental engineering, bridge, highway and building design, hazardous waste studies, electrical and mechanical engineering, urban planning, and related products. DTC is committed to providing a working environment which fosters individual development, and encourages flexibility and creativity. The Atluru family believes that every person, given the opportunity and resources, can achieve the highest levels of accomplishment. Outstanding ideals and ethics from India and America form a strong bond among the generations. They measure success by client satisfaction and repeat business. The company engages in pro bono work for urban groups and is involved in a variety of charitable organizations and urban youth programs.



The Lyman Farm, Inc. - Medium Business Category
Founded in 1741, and after eight generations of family management, Lyman Farms stays true to its mission: "to remain a family-owned business enterprise dedicated to exceeding customer expectation in the products and services we provide, and to train and focus all of our associates to this end." The Lyman family is determined to be a successful steward of a unique piece of real estate which produces tree fruits and other vegetables and houses two 18-hole championship golf courses. The company's leadership philosophy is old fashioned customer satisfaction and employees are encouraged to met customer needs or complaints immediately without referral to higher authority. Employees are encouraged with an incentive bonus plan in addition to a comprehensive benefits plan. The work environment is informal and comfortable, but with the expectation that each person will contribute to the highest level of his or her ability. Records that summarize the involvement of family members in their community and associated industries go back over 100 years.

The O.L. Willard Co., Inc. - Small Business Category
The O.L. Willard Company, founded in the early 1920's by Oliver L. Willard, is a retail building material and hardware operation, selling quality products and providing advice and counsel to its customers. The company's motto is "to treat the customer the way we would want to be treated." Employees are seen as an extension of the family and have a great deal of participation in the decision-making process. Willard's attempts to satisfy the community's quality of life with convenient locations and quality personal service. Family members are involved in various community service positions in the Mansfield area.


Nutmeg Broadcasting Company - Small Business Category
Herbert Colin Rice founded Nutmeg Broadcasting in 1959 with the purchase of WILI-AM. The goal of the firm is to "serve the community well and make the company an enjoyable yet competitive place to work." Over the past thirty-five years, Nutmeg has operated four radio stations and one cable advertising division. As the family and business grew, broadcast stations were spun-off so second generation families could also participate in ownership. Nutmeg has a very active involvement in the community and, among many other activities, donates public service broadcast time to many local groups and charities.