June 13, 2013: WESTON, MA.
Winners of the 2013 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award program were recently announced by the Northeastern University Center for Family Business at a celebration event at the Henderson House, Weston, MA. The event was held on June 5th, 2013, Patrick had declared by Proclamation to be Massachusetts’ Family Business Day.
The winners were Piesco Sporting Goods of Easton in the small sized business category, Gardel of Medford in the medium sized business category, and R.H. White Companies of Auburn in the large category. Honorable mention went to Tilly & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm of Natick. Additionally, the inaugural Family Business Innovation Award was presented to Shields Health Care Group of Quincy. Peter Howe, Business Editor at NECN, served as the emcee for the evening.
Ted Clark, director of the Northeastern University Center for Family Business, noted, “The family businesses representing this year’s finalists as a group have been in business for a combined total 740 years, with an average age of 41 years old. This is extraordinarily impressive when you consider that the average life span of a Fortune 500 company is 30 years. These businesses represent the purpose and dedication found in Family Businesses and it is for this reason that they play such a significant role in the community and to the economy.”
The Northeastern University Center for Family Business annually presents family businesses, based on size, with recognition as Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards. Recipients of the Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards are selected by a panel of independent judges based on the following criteria: business success, positive business and family linkages, multi-generational family involvement, contributions to the community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies. Generational achievement certificates were given to all Family Business companies in attendance.