Feting family businesses
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| Family Business Center Executive Director Andrew D. Keyt (left) congratulates Giancarlo Turano (BBA ’75) and John Baird, winners of Illinois Family Business of the Year Awards. |
Award winners reflect the role of the FBC, established in 1990 to help increase the number of family-owned businesses that are passed on to a second generation.
Through educational seminars, peer-group workshops, and one-on-one coaching from fellow business owners, Family Business Center members learn how to keep their family businesses running smoothly.
“Family businesses are an integral part of the community,” says Andrew D. Keyt, executive director of the center. “By strengthening family businesses, you contribute to the long-term prosperity
of the community.”
This philosophy is reflected by the 2006 winners of the Illinois Family Business of the Year Awards:
- Gold Eagle, a Chicago-based maker of engine performance chemicals, including HEET gas line anti-freeze, received the Community Service Award for its numerous volunteer and charitable endeavors. The 75-year-old company, now operated by the third generation of the Hirsch family, has contributed more than $3 million and untold volunteer time to medical research and educational programs.
- Nielsen-Massey Vanillas captured the Family Business of the Year award for companies with fewer than 50 employees. The Waukegan-based maker of pure vanilla and other flavor extracts, has been in business since 1907 and is now operated by the third generation of the Nielsen family.
- Clarke Mosquito Control won the Family Business of the Year award for companies with 50-250 employees. The Roselle-based company, founded in 1946 and now operated by the third generation of the Clarke family, is regarded as a leader in providing service, equipment, education, and products to combat mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.
- Turano Baking Co. won the Family Business of the Year award for companies with more than 250 employees. Started in 1962 by Mariano Turano as a small neighborhood bakery in Berwyn, IL, the company is now operated by his three sons and delivers bread products to more than 10,000 customers daily within a 100-mile radius of Chicago.
- Baird & Warner received the Century Award, given to a company with more than 100 years of service. The 151-year-old real estate brokerage firm has been owned and operated by five generations of the Baird family, and received the Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2004.
The winners exemplify the values we believe a family business should portray,” Keyt says.
Dec. 7, the day of the 2006 FBC award ceremony, was pronounced Illinois Family Business of the Year Day by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.