FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Steve Christensen
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Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center
Unveils 2009 Family Business of the Year Award Winners
Awardees to be Honored at December 2 Gala in Chicago
CHICAGO, October 27, 2009 – Loyola University Chicago’s Family Business Center is pleased to announce the winners of its 16th annual Illinois Family Business of the Year Awards. This award program recognizes exceptional Illinois-based family businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to business development, family, and the greater-Illinois community. An awards gala honoring the winners and finalists, as well as the tradition, dedication, and success of the family enterprise, will be co-hosted by Harris N.A., and will take place on Wednesday, December 2, at 6:30 p.m., at The Four Seasons Hotel–Chicago.
The 2009 Illinois Family Business of the Year Awardees include:
- Small Family Business of the Year: Wisdom Adhesives
- Medium Family Business of the Year: Stenstrom Companies Ltd.
- Large Family Business of the Year: Rex Electric & Technologies LLC
- Community Service Award: Packer Engineering Inc.
- Century Award: Sloan Valve Co.
This year’s awards drew nearly 250 nominations in five categories: small (companies with fewer than 50 employees), medium (50 to 250), large (more than 250), community service, and the century award. Winners of the awards have demonstrated positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, contributions to industry and community, and innovative business practices and strategies.
“Time and again, the family business model has proven to be a successful force in the American economy, because it places people at its heart,” said Andrew Keyt, executive director of Loyola’s Family Business Center. “The awards honor those who uphold this special legacy.”
Past award winners include Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Clarke Mosquito Control, Turano Baking Company, Gold Eagle Co., Baird & Warner, Windmer Interiors, Peter Troost Monument Co., Raynor Garage Doors, Glunz Family Enterprises, Skender Construction Co., and many more.
For more information on the awards and to purchase tickets for the upcoming gala, please visit LUC.edu/fbc/fboy.shtml.
About Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center
Since 1990, the Loyola Family Business Center (FBC) has been dedicated to strengthening multi-generational family businesses of varying sizes, industries, and complexities. Through research, education, and networking, the center provides a unique community where family business owners can find support, education, and guidance on the complex challenges they face. The center’s innovative programs provide members the opportunity to share knowledge and cultivate synergies with one another to push the frontier of family enterprise to new levels. For more information, visit LUC.edu/fbc.
About Loyola University Chicago
Committed to preparing people to lead extraordinary lives, Loyola University Chicago was founded in 1870 and is the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic university. Loyola has a total enrollment of more than 15,800 students, which includes more than 10,000 undergraduates hailing from all 50 states and 82 foreign countries. The University has four campuses: three in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy. Loyola also serves as the U.S. host university to the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies in Beijing, China. Loyola's ten schools and colleges include arts and sciences, business administration, communication, education, graduate studies, law, medicine, nursing, continuing and professional studies, and social work. Loyola offers 71 undergraduate majors, 71 undergraduate minors, 85 master's degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees. Recognizing Loyola's excellence in education, U.S.News & World Report has ranked Loyola consistently among the "top national universities," and named the University a "best value" in its 2009 rankings. For more information, please visit LUC.edu.
-Loyola-
Editor’s Note: Please see below for a description of winners, along with a full list of finalists.
Small Family Business of the Year Winner: Wisdom Adhesives
Wisdom is a successful fifth generation family business. They have seen substantial sales growth over the past three years, experiencing more than 25 percent growth in that time. During the same timeframe, the company’s size doubled, which is a tremendous accomplishment considering that industry growth over that same period was 3-4 percent. Their success was not just limited to the United States, as the company also saw significant growth in Canada and 13 countries in Asia and Europe.
Finalists:
Batavia Enterprises Inc.
Guy Viti Insurance Agency and Viti Financial
Russell Martin Carpets & Floors
Medium Family Business of the Year Winner: Stenstrom Companies Ltd.
Stenstrom has seen a 45 percent revenue growth over the past five years and a 56 percent growth in the past decade. They have extended their business horizontally and created a family of businesses that include contracting and design services, real estate development, petroleum services, excavation services, plumbing, heating, and pest control. All of these companies have an unparalleled commitment to their customer. They strive for higher quality operations by employing more engineers than their competitors and they embrace cutting-edge technologies to better serve their customers. They also provide all employees the opportunity for professional and educational growth.
Finalists:
Louis Glunz Beer Inc.
Packer Engineering Inc.
Large Family Business of the Year Winner: Rex Electric & Technologies LLC
Rex Electric & Technologies is a nearly 90-year-old, family-run company that has evolved into one of the leading commercial, industrial, and institutional electric contractors in Chicago. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has led to substantial growth over the past five years with sales growth of 68 percent from 2004-2008. Rex considers all of its more than 400 employees part of the family, noting that many of their technicians spend their entire career at Rex.
Finalists:
Central States Trucking Co.
Reebie Storage & Moving
Community Service Award Winner: Packer Engineering Inc.
For more than 45 years, Packer Engineering has dedicated its support to professional development in science and engineering in the western suburbs of Chicago as a leading supporter of the East-West Corporate Corridor within Illinois. Packer is also committed to furthering science and technology studies for students through the Packer Education Foundation, a group providing practical application training in science and engineering to teachers in Naperville and Aurora.
Finalists:
Russell Martin Carpets & Floors
Schiller Real Estate Inc.
Century Award Winner: Sloan Valve Co.
Started by William Elvis Sloan in 1906, this company has been a model for family businesses for four generations. Sloan has proved to be a leader in innovative technologies, with millions of flush valves sold worldwide. Sloan also focuses on innovations in electronic sensor technology and cutting-edge ordering capabilities. Moreover, Sloan Valve also places a special emphasis on client satisfaction, offering seminars and training classes at each one of its distribution centers.
This year’s awards program is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors: Diamond Sponsor: Harris, N.A.; Gold Sponsor: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLC; Silver Sponsors: Grant Thornton and Mass Mutual Pearre & Associates Ltd.; Bronze Sponsors: MB Financial, McDermott Will & Emery, and Lowry Hill; In-Kind Sponsor: Crain’s Chicago Business.