FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 22, 2008 CONTACT Catherine Pratt, PLU School of Business (253) 535 7250 or prattca@plu.edu FAMILY BUSINESS FORUM & BEST IN THE NORTHWEST AWARDS Winners of the 2008 Washington Family Business Awards will be named following a forum for family business leaders, owners and advisors on Friday, November 14, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront hotel. Presented by the Family Enterprise Institute at PLU, the event is open to the pubic. The forum, Being Competitive in Tough Times, will include a keynote address by Teresa Russell, Chairperson of West Coast Paper, a third generation family business. A panel discussion will feature Northwest family business leaders including Tomoko Moriguchi Matsuno, CEO of Uwayjimaya, and Steve Loeb, CEO of Alaska Distributors, Inc. Douglas McKenna, an executive coach and leadership training consultant, will present an interactive discussion on how to lead family firms. The forum will be followed by a presentation of the finalists and the announcement of the winners of the 15 th Annual Best in the Northwest Family Business Awards. This year s finalists fall into three categories: Small Business (fewer than 50 employees), Medium Business (50 to 250 employees), and Heritage Business (more than 50 years). Firms are judged on their innovative business strategies and practices, performance, family and business links, contributions to community and industry, multi generation family business involvement, and longevity. The cost is $70 per person, which includes the speaker presentations, discussions, and lunch. The registration deadline is Nov. 11, with limited late registration available until the 14th. To register or learn more, contact PLU at (253) 535 7250 or prattca@plu.edu. In addition to PLU, cosponsors of this year s event are KeyBank, Laird Norton Tyee, MCM, and the Puget Sound Business Journal. The PLU Family Enterprise Institute offers educational programs, technical advisory services and policy analysis, as well as advocacy for family enterprise within the Pacific Northwest. It is an acknowledged leader in the family business arena. Attached: Award finalists listed by category, company profiles PLU
Best in the Northwest 2008 Washington Family Business of the Year Finalists List by Category Small Business (Under 50 Employees) Bob Bandy and Son, Wilbur Coffee Fest, Bellevue Hunnex and Shoemaker, Inc., Seattle Prestige Custom Builders, Seattle Roman Meal Company, Tacoma Star Moving Systems, Tacoma Vernon & Associates Court Reporters, Tacoma Medium Business (50 250 Employees) Ferrill s Auto Parts, Inc. dba Pull A Part, Arlington Medosweet Farms, Inc., Kent Northwest Door, Inc., Tacoma Heritage Business (50 Years or More) Bob Bandy and Son, Wilbur Roman Meal Company, Tacoma Star Moving Systems, Tacoma Note that firms may be finalists in more than one category.
Best in the Northwest 2008 Washington Family Business of the Year Finalists Company Profiles Bob Bandy & Son Wilbur, WA Bob Bandy and Son, a family owned farming partnership located two miles northwest of Wilbur, was originally started when Robert H. Bandy and his family left North Carolina in 1888 and moved to Lincoln County. The family and business has existed two miles northwest of Wilbur during the entire history of Washington as a state. In each of the six generations since the establishment of the farm, there has been at least one Robert Bandy, each with a different middle name. The farm is currently run and managed by the fourth and fifth generations Robert Wells Bandy and Robert Clark Bandy. Innovation, conservation, and family have always been important to the Bandy s, who believe in the importance of the environment and consider themselves to be stewards of the land, preserving it for future generations. Contact: Robert W. Bandy Coffee Fest Bellevue, WA Coffee Fest is a specialty coffee trade show dedicated to bolstering the businesses of retailers and roasters around the country. Run by a husband and wife team, David and Marni Heilbrunn, Coffee Fest started in 1992 as an offshoot of Marni's father's Lifestyles, Inc. festival management company. Today, the bustling company hosts three domestic shows around the country annually and expands to the international market this year with Coffee Fest Hong Kong. Coffee Fest is looked to as the 'go to show' in the specialty coffee industry for those interested in attaining a solid business education and making enduring business connections. Contact: Kathleen Finn Ferrill's Auto Parts, Inc. dba Pull A Part Arlington, WA What began as Ferrill's Auto Wrecking in May 1954 as a small repair shop in Lynnwood has become the largest self service auto recycling company in Western Washington. Ferrill's Auto Parts, Inc. is now called Pull A Part. The company has three facilities serving Western Washington. Truly a family business, the third generation of the Ferrill family is involved in managing the company and serving on the company's Board of Directors. Even families of employees have continued to work at Pull A Part. Our managers and owners participate in supporting our local communities. Membership in the local Rotary Clubs, Chamber of Commerce, the Community College Foundation, and other organizations is our way of giving back to those who have helped us succeed. Our mission is to run an environmentally sound business supplying automotive products while helping our employees achieve their goals and actively supporting our community. Contact: Bruce Thomson and Mindy Ferrill Hunnex and Shoemaker, Inc. Seattle, WA Hunnex and Shoemaker, Inc. is a provider of actuarial and pension consulting and plan administration. Founded in 1977 by Jim and Joyce Hunnex, and recently joined by their sons Tyler and Josh, Hunnex and
Shoemaker, Inc. provides custom retirement plans and comprehensive personal service. Hunnex and Shoemaker, Inc. helps companies plan for their employees' futures. A retirement plan is a promise to yourself and to your employees that you are taking responsibility for the future. We have helped clients honor that promise for over three decades. Contact: Josh Hunnex Medosweet Farms Kent, WA Medosweet Farms, originally "C&F Distributors," was founded in 1975 as a small, local, home milk delivery business. Today, Medosweet is a 40 million dollar plus annual enterprise focused on delivering the finest, locally sourced dairy products to wholesale and retail customers throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Medosweet Farms vision statement affirms the goals and values that we embrace as a company: "Medosweet Farms is the Pacific Northwest's premier provider of dairy and specialty food distribution services. We offer our customers a unique, competitive advantage through our refrigerated and frozen storage, leasing, and food management programs; while honoring our founders' core values of recognizing employees, customers, community, and faith in the conduct of our business." Contact: Eric Flintoff Northwest Door Tacoma, WA Northwest Door is the largest family owned manufacturer of garage doors in the Western United States. The Northwest Door team is comprised of 231 employees who are committed to offering quality products, industry leading customer service, honesty, and integrity. The trust, commitment, and dedication to the growth of the company and the level of integrity we operate under are common goals we work toward as a family and as a business. Northwest Door has enjoyed three generations of DeWitt family leadership: Paul DeWitt (1966 1985); Steve DeWitt (CEO); and Scott DeWitt (VP Manufacturing). The sense of family underlies the culture of the company, and we believe this affects us personally and professionally in a positive way. Contact: Steve DeWitt
Prestige Custom Builders, Inc. Seattle, WA Prestige Custom Builders, Inc., established in 1981, serves the greater Seattle area with exceptional customer service in residential construction and construction process management. Customers hire Prestige for their expertise in detailed architectural work and customized systems to achieve an enhanced lifestyle. The company culture is customer centric striving for client delight. They deliver this through production systems functioning with integrity, quality, value, and attention to detail. The company "Purpose" is to assist clients through the construction process as elegantly as possible. The "Vision" is professionalism and efficiency. The "Mission" is to provide service minimizing customer stress and inconvenience while maximizing employee satisfaction. Prestige employees take great pride in their workmanship and management skills. Jeff Santerre (founder), along with his wife Teresa, his brother David, and his son Chris Brooks, practice and coach all employees on the company's philosophy. They are also committed to their community through involvement and contributions, while passionate about preserving the environment with eco friendly and sustainable building practices. Contact: Teresa Santerre Roman Meal Company Tacoma, WA The Matthaei family is Roman Meal. Five generations of Matthaei's have led the Roman Meal Company, which is one of the few remaining independent, family owned baking companies in the country. Roman Meal is also one of the oldest brands still remaining in the baking industry. The family s involvement with baking dates back to 1686 with a Matthaei baker in Marburg, Germany. Roman Meal, one of the first whole grain breads in the US, has long been a trend setter in creating natural whole grain products, which now include a wide variety of whole grain breads, cereals, snack bars, and refrigerated biscuits. Charles Matthaei, Chairman of Roman Meal, was recently named to the Hall of Fame of the American Society of Baking. The Matthaei family is widely known and respected in the baking industry and in the greater Tacoma community for their long term involvement in a wide variety of programs. Three generations of Matthaei's are currently involved in the family owned business. Contact: Bill Matthaei Star Moving Systems Tacoma, WA Daniel Peterson became a part owner and founder of AA Star Transfer in Aberdeen. In about 1930, AA Star purchased Commercial Trucking in Tacoma and Daniel Peterson eventually became the owner of the Tacoma company. The ownership followed to Ray and Alice Powell. Ray Powell was a leader in containerization. Back in the 1950's, he could see the advantages of using containers for storing and moving household goods. The company was a pioneer in using containers and remains a leader today. Our family values have always been shown in our business. Ray Powell believed in putting the customer first. He also believed in honesty, integrity, and treating his employees the way he would like to be treated. Alice Powell had the same values and made sure the office staff understood those values. She recognized fellow employees on special occasions and made them feel appreciated. Those same values have continued with awards and recognition programs for our employees for outstanding customer service. Dan Powell is the third generation of the family to lead Star. Greg Powell is in a succession plan to become the fourth generation to lead Star. Contact: Dan and Greg Powell
Vernon & Associates Court Reporters Tacoma, WA Vernon & Associates Court Reporters has been Washington State's most trusted court reporting firm since 1980. Founded by the husband and wife team of Earl and Catherine Vernon, the firm has been joined by their children, Adrienne Vernon and Jeff Vernon. Providing over 28 years of exceptional court reporting, transcription, and litigation support services to the legal community has been a reflection of their dedication to quality and commitment to excellence. As a multi generational firm, Vernon & Associates recognizes the importance of conserving and maintaining the environment for future generations. They are proud to be Washington's first "green" court reporting firm. Contact: Adrienne Vernon