Massachusetts Only Statewide Independent Family Business Awards Slated for October 2009. The Family Business Association will host the annual event to honor the success of multi-generational family businesses.

Boston, MA… The Family Business Association, Inc. (FBA), a non-profit created to honor the achievements of family businesses in Massachusetts, is proud to announce its annual statewide awards program will take place on October 15, 2009 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.  As the only independent and statewide awards program to highlight family businesses in Massachusetts, the 2009 Massachusetts Family Business Awards will recognize excellence in and celebrate the success of family businesses.  The 2009 Massachusetts Family Business Awards will honor five finalists in three categories based on size, as well as one company excelling in community involvement and one that has successfully overcome a recent adverse situation.
Any multi-generational, family owned business based in Massachusetts that has transitioned from one generation of ownership to another and whose business practices have had a positive impact on business and the community is eligible. All applications are confidential and will be judged independently by a panel of academic, business and philanthropic experts.  Previous award winners include some of the state’s most recognizable family businesses, including New England Coffee, Bernie & Phyl’s and the Zildjian Cymbal Company.  To apply for the awards or nominate a company, please visit www.massfamilybusiness.com.
“Owning and operating a family business takes determination and persistence,” said Ed Tarlow, FBA board member. “It also means being willing to take risks and take on a unique set of personal and professional challenges that non-family businesses do not face.  This awards program is the ideal forum to celebrate their achievements.”
“Not many people realize that family businesses power Massachusetts’ economic engine and are the backbone of the United States economy,” added Jeffrey S. Davis, FBA board member.  “The goal of the awards program is to outline how local family businesses succeeded, help area businesses continue to be the basis of our economy, and develop and share creative ideas, services and expertise to family-owned and operated business.”
In previous years, the awards program was hosted by local TV celebrities like Liz Brunner (WCVB) and David Wade (WBZ), and the lineup of speakers read like a “Who’s Who” in the state’s business community. Past speakers included Roger Berkowitz of Legal Seafoods, former Massachusetts Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Grossman and Phyllis Goodwin of Granite City Electric. “This year’s event should continue that tradition,” said Brian Nagle, FBA board member. “We are already receiving applications and have a strong lineup of corporate sponsors and supporters to help ensure 2009’s event is spectacular.”
“The outreach and support from the communities and family businesses throughout Massachusetts has been outstanding,” added Al DeNapoli, fellow FBA board member. Among the sponsors for this year’s event are BNY Mellon, Gray, Gray & Gray, Mage, LLC, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and Tarlow, Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. as gold sponsors.  Caturano & Company is a silver sponsor and Bessemer Trust, Clarke, Snow & Riley, LLP, Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, Boston Private Bank, Bernstein Global Wealth Management and Wolf & Company are bronze sponsors.  The Boston Business Journal is our media sponsor and Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School is an academic sponsor.
About FBA, Inc.
The Family Business Association, Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization designed to promote family businesses and family business achievements in Massachusetts. Its goal is to promote the development of creative ideas, services, products and expertise to family-owned businesses. The annual awards program honors excellence in business management, growth, community service and business transition within family businesses. For more information, please visit www.massfamilybusiness.com.