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www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 22, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 15 SPECIAL SECTION PGS. 16–38 Family business strength on display A ny notion that family businesses are a dy- ing breed in Connecticut runs counter to the response Hartford Business Journal's Family Business Awards received this year. Nearly 40 nominations were submitted for the annual com- petition, one of the best showings in the program's history. More important than the quantity of nominations was the quality. Some of Connecticut's most well-known and ac- complished family businesses were put up for the awards, including several whose histories date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The competition was fierce. Indeed, despite challenging headwinds, Connecticut remains home to a diverse array of family businesses, many of which are thriving by adding jobs and investing in their future. For the 2018 Connecticut Family Business Awards, we highlight some of the best family businesses in the state, from a wide range of industries. They include farms, bakeries, manufacturers, wealth and insurance advisors, technology companies and even brewer- ies. In the pages that follow, we highlight our top winners and finalists, including what sets them apart from the competi- tion, how they stay ahead in the marketplace and how they remain true to their founding principles in a modern world. For these companies, the key to long-term success is treat- ing everyone like family, including employees and customers. The Connecticut Family Business Awards honor compa- nies that had particularly strong successes over the last 12 months: completing expansions, growing in the market- place, fulfilling major projects and breaking new ground in the local and state business community. We'd like to thank our independent judges — Gail Lebert, Robin Ann Bienemann and Anthony Price — for helping select our winners, who were celebrated Oct. 17, at an event at Farmington Gardens. Please join Hartford Business Journal in congratulating this year's class, and remember we'll be back next year with a new crop of winners, so please nominate worthy companies. Greg Bordonaro | Editor 2018 JUDGES Robin Ann Bienemann is the entrepreneur in residence at the UConn schools of business and engineering. Gail Lebert is the director of partnership development of Klingberg Family Centers and former publisher of the Hartford Business Journal. Anthony Price is the founder and CEO of LootScout, which counsels small businesses how to raise capital. PRESENTING SPONSORS: Keynote Sponsor | A Co-Sponsorship Between: IN ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCED BY: CONTENTS 17 Martin Rosol's Inc. 19 The Lyman Farm Inc. (Lyman Orchards) 21 Carla's Pasta 23 Bongiovanni Insurance & Financial 24 Triax Technologies Inc. 25 Environmental Systems Corp. 27 Mortensen Dairy Ice Cream 28 Close to Home Sewing Centers & Connecticut Shade and Blind 29 Franklin Construction LLC 30 Motorlease Corp. 31 Willco Sales & Service Inc. 32 The Gilman Brothers Co. 33 International Cordage East (InCord) 34 Back East Brewing LLC 35 Russell and Dawson Inc. 37 The List: Family Business Awards Finalists 2018 PHOTO | DITTY_ABOUT_SUMMER, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM