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www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 28, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 23 SPECIAL SECTION PGS. 24–38 F amily businesses can be the most compli- cated companies to run. Not only do they have to deal with the typical challenges of operating a business — keeping customers and employees happy, maintaining product quality, paying the bills, etc. — but they also have to manage family relationships. Ensuring everyone gets along — even when dis- agreements arise, which they inevitably do — can be a daunting task. That's why family businesses that with- stand the test of time are so deserving of recognition. And that's the purpose of Hartford Business Journal's 2019 Con- necticut Family Business Awards, which highlight some of the best and most recognizable family owned companies in the state. Nearly 25 nominations were submitted for our annual competition this year from a wide range of industries. They include bakeries, manufacturers, car dealer- ships, construction firms and even breweries. In the pages that follow, we highlight our top winners and finalists, including what sets them apart from the competition, how they stay ahead in the marketplace and how they remain true to their founding prin- ciples in a modern world. For these companies, the key to long-term success is treating everyone like family, including employees and customers. The Connecticut Family Business Awards honor companies 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 com- munity. We'd like to thank our independent judges — Gail Lebert, Robin Ann Bienemann and Anthony Price — for helping select our winners, who we celebrated Oct. 24, at an event at Farmington Gardens. Please join Hartford Business Journal in congratu- lating this year's class, and remember we'll be back next year with a new crop of winners, so please nomi- nate worthy companies. Greg Bordonaro , Editor 2019 JUDGES Robin Ann Bienemann is the entrepreneur in residence at UConn's family business program. 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 SPONSOR: EVENT SPONSORS: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP SPONSOR: PRODUCED BY: CONTENTS 24 Santini Living 26 Albert Brothers Inc. 28 Connecticut Spring & Stamping Corp. 30 Platinum Prep Meals 31 Tile America Phoenix Manufacturing Inc. 32 Granny's Pie Factory National Graphics Inc. 33 Turbine Controls MRO 34 Zlotnick Construction Inc. 35 Saybrook Home Key Cars 36 Richards Machine Tool Company Inc. Baronet Coffee Inc. 38 Experts Corner Tips for creating a family business succession-planning strategy 2019 Connecticut Family Business Award finalists Recognizing the challenges of running a family business