Hartford Business Journal

30 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 28, 2021 Family Business Awards 2021 Family businesses survive coronavirus pandemic T he coronavirus pandemic has put strain on all Connecticut families, as they manage the stress of financial, social and mental and physical health hardships. But family businesses in particular have faced unique challenges over the past year as they have not only fought to keep their loved ones healthy, but also stay in business. As we now approach the tail end of the pandemic, those family businesses that have been able to survive the unprecedented challenges of the last year are deserving of recognition. And that's the purpose of Hartford Business Journal's 2021 Connecticut Family Business Awards, which highlight some of the best and most recognizable family-owned companies in the state. This year's class of winners was handpicked by Hartford Business Journal's staff. Our honorees include a car dealer, auto body shop, manufacturers and an aerospace supplier, among others. In the pages that follow, we highlight our top winners, including what sets them apart from the competition, 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 treating everyone like family, including employees and customers. Please join Hartford Business Journal in congratulating this year's class, which we will honor during a live event June 23, at Farmington Gardens in Farmington. And remember we'll be back next year with a new crop of winners, so please nominate worthy companies. Greg Bordonaro Editor MJP Wealth Advisors ImageWorks LLC F ounded in 1981, MJP Wealth Advisors is an independent financial services firm that provides comprehensive wealth management solutions and investment strategies to individuals, families and businesses. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Over the last year, MJP Wealth Advisors has continued to grow and help clients throughout the pandemic. Our company has been recognized nationally as a leading wealth management firm. In 2020 and 2021, MJP Wealth Advisors was named I mageWorks LLC is a family- run, full-service digital marketing company providing custom solutions to clients of all sizes in various industries across Connecticut and New England. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. We've been in business for 24 years and this year was the most unknown in the midst of a global health pandemic. During this time, we worked with our existing and Michele Vendig, Mort Potoff, and Brian Vendig enjoy the Travelers Championship; MJP Wealth Advisors is a corporate sponsor. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Industry: Digital Marketing Year Founded: 1997 Founders: Jeffrey & Rebecca Cohen Generation Running Company: First Full-Time Employees: 9 Part-Time Employees: 1 Family Members Employed at the Company: Jeffrey Cohen, CMO - Husband, Father; Rebecca Cohen, President and Office Manager - Wife, Mother; Jesse Cohen, Project Manager - Son, Brother; Nicole Cohen, Content and Design Specialist - Daughter, Sister Company Website: ImageWorksLLC.com past clients to make sure they had strategies to succeed. We were also named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States and continued on our projected growth trajectory. How has your company shifted its strategy during the pandemic? We shifted our focus immediately last March in working with our clients to help them survive the pandemic by offering various strategies, marketing tools and solutions. This revamp of our services led to more customized approaches that benefited clients in their ability to survive and grow. What are your family values? Our values are integrity, trust and reliability, and a sound moral compass. We know it sounds sappy, but we view all of our customers as a part of the ImageWorks family, and we continue to guide our mission based upon these values. We seek to build long-lasting, sustainable relationships. 1ST PLACE | CATEGORY: LESS THAN 25 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES 2ND PLACE | CATEGORY: LESS THAN 25 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES Industry: Wealth Management Year Founded: 1981 Founder: Mort Potoff Generation Running Company: Second Full-Time Employees: 14 Part-Time Employees: 3 Family Members Employed at Company: Mort Potoff, Founder; Brian Vendig, President – Son- in-law of Mort Potoff; Michele Vendig, Senior Vice President – Daughter of Mort Portoff and wife of Brian Vendig Company Website: www.mjpwealthadvisors.com to the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers list, Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking, and Financial Advisor's Top 50 Fastest-Growing Firms list. Our firm experienced overall asset growth of 39% year over year and our employee base increased by 20%. As industry experts, our advisors are frequently guest contributors for financial media outlets and featured in various news publications. How has your company shifted its strategy during the pandemic? We have continued to expand our advisory services to cover all aspects of a client's life cycle, which has helped many of our clients throughout the ongoing impact of the pandemic. By leveraging technology, we transitioned our office to a digital work environment and continued to offer our clients cloud-based applications and tools to stay connected with our firm and their financial objectives. The Garden Barn Nursery Inc. Vernon T he Garden Barn Nursery is a destination garden center that provides hand-selected/ tagged, locally and homegrown plant material. Tell us a bit about your recent Industry: Agricultural Year Founded: 1981 Founders: Dennis & Kathy Gliha Generation Running Company: Second Full-Time Employees: 11 Part-Time Employees: 35 Family Members Employed at Company: Dennis Gliha, Founder; Linda Tasko Gliha, Landscaping Department Manager – Dennis' current wife; Kathy Gliha, Founder, Manager of Main Office & Retail Operations; Kim Gliha Mullen, Owner & President, Manager of Retail Greenhouse Operations – Daughter of Dennis and Kathy; Ryan Mullen, Production Manager – Kim's husband; Shawn Gilha, Owner, Vice President, Nursery Manager & Landscape Designer – Son of Dennis and Kathy; Chelsey Gilha, Managing Partner, Office Assistant, Retail Operations Manager – Shawn's wife Company Website: www. gardenbarn.com 3RD PLACE | CATEGORY: LESS THAN 25 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES accomplishments. We exhibited adaptation, attitude and strength. Over the last 18 months, we have had to follow guidelines that could change by the minute and adjust how we interact with customers. We have also had to change how and what we would or could order for products and follow new industry trends. We created a new business model that continues to shift daily, even now. We had to work harder and faster and adjust to a record-breaking increase of double sales volume in 24 months. We have had to work more as a team, which can be difficult in a family business, but we truly feel we have come through stronger than ever. What are your family values? Our family is our business. Very often it is hard to separate the two. Our family's largest values are to love one another, work hard and above all respect one another. Some days can be hard, but we are a strong team and wouldn't change it for the world .

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