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Family Business Awards 2022 FAMILY BUSINESS 2022 AWARDS | 3 Connecticut Trial Firm LLC Glastonbury Industry: Legal Year Founded: 2016 Founders: Ryan McKeen and Andrew Garza (Co-Founders) Generation Running Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 24 Part-Time Employees: 1 Family Members Employed at Company: Ryan McKeen, CEO, Husband of Allison; Allison McKeen, COO, Wife of Ryan; Andrew Garza, Attorney, Son of Marshall Garza; Marshall Garza, Father of Andrew Website: cttrialfirm.com Connecticut Trial Firm LLC is a trial law firm dedicated to helping those who have been injured through no fault of their own. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Law Firm 500 named us the 10th fastest growing law firm in the United States. How has your company shifted its strategy during the pandemic? The firm has not shifted its strategy. We doubled down on what was working and grew our business. What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success? Our family values are empathy, integrity and living by the golden rule. If you meet people where they are, do what you say you are going to do, and treat others as you want to be treated good things happen. What are your guiding business principles? Our principles are: add value, live by the golden rule and do excellent work. Honoring the state's top family businesses F amily businesses are the backbone of the Connecticut and U.S. economies. That's why Hartford Business Journal's annual Connecticut Family Business Awards are so important and popular with our readers. The awards highlight some of the best and most recognizable family- owned companies in the state. This year's class of winners was chosen by our independent panel of judges, including Robin Bienemann, the program manager and entrepreneur-in-residence for UConn's Family Business Program, and Gail Lebert, director of partnership development at Klingberg Family Centers. Our honorees range from wealth management and financial services firms to a manufacturer, construction company, and auto parts business, among many 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 the Hartford Business Journal in congratulating this year's class, which we honored during an event June 16, 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 F I R S T P L A C E LESS THAN 25 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES 100 ALLYN STREET, SUITE 3, HARTFORD, CT 06103 (860) 236-9998 | HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM S E C O N D P L A C E LESS THAN 25 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES Cora Cora Restaurant West Hartford Industry: Restaurant and hospitality Year Founded: 2011 Founders: Hector Ludena and Luisa Jiménez Generation Running Company: 2nd Full-Time Employees: 24 Part-Time Employees: 10 Family Members Employed at Company: Macarena Ludena, Co- owner and Head Chef; Grecia Ludena, Co-owner and Director of Operations; Ezra Ludena, Front of House Website: www.coracoract.com Cora Cora is a family-run Peruvian restaurant. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. This year, Cora Cora was named James Beard Award Semifinalist in two separate categories – Outstanding Restaurant (a national category) and Best Chef – New England. Cora Cora was the only restaurant from Connecticut in the former category, and chef Macarena was one of only two chefs from the state in the latter category (and under the age of 30). The James Beard Awards are akin to the Oscars for the restaurant industry and a highly-prestigious distinction. Where do you see your business in the next five years? Cora Cora would love to expand to a second location to be able to offer its culinary experience to more guests. What are your guiding business principles? Cora Cora's three main pillars are high-quality ingredients, a warm and welcoming family-like experience, and the best customer service. How has your company shifted its strategy during the pandemic? As a restaurant during the pandemic, Cora Cora had to be innovative and creative with its business in order to continue. Located in a former McDonald's building, Cora Cora was able to use the drive-through pick-up window, allowing for a safer option for people who wanted to order. This option really carried the restaurant through the pandemic's toughest times.