Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1498057
MAY 1, 2023 | HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | 2023 FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS B5 2023 FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORY WINNER: 25 - 75 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES Airport Auto Body Hartford Industry: Auto Repair Year Founded & Founders: 1983, Tony Cavallaro & Rita Cavallaro Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Tony Cavallaro, Founder, Husband; Rita Cavallaro, Founder, Wife; Tony Cavallaro Jr., Operations Manager, Son; Joe Cavallaro, Service Advisor, Son Generation Currently Running Company: 2nd Full-Time Employees: 39 Website: airportroadautobody.com Airport Auto Body is an auto body shop located in Hartford that conducts vehicle repairs and specializes in various high-end vehicles. The shop was founded on a single mission: to challenge the stereotypes associated with auto-repair shops by being welcoming, honest and fair. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Recently, Airport Auto Body has achieved accomplishments including two new vehicle certifications for Honda and Rivian, which makes us one of the only independent Rivian-certified repair centers in Connecticut. We were also recognized by the state and Hartford's mayor for being the first BMW-certified independent collision repair center in the U.S. Additionally, we have doubled our number of female employees over the last couple years, making 25% of our staff female in a typically male-dominated field. The business is celebrating a major milestone in 2023, marking its 40th year in business. What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success? Our family values honesty and integrity, both personally and professionally. These principles have driven our success, as both the family and our employees emphasize an honest and fair experience for our customers. We aim to be as transparent as possible, which has built a strong level of trust among our clientele. "We Meet By Accident" 75 Locust Street · Hartford, CT 06114 · airportroadautobody.com F A M I L Y A T T H E F O R E F R O N T For Forty Years Whether you're a first-time customer or a familiar face, we work to ensure that you receive the personalized attention and high-quality results you deserve. CATEGORY WINNER: LESS THAN 25 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES Sharpe Capital LLC Wethersfield Industry: Business Finance Year Founded & Founder: 2016, Brendan P. Lynch, Founding Partner Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Brendan P. Lynch, CEO, fiancé of Sonia Alvelo, Vice President; Wendy Rivera, Sales and Marketing, daughter of Sonia Alvelo Generation Currently Running Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 7 Part-Time Employees: 4 Website: www.SharpeCapital.biz Sharpe Capital LLC is a brokerage that specializes in funding for medium and small businesses. The brokerage offers lines of credit, equipment financing and commercial real estate loans and refinancings, plus merchant cash advances. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Brendan Lynch was a 2021 Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards winner in finance. Sonia Alvelo was the 2022 Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards winner in finance. She was also recently featured in the Hartford Business Journal's Top 25 Women in Business. Both are serving on the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau serving Connecticut. The business received a special recognition from the United States Senate for its work in the community signed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal in 2022, and has been co-marketing partners with Connecticut Children's since 2017. What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success? I think family values, and how a business operates, go hand-and-hand. Any time you step in a family-owned and operated restaurant, store or business, you receive a more friendly and welcoming experience. We have a great team that understands, at work, we are all one family.