Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1498057
B10 2023 FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS | HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 1, 2023 2023 FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORY WINNER: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - BUSINESS Lux Bond & Green Inc. West Hartford Industry: Retail Year Founded & Founder: 1898, Morris A. Green Family Members Currently Employed at Company: John Green, President/CEO; Norma Jean Green, Graduate Gemologist, wife; Charlie Green, Graduate Gemologist, son Generation Currently Running Company: 4th and 5th generation joined in January 2023 Full-Time Employees: 82 Part-Time Employees: 6 Website: www.lbgreen.comm Lux Bond & Green is a luxury jewelry store with six locations, including in Glastonbury, West Hartford, Westport, Mohegan Sun casino, Wellesley, Mass., and Boston. It is unique because it operates in a non- commissioned environment. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Our most recent accomplishment was surviving and thriving through the pandemic with our ability to adapt to the needs of our customers. Online shopping was predicted to eliminate brick-and-mortar stores. Our enduring relationships with customers, staff and our brand partners, the value of our products and services, and our ability to have the customer shop the way they want to in our non-commissioned environment or online, awarded us double-digit growth in revenues. We are listening, learning and delivering on our core values and the needs of our customers. We have also focused on adding state-of-the- art equipment like laser engraving. What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success? Our family values are reflected in the core values of our company, which include teamwork, communication, respect, integrity, customer service and confidentiality. LBG was founded upon these core values, with a clear mission to care for the well-being of our staff and our local communities. CATEGORY WINNER: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - INDIVIDUAL Keith B. Bishop CEO, President & Winemaker B W Bishop & Sons Inc. (Bishop's Orchards) Guilford Industry: Agriculture Year Founded & Founder: 1871, Walter Goodrich Bishop Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Keith B. Bishop, CEO, President & Winemaker, father; Debbie G. Bishop, Cash Office and Payroll Operations (just retired December 2022), wife; Sarah Bishop DellaVenture, COO, daughter; Carrie Bishop Healy, CFO, daughter; Ryan Warsaw-Fan Bishop, Assistant Farm Production Manager, son; Peter van der Grinten, Farm Maintenance Manager, brother-in-law Generation Currently Running Company: 5th and 6th Full-Time Employees: 59 Part-Time Employees: 65-140 Website: www.bishopsorchards.com Bishop's Orchards' multifaceted family farm operation owns 313 acres, on which grow fruits and vegetables. The business includes the operation of a farm market, winery, farm kitchen, community supported agriculture, pick-your-own and Little Red Bar(n) agritainment area. The business morphed from a general subsistence farm of the late 1800s with cows, vegetables and ice into apples and truck farming in the 1920s; then to retail in the 1970s, with major building expansions in 1978, 1989 and 2005. CEO Keith B. Bishop's dedication to agriculture progressed after graduation from Cornell, majoring in agriculture economics. Over four decades, from one of four co- managing family members to co-CEO and then CEO, a love of work, hands- on doing and learning always inspires him. Keith Bishop has been mentored and grown thanks to many family, friends and associates, including from the University of New Haven Center for Family Business and Farm Bureau. CATEGORY WINNER: COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Fascia's Chocolates Inc. Waterbury Industry: Retail and Manufacturing Year Founded & Founder: 1964, John and Helen Fascia Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Carmen Romeo, President & CEO, son-in-law of John and Helen Fascia; Louise Fascia Romeo, Office Manager & Co-Owner, daughter of John and Helen Fascia, wife of Carmen Romeo; Lynne Fascia Mouanes, Production Manager & Co-Owner, daughter of John and Helen Fascia; Matt Romeo, Wholesale Manager, son of Louise and Carmen Romeo Generation Currently Running Company: 2nd Website: www.faschoc.com Since its beginnings in the basement of John and Helen Fascia's Waterbury home back in 1964, the Fascia family has focused on making the highest quality of chocolates. After almost 60 years of hard work and growth, they are now three generations deep. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. With respect to community service, we're proud to support organizations in many different ways through donations of raffle and auction items for events, fundraising projects where our products are sold to raise money and through sponsorship of several theaters and arts organizations. We serve numerous boards such as the Waterbury Regional Chamber, Smaller Manufacturers Association, Western CT Tourism District, CT Manufacturers Collaborative and Greater Waterbury United Way Leadership Council. In addition, we are happy to support many nonprofit organizations and local schools by subsidizing their field trips to our facility to make and learn about chocolate. CATEGORY WINNER: COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Bill Selig Jewelers Inc. Simsbury Industry: Jewelry Retail and Custom Manufacturing Year Founded & Founder: 1977, Bill Selig Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Bill Selig, President/Owner, husband; Sandy Selig, Treasurer/Secretary, wife; Sharran Selig Bennett, consultant, sister Generation Currently Running the Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 6 Part-Time Employees: 4 Website: Billseligjewelers.com Bill Selig Jewelers Inc. carries traditional and contemporary jewelry, in platinum, gold and silver. The business also gives new life to family treasures and makes custom-design jewelry. Tell us about your recent accomplishments. My commitment to the community has always been a priority. As in the past, we are supporting Easter Seals with a special gift to be auctioned at their Crystal Ball. This year, we are the Diamond Sponsor for the Hartford Symphony's gala. I think that giving little to many often means more than giving a lot to a few. Therefore, I like to give something to all of the community organizations and schools that request our help. I am active with the Rotary Club and Simsbury/Granby Chamber of Commerce. Also, I'm a recipient of the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary International. What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success? When a new associate starts with my organization, I tell them that the golden rule is our guide. Put yourself in your customers' shoes, and then treat them the way you would like to be treated.