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B8 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 16, 2025 2 02 5 FA MILY B U S INE S S AWA R D S WINNER CATEGORY: LESS THAN 50 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES Shady Oaks Assisted Living provides strong nursing care in a cozy home. We help 42 disabled seniors: 60% use wheelchairs — 95% stay and never need nursing homes. We are more affordable vs. 24/7 home care. We are higher care vs. other assisted living providers. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Our greatest accomplishment is earning appre- ciation from our residents, families and staff. From them, we earned a perfect 5 stars through seven years of 77 Google reviews. We also earned appreciation from people outside our home. The Connecticut Assisted Living Association awarded us the 2021 Humanitarian Home of the Year. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded us the 2024 Family-Owned Business of the Year. BRD Builders is a family-run construction firm specializing in general contracting, construc- tion management, design-build and pre-con- struction services. From large-scale, ground-up builds to extensive renovations, BRD's diverse project experiences include commercial, municipal, multifamily residential, office, industrial, medical and more. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. We've recently completed a new 15,000-square- foot Colchester senior center, a community hub for seniors, and made key upgrades at Charter Oak Communities, which boosts affordable housing in Stamford. These projects showcase our commitment to impactful, high-quality work that strengthens communities. Additionally, we have achieved significant milestones by integrating new technology into streamlining project management, enhancing efficiency and ensuring projects meet the high- est standards. These advancements have led to improved client satisfaction, as we continue to deliver projects that exceed expectations. Advanced Performance Glass Inc. is a family-owned commercial glazing company specializing in the full building envelope design and installation. APG has a metal panel division — miscellaneous steel, brake metal custom stain- less steel — and provides insulation/sheathing to create a one-stop shop for exterior facades. The company serves projects ranging from retail shops to universities and medical office buildings, with a recent expansion into residen- tial apartments. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Gary Rooke: The company continues to grow, recently expanding into more service work, positioning us to support clients not only during construction, but long after. 3 Shady Oaks Assisted Living HQ: Bristol INDUSTRY: Health Care YEAR FOUNDED & FOUNDER: 1976, Vernon and Kay Belanger, Owners and Directors (1976-2016) FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: Tyson Belanger, Owner and Director, son of Vernon and Kay Belanger GENERATION CURRENTLY RUNNING COMPANY: 2nd FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 24 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES: 32 WEBSITE: www.shadyoaksassistedliving.com ANNUAL REVENUE: $4.2 million 4 BRD Builders HQ: Hartford INDUSTRY: Construction YEAR FOUNDED & FOUNDER: 2000, Michael Clifford, Founder and President FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: Ryan Clifford (son, COO), Ibi Zhao-Clifford (Treasurer, daughter-in-law) GENERATION CURRENTLY RUNNING COMPANY: 2nd FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 13 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES: 1 WEBSITE: www.brdbuilders.com 2 Advanced Performance Glass Inc. HQ: East Hartford INDUSTRY: Construction YEAR FOUNDED & FOUNDER: 1986 by Gary Rooke (Gary Rooke Subcontracting); incorporated in 1987 as Advanced Performance Glass Inc. FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: Gary Rooke, President; Elaine M. Rooke, CFO/ Treasurer; Jeremy Rooke, Vice President; and, Christopher Gagne, Asst. Project Manager GENERATION CURRENTLY RUNNING THE COMPANY: 1st and 2nd FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 48 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES: 2 WEBSITE: www.advancedperformanceglass.com What are your family values, and how do they contribute to your business success? Vernon and Kay Belanger built Shady Oaks in 1976. They worked hard through good and bad times. Their son, Tyson, bought the home in 2016. He lives next door and works every day. Four generations of Belangers have worked at Shady Oaks. Seven family members lived there. We are a family helping families. Next year, Shady Oaks will celebrate its 50th anniversary of senior care service. We live by the idea that disabled seniors need a better alterna- tive to long-term Medicaid in nursing homes. This idea drives our innovations and attracts new residents. How do you see your business changing in the next five years? For care, we will create an in-home hospice agency. Only two other Connecticut homes have this. For affordability, we thank state Sen. Henri Martin. Together, we proposed increased Connecticut financial aid to help low-asset seniors afford assisted living. Our growth initiatives have resulted in expanded revenue. What are your family values, and how do they contribute to your business success? Integrity, hard work and trust are the core values our family lives by – and they define our business. They keep us grounded, help us build genuine relationships and ensure we deliver on our promises. How do you see your business changing in the next five years? We see our business evolving thoughtfully: using more innovative tools to enhance our work, fostering deeper relationships with clients and partners, and pursuing strategic growth that allows us to adapt to industry changes. Do you have a business succession plan? We have a thoughtful succession plan in place that prepares Ryan Clifford to step into the leadership role after Mike Clifford retires. Ryan remains committed to our established values and business legacy and will continue to guide our team and serve our clients with the same care and dedication that have always defined us. In 2017, APG moved from a 14,000-square-foot building to a new 44,000-square-foot, state-of- the-art facility housed with CNC machines, which allows us to make custom components in-house, creating efficiency and shorter lead times. In 2025, the family launched Rooke Rentals LLC, led by a son, Jaime, who has built a loyal follow- ing in the aerial equipment rental industry. What are your family values, and how do they contribute to your business success? Gary Rooke: My family values — integrity, hard work and respect — guide my leadership and help build lasting relationships. These values foster trust and success in everything I do. Working alongside my wife Elaine, my son Jeremy and my brother-in-law Chris, who share these principles, brings both personal and professional rewards (and some great dinner conversations!). Degree Heating & Cooling provides heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical services. The company has served western and central Connecticut communities and businesses for over 30 years. Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments. Over the past year, Degree Heating & Cooling has deepened its local impact and expanded its offerings, including new plumbing and electrical services. We've grown our team to over 30 employees, increased the effectiveness of our outbound marketing, and launched technician training initiatives to support long-term scalability. Our reputation for trusted, community-first service earned us local award nominations and wins, and reflect our commitment to quality, trans- parency and relationships built over generations. What are your family values, and how do they contribute to your business success? We lead with teamwork, pride and community — treating every customer like a neighbor. 5 Degree Heating & Cooling HQ: Glastonbury (Degree East), Danbury (Degree West) INDUSTRY: HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical YEAR FOUNDED & FOUNDERS: 1993, Lawrence Jordan and John and Patricia Arcari (Husband and Wife) FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: Larry Jordan, Warehouse and Fleet Manager; John Acari, Install Coordinator GENERATION CURRENTLY RUNNING COMPANY: 1st FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 39 WEBSITE: www.degreeheatingandcooling.com Our values drive strong relationships, trusted service and multigenerational loyalty. Customers return because they feel known and cared for, not just serviced. How do you see your business changing in the next five years? We plan to grow our plumbing and electrical divisions, deepen technician training, and expand into new markets — all while keeping our local, community-first approach at the center. Our goal is to become the most trusted full-service home comfort provider in Connecticut. Do you have a business succession plan? We've developed a strong internal leadership team, promoting from within and investing in mentorship and training. This ensures long-term continuity, preserves our company culture, and positions us for scalable, sustain- able growth across trades and territories. The founders are still involved in the business day to day, and the family has since hand-picked Mike Bilotti to take over as general manager.