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FBA-28 Hartford Business Journal • October 13, 2014 www.HartfordBusiness.com 2014 Connecticut Family Business Awards Finalist 2014 Connecticut Family Business Awards The Music People Inc. What are the family values of your business, and how do they help you remain competitive in the market? Establishing a personal connection and developing each relationship as an individual one has been critical. The company's values stay consistent with its history of being a family-owned and operated business, ensuring customers and employees are not just numbers but part of the TMP team. What would your founder say about the state of your company today and its achievements in the last year? The Music People Inc. is continuously developing innovative products based under our proprietary brand On Stage Stands. We've achieved this through building strong teams and leaders and remaining focused and cur- rent on industry trends. What is the biggest challenge to your business in the coming year? Our biggest challenge facing us in the coming year is remaining competitive in the industry and continuing to increase sales. STATS: Location: Berlin Industry: Music industry/ Distribution Founded: 1979 Founder: Jim Hennessey Generation Currently Running Company: 1st & 2nd Full-Time Employees: 61 Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Jim Hennessey (father), president; Sharon Hennessey (daughter), vice president of dales; John Hennessey (son), vice president of operations Company Website: www.musicpeopleinc.com Employees participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in August. Finalist Jim Hennessey in the early days of the late 1970s and early 1980s when he was just starting On-stage Stands, the predecessor to The Music People. (From left) Company owners Jim, John and Sharon Hennessey posing at a tradeshow. Thayer's Marine Inc. What are the family values of your business, and how do they help you remain competitive in the market? This business was built around family. Family has always been a keyword, never used lightly in any aspect of our lives. Treat- ing each employee like family has helped to create a feeling of respect that you do not find at larger corporations. This carries over to our customers and clients. What would your founder say about the state of your company today and its achievements in the last year? Richard A. Thayer Sr. is still alive and well, not involved entirely on a day-to-day basis, but nonetheless he knows what is happen- ing. In the past year, we have acquired some incredible boat lines, hired two new employ- ees, purchased a new building and managed to grow substantially from the previous year. What is the biggest challenge to your business in the coming year? Simply put, competition. The marine busi- ness requires that you stay on your toes, and keep one step ahead of the next dealership. We constantly strive to find the latest Inter- net trend, website, or app, that may will help jump start our next transition. We work hard to stay one step ahead. STATS: Location: Norwich Industry: Marine Recreation Founded: 1966 Founders: Richard A. Thayer, Sr. (father), Richard A. Thayer, Jr. (son), Mary-Anna Thayer (mother), Cheryl Considine (daughter) Generation Currently Running Company: 2nd & 3rd Full-Time Employees: 9 Family Currently Employed at Company: Richard A. Thayer, Jr. (father), president; Richard A. Thayer III (son), business manager; Dolores I. Thayer (grandmother), treasurer; Rachel A. Thayer (daughter), marketing director; Brooke M. Bochese (cousin), clerk; Zachary Y. Tarner (Rachel's longtime boyfriend), part's manager Company Website: www.thayersmarine.com The inaugural trip of a boat Richard Thayer, Jr. and Richard Thayer III built in 1989 and launched in April 1990. Dolores Thayer knows many of the company's long-time customers like family. Two generations of Thayers — Richard Thayer III is on the left, Richard Thayer, Jr. is on the right — flank the winner of a fishing tournament. CATEGORY: Fewer than 25 full-time employees CATEGORY: 25-75 full-time employees