Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/587979
www.HartfordBusiness.com October 19, 2015 • Hartford Business Journal 35 R.P.M. Industries D.B.A. ProMold Plastics Location: Portland Industry: Manufacturing: Plastic Injection Molding Year Founded: 1967 Founder: Riccardo Puglielli Generation Currently Running Company: 2nd No. of Full-Time Employees: 25 Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Richard Puglielli (brother), president; and Lorella Puglielli Struzzi (sister), corporate secretary and legal advisor. Company Website: www.PromoldPlastics.com Q&A What are the family values of your busi- ness, and how do they help you remain competitive in the market? When an opportunity comes your way, respond quickly no matter how urgent the client is for a response. They usually lean toward those that are eager to help. Every new opportunity is also an opportunity to build and nurture a relationship that can help assure that new opportunities keep coming. What would your founder say about the state of your company today and its achievements in the last year? I can't believe you made it this far. It was like virtually re-building the whole company up from scratch again. I'm glad I got out when I did! It's much better leaving when you are at the top of your game. What is the biggest challenge to your business in the coming year? Clients that over specify or under specify what they want and trying to determine what they really need and are willing to pay. This adds a significant cost burden in the devel- opment and engineering involved with new projects, and it imposes a burden of risk in hopes of future growth. n Votto Vines Importing Inc. Headquarters: Hamden Industry: Wine and Spirits Founded: 2009 Founders: Michael Votto; Stephen Votto; Peter Votto; Nicholas Votto; Jeremy Jerome Generation Currently Running Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 10 Part-Time Employees: 5 Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Michael P. Votto, president and CEO (brother); Nicholas Votto, senior vice president (brother); Stephen Votto, senior vice president and CFO (cousin); Peter Votto, senior vice president (cousin); Leah Votto, director of compliance and research and Connecticut sales manager (cousin); Jeremy Jerome, senior vice president (brother-in-law); James Votto, marketing and research assistant (cousin). Website: www.vottovines.com Q&A What are the family values of your business? There are six members of the Votto fam- ily in our business, so our entire company philosophy is based on familial structure and support. The most important values are hard work and a focus on tradition while at the same time creating new ones. This idea is captured in our first company tagline, "Old World Values, New World Vision." How do you remain competitive in the market? In the cutthroat and highly aggressive wine business, we are not simply trying to compete but develop our own niche and identity. Being nominated by Wine Enthusiast as national "Wine & Spirits Importer of the Year" in 2015 and being recognized by Forbes as one of America's Most Promising Companies have been a huge boost to our identity and exposure. Who is most responsible for your com- pany's success today? Our grandmother Gloria "Nonna" Votto is most responsible for the company's success today. At the tender age of 93 years old, Non- na's influence is not necessarily on our day- to-day activities, but rather the values she instilled in all of us at a young age to appreci- ate our Italian heritage and great food, wine, culture and, of course, family. n (Top) ProMold Plastics President Richard Puglielli (center) stands on the shop floor with some employees. (Bottom left) ProMold employees working on the shop floor. (Bottom right) Photo of the company's earlier days. (Top) Votto family dinner in Umbria, Italy. (Bottom left) Members of the Votto Vines executive team (from left to right) Michael Votto, Peter Votto, Leah Votto, Nicholas Votto, Stephen Votto and Jeremy Jerome. (Bottom right) Michael F. Votto and Olivia Votto filling barrels at Tabarrini winery in Umbria, Italy. 2015 CONNECTICUT FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORY: Fewer than 25 full-time Employees FINALIST 2015 CONNECTICUT FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORY: Fewer than 25 full-time Employees FINALIST