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Please support the Conway Center

The Conway Center for Family Business is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides educational resources and programs for family-owned businesses in Franklin and surrounding counties. Your donation to the Conway Center will help Central Ohio family businesses continue to thrive and drive economic development. Any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and is tax-deductible.

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For information about becoming a family business member, please click here.

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2009 Family Business Award Winners

The Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio honored sixteen Central Ohio family-owned businesses for their successes during one of this generation's most economically challenging years.

The Family Business Awards Program, held at Ohio Dominican University, was established in 1999 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored over 100 local family businesses during that time.

In presenting this year's awards, J. Richard Emens, executive director, said "Family businesses are a leading economic engine that creates jobs which helps to drive the health of the Central Ohio economy. Today the Conway Center has recognized some of the very best of these family businesses."

The 2009 Awards recognized 16 recipients in six categories:

Re-Invention - recognizes family businesses that have successfully adjusted their business strategy to focus or address a changing business climate or societal demands.

• EHC Incorporated - changed from offering only traditional printed products and services to a resource for branding and marketing needs to meet clients' needs both online and offline.

• Golf Car Company - evolved from a real estate and investment company to a source of golf cars, shuttles and utility vehicles for the special event industry.

• Sanese Services - instituted new accountability systems, and training and development tools to improve the bottom line while meeting clients' diverse needs.

Community Engagement - recognizes family businesses that have made a significant contribution to the Central Ohio Community.

• A.D. Farrow Co. Harley Davidson - supports nearly 100 charitable causes in Central Ohio, including Flying Horse Farms, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Mid-Ohio Marine Foundation, and Race for the Cure.

• The Charles Penzone Salons - volunteers services and support to A Kid Again with a Mother/Daughter Spa Day, the Blue Jackets Foundation, Flashes of Hope, Wright Choice, and Earth Angels, the Debra Penzone Foundation and donates to more than 25 other local charities in Central Ohio.

• R. W. Setterlin Building Company - developed a month-long campaign, including a week-long challenge working with four high schools, to collect 21,000 pounds of food donations and raise $7,000 for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Succession Planning - recognizes family businesses that have developed or completed a succession plan or transferred leadership.

• Columbus Sign Company - implemented a succession plan that continues its traditions and values into the fourth generation of the same family owning and operating the business.

• McKee Door Sales - created and implemented a succession plan to transition the company to its second generation. *Weisheimer's Sales and Service - creatively uses insurance policies and cross-training to ensure the continuation of the business into the fourth generation.

Support of Family Business - recognizes organizations or individuals that have shown support or demonstrated a commitment to the strength, success or longevity of family firms.

• James R. Conway and Family - for its support that has allowed the Conway Family Business Center to expand services and programming for family businesses throughout Central Ohio.

• Dublin Cleaners - provided support and shared its dry cleaning facilities with Hilliard Cleaners while the company underwent renovations following a devastating fire.

• Optimum Print Solutions - provided support and office space to R.Dorsey+Co. as it recovered from a fire that claimed their Grandview office.

Communication - recognizes family businesses that have developed tools or strategies for effective communication within their company or with their family members regarding the business.

• Service Pro.net - uses weekly department meetings and software meeting tools, such as Skype and Go To Meeting, to communicate with employees working in six countries.

Milestone Achievement - recognizes family businesses that reached a significant milestone during 2009.

• Corporate Interior Concepts - 10-year anniversary
• Mid-Ohio Strategic Technologies - 30-year anniversary
• The Charles Penzone Salons - 40-year anniversary
• Fortner Upholstering, Inc. - 80-year anniversary

For a complete listing of past winners from 1999-2010, click here.