Family Business

Family Business Awards — Small Companies: Fewer than 50 employees

By Lisa Wogan, Sarah Dewey and Steve Wehrly November 10, 2011

FBA_Hillcrest

WINNER: Hillcrest Bakery

Location: Bothell
Employees: 12

The story of the Kaskes family bakery is a little like one of their speculaas cookies: steeped in tradition, sweet and satisfying.

Peter Kaskes arrived in Bothell in the early 1960s from the Netherlands by way of Canada to take a job as a skilled baker at Hillcrest Bakery. He brought with him his wife, Leida, whom hed met folk dancing at a festival, and traditional recipes and trade secrets that dated back to his familys bake shop in Wormer, Holland, established in the 1830s.

Within a year, Hillcrest Bakerys original owners offered to sell the business to Peter. He put in long hours, supported by Leida and their growing family (eventually six children). In five years, they paid off their home, the bakery, a delivery truck and a carall of which were rolled up in the deal.

Today, the brick-fronted shop with a blue awning and lace curtains retains an old-fashioned, homey atmosphere. Dutch specialties like marzipan rolls and taai taai cookies, along with pies, breakfast and dessert pastries, wedding cakes and much more, have garnered loyal customers and rave reviews, including Best Bakery in Evening Magazines The Best of Western Washington 2009.

Three generations now work at Hillcrest. Leida Kaskes is the owner and chief executive. (Peter died in 1986.) Her sons, Peter and Bob, bake. Daughter Barbara Holm decorates. Several of the grandchildren also bake and work in the store.

We take great pride in our family heritage; we have over 200 years of baking tradition behind us, says bakery manager Kelly Kemp. We love what we do! It brings us great satisfaction when others appreciate our products and realize the love, history and hard work that goes into every product that we bake. L.W.

Runner-Up: Dix Corporation

Location: Spokane
Employees: 30

Since Pete Dix Sr. founded the construction and rigging company in 1946, the Dix Corporation (formerly Dix Steel) has led its industry in adaptations, from innovations in high-rise steel construction to the local turnkey movementall while keeping the business family held and family oriented. Its Spokane-area projects include the Ridpath Hotel, the U.S. Pavilion for Expo 74, the floating golf green at the Coeur dAlene Resort and a series of vessels for the U.S. Navy. The company generates annual revenues of $44 million and has earned recognition both for its design achievements and its safety record. S.D.

Runner-Up: Ski’s Painting

Location: Kent
Employees: 40

When Reinhard Ski Biermanski brought on George Ficks to help him paint commercial buildings 40 years ago, Ficks thought Skis Painting might someday provide jobs for his family. Thats exactly what happened: Ficks son, Jeff, joined the company in the 1970s and now is president and owner. Jeffs son, Jesse, and Mike Barrett, son of the firms longtime bookkeeper, joined as bucket washers and now manage sales and operations. They proudly point out that buildings painted by Ski and George are being repainted by the family 30 years later. S.W.

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