Relative Importance: The 2015 Family Business Awards

Quality, consistency, flexibility. These terms often rise to the top of descriptions for the honorees in Seattle Business magazines Family Business Awards program. This year is no different. Most of these companies have at least three generations of family ownership, while some carry a legacy stretching back five generations or more. A common thread among all of them: growing the business while serving their communities and paying close attention to the personal touch in customer service. Congratulations to the 13 honorees in the 2015 Family Business Awards!

LARGE FIRMS
More than 200 employees in Washington.
Winner: KITSAP BANK
Silver Awards: MCLENDON HARDWARE; MUTUAL MATERIALS

MIDSIZE FIRMS
50 to 200 employees in Washington.
Winner: FAMILY HOME CARE
Silver Awards: ANDERSEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY; VAN DOREN SALES INC.

SMALL FIRMS
Fewer than 50 employees in Washington.
Winner: BONNEY-WATSON
Silver Awards: R.H.BROWN CO.; WESTHILL INC.

EMERGING BUSINESS AWARD
A new family enterprise exhibiting strong growth.
Winner: SIRENA GELATO

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
Showing an ongoing commitment to social and environmental engagement.
Winner: CARTER MOTORS INC.

LONGEVITY/HERITAGE AWARD
Perpetuating a family business for more than a century.
Winner: MILLS BROS. INC.

LEGACY AWARD
Ensuring multiple generations of family leadership.
Winner: LAIRD NORTON COMPANY

Judges for the 2015 Family Business Awards
Clarence Barnes, professor, economics, Gonzaga University; Dori Brewer, partner, Perkins Coie;
Ron Dohr, codirector, Pacific Family Business Institute; Loren Lyon, president, Impact Washington;
Catherine Pratt, management faculty, Pacific Lutheran University;
Christian Schiller, managing director, Cascadia Capital; Rich Simmonds, cofounder, Pacific Family Business Institute;
David Stiefel, managing principal, Bader Martin; Joseph Williams, former dean, School of Business, Government & Economics, Seattle Pacific University