2011 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award program sponsored by Northeastern University Center for Family Business

Corporate sponsors of the upcoming 2011 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award program sponsored by Northeastern University Center for Family Business understand the importance of "keeping it in the family".

Corporate sponsors include US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth management; Middlesex Savings Bank; Burns & Levinson; and Center for Applied Research.

Northeastern University Center for Family Business announces a call for nominations for their 5th Annual Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award. Applications are due by May 6, 2011. The awards dinner to celebrate and announce the recipients is scheduled for June 8 and will be held at the Henderson House, Weston, MA.

Nominations are welcome directly from family businesses as well as the business community at large.

Last year Piantedosi Baking Company, Malden MA won the Karofsky Award for companies with over 100 employees, Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort, Foxboro, MA won the Molloy Award for 25 - 100 employees, and Ruma's Fruit & Gift Basket World, Everett, MA won the Paisner Award for companies with less than 25 employees.

A panel of independent judges will evaluate and select the winners based on business success, positive business and family linkages, multi-generational family involvement, contributions to the community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.  Judges include a Northeastern University faculty member, a Family Firm Institute advisor and a former winner of the award.

The award presents a unique opportunity for family businesses to obtain significant regional press exposure, an opportunity to reflect on their own successes and challenges through the years and a chance to recognize the valuable contribution of their employees, suppliers and stakeholders.

The award categories are based on the number of full-time employees. All Massachusetts-based family-owned, businesses that include, or have included, more than one generation are eligible.

"Family businesses are the backbone of our economy," stated Ted Clark, director of the Northeastern University Center for Family Business. Clark continued, "Family businesses provide sixty percent of employment in the U.S. and seventy-eight percent of all new jobs.  Our awards celebrate and recognize the best in family business and what they contribute to the community."

Past Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award winners include: SALMON Health and Retirement, Elaine Construction, Bernie & Phyl's Furniture, New England Coffee, The Lupoli Companies, Avedis Zildjian Co., Camp Thoreau, and Crescent Ridge Dairy.

The Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards program was originally created in a partnership between Northeastern University's Center for Family Business and The Family Firm Institute New England Chapter to promote and highlight some of the great achievements of Massachusetts-based, family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.