The 11th annual UVM Grossman School of Business Family Business Awards honored four family businesses in the Keller Room, Ifshin Hall on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
An independent judging panel, comprised of past winners and local business owners, selected the winners based on their financial success, governance structures, contributions to the community and industry, and sustainable, innovative business practices or strategies.
For the first time in this awards’ history, past winners were invited to serve on a discussion panel. The panel included Don Droppo Jr., President and CEO, Curtis Packaging; Michael Rainville, President of Maple Landmark Inc.; and Richard Luff, President of Sagamore Golf, Inc. These business leaders discussed the challenges and successes that their companies have experienced in the years since receiving their awards and the aspirations for their respective organizations looking ahead to the future.
Slopeside Syrup/UnTapped, LLC received the First Generation Family Enterprise award and received by Doug and Roger Brown. The presenting judge, Karen Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, spoke of how the judging panel was impressed by the continuous innovations by this young company and how they found a way to differentiate themselves in the saturated maple syrup industry with a unique and useful product to a new group of consumers.
J. M. Huber Corporation was presented their award in the Multi-Generational Family Business Category by judge Kristin Hutchins of Ruge’s Automotive. The award was accepted by Molly Heaney, a fifth-generation family member and a Huber Corporate Board director. Hutchins remarked on how the judging panel was impressed by the company’s strong commitment to the environment, exceptional governance, focus on quality and continuous innovation, and longevity of over its long history.
Thermax Limited was awarded in the category of Multi-Generational Family Business and was presented their award by Craig Giroux of Giroux Poultry Farm, Giroux Orchards LLC & Giroux Grain Farm LLC. Rajesh Sinha, Director for the Americas of Thermax accepted the award on behalf of the family. Giroux presented on how impressed the judging panel was by how this innovative company is committed to environmental sustainability and supporting systems of social support for the workforce they depend on.
Twincraft Skincare received the final award of the afternoon in the Vermont Legacy category. Richard Asch, a second-generation leader, and David Rose, a third-generation business leader, accepted the award presented by Billy Brownlee of H. N. Williams Store. The judging panel praised Twincraft’s commitment to redirecting waste to repurpose what would be production waste to charitable causes. He additionally remarked on their incredible efforts to support their staff with thoughtful benefit programs.
Congratulations to the winners!
Want to see your favorite family business on the winners stage? Next year’s nomination form is now live! Go to Family Business Awards Nomination Form to nominate a family business today.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Our sponsors – past winners
Foley Inc., NJ