Top Texas Family Businesses Announced
by Cynthia Jackson, Hankamer School of Business, (254) 710-7628
Family businesses from across the state of Texas are slated to be honored on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the 17th Annual Texas Family Business of the Year Awards Banquet on the Baylor University campus. The banquet will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. in Barfield Drawing Room on the second floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center.
Baylor's Institute for Family Business sponsors the program, which is designed to recognize firms whose families demonstrate a commitment to their community and strong business and family values.
"As a university which values both family traditions and business accomplishment, we are proud to honor firms whose families have demonstrated a commitment to each other and to business continuity, and who are responsive to the needs of their employees, communities and industries," said J. David Allen, director of the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.
"Our goal is to honor outstanding family-owned businesses in the areas of community commitment, family values and successful business management," said Dr. Terry Maness, dean of the Hankamer School of Business. "We found companies that have shown concern for their family and their role in the business and community, as well as demonstrating contributions to their industry."
This year's award winners are:
? Small family business of the year - First Dallas Holdings Inc., Dallas
? Medium family business of the year - Pulliam Pools, Fort Worth
? Large family business of the year - DAVACO Inc., Dallas
? Community commitment award - Escapees RV Club, Livingston
? Family values award - Almcoe Refrigeration Co., Dallas
? Fastest-growing award - Cedar Eaters of Texas, Boerne
? Founders award - Grubbs Infiniti, Euless; Aldrich-Thomas Group, Realtors, Temple
? Well-managed award - Global Shop Solutions, The Woodlands
? Heritage award - The Jones Truck Insurance Agency Inc., Waco
Finalists in this year's competition were: A-1 Banner and Sign Co. Inc./Authentic Granite and Marble, Waco; Gillette Air Conditioning Co. Inc., San Antonio; Howell Oil and Gas Inc./East Texas Fuels Inc./Howell Interests Inc., Marshall; Lifeguard Aeromed Inc., Fort Worth; and Teacher's Tools, Lewisville.
Dr. Reagan Ramsower, vice president for finance and administration at Baylor, is scheduled to be the evening's keynote speaker. For more information on the banquet or the competition, please contact Mary Abrahams at (254) 710-4159 or Mary_Abrahams@baylor.edu.
About Baylor Business
The Hankamer School of Business holds to a visionary standard of excellence whereby integrity stands shoulder to shoulder with analytic and strategic strengths to build leaders, not simply careers. The undergraduate program is ranked 22nd among private business schools by U.S.News and World Report. Baylor's Entrepreneurship program is ranked 14th by U.S. News and its Accounting program is ranked 24th by Public Accounting Report. Visit www.baylor.edu/business for more information.