Sutphen awarded family business of the year; howard smith recognized for lifetime achievement
The Conway Center for Family Business and more than 500 business leaders honored leading Central Ohio family businesses at the 21st Annual Family Business Awards Program on Wednesday, November 13 at the Hilton Columbus in Easton Town Center, 3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus, Ohio.
In addition, luncheon guests and more than 50 family businesses and advisers networked and showcased products and services at the Family Business Expo before the annual awards program.
The Family Business Awards Program was established in 1999 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored over 250 Central Ohio family businesses in the last 21 years. The 2019 awards program recognized 27 Central Ohio businesses in eight categories. Angela An, Channel 10 morning anchor, emceed the event. 2019’s honorees included:
Family Business of the Year
Sutphen Corp.
Lifetime Achievement
Howard Smith, Wilson Bohannan Lock Company
Community Engagement
Outreach Promotional Solutions
Next Gen
Chris Ahlum, Ahlum & Arbor Tree Preservation
Re-Invention
Watkins Printing Company
Rising Star
Andy Wasserstrom, Advance Sign Group
Succession Planning
- Johnson’s Real Ice Cream – Small Sized Company
- Gordon Flesch Company – Large Sized Company
Milestone Awards:
- 10 years – C&A Benefits Group
- 20 years – Choice Property Resources
- 25 years – Advance Sign Group
- 25 years – Eclipse Corp
- 30 years – Jendco Safety Supply Inc,
- 30 years – IGS
- 35 years – Flood Heliarc
- 35 years – Air Force One
- 35 years – PATH
- 40 years – Mid Ohio Strategic Technologies
- 40 years – Warman Productions
- 40 years – Cashmans Horse Equipment
- 40 years – Suburban Steel Supply Co. LLC
- 50 years – Charles Penzone Incorporated
- 65 years – DaNite Sign Company
- 70 years – Kirk Williams Co.
- 100 years – Harrop Industries
- 100 years – Lynd Fruit Farm
- 100 years – The Fred D. Pfening Company
- 115 years – Stolly Insurance
The Family Business Awards Program is made possible through the generous support of Dispatch Media Group, First Merchants Bank, Gryphon Financial Partners, Ricart Automotive, Rider + Reinke Financial Group, and Taft/.