Pacific Lutheran University

October 30, 2007

Finalists in Pacific Lutheran University’s Family Enterprise Institute “Best in the Northwest” Family Business Awards will gather Nov. 15 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle for the educational forum and awards ceremony.

The finalists range from large to small and feature a regional retail hardware chain, Lilliwaup oyster farming business and retirement planning firm, to name a few. There are 15 finalists in five categories for the 14th annual event.

Winners will be announced at a luncheon Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle. The keynote speaker for the forum is George D. Bartell, chairman and CEO of Bartell Drugs, a third generation family business.

This year’s finalists (listed at the end of this release) fall into five categories: Small Business (fewer than 50 full-time employees), Medium Business (50 to 250 full-time employees), Large Business (more than 250 full-time employees), New Business (less than 10 years) and Heritage Business (more than 50 years in the family).

Firms are judged on their innovative business strategies and practices, performance, family and business links, contributions to community and industry, multi-generation family business involvement and longevity.

The Family Enterprise Institute offers educational programs, technical advisory services and policy analysis, as well as advocacy for family enterprise within the Pacific Northwest. It is an acknowledged leader in the family business arena. The Nov. 15 luncheon will cap a morning of workshops focused on family businesses.

The cost is $60 per person, which includes workshops, continental breakfast and lunch. The registration deadline is Nov. 12, with limited late registration available until the 15th. To register or learn more, contact PLU at 253-535-7250 or fament@plu.edu. In addition to PLU, cosponsors of this year’s awards are KeyBank, Laird Norton Tyee, MCM and the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Best in the Northwest
2007 Washington Family Business of the Year Finalists

New Business
The Coe Law Group, PLLC, Seattle
Real Estate Marketplace NW Inc., Deer Park
Stay in Home Reverse Mortgage, Bellevue

Small Business
Alger Appraisals, Inc., Silverdale
The Coe Law Group, PLLC, Seattle
DLT Construction, LLC, Wapato
Dynamic Language Center, Seattle
Hama Hama Co., Lilliwaup
Hunnex and Shoemaker, Inc., Seattle
Medical Rehabilitation Consultants, Inc., Spokane
Real Estate Marketplace NW Inc., Deer Park

Medium Business
Air Van, Kirkland
Associated Petroleum Products, Inc., Tacoma
Stay in Home Reverse Mortgage, Bellevue

Large Business
Car Wash Enterprises dba Brown Bear Car Wash, Seattle
McLendon Hardware, Renton
RD Merrill & Merrill Gardens, Seattle

Heritage Business
Car Wash Enterprises dba Brown Bear Car Wash, Seattle
Hama Hama Co., Lilliwaup
McLendon Hardware, Renton
RD Merrill & Merrill Gardens, Seattle

Note that firms may be finalists in more than one category.