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Annual awards ceremony honors local family businesses
November 16, 2007
Five family businesses were named winners in their categories in the Best in the Northwest Washington Family Business of the Year Awards.
The Family Enterprise Institute of Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Business announced the winners at a conference Nov. 15. Winners were selected from 15 finalists, who were 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.
This year’s winners are Dynamic Language Center, Inc. in the small business category; Air Van, medium business; RD Merrill Company & Merrill Gardens, large business; Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc., new business; and Hama Hama Co., heritage business. (Details on all winners follow.)
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.
In addition to PLU, cosponsors of the 2007 Washington Family Business of the Year Awards are KeyBank, Laird Norton Tyee, MCM and the Puget Sound Business Journal.
2007 Washington Family Business Award Winners
Small Business (fewer than 50 full-time employees):
Dynamic Language Center is the Northwest’s leading provider of professional language services. Founded in 1985 by Ricardo and Maria Teresa Antezana, their children, Sandra Dupleich and Rick Antezana, have since joined them in the business, along with other family members. Dynamic Language Center is a pioneer in the translation and interpreting industry. They provide training for interpreters and translators, and offer translation, interpreting, technical publication and graphic design services in over 100 languages.
Medium Business (50 to 250 full-time employees):
Air Van is based in Kirkland and has 10 full-service facilities throughout the Northwest and Alaska. This family-owned transportation firm redefines the moving and storage business in a technological age. Remo Galvagno joined Air Van as a partner in 1982 and bought the company in full in 1994. Today, led by sons Steve and Marc, Air Van continues to customize services to become a valued business partner with each client. With more than 200 employees, this company is committed to honesty, reliability and innovation.
Large Business (more than 250 full-time employees):
R.D. Merrill Company & Merrill Gardens of Seattle was founded by Richard Dwight (R.D.) Merrill, a timber pioneer and family man. He had a vision to build a business that would last for generations. In the 1890s, R.D. Merrill started harvesting timber and was one of the first to adopt the practice of sustainable harvesting. Today, Charles Wright III is the fourth generation Merrill to run the business. In 1983, in the family’s spirit of entrepreneurial and forward thinking, he launched a diversification into the retirement community business. They now operate 53 retirement communities across eight states with the capacity to serve over 6,700 residents.
New Business (less than 10 years):
Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc. was founded in 1999 by real estate brokers Jim Palmer Jr. and Jim Palmer Sr. This Deer Park firm is a full service real estate company. The firm includes 20 independent contractor agents and office staff. Real Estate Marketplace NW currently sells more property than any other firm between north Spokane and the Canadian border. Future plans include opening up several more offices in neighboring towns in the northeast corner of Washington.
Heritage Business (more than 50 years in the family):
Hama Hama Co. of Lilliwaup began over 100 years ago and was formally incorporated by Harry Robbins in 1922 as a logging company. In 1957, son Richard Robbins began harvesting and then selling Pacific oysters to Seattle area restaurants. He began the branding of oysters and promoted serving in-the-shell oysters, which are now the norm. Over time, the oyster business grew and by the mid-1980s, second-growth timber had matured. In 1985, David Robbins took over management and set up a sustained-yield timber harvest rotation. Today, the Hama Hama Co. has 42 family shareholders, continues to sell oysters and clams, both wholesale and retail, and harvests approximately 40 acres of timber a year.
This year’s winners are Dynamic Language Center, Inc. in the small business category; Air Van, medium business; RD Merrill Company & Merrill Gardens, large business; Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc., new business; and Hama Hama Co., heritage business. (Details on all winners follow.)
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.
In addition to PLU, cosponsors of the 2007 Washington Family Business of the Year Awards are KeyBank, Laird Norton Tyee, MCM and the Puget Sound Business Journal.
2007 Washington Family Business Award Winners
Small Business (fewer than 50 full-time employees):
Dynamic Language Center is the Northwest’s leading provider of professional language services. Founded in 1985 by Ricardo and Maria Teresa Antezana, their children, Sandra Dupleich and Rick Antezana, have since joined them in the business, along with other family members. Dynamic Language Center is a pioneer in the translation and interpreting industry. They provide training for interpreters and translators, and offer translation, interpreting, technical publication and graphic design services in over 100 languages.
Medium Business (50 to 250 full-time employees):
Air Van is based in Kirkland and has 10 full-service facilities throughout the Northwest and Alaska. This family-owned transportation firm redefines the moving and storage business in a technological age. Remo Galvagno joined Air Van as a partner in 1982 and bought the company in full in 1994. Today, led by sons Steve and Marc, Air Van continues to customize services to become a valued business partner with each client. With more than 200 employees, this company is committed to honesty, reliability and innovation.
Large Business (more than 250 full-time employees):
R.D. Merrill Company & Merrill Gardens of Seattle was founded by Richard Dwight (R.D.) Merrill, a timber pioneer and family man. He had a vision to build a business that would last for generations. In the 1890s, R.D. Merrill started harvesting timber and was one of the first to adopt the practice of sustainable harvesting. Today, Charles Wright III is the fourth generation Merrill to run the business. In 1983, in the family’s spirit of entrepreneurial and forward thinking, he launched a diversification into the retirement community business. They now operate 53 retirement communities across eight states with the capacity to serve over 6,700 residents.
New Business (less than 10 years):
Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc. was founded in 1999 by real estate brokers Jim Palmer Jr. and Jim Palmer Sr. This Deer Park firm is a full service real estate company. The firm includes 20 independent contractor agents and office staff. Real Estate Marketplace NW currently sells more property than any other firm between north Spokane and the Canadian border. Future plans include opening up several more offices in neighboring towns in the northeast corner of Washington.
Heritage Business (more than 50 years in the family):
Hama Hama Co. of Lilliwaup began over 100 years ago and was formally incorporated by Harry Robbins in 1922 as a logging company. In 1957, son Richard Robbins began harvesting and then selling Pacific oysters to Seattle area restaurants. He began the branding of oysters and promoted serving in-the-shell oysters, which are now the norm. Over time, the oyster business grew and by the mid-1980s, second-growth timber had matured. In 1985, David Robbins took over management and set up a sustained-yield timber harvest rotation. Today, the Hama Hama Co. has 42 family shareholders, continues to sell oysters and clams, both wholesale and retail, and harvests approximately 40 acres of timber a year.