For the third year, Westfair Communications is recognizing outstanding family-owned businesses in Westchester and Fairfield counties. The 20 winners, chosen by a panel of judges, will be celebrated at a formal event on Feb. 25 at 1133 Westchester Avenue in White Plains.
The event includes networking with hors d’oeuvres and spirits, entertainment and an award ceremony opened by two different types of family-owned business.
Michael Harney, vice president and tea taster at Harney & Sons Teas, headquartered in Millerton, will speak about his experience working at his family-owned business. Bryan Mellick, the president and CEO of Norwalk-based Hatch & Bailey Co., a lumberyard with a second location in Stamford, will offer the perspective of a non-relative at the top level of a family-owned business.
The event sponsors include gold sponsor, Entergy, silver sponsor, Sterling National Bank and bronze sponsors, Ben’s Deli, Citrin Cooperman and Indeed. Supporters include Buzz Creators, The Bristal Assisted Living, Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors, New York Life Insurance Co. and A.G. Williams Painting Co., a 2015 winner.
The winners are:
Fairfield County
ABERCROMBIE, BURNS, MCKIERNAN & CO. INSURANCE INC. is a full-service, independent insurance agency offering personal, business, life and health insurance services on both a local and national level. Owner Thomas McKiernan was joined by sons Christopher and Kevin in 1992 and Patrick in 2004.
A-QUICK PICK CRANE SERVICE was founded in 1984 by brothers George and Bill Schrade. The company provides crane with operator and rigging service to Connecticut, Massachusetts and Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties and can deliver a bare rental crane anywhere on the East Coast. George’s wife, two sons and daughter have all joined the company.
AGABHUMI, founded by Regina and Michael Kirshbaum in 2002, is a store with locations in Stamford and Barbados that sells clothing, jewelry and accessories from Bali.
BOSAK FUNERAL HOME, founded in 1919, is now managed by the fourth generation of the family, Gerald Bosak Jr., and his wife, Kristella. The business also includes Bosak Monuments, a division focused on the design and creation of cemetery and civic monuments and a consulting arm focused on family-owned and operated homes.
CORNERSTONE CONTRACTING, founded in 1992, is a third-generation construction company enthusiastic about its projects, selective about those undertaken and committed to providing the personnel, service and technology to ensure success.
GERARD B. TRACY ASSOCIATES INC. is a privately owned insurance brokerage and advisory firm. Gerard Tracy, who was later joined by his son Tim Tracy Sr. in 1975, founded the firm in 1948. Tim Tracy Sr. is the company’s current CEO. Tim’s daughter, Sheena Tracy, and Tim Tracy Jr. joined the firm in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
LA JOLIE SALON & SPA was founded in Greenwich in 1960 by Anthony and Lydia Lupinacci. Their daughters, Ann Lupinacci and Cheryl Van Voorhies, are now co-owners, responsible for doubling sales and staff and expanding the space.
MELI MELO/BISTRO V is a second-generation family business dedicated to providing high-quality food in a casual setting at Méli-Mélo Crêperie, Juice Bar & Catering and Bistro V (formerly Versailles).
UNITED HOUSE WRECKING INC. was established in 1954 by three brothers and a brother-in-law as a demolition company. The company evolved into a “salvage business” with a 43,000-square-foot design center and showroom in Stamford.
U.S. CHEMICALS LLC was founded in 1960 by Howard T. Von Oehsen with a goal of offering high-quality chemical products at worldwide pricing with unparalleled customer service. Today, Howard’s daughter, Carol Piccaro, is the president and CEO. Piccaro’s children have recently joined the company board of trustees.
Westchester County
BLOSSOM FLOWER SHOPS is a 90-year-old business with locations in White Plains and Yonkers. Four generations have been involved in the business, and they attribute their success to adopting technology early, offering the latest designs and extraordinary customer service.
FEA HOME, a company specializing in antiques and one-of-a-kind works of art from the Far East and South East Asia, is one of the Rose family’s three companies based in Yonkers. The Roses, made up of Randolph and Ellen and their three sons, are passionate about revitalizing Yonkers through their businesses.
HOULIHAN-PARNES REALTORS LLC, has always been family owned and operated and is celebrating its 125th year of continuous operation. The firm evolved from a carpentry and construction business into property ownership and development and related commercial service businesses. Several members of the fifth generation of the Houlihan family have worked at Houlihan-Parnes Realtors over the last few years.
MARKHOFF & MITTMAN P.C., THE DISABILITY GUYS has been enabling injured workers to return to productive lives since 1933. The third-generation law firm has been helping New Yorkers for almost as long as the work injury laws have been on the books.
MOUNT KISCO TRUCK AND AUTO PARTS was founded in 1916 by Joseph Finkelstein, who started Millers Auto Parts in Manhattan with his brother-in-law. Elliot, Joseph’s son, operated the Mount Kisco location and today his sons, Steven and Peter, run the business.
NEW CRYSTAL RESTORATION, established in 1960, is the first and oldest property damage restoration company in Westchester County. New Crystal Restoration is a multigenerational family-owned business that has helped thousands of property owners faced with damages caused by fire, water and mold.
THALLE INDUSTRIES, a fourth-generation business, is an environmentally responsible supplier of high quality virgin and recycled aggregate, asphalt products and brownfield fill for the construction industry serving the New York metro area and Hudson Valley.
TOMPKINS EXCAVATING is a woman-owned and family-operated residential and commercial excavation/landscape construction company. Stacey Tompkins joined the company in 1991 and became the president and owner in February 2013. She works alongside her husband, Mark Tompkins, the vice president of operations and their three teenage sons.
VALERIE WILSON TRAVEL, headquartered in New York City with an office in Purchase, is one of the largest private women-owned, debt-free and family managed travel-consulting firms in the United States. Valerie Wilson co-owns the company with her two daughters, Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg and Kimberly Wilson Wetty who serve as co-presidents.
WHITE PLAINS LINEN has been dressing the tristate area’s finest tables in restaurants and at events since 1938. President Bruce Botchman, whose great grandfather founded the company, says, “Every member of my team is part of my extended family.”