Quebec businesses recognized for innovation and commitment to community
As part of the 2012 Family Enterprise Research Conference held May 11 at Concordia, local family-owned businesses were recognized by the Montreal-based accounting firm Fuller Landau LLP and Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB).
The Fuller Landau Family Business Awards recognize Quebec-based, family-owned businesses whose policies and business practices have a positive impact on the community and stimulate economic growth through local entrepreneurial ventures.
Nominees were evaluated based on the financial success of their companies; quality of business and family linkages; multi-generational family involvement; contributions to the community; and industry and innovative business practices or strategies.
The judging panel, co-chaired by JMSB faculty members Michael Carney and Alexandra Dawson, included Terry Didus, partner at Heenan Blaikie LLP; Michèle Desjardins, president of Koby Consulting and senior associate at Lansberg, Gersick and Associates; J. Sebastian van Berkom, president and CEO of Van Berkom and Associates Inc.; and last year’s winners, Norman Hébert, Jr., president and CEO of Groupe Park Avenue Inc., and Leslie Machan, Jr., vice-president of Pension Planning Centre.
“Once again, it was a pleasure to see the JMSB, Fuller Landau and the family business community come together to celebrate the achievements of the winners,” said Michael Newton, managing partner at Fuller Landau. “Family businesses are the backbone of our economy. Congratulations to the winning enterprises – those that have clearly excelled at transitioning to the next generation while maintaining a strong and viable organization.”
The winning company in the medium-sized business category (25 to 100 full-time employees or between $1 and $5 million in annual revenue) was Les Entreprises Daniele Henkel, a manufacturer, distributor, laboratory and training centre specializing in non-surgical products for the professional health and beauty industry.
Heritage Linencraft, which specializes in the import and distribution of bed and bath linens, took home the award for large-sized business (more than 100 full-time employees or more than over $5 million in annual revenues).
Also recognized at the ceremony was a group of JMSB students who wrote a report as part of their Entrepreneurial Family Business course. The winners of the Best Student Paper Award were Katty Lara, Bethsabeth Paz and Santiago Molano for their report on Groupe HMH, a family-owned company and one of the largest independent publishing houses in Quebec.
The judges felt that the MBA students conducted an in-depth analysis, using multiple analytical frameworks and provided tremendous recommendations related to leadership succession planning.
JMSB Interim Dean Alan Hochstein congratulated the winners in his speech and mentioned that JMSB is committed to being involved in the domain of entrepreneurship and family business studies.
“This is evidenced by the today's proceedings and by the hosting of this weekend’s Family Enterprise Research Conference.” He also thanked Fuller Landau for having established the awards and the judging panel for rising to the challenge of selecting just two winners from a long list of worthy candidates.
Related links:
• John Molson School of Business
• Fuller Landau LLP
• See more photos from the event
• Daniele Henkel