Bay Area Firms Among Family Business Winners

Two Bay Area businesses are among winners of the 2005 Florida Family Business of the Year Awards announced by UT's John H. Sykes College of Business. The awards will be presented on Friday, Nov. 18, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Vaughn Center.

The event features panel discussions in the morning, followed by the awards luncheon in the afternoon. Cost is $50 per person, or $360 for a table of eight.

This year¹s winners:

Small Business (fewer than 50 employees): Peltz Shoes, St. Petersburg

Medium-Large Business (50-250 employees): Home Financing Center, Coral Gables/Davie

Large (more than 250 employees): Seretta Construction Inc., Apopka

Heritage (more than 50 years): Photoengraving Inc., Tampa

Community Service: Brownlee Lighting, Orlando

The awards, presented annually by the Sykes College of Business since 2001, honor the best of Florida's family-owned, family-operated businesses.

Criteria include innovation of the business's strategies and practices, expression of positive family values in the business, quality of the link between the family and the business, community contributions, and overall growth and viability. Gov. Bush has declared Nov. 18 "Florida Family Business Day" to coincide with the awards.

For more information, contact Jennifer Brucker, Center and Institute coordinator, at jbrucker@ut.edu or (813) 253-6221, x 3782.