Georgia Family Business of the Year winners announced
The Cox Family Enterprise Center and Georgia Trend magazine have announced the winners of the 2003…
Georgia (Feb 17, 2003) — Georgia Family Business of the Year winners announced
Staff
Abstract
The Cox Family Enterprise Center and Georgia Trend magazine have announced the winners
of the 2003 Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards. The winners and finalists
are:
Small Category
Winner: Harold A. Dawson Company‚ Inc.‚ Atlanta
Finalists: Fat Man's‚ Augusta
Ocmulgee Fields‚ Inc.‚ Macon
Medium Category
Winner: Systems & Methods‚ Carrollton
Finalists: PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services‚ Alpharetta
The R.A. Siegel Company‚ Atlanta
Large Category
Winner: The Paradies Shops‚ Atlanta
Finalists: White Electrical Construction Co.‚ Atlanta
Kleen−Tex Industries‚ Inc.‚ LaGrange
Adams Transfer and Storage Company Inc. received the Cox Century Award‚ which goes
to a Georgia business that has been owned and family−operated for more than 100 years.
"These companies all show tremendous persistence‚ flexibility and willingness to change‚"
said Cox Family Enterprise Center Director Joe Astrachan‚ who holds the Wachovia Chair
of Family Business. "The winners were chosen on success‚ their ability to combine
work and family‚ and their contributions to the community."
The winners will be profiled in the May issue of Georgia Trend magazine‚ which co−hosts
the competition‚ and honored at a banquet Tuesday‚ May 20.
Sam Johnson‚ Chairman Emeritus of S.C. Johnson Company will be the guest speaker‚
delivering the Milton & Virginia Saul Family Distinguished Lecture in Family Business.
He is the fourth generation of his family to lead the 114−year−old privately held
company. Johnson joined the company in 1954 and spent more than 30 years as Chief
Executive Officer. Under his leadership‚ the $171 million wax company grew to a family
of four thriving businesses with sales over $6 billion. Today‚ an S.C. Johnson company
flag is planted in over 65 countries on six continents and Johnson products are sold
in more than 100 countries around the world.
The banquet will begin with a screening of the film "Carnauba: A Son's Memoir." The
film follows Johnson as he retraces his father's 1935 journey to Brazil to see palm
tress prized for the wax that helped make the family famous.
For more information or to order tickets‚ call the Cox Family Enterprise Center at
770−423−6045.
The sponsors of the Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards include Grant Thornton
LLP; J. Smith Lanier & Co.; the MBA for Experienced Professionals program at the Coles
College of Business at KSU; the Raymond Family Business Institute; and Wachovia Bank.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing
student population of 15‚600 from 118 countries. The fifth largest out of 34 institutions
in the University System of Georgia‚ KSU offers 55 undergraduate and graduate degree
programs.
Cox Century Award: Adams Transfer and Storage Company Inc.‚ Gainesville and Tucker
Adams Transfer and Storage Company Inc. has survived and thrived through a depression‚
recessions‚ natural disasters and three wars. John Loubannon Adams founded the moving
and storage business in Athens‚ Georgia in 1903. When he lost his sight‚ his son Hyram
drove the delivery wagon. Hyram began managing the business at age 15. His son Bob‚
who started working at 14‚ expanded the business to Gainesville and Atlanta. Bob's
son Al is now President of Adams Transfer and Storage‚ while son Jimmy is President
of Adams Data Management. Now in its 4th generation‚ the business has diversified
to include electronic data storage‚ document management and destruction‚ and commercial
leasing. A family member leads every division of the company. Its offices are located
in the historic Gainesville Mill‚ a turn of the century building which the firm renovated.
In the past five years profits are up 23% and assets have increased 83%.
Winner‚ Small Category: Harold A. Dawson Company‚ Inc.‚ Atlanta
Harold A. Dawson Company‚ Inc. (HADCO) develops mixed−used developments‚ which help
create jobs and revitalize underserved communities. Since 1997 HADCO's portfolio has
included $1 billion in projects. Its developments include Museum Tower at Centennial
Hill‚ City Plaza (across from Atlanta City Hall) Cascade Citi−Center‚ and Centerpoint‚
a $78 million dollar development in Baltimore‚ Maryland. Chairman and CEO Harold Dawson
Sr.‚ who grew up in public housing‚ became an entrepreneur at age 9. He entered real
estate in 1957‚ founding his own company in 1969. HADCO President Harold Jr. attended
Princeton University‚ the London School of Economics and Harvard Business School.
The company's projects have expanded tenfold since he joined the business ten years
ago. The firm also operates the Dawson Family Foundation‚ which supports educational‚
religious and civic organizations‚ and endows several scholarships.
Finalist‚ Small Category: Fat Man's‚ Augusta
In 1949 Carolyn and Horace Usry opened a grocery store. Horace' nickname was Fat Man‚
so it was known as Fat Man's Corner. Fat Man's is now a specialty florist‚ holiday
toy and gift shop. Horace' motto was "Almost Anything‚ Almost Anytime − Fat Man's
Got 'em!" During holidays shoppers can expect haunted houses‚ animated displays and
even train rides in the store. President and founder Carolyn Usry still works 50 hours
a week even though she is 71 years old. Her son Brad Usry is Vice−President of Fatsville
Enterprises and President of Fat Man's West.
Finalist‚ Small Category: Ocmulgee Fields‚ Inc.‚ Macon
Ocmulgee Fields‚ Inc. is a commercial retail leasing and development firm founded
in 1951 by Charles H. Jones‚ who remains the Chairman and CEO. He began building shopping
centers in the late 1950s‚ which turned out to be a visionary move. The firm's commercial
and retail space provides jobs and offices for more than 400 businesses employing
8 million people. Its projects include Riverside Plaza‚ Rivergate Shopping Center‚
the Macon Conference Center and many more. The company's president is Charles' son‚
Dwight Jones who carries on the family's mission.
Winner‚ Medium Category: Systems & Methods‚ Inc.‚ Carrollton
Systems & Methods‚ Inc. focuses on systems and services for child support enforcement
and state social services. Its goal is to offer exceptional child support disbursement
and financial management systems to every state and county in the nation. CEO and
Chairman Bob Stone started an accounting business in 1971‚ partly because it was hard
to support his growing family on a college professor's salary. For 25 years‚ his core
business was direct mail issuance of food stamps‚ but five years ago the federal government
decreed that food stamps must be issued electronically. Bob's sons Joe‚ the president‚
and Bill‚ the CFO‚ helped change the core business. The company's sales have doubled
in the past two years despite the complete change in focus. In addition to its many
volunteer efforts‚ the company donates 10% of its earnings to charity.
Finalist‚ Medium Category: PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services‚ Alpharetta‚ Duluth
and Exton‚ Pennsylvania
In 1976‚ Chairman and CEO Jim Docktor established Professional Book Distributors‚
Inc. to provide storage and distribution services to professional association and
book publishers. The company moved to Georgia in 1986. PBD processes all the schoolbooks
for kindergarten through 12th grade in Georgia‚ and serves dozens of nationally known
organizations. Jim's sons are also in the business. Scott is President and Chief Operating
Officer‚ while Greg is Vice President of sales and marketing. Since 1997‚ sales and
the number of employees have almost doubled.
Finalist‚ Medium Category: The R.A Siegel Company‚ Atlanta
"Pop" Siegel was Vice President of Sales with a flooring company when he decided to
buy its Atlanta‚ Chattanooga and Knoxville branches. He opened his own stores in 1950.
By the time he passed away in 1983‚ the business had grown three−fold and won many
industry awards. R.A. Siegel is now the nation's 25th largest flooring wholesaler‚
and serves 30 top markets. Five family members have worked for the company‚ including
Pop's son Chip‚ who is now the CEO.
Winner‚ Large Category: The Paradies Shops‚ Atlanta
South African emigrant I.J. Paradies was already a successful businessman when he
opened a toy shop at Hartsfield Airport in 1960. The Paradies Shops grew to 325 stores
in 59 airports in the U.S. and Canada − that's more shops in more airports than any
other company in the industry. I.J. Paradies has passed away‚ and his son Jim is now
Executive Vice President. Son Gregg is Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer. Another
son‚ Dan‚ is now retired. Jim's daughter Jill Paradies Nagel manages Corporate Human
Resources. The company has overcome much adversity‚ including the slow down in the
travel industry after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Even though air traffic
dropped 20%‚ operating profits were comparable with 1999. Paradies actively contributes
to‚ and stages fundraising events for dozens of charities.
Finalist‚ Large Category: Kleen−Tex Industries‚ Inc.‚ LaGrange
In the 1960s‚ Ralph W. Howard Sr. and Jr. started a business to make washable floor
mats. The mats would help control the dirt that's tracked into offices and industrial
plants. They started Kleen−Tex‚ which became the largest company of its kind. It was
one of the first companies with Georgia ownership to begin manufacturing in Japan‚
and its exports are used worldwide. In 1985‚ the firm bought Wikit‚ Inc.‚ which gave
it a complete line of washable dust control products for the industrial laundry industry.
Eight family members now work for the business.
Finalist‚ Large Category: White Electrical Construction Co.‚ Atlanta
White Electrical is the oldest family−owned electrical contractor in the Southeast.
K.D. White founded the firm with Ralph Walker in 1910 in Rome‚ GA. It played a large
role in the electrification of textile mills across the Southeast. It was also the
electrical contractor for Ft. Benning‚ Camp Gordon‚ Rich's department store on Broad
Street‚ the Hilton Hotel in downtown Atlanta‚ the Fox Theatre‚ and the oldest synagogue
in Atlanta − The Temple. K.D.'s son−in−law Rembert DuBose and grandson Sam have served
as presidents. The DuBose family treats its employees like family‚ including current
president and CEO Gary Clodfelter‚ who is not a blood relative.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
