KSU announces “Georgia Family Business of the Year” award winners, finalists

Annual prizes given by the Cox Family Enterprise Center at the Coles College of Business

News Release

Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770-423-6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu

Contact: Aixa Pascual at (678) 797-2549 or apascual@kennesaw.edu

KENNESAW, Ga. (May 26, 2009) — The Cox Family Enterprise Center, housed at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, has announced the winners of the “2009 Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards.” The 18th annual awards dinner will be held on May 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, co-hosted by Georgia Trend magazine.

“Since 1991, the Cox Family Enterprise Center has honored the best in Georgia-based family businesses,” said Joe Astrachan, executive director of the Cox Family Enterprise Center. “We are proud to once again have a great group of winners and finalists who have withstood the test of time, have flourished due to strong values and savvy business sense, and who are community leaders and innovators.”

The winners, and finalists, are:

Cox Century Award: Case Veterinary Hospital (Savannah), the only hospital in the world that can boast four direct generations of veterinarians.
The Cox Century Award is given to a family business that has been in business for at least 100 years.

Large Business (250+ employees) : J&J/Invision (Dalton), a leading commercial carpet manufacturer. This is a family business with multiple families involved in ownership and operation since its beginning in 1957.
Finalists: Bennett International Group, McDonough
Butler Automotive Group, Macon

Medium Business (50-250 employees): Turner Furniture Company (Tifton), a fourth-generation retail furniture chain with seven stores in Tifton, Albany, Moultrie and Valdosta.
Finalists:
N.A. Williams, Atlanta
Traton Homes, Marietta

Small Business (fewer than 50 employees): Acree Oil Company (Toccoa), a wholesale petroleum-products company with three generations currently involved.
Finalists:
Jones Wynn Funeral Home, Douglasville
Orkin & Associates, Milton

The annual awards are presented to Georgia family businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to both business and family. In addition to business success, those businesses recognized have demonstrated positive family/business linkage, multi-generational involvement, contributions to industry and community, and innovative business practices and strategy.

Winners are nominated for this award each fall and nominees must then complete an extensive application. A panel of independent judges selects the winners and finalists. Each year, the Cox Family Enterprise Center receives more than 100 applications. Winners are chosen in four categories: Small (fewer than 50 employees; Medium (50 – 250 employees); Large (250+ employees); and the Cox Century Award, given to a family business that is at least 100 years old.

The public is invited to the “2009 Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards” dinner May 28. To purchase tickets, tables, or to obtain more information, please call the Cox Family Enterprise Center at 770-423-6045.

About the Cox Family Enterprise Center

Since 1987, the Cox Family Enterprise Center has been dedicated to the education, recognition and research of family businesses. As one of the first university-based centers of its kind, the Cox Family Enterprise Center remains on the cutting edge of family business education and research and has played a critical role in serving family businesses and furthering economic development.

For more information on the Cox Family Enterprise Center, please visit
www.kennesaw.edu/fec

###

Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education, business and nursing. A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,500 from 142 countries.