The Faces of Family Businesses
Family-owned businesses generate 62 percent of the country’s employment and 78 percent of all new job creation in the United States. As the backbone of Boston’s economy, these booming family businesses come from all different backgrounds. Below, click through some of Boston’s iconic family-owned companies and get to know the faces behind them.
Anto Aboyan & Veronica Sagherian
ADAMAS FINE JEWELRY
Newton | 617-558-8899 | adamasfinejewelry.com
At the heart of Adamas Fine Jewelry’s iconic design team is Anto Aboyan, who has been designing and making jewelry since the age of 18. He launched Adamas Fine Jewelry in the suburb of Newton alongside his sister, Veronica Sagherian, where the brother-sister duo has been thriving for more than 20 years. They established themselves as the go-to destination for beautiful custom-designed jewelry, specializing in wedding and engagement rings. The entire design team is trained to meet the client’s individual needs so the final product reflects the personal aesthetic and personality of the wearer. Years of success have allowed the family partners to open sister store IMPULSE by Adamas Fine Jewelry in Wellesley, which offers a more diverse selection of fine and fashion jewelry with a similar luxury experience.From left to right: Anto Aboyan and Veronica Sagherian
The Ali Family
WELLESLEY DENTAL GROUP
Wellesley | 781-237-9071 | wellesleydentalgroup.com
Twenty years ago, husband-and-wife team Drs. Ejaz and Femina Ali morphed their passion for dentistry and their dedication to serving their community when they started Wellesley Dental Group. Together, the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine graduates created a culture with strong values: a commitment to excellence, honesty, integrity, and customer service. Their vision became reality as WDG developed into a premier multi-specialty practice serving patients of all ages in the Greater Boston community. Following in her parents’ esteemed footsteps, Dr. Zarah Ali joined the family practice in 2015. Her mission has been to embrace the culture that makes WDG unique, while incorporating cutting-edge technology and innovative techniques to advance the frontier of general and cosmetic dentistry. Together, the two generations of Drs. Ali are devoted to providing personalized dental care in a friendly, caring, concierge-style environment. From routine care to smile makeovers, the Drs. Ali are changing the way their patients smile. From left to right: Dr. Zarah Ali, Dr. Ejaz Ali, and Dr. Femina Ali
The Barsoum Family
DIVINE DESIGN CENTER
Boston | 617-443-0700 | divinedesigncenter.com
For Divine Design co-founders Mariette and Magued Barsoum, their journey from Cairo to today is a story of both figurative and literal modeling. Founded in 2004 after the birth of their daughter, and just a decade after the couple’s permanent move from Egypt to Massachusetts, Divine Design is a homage to luxury European interiors. Their passion for integrating both form and function into the lives of their clients helps them build the ideal space for a family’s specific lifestyle. The Barsoums are celebrating one year in their new, 8,000-square-foot showroom in Battery Wharf, offering the crème de la crème in both traditional and contemporary furniture design with some of the city’s most distinguished interior designers, architects, and foremen. Whether it be a side table or a full kitchen remodel, the Divine team provides the Greater Boston area with a gambit of tastes and styles in only the highest quality. Specializing in kitchen, bathroom, wardrobe, and furniture design, the Barsoums welcome your family into theirs. From left to right: Mariette and Magued Barsoum
The Clarke Family
CLARKE DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION
Boston Seaport and Milford | 800-842-5275 | clarkeliving.com
In 1991, Tom Clarke launched Clarke Distribution Corporation, becoming the first New England wholesale distributor for appliance leader Sub-Zero. He then pioneered the nation’s first Sub-Zero showroom and proved the value of homeowners cooking on appliances to help guide their kitchen design. This interactive concept has been nationally embraced by Sub-Zero and Wolf. After learning every facet of the business, Tom’s son Sean became president in 2015. The team has earned honors including Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, national design awards for all three showrooms, and Sean was recently named a “Top 50 Innovator” in the kitchen industry. Sean’s sister Jill leads the Clarke Family Foundation, while her husband Mike Fotiades is Clarke’s director of operations and the driving force behind their service company Clarke Customer Care. However, none of this would have happened without Tom’s dad, Jim Clarke, Sr., meeting Sub-Zero founder Westye Bakke in 1959, and becoming Sub-Zero’s top independent sales rep. His legacy continues through 60 years of driving retail innovation and serving New England architects, designers, and homeowners.From left to right: Tom Clarke, CEO, and Sean Clarke, President
The Connolly Family
HERB CONNOLLY AUTO GROUP
Framingham | 800-696-9313 | herbconnolly.com
Herb Connolly Auto Group is a family-owned auto dealership group owned by brothers Chris, Adam, Brendan, and Doug Connolly. The business was founded in 1918 in Brighton by their great-grandfather Herb Connolly, Sr. His son, Herb Connolly, Jr., moved the business to Boston in 1955, where it became one of the largest dealerships in the state, before taking up residence in Framingham in 1974. Adam and Chris became the fourth generation to run the company when they took over from their grandfather in 1995. Doug and Brendan joined their brothers in the business in 2000 and 2002. Offering Acura, Chevrolet, Genesis, Hyundai, and a body shop, the group has serviced drivers in Massachusetts for a century, selling more than 5,000 new and used vehicles last year while exceeding $200 million in total sales. The company employs more than 150 people. “We love working together and are so proud to be celebrating 100 years in business,” says Chris Connolly, Jr. “We’re hands-on owners who’ve worked hard to create a family atmosphere and culture with our employees. It’s always been our goal to provide exceptional service and to make things quick and easy for our customers.”From left to right: Chris, Jr., Adam, Brendan, and Doug Connolly
The Florence Family
THE KAYDON GROUP
Canton | 781-769-7110 | kaydongroup.com
Consisting of three divisions (Florence Electric, Kaydon Integrated Technologies, and Kaydon Realty), The Kaydon Group was founded in 2004 by Eli and David Florence with a mission to exceed customers’ expectations. Their core values of teamwork, philanthropy, and employee development helped them achieve this goal. The Kaydon Group is a one-stop shop for all of your electrical and security building technology services. Their proven flexibility and innovation makes no job too big or too small—whether it’s a world-class hospital or an emergency service call. Named one of the largest privately held companies, one of the largest family-owned businesses in Massachusetts, one of the largest electrical contractors, and one of the best places to work by Boston Business Journal, the team’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. ENR recognized The Kaydon Group as one of the top 600 specialty contractors in the U.S., and ABC awarded them with the Platinum Safety Award and the Excellence in Construction Award year after year. With new and experienced talent alike, The Kaydon Group looks forward to a bright and prosperous future ahead.From left to right: Kayla, Eli, and David Florence
The Giblin Family
BRENDON PROPERTIES, INC
Southborough | 508-485-3999 | brendonhomes.com
For years, nationally award-winning Brendon Properties has lived up to its reputation as the home builder of choice in the MetroWest area. The Brendon Properties name is synonymous with quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction, renowned for extraordinary design and construction of luxury homes and estates. Brendon Properties continues to extend the highest standards of excellence to every home that bears its signature.
Owner Kevin Giblin passed away on April 3, 2017. His son, Brendon, remembers his father fondly. “My dad founded our business about 40 years ago, and I joined him 20 years in,” says Giblin. “As a veteran, he was a well-respected businessman and very outgoing and charitable. We were as much friends as we were father and son and partners. I learned a lot from my dad about business, but more importantly, he taught me how to treat people. He was a great father, friend, and grandparent, and he will always be missed.”From left to right: Kevin and Brendon Giblin
The Holland Family
THE HOLLAND COMPANIES
Boston | 617-556-2900 | thehollandcompanies.com
With more than 100 years of combined experience in the design, engineering, and construction industries, the Holland Companies are comprised of three businesses: M. Holland & Sons Construction, Inc., Holland Development, and Holland Properties. Managing hundreds of townhouses, single family residences, and commercial projects, they offer unique services to buyers by providing historical designs, sound re-engineering, and quality construction in challenging building environments.From left to right: Joe and Michael Holland, Sr.; Ann Cipullo; Mike, Paul, and John Holland
The Lipsett Family
CHARLES RIVER APPAREL
Sharon | 800-225-0550 | charlesriverapparel.com
What started with a rain jacket in 1983 has evolved into a nationally recognized brand that provides a wide-ranging collection of comfortable and stylish apparel for the whole family. As Charles River Apparel celebrates their 35th year in business, the Lipsett family is proud of the legacy they have built with their family, employees, and customers. They look forward to growing the business and giving back to the community for generations to come.From left to right: Barry, Jason, and Deb Lipsett, and their dog Neko
The Lombardo Family
LOMBARDO'S
Randolph | 781-986-5000 | lombardos.com
Lombardo’s is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business. Founded by Vincent Lombardo, Sr., Lombardo’s began as a meat market in East Boston in 1927. That shop would later grow into a supermarket chain and then to two onsite catering event venues located in East Boston and Randolph. This year marks the 91st year of the family’s business. Currently, the Lombardo family operates Lombardo’s event venue and Vincent’s Nightclub, both located in Randolph, plus various commercial real estate properties throughout East Boston and Winthrop. Lombardo’s recently launched a new division specializing in corporate drop-off catering called Lombardo’s To Go. There are seven full-time family members who are employed by the company, and the family takes pride in having strong relationships with each other and regularly schedules “family days” to strengthen their bond. They have also created a family hiring and employee protocol system to ensure that the family and business work cohesively together.From left to right: (Back row) David Barros; David, Dennis, and Vincent Lombardo; (Front row) Francesca and Paula Lombardo; Nina Barros and Jessica Bigge
The Marzilli Family
R.P. MARZILLI & COMPANY
Medway | 508-533-8700 | rpmarzilli.com
As a high school and college student, Bob Marzilli worked with his grandfather’s landscaping business and was inspired to learn more about the industry. In 1985, he started his own company and, together with his wife Christine, they offer opportunity and inspiration for their talented employees. The company is proud of its professional team that builds and maintains the finest landscapes. Bob Marzilli
The Montilio Family
MONTILIO'S BAKING COMPANY
Boston | 508-894-8855 | montilios.com
Montilio’s Baking Company is a premier bakery based in Boston that has been serving New England for more than 70 years. George Montilio is a third-generation owner and his daughter Elissa is fourth generation and the Director of Weddings/Special Events. The bakery is known for their beautiful and traditional wedding cakes. Under the direction of Elissa, they are focusing on up-and-coming desserts and design for the modern wedding and bride. From left to right: George and Elissa Montilio
The Newton Family
C.H. NEWTON BUILDERS, INC.
Falmouth | 508-548-1353 | chnewton.com
What do you look for in a house? A home, right? More than just the function. The feel. Somewhere solid and safe through wind and storms. Somewhere open and inviting where you always feel connected, but still have your own space. A place that’s timeless yet keeps pace with the times. A place that protects memories and shapes new ones. C.H. Newton has been meticulously building custom homes for generations of New England families since 1958. They’ve built their company the same way–same blueprint and same dedication to quality. To them, a house is more than a home–it’s an heirloom, and the 40-plus people who work for C.H. Newton are more than just the best craftsmen and tradesmen in the business. They’re family. Their standards are different. So, if you’re looking for a house, there are lots of them available. If you’re looking for a home, they might be the right choice for you, but if you’re looking for an heirloom, there’s only one choice: C.H. Newton.From left to right: Ryan and David Newton
The Towle & Joyal Families
WAYNE TOWLE, MASTER FINISHING & RESTORATION, INC.
Needham | 781-449-1313 | waynetowle.com
Wayne and Debbie Towle have been in the furniture and architectural wood-refinishing business since 1980. Their daughter Whitney and her fiancée Ryan have joined them and are an integral part of the company’s goal to offer quality refinishing and restoration services for another generation. They make wood and furniture beautiful.From left to right: Debbie and Wayne Towle, Ryan Joyal, and Whitney Towle
The Zimman Family
ZIMMAN'S
Lynn | 781-598-9432 | zimmans.com
From A to Z, Zimman’s has everything you need in home decor. Family-owned and operated for over a century, visit their 40,000-square-foot showroom and learn quickly why they win Best of Boston® year after year. Select from over 50,000 in-stock fabrics, the best in American bench-made upholstered furniture, and unique case goods, rugs, lighting, and accessories. Their team of highly experienced designers are there to offer free in-store design services. Give them a little direction and you will be on your way to a new and beautiful environment. In need of re-upholstery, window treatments, bedding, pillows, or slipcovers? Zimman’s has you covered! They design, measure, install, pick-up, and deliver. Their award-winning workroom will complete your projects effortlessly and beautifully! A favorite spot for tourists, a “secret” source for designers, architects, and stylists for stage and screen, Zimman’s colossal selection of fabrics and unrivaled, expert service makes Zimman’s the iconic home décor destination for generations of informed consumers. From left to right: Michael and Daniel Zimman
