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That's So 1984

Published Friday Nov 14, 2014

Author ERIKA COHEN

Editor’s Note: We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary! 1984 marked our first full year of publication and to celebrate we’re taking a look back.

 Businesses have come and gone over the years, but one thing hasn’t changed: Family businesses, both in 1984 and today, account for about a third of the Fortune 500 according to Business NH Magazine research in 1984 and the University of NH Center for Family Business in Durham.

In November 1984, we looked at the relationship dynamics in family businesses. At that time we wrote about Process Engineering in Plaistow and quoted vice president Kenneth Paul as saying, “One of the reasons we’re successful is that it is only my father and I, and this company is large enough so that we can stay out of each other’s way.”

Process Engineering was later sold by the Paul family and the name was changed to Chart Inc., which now has a small satellite office in Plaistow. While this kind of genesis is not uncommon, there are still many family businesses thriving in NH, some that have been in the same family for decades or even centuries.

Three years ago, Business NH Magazine started producing a list of the Top Family Businesses in partnership with the UNH Center for Family Business. In 2014, 161 businesses with revenue of $1 million to more than $1 billion were ranked.

We also learned about the economic punch these businesses pack as 38 have annual revenues more than $25 million and 10 have been in business for more than 100 years.

 BNH Seeks the Business Leader and Businesses of the Year

Does your business have what it takes to become the next Business of the Year? Are you a leader in your industry and in your community? Then visit
BusinessNHmagazine.com to apply for the Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year competition.

Business NH Magazine and the NH Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives are accepting applications for Business of the Year in nine industry categories: Business Services, Education/Nonprofit, Financial Services/Insurance, Health Care, Manufacturing/Technology, Real Estate/Construction/Engineering, Retail/Wholesale, Tourism/Hospitality, and Business Assistance Organization, which will honor a government or nonprofit organization in NH that supports NH businesses. One Business Leader of the Year will also be honored.

Applications are available online by clicking on the competitions button on the Business NH Magazine home page. Applications are due by Jan. 9, 2015.

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