Massachusetts family business enters hall of fame

It didn’t exactly have the Hollywood glamour of some star-studded awards ceremonies, but family business Warren Group was probably a celebrity in its own right at the annual awards organised by independent lobby group Family Business Association.

The Massachusetts-based company, which publishes real estate periodicals and custom magazines, was given the Comcast Spotlight Hall of Fame Award for 2011 to recognise its long-term role in promoting family businesses.

It was quite a big deal for the 135-year-old family company, considering it was competing against 450 other family-run businesses based in the state. But the Warren Group’s continuous contribution to the family business sector gave it a big thumbs-up.

“The Warren Group exemplifies the best qualities in a family business. To have succeeded as a company and in keeping the business as part of the family for 130 years is truly an impressive accomplishment, and they are to be congratulated,” said Edward Tarlow, president of FBA, in a press release.

Founded in 1872 with a single Massachusetts newspaper called Banker & Tradesman, the Warren family involvement began 10 years later with the publication of the Commercial Record by Willard Warren.

Fourth-generation Timothy Warren Jr is currently chief executive of the Warren Group.