Air Electro Inc. Air Electro Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that started in 1952 as an after-market aircraft parts supplier. Over time, the Chatsworth-based business narrowed its focus to distributing and manufacturing electronic components for various industries. Air Electro’s manufacturing division serves companies such as Boeing and Airbus. Steven Strull, Air Electro’s president and son of the founder, said the company has thrived because it has adapted to changing customer demands. Strull, who works with his three sons, said the company is expected to generate about $25 million in sales this year. Allied Industries Inc. North Hollywood-based Allied Industries Inc. began with a house painter looking for a new niche — eliminating the hazards of lead-based paint. Founded by three brothers in 1996, Allied Industries is an environmental remediation services company that eliminates lead, asbestos and mold. It also provides services in environmental consulting and engineering, as well as construction. The company had about $34 million in revenue last year, up from $24 million in 2009. It was also recently awarded a five-year, $34-million contract with the U.S. Army. Ernie Gutierrez, the company’s CEO, said separating the boardroom from the dining room table helps keep the business successful. AMS Fulfillment Santa Clarita-based Advantage Media Services Inc., also known as AMS Fulfillment, is growing with the help of two families. The order fulfillment service provider’s revenues have jumped from about $8.5 million in 2008 to about $34 million in 2010. It has now about 600,000 square feet of warehouse space and 225 employees, compared to about 30,000 square feet and 30 employees when it started, said Jay Catlin, the company’s president. The company has eight facilities in Santa Clarita and another site that is opening in the city this year, he said. Catlin founded AMS with his father, but he now runs the business with Ken Wiseman, who is the CEO. Both Catlin and Wiseman have family members employed by the company. Andy Gump Inc. Andy Gump Inc. has become a highly-recognized brand name. The Santa Clarita-based company rents out portable sanitation, temporary fence, temporary power and storage container equipment. Massena “Andy” Gump launched his company in 1956 as an expansion of a septic business he previously bought for $300. Now, the company has seven facilities and 153 employees. It has provided services for major events, including the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Andy Gump is now run by Barry Gump and Nancy Gump-Melancon, the founder’s son and granddaughter. The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn Beverly Garland Holiday Inn: James Crank James Crank’s mission is to carry on his parents’ legacy through The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn. His father opened the North Hollywood hotel in the early 1970s, named it after Crank’s mother — who was an actress — and taught his children the ropes, Crank said. Both of his Crank’s parents are deceased. Employees at the 255-room hotel are considered part of the family, Crank said, noting the hotel started absorbing employees’ health care cost increases when the recession hit. Some employees have been in the family’s lives for 40 years, he said. Crank shares ownership of the hotel with his three siblings, though he serves as asset manager and general partner for the family’s partnership. Frazier Aviation Inc. Aerospace component manufacturer Frazier Aviation Inc. has become more military-focused and global since it started in 1953. The San Fernando-based company was founded by Leona Frazier, who was later joined by her husband. The company, which has 48 employees, is now run by their son, Robert “Bob” Frazier, III. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the business transitioned from serving mainly commercial clients to serving mainly military clients, Bob Frazier said. International sales also now make up between 54 and 60 percent of the company’s total sales, he said. Bob Frazier’s daughter serves on the company’s board of advisors, and he expects his son will soon join the business. Galpin Motors Inc. Galpin Motors Inc. is highly family-oriented. It has 11 members of the founder’s family working in the dealership business. It even has other family groups within its employee base, said Galpin Motors Vice President Beau Boeckmann. Bert Boeckmann, the company’s president, purchased the dealership business in 1964. Now, the company has grown to include seven dealerships in the greater San Fernando Valley region with 978 employees. Beside the Boeckmanns, Galpin is connected to many families with more than one relative working in the business. Some employees have even met their spouses through Galpin, he said. Gold’s Gym Los Angeles Brothers Angel Baños, Jr. and William Baños were the first to franchise Gold’s Gym in the San Fernando Valley. They started their business, called Gold’s Gym Los Angeles, with a single Gold’s Gym health club in North Hollywood in 1988. Now the franchisees have eight locations with a total of 687 employees. Among those are gyms in North Hollywood, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, which employ about 250 people, William Baños said. The brothers have plans to open additional facilities, with two currently in development. L/B/W Insurance Services & Financial Services Inc. L/B/W Insurance & Financial Services Inc. started in 1982 when a father and daughter teamed up to run a full-service insurance agency. Mitzi Like and her father, Donald Like, together started Like Financial. That company, which is now mostly owned by Mitzi Like, became L/B/W Insurance Services when it merged two other partners. L/B/W has 33 employees, including six family members — Mitzi Like, both of her parents, her sister, her husband and her son. One strategy that’s helped the company to grow has been treating all employees like family and assigning family members to serve in business areas that complement their strengths, Mitzi Like said. LAgraphico/ Midnight Oil LAgraphico and Midnight Oil Creative are run by three brothers who took their parents’ creativity to the next level. Burbank-based LAgraphico started in 1978 as a small print broker working in the entertainment industry. The graphics solutions provider is now owned by the founders’ sons — Dan Stillwell, Tom Stillwell and Brandon Gabriel. The sons worked together to expand LAgraphico and to start Midnight Oil, which serves the film and television industries, video game companies and retailers. LAgraphico has 204 employees. Midnight Oil has 59. Regency Lighting Regency Lighting, founded by two long-time family friends, is about to hit a milestone. The Chatsworth-based lighting company is expected to make about $112 million in sales this year, said Ron Regenstreif, the company’s CEO. The company, which has 248 employees and seven facilities, also has plans to open a location in Chicago next year, he said. Regenstreif and Mike Goldstone are the founders and owners of the business, where their children and other family members hold management positions. Regency Lighting’s revenues grew from $37.7 million in 2001 to $91 million last year. The company was founded in 1983. Sit ‘n Sleep Sit ‘n Sleep’s presence in the greater San Fernando Valley region is growing. The Gardena-based mattress and bedding retailer has stores in Glendale, Tarzana, Palmdale, Santa Clarita and Agoura Hills. It is scheduled to open a store in Studio City this fall. Sit ‘n Sleep, which has a total of 26 stores across Southern California, was founded by Larry Miller and his father in 1980. The company had $82.8 in revenue last year. It has 179 full-time employees and more than 60 contract employees. Miller and his business partner, Nelson Bercier, both have children that have worked and continue to work in the company. Swaner Hardwood Co. Inc. Swaner Hardwood Co. Inc. started 44 years ago in Glendale as a small hardwood brokerage company. Now Swaner Hardwood manufacturers its own hardwood products and sells them through Home Depot and other retailers, said Keith Swaner, who started the business with just one office employee. The company is now based in Burbank and has 197 employees nationwide, with about 63 employees working locally, he said. Swaner Hardwood now makes more than $60 million a year. The business has supplied hardwood products for the Getty Center museum and the home of Bill and Melinda Gates. Swaner works with his son, his son-in-law and their sons. Valley Recycling Valley Recycling has had rapid revenue growth. The Chatsworth-based recycling company, which provides environmental management and recycling services for businesses, was founded in 1994 by Sam Samzadeh; his son, Sepand Samzadeh; his wife and a friend. Another family member has also recently joined the team. Sepand Samzedeh said the company will probably make more than $6 million in sales this year, compared to sales of about $800,000 in 2001. While the older generation is the backbone of the business, the younger generation has helped provide services to larger companies and add new business lines, he said.
Valley Area Family Businesses Showing Growth
