The Baloian family are the fourth-generation owners of Fresno's Baloian Farms, winner of the FOBA Family Legacy award. Photo by Estela Anahi Jaramillo

The conference room at Pardini’s in Fresno was buzzing Tuesday evening with more than 160 attendees at the fourth-annual Family Owned Business Awards hosted by The Business Journal.

Three well-deserving family businesses took home top awards in the small, medium and large categories — and one company earned “The Family Legacy Award” for firms with at least three generations in business.

The winners for 2024 are:

Small Business Category

 

Orloff Jewelers (3^rd generation)

 

Medium Business Category

 

Inspiration Travel (2^nd generation)

 

Large Business Category

 

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers (3^rd generation)

 

Family Legacy Winner

Baloian Farms (4^th generation)

 

This year, about 40 applications were received from family businesses for the FOBA program. A team of Business Journal managers narrowed the list to 20 companies, which were then evaluated by a team of judges including Business Journal Publisher Gordie Webster; Managing Editor Gabriel Dillard: Taylor Kumpe, CEO of the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance and new CEO of the Fresno Business Council; Mark Smith, senior vice president, market manager, Community West Bank; and Blair Looney – Better Business Bureau.

The businesses were scored on a number of metrics, including succession planning, philanthropic efforts and business success.

Running a multi-generational family business isn’t for the faint of heart, so we would like to acknowledge the honorees who came close to winning a FOBA: John Ventresca Company/Ventresca Company Enterprises, Pappy’s Fine Foods, Quality Homes Services and Shinkawa Dental.

Please read more about the winners and honorees in the Aug. 2 edition of The Business Journal.