The Family Owned Business Institute Reports that “ There are 5.5 million family businesses in the United States. Family owned businesses contribute 57% of the GDP and employ 63% of the workforce (Family Enterprise USA, 2011).  That means family owned businesses employ over 98 million people! In addition, family businesses are responsible for 78% of all new job creation (Astrachan and Schanker, (2003) Family Business Review 16(3) 211-219).” We are proud to have grown our little family owned business into a big happy family with over 80 members.

Like a family, we laugh, we cry, we disagree, and we are there for each other when in need. As for us, we have worked together for going on 20 years and married for over 25 years and we have been often asked how we do it. Ted says, “we stay in different areas of the building and sync our calendars” but the truth of it is that we talk about work a lot but we also take time to enjoy our personal time as a family. We treat each other as colleagues and have respect for each other’s roles and responsibilities. It does not hurt that Ted also lives by the motto, “Happy wife, happy life”…LOL! We are grateful to our entire BFW Family and welcome new members. We would not want to face challenges and celebrate successes with anyone else.

The story does not end with us, a husband and wife team, we have lots of family members who work together at BFW and we can’t forget Dad. Dad has been working with us for nearly 15 years since retiring from the insurance industry. Paid with hot meals and access to the snack closet he started as a Consultant and climbed to be the Sr. Consultant having a variety of responsibilities including writing and presenting continuing education courses.  Check out our “All in the Family” section and find out what the Brothers, the Mother – Daughter Duo, and the Father – Son team like about working together.

And there is more to the BFW family that often extends with spouses, children and even pets. Yes, our own children have been put to work too. There are pros and cons to being a family business but we would not want it any other way.

Thank you for choosing the BFW Family in your times of need. We are grateful for your support.