Family-owned businesses: largest greater San Fernando Valley-based companies ranked by number of employees.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THIS year's list of largest family-owned businesses in the greater San Fernando Valley includes a diverse array of companies from manufacturers to retailers.

Among the most prevalent types of businesses on the Business Journal's list are aerospace/defense companies and auto dealerships.

The Valley's largest family-owned businesses include five auto dealerships--Galpin Motors, Vista Automotive Family, Sage Automotive Group, Center Automotive Inc. and Auto Stiegler.

Three aerospace/defense companies also appear on the listing--Klune Industries, Delta Scientific and Natel Engineering.

The Valley is also home to two family-owned businesses that operate Italian restaurants, including Maria's Italian Kitchen and Sisley Italian Kitchen, along with restaurant franchiser, Cimms Inc. And it houses two food manufacturing operations--Western Bagel Bakery, which also retails, and Okami Foods, makers and distributors of sushi products.

Calabasas-based ValleyCrest Companies is the largest family-owned business located in the San Fernando Valley area, with 8,000 employees and 221 offices nationwide.

Cimms, with corporate offices in Glendale, is No. 2 on the list with 3,800 employees and four offices. Cimms operates Burger King and other restaurant franchises.

At No. 4, Metrocities Mortgage also made our top five. The mortgage company has a total of 1,125 employees and 21 offices.

--Shannon Sindorf

THE PACESETTER

VALLEYCREST COMPANIES

VALLEYCREST Companies was founded in 1949 by Burton S. Sperber as a small landscape retail nursery in North Hollywood with a $700 investment. Sperber still runs the company as its CEO and has seen it grow into a nation: wide landscape business.

With 2004 revenues of $705 million, ValleyCrest employs 800 people in the greater San Fernando Valley, and has 8,000 employees and 221 locations nationwide.

The company went public in the early 1970s to finance its growth, and bought back its public stock and became a private company again in the 1980s. Burton S. Sperber maintains majority ownership, and members of the Sperber family also have stakes.

ValleyCrest has grown to have a truly national presence, and has designed and built landscapes for corporate campuses, hotels and resorts, golf courses, theme parks and sport venues, among others. Some current ValleyCrest projects include the San Fernando MTA Rapid Transit and Huntington Botanical Gardens.

--Shannon Sindorf

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES

Largest greater San Fernando Valley-based companies ranked by number
of employees

Rank   Company                            Employees   No. of Offices
       * name
       * address

 1     ValleyCrest Companies                8,000          221
       24121 Ventura Blvd.
       Calabasas 91302
 2     Cimms Inc.                           3,800           4
       620 N. Brand Blvd.
       Glendale 91302
 3     Galpin Motors                        1,095           3
       15505 Roscoe Blvd.
       North Hills 91343
 4     Metrocities Mortgage                 1,125           21
       15301 Ventura Blvd., Suite D300
       Sherman Oaks 91403
 5     Vista Automotive Family               700            5
       21501 Ventura Blvd.
       Woodland Hills 91364
 6     Boething Treeland Farms Inc.          650            9
       23475 Long Valley Rd.
       Woodland Hills 91367
 7     MGA Entertainment                     600            9
       16380 Roscoe Blvd.
       Van Nuys 91406
 8     OPI Products Inc.                     600            na
       13034 Saticoy St.
       North Hollywood 91605
 9     MicroSolutions Enterprises            500            4
       9111 Mason Ave.
       Chatsworth 91311
10     Vast Resources                        500            1
       9401 DeSoto Ave.
       Chatsworth 91311
11     Remo Inc.                             435            3
       28101 Industry Dr.
       Valencia 91355
12     Maria's Italian Kitchen               430            10
       16535 Arminta St.
       Van Nuys 91406
13     Western Bagel Baking Corp.            400            13
       7814 Sepulveda Blvd.
       Van Nuys 91405
14     Okami Foods                           400            4
       11019 Penrose St.
       Sun Valley 91352
15     Klune Industries Inc.                 400            2
       7323 Coldwater Canyon Dr.
       North Hollywood 91605
16     Robbins Bros.                         350            7
       300 W. Colorado St.
       Glendale 91204
17     Marfred Industries                    300            6
       12708 Branford St.
       Sun Valley 91352
18     Sisley Italian Kitchen                300            5
       15300 Ventura Blvd.
       Sherman Oaks 91403
19     Delta Scientific                      300            2
       24901 West Avenue Stanford
       Valencia 91355
20     Thiblant International                295            1
       20320 Prairie St.
       Chatsworth 91311
21     Westlake Village Inn                  250            1
       31949 Agoura Rd.
       Westlake Village 91361
22     Sage Automotive Group                 250            na
       812 S. Brand Ave.
       Glendale 91204
23     Natel Engineering                     225            2
       9340 Owensmouth Ave.
       Chatsworth 91311
24     Auto Stiegler                         200            2
       16721 Ventura Blvd.
       Encino 91346
25     Montrose Travel                       175            4
       2349 Honolulu Ave.
       Montrose 91020
26     Center Automotive Inc.                160            2
       5201 Van Nuys Blvd.
       Van Nuys 91401
27     Alfred Publishing                     150            2
       16320 Roscoe Blvd.
       Van Nuys 91410
28     Gold Graphics                         105            1
       12450 Montague St.
       Pacoima 91331

Rank             Major Ownership                  Type of Business
                  * year founded

 1          Burton S. Sperber & family            landscape service
                       1949
 2      Larry Cimmarusti, Ralph Cimmarusti      restaurant franchisee
                       1976
 3           Herbert F. Boeckmann II               auto dealership
                       1953
 4                  Paul Wylie                    mortgage company
                       1989
 5                 Steve Shuken                    auto dealership
                       1974
 6            John & Susan Boething             wholesale tree grower
                       1952
 7                 Isaac Larian                   toy manufacturer
                       1979
 8               George Schaeffer             nail polish manufacturer
                       1981
 9           Avi Wazana & Yoel Wazana              imaging supply
                       1995                         manufacturer
10         Marty Tucker, Scott Tucker,         adult novelty products
                  Michael Siegel                    manufacturer
                       1973
11                  Remo Belli                 drum head manufacturer
                       1957
12                Madelyn Alfano                  restaurant chain
                       1985
13                 Steve Ustin                 bagel manufacturer and
                       1947                           retailer
14        Laura McKee & Mary DeMartinis             sushi makers
                       1996
15                  Jim Clune                  aerospace manufacturer
                       1972
16                Steve Robbins               engagement ring retailer
                       1959
17       Jerry Weissman, Marvin Fenster &         industrial supply
                   Fred Fenster                     manufacturer
                       1964
18         Jamie Alba and Francine Alba           restaurant chain
                       1989
19     Harry Dickinson & Margaret Dickinson       aerospace/defense
                       1974                         manufacturer
20               Patrick Thibiant             health & beauty products
                       1976                         manufacturer
21                John L. Notter                        hotel
                       1968
22                 Morris Sage                     auto dealership
                       1969
23                 Sudesh Arora                aerospace manufacturer
                       1975
24               John W. Stiegler                  auto dealership
                       1959
25                 Joe McClure                      travel agency
                       1990
26              David M. Ferguson                  auto dealership
                       1968
27                 Manus family                  musical instruction
                       1922                           publisher
28       Andy Gold, Ken Gold, Albert Gold        sign manufacturers
                       1951

Rank   Top Local Executive
       * name
       * title
       * phone number

 1     Burton S. Sperber
       founder & ceo
       [phone]
 2     Larry Cimmarusti
       ceo
       [phone]
 3     Herbert F. Boeckmann II
       owner, president
       [phone]
 4     Paul Wylie
       ceo
       [phone]
 5     Steve Shuken
       ceo
       [phone]
 6     John Boething
       president & ceo
       [phone]
 7     Isaac Larian
       owner & ceo
       [phone]
 8     George Schaeffer
       president & ceo
       [phone]
 9     Yoel Wazana
       president
       [phone]
10     Scott Tucker
       president & ceo
       [phone]
11     Remo Belli
       founder & chairman
       [phone]
12     Madelyn Alfano
       owner
       [phone]
13     Steve Ustin
       president & ceo
       [phone]
14     Laura McKee/Mary DeMartinis
       co-owners
       [phone]
15     Gordon Clune
       president
       [phone]
16     Steve Robbins
       chairman, ceo
       [phone]
17     Marvin Fenster
       ceo & president
       [phone]
18     Janie Alba
       owner
       [phone]
19     Harry & Margaret Dickinson
       owners
       [phone]
20     Patrick Thibiant
       president & ceo
       [phone]
21     Amy Commans
       general manager
       [phone]
22     Morris Sage
       owner
       [phone]
23     Sudesh Arora
       owner
       [phone]
24     John W. Stiegler
       general manager
       [phone]
25     Joe McClure
       president
       [phone]
26     David M. Ferguson
       owner
       [phone]
27     Morty Manus
       president
       [phone]
28     Ken Gold
       vice president
       [phone]

Note: Information for this list was provided by the companies
themselves. Companies were ranked by their number of employees. If two
companies reported the same number of employees, they were further
ranked by their number of locations or offices.

To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of press
time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and
thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors sometimes
occur. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to
the Research Department, San Fernando Business Journal, 21600 Oxnard
St., Suite 250, Woodland Hills 91367. [c] 2005 San Fernando Valley
Business Journal. This list may not be reported in whole or in part
without prior written permission from the editor. Reprints are
available from Wrighfs Reprints, [phone] ext.104 or e-mail
[e-mail].

Researched by Shannon Sindorf