Los Angeles Business Journal 2003 Family-Owned Business Awards.

Small Business Award

Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers, Inc.

From its humble beginnings as a "mom and pop" jewelry shop in 1946, Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers has grown to become the longest-lasting merchant in Westwood Village. Today, its staff of 13 includes three active generations of Friedmans, including founders Sunny and Lenny, their daughter and son-in-law, son and daughter-in-law, and grandson.

With an eye toward giving something back to their community, members of the Sarah Leonard family have been active in virtually every Westwood Village community organization and service club for more than fifty years. In addition, every member of the family has been a community or industry speaker on gems and the jewelry business. Proud as the business is to boast three active generations, they are even prouder to be serving their fourth generation of many of their clients--evidence of their 56 years of continual growth and the loyalty of their clients.

Medium Business Award

Santa Monica Seafood Company

The epitome of a strong family-owned business, Santa Monica Seafood Company boasts seven Cigliano family siblings who currently own the company and participate in its operations. The business has been in existence for 64 years through three generations of Cigliano and Deluca family members, founded in 1939 by two uncles of the current owners, Jack and Frank Deluca. In 1981, Gerald Cigliano, the company's current president, along with his siblings and father, cobbled together enough money to purchase the business from his uncles.

Today, the business, which distributes high quality seafood products while maintaining three retail outlets, employs more than 175 people and has become something of an institution in Southern California--providing many of the finest restaurants in the area with fresh seafood selections.

Large Business Award

Universal Care

A pioneer in the field of managed care since as early as 1963, Howard Davis brainstormed on an idea that would help him achieve his desire to provide everyone--including the underserved--with quality health care. In 1983 he established Universal Care. Under his stewardship, nearly 1200 employees work to provide California's diverse population with quality healthcare that meets particular needs.

Apart from Howard, who is the company's President/CEO, the positions of Executive Vice President, COO/CFO, Vice President of Development and Vice President of Medical Operations are all held by members of the Davis family. The family and their colleagues are responsible for providing and arranging healthcare for more than 350,000 Southern Californians via more than 170 hospitals.

Emerging Business Award

Meridian Automotive Design

After one year of strategic planning, store location and design and product line selection, Meridian officially opened its doors on June 1st of this year, offering clients high performance automotive tuning and design enhancement for the fine European automobile after market. It is the vision of proprietors Matthew Smith and Raymond Sjolseth, both in their 20s, and the company's chairman, George Smith, to bring a shared passion for cutting edge automotive excellence to perfecting all aspects of performance for their clients--owners of fine European cars.

By providing a new level in customized client relationships, Meridian saw sales exceeding $50,000 per week by the company's 11th week of business--thanks exclusively to word of mouth and referrals. Meridian will be displaying 6 "Campaign Cars" at the next Los Angeles Automobile Show and the company now projects $5 million in sales for its 2nd year in business.

Longevity Award

Dart Entities, Inc.

Dart was founded in 1938 by Rod Dedeaux after a highly successful academic and athletic career at the University of Southern California. The first few years of his transportation business consisted of hauling canned goods and produce from Northern California to the Southern California market. By 1946, the company had grown to service Sears Roebuck's retail deliveries throughout California. In the 70's, Dart had expanded once again to serve the entire Western U.S., while establishing warehouse operations in the Mid West.

Concentrating on quality service, Rod and other members of the Dedeaux family have continued to lead Dart to new heights--bringing the company's warehouse operations in the U.S. to more than 7 million square feet of operating space. The Dart family of companies now sees success in transportation, warehousing, third party logistics, property development, equipment leasing and labor leasing.

President's Award

TAG Toys, Inc.

In 1976, a school psychologist, Larry Mestyanek, discovered a severe lack of educational materials designed to help young children remedy weaknesses and build strengths at the appropriate level of development. He hung up his Doctorate in Educational Psychology, put on a cabinet maker's apron and began designing and producing educational toys out of a 300 square foot garage.

The toys were an immediate hit with teachers, so with the help of his wife Judy, Larry worked out of the garage and into a series of progressively larger facilities in Southern California. In 1995, TAG Toys opened a 50,000 square foot factory in Compton. A true family business, the Mestyanek's are joined at TAG by their daughter, son-in-law, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Their 6 young grandsons even help out as the company's "product testing and playroom clean-up" team.