Five Orange County companies were honored at the Business Journal’s 17th Family Owned Business Awards luncheon at Hotel Irvine last Tuesday.
About 340 people attended the annual event, which was highlighted by a keynote address by Steve and Alexis Schulze, co-founders of Nekter Juice Bar.
The couple, who said the Santa Ana-based company just opened its 60th location, debated in a lighthearted exchange about the merits of taking action or pursuing passion when establishing and expanding a company. In the end, they agreed that balance between the two is the key to Nekter’s success.
This year’s awards went to:
• R.A. Industries LLC/Markall Inc., based in Santa Ana, for longevity.
• San Clemente-based Slyde Handboards in the up-and-coming business category.
• Urban Produce, based in Irvine, as a small business.
• Costa Mesa-based Portola Coffee Lab as a medium business.
• Professional Plastics Inc., based in Fullerton, as a large business.
The honorees will be profiled in the Business Journal’s July 4 print edition.
—Fiona Pitt
