On May 9, 2016, SmartCEO hosted its Inaugural Family Business Awards for the greater Washington Area. This event celebrates and honors some of the most distinguished family-run businesses in the DC area. VariQ received two awards: the first as a Family Business Honoree, followed by the Legacy Award, given to select businesses for their unmatched dedication to family, business, and community.
“Family firms make up more than 80 percent of all businesses in North America. Not only are they driving innovation, change and stewardship; they are also representatives of the American Dream,” says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, President of SmartCEO.
There are obvious difficulties in mixing work and family life, but Ben Edson, CEO and founder of VariQ argues that it can be a great advantage: “Family, extended family and friends working together removes some of the normal sensitivities between coworkers and increases efficiency, because we don’t need to over-explain our actions or decisions…. Having worked together for a good part of our lives, we can usually discuss and agree on difficult topics and subjects more quickly, without having to feel the other person doesn’t understand or misconstrues our meaning.”
VariQ has been a close knit family business for close to a decade. Currently six immediate Edson family members work at VariQ.
