DURHAM, N.H. - Lake Opechee Inn and Spa was named Family Business of the Year by the University of New Hampshire Center for Family Business at the center's annual award dinner. The winner s chosen based on business success, multigenerational involvement of family members in the business, involvement with and support of UNH and contributions to community and industry innovative business practices. Lake Opechee Inn and Spa in Laconia is owned and managed by the DuPont and Boissoneau families. In 1998 the family purchased the lakeside complex that now houses the luxury inn, spa and restaurant.

The Boissoneau family businesses began in 1976 when Raymond Boissoneau and his father, Russell, started with $1,000 and a handful of employees in a rented space within the old barracks of the Manchester Airport. Their first business, Electropac Co. Inc., manufactured printed circuit boards and over the next 20 years grew to five locations in three countries, with more than 400 employees and annual sales of $55 million.

Today, Ray's daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Bob DuPont, manage the hospitality side of the family business with family members spanning three generations now working in the business.

The Boissoneau family became members of the Family Business Center in 1999 and has grown its skills by participating in several leadership and management training classes.

"We have not only enjoyed being a part of the center, but it has been our compass," said Michelle DuPont. "The people involved—from the university to the members and sponsors—have helped and supported us to navigate our way to continued success in business, and as a family, while we grow and add new generations to the family business."

Lifetime achievement awards also were given in recognition of years of commitment to excellence in family business. They were presented to Stephen Fawcett, of Bode Equipment Co., and Evan Welch, of Welch Fluorocarbon, Inc.

Bode Equipment, headquartered in Derry, was founded in 1975 to provide material handling solutions to manufacturing and distribution companies in northern New England. In 1985 the Fawcett family purchased the company and expanded the scope of services offered to customers along with expanding their area of service throughout New England. 

Welch founded Welch Fluorocarbon, Inc., headquartered in Dover, 31 years ago as a family business. It includes his wife Louise and other family members. The company provides research, development and manufacturing of unique medical components to Boston Scientific, Medtronic and St. Jude Medical, among others.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Howie Wemyss, general manager of the Mount Washington Summit Road Co., a family-owned business for 155 years.

The Center for Family Business is part of UNH's Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. It is sponsored by Baker Newman & Noyes; Mass Mutual Financial Group; Moitoza Consulting; Management Planning Inc.; Optima Bank and Trust; and Pierce Atwood. It is a membership program to provide owners and mangers of entrepreneurial business with an opportunity to exchange ideas and information and to discuss business challenges and solutions. For more information visit http://www.familybusiness.unh.edu.

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Caption: Lake Opechee Inn & Spa, owned and managed by the DuPont and Boissoneau Families, was named Family Business of the Year by the University of New Hampshire Center for Family Business. (Photo by Perry Smith for UNH)
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Caption: Evan Welch, of Welch Fluorocarbon, Inc., is presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by Everett Moitoza. (Photo by Perry Smith for UNH) /unhtoday/news/releases/2016/05/images/img-8Paul3.jpg