Halton Co Honored with Excellence in Family Business Award
 

PORTLAND, OR: Halton Co, a family-owned company based in Portland, Ore., was honored with the Oregon State University’s Excellence in Family Business Award in a ceremony held at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on November 16, 2006. Halton Co’s  recognition was in the large business category for the award for Family Business of the Year, which consists of companies with 100 or more employees.  Judges cited criteria like; service to the community, commitment from the younger generation of family members, generosity with donations, scholarships for employees, and the fact the company established a formal training program for its employees – all as winning qualities.
 

The 2006 Excellence in Family Business Award winners were selected from over 200 nominations of businesses throughout the state, made earlier this year. In its eighteenth year, the awards program recognizes the contributions and successes of Oregon family-owned businesses in four size categories based on the number of employees. In the large business category, Halton Co competed with two other finalists in this category: Eagle Newspapers of Dallas Ore. And Portland-based restaurant Typhoon!
 

The recognition comes from the Austin Family Business Awards, presented by the Austin Family Business Program, a unit of Oregon State University's College of Business. Nearly 90 percent of Oregon’s businesses are family owned, and these firms contribute more than $24 billion in annual payroll to Oregon's economy.
 

As a family owned business, Halton Co strives to maintain and continually expand the company’s vision and values which has had a significant impact on the business community. “At Halton Co we are constantly looking for ways to strengthen customer trust through a strong culture of honesty, integrity, respect, passion, confidence and strength” said Kathryn Halton Rebagliati. “Halton’s reputation is based on working as a team with customers, recognizing the urgency of their needs and proudly delivering customer service that is second to none.”
 

In 1940, E.H. "Ted" Halton, Sr. started Halton-Treanor in Visalia, California. In 1956, the company moved to the Northwest and in 1959 to its present location on Portland's Columbia Boulevard - becoming the first equipment dealer on what is now known as "Machinery Row." Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Halton Co also has branches located in Wilsonville, Salem, The Dalles and Longview, Washington.
 

Halton Co sells, services and leases all types of power, engine and heavy equipment and is the Caterpillar dealer for Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. They have provided the region with superior Caterpillar products for over 65 years.
 

“Our products touch every member of the community from the food on your table, to the roof over your head, from the roads you drive on to the stores where you shop, from your local hospital to your cell phone,” said E.H. “Ted” Halton. “It has been an honor to have sold, serviced, rented and leased all types of heavy and compact equipment, engines, and electric power to the region for over six decades.”
 

“The cornerstone of the business is that we don’t make promises we can’t keep, and we always strive to do what we say we will do” said Sue Halton. "Attributes like terrific employees, innovative products, as well as the ability to move much faster and be more flexible than our competition has allowed Halton Co to enjoy incredible growth and deliver many satisfied customers."

As a notable community outreach effort, Halton Co partnered with Portland Community College and the locally owned Caterpillar dealers to bring the nationally renowned ThinkBIG program to the region. ThinkBIG is a regional school-to-work Caterpillar Technician Training Program allowing students to alternate college classes with paid hands-on internships.

At the core of it’s family owned business values, Halton Co also invests in their employees with technical and computer training, and yearlong “Flagship” management training. Halton Co also encourages flexible schedules so employees can volunteer their special expertise to a broad array of community organizations, including advisory committees at five colleges.
 

In the coming years the company plans to further expand its facilities, its diverse product line and its customer-focused support staff in an effort to continue building on the company vision to deliver the best value in products, services and solutions. “We will be the undisputed industry leader and recognize those who commit to the success of our company.” said Charles Tanner Halton. “These assets have also set the stage for us to continue to grow and expand our product line and market penetration.”
 

Halton Co has been associated with Caterpillar products since 1940. Over those 65 years they have sold, serviced and leased all types of heavy and compact equipment, engines, and electric power. Halton Co has touched almost every commercial business in the community with their product line which includes everything from construction equipment to agricultural tractors and log loaders, from truck engines to marine and industrial engines.