United Steel’s president, Ken Corneau (holding plaque), joined by members of the Hartford Business Journal as well as members of his family who work at the company, accepts the 2015 Family Business Award.
East Hartford, CT – In recognition of operating a successful family-owned business in Connecticut for more than 40 years, United Steel, Inc., was named winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s 2015 Family Business Award for the “76-199 full-time employees” category, presented to United Steel at a dinner in October.
The company was started in a small garage in 1974 by Ken Corneau, and has grown to become New England’s largest fabricator and erector of structural steel and miscellaneous metals. Today, United Steel has 183 employees working in a 165,000sf manufacturing facility in East Hartford, building massive structures for Lego, Mohegan Sun, University of New Haven, and countless other private and public organizations.
During the event, United Steel was credited for having longevity in a highly competitive field, for showing dedication to the community, and for creating a remarkable work environment in Connecticut. Corneau credits this to having a strong mission, a clear vision, and an extremely hard-working team.
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Corneau explained that his company has stayed competitive because it has hired the best people, offered high-quality service, maintained an exceptional safety record, and efficiently used modern technology and manufacturing processes to deliver results. From the beginning, Corneau has treated his employees the same as he would treat a family member – creating an “extended family” related by a desire to be the best in their business. Today, in addition to the six relatives who work at United Steel, two of the three original employees are still with the company, and more than a third have been there for more than a decade.
“United Steel is considered a family business because I started the business and employ members of my family,” Corneau told the Hartford Business Journal. “However, we have a large number of employees who are related to one another — even though they are not related to me. The fact that our employees recommend United Steel to members of their families is a testament to the success and atmosphere that surrounds our company.”
“We are successful because of our family values, our expertise in our field, and our customer service,” Corneau said. “But I know this award would not be possible without our fantastic team. This award really honors their dedication and commitment to what we do here at United Steel, every day. I’m excited to accept this recognition for everyone at United Steel.”
