The White Plains company, nominated for the award by the Westchester Conservatory of Music, has been restoring and rebuilding “golden era” Steinway pianos for nearly 40 years, when Sarah started the business as a sideline to her career as a concert pianist. The company has facilities in White Plains and Fairfield, Conn.
It was one of 26 businesses in Westchester and Fairfield honored by Westfair Communications Inc., publisher of the Westchester County Business Journal, Fairfield County Business Journal and WAG, a regional lifestyle magazine. This is the fourth year Westfair has given the awards.
Asked what comes first in owning a family business, family or business, Faust said: “Clearly our business has been important to our children, but they have been even more important to our business.”
Now, her two children, Joshua and Jessica Faust, both work in the company, as the CEO and controller, respectively. Faust Harrison Pianos has grown from a mom-and-pop operation to a company with four showrooms and a 12,000 square foot piano restoration center, and was said to be the largest independent piano dealership in the New York-metro area. It is located at 214 Central Ave. in White Plains.
The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Doug Wade, fourth generation owner of Wade Dairy in Bridgeport, Conn., which was founded in 1893. He noted he started in his family’s business at age eight and attributed the dairy’s longevity to his family’s dedication.
The awards were decided by local judges, all with backgrounds in business and economics: Anthony Davidson, dean of Fordham University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Marcia O’Kane, president and CEO of Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, Pete Gioia, vice president and economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and Andi Gray, President and founder of Strategy Leaders Inc., business consulting firm.
Ethan Gresko is a member of the Purchase College Community Reporting Team.
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