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CORVALLIS - A White City firm, Pro Weld, has been honored as a finalist in the 2004 Excellence in Family Business Awards, presented by Oregon State University's Austin Family Business Program.

In the small business category for firms with 10-20 employees, judges noted Pro Weld's achievements in innovation, economic and community contributions and commitment.

Owned by the Oberlander family, Pro Weld includes James, Penny, Tanna and Eli Oberlander, as well as daughter and office manager Tifiny Skirvin. Pro Weld field welders travel throughout Oregon and Northern California providing a variety of standard and special process welding services. The company maintains a website at www.pro-weld.com.

Award winners were selected from nominations from businesses and individuals from throughout the region earlier this year. This year's winners also include firms from Rickreall, Lincoln City, Dayton and Woodburn.

Fully 90 percent of Oregon's businesses are family-owned, and firms such as Pro Weld contribute more than $24 billion in annual payroll to Oregon's economy.

The Excellence in Family Business Awards program, presented yearly by OSU's College of Business Austin Family Business Program, was founded in 1988 to applaud the accomplishments and contributions of family businesses. The Austin Family Business Program works to provide service and support to family-owned businesses through workshops, training seminars and OSU's family business management course.

For information about the Family Business Awards or the Austin Family Business Program, call (800) 859-7609 or visit www.familybusinessonline.org.