Royce Associates is a fourth generation company that has successfully evolved and thrived for over eighty-seven years. But, how is it possible that some companies achieve such longevity and success while others do not? In most cases, there is not a single factor, but rather a combination that together makes those companies unstoppable. For Royce, it is strong family values, adaptability, quality, and a customer-centric focus.

Steve Robinson is the president, chief executive officer and co-owner of rigid printed circuit board manufacturing company APCT, running day-to-day operations of the North American global business. His primary duty is maintaining profitability for his financial partners and himself, but he believes his ultimate responsibility is guiding the team in the right direction to preserve the culture and direction of the business.

Franklin Empire is a family-owned electrical distributor that proudly marked its 75th anniversary this year. The firm sells electrical supplies and automation and control systems, has assembly and repair facilities, and conducts energy management studies among other services. The company is also the largest independent electrical distributor in Canada.

Nestled in the hills of Marshall County, Tennessee, one hour south of Nashville and one hour north of Huntsville, lies Lewisburg, a place which can best be described as the quintessential middle Tennessee town.

The Greene County Partnership is an umbrella organization located in Greeneville, Tennessee, that brings together the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, Tourism, Education & Workforce Development, and the county’s environmental arm, Keep Greene Beautiful. Business in Focus spoke with Matt Garland, Greene County Partnership’s President and CEO, to learn more about this dynamic and growing county.

Maury County is located in Tennessee, approximately forty-five miles south of Nashville. It has a wide variety of landscapes, from the classic hills of Tennessee to farmlands, all with a rich history and an array of beautiful antebellum homes. But its wonderfully unique mixture of a suburban lifestyle with a rural feel is what makes it such a great place to live and do business.

Situated at the juncture of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, less than forty miles northeast of San Francisco, the City of Pittsburg maintains its historic charm while boasting many of the advantages of larger centers.

Since its incorporation almost seventy years ago, the city of Brentwood has been a gem in California’s far eastern Contra Costa County region. Brentwood is growing in popularity with residents and visitors and is becoming one of the best places to start a new business or expand an existing one.

As the most recently incorporated city in California’s Contra Costa County, Oakley is well positioned to welcome a range of businesses and industries. Oakley has been steadily growing since its incorporation on July 1, 1999, and it has emerged as a tremendous location for not only established and emerging companies but also a community with reasonable home prices, excellent schools, parks and trails, restaurants and entertainment. These and other lifestyle amenities are rapidly making Oakley a great place to work, play and live.

Antioch’s skilled workforce is ready – ready to see the end of long commutes, ready to be home on time for dinner, ready to see the kids play ball, ready to invest their valuable time and talents in quality industry that’s ready to take advantage of deep water ports, major rail lines, over $1.3B in highway and transit improvements, and a reliable source of water; Antioch’s ready for you!

The city of Santee was an unincorporated portion of the San Diego county until 1980 when it incorporated and created its own system of government: a council with five members. At first, it did not have a standalone mayor. The mayor was chosen by the council to lead for approximately one year. In the first three years, there were three different mayors until 1984, when Mayor Jon Minto was the first to be elected at large.

When Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin founded the City of Arcadia in 1903 he couldn’t have known that it would turn into what it is today: a small, unique city that has a high quality of life and services, offers excellent education and medical care, provides a mix of residential and commercial options, and is centrally located near Downtown Los Angeles and the thriving Santa Anita Park.

The Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation is eschewing the traditional model of development for an innovative approach resulting in steady, sustainable growth from the inside out.

In the state famed for its peaches, within the Warner Robins Metropolitan Statistical Area of central Georgia, lies Peach County: an industry-focused rural community with a population of about 27,000 people.

For decades, rapid growth in high-tech industries has fueled the rising cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The City of Vallejo stands out as an affordable, business-friendly alternative to other cities in the area. With a new General Plan that embraces innovative industries and developments, Vallejo is open for investment. Business in Focus spoke with two of the city’s leaders to learn more.

Pacific Alloy Casting Company is celebrating its 137th year as a family-owned and operated foundry. Company President James Leach is the fourth generation at the helm of the company, and the fifth generation is being primed to carry the foundry’s legacy forward.

The history of human innovation is punctuated with key moments that have forever altered the course of industry. From the beginning of the industrial revolution, to the invention of the computer, the internet, and robotic automation, it is technology that has driven industry forward. In 2017, the union of automation, data collection, and analytics is changing everything.