It’s not often that people get choked up during a business panel, but it happened this week when KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum presented a panel on Latino family businesses.

The panelists were members of the families behind some of Los Angeles’ most recognizable Latino-owned businesses: Tapatio hot sauce, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe, the Guelaguetza Oaxacan restaurants and Gaviña Gourmet Coffee, all into their second generation and beyond of family ownership.

What made the conversation, which I moderated, surprisingly moving was how the panelists delved not only into their families’ entrepreneurial history and success, but the ties that bind them together. At least for these families, the ties were strong enough to draw the second generation back to work with their parents, even after obtaining degrees in business, medicine and law.