Press Releases and News - Church Hill Classics

Woman-owned Church Hill Classics is an 11-time Inc. 5000 honoree

September 1, 2021

Lucie Voves, founder and CEO of Church Hill Classics, is the only Connecticut manufacturer and female business owner in the state to make Inc. 5000’s list of America’s fastest-growing private companies a record 11 times. In its 40-year existence, only 17 women-led companies have made the Inc. 5000 list that many times, putting Voves in rare company.

April 27, 2021

In a year of cancelled graduations, Church Hill Classics®, the leading U.S. manufacturer of officially licensed frames for colleges and universities, professional associations, and the U.S. Military, saw a record-breaking increase in sales in 2020.

August 17, 2021

Lucie Voves, founder and CEO of Church Hill Classics, is making history: She’s the only Connecticut manufacturer and female business owner in the state to make Inc. 5000’s list of America’s fastest-growing private companies a record 11 times. In its 40-year existence, only 17 women-led companies have made the Inc. 5000 list that many times, putting Voves in rare company. As the official awards vendor for Mansueto Ventures, owner of Inc. and Fast Company magazines, Voves not only wins Inc. 5000 awards, her company also manufactures them.

March 23, 2021

Church Hill Classics®, a U.S. manufacturer of officially licensed frames for colleges and universities, professional associations, and the U.S. Military, today announced they are pleased to have been selected as a national licensee by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the preeminent leadership organization for girls. Church Hill Classics will produce officially licensed Gold Award certificate and autograph photo frames for Girl Scouts to celebrate and commemorate their remarkable achievements.

March 23, 2021

March 21, 2018

Church Hill Classics (CHC)®, the leading manufacturer and online retailer in the college diploma frame industry, is excited to announce the launch of their custom-designed Spectrum™ bulk photo frames. Building on the success of their officially licensed college and university Spectrum™ photo frames, CHC now offers customers the chance to order photo logo frames in bulk orders of 24 or more for corporate events, family reunions, promotional items, wedding favors, or other special occasions.

January 8, 2018

Church Hill Classics received a “Regional WasteWise Achievement Certificate” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their company-wide efforts to conserve natural resources and protect the environment. As a committed WasteWise Partner since 2008, the company has implemented sitewide practices for recycling, reducing waste, reusing materials, and donating/exchanging materials.

October 19, 2017

Are you ready to take your first, tentative steps into the world of work? If you’re about to graduate, you’re probably already thinking about applying for relevant roles, and making your mark in your chosen industry.

October 17, 2017

School is nearly over, but what do you get that classmate who’s stood by you through the rough and the smooth? You’ll probably want to thank him or her but don’t want to say it with flowers, chocolates or Champagne – and we don’t blame you.

October 15, 2017

Well, college was a blast! But now it’s over and it’s time to start thinking about your graduation ceremony – and most importantly, what you’ll do after it. While there’s a lot of benefits to a college education, there are some myths surrounding graduation – and graduating in general – that you might be surprised about. After all, it’s a big (and often pretty daunting) world out there and now you must deal with it without your tutors and classmates by your side – arghhh!

June 15, 2017

Graduation coming soon? Make sure the day is one to remember – and for the right reasons – by following our top tips to your biggest event yet.

June 9, 2017

With graduation season in full swing, Lucie Voves has her hands full. “It’s definitely a busy time for us,” she said with a laugh. “From the middle of March to mid-June, we’re working at full capacity. It’s like a giant mountain peak that we have to be prepared for.”

May 30, 2017

As the school year winds down, things are just ramping up for Lucie Voves and Church Hill Classics, a Monroe-based custom framing company.

May 15, 2017

As graduation season begins and students across the country receive their diplomas, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Monday that Church Hill Classics, also known as DiplomaFrame.com, of Monroe is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” Lucie Voves founded Church Hill Classics – a manufacturer of custom diploma frames, certificate frames, varsity letter frames, photo frames, and desk accessories – out of the basement of her Newtown, Connecticut, home in 1991. Over the last 26 years, Lucie has grown her business into a $10 million manufacturing company. Today, Church Hill Classics operates out of a 47,000 square foot facility in Monroe. They employ 100 workers, 85 of whom are women.

March 17, 2017

Lucie Voves, President, Founder and CEO of Church Hill Classics—a leading manufacturer and online retailer in the college diploma frame industry—has been named one of New York SmartCEO’s 2017 Future 50 Award winners. The program recognizes the region’s fastest-growing mid-sized companies. These are businesses that have demonstrated significant growth based on a combined three-year average of revenue and employee growth. Voves will be recognized in SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards ceremony on March 16, 2017 in New York City.

November 1, 2016

Lucie Voves knows her company won’t always make the list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the nation. For now, though, the president and CEO of Church Hill Classics is enjoying the business’ 10th entry on the Inc. magazine list.

October 20, 2016

They hold the title: Church Hill Classics, known online as diplomaframe.com, is the only Connecticut-based company to make the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies List a record 10 times. They’re also one of only two businesses in the Consumer Products & Services industry to make the Ten-Time Inc. 5000 Honor Roll.

March 31, 2016

As the graduation season approaches, this is a very important and special time of year in every students life. Graduates and their families work very hard and invest tons of time and money to earn that degree. Our family is no exception. We have a graduate of high school and college in the same year. This makes giving the perfect graduation gift a priority for me. I like to give each graduate something personal and memorable to help memorialize this pivotal time in their life.

October 30, 2015

Lucie Voves, president and CEO of Church Hill Classics, a premier diploma frame company headquartered in Monroe, received two awards Sept. 28, when New York SmartCEO honored the region’s top female business leaders at the 2015 Brava Awards. Brava Award Winners demonstrate vision, compassion, dedication and perseverance in their business, personal and philanthropic lives. In addition to the Brava Award, Voves won the Vistage Leadership Legacy Award, presented to the one CEO at the event who embodies Vistage’s founding values.

October 28, 2015

Lucie Voves, President and CEO of Church Hill Classics (CHC), a premier diploma frame company headquartered in Monroe, Connecticut, received two awards September 28th when New York SmartCEO honored the region’s top female business leaders at the 2015 Brava Awards.

August 18, 2015

Only two Connecticut companies have made Inc. 5000 Fastest Growth Business List nine times, and Church Hill Classics (CHC), known online as diplomaframe.com, is one of them.

March 23, 2015

Manufacture overseas? Outsource for cheaper labor and costs? Those choices would never be options for Lucie Voves, President and CEO of Church Hill Classics (online as diplomaframe.com), a leading U.S. manufacturer and online retailer in the college diploma frame industry. CONNSTEP’s Made in CT Program, celebrating companies that make their products in Connecticut, recently selected Church Hill Classics for its monthly honor.

October 27, 2014

Monroe, CT – October 27, 2014 – “The official 2014 Inc. 5000 list is out, and this is our eighth time to make the list. This repeat frequency puts us in very rare company and everyone should be proud of their role in this big achievement,” stated Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of Church Hill Classics, known online as diplomaframe.com.

September 30, 2014

For the 4th year, Lucie Voves, President and CEO of Church Hill Classics was selected from over 5,000 candidates to be featured in The 2015 Woman’s Advantage® Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the U.S. and around the world.

April 24, 2014

Active military members and veterans along with their loved ones can now commemorate and recognize all military achievements by easily showcasing important documents, medals, coins, flags, and photos in a custom-made frame or display case.

January 15, 2014

Church Hill Classics (CHC), a leading United States manufacturer and online retailer in the college diploma frame industry, announces that in accordance with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), their certified made in the USA frames can now be shipped duty-free to Canada. These frames include diploma, document, varsity letter and wood photo frames for college and university diplomas and honor certificates, high school diplomas and varsity letters, or professional certifications and accreditations.

November 15, 2012

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau (CT BBB) presented Church Hill Classics (CHC) with the Website Marketing Message Award 2012 on November 1st at its annual Awards Gala and meeting. This is the third time CHC, a leading manufacturer and online retailer of college diploma frames, has received such a prestigious award.

October 23, 2012

For the third year in a row, Lucie Voves, President of Church Hill Classics was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2013 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the U.S. and around the world.

October 16, 2012

For the seventh time, diplomaframe.com has made the Inc. 500/5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America. The company manufactures custom diploma frames, certificate frames, varsity letter frames, insignia gift items and awards for colleges, universities, associations, high schools, and businesses from across the country.

September 17, 2012

New MedallionArt Classics™ Photo Frames being introduced now by Church Hill Classics (CHC), have a sleek, contemporary profile, with a look that is distinctive from the company’s Lasting Memories Photo Frames and photo frames that coordinate with diploma frames. CHC is a leading U.S. manufacturer and online retailer in the college diploma frame industry, and has been expanding into high school and college athletics.

August 27, 2012

Church Hill Classics, a leading manufacturer and online retailer of high school, college and university diploma frames, was recently selected for the 2012 Best of Danbury Award in the Picture Frames category by the Danbury Award Program. In being named for this award, the Danbury Award Program recognized Church Hill Classics as having “achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category.”

March 07, 2012

The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) today awarded the Raphael Lemkin Prize to Professor Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and retired U.S. Army general Wesley Clark, in honor of their outstanding contributions to the cause of genocide prevention.

December 20, 2011

With the new year approaching and inspiration needed by many in the business arena, it is fitting to find a quote in the 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar from Lucie Voves, president of Church Hill Classics. Her custom diploma framing company is successfully celebrating its 20th year in business this year. Lucie’s advice is one of “365 innovative ideas on strategy, teambuilding, marketing, finance, and more,” according to the Woman’s Advantage website.

November 21, 2011

Our Harvard Lasting Memories Photo Frame is featured in the November issue of People Magazine

September 13, 2011

For the fifth consecutive year, Church Hill Classics (CHC), which operates online as diplomaframe.com and is a leading custom diploma frame manufacturer, has been named by Inc. Magazine to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies across the nation. This year, CHC is one of five Connecticut companies, and one of 138 of the total 5000 companies named, to make the list six times or more.

December 20, 2010

Lucie Voves, president of Church Hill Classics, was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured as one of 365 quotes in The 2011 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice on each day of the year for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada.

December 2, 2010

Cornell University bookstore’s Kelley Foster (The Cornell Store) said in a recent email, “Church Hill Classics has come up with another fantastic idea in using vibrant school colors in matting and embossing choices. We are taking advantage of this fresh approach to showcase Cornell University diplomas with red matting and black embossing. It looks really sharp! Winning Colors adds an extra dimension to our selection of diploma frames.”

August 24, 2010

Church Hill Classics (CHC), which operates online as diplomaframe.com and is a leading custom diploma frame manufacturer, has been named by Inc. Magazine to the Inc. 5000 list for the fourth consecutive year. This rare accomplishment places CHC alongside other national iconic companies, such as Microsoft, Intuit, Zappos, and Visa, who have appeared on the list multiple times.

August 24, 2010

July 27, 2010

Nationally known sports artist Mike Sullivan of California is using his creative talents, as he always has. He’s re-envisioning athletic logos, mascots, or football helmets in his chiseled, edgy style for colleges and universities across the country, and even high schools, in partnership with the framing expertise of Church Hill Classics (CHC) of Monroe, Connecticut.

July 1, 2010

In honor of the incredible men and women of the United States military, and the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, Church Hill Classics (CHC) of Monroe, Connecticut, is holding a special drawing. From Wednesday, June 30, through Wednesday, September 15, 2010, participants will enter online at http://www.bestmilitaryframes.com, and at the end of the entry period, three winners will be chosen. Each of the winners will select a made-in-the U.S.A. Military Certificate Frame of their choice at Church Hill Classics’ e-commerce diplomaframe.com website. All participants who enter will receive a 25% off coupon code for future purchases of military frames and gifts.

January 19, 2010

Church Hill Classics (CHC), a custom frame manufacturer of insignia diploma, certificate and specialty frames and gifts, introduces the new Heirloom Edition diploma frame.

September 13, 2009

All Lucie Voves wanted was to find a nice picture of the Dartmouth College campus where she and her hsuband met so she could decorate their home.

August 19, 2009

Church Hill Classics, which operates online as diplomaframe.com and is a leading custom diploma frame manufacturer, has been named by Inc. Magazine as the 3rd fastest-growth company for the consumer products industry in Connecticut. The company also ranked 190th nationally for the consumer products category, and 4,243rd on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies across all industries. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent as of December 31, 2008. Revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million.

August 4, 2009

Church Hill Classics has been selected for the 2009 Best of Danbury Award in the Picture Frames category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

January 13, 2009

Church Hill Classics (CHC) is always in season with a winning collection of custom framing options designed for all types of sports collectibles and memorabilia! If you are a sports buyer, sports team, sports agent, or retailer, be sure to check out these athletic framing designs at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show, January 21-23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Church Hill Classics’ Joe Voves, Vice President, and Andrea Devroy, Business Systems Manager, will be exhibiting at booth number 3054.

January 05, 2009

Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine (www.enterprisingwomen.com), has named Lucie Voves, Leslie Frécon, Tina Baker and Sheila Ogle as Enterprising Women National Advisory Board members.

August 27, 2008

Church Hill Classics and diplomaframe.com, a leading custom diploma frame manufacturer, has been named by Inc. Magazine as the 5th fastest-growth company for the consumer products industry in Connecticut. The company also ranked 4,157 on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies across all industries. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held and independent as of December 31, 2007, and have at least $200,000 in revenue in 2004, and $2 million in 2007.

December 22, 2008

THIS is my last Parenting column, but before going I wanted to update a few stories I have covered in the past two years.

August 4, 2008

Church Hill Classics joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WasteWise Program earlier this year, demonstrating their commitment to conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. This has been yet another push by the company to promote and practice environmentally friendly programs and products.

November 6, 2007

I love a challenge, but i was discouraged by the reaction one of my sales reps got when she asked a university bookshop in Boulder to carry our custom diploma frames.

November 6, 2007

Church Hill Classics has introduced the new Level-Lock™ picture hanging system that is easy-to-install, secure, and is perfect for hanging arrays of multiple frames. The Level-Lock™ system makes it easy to professionally hang all of your framed art and wall décor, while guaranteeing that the frames are level, safe and secure.

October 4, 2007

Church Hill Classics, a leading diploma frame and custom picture frame manufacturer, is proud to announce that they have become a Certified Woman-Owned Business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of U.S. businesses owned and operated by women. Church Hill Classics is also certified by the State of Connecticut as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE).

September 26, 2007

Church Hill Classics has recently relocated to a greatly expanded plant, warehouse, and executive office building, located in Monroe, CT. The company has expanded from a 30,000 square foot (leased) facility at its former Danbury location, to a 47,000 square foot, 9.3 acre campus at 594 Pepper Street.

August 27, 2007

Leading diploma frame manufacturer, Church Hill Classics and diplomaframe.com, has been named by Inc. Magazine as a top 100 fast-growth company in the consumer products industry. The company ranked 2,991 on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies across all industries. To qualify for the 2007 list, honorees must be independent and U.S. based, have at least four full years of revenue generation, and provide revenue figures from 2003 through 2006.

June 1, 2007

Celebrating the continued success of women business owners nationwide, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO®) will recognize three women entrepreneurs with the sixth-annual NAWBO/Wells Fargo Trailblazer Award. Each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and be honored at NAWBO’s 2007 Women’s Business Conference in Atlanta on June 1, 2007.

February 19, 2007

Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women Magazine has announced that Lucie Voves, of Church Hill Classics/https://www.diplomaframe.com, is a 2007 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winner. The award honors the country's finest women entrepreneurs, who have consistently given back to other women in business, and have had a profound impact on their community. More than 400 female executives from around the nation were nominated for this competition, which is sponsored by Enterprising Women Magazine, Walt Disney, United Parcel Service, and Wachovia Bank. The award will be presented to Ms. Voves at a dinner to be held Friday, February 23rd at the Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida.

December 15, 2006

Besides creating high-quality diploma frames, certificate frames, frames for credentials, Greek organizations and professional associations, another major focus of Church Hill Classics is customer service. On top of its recent addition of “live chat” (or instant messaging on its www.diplomaframe.com website), its many online surveys and easily accessible contact information, Church Hill Classics now offers a new method of making sure their customers are happy, by creating a blog.

October 2005

Do one thing, and do it well. That's a mantra by which many custom framers live. They find a niche market they know something about and create a product or service to fill that niche.

Press Release and News

Woman-owned Church Hill Classics is an 11-time Inc. 5000 honoree

September 1, 2021

Connecticut Woman-Owned Business Sees Boom in Diploma Frame Sales in a Year of Cancelled Graduations

April 27, 2021

Woman-Owned Church Hill Classics Is an 11-time Inc. 5000 Honoree

August 17, 2021

Church Hill Classics® Creates Officially Licensed Girl Scout Gold Award Certificate and Autograph Photo Frames

March 23, 2021

Church Hill Classics® Selected as Official Frame Vendor for Daughters of American Revolution

March 23, 2021

NEW Spectrum™ Photo Logo Frames Wow with Dimensional Printing Technology

March 21, 2018

Church Hill Classics Awarded Regional WasteWise Achievement Certificate by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

January 8, 2018

What Attributes Do Companies Look for in New Graduates?

October 19, 2017

Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Your Classmates

October 17, 2017

Five Myths about Graduating

October 15, 2017

How to Ensure Your Graduation Goes With a Bang

June 15, 2017

Church Hill Classics builds momentum one frame at a time

June 9, 2017

Graduation Makes For A Busy Season For Monroe Frame Company

May 30, 2017

Murphy Highlights Monroe Monday Manufacturer

May 15, 2017

Lucie Voves of Church Hill Classics Honored with SmartCEO’s Future 50 Award

March 17, 2017

Monroe company ranked fastest-growing for the 10th time

November 1, 2016

Record-Setting Diplomaframe.com Makes Inc. 5000 List for Tenth Time

October 20, 2016

Church Hill Classics College Diploma Frame is perfect Graduation Gift #EarnItFrameIt

March 31, 2016

Voves, Ciulla, Oldham: Bridgeport metro area’s business people

October 30, 2015

Lucie Voves Doubly Honored with Brava Award and Vistage Leadership Legacy Award

October 28, 2015

Diplomaframe.com Earns Spot on Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth Business List for Prestigious Ninth Time

August 18, 2015

CONNSTEP selects Church Hill Classics as Manufacturer of the Month for Made in CT Program

March 23, 2015

Diplomaframe.com on Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth Business List For Eighth Time

October 27, 2014

Lucie Voves Selected 4th Year As a "Top-Idea Maven" by The Woman's Advantage

September 30, 2014

United States Military Frames, Display Cases and Coordinating Gifts Now Available on DiplomaFrame.com

April 24, 2014

Diplomaframe.com now ships diploma frames duty-free to Canada

January 15, 2014

Better Business Bureau Recognizes Church Hill Classics with Website Marketing Message Award

November 15, 2012

Lucie Voves Selected 3rd Year in a Row As "Top-Idea Maven" by The Woman's Advantage

October 23, 2012

Diplomaframe.com Named to the Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth Business List for the Seventh Time

October 16, 2012

MedallionArt Classics™ Photo Frame - New From Church Hill Classics

September 17, 2012

Church Hill Classics Receives 2012 Best of Danbury Award

August 27, 2012

Auschwitz Institute Awards Genocide Prevention Prize to Prof. Deborah Lipstadt and Gen. Wesley Clark

March 07, 2012

Church Hill Classics CEO and Founder Chosen For 2012 Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar

December 20, 2011

In My Office...Tyra Banks

November 21, 2011

DiplomaFrame.com Named to Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth Business List - Fifth Consecutive Year

September 13, 2011

Lucie Voves Selected As a "Top-Idea Maven" by The Woman’s Advantage

December 20, 2010

School Spirit Takes Center Stage at Church Hill Classics with Color Embossed Diploma Frames

December 2, 2010

Diplomaframe.com Named to the Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth List for the Fourth Consecutive Year

August 24, 2010

Diplomaframe.com Named to the Inc. 5000 Fast-Growth List for the Fourth Consecutive Year

August 24, 2010

College Sports Has a Huge Fan in Artist Mike Sullivan - Sports Art Enhanced with Custom Framing by Church Hill Classics