InTents April/May 2020 - 31

Y

oung people entering their family's tent rental business as a career can
look forward to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that just
isn't available anywhere else-but they also should expect challenges
above and beyond what they might find in any other workplace.

That sentiment seems to be the
consensus among a varied group of tent
professionals who joined their family
business and are thriving as the next
generation of leaders.
"Working in the family business is so
rewarding," says Jill Weis, one of three
sisters who are a part of Cartwright &
Daughters Tent & Party Rentals Inc.,
which has been in business in Carmel,
N.Y., since 1981. "But it can be difficult.
"I love the industry and what I do,
and I want to be here," says Weis, who
with her sisters has an ownership stake
in the business, while their parents are
the majority stockholders. "But when
you have three siblings working with
their parents, you're going to have some
drama. Communication is the key-you
have to have constant communication to
make sure you're all on the same page."
"It gets tough with family, but it has
its blessings," adds Jeff Ginty, president
of Durkin's Inc., a Danbury, Conn.,
fabrication and rental company that has
operated under five generations of the
Durkin family since it opened in 1904.
"Where employees may come and go,
everyone in the family is in it for the
right reasons."
The tough part, says Ginty, who is
in the process of buying the company
from his father, comes when there are
expectations. "I've dealt with some
family members that felt they had
'family privileges.' Family members as
employees should be treated the same
as everyone else," he explains. "There
should never be any type of special
treatment; otherwise other employees

will recognize that and there will be
instant resentment."

PAYING YOUR DUES

Tent professionals who have taken over
a family business advise young people
to leave their entitlement at the door if
they want to lead the company one day.
"When I was growing up, I worked
here in the summers, washing dishes in
the back and driving a truck," says Scott
Alexander, who in 2014 bought Alexander
Party Rentals in Kent, Wash., from his
father, who started the company in 1992.
"Then when I came here after college (in
2009), I started at the bottom and moved
through every management position.
"You walk a fine line," he adds. "You
don't want to be seen as being in your
role just because of nepotism. For me, it
helped that I was hard-working and tried
to lead by example."
"My sisters and I have all done
everything," adds Weis. "I've driven the
trucks, scrubbed dishes, whatever needs
to be done." One advantage to learning
multiple jobs within the company, she
says, is that she and her siblings were
able to naturally gravitate toward the
roles where they each showed the most
aptitude, but they can still fill in for the
others when necessary.
"Growing up in the business, I
was always an employee just like
everyone else," Ginty says. "After
learning every single aspect of the
business and mastering all the details,
I felt comfortable knowing that all my
surrounding employees witnessed me
climb the corporate ladder by proven
success, dedication and hard work."
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InTents April/May 2020

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