It has always been a mystery to me. What would it be like to work along side my own father on a day to day basis? 

I grew up knowing that it was going to be just about impossible for me to ever be able to work with my father or to eventually “take over the family business”.  You see, my father is a Police Officer. Actually he was a Police Officer. He has been retired since 1990. But they say that once you are a Cop, you are always a Cop. Well that is my dad. My Pop, the Cop. 

Even if I did choose law enforcement as a career, I would still not be allowed to work with or under my Father due to his own rules on nepotism. He retired as Chief of Police with a record 43 years of total service. He and my Mother, who have been married for 54 years, are now enjoying their retirement out near Palm Springs, Ca.

As I get ready to begin my 23rd year in the Tradeshow business, I can think of a lot of Father and Son’s working together. Thank God that there are no Nepotism rules amongst the Union Rank and File. In fact the opposite is true. Nepotism is actually an expected benefit for working in a Union environment all of your life. 

I am sure that you remember seeing that new guy signing in for work. You nudge the guy standing next to you and ask, “Who is he and who is he related to”? Well chances are that he is the son or brother or brother-in-law or a boyfriend of someone’s daughter. That’s who.  So what if he or she is working before you or before someone that you know.  That’s just too bad. Deal with it. It is a way of life in this industry. Sonority always prevails ….. unless it’s a relative. Then Sonority can be thrown right out the window. Is this fair? Hell no. Would you do it if you had the opportunity? Hell yes.

I personally know of a Father that works along side his 3 sons in San Diego. That may be close to a record. All of them are Regulars with GES. I also know of a Father that works as a GES Regular in the Los Angeles area that also had one of his sons working with him. Unfortunately that son died in a race car crash. But almost immediately another son began to work and the next thing you know, he was hired on as a GES Regular. 

There are a lot of other Father & Son combinations working in this industry. More than we really know. 

To be continued……..