Henderson fathers and sons talk about working together
As Father's Day approaches, many sons acknowledge the influence their dads have in their lives. Inspired by their fathers' career choices, some children have chosen to work alongside their dads, becoming co-workers and colleagues.
IN BUSINESS TOGETHER
Hector and David Rosario, father-and-son business partners who own Elite Art & Framing, 205 N. Stephanie St., might have differences of opinions and even fight from time to time.
But all the business dealings are trumped by their relationship.
"At the end of the day, we are still family," Hector said. "That is stronger than the business."
Even when they leave the building and have dinner with the rest of the family, they try to keep business matters confined to business hours.
"We try to forget about business once we walk out of there," Hector added.
David and Hector have worked together for years.
"I played a sport, and my father would coach the teams," David said.
In college, David worked part time at his father's framing store in Connecticut. After graduating, he started working full time with his dad.
"I wanted to be my own boss," David said, acknowledging that the idea was something he got from his father.
Before having a family-owned business, Hector worked for 15 years as a production manager at Xerox. The experience wasn't as satisfying as Hector had hoped.
"My job required that I travel a lot," Hector said.
Because of his travels, Hector missed many of his children's activities, such as sporting events.
"About six months ago, (David) said he tried pole vaulting (in high school)," Hector said. "I never knew that. I had missed it."
It wasn't just the travel. Hector didn't always agree with the route the corporate environment took him.
In Hector's division, there were about 350 workers. One day Hector and other executives were asked to make a list, ranking jobs.
"When we got done with that ranking, the first 150 people kept their jobs and the rest were let go," Hector remembered. "I had people coming up to me telling me I was the reason they were fired."
The experience left a sour taste in Hector's mouth.
"I could see the writing on the wall," Hector said. "More downsizes were in the future."
Hector decided it was time to quit. About a year before he left Xerox, he decided to buy a store that specialized in making picture frames.
"It was more of a family business," Hector said.
Hector's wife and children, along with his brother-in-law, ran the store. After Hector quit Xerox, he decided to focus on the business.
As he began to approach retirement age, Hector realized Connecticut wasn't the best place to retire.
"It was a great place to live and to work," Hector said. "But it was too expensive to retire."
Looking around the country, Hector and his wife decided Henderson would be a good place to relocate. He asked David to move, too, and bring the business, but David was anything but convinced.
"I didn't like it here," David said. "My dad sent me and my wife out here on vacation."
After exploring the city, David decided he liked the weather and what the city had to offer.
"Our children were still young and hadn't started school yet," David said. "If we didn't like it, we could always move back."
Hector and David, with families in tow, moved to Henderson at the beginning of 2003. By September, Elite Art & Framing was open for business.
"We've been at the same location ever since," Hector said.
As Hector gets older, he focuses more on the business side of things while David runs all the production.
"He really is the heart and soul of the business," Hector said.
WORKING TOGETHER
Tommy and T.J. Portolese are not only father and son but also co-workers at Station Casinos Inc.
Tommy is an assistant shift manager at Green Valley Ranch Resort, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, and T.J. is an operations manager at Barley's, 4500 E. Sunset Road.
Because of his dad's experience at Station Casinos for the past nine years, T.J. decided to seek employment with the company.
"I started as a food server," T.J. said.
T.J. moved up through the ranks from cook to manager at Station Casinos properties, including Gold Rush and Boulder Station.
By hiring on at Station Casinos, T.J. said he hoped to live up to his dad's standards.
"Everyone knew my dad as a great guy who was very professional," T.J. said. "Everyone who talks about my dad has so much respect for him. I was nervous to live up to that."
His dad checks in on him from time to time.
"He is a hard worker," Tommy said. "Anyplace he goes, they give him good feedback, and they all say he is doing a good job. It makes me proud."
Eventually, T.J. made his own name in the company and was promoted to operations manager of Barley's about four months ago.
T.J. said working for the same company has brought them closer. The only hiccups are occasionally being mistaken for each other.
Because they have the same name, sometimes they accidentally get each others' emails or mail at work.
"I think we have everything straightened out now," Tommy said.
By watching his dad, T.J. said, he has learned a lot about being a hard worker and doing his best.
The main thing T.J. learned from his dad was always to be honest. He shared a story Tommy once told him.
When Tommy worked at Skyline Casino, he accidentally cashed a check that bounced and was confronted by a manager about it.
"The manager asked if (the person who cashed the check) at least gambled the money (at the casino)," T.J. said. "He told him he didn't know. He could have lied and said, 'Yes.' He could have got in trouble. But he chose to tell the truth. That story always sticks with me."
T.J. believes his dad was successful because of his honesty.
Because their schedule tends to be different, they don't have much time to get together.
"Every now and then, we get together for dinner," Tommy said. "His mom likes him to come over."
T.J. said that when they do have time, they might play golf or watch a movie.
T.J. doesn't have any children yet, but he knows that when he does, he wants to raise them the way his dad raised him.
"My dad is always there for me," T.J. said. "I never have to worry. When I have a son, I want him to trust me like I trust my dad."
In the meantime, T.J. is focusing on doing the best in his career.
"He is going to move up quite well," Tommy said. "I can't wait for him to get to the top so I can retire."
Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.