Happy Birthday Dad!

Well today would have been my Dad’s 78th Birthday!

My Dad and I at my 30th Anniversary Party in 2017!

Dad was the person I learned the most from when it came to business. He ran gas stations when I was growing up and later went on to run a limousine company until he retired before the pandemic. He had a deep passion for the things small business owners value most. He knew his product, understood his customers, and embodied the meaning of great customer service. He supported the community around his gas stations in countless ways—sponsoring Little League teams, giving high school students their first jobs, and even mentoring them by teaching what he knew.

My dad served both his customers and his community. He was a proud Vietnam War veteran who volunteered his time through the years in our hometown, participating in civic groups such as the Jaycees, the Knights of Columbus, and the Kiwanis Club. He was also elected as a Constable in East Bridgewater—a role he was drawn to because, as I later learned, he once aspired to be a police officer but chose to focus on his gas station business instead.

Dad’s business lessons were unique to him. He taught me the value of small gestures making a big difference. I can still hear him in my head, emphasizing how important it was to wash a customer's windshield when they stopped for gas because, as he put it, “those guys across the street don’t do it.” He believed in going the extra mile—literally—like taking ten minutes to drive an elderly customer home, knowing that these small acts of kindness kept people coming back.

I could write for hours about my dad and the wisdom he passed on. (Spoiler alert—some of it is in The Small Business CEO’s Playbook.) I always considered myself his number-one fan. But as I grew older and found success in my own small business, I realized that he was my number-one fan. He didn’t always say it outright, but he showed it every day. When I had my showroom and offices in Braintree, Dad was a frequent visitor—sometimes bringing coffee for a chat, other times just stopping by to check in.

He even helped out at a few of my events as a photo booth technician. One particular event was for the Metro South Chamber of Commerce. I was running sound while we had just started offering photo booths. Dad manned the booth, chatted with people, and made a lasting impression. I lost count of how many people came up to me and said, “I just met your dad… what a great guy!”

And he certainly was! Happy Birthday, Dad!

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