Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Major Jean-Paul Philippe Dubois, late of the Judge Advocate General service in the Army, knew that he lived surrounded by business people in various sizes.
“I want y'all to listen carefully today,” he said to his nine-year-old niece Louisa Dubois Chennault and her best friend of the same age, Vertran Stepforth. “Some of the decisions being made by the Ludlow Bubbly, which our family partially owns, Louisa, will be helpful to you in making a decision about your business, Vertran.”
“And I'm right here on the line as your business manager, listening too,” Major Thomas Stepforth Sr. said to his son.
“Thanks, Dad – you know, it's a big deal, thinking about hiring in the pandemic and all,” Vertran said.
“When you are running a budding media empire, Vertran, you just gotta think different,” Louisa said, “just like running a budding soda empire.”
The two nine-year-olds had on their Sunday best, their little briefcases in hand, their notebooks at the ready, looking like they were the married couple they were going to be when Vertran's proposal to Louisa in the spring was actually legal for them to do – or at least, like young business partners in miniature.
“I don't know how Major Dubois is not constantly cracking up,” 21-year-old Melvin Trent said about it as the major and the two children with him got out of the major's car.
“Hey, nephew and niecie – it's just something God graces you with as a father,” Sgt. Vincent Trent said, “because remember, Melvin, otherwise, you would have been giving me 21 years now of laughs.”
“Hey!”
“Remember the arm wrestling challenge a few weeks ago – you, a green civilian, challenging a 20-year military veteran who is only 43?”
“Well, um … yeah, I kinda get it.”
“If I had been laughing as hard as I could have, you might have had a chance to win that, Melvin. Paternal composure keeps things in order.”
“Well, yeah, I get it now.”
Capt. R.E. Ludlow turned out in his Sunday best with eleven-year-old granddaughter Eleanor and ten-year-old grandson Andrew, now his eldest children by adoption, and jointly his principal heirs.
“Y'all have put your work in,” he said, “out there with me on the carbonator every day before Rhodes Bottling picked up the work, so come on, because given my age, you may need to understand these concepts sooner rather than later.”
“Or, we could hit 21 and 20 and just take the load off so you live to 100,” Eleanor suggested.
“I like that business plan better,” Andrew said.
“I'll make you a deal,” Capt. Ludlow said. “If you can do it by 21 and 20, then I will gratefully step back and focus on getting to 100 as my next venture!”
“Deal!” they said, and everybody high-fived before getting in position on the porch.
Sgt. Tito Gonzalez rolled up with his son Tito Jr., and after that, all the family ownership of the Ludlow Bubbly was present to hear the major's presentation. He served as legal counsel and treasurer for the company, and he came with an important announcement.
“The Ludlow Bubbly achieved breakeven just before the addition of Rhodes Bottling to handle the production, and now is in profit to the point that we need to make a decision: it would be possible to make a small drawdown for ownership, but the wisest thing might be to consider a new hire.”
The other families considered this; Eleanor and Andrew Ludlow and 11-year-old Velma Trent followed Vertran and Louisa's lead and kept taking notes.
“This is because we see that idea generation from each of you, and time spent working with contacts, is driving revenue,” Maj. Dubois said. “Capt. Ludlow, you brought the connection with Rhodes, and Sgt. Trent, you encouraged Rhodes to lease space from Findlay while Findlay is down. Sgt. Gonzalez, your idea and management of Spanish-language labels in addition to your distribution work has brought in customers clear to the border of Mexico – and we expect to cross the Rio Grande as soon as the appropriate paperwork is completed. All three of you know Capt. Miyamoto, and he gave us access to get our product to Hawaii.”
“But this is the issue: the appropriate paperwork tasks are being split up between us in a way that is not as efficient as it could be, and when the increased capacity from Rhodes essentially doubling its space comes through, that paperwork load is going to become even higher.”
“So, in essence, the Ludlow Bubbly needs a dedicated COO – chief operations officer,” Capt. Ludlow said.
“Titles vary, of course,” Maj. Dubois said, “but the point is, the best investment in the summer quarter for the Ludlow Bubbly is to get all three family heads out of working in the business to working on the business by adding a dedicated employee. Of course, we have to decide on the nature and structure of the employment, but, it is time. The business is mature enough.”
Capt. Ludlow slowly shook his head.
“I hear what you are saying, and I can scarcely believe it,” he said. “We just started this, and we're looking to do our first hire?”
“Congratulations to all of us,” Sgt. Trent said.
“ Si, se puede," Sgt. Gonzalez said with a smile. “Yes, it is possible, Captain.”