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42
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1988
Young Executives Are Climbing
The Corporate Family Tree
ROBIN FREEDMAN
Jewish News Intern
L
owell Potiker walked
into a career position
most people will never
achieve. At 28, he is assistant
to the president of Entertain-
ment Publications. And he
doesn't take it for granted.
Potiker works for his father,
the chairman and president
of the Birmingham-based
company that reported 1987
revenues of $53.6 million. It
produces entertainment dis-
count books in 84 cities
throughout the United States
and Europe.
"I have so much to gain
here," Potiker said. "It would
take me 40 years to get to the
place I'm at if I were
Lowell Potiker at his office at Entertainment Publications.
somewhere else!'
Potiker is just one of many
Detroit area young executives
founded in 1917 by their
adds another dimension.
who has launched a career in
grandfather.
"I don't want to just sell a
an established, family-run
The 23-year-old Michigan
piece of jewelry, I want to
business. His father, Hughes,
State University graduate
make the customers feel
also a lawyer, established the
manages the store in the
special," Wachler said: "I
company in the early 1960s.
Renaissance Center with his
bring a spark of youth to the
Although all children of cor-
sister-in-law, Susan Wachler.
business!'
porate executives don't enter
He is one of eight family
Ruth Stone had different
executive management posi- • members who has a vote in
reasons for joining her
tions immediately after col-
corporate - decisions. He also
father's firm, Stone and
lege, many choose to work for
designs jewelry.
Simons Advertising. She
their families because it is
planned
to leave the state
Wachler shuns critics who
satisfying and long-term
after graduating from MSU
assume
his
career
choice
was
rewards are plentiful.
in 1984.
simple.
Yet working for parents,
Now a copywriter at the
"People
might
think
I
took
they said, is often more
firm,
she has little contact
the easy way out, but anyone
demanding than others
with her father, Charles
who
knows
me,
knows
I
work
realize.
Stone, the firm's president
hard," Wachler said.
"Parents expect more from
and general manager. In fact,
Like
Potiker,
Wachler
said
their children than they
he
was surprised when she
the transition into the
would from other employees,"
took the job. The creative
business
was
tough.
.
Potiker said. "You expect
director hired Ruth while her
"I was able to earn my fami-
more from yourself because
father was out of town. -
ly's
respect,"
Wachler
said.
"I
what you do has a dramatic
Ruth described her rela-
was more conscious of my
impact on your family. You
tionship with her father as
responsibilities
and
I
learned
don't want to disappoint them
supportive rather than
so you work harder!'
authoritative.
A graduate of the Universi-
"He was counseling me at
ty of Michigan and Pepper-
first," Ruth said. "He knew I
dine Law School in Califor-
was in an unusual position
nia, Potiker assists the com-
and took it upon himself to
pany's legal department and
help me get through it!'
manages the in-house travel
Ruth sometimes has mixed
agency and computer divi-
feelings about working at the
sion. It's the only job he ever
firm.
had.
"I haven't been afraid to go
Potiker started in the
out on a limb. If I have a real-
stockroom when he was 14
ly neat idea _ , I'll go for it," she
and worked his way up to
explained. "But at the same
sales.
time I hold back. There is a
"My asset is that I have
certain kind of confidence and
been a part of this for so long
a certain kind of insecurity
that I have internalized my
all mixed into one!'
parents' philosophy," he said.
Her brother, Doug, also
"I have an ability to look at
works at Stone and Simons
the weak areas in the com-
Advertising. Ruth has more
pany and make them better."
Glenn Wachler
contact with Doug, an ac-
Glenn Wachler also grew up
count executive, than with
with his father's business. He
to respect my brothers as my
her father.
superiors!'
and his two brothers are part
"I had a hard time dealing
of the third generation of the
Wachler hopes he has in-
with Doug when I first
family that runs David
troduced a new way of think-
'started. I wanted him to
ing to the business. His youth
Wachler and Sons jewelers,