In celebration of Father’s Day, SparkVision got to know some dynamic young professionals who work directly with their Dad and meet Ali and Bob.
As the saying goes, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” and these stories highlight the unique and special experience that’s created when children collaborate alongside their parents. We hope you’ll enjoy a look inside their day-to-day as family and colleagues!
Bob Carpenter was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and a 1978 graduate of McDonogh school. Bob grew up in the furniture business as a third generation Price Modern employee. Upon graduation from Washington and Lee University in 1983 with a degree in Economics and Psychology, he became active in the business. Bob is a golfer, avid skier, and happily married with five daughters.
Ali Carpenter was born and raised in Baltimore and graduated from McDonogh high school. She played lacrosse for UMBC and graduated with a Bachelors in Media and Communications and a Minor in Gender & Women’s Studies. She transferred to Loyola her sophomore year, where she continued to play lacrosse. Ali is passionate about lacrosse, volunteering at animal shelters, and her favorite food group is peanut butter.
Describe your family-owned business. Bob: Price Modern is an industry leading contract office furniture distributor representing over 200 Grade A manufacturers. Consistently ranked as a top 5 Hayworth Best in Class Dealer, Price Modern provides knowledge, innovation, and implementation of interior furnishings for the Corporate 1000 business community. The company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with sales offices in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Although focused in the mid-Atlantic region, Price Modern also provides goods and services nationally and globally.
How did you get involved? Bob: Prior to graduating college, I wasn’t certain if I was going to join the business. To that point, I had worked during summers doing odd jobs for Price Modern in the warehouse, making deliveries, assembling product, etc. I didn’t learn about the core of the business until after my full-time employment began.
Out of college, I chose the opportunity to explore sales as a career and fell in love with it. My dad suggested that I interview with Milford Marchant, Vice President of Sales at the time and currently Chairman and CEO of Price Modern. I was motivated by the opportunity to compete in a growing industry. As soon as I learned the furniture business, sales became a passion. I enjoyed the impact we had in creating productive and aesthetically pleasing work environments.
There was a definite appeal to working in the same business as my dad. My dad, Ragan, gave me the life skills to be successful and Milford provided me with the furniture and selling tools that married perfectly together. Both men got me to the point where I felt comfortable leading others down the same path.
How did you get involved in your father’s business? Ali: When I was little, I always loved coming to the office with my dad. It was the time that we got to spend together but also time for me to learn what he did. I was intrigued and interested in what he was doing every day. He would teach me about furniture and he would show me what it means to be a sales person! I would always wear the Price Modern gear that he would get me and I would talk so much about what my dad did to all of my friends. As I grew older he talked with me about what I wanted to do. My answer to him was always I want to follow in your footsteps. Lacrosse was the start of that journey. I played all my life and so did he. He played at the collegiate level and I worked so hard and got a scholarship to play at Loyola. Once I was finished with school and hung up my cleats my dad asked me what I wanted to do with my college degree. I said to him, “I want to work for Price Modern.” I wanted to make my dad proud and continue the family name. When the time came my dad looked at me and said, “Ali I think that it’s time you become a part of the Price Modern Family.” It was one of the greatest days of my life.
What did you see in your child as a kid that serves them well now as an adult? Bob: Ali has an infectious personality that draws people in. She is cordial, approachable, and friendly, which are all very important in what we do. Ali lights up a room.
What qualities do you see in your dad that you now see in yourself? Ali: My dad is loyal, passionate, hard-working, and trustworthy among many other things. These are the qualities that I see in myself. I walk through the red doors of Price Modern every day and put these qualities that I have learned from him to work. My dad is an amazing man. He would make his father proud with the man that he has become. He has taught me that people respect it when you take responsibility for your actions, when you listen to them, and when you treat them as if they are the only ones that matter. I see a great deal of this in myself. He has taught me to do the greatest possible amount of good every day. He also tells me to perform random acts of kindness.
What’s the best part of working with your child/Dad?
Bob: The best part of working with Ali is that I get to see her. Selfishly, it’s neat to be able to interact and watch her speak her mind as she learns our business. To see her grow as a professional is different than seeing her grow as a student-athlete. She is becoming as an asset to the business. It’s very important for Price Modern to differentiate itself from the competition and she plays a significant part of doing that in the marketing department. Interacting with her on a professional level is both fun and rewarding
Ali: I have a few favorite things. The first being when we can sneak off to lunch together at the counter of the “New Wyman Diner”. We call it the counter because when I was little I never remembered the name but I remembered that there was a big counter that we would sit at. His dad took him there and then he took me there. It’s a family tradition.
My second favorite thing about working with my dad is being able to attend an event in our space together. Price Modern hosts a lot of events in our new showroom. It gives me so much joy and pride to be able to walk around and talk to people with my dad by my side. My dad is my ultimate idol so to see him at work and to be right by his side makes me so happy.
What do you want your legacy to be?
Bob: I want to leave the company in a better place than when I began.
Ali: I want people to say you remind me so much of your dad because then I will know that I am doing some good in my life. My dad leaves behind a rich history of loyalty, strength, passion and so much more. I hope to teach my children the same things that he taught me.
Happy Father’s Day Bob! We wish the Price Modern continued success in your industry. We appreciate all you’ve done to support our company and know how deeply you care about your community. Hats off to you both!