Regina Heilmann Knecht isn't so sure how great it is to be president of John F. Scanlan Inc., a Philadelphia-based, 40-employee representative for manufacturers of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. As she explains it, she gets the title and the extra work, but shares the power, and whatever glory there is, with five of her close relatives.
This is a company that specializes in employing family members. Her father, in his 80s, had been an employee of the company before he bought it. He still works there, along with Knecht's leadership gang of five, which includes her sister, Chris. One of their in-laws works there, as does the in-law's brother, and someone else's mother, who comes in two days a week. That makes nine Heilmann family members and their relatives.
There is also the Gannon family of employees -- a son, a nephew, the nephew's two brothers-in-laws and one of their sons, for a total of five.
There are two brothers from another family who run the sales office in the Poconos.
Add it up and it looks like 40 percent of the employees have family ties. What do you think? Can your company top that number and percent? Does it add stability or cause problems, or both on alternate days? What's it like at Thanksgiving? And what's it like if you aren't part of the family?
