Page 80 - Lighting Magazine June 2018

The New GeNeratioN
ADENA SPERLING, 30 Daughter of Jacob Sperling, founder of Maxim Lighting, a manufacturer based in California
WILLIAM SENOFSKY, 26 Son of Nick Senofsky, founder of LED Inspirations, a manufacturer based in Texas
DANNY WARMBOLD, 29 Son of Bob Warmbold, founder of Accent Lighting, a retailer based in Oregon
RUDY
DINI, 30
Son of Randy Dini, owner of Frank Dini Lamp & Shade, a retailer based in North Carolina
JARRETT FENNELL, 27
Son of Fred Fennell, founder of Fennell Marketing & Sales, a rep rm based in Ontario, Canada
“Growing up, it never felt like learning, but every day was a lesson.”
— Adena Sperling
Hannah Rachel Carroll: What was your childhood like?
Adena Sperling: When we were younger, my father and mother would take my siblings and I to the o ce on the weekends. The people who worked with my parents also became my family. Cindi, our shipping manager, would tear o the perforated edges from the green printing paper, hand us a paper clip, and help us make pompoms out of them. Our summer breaks were spent tagging along on business trips where we would visit new and current vendors, learn about quality control, and production. I saw and experienced the world in a very unique way. Growing up, it never felt like learning, but every day was a lesson. Probably the biggest growth bene ted from those years was a deep respect for my parents, the busi- ness, and the people we worked with.
HRC: Did you grow up wanting to join the industry?
Jarre Fennell: Absolutely not. I wanted to be a professional hockey player. I had a full ride to a D1 school in Boston, and a er graduation, I signed with the Idaho Steelheads. It only took a few days
to know deep down I wasn’t happy. A lot of people didn’t understand, but I knew it wasn’t the life I wanted anymore. I wanted to help my dad take his business to the next level. Walking away from the rink was incredibly hard, though I never dwelled on it. I knew I was making the right decision.
HRC: Has it been hard expressing your views or implementing changes?
Danny Warmbold: My dad and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. He says I have to learn how to do things his way rst, and then I can make sug- gestions. That’s been frustrating for me, especially when I feel like I have a good idea, but I respect him and learn his methods. About six months ago, I was able to change how we do returns — I implemented a new system for receiving defective replacements. So far, it’s been going well.
HRC: What do you think is needed for a family business to thrive?
William Senofsky: There has to be mutual re- spect. Kids working in a family business need to honor the experiences of the elders, and those with experience need to embrace fresh and new
78 enLIGHTenment Magazine | June 2018
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