The German Triangle

by Carl Messinger

“So Dad, where does it say that the father can find his own destiny and the son can't?”

  The father, pausing for a minute, nods his head in understanding. Ron got up from the chair and embraced his father, like only a son can embrace his father. Looking each other in the eye, both chuckle a little, and walk back to the party.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ron heard the whine of the plane’s engines as it prepared to roll down the runway outside his office window. Over the past twenty-five years, he had heard that sound more often than not. He glanced out the window and saw the silver plane with the Condor insignia streaking down the concrete strip. He had started Condor Airlines shortly after getting out of the hospital and was proud of his company and what he had accomplished. Starting with a single C-47 surplus aircraft, Condor Airlines had grown to over one hundred aircraft of all sizes and capabilities. With that capability, he had brought the economic boom to the smallest of towns scattered throughout the country. It was this capability, the ability to service even the remotest areas of the country that had brought him and his company success. His success was tied to the service of others, a key concept in his business plan and his life.

  Ron glanced at the calendar on his desk to check his schedule for the next few days. It was going to be a busy time as the company celebrated its anniversary over the next three days.

  “1973,” he mumbled to himself. “Where had the years gone? Seems like I just started this business and now it practically runs itself.”

  He looked around the office, two sides of which were windows overlooking Newark Airport. He could see the constant air traffic landing and taking off, carrying the business of Americans throughout the world.

  On one corner of his desk was a simple but elegant framed picture of his wife of twenty years, Lannis. He recalled with a smile her introduction to him the night of his party. “Hi Ron, welcome home,” she had said when he entered the living room from the porch. He had turned to say the requisite “thank you, it’s good to be home,” but never finished it. Instead, he stopped in mid-sentence and starred at the little girl who lived five houses down the street. Only she was not a little girl any more. Three years younger than Ron, she had grown into an attractive, mature woman, graduated college a year ahead of time, and was working as an assistant to a local attorney while attending graduate school. After a two year courtship, they were married in St. Peter’s Church in New Brunswick. Life was good.

  The other corner of the desk was home to another picture, this time his two children, Melissa, age 12, and Katie, age 10. They were the apples of his eyes, and doted upon as only a successful father could. It was for them that he had built his company, the same way that his father had built the hardware business for his son. He hoped his kids would take and nurture it for their off-spring for generations to come.

  Ron had become somewhat of a hero in his community as a result of his success and his sharing nature. He still lived in New Brunswick and drove up the New Jersey turnpike every day to his corner office. But he never forgot where he came from and was constantly helping organizations in need of assistance; be it financially or by allowing his employees to take time to volunteer. He encouraged his employees to help out organizations to the betterment of their communities and this resulted in an employee dedication to Condor which was exemplary, to the dismay of his competitors.

  Ron had been approached to run for public office, but had turned down the opportunity. He didn’t like the spotlight, and in fact, was kind of shy about his success, giving instead, the credit to others. His one self-indulgence was an old C-47 that he occasionally flew, but for the most part, was parked inside one of Condor’s hangers. Shiny and well-cared for, the plane caused new employees to wonder what that was all about, and it pleased the old-timers no end to tell the story of the plane and the founder of the company.

  Ron’s thoughts turned to the next day, the 25th Anniversary party of Condor Airlines. He had carefully scheduled the extravaganza to ensure that all his employees would be able to attend. He set it up in a huge hanger away from most of the usual noise of an airport. He had actually closed the company down for three days, notifying his customers well in advance, so that all the employees could be there. Those employees, and there were many, who lived outside the local area were either flown or provided train transportation to the Newark area. He put them up in several of the better hotels in the area, picking up the tab for all the expenses. He reasoned that his success was due to their hard work and that they and their families should share in the celebration.

  He looked around the office with a sense of pride, packed up his briefcase, flicked off the overhead light and walked out of his office. He passed Margaret, his loyal secretary of fifteen years, and headed toward the door.

  Stopping at the door, he turned and said to Margaret, “Margaret, get out of here and go home. We have a big day tomorrow and I want to see your smiling face having a good time.”

  Margaret lifted her head up from a stack of papers. “Good night, Ron,” she said with a knowing smile on her face.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The huge hanger looked more like a movie set then a maintenance facility. Balloons and streamers hung from the rafters, signs of congratulations adorned the stark walls, many from competitors acknowledging the success of Condor Airlines. In truth, the outside metal walls hid the temporary fantasyland that astounded the adults and brought squeals of delight to the youngsters. Though far away from most of the air traffic, the roar of the engines from planes departing the airport could still be heard as they screamed down the runway, heading south along the Jersey coast until they turned toward their final destination.

  But the Condor airplanes were still, standing as a tribute to those employees who ran them. Having closed the airline down for three days, Ron had invited his employees to the celebration. Those who lived out of town were provided transportation to Newark, either by air or train, and put up in the better hotels near the airport so they could also participate in the festivities. All expenses were charged to the company.

  Inside the party hanger, several airplanes, all with the Condor markings were placed around the large open space. Kids of all ages, many of them seeing airplanes up close for the first time, scrambled over, around, and in each of them, moving from one pilot's seat to the next as they imagined themselves in command of the metal monsters. The kids all wore pilot's hats, appropriately sized for smaller heads, they had been given upon entry to the hanger. The employees would each receive something more substantial, but that would be reserved till later when each found an extra check in their pay envelope. Ron was not one to not take care of his own. He had been fortunate and wanted to share that fortune with them.

  A podium stood in front of the airplanes, a large projection screen hanging above and behind the podium. During the festivities, pictures of different people were flashed on the screen and the kids squealed with delight when their father or mother suddenly took the spotlight. Mathews moved around the hanger, visiting with the out-of-state folks, meeting their wives and kids and just enjoying himself. He stopped and talked with anyone willing to speak to him, especially those who had help him build the company.

  There was Dick Russell, a boyhood friend who knew nothing about aviation, but all there was to know about operating a business. He left the technical stuff to Mathews. His forte was dollars, how to get them, how to use them to make more, and what to do with the more. Matthews was Mr. Outside, dealing with the power brokers and sharks who constantly threatened to run away with the airline, while Russell was Mr. Inside and ran the day to day operations of the company.

  There was Jack Ross, an operations wizard who practically invented the next-day delivery. He worked for Russell, but in reality, they trusted each other's ability to the extent they were more like peers.

  Then there was Margaret Vargas, a long time resident of New Brunswick. She grew up there, married, had grown kids who eventually moved away, been widowed, and worked now beca
use she liked the way Condor gave back to the community. The company had denoted a considerable amount of money to St. Peter's Hospital when her husband died there of cancer, all in her husband's name. Nobody knew this but Margaret, Dick, and of course Matthews. Margaret was the Executive Secretary and everyone knew she spoke for Matthews. She had been with him for fifteen years and knew, even before he did, what decisions he would make on all but a few topics. Those she didn't, she quietly waited for, then made sure they were implemented at once and without delay. She was a confidant and a friend and someone Matthews could trust.

  Dick Russell moved to the platform, introduces himself, and starts to speak.

  “Hello, everyone, and welcome to twenty-five years of instant success! We are all here because of the vision, the hard work, and the successful embodiment of that vision in my company, your company, our company, Condor Airlines. Started as a one-plane operation, it gradually expanded to be part of this country's aviation industry, founded on the principles of honestly, hard work, and the company family, a family who puts the customer first in all its doings. We can be proud of what we do, and how we do it, and we can be proud of the one man who started the company and shared his vision with all of us. Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Mr. Ron Matthews!”

  Matthews bounded up the stairs to the platform and raised his hands like a fighter after a victory, and with a big smile on his face, acknowledges the cheers and applause from his employees and their families. He looks around at the crowd and walks to the microphone as the crowd noise begins to wane.

  “I want to thank all of you from coming here today, taking time from your busy lives to join us in celebrating this momentous day. All of us in some way or another are responsible for the success we celebrate today. I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work and effort some individuals who may not be well known within the company, but without whose professional efforts we would not be as successful as we are. First, there is Bill Snyder, Head of Maintenance. Without his experience and expertise we would be a storage company and not an airline.” The crowd laughed and applauded.

  “Then there is our Head of Personnel, Janet Dickson, whom we have all met and who helps making sure we have the best people working for us. And of course, who could ever over look our Head of Security, Richard Means, whose tireless efforts and oversight ensure our safety and the safety of those we serve.”

  “But there are others. For instance, there is Richard Alveraz, a shipping clerk in the Phoenix office, Mattie McDonald, one of our customer service representatives in Denver, and even Don Woods, a maintenance engineer in the New York office. These are the people who come face-to-face with the customer, and if they don't satisfy them, we all lose. And to them we owe a debt of gratitude.”

  A resounding applause and thank yous broke out among the rapt crowd.

  “And there is Margaret, who is the only one who really knows what is going on” says Matthews with a big smile as Margaret's face flashes up on the screen wearing a crown on her head and carrying a baseball bat in her hands. A large cheer erupts at the caricature on the screen.

  Ron continues to talk and makes one final tribute to his parents. They scolded him when he needed it, supported when he didn't know he needed it, and taught him the attributes that are now the backbone of the company.

  Suddenly, Margaret appeared on the podium, moving over to Ron. She acknowledges the cheers her appearance raised and whispered something in Ron's ear.

  “Ron, recommend you wrap it up as people are getting restless, not to mention hungry. Besides, you have an important phone call waiting.”

  He nodded in acceptance, moved one last time to the microphone, thanking everyone for the work and their attendance at the party. Waving he walked away.

  Margaret stepped to the mike saying, “Well, we got through that part, now let's get this party started.”

  The band began to play a lively tune as the waiters brought trays and trays of food to the tables and the festivities began.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  When Ron walked into the company headquarters on Monday morning, the offices were alive with everyone talking about the party over the weekend. Peals of laughter came from folks recounting the good times they had with their families, their kids, and their co-workers, many of whom they met in person for the first time. Ron acknowledged the waves and smiles and quickly moved passed Margaret, who sat there with her own little grin and into his office. His closed door quickly reopened and he said to Margaret to come to him in about ten minutes to set something up. Just as quickly, the door closed and she could hear him start talking on the phone.

  With a soft knock on the door, Margaret came into Ron's office as instructed, pen and pad in hand ready to take notes. “Margaret,” Ron said. “Please call a regular staff meeting for nine-thirty this morning and add about five more chairs to the conference room as there are others that I have invited to attend. Also please make yourself available as well as there will be follow-up actions which need to be documented and distributed. Oh, and thank you for all the work you did for the party. It was amazing and it seems as though everyone had a great time. And your efforts are appreciated. Thank you. OK, see you at nine-thirty.” With that, he turned his attention back to some papers on his desk he had been reading.

  Ron could hear some whispering voices through the door between his office and the conference room, glanced down at his watch, confirmed the time with his desk clock and started gathering multiple papers from his strewn desk, arranging them in some type of order that only he could understand. He got up, walked across the open space between his desk and the conference room door, took a deep breath, and walked into the room where about 20 people stood, waiting for the meeting to begin. At exactly nine-thirty, Margaret came through the main door of the room and moved to her normal seat. With that, Ron asked everyone to be seated and sat down in his usual seat at the end of the conference table. All was silent.

  “Good morning,” Ron said, as he surveyed the others in the room. “Today we have a unique opportunity before us and we have to decide not whether to take it, but rather how to take it. Saturday evening, after being so graciously ushered off the stage by Margaret, I had a phone call waiting for me. It was not a regular phone call, but a call that could determine the future course of Condor Airlines. It came from a company in the Midwest, a company we and millions of others know and follow. A company well known for its unique way of doing business. A company which mirrors ours in the way they treat their customers and the service they provide. The company is Gateway Computers.

  A murmur erupted in the room. With all the attendees being in the business world, they had read about Gateway or had successful business dealings with them, and knew them to be a shining light in the business community, run by a group of business professionals who were dedicated to serving those in need of their products and services. A standard to which other companies strove to achieve.

  “Their senior management,” Ron continued, “has decided to take the company to new heights, offering its customers the fastest possible delivery, even one day at times, in an attempt to obviously attract more business, but to also be the first to offer such a service. And they want Condor to be part of it.

  After looking at several options and several different companies, their management has chosen Condor to be the sole transportation provider in meeting this new service. They have requested that we assemble and provide them a comprehensive plan to do just that. We would pick up the packages at their manufacturing facilities and transport them to the front door of the customer. They will provide us their plans, along with a Non--Disclosure Agreement which everyone in this room will be required to sign, and we will use their plans around which to build ours.”

  “This is a huge undertaking as it will require probably new hubs, new distribution facilities, new vehicles designed to deliver door-to-door packages, and of course, additional personnel. New and different planes will probably be needed al
so. It will be our biggest effort yet, and if done with the planning and accuracy with which Condor is known, will result in us being the leading company we all want us to be. The opportunity is now, and the decision is ours.”

  “I throw in one word of discouragement. They want our proposal in three weeks time.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The silence in the room was deafening. Attendees waited, hoping that this was a joke. As that possibility waned, one strong voice broke the silence.

  “Ron,” said Dick. “That’s an almost impossible task given the day to day operations we have going on. All of us here, and those who are not here, are working hard on our regular jobs. I don't know how we can afford to take time from those to work this proposal at all, least of all in three weeks. I think the opportunity is a great one but to put together a proposal we all can be proud of, and more importantly to be able to act upon and put the proposal into action, it is going to take more than three weeks, more like three months or even more. Why is there such a hurry on their part?”

  “When I spoke with their President,” Ron explained, “He said that they had just made the decision to adopt the new strategy but to do that they needed increased capital funding. To get that funding required the issuance of new bonds, which in turn required the approval of their Board of Governors. The next Board of Governors meeting is scheduled four weeks from now, or one week after our proposal is due. If they missed that meeting it will mean waiting another year before the next one, unless a special meeting is requested. And special meetings are rarely approved.”

  “So,” Ron continued, “It’s now or sometime next year. And their desire for now is fueled by the fear that someone else will be the first one to offer this service, leaving Gateway in the dust. And, like we usually say, “If you’re not leading the pack, the view is always the same.” And, again like us, they don't like that view.”