Page 6 The Portland Observer November 21, 199«
I
Business Profile:
¡Boston
the different areas and fly back to De­
tro it regularly for assessment. But com ­
pleting the training doesn’ t guarantee
that you can get a dealership. They also
look at your personality and business
skills,” he commented.
A fter the training Boston pur­
chased the Gresham dealership because
“ I see the opportunity in Portland for
someone w ith skills to develop a busi­
ness. The market is open. The Portland
area and Oregon are growing and we
need people w ith business techniques,”
BY CYNTHIA BROWN
he said.
Boston also saw a diverse ethnic
hen Louis Boston, (now presi
population which offered opportunities
dent o f Gresham C hrysler-Ply
for people o f color, although after three
mouth) was running his busi­
years he’ s had to amend his perception
ness consulting firm in New Y ork,
he
somewhat
visited Portland a few times on business
“ On the surface there appears to
trips. “ Even i f I thought it was one o f
be a lot o f acceptance but people here
the best-kept secrets in the country, he
aren’ t used to competing w ith people o f
said. When he was presented w ith the
color. B u 11 sti 11 bel ieve there are oppor­
opportunity o f buying a car dealership
tunities for persons who are ris k -o ri­
in Gresham, he decided to make the
ented and I ’ m optim istic about the fu ­
move.
ture. As the area grows the situation w ill
W hile w orking as a consultant,
improve. I f I d id n ’ t believe that 1 m ight
Boston's clientele was varied and he
as w ell leave.”
had the chance to acquaint h im self w ith
Several factors contribute to
many different types o f ventures. One
Boston’s optimism. To start with Gresham
business stood o u t “ I consulted w ith a
has excellent growth potential. “ I t ’ s the
large dealership as a way to u tilize my
fourth largest city in the state. I t ’ s very
background in m arketing and sales-to
vibrant and growth-oriented w ith a dis­
be able to use a ll m y skills in one organi­
tinct business base. I t ’s an excellent
zation. Basically there are five different
place to live and work. And Portland
businesses in a dealership broken into
has a strong Chamber o f Commerce
separate p ro fit centers: new car sales,
committed to supporting people o f color,”
used car sales, the service department,
he said. Faith in the basic principals o f
the parts department and the body shop.
capitalism also play a part. “ I s till feel
Each is independent but integrated. One
people w ill buy from the person who
drives the other.”
offers the best product at the fairest
A fte r m aking the decision to buy
p rice.”
A t the same time Boston is
a dealership, he researched the automo­
realistic “ ...everything is not 100% equal.
tive industry thoroughly. “ I talked to
As a person o f color I have to recognize
G M first but 1 wasn’t convinced that
it and take steps.”
they were really looking to the future. I
The path that led Louis Boston to
looked at Ford next and liked them, but
owning a car dealership and liv in g in
their training program d id n ’ t measure
Gresham, Oregon was a roundabout one.
up to Chrysler’ s,” he said.
He was bom in Hackensack, New Jersey
Boston had to complete the rig o r­
and was raised in Albany, New York.
ous 18 month dealer training program
He received a bachelor’ s degree in po­
before Chrysler Corporation w ould a l­
litic a l science (w ith minors in Spanish
low him to purchase a dealership.
and philosophy) from West Virginia State.
“ I had to w ork fo r a dealer in all
“ I wanted to be an attorney but then I
i
P
A
P h
p
R a n d o lp h
In s titu tio n
Stronger Unions Needed
iBUo Cure Many Social Ills
discovered the business w o rld ,” he re­
called. “ A fte r getting m y bachelor's I
took several placement tests and they
pointed to marketing and sales.” He
went on to attend the Executive M B A
program at the U niversity o f M ichigan
and then “ go quickly into sales and
never looked back.”
Boston has been married fo r 27
years to Clariner Boston. They have
fo ur children: Louis I I , 25, who recently
received his M .A . in communications
from Syracuse U niversity; L o w e ll, 24,
w orking on his masters at the C alifornia
Institute o f A rt in animation and filmmak­
ing; L yle , 21, who is studying business
at Morehouse; ^nd Cyreena, 10, a stu­
dent at St. M ary o f the V alley and “ the
future chairperson o f the board; she
can’ t talk about the car business w ith the
best o f them,” according to her proud
father.
Boston is comm itted to com m u­
nity service. As the government pulls
money out o f social service projects
“ more and more businesses have to be
involved in the com m unity,” he said.
“ I f you take something from the com ­
m unity you must put it back. You need
to donate tim e and m oney.” He serves
on the boards o f the Urban League,
Y M C A , the Portland Chamber o f Com ­
merce and the Portland Opera, to name
a few.
He has also established a special
financing program which recognizes the
changing social needs o f our commu­
nity. “ Many single mothers have a hard
tim e getting financing but they need a
car. I ’ m proud our single parent/head o f
household program can get them financ­
ing or establish credit,’ ’ he commented.
Boston’s com m itm ent to the
com m unity shows even in his advertis­
ing which b ills Gresham C hrysler-Ply­
mouth the “ community-minded dealer” .
They offer fu ll service sales, leasing,
service and parts departments as w ell as
special financing for single parents, small
business mini-fleets and masters (55 plus).
They are located at 1975 E. Powell;
665-7121 or 254-2076.
Submitted by
Donna Hammond
articals will run bi-monthly
tics.
A fte r “ non-wage benefits” ,
such as pensions and health insurance,
are factored in, union workers have an
average “ total compensation” advan­
tage o f $317 every week. Moreover,
these figures do not take into account
provisions in union contracts forgreater
jo b security and stock ownership plans,
which are seldom available to non-un­
ion blue collar workers.
The union advantage is even
greater fo r women and m inorities. In
1988, the most recent year fo r which
statistics are available, the BLS reported
that African-Am erican union members
the difference between U.S. and Euro­
pean work life is union membership.
A bout 85 percent o f the European labor
force is u nion ized -ju st the opposite o f
the United States.
Trade unions w ill nonetheless
remain a potent force fo r social change
in our society, because their influence
extends far beyond the size o f the rank
and file. Non-union workers have also
benefited from such reforms as social
security, health insurance, jo b safety
regulations, unemployment insurance
and w orker’s compensation. None o f
these benefits could have been realized
w ithout the labor movement’ s leader­
ship.
As summer draws to a close,
American unions celebrate the Labor
Day holiday w ith guarded hope that the
1990s w ill be a decade o f progress for
the labor movement.
Having survived a decade o f
labor bashing, the A F L -C IO and inde­
pendent trade unions are accelerating
organizing drives throughout the na­
tion. Although the unionized sector o f
the labor force has dw indled from 23
percent in 1980 to less than 15 percent
today, union leaders believe the increas­
ing numbers o f —
low-wage workers
espite pockets of discrimination in a few trade unions Despite pockets
entering the coun­
try w ill bring about
(mostly in the building trades), labor unions have con­ o f discrimination
a dramatic increase
sistently championed the cause of racial equality in the in a few trade
in union member­
United States. “The labor movement has moved more pro­ unions (mostly in
ship.
gressively and faster in supporting the black movement the b u ild in g
But they
trades), la b o r
must first face some
than has any other institution in America,” explains Ben­ unions have con­
fo rm id a b le
ob­
jamin Hooks, executive director for the National Associa­ sistently champi­
stacles. In addition
oned the cause o f
tion for the Advancement of Colored People.
to the economic un­
racial equality in
certainty created by
the United States.
the savings and loan and Mideast crises,
averaged $ 138 more in weekly earnings
“ The labor movement has moved more
the unemployment rate reported fo r July
than non-union black workers. For
progressively and faster in supporting
(5.5 percent) was the highest increase
Hispanic and women workers, the weekly
the black movement than has any other
since 1986, and many economists are
differential was $130 and $103 respec­
institution in Am erica,” explains Ben­
predicting a serious recession in the
tively.
jam in Hooks, executive director fo r the
months ahead.
Unions have also begun to
National Association fo r the Advance­
Such predictions are corrobo­
develop a more creative menu o f bene­
ment o f Colored People. The labor
rated by the experience o f the labor
fits, such as union-owned banking and
m ovement’s legislative agenda fo r the
force. A New Y ork Times/CBS poll
low-inlerestchargecard services. Some
current Congress includes b ills to
reported on Aug. 24 indicated that 61
unions are experimenting w ith pre-paid
strengthen c iv il rights, controls on air
percent o f the respondents believed the
legal services, group life and auto insur­
pollution and greater a va ila b ility o f
United States is already in a recession.
ance policies fo r their members.
quality, affordable c h ild care and hous­
The number o f food stamp recipients
U.S. unions lag behind their
ing.
has also increased by 1.3 m illio n be­
counterparts in other industrialized na­
It is becoming clear that a more
tween M ay 1989 and May 1990, and
tions in vacation benefits, holidays and
active and influential labor movement
many states are reporting sharp increases
shorter w ork weeks. The French union
is a prerequisite fo r correcting a host o f
in welfare rolls.
movement has achieved a national guar­
social and economic injustices facing
Unions can s till point to im ­
antee o f five weeks paid vacation fo r
the nation. As form er Secretary o f
pressive wage differentials to bolster
every worker, regardless o f seniority
Labor Ray M arshall has put it, “ W e are
their arguments for union membership.
and 14 national holidays, compared to
not lik e ly to reverse the negative trends
In March o f this year, labor union mem­
10 holidays and an average o f 2 1/2
in income distribution unless unions get
bers earned an average o f $499 per
weeks vacation fo r American workers.
a whole lot stronger than they are.”
week, $78 more than the $421 weekly
German workers have 17 holidays and
W ith this com m itm ent, the 1990s can
average fo r unorganized workers, ac­
six weeks guaranteed vacation.
bring decent liv in g standards fo r w o rk­
cording to the Bureau o f Labor Statis-
The m ost important reason for
ing people o f all races.
D
An Open Letter To The American People.
Burger King wishes to go on record as supporting traditional American values on
television, especially the importance of the family.
We believe the American people desire television programs that reflect the values
they are trying to instill in their children.
We pledge to support such programs with our advertising dollars.
BURGER KIN G CORPORATION
4 1990 BURGER KING CORPORATION