La Cañada Flintridge-based Allen Lund Co. was founded in 1976. The company arranges transport of freight across the country, including dry and refrigerated goods. Current president and second-generation owner Edward Lund said he’s been in the family business since he could talk – he and his brothers were taught early on how to answer one of the two phone lines in the house for business. “We learned as kids how to answer the phone ‘Allen Lund Company,’ and talk to a truck driver,” Lund said. That practice paid off: Eddie and his brothers have run the company since their father passed away in 2018.
How did you get into the family business?
My mom and dad started the business back in 1976. I worked with both of them. My dad passed away in 2018, my mom is retired. And me and my two other brothers have been in the business for quite some time. Kenny and I (have worked there) over 30 years, and David over 40 years. And then we’ve got my brother’s son-in-law and a nephew that’s working for the company right now.
What are the pros and cons of working at a family-owned business?
I would say there aren’t really any cons, at least the way we’ve been able to do this. Except, if we have a wedding we’re all gone (out of office). The pros are, it’s great to work with your family. We all get along, we all bring different strengths to the business. And, you know, who would I trust more than my brother? Especially when you’re making tough decisions … You just know that they have the company’s best interest at heart, there’s no self-serving type of agenda. You’re also able to be very frank with each other and know at the end of the day there’s not going to be any feelings hurt or a grudge carried or anything like that.
How do you handle the issue of succession?
Really, we just collaboratively worked it out. For us, usually the oldest would take the position (of deciding who took over). David had the most experience, so the decision was up to him.
How would you advise someone considering going into business with their family?
I would advise it. Now, I’d want to know, do you get along with your family members? What’s that dynamic? I think if I didn’t talk to my brothers outside of work, that that would be kind of miserable. But we get together all the time with our family.
The other thing that has worked well for us is that we all kind of bring a little something different to the table. So figure out what that is in your family, so you put people in the right spot where they’re going to succeed the most.
What’s your approach to work-life balance?
Well, there’s not many secrets, that’s for sure. We all have our own lives, we have our own children, different things that we do. I think you’ve got to allow that as well. We’ve been doing this a long time. Although we do a lot of stuff together, you’ve got to give people their space to enjoy their life.