Page 116 - RedWhiteFleet_interiors_Sep10

THE CREW

hile the Red and White Fleet is a family-owned employees who have been with the company for so many THESE PAGES: The heart of the
business, their crew and employees have become years is a core foundation of the business and something that Red and White Fleet is its family
Wfamily. “They’re what make the company,” has been around since the days of Tom Crowley. Crowley of employees. From guest service
says Tom Escher. The Red and White Fleet employs around often had employees spend their entire careers within his agents, photographers, deckhands,
and ticket agents all the way up
eighty people year-round, but this number can swell to 120 company, coming to work for him as teenagers and choosing to captains such as Willard Thau
during peak season. The company also prides itself on being to stay until they were in their seventies. Even during the (opposite, bottom left), President Joe
a progressive representative of the maritime industry and Great Depression, when other companies had to cut their Burgard, and owner Tom Escher,
was one of the first waterfront businesses to hire women for staff, Crowley looked out for his employees. William Figari, the people who put on the red, black,
onboard positions in the 1970s. who began working for Crowley when he was thirteen years and white uniforms of this company
are part of a heritage of excellence
“One of the areas where the company has been successful old and stayed for the next sixty-three years, remembered, and inclusion that has allowed for
over the years has been the employees,” says Escher. “Although “He paid our salaries all the time. Never cut our salaries at all over a century of positive memories,
we’re younger now under my ownership, we still have a lot during the Depression.” for guests and team members alike.
of employees that have worked here many years.” Valuing Escher, like his grandfather, knows that the employees There is no doubt, the Red and
are the ones who interact with the Fleet’s customers on White Fleet would not be where it
a daily basis and make sure they have a memorable and is today without the hard work of
its dedicated and tight-knit crew.
enjoyable experience from start to finish. “That’s where you
have to have the best people,” he concludes. “They’re what
make the company.”

GUEST SERVICE AGENTS
The first employee a guest is likely to encounter in their tour
experience is one of the Red and White Fleet’s guest service
agents. They are the main point of contact with guests at
the pier and have three important responsibilities among
the crew. First, they work as the main customer service
representative on the pier, drawing people in and answering

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