Greater Good Radio brings Barron Guss, president and chief executive officer of Hawaii’s largest human resources company, ALTRES. During his free time, he can be found putting his imagination to work in design and technology projects. He is a holder of three U.S. patents including a baby bottle design and a microchip-based, radio-frequency time and attendance system.
He also designs radio control model aircraft and is invited to do flight demonstrations throughout the world.
On top of his seemingly busy lifestyle, Barron actively supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Parents and Children Together (PACT), Blood Bank of Hawaii, and Adopt-a-Platoon. He is currently President of the Board at Academy of the Pacific in Honolulu and is the former President of Temple Emanu-El in Honolulu. He is Rotarian and a lifetime member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
In this interview, Barron talks about the importance of mentorship and open communication between family members involved in business. He says that it is essential for parents to open up to their children and talk to them about their decisions and the reasoning behind their choices.
“I’ve noticed in a lot of family businesses that the parent themselves forget to tell the child what they’re thinking; they forget to tell the child why they do things,” Barron says. “I think what happens is parents assume – because this is my child, this is my offspring, they’re supposed to think like me, be like me, a chip off the old book.”
“Communicate to your children – let them know specifically why you’ve made the choices,” he adds.
Learn more about the different hues of family-run businesses and Barron Guss’ view about succession and why it does not necessarily have to be your own children to sit next at the helm. All these only here on Greater Good Radio.
BIO:
Barron Guss is the President and CEO of ALTRES, Hawaii’s largest human resources company, serving hundreds of client companies and thousands of worksite employees on six islands. His father Bill Guss founded ALTRES in Honolulu in 1969 as a staffing services firm, and in the late 1980s, Barron Guss launched the company’s professional employer organization (PEO) division to provide outsourced human resource administration services.
Since that time Mr. Guss has served the PEO industry and Hawaii’s employers through his lobbying efforts on both federal and state levels. In addition he is a former board member of the National Association of PEOs (NAPEO) and a current board member of ESAC, the national accreditation body for PEOs. In 2000 ALTRES was ranked the #1 PEO in the nation by Professional Employers Journal.
When he’s not helping client companies find a better way of doing business, he can be found putting his imagination to work in design and technology projects. He is a holder of three U.S. patents—including a baby bottle design and a microchip-based, radio-frequency time and attendance system. He also designs radio control model aircraft and is invited to do flight demonstrations throughout the world.
Mr. Guss enjoys family time with his wife Dede, and children, Raquel 18, Zachary 16, and Madison 15. He has a long history of volunteerism, including active support for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Parents and Children Together (PACT), Blood Bank of Hawaii, and Adopt-a-Platoon. He is currently President of the Board at Academy of the Pacific in Honolulu and is the former President of Temple Emanu-El in Honolulu. He is Rotarian and a lifetime member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
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