Family operations are far from uncommon in the quick lube industry, but the difficulties that come with it are not always discussed. Working alongside someone like a sibling brings a trust no one else can—but, like any sibling, it also means they know how to push your buttons.
For Reggie Cunanan, operating two SpeeDee Oil Change shops in California has been a family endeavor for the past two decades. It’s something that’s been a great benefit to him, but that has also required firm boundaries and learning to assert himself as his own person.
Though his father owned the business, the Cunanans’ journey with SpeeDee began with the eldest son getting a job as a lube tech at the SpeeDee in Milpitas, California. His brother got to know the owner and learned he was planning to retire.
When Cunanan’s father heard of this, he was immediately interested in taking over the business. He didn’t have an affinity for working with vehicles as much as he did for starting his own business alongside his wife, which had been a dream of theirs ever since they came to the U.S. from the Philippines.
“My mom and my dad always wanted a business. That's what they always talked about, that's always been their dream,” says Cunanan.
In March 2002, Cunanan’s father took ownership of the store. Coming from a management role within a telecommunications company, he began refining all the processes throughout the shop and ensuring he had a competent staff.
Meanwhile, Cunanan’s mother worked the front desk, where her outgoing, friendly personality made her a favorite with customers.
“My mom loves to talk to people, so she was an instant hit because she was one of our cashiers. Oh, God—everyone came in to see my mom,” says Cunanan.
It wasn’t until later, in 2006, when his father decided to open a second location, that Cunanan would be brought into the fold.
Finding Your Footing
After 10 years of working in customer support for Cisco, Cunanan left to join the family business, finding the increased job security more appealing. Though he knew little about automotive work, he used what skills he did have to succeed in this new field.
“I went in there blind, not knowing what the heck I'm doing—I didn't even know how to do oil changes at the time, to be honest with you. But I did know customer service,” Cunanan recalls.
Cunanan was meant to fill a managerial role at SpeeDee, but before he could assert himself, he needed to learn the basics and earn the respect of the more experienced technicians he would be working with—especially once his father began stepping away from the business and letting Cunanan gradually take a more dominant role in its operations.
At first, Cunanan mainly worked at their second location in Pleasanton, California, while his father maintained the Milpitas store. The two had quite different atmospheres, with most of the Pleasanton staff being in their 20s and those at the Milpitas shop being in their 50s and 60s.
Though it was intimidating to take a leadership role among many who were older than him after his father stepped back, the more Cunanan proved he knew what he was doing, the more comfortable he and the entire team felt with his direction. Cunanan’s father affirmed his role too, deferring employees who came to speak with his son.
It was something Cunanan had known was coming, having been primed to take over the shop from the very beginning. The insight his father provided into how the shop operates and a strong line of communication between he and his parents were undoubtedly assets for him—but there were many other aspects of running a business that he had yet to discover.
Learning to Lead
While Cunanan knew exactly what to do with customers and the shop’s operations, he didn’t realize just how much backend work there was until he took over; especially with regard to regulatory compliance like waste management and safety inspections.
There’s always a level of anxiety, though, as he views himself as continuing the success his father began. It’s too much for any one person to handle, which is why Cunanan has learned the value of having reliable managers and team members in place.
Working with family members, especially older ones, can make it awkward when in a position of authority over them. Having a third party to help relay messages to the team can help alleviate that dynamic.
Though not related to Cunanan by blood, the manager of the Pleasanton store has been working with him for so long he considers him to be part of his family and is often the point of contact between him and a family member when there’s a problem.
“With my uncle being older than me—he's 60—telling him what to do, knowing that he's my uncle and my mom's brother, is definitely a challenge,” shares Cunanan.
All in the Family
For Cunanan, the benefits of working with family outweigh any cons. He knows them, understands how they think and work, and can count on them to be there.
This is especially important for when life events come up; whether it’s picking up the kids or having to make an appointment, colleagues you’ve already established a strong bond with are more willing to help out when needed.
Despite this, Cunanan cautions others working in family businesses to not feel guilty for having to enforce boundaries.
When you work with family, it’s easy to feel you’re letting someone down when you take some time away from work—but everyone needs and deserves time devoted to their life outside the business, and keeping a balance between work and personal lives doesn’t stop being important no matter who you work with.
“Don’t feel guilty taking time off. You need to re-energize, you need to realign yourself, and then come back to the shop with a good attitude, instead of having that feeling of being trapped,” Cunanan says.
