“If you think you’re too important to take care of the little things, then you’re too little to ever be important.” – Jerry Boles : Founder of Boles Parts Supply, Inc

Recently I was hired to do some industrial photography of a recycling company. The man who owns the company, Mr. Boles, started his business when he was thirteen years old in his parents’ yard with some 55 gallon drums — recycling the metal from old car parts. Now his property is one million square feet and covers 55 acres — two city blocks. He owns five similar properties across the United States and employs 150 people just at this one. As far as I can tell, he’s a billionaire, but I’m told you would never know it if you were to randomly meet him though. Apparently he’s a really down-to-earth guy, and I’ve understood that he is a man of great moral character, who treats each of his employees like they’re his own family.

I was on his property for a day-and-a-half shooting, and every one of his employees I dealt with was very friendly and helpful to me. All of them spoke very highly of Mr. Boles. My work has taken me to many different work and office environments — and it shows when employees at these environments are not treated with much respect by their employer. I can see it without them saying anything. You can see it too in your day-to-day life at businesses you visit — if you’re paying attention. It’s not a good thing.

I left that job with lifted spirits. I saw and visually documented a business that was based on recycling everything — before recycling was trendy and cool — and the employees all seemed to enjoy their job and the person they worked for. I was impressed enough that I ended up sending a personal letter to Mr. Boles with 8×10 prints of these portraits telling him about my experience there. It was a thank you for him being the type of person that more people need to aspire to be — for being the type person I should aspire to be.

This is Mike. He is the property manager and was in charge of making sure I got anything I needed while on the property shooting. Super nice guy. He told me Mr. Boles was like a father to him, and showed me a picture of his daughter who is in her early 20’s I think. I mentioned to him about her being absolutely beautiful and having his hands full in regards to keeping less than desirable guys away from her. He said she turned out to be a great kid despite the fact her mom ran off and left them both when she was just a baby. He mentioned to me about crying himself to sleep night after night back then, wondering how he was going to raise a little girl by himself when he was just — I think he said he was thirty-two at the time. Throughout life various people will say things to you that leave a lasting impression on you. Well, him telling me that story was one of those things. It just made me think, “Wow.” Props to all the single parents out there who manage to do a good job raising their kids with zero help from the other parent.