Episode Overview
Laura Albert, owner and CEO of Interstate Rental Service, shares the story of her family’s 90-year-old Boston event rental business and how it’s evolved from jukeboxes to major productions like the Boston Marathon and Harvard’s commencement.
Laura talks about leading a multi-generational company, balancing tradition with innovation, and why strong relationships, with clients, vendors, and employees, are the foundation of long-term success.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Introduction to the episode with Laura Albert, owner and CEO of Interstate Rental Service
- 01:48 – The 90-year history of Interstate Rental, founded in 1935 by Laura’s grandfather
- 04:48 – Supporting major Boston events like the Boston Marathon and university commencements
- 07:48 – How annual events evolve year to year and the planning it takes to adapt
- 09:52 – Laura’s career before rental, including roles at The New York Times and a tech company
- 13:35 – How her outside experience brought new perspective to the family business
- 17:45 – Working with family: collaborating with her father as chairman and brother as COO
- 23:47 – Balancing modernization and tradition while updating technology and processes
- 27:52 – Challenges of hiring and retaining talent in an urban market
- 34:48 – Employee longevity and why some team members have stayed for 40 years
