Like Father, Like Son

Jack was just five years old when he posed for a photo beside his father, Tony, both proudly wearing their Cintas polos. At the time, Jack couldn’t have imagined that one day he’d be stepping into the same company, walking a similar path to his father. 

Now, that childhood photo has come full circle. Jack is officially following in his father’s footsteps, beginning his own journey at Cintas as a Management Trainee—the very same role where Tony once got his start. It’s something they never expected, but they are happy it is.   

“Maybe even five years ago, I would never have guessed that this could have happened,” said Jack. “I guess I'll continue to have to pinch myself every once in a while, just to be like, ‘Wow, this is happening!’” 

For Tony, that moment came even earlier, when his son Jack had accepted an internship at Cintas, at the same location where he once worked.  

“It was kind of a pinch-me moment that my wife and I would laugh about a little bit, and say, ‘Could you have ever imagined he'd be doing this?’ 

“Occasionally, I’d bring Jack to the office with me if I needed to check on something real quick, and he would set up a makeshift desk next to mine and color. So, I guess there was a part of me that thought, yeah, maybe he’d work at Cintas one day.”  

During Jack’s internship, Tony had the opportunity to tour the location with him. As they walked through, Tony pointed out that the copy room now occupies the space where his desk once stood years ago when he worked there. While the physical layout of a Cintas location may evolve over time, the company's mission and culture have remained steadfast. 

“I learned business and leadership, for the most part, all through the Management Trainee (MT) Program,” said Tony. “I went through all the different departments in the Rental division at several Texas locations, including Dallas, and it was an outstanding way to learn. There’s no doubt I wouldn’t have the progression in my career if I didn't go through a program very similar or identical to the MT program.” 

Thanks to his father, Jack had early insight into Cintas and the culture, but he says he didn’t truly understand it until he experienced it firsthand. 

“The culture and people are what made Cintas feel like the right fit for me,” said Jack. “Hard work, ethics and the sense of community, it was something that I never experienced before in a place. I know my dad always talked about it, and they talk about it in our trainings and things like that, but it really came to fruition when I actually got to experience it firsthand.” 

Tony says the same corporate characteristics that embody an employee-partner are the same traits Jack has, which is why he thinks he will fit right in at Cintas.  

“I believe Jack has these similar traits you can’t train or teach,” said Tony. “Things like honesty, integrity, and the heart of a servant. He's heard me say this a thousand times, but it’s about doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done, whether you feel like it or not. It’s these types of things that make up a Cintas employee-partner and what he will bring to the table.” 

These qualities are essential in any team member, regardless of their title or tenure with the company. However, they are especially important in management trainees, who represent the next generation of leadership at Cintas. Alex, General Manager of the Cintas Rental location in Amarillo, Texas, and Jack’s supervisor during his internship, recognized these traits in Jack, which is why he’s returned as a management trainee. 

“Attributes such as a strong work ethic and pride in one’s work, especially in interns and future Management Trainees like Jack, have a huge impact on the success of Cintas and its locations,” said Alex, General Manager of the Cintas Rental location in Amarillo, Texas. “Hiring, developing, and retaining talent is key to any leader’s success. Being able to recruit someone like Jack, who has Cintas in his DNA, is very rewarding.” 

Tony knows from experience that Cintas will challenge Jack in all the right ways, encouraging him to develop and strengthen key traits and skills. There are few places he could imagine Jack thriving more. 

“I'm thrilled that he's going to have the best environment possible to expand on those skills and traits, and with a tremendous infrastructure at Cintas and the Amarillo location,” said Tony. “As a parent, you want your kids to be challenged, and you're going to care about the workplace that does it. I can only think of a few places where I would feel completely at peace around that, and to know that he's going to be in that culture, he's going to be challenged in the right way. I don't know that you can ask for anything more.”  

This sense of reassurance is echoed by Jack, who has come to appreciate just how profoundly his father’s experiences at Cintas have influenced both his father’s career and Jack's own journey. 

“My dad is so thankful for Cintas and says how our family and his career wouldn't be where they are without it, the lessons he learned, and the connections he’s made,” said Jack. “As I reach milestones during the MT program and beyond, it’ll be an ongoing experience that I will continue to look back on and recognize as something that has been in the works for a long time.” 

From matching Cintas polos to makeshift desks next to his dad’s, Jack has been on a meaningful Cintas journey, demonstrating how legacy can quietly influence the future.