Son William grew up with his entrepreneurial, intense work ethic father having no desire to join his father’s business.

After graduating from the University of Colorado in environmental studies in 1997, he worked for a year in Colorado.

“I wanted more education and wanted to come home,” said William. “There is something to be said for Southern hospitality.”

William moved back to Alabama, got his MBA from the University of Alabama, and went to work for Compass Bank for three years in the marketing department.

He also enjoys writing and wrote for several hunting publications. He went to work for BASF as a sales rep for a specialty herbicide product.

In 2007, father Bew asked him if he would be willing to join the business and start an indoor line of furniture from scratch.

“Dad left me alone to develop my business plan,” said William. “I took two years to think, develop and come up with Gabby. My dad is a ‘fire, ready, aim’ kind of guy. I am more the ‘aim, ready, fire’ type. I wanted to create a company that honored my family and came up with the name Gabby in honor of my great-grandmother. I hope to use her portrait on the new Gabby catalogue cover. Gabby is all about the product. I am also working on the structure of the whole company. I want to have managers that you do not have to manage and hope to double our company in the next five years.”

Until the move to the new Pelham headquarters, Summer Classics also has had a presence in Columbiana making cushions until the devastating fire of 2004, as well as Montevallo.

Now the cushion plant, warehouse, show room and 86 administrative offices and eight conference rooms are all under one 500,000-square-foot roof with approximately 200 employees.

There are five Summer Classics divisions: Summer Classics, Inc. Wholesale; Summer Classics Contract; Summer Classics Home; Gabby; and Parker James.

Bew White is the CEO and president of Summer Classics while William is president of Gabby with the goal to become the CMO for all brands in the future.

How does a father and son work together and survive as a family as well as business partners?

“I am a hands-off boss,” said Bew. “I am tough but fair. I treat William as any other employee. There is no kiss up. William is intelligent and incredibly reflective, a wordsmith.”

“Being able to work with your father is amazing,” said William. “The key is respect. My father is driven, powerful and dominant. He is the ultimate entrepreneur and is a creative genius.”