News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Marc Ferguson and his son-in-law Eric Ferguson work alongside each other at Edward Jones in Alpena. They say even though they are part of different generations, they teach each other things to help improve the business.

ALPENA — Baby Boomers, Gen. X, Millennials and Generation Z are learning new ways to conduct business, while working side-by-side and learning from one another.

The blend of new ideas and more traditional ways for doing business are making businesses more efficient, flexible, professional, and transparent, which local business people say benefits their customers.

At the quarterly Good Morning Alpena breakfast, hosted by the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, a panel of local business people described how age diversity in the workplace has changed how businesses run, and how work is conducted differently.

The panel, which included Marc Ferguson and his son-in-law Eric Ferguson from Edward Jones, Steve Wilson and his daughter Claire Kostelic or Alpena Agency, and Northland Area Federal Credit Union employees Tammy Hermansen and Jamaican Bygden.

Marc Ferguson said Eric, and others in his age-group, utilize technology and digital knowledge to perform their tasks. and work with customers. Although those from the older generations aren’t always thrilled with the new way of doing business, he admitted it is a benefit and helpful.

“We work in a firm that is very digitally present, trying to bring information to people the way they want to see it, but us older ones are reluctant to do that,” Marc Ferguson said. “I do things the old way, he does things the new way, but it works and we have learned a lot from Eric and his team.”

Eric Ferguson said he believes millennial professionals and their elder statesman are more similar than what many think. He said he uses the many years in business his father-in-law has under his belt as a tool to make himself a more well rounded business person.

“I think there are more similarities than differences,” he said. “We show up to work on time, we’re polite, and we have the same ability to serve clients. I think the main benefit we get from the older people is the experience. You can go to college and get a masters degree, and then get to Edward Jones and there are things you still don’t know. The experience is invaluable.”

Last year, Kostelic moved back to Alpena with her husband to begin work at the family-owned insurance agency. Working side-by-side with her father and uncle, Peter Wilson, she is beginning to put her own mark on the business, which has been passed on for generations.

Steve Wilson said allowing younger employees to have the freedom to express their ideas, visions and goals is good, because sometimes businesses are managed the same way for many years and change is frowned upon, which could lead to a business becoming stagnant.

“We are all boxed in with our ideas, but the younger generation has new ideas and you have to really embrace that so you can advance forward,” Wilson said. “Being older we have old ideas, so you have to embrace the new ideas.”

As the business landscape changes, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rearview-mirror, the hours people work and where they work could change. According to Marc Ferguson, more people want to work from home, and utilize technology like video conferencing, email, text, and social media to complete their tasks.

He said family is also important to younger employees, who want to divide their time between work, and being with the ones they love. He said he could see a day when there is a hybrid type of employment, where part of the work is done at an office and an allotted amount of time allows employees work from home.

“Even here in Alpena, we can be a decentralized office and be able to serve our clients,” he said.

Working from home and depending on technology to communicate comes with its pitfalls however.

Bygden said the use of computers and cell-phones is quick and convenient, but that can make it hard for young professionals to meet and interact with people in person. She said face-to-face interactions, which is the preferred means of communication more senior employees choose, and technology can work hand and hand if a balance is found.

“Our generation is a lot more tech savvy we’re much more comfortable with text, email, and social media, but we struggle more so with eyeball-to-eyeball communication. It is kind of a two-way street, they can help us, and we can help them.”