Usually on the CBS hit reality show "Undercover Boss," it's the employees that have tender life stories that move you to tears. This week, however, you understand right from the beginning that Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates President Rick Tigner has been through trials and tribulations that would rival those of anyone working for him, and then some.
"I've had a crazy life," says Tigner, not trying to play the pity card, but rather giving the impression that it's entirely possible to overcome staggering odds, if you have the right people in your life to help guide you along the way. Tigner's own father had problems with alcohol and drug abuse, and wound up in prison while Tigner was still young. He never had a decent father figure in his life, until Kendall-Jackson founder Jess Jackson stepped in. Tigner started working for Jackson at age 29, after he'd done stints at the Miller Brewing Company, Gallo and Louis M. Martini. Jackson not only taught him the ropes of the wine making business, but he taught him how to fish, and served as a surrogate father.
Twenty years later, Jackson made Tigner president of the company that employs over 1,000 people, and produces about five million cases of premium wine each year. "Jess Jackson's example is the reason I make it a point to try and be a great father," Tigner says, noting that Jackson had been so much more than just a stellar business mentor. Tigner is the proud father of three, and he also understands the importance of being a great husband--his wife has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and being away from her for the Undercover Boss experience was one of his greatest challenges.
It ranked right up there with keeping his cool while one of his employees uncorked, using expletives to describe company management, customers, his job, and just about everything else. You've probably never seen such an unapologetic employee who's more deserving of being fired on the spot. "This guy had no idea," said Tigner. "I was a little shocked by it."
It was much easier for Tigner to relate to the single mother of three whose mom had died when she was a toddler, and was homeless by age 14. Eloquent and gracious to customers in the tasting room, she inspired Tigner to make company wide changes that would benefit hundreds of employees.
"When the economy took a downturn, people stopped drinking wine, and we had to accommodate that," Tigner explains. But lately he says the company has restored the 401K plan and hired at least 50 new employees. He says the Undercover Boss experience helped show him what needed to be done. Jess Jackson lost his fight with cancer shortly before Tigner went undercover, but he's certain his mentor would be proud of the changes--and of the show.
The Kendall-Jackson episode airs on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 8 pm ET/PT, 7 pm Central.
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