Parenting for many is one of the most rewarding life experiences. Parents take on the all-important duty of raising children with good morals and the skills needed to maneuver the many stages of growth and development. Most will also admit that parenting has taught them some of the biggest life lessons as well. For Assistant Chief Engineer at Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Hugh Morgan, his son Shaquille Morgan, engineering supervisor at Sandals Negril Resort and Spa has been pivotal in his overall development as not just as a father but as a person.
With over 31 years with the Sandals and Beaches brand Hugh started his journey at Sandals Negril as a plant operator. Throughout his tenure, he also received training in plumbing and heat engineering. He later transferred to a sister resort, Grand Pineapple Negril, and then to Beaches Negril where he worked his way up the engineering hierarchy to assistant chief engineer at the resort.
Sharing that he has always had a love for engineering, Hugh noted that while attending high school, he also developed a passion for auto mechanics. This passion he believed was passed on to his son Shaquille who is an avid lover of cars and engineering technology.
“If we’re at home and we hear the sound of a car outside we would often run to see what type of car it is or we’d try to guess to see who would be right. We both love cars; our favourite brand is Subaru and this is something we’ve been able bond over,” Shaquille reminisced with a smile.
Shaquille has followed in his father footsteps as it relates to career and education, sharing that after graduating from Montego Bay Community College with an Associate Degree in Auto Mechanics his father encouraged him to apply for a job at Sandals Negril. Successful in his interview, he joined the resort’s Hospitality Training Programme (HTP). After showing the great potential he was offered a job within the engineering department as a room technician in 2018. Committed to his duties and also to his personal growth plans within the company, the passion-driven 24-year-old was recently promoted to engineering supervisor- a role he shared at first he was afraid to take on, but after much consideration, he had no doubt he was the man for the job.
It has been a long road for the Morgan men and both had to learn to adapt when life threw different challenges at them and one of the hardest so far was the death of Shaquille’s mom. Hugh shared that breaking the news to his then 12-year-old son was heart-wrenching, but he gives thanks to his family and those who showed up in different ways to support them.
Morgan Men 2: Beaches Negril Assistant Chief Engineer, Hugh Morgan (background) does a routine check on an air conditioner unit with his son Shaquille Morgan, engineering supervisor.
Noting that Shaquille had just started his high school journey, he knew it was important to not only be there as a father but also as a friend. “When his mother passed we had to make space for grieving; I always ensured I never made him feel as though he was on his own. Though I was also grieving myself, I knew I had a son to raise. He is my only child and I had to be there for him and to steer him on the right path,” Hugh shared.
He also noted that losing his dad at a young age motivated him to take his role of a father very seriously and vowed that he would always play an active role in Shaquille’s life; ever present and trodding with him towards his goals.
Expressing thanks to his dad for being a tower of strength around the time of his mom’s passing, Shaquille added that this was indeed a rough time for him as he looked ahead to venture into secondary studies at Rusea’s High School, which was also his mother’s alma mater and he knew she would never get to see him graduate.
Now 12 years later both have found ways to grow through grieving and have become positive role models on their respective resorts. Hugh has won multiple awards over the years with the Sandals and Beaches brand and Shaquille is committed to achieving the same as his dad, jokingly adding that he would like to do so in a shorter timeframe. He adds that it is his dream to one day be chief engineer and shares he is putting in the work to get there. Both are looking forward to completing their master’s degrees and improving their skills to keep up with technology as it evolves ever so often.
Though not yet a father, Shaquille shares that when he does enter that chapter of his life it is his desire to emulate the same standard his father has set, of course with his own touch, but nevertheless with the same care and attention. He noted that his father always pushed him to try his best and was never quick to not let him figure it out on his own.
“I remember once I was installing an automatic light at home and I got it wrong because the light would not turn off, a bit frustrated I asked him for assistance and though he would typically help, he told me to go at it again. That night I tried installing it once again and this time I was successful,” Shaquille shared.
When asked if Shaquille sometimes asks for advice when it comes to the work, Hugh shared that he is one to try and figure it out on his own, safe to say the lesson with the automatic light did encourage him to never give up. However, Hugh notes that Shaquille will come to him for advice when he really needs it and this makes him proud.
Hugh shares that he approaches the team members in his department similarly – with empathy but still encourages them to remain diligent in their tasks. He adds that he is always dedicated to developing individuals who are open to growth. Mirroring his leadership style, Shaquille shares that quite often his fellow colleagues compare him to his father, as he too believes you have to meet each individual where they are at, in order to get the best out of them.
Hugh shares that he is very proud of his son and only wants the best for him and similarly, he encourages fathers to play an active role in their children’s lives and always show up. For Shaquille, his dad is his hero and he appreciates the love that is ever present. In as much as Shaquille continues to follow his father’s footsteps in the world of work, he also aims to be as good a father and man in this world as he believes his father is.
