Kosovo-based GM: ‘My Family Is An Exchange Family’ (Including Father, Siblings and Daughters)

Gino Rakas shares a family legacy of working at the Exchange. Rakas has been with the Exchange for 37 years and is deployed as general manager, overseeing Exchange facilities across Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Turkey.

“I always wanted to work for the Exchange,” Rakas said. “I heard from people who worked there that it was a great place to work, a great way to get promoted, and there is a merit system in place that gives you a chance to show potential.”

Rakas began his journey with the Exchange as a food service worker at Burger King in Vicenza in 1986. He advanced, moving to supervisory and managerial roles in Military Clothing, softlines and PowerZone at Lakenheath. Rakas later became a services business manager during his time in Germany. In 2007, he deployed for six months to Qatar. In 2011, he became the business program manager for Central Region. Rakas returned to his Europe position as services business manager in 2016.

Gino Rakas, right, and Chief Master Sergeant Marco Preziosi, Italian Air Force, in Kuwait at Ali Al Salem in 2018.

The Vicenza native was inspired by his family to work for the Exchange. His father worked in Loss Prevention after retiring from a 28-year career in the Army. His older brother began employment in 1962 as a sales associate in Fort Sheridan.

Rakas’ four other brothers also worked for the Exchange in Vicenza as a bakery helper, visual merchandiser, auto parts store associate. Rakas’ sister worked as a food server at the Vicenza snack bar. His daughters, Anna and Angela, worked at the Ramstein Air Base Baskin-Robbins and sales assistant in the men’s department at the Ramstein BX.

“Working side by side with the military, you appreciate more of what they do, especially on deployments like Afghanistan and Iraq,” Rakas said. “My family is an Exchange family. We live to serve the community that serves us.”