Quotes From Top Central Mass. Execs
We sent our 2008 Top Growth execs a survey and asked them about their outlook on business and the economy. Here are some notable quotes:
What's your favorite part of your job?
"Building a team that works together and leading that team to make a profit for both the team and the investors. If business is the game, profit is how we keep score."
Steve Rothschild, CEO, bulbs.com
"The challenge to improve the company everyday and make it better than it was yesterday."
Jeff Johnson, president, Eagle Cleaning Corp.
"Conceptualizing and following through on new ideas."
Bonita Keefe-Layden, CEO, Rehabilitative Resources Inc.
"My opportunities to interact with our students. They are the reason I entered this profession and they help me to keep my priorities straight."
Jack P. Calereso, president, Anna Maria College
"I enjoy meeting new people and talking about Enterprise Cleaning. I also enjoy being able to provide jobs for 120 + employees. I take a lot of pride growing Enterprise Cleaning and developing a reputation as a quality cleaning company."
Stephen Buchalter, president, Enterprise Cleaning
"In addition to working directly with so many clinical and business staff, I most enjoy the process of projecting future trends and crafting strategy which leads to our 'vision' of the future."
David Jordan, president & CEO, Seven Hills Foundation
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first entered the business world?
"That two of the most valuable traits for a leader are resilience and being relentless in pursuit of the organization's goals."
Daniel Moen, president and CEO, Heywood Hospital
"Business is about relationships, not numbers. Relationships with your employees, your vendors, and your clients. Focus on making your relationships successful and the numbers will work out."
Tom Hennell, chief marketing officer/principal, North American Professional Liability Insurance Agency, LLC (NAPLIA)
"Marketing does not have to cost a lot of money to be effective."
John Kreiss, president and CEO, SullivanKreiss
"There are many ways to use finances and assets to invest in new projects."
Bonita Keefe-Layden, CEO, Rehabilitative Resources Inc.
"Patience leads to success."
John Finn, president and CEO, Fiba Technologies
"That traditional banks are highly limited and of very little use to growth companies. Also, venture capital is too costly when you believe in your business' fundamentals. I would advocate looking for more non-traditional funding (Angels, Mezzanine...) earlier and often. They typically think outside the box and preserve the highest percentage of shareholder equity."
Rob Stephenson, CEO, Access Northeast
"I wish I started my business earlier. I waited until I was 34. I should have started when I was 21."
Stephen Buchalter, president, Enterprise Cleaning Corp.
"To keep the perspective and not take constructive thought as criticism. To learn and adopt from everyone you cross paths with makes you a complimentary contributor to society and not just a follower."
Karen A. Koller, president & CEO, RCAP Solutions
How optimistic are you about 2009?
"Very optimistic. We are still a young company that continues to strive to improve all aspects of our operations. We feel our marketing and customer service is at its highest level right now, therefore we feel very optimistic with our growth for 2009."
Jeff Johnson, president, Eagle Cleaning Corp.
What's your attitude toward risk today as opposed to when you first started out in the business world?
"I take less risk. For many reasons this seems like the time to hunker down, minimize risk and focus on the fundamentals."
Frank Saba, CEO, Milford Regional Medical Center
"I take less risk. I try and minimize risk whenever possible, particularly these days. For example, even though we seeing an increase in our business, I would rather pay overtime than have to hire an extra person or two in case order flow slows down. Our goal is to protect the jobs of the people who work for us now."
Jordan Fishman, CEO, 21st Century Biochemicals
Other Thoughts:
"Keep overhead down in this market."
John P. Kreiss, president and CEO, SullivanKreiss
"I feel that even in tough times like now a company sets its own future. The harder you work the better you are. Don't make excuses for slow times the only problem is yourself."
Joe Kupstas, co-owner/co-founder, GoodFellas Construction Management
"2009 is shaping up to be a very difficult economy overall, but especially for small businesses. This will force everyone to double-check all expenditures, new hires and to get more aggressive to win business. However, going back to fundamentals never hurts and should benefit all the survivors in the long-run."
Rob Stephenson, CEO, Access Northeast
"Being successful in business is so much about maintaining a positive attitude. It's amazing how the universe provides when you are open to it!!"
Elaine Osgood, president and CEO, Atlas Travel International
"This is a great time to seize opportunities. Companies need to focus on productivity improvements. Weaker companies will have trouble surviving so the strong companies will need to fill the needs of more customers."
Kenneth Vancini, managing partner/president, ZRG Inc.
WBJ Web Partners
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