Biz. Leaders: Passion, Integrity Trump Economy
WBJ honorees offer their advice
Passion, integrity, love of change and good relationships with employees, customers and business associates are the keys to success in business, according to a panel of local business leaders assembled by the Worcester Business Journal.
The WBJ honored its Business Leaders of the Year Tuesday evening at the Beechwood Hotel on Feb. 12. The leaders honored were: Douglas A. Starrett of the L.S. Starrett Co. of Athol; James Coghlin Sr. of Worcester's Coghlin Cos.; Christopher Sandusky and James Banks of Integrated Process Technologies in Devens; and Linda Cavaioli of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts in Worcester.
Banks, who along with IPT co-founder Sandusky won the award for entrepreneur of the year, said finding and keeping skilled labor is a challenge for IPT.
Starrett, president and CEO of the WBJ's big business of the year, agreed with Banks.
"It's always been a difficult task, and it continues to be more so. We've always tried to train our own people" with a variety of training and education programs, he said.
All four panelists said their businesses have not taken any direct hits during the current economic slow-down.
Cavaioli, the YWCA's executive director and nonprofit business leader of the year, said the agency uses a number of different indicators to keep tabs on the economy. One of the most important, she said, is child care.
"Child care is our largest service," she said.
Through enrollment in the child care program, Cavaioli said the agency can determine whether people are working, and currently enrollment is good.
Coghlin, corporate citizen of the year, shared his advice for fellow business-owners.
"Identify what (employees) are passionate about, and surround yourself with people who love to do the things you hate to do," Coghlin said.
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