Brad Waugh | CEO, Life Wear Technologies
Is Rhode Island a good place to grow jobs? Why? R.I. is a less-competitive market compared to the Greater Boston area, and when it applies to manufacturing jobs, the workforce is far more obtainable given the higher cost of living to the north of us.
JOBS
2016: 22
2017: 30
If government could do one thing to help businesses grow jobs, what would it be and why? Keep our costs down! As manufacturers, our customers demand a certain price point for our products. When government increases fees or invents new taxes, we are unable to pass that along to our customers. If we do, then our customers will go somewhere else for the same product. Rhode Island must always be less expensive than Massachusetts to thrive.
What’s the most important attribute a business leader needs to grow their business/add jobs? Empowerment of your workforce.
In which industry do you see the greatest potential for job growth in Rhode Island and why? Aquaculture … after all, we are the Ocean State! Seriously, as we strive to find newer ways to feed a growing population, R.I. is already on the forefront in aquaculture, and with leadership from [University of Rhode Island], as well as access to the coastline, we will continue to see this burgeoning industry grow with ever-greater strides.
What do you see as the biggest obstacle to adding jobs in Rhode Island in your industry and in R.I. in general? No. 1, the cost of doing business here.
How do you suggest the issue be solved? Businesses consolidate to drive greater economies of scale, and Rhode Island is going to have to face the fact that our Colonial system of cities/town government simply does not work in the 21st century. It is time to look at going over to a county-based government whereby the services would be spread over several cities/towns. Our current system makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. The savings that would be garnered through such a consolidation would offer greater educational opportunities for our children that are needed to compete in manufacturing.
