“Quality is not expendable, not a
negotiable value.” — Ed Quinlan,
executive vice president of Hospital
Association of Rhode Island, commenting
on the quality of care in Rhode Island
hospitals. Jan. 12
“There is a real lack of customer service going on, not just in this
business, but everywhere. And our mission is to change that.” — Martin
Israelit, owner, president of Coldmasters Temperature Control, Inc.
March 2
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
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“People are sailing again and business is good.” — Sophie DeVoy,
president and treasurer of Stanley’s Boatyard in Barrington, commenting
on the state’s revived boat business. April 6
“There seems to be a growing disability of business leaders to separate
the ethical rights and wrongs as they seek to gain market share, enhance
shareholders value and aggressively compete in a dog-eat-dog world.” —
Thomas A. Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Amica
Insurance Co., addressing the graduating seniors at Bryant College. May
26
“We elect governments to protect and serve us, not to fleece us.” — Tom
Grey, organizer and spokesman for the National Coalition Against
Legalized Gambling, responds to question about state lotteries. June 15
“You want to know your market, know your product, do a little research
to know if there’s a need out there. But you’ve got to work hard on it.
Be patient. You’re not a success overnight.” — Patrick Lyons,
describing what he learned in developing his successful power equipment
business. July 6
“We didn’t expect to come in here and hit a home run. We’ll hit a bunch
of singles to keep up, and then (we hope) win in the long run.” —
Michael Marquez, president Geneva Business Bank on finding the bank’s
niche in Rhode Island. August 10
“If you can imagine exciting times in procurement, this is it.” —
Michael S. Miller, head of the commercial acquisition department at
Naval Undersea Warfare Command, comments on the department’s switch to
the Internet for its procurement system. September 7
“Secretaries’ responsibilities will be different, but whether it’s 1820
or the year 2020, the position of the secretary will always be vital to
business.” — Rick Stroud of the National Association for Administrative
Professionals. Comments on the impact of computers on secretarial staff.
September 21
“Every time you have an upswing on the business cycle, people think it
will go on forever. It won’t.” — Peter Moore, professor of economics at
Rhode Island College, comments on the importance of the state’s “rainy
day fund.” September 28
“In cleaning up the environment I didn’t know that cost was the only
consideration.” — Paul E. Lemont, city manager, East Providence,
responds to comment from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the city’s
proposal for disposal of the material dredged from the city’s harbor
channel was “very expensive.” October 12
“I tried to figure out everything I love in life and then tried to
figure out how to make it into a business.” — Therese Beaudet, owner of
the Tstse Co. describing how she developed her business based on a
microdyeing process.
November 1
“The thought never occurred to me that it would be anything but
successful.” — George Sage, who recently sold his Bonanza Bus Lines
Inc. to the Coach Company, responding to a question about when he
decided that the bus business, which he started with one bus while he
was still in college, was going to be successful. November 1
“We have labor here in Rhode Island that has been here a long time. We
could lose that if we moved. The quality of life is nice here. It’s a
pleasant place to live. — James K. Gardner, marketing manager for
Metech International, explains why the company, which operates a plant
in Mapleville, remains in Rhode Island. November 30
“There is no voice mail, there will be no voice mail you’ve got to talk
to people when you’re a service organization like this.” — George C.
Truesdale, owner and president of CSC Paymaster Inc., a payroll service
company in Warwick. December 7
“Aesthetically, people have now heard about downtown Providence. If they
haven’t been here, they are talking about coming here. To see it. There
was a time when I would tell people I was from Rhode Island, and they
would say, ‘Do you get into the city much.?’ And I’d have to say, ‘No,
not Long Island .”
— Stephen A. Cardi II, vice president Cardi Construction. December 14
“It will never happen. I could not (give up) one iota of my freedom for
the safety -if you can call it safety–of working for someone else.” —
Timothy Reineke, owner with his wife, of Thunder Promotions of Warwick,
a promotions design company, extols the joys of running his own
business. December 21
