Don Kirkman Quotations

When Dell, a company that conducts intensive due diligence, selects you, other companies certainly take notice. That's reflected in the increase in recruitment activity since Dell chose the Triad last year.

Tom has been a very effective advocate for the redistribution of resources for business startups. I would certainly say that many of us who are traditional practitioners of economic development become too narrowly focused on business recruitment when in fact the lion's share of jobs are generated through existing industry expansions and new business.

I've seen some great things happen when you develop trust across boundaries. This holds promise.

His assistance in writing the grant contributed significantly to our being selected to participate in the program, and his knowledge of new economy strategies will be a distinct advantage for us as we move forward with implementing the grant.

Leadership remains the leading challenge of these kinds of regional efforts.

We are delighted that the Piedmont Triad proposal was selected for this grant. The WIRED grant gives us both the financial and technical resources to develop an integrated strategy to restore the Piedmont Triad's global economic competitiveness.

We have a strong transportation system, a strong manufacturing work force and a comprehensive work-force training system with an advanced manufacturing component to offer.

Dell being in the Triad has validated our message that the Piedmont Triad is an excellent place to do business.

These are important contacts for us. Greenville is home to some of the industry's top consulting firms, while several of the national firms have regional offices in Charlotte.

This project has unfolded just as we hoped it would. The traditional economic impacts have been substantial - including things such as investment and employment numbers.