Monday, May 13, 2013

Good News 5-14-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Boone County, Indiana, farm machinery maker CNH Parts & Service will expand and add 100 employees. Congrats to economic developer Bryan Brackemyre.

Ford Motor Company will expand its operation in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 2,000 jobs.
In Greenville, South Carolina, ACS, a provider of engine test services, will open a facility and create 10 jobs.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car will expand and add 8,500 employees companywide.
Hostess Brands, LLC, a maker of snack products, will re-launch its bakery in Columbus, Georgia, creating 300 jobs.
Yogurt retailer Forever Yogurt will expand and add 800 employees companywide.
In Lexington, Kentucky, Tiffany & Company, a jewelry maker, will expand and add 75 employees.

Computer product maker Cisco will expand and add 5,700 workers companywide.
In Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, pharmaceutical maker Medical Products Laboratories, Inc. will expand and add 14 employees.
Blu, a natural gas company, will expand its operation in Utah, adding 73 employees.
Aqua City, Inc., a maker of water filtration products, will establish a new operation in Marion County, South Carolina, creating 50 jobs.
Indigo Wild, a maker of body and household products, will expand its operation in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 6 jobs.
In Murray County, Georgia, Mattex, a maker of carpet backings, will expand and add 200 employees.
In Marion County, Indiana, Fathom Voice, a phone service provider, will expand and add 183 employees.
Quallion, a maker of lithium batteries, will open a new facility in California, creating 50 jobs.
In Sedalia, Missouri, agricultural products distributor QC Supply will open a new facility, hiring 9 people.
A.L. Solutions, a distributor of filtration products, will locate a new facility in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, creating 80 jobs.
In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, DSI Underground Systems, Inc., a provider of mining products, will open a new facility, creating 44 jobs.
Triumph Foods, LLC, a pork processing company, will expand in St. Joseph, Missouri, creating 105 jobs.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pharmaceutical maker Medical Products Laboratories, Inc. will expand and add 4 employees.
In DeRidder, Louisiana, Boise, Inc., a provider of paper products, will expand and add 54 employees.
In Oconee County, South Carolina, Technology Solutions of South Carolina, Inc., a managed information technology company, will locate a new data center, creating 7 new jobs. Congrats to economic developer Richard Blackwell on a job well done.
HS Automotive Alabama, Inc., an auto industry supplier, will expand its facility in Enterprise, Alabama, creating 100 jobs.
Healthway, a supplier of environmental cleaning services, will expand and add 60 employees companywide.
In Rolla, Missouri, device maker Brewer Science will expand and create 65 jobs.
Lyons Magnus, a foodservice packaging company, will expand its operation in Boone County, Kentucky, creating 50 jobs.
Overgroup Consulting, a software company, will expand in Atlanta, Georgia, creating 15 jobs.
Contec, Inc., a maker of cleaning products, will expand its operation in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, creating 60 jobs.
Software product maker SolarWinds will expand its operation in Utah, creating 1,040 jobs.

In Lafayette, Indiana, auto maker Subaru of Indiana Automotive will expand and create 900 jobs. Congrats to economic developer and Brand Acceleration client Jody Hamilton. Great job!
In Mayfield, Kentucky, ACE Compressor Parts & Services, Inc. will expand and create 10 jobs.

Shamrock Plank Flooring will locate a new plant in Hernando, Mississippi and add 25 employees.
Emerson Process Management, a valve automation technology company, will expand in Houston, Texas and add 126 employees.

Ernst & Young will expand and add 6,300 employees companywide.

In Atlanta, Georgia, software provider PointClear Solutions will open its headquarters and create 200 jobs.

In Rosemary Beach, Florida, beer maker Grayton Beer Company will expand and add 40 employees.
In Cuba, Missouri, electrical product maker Meramec Electrical Products will expand and create 47 jobs.

PDM US Corporation, a maker of copper pipe, will open an operation in York County, South Carolina, creating 20 jobs.
Garney Construction will expand its operation in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 40 jobs.

In Emporia, Kansas, snackfood maker Hostess Brands, LLC will reopen its bakery and add 250 employees.

ProNamic Industries, a maker of non-woven media, will locate a new operation in Beaufort County, North Carolina, creating 52 jobs.
In West Point, Mississippi, tire maker Yokohama Tire Corporation will locate a new plant and hire 500 people.

BrightStar Care will expand and add 3,000 jobs companywide.

Engineered Floors, LLC, a maker of carpet, will expand its operation in Murray and Whitfield Counties, Georgia, creating 2,000 jobs.
In Lincoln County, North Carolina, engine maker Borghetti Turbos North America, Inc. will open a new plant and hire 127 employees.
Ranpak Corporation, a maker of packaging materials, will open a facility in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 25 jobs.

Soccer Shots will expand and add 400 workers companywide.
Wood products maker Jordan Forest Products will expand its operation in Montgomery County, North Carolina, creating 31 jobs.
Total Jobs Announcements: 33,856

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255
Fax: 317.222.1425
Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394
Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980
Cell: 317.523.7380
 

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

7 Rules for Dealing with Difficult People

7 Rules for Dealing with Difficult People

A simple, yet demanding, approach

A few years ago someone bought me a book about the art of dealing with difficult people. I think it’s still around here somewhere. In it, the author writes about how to understand the personality of the difficult person, how to manage challenging situations, and so on. As I read it, I remember thinking, “This is all about how I need to change and be understanding of the other person.”

Each of us has to bite our lip from time to time. We make every effort to do business in an honorable way but sometimes the other person just seems to enjoy being abrasive. Have you ever had that happen?

Back in 2006, when I started Brand Acceleration, I promised myself that I would only work with and for people I like. After a long working career I had had my fill of kissing up to rude and inconsiderate people. I told myself, “No More Jerks!”

That promise comes with a responsibility to not be one of those people. It meant that I, and my team, would have to operate with a very high set of standards. I have a very high regard for honorable and professional people and will not tolerate less than honorable behavior from others. Who I am influences what I do and how I do it. Below is a list of principles that our staff, vendors, and even clients, are expected to honor:

1. Always operate with total honesty. Never lie and never tolerate liars.

2. Treat every person with respect and demand respect from others.

3. Set very high standards and raise them often.

4. Always over-deliver, even when you would rather cut and run.

5. Strive to be the best and never cease to grow, learn, and improve.

6. Be the best in our chosen industries.

7. Price our services fairly. We are not the cheapest, and we don’t want to be.

We’re certainly not perfect. I would never make that claim. However, by following the above principles, we can look in the mirror each day and know that we are looking at someone who is a person of honesty, integrity, and very demanding standards.

We’ve been very fortunate. We have an incredible team of professionals who love to do great work, always striving to generate great results for our clients. Beautiful marketing pieces are nice, but beautiful work that results in growing brands and economic activity are what we’re all about.

Our clients are a daily blessing. They know we will always offer great work and our best counsel. They place their trust in us and work side by side with us toward a common goal. They’re more that clients; they are our friends.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis: 317.536.6255
Charlotte: 704:230:0394
Atlanta: 404.474.7980
Fax: 317.222.1425
Cell: 317.523.7380


Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.