Departments
Message from the CEO
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Dianne Strunk |
All who moved forward
were winners in 2009
A New Year and a new decade have begun with tantalizing signs that an economic recovery is taking hold in our region (see DoubleStar survey results). Here’s hoping it’s a rising tide that will lift all of our member companies.
The 18 months of economic ebb we have all endured tested our entrepreneurial ingenuity and fortitude to a degree not seen in most of our lifetimes. Many companies had to get lighter to stay afloat, and that meant painful cutbacks and job losses.
Seeing what we’ve seen, I think you’ll agree with me that every company and leader who was able to keep moving forward despite the undertow of recession was a winner in 2009.
Hundreds of us ended the year by honoring the most outstanding of those companies and leaders at the 2009 Enterprise Awards (see winners and event photos). In this month’s guest column, RoseAnn Rosenthal of Ben Franklin Technology Partners salutes the winners and finalists, with a special nod to the dozen Ben Franklin portfolio companies who have been among them.
RoseAnn also points out the importance of honoring successful entrepreneurs who provide inspiration and an example for others to follow. Launching the next fleet of startup companies is crucial to the economic future of our region.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners has long played a key role in supporting startups. As we all work to make 2010 a year of progress and prosperity for our companies and our region, I urge you to join the Council in supporting Ben Franklin’s appeal to state officials for full restoration of its funding.
Dianne Strunk,
CEO, Eastern Technology Council
