Comments overheard at business events around the region last month:
Qualifications
“People buy for their reasons, not for yours. That’s a harsh reality. … Not every prospect is qualified to be a client or customer.”
— Larry Van Sant of Sandler Training in Frederick, Md., talking about sales during the Spring Entrepreneur Extravaganza at Hagerstown Community College
Engine
“We are the engine that propels the country.”
— Rick Rando,owner of Kick Masters Karate in Allegany County, Md., talking about small business owners during the Spring Entrepreneur Extravaganza at Hagerstown Community College
Growth
“When I started in the trade in the mid- to late-1960s, the electrician’s code book was maybe 300 pages. The most recent code book is 900, 1,000 pages.”
— John Barr, president of Ellsworth Electric Inc., a Hagerstown company that recently celebrated its 90th anniversary
The top five
Employers in Washington County
1. Meritus Medical Center: 2,740
2. Citi: 2,300
3. First Data: 2,183
4. Volvo Group Trucks: 1,500
5. FedEx Ground: 900
Source: Washington County Department of Business Development
$7.4 million
During the past five years, the Washington County Commissioners, the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Washington County Department of Business Development have arranged for more than $7.4 million in incentives for businesses.
Source: Washington County Department of Business Development