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News Detail
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| 6/8/03 |
Contact Information: |
| Businesses Say Hooah To Fayetteville’s Workforce |
Rosimar Melendez |
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(910) 483-8489 |
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rosimar@fyifayettevillenc.com |
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Huh? Hooah (Hoo-AH), in case you haven’t heard it, is an Army expression. Research shows a range of definitions. All, however, are similar in spirit. Some include: “a mission to be accomplished, a job well done” … “an expression of high morale, strength and confidence” … and “anything and everything but no.”
Hooah is a familiar sound in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The area is home to the world’s largest Army base, Ft. Bragg, and Pope Air Force Base. If you think Fayetteville’s military presence isn’t a huge benefit for business development, think again! These military neighbors contribute to the area’s outstanding workforce, one of the many advantages Fayetteville offers for business and industry.
From retiring military available for recruitment, to well trained and educated military spouses, the Fayetteville area’s employee pool includes people who have been exposed to some of the most advanced technology available anywhere – and, to situations that make even the toughest on-the-job tasks and problems seem routine. It includes graduates of schools like West Point, many with advanced degrees, as well as men and women with highly specialized training. And, there’s Hooah, the can-do attitude and work ethic that contributes daily to the growth and success of businesses located in this thriving North Carolina community. The following examples help tell the story.
Named by Inc magazine as the nation’s 35th fastest growing private company in 2002, Fayetteville-based Advanced Internet Technologies (AIT) grew by 3,514% from 1997 to 2001, with revenues swelling to $31 million. Not bad for a company that began just six short years ago in the garage of retired Army Major Clarence Briggs. Briggs, CEO of this booming web hosting and technology services company, claims traits that he and other colleagues honed during their military experience made a difference in AIT’s success.
“Fundamentals like planning, organization, discipline and accountability were critical in getting the company off the ground,” says Briggs.
HostingTech magazine agrees. “The proximity to Ft. Bragg gives AIT prime access to a top-notch worker recruitment pool,” the tech sector publication states. According to the May 2002 article, the experience and outstanding preparation of AIT’s personnel, 75% of whom come from the military, has been a significant factor in the company’s rapid growth.
Audry Planko, a personnel manager for the local branch of corporate giant ITT Industries, repeats the story. “Military veterans are able to hit the ground running, with little training,” she says. “They have the expertise, the background and the work ethic, which makes them successful in their jobs,” Ms. Planko adds. ITT Industries works in more than 39 countries and provides support services to military installations worldwide. In this arena, the company has found that military experience is particularly helpful in positions such as high-level maintenance and supply personnel, as well as transportation and freight specialists.
For Roy Adams, Jr., the Fayetteville area’s outstanding workforce is more than a local asset. It’s a marketing tool. One of the primary missions of his consulting company, the 818 Group, is to “sell” the area itself as a business location. Sounding a familiar theme, Adams claims retiring military personnel offer skills and characteristics that can help guarantee the success of any company. Their number one skill is something Adams terms “mission accomplishment,” which he describes as a strongly instilled work ethic that simply does not allow them to accept failure. (Hooah!) Adams adds, “Emerging technology is an integral part of their daily lives, which gives them the ability to be trained rapidly in new skills. They adapt and become productive in a very short time.” Adams also points out that military spouses constitute an important resource for the Fayetteville area. They are well educated, often with unique experiences. “With their exposure to the military lifestyle, they, too, have developed outstanding problem solving skills and the ability to adapt and quickly become productive members of the workforce,” says Adams.
The Fayetteville/Cumberland County area offers many other benefits for companies looking to start up, relocate or expand. It’s not just the military segment that constitutes the dedicated workforce. The diverse and talented pool of potential employees includes many others, such as graduates of top-notch programs at locally based colleges and universities.
Greater Fayetteville has excellent utilities and state-of-the-art telecommunications and infrastructure, as well as an abundance of prime sites available for industries and business. The location is ideal for business, right off I-95, with airports and shipping ports nearby. Fayetteville also has a lower cost of living than many other regions, world-class attractions, many amenities and year-round mild climate – plus a willingness to offer business incentives.
From its first-rate workforce, to a warm and welcoming community, to development organizations that stand ready to help out, Fayetteville says Hooah to new business neighbors. |
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