It was that dead time between Christmas and New Years and nearing the end of my first year as an economic development specialist for the state. I reviewed a group of inactive files, devised a letter inviting company officials to visit, and offering to pick them up in the state's jet.
A maker of men's suits in Georgia responded and visits were scheduled ( I thought) for Greensburg and Covington. When we arrived in Greensburg the industrial team was not ready but soon arrived and we had a productive meeting. We were late to make the scheduled time for Covington, and I asked the client if he minded putting off lunch because the Covington team was waiting. He complied, saying, "They will surely offer us some coffee." When we arrived at the chamber of commerce office, we were informed that they did not expect us. A group of leaders was organized and our meeting went forward.
We left to go to a restaurant that, I assured the client, was highly recommended. After a pleasant meal I began to write a credit card. The waitress said, " That's not us; that's a restaurant down the road."
I was speechless but the client wasn't. He said, "You took us to two places that didn't even know we were coming. We missed lunch and to top it off, we eat at the wrong restaurant."
(A week later I rode the state jet to Georgia to pick up the client and several of his staff to go to Greensburg fo conduct a labor survey. We bucked head winds returning to Baton Rouge so were an hour late for a meeting that had been called. Yet, we were told, 200 people waited, only two leaving because cows had to be milked. The survey went well and I wish I could say the company located a plant, but it was later determined they did not require added production.)
A maker of men's suits in Georgia responded and visits were scheduled ( I thought) for Greensburg and Covington. When we arrived in Greensburg the industrial team was not ready but soon arrived and we had a productive meeting. We were late to make the scheduled time for Covington, and I asked the client if he minded putting off lunch because the Covington team was waiting. He complied, saying, "They will surely offer us some coffee." When we arrived at the chamber of commerce office, we were informed that they did not expect us. A group of leaders was organized and our meeting went forward.
We left to go to a restaurant that, I assured the client, was highly recommended. After a pleasant meal I began to write a credit card. The waitress said, " That's not us; that's a restaurant down the road."
I was speechless but the client wasn't. He said, "You took us to two places that didn't even know we were coming. We missed lunch and to top it off, we eat at the wrong restaurant."
(A week later I rode the state jet to Georgia to pick up the client and several of his staff to go to Greensburg fo conduct a labor survey. We bucked head winds returning to Baton Rouge so were an hour late for a meeting that had been called. Yet, we were told, 200 people waited, only two leaving because cows had to be milked. The survey went well and I wish I could say the company located a plant, but it was later determined they did not require added production.)
Wow, Deddy, how many jobs did you have? Whenever people ask what my dad does, and I tell them you're retired, they often ask from what. The only jobs I can clearly remember is you being mayor, and editor of a newspaper. How many more are there?
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