Letter from NCATC President Will Johnson
In his book, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens begins with the quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way." While I certainly am not Dickens, I would suggest these words hold special relevance and meaning for us today. It is such words with which I would begin as well. Looking around, I wonder could things get any worse. Just today, as I pen this note, the announcement of more layoffs fills the media. Major, stable companies have been forced to reduce their workforces, costing seasoned employees their livelihoods. One such company was, at one time, considered impenetrable. Our major manufacturers and their suppliers struggle with the basics of keeping the doors open.
In the midst of this turmoil, the economy weighs heavily on our minds as we await the next swing, closure or dip in the market, wondering how bad it will be. News of recovery plans, stimulus packages, and bailout proposals are discussed in our nation’s capitol daily. We, once again, have witnessed the impact of globalization as we see the markets in other countries are following suit after ours. At the same time, new demands and mandates are placed on our business as the nation’s focus turns eco-friendly. “Green” or renewable resources that are environmental friendly present opportunities and challenges while new technologies loom on the horizon.
Lest I appear as the prophet of gloom, I must point out that, in the midst of this tumultuous back drop, I believe the efforts to recreate the sustainable competitive advantage for our businesses and our nation rest with our Advanced Technology Centers (ATCs). While we all look forward to the resources provided for recovery, we also know that it is the application of those resources that will ultimately make the difference. Collectively we have the power, technology, and ability to move the economy and our nation to the forefront. NCATC will continue to serve as your champion in this arena. Already, your coalition leadership has been called upon for advice and suggestions on the best methods of approach and application. My personal commitment to you, along with the Board, is the non-wavering continuation of this effort. We can become Dickens’ “season of light.” We are a network of advanced technology expertise, ready and able to confront the challenges facing our economy and build a new prosperity for our future generations.
Willie E. Johnson
Director, Great Plains Technical Center (OK)
President, NCATC 2009
In his book, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens begins with the quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way." While I certainly am not Dickens, I would suggest these words hold special relevance and meaning for us today. It is such words with which I would begin as well. Looking around, I wonder could things get any worse. Just today, as I pen this note, the announcement of more layoffs fills the media. Major, stable companies have been forced to reduce their workforces, costing seasoned employees their livelihoods. One such company was, at one time, considered impenetrable. Our major manufacturers and their suppliers struggle with the basics of keeping the doors open. In the midst of this turmoil, the economy weighs heavily on our minds as we await the next swing, closure or dip in the market, wondering how bad it will be. News of recovery plans, stimulus packages, and bailout proposals are discussed in our nation’s capitol daily. We, once again, have witnessed the impact of globalization as we see the markets in other countries are following suit after ours. At the same time, new demands and mandates are placed on our business as the nation’s focus turns eco-friendly. “Green” or renewable resources that are environmental friendly present opportunities and challenges while new technologies loom on the horizon.
Lest I appear as the prophet of gloom, I must point out that, in the midst of this tumultuous back drop, I believe the efforts to recreate the sustainable competitive advantage for our businesses and our nation rest with our Advanced Technology Centers (ATCs). While we all look forward to the resources provided for recovery, we also know that it is the application of those resources that will ultimately make the difference. Collectively we have the power, technology, and ability to move the economy and our nation to the forefront. NCATC will continue to serve as your champion in this arena. Already, your coalition leadership has been called upon for advice and suggestions on the best methods of approach and application. My personal commitment to you, along with the Board, is the non-wavering continuation of this effort. We can become Dickens’ “season of light.” We are a network of advanced technology expertise, ready and able to confront the challenges facing our economy and build a new prosperity for our future generations.
Willie E. Johnson
Director, Great Plains Technical Center (OK)
President, NCATC 2009