The recent series about Chip Eberhardt’s struggle with his business (Business Workshop, January-November 1998) was very moving to me, particularly the last story. I thought it was most courageous of him to share his painful situation with your readers. I want you to know that Chip’s generosity and SBN’s commitment to helping businesses by giving them examples of how others work through hard issues all came together here to really help someone in need.
My son, who has had a construction firm for several years, has run into a brick wall after years of struggle. He’s young and so has had a huge learning curve, particularly since construction is such a tough business. The problems have been daunting. He has had days of despair, as well as times of great pride and joy in his work. He has learned tremendously from this experience, but he has finally suffered one disaster too many and is going to close the business.
The point is, Chip has given my son an example of another man in a similar situation, who can help him deal with this blow to his pride and his ego. My son doesn’t have a quitter’s bone in his body, so this decision was very hard to reach. But because he’s totally unsinkable and always fast to rebound, he’s already pulling together a mature and forward-looking plan for his future career—and he’ll be just fine.
Chip Eberhardt emerges as a winner—a true champion. Business success isn’t the measure of a person; learning from experience and being gracious to others is. So thanks to SBN for a great service in writing that series.
I also wanted to respond to the profile of the woman who helped analyze witnesses for the O.J. Simpson trial (The Bottom Line; October 1998). I enjoyed it until the last question, which had to do with whether or not the woman’s nails and eyelashes were “real.” I was most disappointed to see such an example of “old school” thinking in a publication of the caliber of SBN.
Kathy Baker, president
The Write Choice
Akron
Editor’s note: In an interview that focused on truthfulness and the importance of perception, we thought it was a fair, if not terribly tactful, question. Many readers disagreed.
Appreciative, yet slighted
I just read your column in the December issue (From the editor: Honoring the Pillars of the Community), which highlighted the recent Pillar Award winners. While I applaud you for highlighting this award, I cannot help but feel slighted for not being included in the list of Akron’s winners.
As listed in the box [on page 10], Cohen & Co. was also honored as a Pillar of the Community. However, unlike the other “Cleveland “ winners listed, Cohen & Co. has a significant presence in Akron. Our Akron office has grown from two to 25 people since we opened here in 1989 and we have always prided ourselves on carrying on the firm’s tradition of community support.
If I were to list all of the [organizations receiving] charitable cash donations [and support] from our Akron office, it would go on for quite a while. Many of these items were included in our application for the award.
I am certainly proud that our firm was given this honor. However, even though our headquarters is in Cleveland, our contributions in Akron are significant; and when I read that we were not credited by SBN as being local to Akron (as well as Cleveland, Youngstown, Avon, Mentor and Canton) I was compelled to respond. Just as SBN strives for local identity in each of its markets, so do we.
Michael Kolk
Managing Partner, Akron Office
Cohen & Co.
Akron
Editor’s note: We apologize for the omission.