From the good news department: I’ve recently had the opportunity to laud two small Rhode Island businesses that are growing during challenging economic times.
I spoke at a ribbon-cutting for NetCenergy, a Warwick IT service, support and consulting firm, that marked a move from a 1,200 square foot building to its new 3,200square foot headquarters—not bad for a company that began out of a home in 2003 with only three employees.
Their clients—more than 280 across Southern New England—now include the Pawtucket Red Sox and Thundermist. Not only have they grown their business by leaps and bounds, but they’ve maintained a focus on employee well-being, including a gym in the new building. They’ve also been involved in the community—Don Nokes, NetCenergy president, has been a leading voice for business in health care reform efforts.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the metro area, Pawtucket manufacturer Modulus Furniture is celebrating a partnership with Cardi’s, which now carries their upholstered sofas and chairs for hard-to-fit spaces (you might remember Modulus from an earlier blog).
The Cardi’s ads featuring Modulus Furniture have hit the airwaves and newspapers in the past few weeks, and I’ve heard from Modulus that the “777” promotion has been a hit so far. My Buy Local RI initiative helped put Modulus in touch with Cardi’s over the summer.
This is exciting news for Modulus, Cardi’s and for all businesses looking to grow right here in Rhode Island.
Join me in celebrating Modulus and NetCenergy as models of small business success in our state. I look forward to watching them and other Rhode Island successes continue to grow.