Letter from the Editor
Noam Chomsky once noted the significance of optimism as a strategy for making a better future. He said, “Unless you believe
that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”
I was reminded of this as we prepared this month’s edition of Business World Magazine. Our national coverage, in recent weeks,
has included discussions with a few Midwest companies who, quite unexpectedly, had to alter plans among their respective or-
ganizations as they felt compelled to lend a hand to the ongoing recovery efforts in Oklahoma, home to communities that have
seen catastrophic decimation from a Tornado seemingly born from the winds of Hell. While our prayers and sincerest wishes for
expeditious recovery and relief are reserved for the residents and businesses who have endured the brunt of that impact, we also
have to acknowledge the tireless sacrifices of the first responders, paramedics, healthcare teams, construction and road crews and
the many volunteers who have so freely given their hearts and souls to try and make it better. In the midst of pain and loss at
such tragedies, heroes always seem to emerge. There is something so wondrous, and perhaps comforting, that when so much goes
wrong, there are those prepared to step-up and try to make it right.
When it comes to business news and information, for all the discourse on dollars earned and market machinations, the fun-
damental fact remains that the vast majority of businesses have been started by professionals inspired to create a product or
provide a service that offered a means for their customers to secure something better than what existed before. Their application
of optimism, enthusiasm and expertise was driven by a faith that it was within their power, and their responsibility, to make a
beneficial difference today, ultimately making for a better tomorrow.
You’ll find this concept as a reoccurring theme in this month’s coverage, whether you’re reading about Tecta America’s revolution-
ary roofing systems, the City of Atlanta’s successes in sustainability, Boundless Nutrition’s edible options or the Bell Company’s
collaborative approach to service. From the iron casting icon of Farrar and the forging capabilities of Consolidated Industries
to the laundry care of Shared Hospital Services and the waste removal services of R&S – all of these endeavors were begun by a
team who believed they could provide something better and they responsibly stepped-up to make it so. We hope you enjoy learn-
ing more about these companies as much as we enjoy being able to share details about the important work and services they are
fulfilling.
Of course, our ability to provide this kind of content which is typically missed by other media could not be accommodated with-
out a responsive composite of advertisers who have so wonderfully stepped-up to support our mission. Their support certainly
augments our optimism for better things to come in the future.
Bill Schiller
Senior Editor, North America
Business World Magazine
