Out of the Crisis.Org

[Louis Altazan]

Last night I was invited to a celebration. The contractor that built my current building was celebrating his thirty-year anniversary. The party was very nicely done, held in one of the restored-downtown buildings, overlooking the river. Brent has become a personal friend and I was proud he thought enough of me to invite me to this event.

About half way through the party, Brent came to the microphone for the customary thank you announcements. He spoke first of his Father and Mother and then of his staff. Several staff members had been with the company since the beginning. Roy was hired two weeks after the business was formed and is still with the company. Even the subcontractors were largely the same people Brent had started out with.

I think this is no small accomplishment. Running a business is tough and accomplishing things through others even tougher. This man has achieved both and stood the test of time. Speaking with Brent it is clear that he is a leader.

Always positive, his demeanor is contagious. He exudes confidence and invites trust. It is not that Brent has or has ever had a formula to produce the right answers. Rather, he considers his options, weighs the choices against his value system and then acts. Sometimes he is wrong, most of the time he is right. When wrong, he quickly adjust, adapts and corrects the problem. His people and his clients know he is not perfect, they also know he can be counted upon to always do the right thing.

Brent understands people, he knows his trade and he is self confident. He is not without fear, yet is capable of acting in the face of fear. Brent is a leader.

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Louis Altazan
Owner/Manager AGCO Automotive Corporation
Baton Rouge, LA