- TESTIMONIALS -

Walt Elish, Aroostook Partnership for Progress, Caribou, ME:

Over the years Jack has provided a large amount of intelligent information to me and my organization. We traveled together throughout Canada and the Upper Midwest with highly successful results. He and his organization set up appointments for us and he accompanied us with key data and information. His cost comparison reports were highly used.

Grant Carlson, Government of Manitoba:

Paragon (JBA’s) work in developing the cost comparison reports for us in four different target markets was invaluable. Jack also developed a marketing plan which we used for years. The suggestions he made in the strengths and weaknesses analysis he did for us were invaluable and it prompted action in our region in those categories.

David Piggott (as President of the Metro East Partnership, St. Paul, MN):

The Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development recently complimented the Paragon (JBA) analysis as being thorough, insightful, and one, where the rubber meets the road. They also complimented, the study as the one that fully met the expectations of the agency and all of the requirements set out in the grant.

Mark Lautman, CEcD, Chairman, New Mexico Economic Development Commission:

No one in the economic development business has a better network of personal relationships with the nations' site selection consultants than Jack Allston. He is literally without peer. He is also the most tenacious cold-caller in the business and has a gift for sizing up the competitive strengths and weaknesses of communities. His background in demographics and labor market analytics make him especially valuable in this economy.

Barbara Weaver, CPCM, US Department of Energy, Small Business Office

Jack has a healthy passion for small communities and the inherent belief that they can help craft a brighter future. I have great respect for his professional abilities because that is what he did in West Virginia. His results helped to create over 3000 jobs with one project.

Audrey Taylor, President, Chabin Concepts, Chino, CA

Chabin has had the opportunity to work with Jack as a colleague and as a vendor. Jack has handled controversy and political infighting with the utmost integrity, honesty and passion. He is very dedicated to and passionate about social welfare, and contributing to community health.

Kathie Gilbert, Provost, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM

I personally watched Jack deliver several presentations at the Mexico Economic Development Basic Course over three days in Mexicali at CETYS Universidad and was more than favorably impressed with Jack's expertise and his ability to relate key examples without notes. He even adjusted a presentation on the spot to better meet the needs of the Mexican professionals attending the course by giving solid examples pertaining to the subject of target marketing and benchmarking. Western New Mexico University was recently granted permission by the IEDC to offer the advanced 3-year Economic Development Institute (EDI) in collaboration with CETYS to economic development professionals throughout Mexico. Jack's name and experience was very much a part of the WNMU application because he served on the EDI faculty in Oklahoma for 10 years and would be a key faculty member of Western's efforts.

Rick Schenker, former County Executive, Erie County, PA

Within a few months, Jack was able to write, develop, and institute an eight-county strategic plan before a nineteen-person board and included the board in the process of the plan. He personally conducted over fifty interviews with leaders in the eight counties. This was nothing new to Jack because he accomplished this in dozens of communities in North America.

Karen Pappin, Ph. D., Socioeconomist, Sudbury, ON

Having worked with Jack frequently over the last fifteen years, I would recommend Jack to any community or company looking for honest, open, analytical, and thoughtful suggestions and recommendations. I have worked for Jack in Nebraska and Maine, and he worked as a consultant to me in Thunder Bay, ON and Sudbury, ON. I consulted with him in Ft. Francis, and advised him in Kenora, ON and several other communities in Canada. He gives a fresh approach to working in economic development in Canada. It is not without notice he has worked all over our large country with great results and positive impact. He is also easy to get to know, friendly, and a great family man, who provides a humorous and enlightening perspective to be a Canadian in America or an American in Canada.

Delyn Meyers, Stanislaus County Economic Development, Modesto, CA

Jack worked with The Alliance and Stanislaus County conducting a SWOT analysis and developing a strategic plan. He was detailed, extremely knowledgeable, professional and results-oriented. His vast experience, expertise, industry network and guidance made our task more focused and easier to accomplish. I would recommend him to anyone seeking expert assistance.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia

I want to thank you, Jack, for the extraordinary efforts of your organization in assisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to relocate the Identification Division (Criminal Justice Information Systems) Headquarters to Clarksburg, West Virginia. Your work in the site selection process, I understand, was invaluable and appreciated.

Wayne Krick, Yuasa Battery Corporation

I want to thank you for the work you and your staff put in providing assistance to Yuasa-Exide Battery Corporation, in structuring a $9.5M bond, a $65,400 training grant, and a tax abatement that will ensure our continued growth in Kansas. You also provided Yuasa with guidleines on wages and benefits that will serve as rates for our employees.