T. Kevin Williams, the senior executive of a major nonprofit organization, is normally a
reserved and really quite agreeable person. This sudden, uncharacteristic burst of emotion clearly
startles the remaining board members into silence. The following excerpt captures the ensuing,
essentially one-on-one conversation between Williams and Elliott:
Williams: How may workers do your people estimate will be employed in the temporary plant?
Elliott: Roughly 1,200, possible a few more.
Williams: I presume it would be fair, then, to say that, including spouses and children,
something on the order of 4,000 people will be attracted to the community.
Elliott: I certainly would not be surprised.
Williams: If I understand the situation correctly, this plant closed just over eight years ago, and
that closing had a catastrophic effect on Plainville. Isn’t it true that a large portion of the
community was employed by this plant?
Elliott: Yes, it was far and away the majority employer.
Williams: And most of these people have left the community, presumably to find employment
elsewhere.