07/21/2006
|
|
|
NFIB/Kentucky State Director Tom Underwood (left) and Ken Garrett of Garrett Communications (right) traveled to Capitol Hill during the NFIB 2006 National Small-Business Summit in June to visit with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. |
In 1984, Ken Garrett had the opportunity to purchase an existing communications service business and become his own boss after several years of working for others. In February of that year, Garrett Communications Incorporated was born.
Initially, Garrett Communications was a service-only business, which provided installation and service to land mobile radio customers such as utilities, public safety, taxi, construction, heating and air, and plumbing. After a few years, however, Garrett Communications expanded to include equipment and systems sales. Today, Garrett's company in Mt. Sterling continues to provide sales and service to the land mobile radio industry and also serves as a dealer for two major manufacturers of this type of equipment.
Garrett and his wife, Brenda, decided to join NFIB early on as small-business owners.
"NFIB was the only organization that truly seemed to value the membership of very small businesses," Garrett said. "Every member is important to NFIB, no matter if they work by themselves or employ 100 people."
Although Garrett Communications only employs four people, it is a thriving small business. Garrett's workforce includes himself and his wife, Brenda, as full-time employees, and his son and son-in-law as part-time employees.
Garrett cites health care as the biggest obstacle facing the growth of his business, and hopes NFIB can continue to assist small-business owners in obtaining more affordable health insurance for themselves and their employees.
"If we were able to provide health insurance to my son and son-in-law, we could employ them as full-time employees also, but at present it's better that they have other employment for those benefits," Garrett explained.
Garrett appreciates NFIB's involvement in legislative issues that affect his business.
"NFIB stays on top of the issues facing small businesses at both the state and federal levels," Garrett said. "NFIB ensures its membership is advised of potential trouble and always seeks the members' opinions before acting. Most other organizations that I have been involved with only talk to their members when it is time to renew memberships."
Garrett first became active in NFIB when a past state administration tried to pass on a tax to small business on gross receipts. Garrett and many other small-business owners were infuriated by the move.
"With the help of NFIB, the tax was defeated and the past administration was not re-elected," Garrett said. After this victory, however, a backroom deal took place that placed a similar tax on small businesses.
"The power of NFIB forced lawmakers to relieve small businesses of this burden. NFIB brings a lot of power to those who would otherwise be ignored," said Garrett.
As a small-business owner, Garrett said, "I enjoy the freedom to eliminate what doesn't work, improve upon what does work, and control my own future." He also added, "I would encourage other small-business owners to join NFIB and current members to be more outspoken on issues that face them."
