I swore I would write about something other than Progress this week. Yet, here I am. Subjecting myself – and our readers – to more of my thoughts on the topic. But there is, I assure you, both rhyme and reason to my actions.

Last night, as I perused the day’s edition of The Evening Sun, I stumbled upon a short brief on the State page concerning a plant closure in St. Lawrence County. 100 people will be out of work by July as a result of the decision by the yogurt manufacturer’s owners to shutter the facility.

I have never been to North Lawrence, but I think all of us in Chenango County can sympathize with the plight these people now face. We, too, have had our share of plant closures and companies pulling out. I won’t enumerate them, because I’m sure there’s already a list scrolling through your mind, as there is mine.

There have been other near misses as well. Which is why, as I read about this dairy plant’s closure, all I could think was, “there but for the grace of God.”

It is easy, I think, for people to dwell on what our area has lost - the large employers, manufacturing jobs, family farms and mom-and-pop businesses which have vanished or migrated to other parts of the globe. But all is not lost, because we are still blessed with a number of large manufacturers and businesses, big and small, which not only survive, but in many cases are thriving. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in these rolling hills. Our people are hard working, resilient, dedicated, talented and take great pride in what they do. And I can’t help being proud of them, too.

In fact, for me, that is what Progress is all about: Being proud to call Chenango County home.

Despite my (all too frequent) lamentations on the topic, I find the work that goes into this annual publication invigorating. It allows me – and, in turn, you the reader – to get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the businesses and organizations which make up the very fiber of our local economy and our communities.

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to sit down with the leaders of our largest local employers and hear their take not only on their own organization, but their entire industry. To hear them talk about the pride they have in Chenango County, and the potential they see for growth in this area, is truly awe inspiring.

This year, I had the opportunity to sit down with Marty Dietrich, president and CEO of NBT Bancorp; Chris Taft of Preferred Mutual Insurance Company; Sally Venugopalan, administrator of the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford; and Maureen Carpenter of Commerce Chenango, just to name a few.