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Article: AGAINST THE GRAIN
- Article from:
- Smart Business Detroit
- Article date:
- February 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Smart Business Network Feb 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Carl Gerhardt's story is not unlike the stories of a lot of company leaders in Michigan.
Facing the double-barrel assault of a shrinking economy and a stagnant industry, he still has to grow his business and produce profits.
For Gerhardt, that means figuring out ways to grow Allegra Network LLC in the consolidating print and graphic communications industry, where growth opportunities are far from plentiful.
"We're not in an industry that has a lot of natural growth in it," says Gerhardt, president and CEO of Allegra. "Second to that, we're a fairly mature franchise. We've been around for about 25 years. In an area like that, your challenges are a bit different than if you're in a ...