First Quality Recognized at Appreciation Luncheon

LOCK HAVEN – A classic American success story was recognized on Wednesday. The occasion was a thank you luncheon staged by the Clinton County Economic Partnership.

Recipient of the praise was First Quality, the Long Island-headquartered company that is now Clinton County’s largest employer.

Speakers traced First Quality’s humble beginnings 25 years ago at an old woodworking plant in what is now the Harold Sweeney Industrial Park in McElhattan. Today First Quality has a worldwide presence, employing more than 4,000 people, including more than 1,600 in Clinton County.

While program participants lauded First Quality’s role in Clinton County, members of the Damaghi family-owned business returned the praise.

Nader Damaghi said the event “celebrated America.” He told of an early drive into Pennsylvania where he saw a sign which read, “Welcome to Pennsylvania, America Starts Here.” The first First Quality plant followed and company growth has continued over the subsequent 25 years.

Damaghi said for his company it turned out to be, “welcome to the land of opportunity.” He and his brother Cambiz talked of their strong family bonds and principals, stating they carry that concept over to their relationship with their employees; Nader stating, “Play by the rules, the sky is the limit in this land of opportunity.”

Senior Judge J. Michael Williamson, involved in attracting First Quality to the county in the late 1980s, spoke of the role played by the late economic development director Harold Sweeney in those formative years. He said Sweeney, following an initial confab with the Damaghi family, said, “We need to get them to Clinton County.”

Cambiz Damaghi said the family has been asked why they picked Clinton County for a first operation. He said it was due to the “work ethic of the people, good people; we are very grateful for the good people.”

He said the family had been given the gift of building businesses, of working with people and they are “happy to have brought success and prosperity to the county.”