Jere McElhaney's comments: "It's a sickening feeling. ... We tried to put some trust and faith in an enterprise ... it just didn't follow through" imply that Oread management with intent failed employees, vendors and Lawrence. McElhaney, our county commissioner, obviously does not come close to understanding the incredible work, effort, time and energy that David Kimbrell and management expended in their efforts to save this company.
David Kimbrell not only put incredible and extensive energy into saving this company, he put millions of his own dollars into it. Investors (several who are local and served on the board of directors) ousted Kimbrell when the company was close to its peak in revenues. The investors, in essence, announced they wanted to go another direction than Kimbrell. Their leadership for the next several months was so poor that Kimbrell was asked by many employees to come back and "rescue the company." The management team did everything in their power to save a sinking ship. We know the rest of the story.
One last comment. Mr. Fagan quoted a Mr. Spidle who stated: "I don't think the general public realizes that bankruptcy allows unethical businesspeople to escape their obligations." Although I understand his anger, Mr. Spidle's comments are totally out of line and quite frankly not true. As a former partner of David Kimbrell for nine years in a previous business, I never once found Kimbrell to be unethical. He is an extremely bright and a tough businessman. Unethical he is not.
I found Kimbrell to be very honest, generous and straightforward. To a great degree it is his toughness and his straightforwardness that have made him one of the most talented entrepreneurs in Lawrence. Perhaps it is those same qualities that cause people like Mr. Spidle and our county commissioner to make such uninformed and obtuse statements.
Bob Skahan,
Lawrence
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