A 10th Congressional District candidate for the Republican nomination is "exaggerating" his involvement in C3i's decision to open a facility in Wilkes-Barre last year, the chief financial officer of the international company says.
Luzerne County businessman Chris Hackett, who is vying against Dan Meuser for the nomination in the April 22 primary, has touted throughout the campaign his business acumen and experience in attracting new business to the area.
Hackett operates an insurance brokerage business and owns OneSource Staffing Solutions, a human resource consulting service, with offices in Selinsgrove, Williamsport, Tannersville, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.
On the campaign trail, he has specifically cited his involvement in aiding C3i, a company that provides customer management and support in New Jersey, Belgium, Bulgaria and India, as well as United Kingdom retailer Boden to Luzerne County.
CFO: Set record straight
He repeated the claim Thursday during a meeting with members of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, despite recent complaints from C3i.
In a letter to the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce last week, C3i CFO Robert Jones wrote that he wanted to "set the record straight" about who deserves credit for encouraging the company to open an office in Pennsylvania.
Jones disputes Hackett's assertion that he played a key role in bringing the company, which today employs 100 people, to the area.
"This claim is exaggerated and, while we prefer to stay out of politics, we do feel compelled to set the record straight to be sure that credit is given where credit is due," he wrote.
Hackett's deputy campaign manager, Mark Harris, responded: "Along with many others, Chris has been involved in numerous efforts through the Chamber of Commerce and Penns Northeast, to assist companies who are considering relocating to Northeast Pennsylvania.
"And Chris' own companies have created hundreds of jobs in the region.
"If C3i doesn't feel Chris' work with them was especially helpful, we're sorry about that, and they are entitled to their view."
C3i dumped Hackett firm
Jones said Hackett met with C3i officials in Scranton during an initial visit and once the company decided to locate in Wilkes-Barre, Hackett's firm, OneSource Staffing Solutions, was hired to help with recruiting.
However, Jones said, the results were "mixed" and after a few months C3i terminated its relationship with OneSource and handled its own hiring process.
"So, it is a stretch to say that Mr. Hackett was responsible in any meaningful way for bringing C3i to the area," he said.
Boden, the other company Hackett said he helped to relocate to Luzerne County, was more positive about his involvement.
Phil Tiffin, the human resources director at Boden, Friday said the company was "hugely grateful for all the help that Chris and OneSource have given us to establish the new facility in the states."
n E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com
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Business leader says Hackett exaggerates role in landing firm
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