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This month's letters to the editor.

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Ping Fu, You're My Inspiration

Reading about Inc.'s entrepreneur of the year, Ping Fu, brought tears to my eyes ["The Dimensions of Ping Fu", December]. Her story of overcoming extreme adversities and horrors to become an American business success made me feel that any challenges with my own career and business can also be overcome. Ping Fu should be a role model for all Americans.

Steve Laats
President
StellarLogic
Portland, Oreg.

Honoring a Hero

Thank you for giving a worthy leader, Richard Zuschlag, honorable mention for Entrepreneur of the Year ["The Anti-FEMA," December]. His company, Acadian Ambulance Services, rescued my mother, a cancer patient, and my uncle, who is completely paralyzed, after they were trapped in the New Orleans area for days after Hurricane Katrina. I live in Houston and had no way to get my loved ones to a safe place. After sending a mass e-mail to everyone I knew, I was put in touch with Zuschlag's company. Without hesitation, Acadian Ambulance Services flew out and got my family to safety. I will forever be grateful to the men and women of Acadian whose tireless efforts help save lives.

Misty Starks
Owner
Misty Blue Media
Houston

Handing Employees the Keys

We were honored to have our company featured in the terrific piece on employee stock ownership plans ["The Ultimate Employee Buy-In," December]. We hope the article helps raise awareness of ESOPs so that more employees can become owners and more owners can leave their beloved companies gracefully.

Barbara Gabel and Zach Zachowski
Founders
Zachary's Chicago Pizza
San Francisco

John Case's article about ESOPs was outstanding, but one aspect is a bit misleading. While it is true that some companies can be sold for more than what an ESOP can pay--as was the case with the company CPES--this is the exception. Yes, ESOPs pay only what a dollars-and-cents financial buyer would to purchase the company. But most businesses cannot find a complementary strategic buyer willing to pay a premium. And even when they can, the tax benefits from selling to an ESOP may outweigh the higher price tag.

Corey Rosen
Executive director
National Center for Employee Ownership
Oakland, Calif.

New Barrier to Entry

I can relate to Praveen Suthrum, the Indian entrepreneur who is having trouble running his American business because of visa hassles ["Cracks in the Melting Pot," December]. I too am having problems with visa and visit policies. The irony is that my business is directly aimed at resolving an issue related to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our technology prevents people from being trapped in high-rise building fires. Recently, for the first time in nearly nine years of visits to the United States, I had to file for an extension of my stay. Given what happened to Mr. Suthrum, I would not be surprised if my request for extension is turned down by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Roberto Catalan
President and CEO
Skyscraper Evacuation Systems
Silver Spring, Md.

Bankruptcy: It's Not So Simple

Heather Antonelli's bankruptcy tale hit home [Case Study, December]. My failing business declared bankruptcy just before the new laws took effect. Like Ms. Antonelli, my wife and I both filed personal Chapter 7, too, because of personal guarantees. And soon we will be selling our house, since we also funded our business with substantial equity loans. Many bootstrapping businessmen such as myself would tend to dismiss the opinions of academics, favoring the views of "been there, done that" types. But Professor Jay Westbrook's opinion that bankruptcy was the best decision from a legal perspective rang the most true to me. And Mitchell Gold's view, though valid in its generalities, struck me as smug and self-congratulatory. Walk a mile in my (and Ms. Antonelli's) shoes, Mr. Gold.

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