NEW YORK - Leon Gugel, President and owner of diagnostic imaging equipment
provider Metropolis International, is an optimist. During a time when

other companies are closing up shop, handing out pink slips or at the very
least going into a hiring freeze, Gugel has added staff. "We added two
people about seven months ago, before the economy really seemed to dive,"
Gugel said. "But, we also added an Acquisitions Director about five months
ago and we're looking to add another acquisitions person in the next few
months."

It makes sense to Gugel. Even in a tighter market it's possible to make a
good living dealing with medical equipment. At the base of it all is the
well-known philosophy that smart work along with hard work pays off.
Gugel confirmed that philosophy, "I feel that business is going well, but
it's only doing so because we work to make it go well. Just like the old
saying, 'Things turn out best for those people who make the best of the way things turn out.'"

"For 2009 we plan to keep doing what we need to do in order to not just
survive, but to grow," said Gugel. "We are looking into expanding into yet
a larger space with a bigger showroom and office space too."

Regarding growth and the addition of new employees Gugel said, "Our name
and reputation as a company depend on our people. We take care of our
customers and they take care of us. In order to offer the best service, we
need to continue to add staff, so that's just what we'll do."

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