REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11 -- Picking Up the Pieces

"It's a testament to the tenacity of these people," she says. "Not just recovering from the damage, but also the emotional toll. It was a struggle for people to do their work.

"Their competitive spirit will save the day. It makes me proud to be a part of this industry."

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From a business standpoint, the events of September 11 proved to be a "significant catalyst in amplifying a process that had already begun," according to Jonathan Fogel, senior vice president and director of marketing for Clifton, NJ-based Sandy Alexander. That process, of course, was the economic downturn that was, and still very much is, handcuffing U.S. business.