LOCK HAVEN — The Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center was packed last night as over 200 members and guests of the Clinton County Economic Partnership gathered for the Partnership’s Annual Dinner.

The evening began with a social hour, where people from government organizations such as Lock Haven City Council and private organizations such as UPMC Susquehanna mingled.

First Quality took center stage with Albert Jones emceeing the event and Kambiz Damaghi, one of the company’s founders, as the keynote speaker.

Before Damaghi spoke, Jones spoke about the importance of the Partnership and its members.

“An investment in the Partnership is an investment in you, your organization and also Clinton County,” he said. “We live and work in an awesome environment so give yourself and your partners a round of applause for continuing to make Clinton County a great place to live.”

Jones also commended the members who have been there since the non-profit organization began 30 years ago.

“These individuals have played key roles in supporting and continuing to support the Partnership,” he said.

Damaghi and his company have been with the Partnership showing support since they first came to the county in the late 1980s.

First Quality was founded by Damaghi and his family in 1988. The company began operations in the county in 1989– the same year the Partnership was founded — at the Harold Sweeney Clinton County Industrial Park in Wayne Township. They set up First Quality Products in the former Alin Woodworking facility.

The company started First Quality Hygienic in 1991 at the same location.

First Quality has expanded immensely over the decades since it first came to the county. In addition to adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products, the company manufactures disposable wipes at Nutek in McElhattan and paper products at First Quality Tissue in Castanea Township. The company markets the products to distributors and retailers.

As of early 2019, First Quality employed approximately 1,700 people at its various operations in the county, including First Quality Products, First Quality Tissue, First Quality Hygienic and Nutek Disposables.

The company is nearing completion on another tissue plant in the Castanea area, the former International Paper Company.

The crowd in the Poorman Ballroom broke out into applause on multiple occasions during Damaghi’s speech, indicating their great pleasure in his words and First Quality’s positive impact on the county.