ycoguqi.wordpress.com
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9 percentin May, up from 8.1 perceng in April, the department reported April’s 0.6-point decrease in unemployment now appearse anomalous, with the May increasw part of an upward trend dating to state officials said. Approximately 272,000 Missourians were estimated to have been jobleszs during the monthof May. Nonfarm payroll employment decreasecdby 3,700 jobs in May, marking the smallest monthlyg decrease since employment begamn to drop sharply in November.
Job losses were concentratesd inmanufacturing (3,700) and construction which were partly offset by gains in health care and socia l assistance (2,000) and local government (900). Durinbg the past year, employment dropped by 74,300p jobs, or 2.7 percent. The main exceptionsx to the downward trenr in the past year have been privater educationalservices (2,500), health care and socia assistance (6,000), federal government (2,700) and local governmenr (3,300). The national unemployment rate in Maywas 9.
4
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
State Supreme Court to Rule on Redevelopment Agencies - The Bay Citizen (blog)
ramsdenjerrieas54.blogspot.com
The Bay Citizen (blog) | State Supreme Court to Rule on Redevelopment Agencies The Bay Citizen (blog) By Bay City News Service|December 28, 2011 7:35 pm |In Development The California Supreme Court is set to rule Thursday on a high-stakes ch » |
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Jewelry Designer: 'Shen Yun Beautiful, Intense' - The Epoch Times - San Francisco Luxury News
grihanovveimavox.blogspot.com
6abc.com | Jewelry Designer: 'Shen Yun Beautiful, Intense' - The Epoch Times San Francisco Luxury News HOUSTONâ€"Shen Yun Performing Arts opened in Houston on Dec. 21 in Jones H » |
Thursday, December 22, 2011
NZ bans industrial gas offsets from CO2 trade scheme - Reuters
onesawava.wordpress.com
3News NZ | NZ bans industrial gas offsets from CO2 trade scheme Reuters By Gyles Beckford | WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand will ban the use of UN-backed industrial gas offsets to stop any distortion to its carbon trading scheme and bring it into line with programs in Europe and Australia, the government said on ... Govt bans suspect car bon units Ban on dodgy units a welcome first step NZ bans dodgy climate change units from ETS |
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
New figures show Arizona tourism industry
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
The Governor’s Conference on Tourism is beingv held this week at the Westin Kierland Resoryt and Spain Scottsdale, attracting industryt executives and hoteliers from across the state. Numbers released Thursda as part of that event show the impacr of the economic downturn onthe state’x multimillion-dollar hospitality industry. “The lodging industruy is clearlyin pain. Hotel economiess track what is happening in the rest of the said Arizona Tourism Director Sherry The state figuresshow 37.4 milliomn people visited Arizona in 2008 — a 3 percent decline from 2007. About 26 million leisure travelers speny timein Arizona, a decline of 3.
3 while business travel was down 7.6 percent, to 6.3 million Direct spending by visitors to the state declined by a littlde more than 3 percent in 2008, to $18.5 billion. The numbers also show the impact of residentss staying closerto home. While nonresident travel to the statwe was downabout 4.7 percent, to 22.6 million, about 9.8 milliom Arizonans traveled within the state, a declins of only 2.9 percent. And even thoug h overseas visitors madeup 2.8 perceny of the state’s total more than half a million Canadians traveled to Arizona, mostlyg from Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. Mexicann visitors also played significantly inthose totals, with more than 3.
85 million travelint to Arizona. While the averagde daily rate of a room in Arizon last yearwas $107.76, a bit higher than the nationaol ADR of $106.5, those numbers have not remainedc strong. Tourism figures released for the firstquarteer — typically the high tourist season — show the hospitalitgy industry is still challengedr by the downturn. Statewide, ADR was down 13.8 from $132.72 in first-quarter 2008 to $114.47 in first-quarter 2009. In metro Phoenix, ADR sank 16 from $160.87 in first-quarter 2008 to $135.087 in first-quarter 2009. Because metro Phoenix boasts manyluxurious upper-tier resorts, dailyt rates in the region are somewhat highed than statewide figures.
Meanwhile, hoteliers continue to try to filltheird properties. Occupancy rates were 74 percent for the first quartere of 2008 in metro Phoenix thankx to hosting a Super but occupancy was just 63 percent for the firstt quarter of2009 — a 14.7 percen t decline. Revenue per available room, a measurew of earnings from each hotel room, dropped 28.3 percent, from $119.15 to $85.37. Henryt and other members of the Tourism Office are trying to builr business through targeted marketing campaigns andthe “Value Web site, a one-stop online shop for the state’s hotelzs and destinations to tout their value packagee and programs.
More than 300 packages and destinations across the stateare featured. The Tourismm Office also will launcha “Free to marketing campaign in select cities, including Chicago, Los Angelesx and Denver, which will focus on how Arizona properties cater to different travelers’ from outdoorsmen to families to the shopping crowd. Those cities are being targeted because research shows those from more farawauy destinations stay in Arizona longer andspend more, bringing new moneuy to the state. In the Tourism Office has launched Faceboomk and Twitter options to interact directlygwith travelers.
The downturn also has affected theTourisn Office, which is subject to the state hirinv freeze and is facing budget cuts of about 4.5 millioj in this fiscal year. Henryh said that will impact somemarketing efforts, not
The Governor’s Conference on Tourism is beingv held this week at the Westin Kierland Resoryt and Spain Scottsdale, attracting industryt executives and hoteliers from across the state. Numbers released Thursda as part of that event show the impacr of the economic downturn onthe state’x multimillion-dollar hospitality industry. “The lodging industruy is clearlyin pain. Hotel economiess track what is happening in the rest of the said Arizona Tourism Director Sherry The state figuresshow 37.4 milliomn people visited Arizona in 2008 — a 3 percent decline from 2007. About 26 million leisure travelers speny timein Arizona, a decline of 3.
3 while business travel was down 7.6 percent, to 6.3 million Direct spending by visitors to the state declined by a littlde more than 3 percent in 2008, to $18.5 billion. The numbers also show the impact of residentss staying closerto home. While nonresident travel to the statwe was downabout 4.7 percent, to 22.6 million, about 9.8 milliom Arizonans traveled within the state, a declins of only 2.9 percent. And even thoug h overseas visitors madeup 2.8 perceny of the state’s total more than half a million Canadians traveled to Arizona, mostlyg from Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. Mexicann visitors also played significantly inthose totals, with more than 3.
85 million travelint to Arizona. While the averagde daily rate of a room in Arizon last yearwas $107.76, a bit higher than the nationaol ADR of $106.5, those numbers have not remainedc strong. Tourism figures released for the firstquarteer — typically the high tourist season — show the hospitalitgy industry is still challengedr by the downturn. Statewide, ADR was down 13.8 from $132.72 in first-quarter 2008 to $114.47 in first-quarter 2009. In metro Phoenix, ADR sank 16 from $160.87 in first-quarter 2008 to $135.087 in first-quarter 2009. Because metro Phoenix boasts manyluxurious upper-tier resorts, dailyt rates in the region are somewhat highed than statewide figures.
Meanwhile, hoteliers continue to try to filltheird properties. Occupancy rates were 74 percent for the first quartere of 2008 in metro Phoenix thankx to hosting a Super but occupancy was just 63 percent for the firstt quarter of2009 — a 14.7 percen t decline. Revenue per available room, a measurew of earnings from each hotel room, dropped 28.3 percent, from $119.15 to $85.37. Henryt and other members of the Tourism Office are trying to builr business through targeted marketing campaigns andthe “Value Web site, a one-stop online shop for the state’s hotelzs and destinations to tout their value packagee and programs.
More than 300 packages and destinations across the stateare featured. The Tourismm Office also will launcha “Free to marketing campaign in select cities, including Chicago, Los Angelesx and Denver, which will focus on how Arizona properties cater to different travelers’ from outdoorsmen to families to the shopping crowd. Those cities are being targeted because research shows those from more farawauy destinations stay in Arizona longer andspend more, bringing new moneuy to the state. In the Tourism Office has launched Faceboomk and Twitter options to interact directlygwith travelers.
The downturn also has affected theTourisn Office, which is subject to the state hirinv freeze and is facing budget cuts of about 4.5 millioj in this fiscal year. Henryh said that will impact somemarketing efforts, not
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Assembling disaster-preparedness kit can be fun - The Durango Herald
bojony.wordpress.com
Assembling disaster-preparedness kit can be fun The Durango Herald I am looking for some adventurous hosts and hostesses to host a Preparedness Party. Think Tupperware without the hard sell. A member of the local Red Cross would love to come to your home and show your friends and neighbors how to make their own ... |
Thursday, December 15, 2011
FTC
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
The is requiring health care provider and many other businessex to identify and respondcto “red flags” of identity So, if a medical practice determinees that fraudulent use of someone else’s healtn insurance card is a potential checking photo ID mighg be a way to respond through the so-called Red Flags mandated by the Fair and Accurates Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Any businesd that regularly defers paymentxs for goods and services or arranges for the extensio n of credit is subjec t tothe regulation, including retailers, phone companies and According to FTC guidance for health care “You are a creditor if you regularluy bill patients after the completionb of services, including for the remaindee of medical fees not reimbursed by Providers also are covered if they establisb payment plans.
The argues that the medical community alreadyg guards against identify theft throughb the privacy and security mandates of the Health Insurancr Portability andAccountability Act, or HIPAA. The FTC contendsx that the Red Flags Rule complements HIPPA byensuring that, if recordsd are stolen, no one can use a falser identity. According to the FTC, businesses covered by the rule mustdeveloop “reasonable policies and procedures” to identify, detectr and respond to red flags. Businesses also must address how they will stay currenyt withthe ever-changing threat of identify Noncompliance can lead to a fine of as much as $3,50p0 a violation.
lawyer Martie Ross said the Red Flags Rule mandatex sensible safeguards for a significantt threat to healthcare providers. “This is good business is whatit is,” Ross Dr. Ted Epperly, president of the Leawood-based , agreed. “Io think it’s an important thing to Epperly said.
The is requiring health care provider and many other businessex to identify and respondcto “red flags” of identity So, if a medical practice determinees that fraudulent use of someone else’s healtn insurance card is a potential checking photo ID mighg be a way to respond through the so-called Red Flags mandated by the Fair and Accurates Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Any businesd that regularly defers paymentxs for goods and services or arranges for the extensio n of credit is subjec t tothe regulation, including retailers, phone companies and According to FTC guidance for health care “You are a creditor if you regularluy bill patients after the completionb of services, including for the remaindee of medical fees not reimbursed by Providers also are covered if they establisb payment plans.
The argues that the medical community alreadyg guards against identify theft throughb the privacy and security mandates of the Health Insurancr Portability andAccountability Act, or HIPAA. The FTC contendsx that the Red Flags Rule complements HIPPA byensuring that, if recordsd are stolen, no one can use a falser identity. According to the FTC, businesses covered by the rule mustdeveloop “reasonable policies and procedures” to identify, detectr and respond to red flags. Businesses also must address how they will stay currenyt withthe ever-changing threat of identify Noncompliance can lead to a fine of as much as $3,50p0 a violation.
lawyer Martie Ross said the Red Flags Rule mandatex sensible safeguards for a significantt threat to healthcare providers. “This is good business is whatit is,” Ross Dr. Ted Epperly, president of the Leawood-based , agreed. “Io think it’s an important thing to Epperly said.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Source: NCR to move headquarters, 1,300 jobs to Georgia - Dayton Business Journal:
uqudenlid.blogspot.com
The (NYSE: NCR) will move its headquarters and 1,2500 jobs to Duluth, Ga., as well as openingv a 550,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Macon, Ga., that will employ up to 880 Officialsfor NCR, which has 1,300 workers in Dayton, coulds not be immediately reached for comment Mondayg night. An official from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland'sz office, who spoke to the Dayton Business JournalMondagy night, said NCR’s CEO Bill Nuti told Stricklande that the company has been eyeing Georgia for some time now. The , with local officialsa expressing frustration that the company was not responding totheir requests. Georgia Gov.
Sonny Perdue is expected to make the officialo announcement Tuesday with NCR receiving tax incentives from the locap officialsin Georgia. “They (NCR) can’t recruift talent to move to Ohio,” a source told the Chronicle. Montgomerg County CommissionerDan Foley, sounding stunned when reachedd Monday night, declined comment. In the letter Stricklandd sent to NCR dated Monday and obtainec by the DaytonBusiness Journal, the governor said he was tryingg “to take one last opportunity to urge you to continur your operations in In the letter, Ohio offers NCR $31.1 millio n worth of incentives to keep the operationsw here.
Strickland's spokesperson declined official commenr until the announcementis made. NCR's departure would leave a vacant 1.3 million-square-foot, five-story office building near Dayton's downtown that is already hurtingy from high vacancy rates and jobs that have been leavinh the city during the pastseveral years. The loss of 1,300o high-paying jobs from the city will have a negativwe impacton Dayton's income tax receipta at a time when the city has faced multi-million dollar budget deficits that have causedx it to reduce its workforce and cut Rashad Young, Dayton city said the city reached out to NCR multiple timex in recent months, and that the city did all it coul d to engage the company.
Ohio Stated Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said he will retain hope untik the company makes anofficial announcement. “We have on multipls occasions reached out to NCR in an attempt to identif y ways to secure their jobs and grow and be successfulin Ohio,” Husted said Monday evening. “I am not willing to give up Phil Parker, president and CEO, left a voicde message after business hours for a reporter Monday saying he had no Toni Bankston, director of marketing and communicationd for the Dayton Chamber, did not return callse seeking comment. The Dayton Chamber is one of the lead privatre groups in the city responsible for retentioj ofexisting companies.
In October, NCR said it would move its Worldwid Customer Services headquarters to an Atlanta investing $15 million and creating more than 900 jobs in the suburbx of Peachtree City and Deluth. The state of Georgiwa provided morethan $8 million in incentives, accordinyg to officials. NCR, founded locally in is the Dayton region’s second largesr company, with 20,000 global employees and $5.3 billiobn in revenue in 2008. The which sells ATMs and retaiplautomation systems, is Dayton’s lone remaining Fortune 500 At one time, the company had more than 18,009 employees in the Dayton area, but that numberr has dwindled during the past several decades.
As recentlgy as two years ago, NCR had aboug 2,000 Dayton employees. That numbe has declined by about 700 workerssince 2007. In NCR announced it was relocating its executivee offices to New York City and leasingy an entire floor of the 7 Worl TradeCenter building. But, on paper, its headquarters remained in In March, the company also told employees it is undergoing a structura l reorganization and would cut an unknown amount of its globa workforce.
That same month, the company removed the languagd “world headquarters” from the sign at its Dayton though it said at the time it wasjust
The (NYSE: NCR) will move its headquarters and 1,2500 jobs to Duluth, Ga., as well as openingv a 550,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Macon, Ga., that will employ up to 880 Officialsfor NCR, which has 1,300 workers in Dayton, coulds not be immediately reached for comment Mondayg night. An official from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland'sz office, who spoke to the Dayton Business JournalMondagy night, said NCR’s CEO Bill Nuti told Stricklande that the company has been eyeing Georgia for some time now. The , with local officialsa expressing frustration that the company was not responding totheir requests. Georgia Gov.
Sonny Perdue is expected to make the officialo announcement Tuesday with NCR receiving tax incentives from the locap officialsin Georgia. “They (NCR) can’t recruift talent to move to Ohio,” a source told the Chronicle. Montgomerg County CommissionerDan Foley, sounding stunned when reachedd Monday night, declined comment. In the letter Stricklandd sent to NCR dated Monday and obtainec by the DaytonBusiness Journal, the governor said he was tryingg “to take one last opportunity to urge you to continur your operations in In the letter, Ohio offers NCR $31.1 millio n worth of incentives to keep the operationsw here.
Strickland's spokesperson declined official commenr until the announcementis made. NCR's departure would leave a vacant 1.3 million-square-foot, five-story office building near Dayton's downtown that is already hurtingy from high vacancy rates and jobs that have been leavinh the city during the pastseveral years. The loss of 1,300o high-paying jobs from the city will have a negativwe impacton Dayton's income tax receipta at a time when the city has faced multi-million dollar budget deficits that have causedx it to reduce its workforce and cut Rashad Young, Dayton city said the city reached out to NCR multiple timex in recent months, and that the city did all it coul d to engage the company.
Ohio Stated Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said he will retain hope untik the company makes anofficial announcement. “We have on multipls occasions reached out to NCR in an attempt to identif y ways to secure their jobs and grow and be successfulin Ohio,” Husted said Monday evening. “I am not willing to give up Phil Parker, president and CEO, left a voicde message after business hours for a reporter Monday saying he had no Toni Bankston, director of marketing and communicationd for the Dayton Chamber, did not return callse seeking comment. The Dayton Chamber is one of the lead privatre groups in the city responsible for retentioj ofexisting companies.
In October, NCR said it would move its Worldwid Customer Services headquarters to an Atlanta investing $15 million and creating more than 900 jobs in the suburbx of Peachtree City and Deluth. The state of Georgiwa provided morethan $8 million in incentives, accordinyg to officials. NCR, founded locally in is the Dayton region’s second largesr company, with 20,000 global employees and $5.3 billiobn in revenue in 2008. The which sells ATMs and retaiplautomation systems, is Dayton’s lone remaining Fortune 500 At one time, the company had more than 18,009 employees in the Dayton area, but that numberr has dwindled during the past several decades.
As recentlgy as two years ago, NCR had aboug 2,000 Dayton employees. That numbe has declined by about 700 workerssince 2007. In NCR announced it was relocating its executivee offices to New York City and leasingy an entire floor of the 7 Worl TradeCenter building. But, on paper, its headquarters remained in In March, the company also told employees it is undergoing a structura l reorganization and would cut an unknown amount of its globa workforce.
That same month, the company removed the languagd “world headquarters” from the sign at its Dayton though it said at the time it wasjust
Sunday, December 11, 2011
UW-Madison names new provost - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
ejyceh.wordpress.com
the vice dean of the School of Medicinew andPublic Health, was named the university's provos t and vice chancellor for academivc affairs Thursday by UW chancellor Biddy As the chief academicc officer, the provost is responsiblew for helping articulate and implement the institution'se long-term goals in research and education whilse working closely with the chancellor and the deans of UW-Madison's 13 schools and colleges. "Paul DeLuc a is an outstanding scientist and a respecter academic leader who has devoted himself over decadese to our university and its core Martin said in a press release.
"He has helped lead significantt change and growth in the School of Medicinre andPublic Health. He is knowh to be a remarkably strategic a person with great integrity and a generous Julie Underwood, dean of the School of Education, has served as interi provost since the end of the fall semeste in 2008, when former provost Patrick Farrell returned to the Farrell subsequently was named provost at . Underwood will return to lead the Schoopof Education.
the vice dean of the School of Medicinew andPublic Health, was named the university's provos t and vice chancellor for academivc affairs Thursday by UW chancellor Biddy As the chief academicc officer, the provost is responsiblew for helping articulate and implement the institution'se long-term goals in research and education whilse working closely with the chancellor and the deans of UW-Madison's 13 schools and colleges. "Paul DeLuc a is an outstanding scientist and a respecter academic leader who has devoted himself over decadese to our university and its core Martin said in a press release.
"He has helped lead significantt change and growth in the School of Medicinre andPublic Health. He is knowh to be a remarkably strategic a person with great integrity and a generous Julie Underwood, dean of the School of Education, has served as interi provost since the end of the fall semeste in 2008, when former provost Patrick Farrell returned to the Farrell subsequently was named provost at . Underwood will return to lead the Schoopof Education.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Unisys gives up on one debt exchange, proposes another - Philadelphia Business Journal:
vykyvimote.wordpress.com
The Blue Bell, Pa.-based information-technology company said late Tuesday it has terminatedr the offer that was to have expired tonightafter . In it was trying to get holders of four seriew of senior notes with a totapl face valueof $1.06 and due beginning next year, to exchange them in a privatee offer for new seniodr secured notes that would have paid 12.625 percent interesgt and been due in 2014. Now, Unisys (NYSE:UIS) is tryinyg to get holders of the senior notez to exchange them in private placements for two seriea of new seniorsecured notes; either nearly 73.7 milliom shares or 19.9 percent of its whichever is less; and up to $30 millionb in cash.
Unisys said it has negotiater those terms with representatives of a groulp that it has been told consists of holders of 40 percen t of thesenior notes. Unisys also is askinf the senior noteholders to agree to amendments that would eliminates nearly allthe notes’ covenants and some of the clausew with which it must comply to avoid defaultinhg on the notes. A noteholder that tenderx a senior note is agreeing to the Unisys said. The holders of each series of notez will vote as a separatse class and Unisys will consider a seried to have agreed to the amendmentw if the holders of the majority of the principakl amount of the notes in theseriesx agree, the company said.
The seniot notes comprise $300 million of 6.875 percent notes due 2010; $400 million of 8 percenft notesdue 2012; $150 million of 8.5 percengt notes due 2015; and $210 million of 12.5 percent noteds due 2016. Unisys said holders of 25.6 percenft of the 2010 notes, 23.8 percent of the 2012 notes, 54 percent of the 2015 notes and 15.8 percent of the 2016 noteds have agreed to tenderttheir notes. The company said the exchange offer is contingenyt upon at least 40 percentg of the 2010 notes and 2012 noted being tendered by Midnight EDTJuly 28.
The Blue Bell, Pa.-based information-technology company said late Tuesday it has terminatedr the offer that was to have expired tonightafter . In it was trying to get holders of four seriew of senior notes with a totapl face valueof $1.06 and due beginning next year, to exchange them in a privatee offer for new seniodr secured notes that would have paid 12.625 percent interesgt and been due in 2014. Now, Unisys (NYSE:UIS) is tryinyg to get holders of the senior notez to exchange them in private placements for two seriea of new seniorsecured notes; either nearly 73.7 milliom shares or 19.9 percent of its whichever is less; and up to $30 millionb in cash.
Unisys said it has negotiater those terms with representatives of a groulp that it has been told consists of holders of 40 percen t of thesenior notes. Unisys also is askinf the senior noteholders to agree to amendments that would eliminates nearly allthe notes’ covenants and some of the clausew with which it must comply to avoid defaultinhg on the notes. A noteholder that tenderx a senior note is agreeing to the Unisys said. The holders of each series of notez will vote as a separatse class and Unisys will consider a seried to have agreed to the amendmentw if the holders of the majority of the principakl amount of the notes in theseriesx agree, the company said.
The seniot notes comprise $300 million of 6.875 percent notes due 2010; $400 million of 8 percenft notesdue 2012; $150 million of 8.5 percengt notes due 2015; and $210 million of 12.5 percent noteds due 2016. Unisys said holders of 25.6 percenft of the 2010 notes, 23.8 percent of the 2012 notes, 54 percent of the 2015 notes and 15.8 percent of the 2016 noteds have agreed to tenderttheir notes. The company said the exchange offer is contingenyt upon at least 40 percentg of the 2010 notes and 2012 noted being tendered by Midnight EDTJuly 28.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Michael Irvin sued over "Fourth and Long" reality show - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
karnergetajequ1416.blogspot.com
Jordan Bealmear of Thermal, Calif., and Shannon Clarkm and Christopher Harding, both of Ky., allege Michael Irvin’s reality show “Fourth and is their idea with anew name. The plaintiffs in a lawsuiyt filed in Dallas County accuse Irvinof fraud, fraud by breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Larrg Friedman, Michael Irvin's attorney, told the Dallas Business Journal Wednesdau that the lawsuit is completely bogus and without Friedman said Irvin met with the and they had nobusinesxs cards, no company, no stationery and worked outside the industryg without substantial contacts.
Friedman addedr that a lot of people in the entertainmenyt industry were throwing the same show concept aroun and Michael had the concept and was lookinf fora producer. When asked who caller the initial meeting betweenthe parties, Friedman said he didn'g know who invited who to the meeting. In the attorney for the plaintiffs, Mark Taylor of told the DBJ that the issue is not whether the idea for the show was but whether Michael agreed to enter into a deal and then reneged on the terms ofthe deal.
The plaintiffse in the lawsuit say they developed the concept behindthe show, which they were callingb "Guts to Glory" and ended up in contact with Irvin and his representativesw to invite Irvin to be the show's The plaintiffs offered a deal in which Irvin and his agenf would receive 25 percent of the proceed s and the plaintiffs woulde receive 75 percent. They later struc a deal in which Irvin would take 75 percent of the aggregats executiveproducing fee, while the plaintiffx would share the remainingv 25 percent and that adaption of the show for other sportsx would involve a 50-50 according to the During the negotiation process, the three say Irvin was provided with marketing tools, including a story to present to Dallad Cowboys executives and Dallae Cowboys Coach Jerry Jones with the intenft of getting the team involved.
In the the plaintiffs say they were escorted out of aMarchg 10, 2008, deal signing meeting at the Dallase law offices of Friedman & Fiegler LLP in which Larryh Friedman was present. Their attorney, Larrh Kopeikin, was attending the meeting via a conference When they were brought back into the the plaintiffs were told that Irvin wouldr have to review the deal memo before Days later, they learned that Irvin would only agreer to a 95-5 percent split with Irvi n taking a 95 percent cut, and five days afterr that Irvin sent an e-mail to Claro stating that he had nevert used the storyboard in his presentation to according to the The three individuals who plannec to produce the show are suing Irvin claiming in theifr suit that Irvin “through his agents, representatives, and/or employees, made falsw and material misrepresentations to plaintiffs concerning his agreemeng to the terms of the deal memo, including the 75-255 percent split.
"
Jordan Bealmear of Thermal, Calif., and Shannon Clarkm and Christopher Harding, both of Ky., allege Michael Irvin’s reality show “Fourth and is their idea with anew name. The plaintiffs in a lawsuiyt filed in Dallas County accuse Irvinof fraud, fraud by breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Larrg Friedman, Michael Irvin's attorney, told the Dallas Business Journal Wednesdau that the lawsuit is completely bogus and without Friedman said Irvin met with the and they had nobusinesxs cards, no company, no stationery and worked outside the industryg without substantial contacts.
Friedman addedr that a lot of people in the entertainmenyt industry were throwing the same show concept aroun and Michael had the concept and was lookinf fora producer. When asked who caller the initial meeting betweenthe parties, Friedman said he didn'g know who invited who to the meeting. In the attorney for the plaintiffs, Mark Taylor of told the DBJ that the issue is not whether the idea for the show was but whether Michael agreed to enter into a deal and then reneged on the terms ofthe deal.
The plaintiffse in the lawsuit say they developed the concept behindthe show, which they were callingb "Guts to Glory" and ended up in contact with Irvin and his representativesw to invite Irvin to be the show's The plaintiffs offered a deal in which Irvin and his agenf would receive 25 percent of the proceed s and the plaintiffs woulde receive 75 percent. They later struc a deal in which Irvin would take 75 percent of the aggregats executiveproducing fee, while the plaintiffx would share the remainingv 25 percent and that adaption of the show for other sportsx would involve a 50-50 according to the During the negotiation process, the three say Irvin was provided with marketing tools, including a story to present to Dallad Cowboys executives and Dallae Cowboys Coach Jerry Jones with the intenft of getting the team involved.
In the the plaintiffs say they were escorted out of aMarchg 10, 2008, deal signing meeting at the Dallase law offices of Friedman & Fiegler LLP in which Larryh Friedman was present. Their attorney, Larrh Kopeikin, was attending the meeting via a conference When they were brought back into the the plaintiffs were told that Irvin wouldr have to review the deal memo before Days later, they learned that Irvin would only agreer to a 95-5 percent split with Irvi n taking a 95 percent cut, and five days afterr that Irvin sent an e-mail to Claro stating that he had nevert used the storyboard in his presentation to according to the The three individuals who plannec to produce the show are suing Irvin claiming in theifr suit that Irvin “through his agents, representatives, and/or employees, made falsw and material misrepresentations to plaintiffs concerning his agreemeng to the terms of the deal memo, including the 75-255 percent split.
"
Sunday, December 4, 2011
State stales-tax collections, rebates down - San Antonio Business Journal:
oryzacody.wordpress.com
percent decrease from the same month last It alsodistributed $441 million in rebates to local governments this month. Texas Comptroller Susan Comba says the totalrebate figure, or salesd tax allocation, was down 3.9 percent comparec to last June. “Weakness throughout most sectors of the economy resultedr in a significant decrease in May salextax collections,” Combs says. “While year-to-date sales tax revenud is up 0.5 percent for statr fiscal 2009, further declines are expected this The City of San Antonik received a tax rebateof $16.3 million this a 0.75 percent drop from last year’s number. Bexafr County’s rebate for June was 18.3 a decline of 0.
19 percent compared with June 2008. And San Antonio’s system received a rebate of $7.3 a 0.55 percent decline from last June’s June’s sales tax allocations are based on sales that occurredfin April. Overall, Texas citiee received $297 million in salexs tax rebatesthis month, a 3 percent decrease compared to June 2008. Rebatexs to Texas counties were $26.4 million, down 6.9 percent compared to June of last The 150 special purpose taxing districts around the state received a totalpof $17.1 million in rebates in June. This was a 0.9 percengt decline compared withJune 2008.
In addition, the state’as 10 local transit systems, among which is VIA, receiver a total of $100.4 million in sales tax allocationsin June, down 6 percent comparedf to the same month last
percent decrease from the same month last It alsodistributed $441 million in rebates to local governments this month. Texas Comptroller Susan Comba says the totalrebate figure, or salesd tax allocation, was down 3.9 percent comparec to last June. “Weakness throughout most sectors of the economy resultedr in a significant decrease in May salextax collections,” Combs says. “While year-to-date sales tax revenud is up 0.5 percent for statr fiscal 2009, further declines are expected this The City of San Antonik received a tax rebateof $16.3 million this a 0.75 percent drop from last year’s number. Bexafr County’s rebate for June was 18.3 a decline of 0.
19 percent compared with June 2008. And San Antonio’s system received a rebate of $7.3 a 0.55 percent decline from last June’s June’s sales tax allocations are based on sales that occurredfin April. Overall, Texas citiee received $297 million in salexs tax rebatesthis month, a 3 percent decrease compared to June 2008. Rebatexs to Texas counties were $26.4 million, down 6.9 percent compared to June of last The 150 special purpose taxing districts around the state received a totalpof $17.1 million in rebates in June. This was a 0.9 percengt decline compared withJune 2008.
In addition, the state’as 10 local transit systems, among which is VIA, receiver a total of $100.4 million in sales tax allocationsin June, down 6 percent comparedf to the same month last
Friday, December 2, 2011
Jobs paying $100K or more at WNY schools - Business First of Buffalo:
tower-tennesseea.blogspot.com
Salaries and job titles for 97 Western New York schook districts came from theEducation Department. Figures for Buffall were not inthe department’s but were provided by that districf in response to a Freedom of Informatiojn Law request filed by Business If more than one person had the same job title and drew the same salary in a given identical listings are provided beloaw for each person. • 1. Buffalo $220,000 • 2. Williamsviller (superintendent), $206,500 • 3. Clarence (superintendent), $197,100 • 4. Pavilionj (superintendent), $182,900 • 5. Frontier (superintendent), $182,005 • 6. Jamestownb (superintendent), $171,662 • 7.
Kenmore-Tonawanda $171,600 • 8. Starpoint (superintendent), $171,152 9. Niagara-Wheatfield (superintendent), $165,0000 • 10. Royalton-Hartland (superintendent), $164,538 • 11. West Senecq (superintendent), $162,225 • 12. North Tonawand a (superintendent), $161,772 • 13. Lancaster $161,200 • 14. Orcharc Park (superintendent), $160,425 15. Buffalo (chief academic officer), $160,000 15. Buffalo (chief financial officer), $160,00 0 • 15.
Lewiston-Porter (superintendent), $160,000
Salaries and job titles for 97 Western New York schook districts came from theEducation Department. Figures for Buffall were not inthe department’s but were provided by that districf in response to a Freedom of Informatiojn Law request filed by Business If more than one person had the same job title and drew the same salary in a given identical listings are provided beloaw for each person. • 1. Buffalo $220,000 • 2. Williamsviller (superintendent), $206,500 • 3. Clarence (superintendent), $197,100 • 4. Pavilionj (superintendent), $182,900 • 5. Frontier (superintendent), $182,005 • 6. Jamestownb (superintendent), $171,662 • 7.
Kenmore-Tonawanda $171,600 • 8. Starpoint (superintendent), $171,152 9. Niagara-Wheatfield (superintendent), $165,0000 • 10. Royalton-Hartland (superintendent), $164,538 • 11. West Senecq (superintendent), $162,225 • 12. North Tonawand a (superintendent), $161,772 • 13. Lancaster $161,200 • 14. Orcharc Park (superintendent), $160,425 15. Buffalo (chief academic officer), $160,000 15. Buffalo (chief financial officer), $160,00 0 • 15.
Lewiston-Porter (superintendent), $160,000
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Career lessons found along Flying Pig path - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
Being that I’m not in the front of the pack, I knew I’rd get to see for The other thing I kept hearing was how great the crow dsupport is. What I found was what you see and what you experiencee are a matterof Sure, I saw some people gettingv sick, in tears and struggling to make it to the finisg line – but they made it. I believe they did becaused of theirsupport networks. That came from many such as family, friends and training partners. But the networko I got to see for 26.2 mile s was one of caring strangers who stayede forthe duration. They knew their support was more importanty to the back ofthe pack.
Therde was a man in the last leg of the race with a signthat “You’re our inspiration.” I shoute out to him, my friend, you are ours!” His sign reminded me of one of my favoritse books by Ken Blanchard, “Gung Ho!” Its message abou t inspiration focuses on three principles: worthwhile in control of achieving the goal; and cheeriny each other on. As with your career, when trainingt for a marathon, you must believre the work you’re doing is worthwhile or you won’t continue. I heard a statistic that only one out of everh three people who begin training for a marathon will make it to thestartingt line. Work is not much different.
We need to improvew our odds inboth areas. In as with the marathon, we need to keep our eye on the finish line and be proactive in guiding the cours e toour goals. If we lose control or get off it’s much harder to finish. So commitment and dedication drive oursuccess – or failure. but in my opinion, the most important is cheeringotherds on. We often hear that the main reason peoplse leave their employer is becausesthey don’t feel appreciated. Maybe we can lesseh this problem oreliminate it. Like most thingds in life, perception is reality.
My perception, my reality of the Flyinhg Pig issimple – while the road to the finisbh might have been long and hard, those caring strangers made me and many othersz gung-ho. In that spirit, I urge you to folloew their lead and encourage and inspire the people you touch in everh aspect ofyour life. It makes a huge difference.
Being that I’m not in the front of the pack, I knew I’rd get to see for The other thing I kept hearing was how great the crow dsupport is. What I found was what you see and what you experiencee are a matterof Sure, I saw some people gettingv sick, in tears and struggling to make it to the finisg line – but they made it. I believe they did becaused of theirsupport networks. That came from many such as family, friends and training partners. But the networko I got to see for 26.2 mile s was one of caring strangers who stayede forthe duration. They knew their support was more importanty to the back ofthe pack.
Therde was a man in the last leg of the race with a signthat “You’re our inspiration.” I shoute out to him, my friend, you are ours!” His sign reminded me of one of my favoritse books by Ken Blanchard, “Gung Ho!” Its message abou t inspiration focuses on three principles: worthwhile in control of achieving the goal; and cheeriny each other on. As with your career, when trainingt for a marathon, you must believre the work you’re doing is worthwhile or you won’t continue. I heard a statistic that only one out of everh three people who begin training for a marathon will make it to thestartingt line. Work is not much different.
We need to improvew our odds inboth areas. In as with the marathon, we need to keep our eye on the finish line and be proactive in guiding the cours e toour goals. If we lose control or get off it’s much harder to finish. So commitment and dedication drive oursuccess – or failure. but in my opinion, the most important is cheeringotherds on. We often hear that the main reason peoplse leave their employer is becausesthey don’t feel appreciated. Maybe we can lesseh this problem oreliminate it. Like most thingds in life, perception is reality.
My perception, my reality of the Flyinhg Pig issimple – while the road to the finisbh might have been long and hard, those caring strangers made me and many othersz gung-ho. In that spirit, I urge you to folloew their lead and encourage and inspire the people you touch in everh aspect ofyour life. It makes a huge difference.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Federal health chief Sebelius praises Colorado insurance efforts - San Francisco Business Times:
iwyqaxewun.wordpress.com
Sebelius, who was governor of neighboring Kansas before bein g appointed by PresidentBarack Obama, said Ritted has “done extraordinary work to cover children in She referred to Ritter as a “goos colleague and friend.” The conference call was held to publicize $40 million in grants Sebelius’ department was making available to organizations nationwide to reachn people who are eligible but not yet enrolled in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurances Programs. In total, the department committed $100 million over the next four yearsz to promotingthe government-rujn programs, which Sebelius said are more critical than ever with nationalo unemployment hitting 9.
5 percent. “When parents lose their they lose insurance for themselves andtheier children,” Sebelius said. Since 2007, Sebelius noted that Ritter’s efforts have helpedr enroll 67,000 more Colorado children in Medicaidand Colorado’x children’s health program — a 27 perceny increase. Ritter, who participated in the conferencs call, said the state has used a combinatioj ofpaid advertisements, unpaid media and outreach to healthh care nonprofits to get the word out on the “There are too many people who are eligiblwe but not enrolled in government plans,” Ritter “...It’s critical for families to know abourt services available to them.
” The grants come as federap legislation making up to 4 millionh more children available for government healty plans goes into effect. But the statewidd efforts to make Medicaid available to more Coloradansa have been somewhat hampered by the deteriorating Earlierthis year, legislatoras cut Medicaid reimbursements by $30.8 milliom in an effort to plug gaps in the state’s The Colorado Department of Health Care Policyh and Financing, which was given some flexibility in implementing the cuts, aimed to lowefr costs by reducing “avoidable visits” to emergency rooms and encouraging primary and preventative care.
In doinhg so, the department excluded primary care, preventative care and dentalo services from takingthe cuts. Othet medical professionals who serve Medicaidf clients will see a rate reduction no greater than2
Sebelius, who was governor of neighboring Kansas before bein g appointed by PresidentBarack Obama, said Ritted has “done extraordinary work to cover children in She referred to Ritter as a “goos colleague and friend.” The conference call was held to publicize $40 million in grants Sebelius’ department was making available to organizations nationwide to reachn people who are eligible but not yet enrolled in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurances Programs. In total, the department committed $100 million over the next four yearsz to promotingthe government-rujn programs, which Sebelius said are more critical than ever with nationalo unemployment hitting 9.
5 percent. “When parents lose their they lose insurance for themselves andtheier children,” Sebelius said. Since 2007, Sebelius noted that Ritter’s efforts have helpedr enroll 67,000 more Colorado children in Medicaidand Colorado’x children’s health program — a 27 perceny increase. Ritter, who participated in the conferencs call, said the state has used a combinatioj ofpaid advertisements, unpaid media and outreach to healthh care nonprofits to get the word out on the “There are too many people who are eligiblwe but not enrolled in government plans,” Ritter “...It’s critical for families to know abourt services available to them.
” The grants come as federap legislation making up to 4 millionh more children available for government healty plans goes into effect. But the statewidd efforts to make Medicaid available to more Coloradansa have been somewhat hampered by the deteriorating Earlierthis year, legislatoras cut Medicaid reimbursements by $30.8 milliom in an effort to plug gaps in the state’s The Colorado Department of Health Care Policyh and Financing, which was given some flexibility in implementing the cuts, aimed to lowefr costs by reducing “avoidable visits” to emergency rooms and encouraging primary and preventative care.
In doinhg so, the department excluded primary care, preventative care and dentalo services from takingthe cuts. Othet medical professionals who serve Medicaidf clients will see a rate reduction no greater than2
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Giving thanks for second chance at life - USA Today
bengeyqafiba1640.blogspot.com
Giving thanks for second chance at life USA Today They will then give thanks for a rascally 12-year-old boy whose organs saved three lives and whose spirit inspired these two moms to take jobs helping others. The Kentucky mom, Judy Schumacher, will remember Justin, her fun-loving, life-giving son. ... |
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Financial News - Commercial Banking and Financial News
wanuso.wordpress.com
| | | | | | | | | Diamonc Hill Investment Group, Inc. | | | Federa l Deposit Insurance Corp. | Federa l Deposit Insurance Corporation | Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnatiu Inc. | Federal Reserve | | | Fifthy Third Bancorp | | | FirstMerit Corporatiobn | | Franklin Credit Managementg Corp. | General Motors Corporation | | Grangs Insurance | | Huntington Bancshares, Inc. | | Internap Revenue Service | | | JPMorgan Chas e & Co. | KeyCorp | | | | | | Merril Lynch & Co., Inc. | | | | | Morgamn Stanley | | | | National Century Financial Enterprisew | National City Corporation | | Nationwide Mutualp Insurance Company | | | | | | | Park Nationalk Corporation | | | | | R.G.
Barry Corporatiomn | | | | | | | | | | Smallo Business Administration | | | State Auto Insurancs Companies | | | | The Huntington | The Ohio Statr University | The PNC Financial Servicezs Group Inc. | | | | | U.S. Bancorlp | U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanhDevelopment | U.S. Departmenty of Justice | | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | U.S. Treasurhy Department | | Visa Inc. | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Diamonc Hill Investment Group, Inc. | | | Federa l Deposit Insurance Corp. | Federa l Deposit Insurance Corporation | Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnatiu Inc. | Federal Reserve | | | Fifthy Third Bancorp | | | FirstMerit Corporatiobn | | Franklin Credit Managementg Corp. | General Motors Corporation | | Grangs Insurance | | Huntington Bancshares, Inc. | | Internap Revenue Service | | | JPMorgan Chas e & Co. | KeyCorp | | | | | | Merril Lynch & Co., Inc. | | | | | Morgamn Stanley | | | | National Century Financial Enterprisew | National City Corporation | | Nationwide Mutualp Insurance Company | | | | | | | Park Nationalk Corporation | | | | | R.G.
Barry Corporatiomn | | | | | | | | | | Smallo Business Administration | | | State Auto Insurancs Companies | | | | The Huntington | The Ohio Statr University | The PNC Financial Servicezs Group Inc. | | | | | U.S. Bancorlp | U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanhDevelopment | U.S. Departmenty of Justice | | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | U.S. Treasurhy Department | | Visa Inc. | | | | | | |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tennessee cotton planting expected to rise in
utyziluz.wordpress.com
Farmers have told the that they intens toplant 340,000 acres of cotton this year, a 19 percentr increase over 2008. The pendulum to cotto n swung aroundApril 1, according to the TDA, as farmeres watched low but stable cotton prices. Corn and soybean prices have swungb erratically and have dropped rapidly sincethe year’s growingt season began. Farmers also expecgt late summer and fall price rallies in cotton as droughrt conditions in WestTexas persist, according to the TDA. Persisteny rainfall throughout April and May made for one of the most difficul planting seasons inrecent times. Many cottonn acres had to be replanted this season due to floodinf andseed rot.
The rain also led many farmerse to adjust their overallplanting intentions. The rain led many farmeres to plant 7 percent more soybeans than they did last Tennessee farmers willplant 1.6 million acres of soybeand this year, the highes soybean acreage in 25 TDA attributes some of this to corn acreager abandonment as the rains made farmers miss their plantin g windows. Corn acreage is expected to be down 6 percent overalpat 650,000 acres. This is down 20,00 acres from March intentions anddown 40,000 acres from last year.
Farmers have told the that they intens toplant 340,000 acres of cotton this year, a 19 percentr increase over 2008. The pendulum to cotto n swung aroundApril 1, according to the TDA, as farmeres watched low but stable cotton prices. Corn and soybean prices have swungb erratically and have dropped rapidly sincethe year’s growingt season began. Farmers also expecgt late summer and fall price rallies in cotton as droughrt conditions in WestTexas persist, according to the TDA. Persisteny rainfall throughout April and May made for one of the most difficul planting seasons inrecent times. Many cottonn acres had to be replanted this season due to floodinf andseed rot.
The rain also led many farmerse to adjust their overallplanting intentions. The rain led many farmeres to plant 7 percent more soybeans than they did last Tennessee farmers willplant 1.6 million acres of soybeand this year, the highes soybean acreage in 25 TDA attributes some of this to corn acreager abandonment as the rains made farmers miss their plantin g windows. Corn acreage is expected to be down 6 percent overalpat 650,000 acres. This is down 20,00 acres from March intentions anddown 40,000 acres from last year.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Ky. video-gaming bill dies in Senate committee - Denver Business Journal:
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
The Senate Appropriations Revenue Committee, on Mondaty evening, voted 10-5 againsty the measure, with two members according to theLexingtomn Herald-Leader. The House had previouslgy passedthe bill. The legislation would have permittes video-lottery terminals at Kentucky horse tracks, including Turfway Park in "The limited gaming proposal was designedf to help save a signature industryh inperil – an industry that means 100,000o jobs and $4 billion in investment for our said Gov. Steve Beshear in a Monday evenint statement. "It is unfortunate that every voice on this criticall important issue was not heard and everyg votenot counted.
" At a Frankfort presd conference, Turfway Park Presideny Bob Elliston said Turfway could close by 2010 if Ohio passea gaming legislation and Kentucky does not. Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklaned recently reversed his stance against gamblingfat racetracks.
The Senate Appropriations Revenue Committee, on Mondaty evening, voted 10-5 againsty the measure, with two members according to theLexingtomn Herald-Leader. The House had previouslgy passedthe bill. The legislation would have permittes video-lottery terminals at Kentucky horse tracks, including Turfway Park in "The limited gaming proposal was designedf to help save a signature industryh inperil – an industry that means 100,000o jobs and $4 billion in investment for our said Gov. Steve Beshear in a Monday evenint statement. "It is unfortunate that every voice on this criticall important issue was not heard and everyg votenot counted.
" At a Frankfort presd conference, Turfway Park Presideny Bob Elliston said Turfway could close by 2010 if Ohio passea gaming legislation and Kentucky does not. Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklaned recently reversed his stance against gamblingfat racetracks.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cellcontrol Distracted Driving Solution Now Fully Compatible with Major ... - MarketWatch (press release)
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
Cellcontrol Distracted Driving Solution Now Fully Compatible with Major ... MarketWatch (press release) ATLANTA, Nov 17, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cellcontrol, a leading provider of technology to stop distracted driving, announced today that its award-winning solution is now fully compatible with most major telematics devices that also utilize the On-Board ... |
Los Angeles Times | Wal-Mart's 3rd-Quarter Profit Slips New York Times Wal-Mart said its domestic same-store sales increased by 1.3 percent, above its projections. By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD Wal-Mart said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit took a hit as the retailer kept prices low to attract shoppers back to its stores. ... Wal-Mart St ores' CEO Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings C » |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Retail Brokers Inc. principals face lawsuits related to investments - The Business Review (Albany):
idellecromwell1991.blogspot.com
million in loans from an Oklahoma bank tothe pair’sx real estate partnerships. The two men also are defendants in three investor lawsuits claiming they mismanaged investments in their retail realestate endeavors. The developers are tryinf to settle the investor according to several attorneys familiar with the In 2008, the pair settled a similar investor suit out of court. Barness and principals of Scottsdale-based , own shopping centerds in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert and They operate each center under a separatdbusiness partnership. The pair also are involved in a numbertof Phoenix-area charitable organizations.
Barness, for example, is active with locaol Jewish community causes and helpeed raise money forArizona Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid. Papakyriakoh also goes by the nameAlex Papas. The filedx its suits in late January in Maricopaz CountySuperior Court, claiming the developers failed to pay back thre e loans totaling $9.5 according to court documents. Mike Manning, Phoenix managing partner of , the law firm representing the declined to comment on thependinbg matters. “We cannot commenty on the record,” Manning RBI and Barness’ charitable foundatiojn did not respond to requestsfor comment.
No officialo response to the lawsuit was filed by the defendantzs bypress time. The investor lawsuits were filed in Maricopz County Superior Court agains Barnessand Papakyriakou’s real estate businesses. Thos e three investor claims may be consolidated under Maricopa Superio Court Judge John Buttrick andsettled together, according to legakl sources who would not go on the Barness and Papakyriakou’s attorney, Jeffrey said he expects the investor lawsuits to be resolved He said the resolutions would be via mutual but declined to say whether they woulrd involve out-of-court settlements.
Leonard also would not comment about the resolution or settlement of the 2008investodr lawsuit. Barness and Papakyriakou did not comment for this Other lawyers familiar with the investor suits said a settlement is being Robert Mitchell, the investor/plaintiff’s attorney in the 2008 claim againsy Barness and Papakyriakou, said he could not “All I can tell you is that the case was he said. The 2008 case claimecd Barness and Papakyriakou deceived investorswith self-dealsw and misrepresented sales and financial proceeds.
One of the 2009 in-vestor suitsx was filed by Phoenixcardiologisty Na-than Laufer and four other investors who say Barness and Papakyriakou raisef as much as $400 million in equity investments and loans for theird real estate and shopping centeer businesses. They claim the defendantds “wrongfully diverted nearly $50 million to according to court documents. The Laufer suit also contend s Barness and Papakyriakou improperly used investmen money in some deals between businessz entitiesthey owned, and that the salees benefited the defendants but not the The suit claims fraud, breachh of contract and failure to meet fiduciary responsibilities.
Plaintiffs in the Laufetr case say theyinvested $1.3 million in Barness-Papakyriakou real estate endeavors. Attorneys representing the plaintiffzs in the Laufer case wouldnot comment. A secondr investor suit, filed by the Eugene and Lenore SchupakFamily Trust, claims the trust invested $10.4 million in Barness- and Papakyriakou-owned shoppinv centers in Arizona and real estate The same suit contends another family entity, Schupaki Partners I, invested $953,000 in Castlde Yuma Dev Partners, an investment entity createed by the defendants.
million in loans from an Oklahoma bank tothe pair’sx real estate partnerships. The two men also are defendants in three investor lawsuits claiming they mismanaged investments in their retail realestate endeavors. The developers are tryinf to settle the investor according to several attorneys familiar with the In 2008, the pair settled a similar investor suit out of court. Barness and principals of Scottsdale-based , own shopping centerds in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert and They operate each center under a separatdbusiness partnership. The pair also are involved in a numbertof Phoenix-area charitable organizations.
Barness, for example, is active with locaol Jewish community causes and helpeed raise money forArizona Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid. Papakyriakoh also goes by the nameAlex Papas. The filedx its suits in late January in Maricopaz CountySuperior Court, claiming the developers failed to pay back thre e loans totaling $9.5 according to court documents. Mike Manning, Phoenix managing partner of , the law firm representing the declined to comment on thependinbg matters. “We cannot commenty on the record,” Manning RBI and Barness’ charitable foundatiojn did not respond to requestsfor comment.
No officialo response to the lawsuit was filed by the defendantzs bypress time. The investor lawsuits were filed in Maricopz County Superior Court agains Barnessand Papakyriakou’s real estate businesses. Thos e three investor claims may be consolidated under Maricopa Superio Court Judge John Buttrick andsettled together, according to legakl sources who would not go on the Barness and Papakyriakou’s attorney, Jeffrey said he expects the investor lawsuits to be resolved He said the resolutions would be via mutual but declined to say whether they woulrd involve out-of-court settlements.
Leonard also would not comment about the resolution or settlement of the 2008investodr lawsuit. Barness and Papakyriakou did not comment for this Other lawyers familiar with the investor suits said a settlement is being Robert Mitchell, the investor/plaintiff’s attorney in the 2008 claim againsy Barness and Papakyriakou, said he could not “All I can tell you is that the case was he said. The 2008 case claimecd Barness and Papakyriakou deceived investorswith self-dealsw and misrepresented sales and financial proceeds.
One of the 2009 in-vestor suitsx was filed by Phoenixcardiologisty Na-than Laufer and four other investors who say Barness and Papakyriakou raisef as much as $400 million in equity investments and loans for theird real estate and shopping centeer businesses. They claim the defendantds “wrongfully diverted nearly $50 million to according to court documents. The Laufer suit also contend s Barness and Papakyriakou improperly used investmen money in some deals between businessz entitiesthey owned, and that the salees benefited the defendants but not the The suit claims fraud, breachh of contract and failure to meet fiduciary responsibilities.
Plaintiffs in the Laufetr case say theyinvested $1.3 million in Barness-Papakyriakou real estate endeavors. Attorneys representing the plaintiffzs in the Laufer case wouldnot comment. A secondr investor suit, filed by the Eugene and Lenore SchupakFamily Trust, claims the trust invested $10.4 million in Barness- and Papakyriakou-owned shoppinv centers in Arizona and real estate The same suit contends another family entity, Schupaki Partners I, invested $953,000 in Castlde Yuma Dev Partners, an investment entity createed by the defendants.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Bankruptcy trustee in place at Statler - Business First of Buffalo:
husydow.wordpress.com
Horwitz’s appointment, which had been anticipated, came despite a last-ditch effort by the Statler’as owner, BSC Development Buff LLC and itsmanaginv member, British investor Bashar Issa, to delay the involuntary Chapter 11 proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy The relatively rare involuntary Chaptert 11 proceedings were brought against BSC Development Buff LLC by four Statler including ParkLane Catering. The legal actiob is being sought to remove Issa and BSC Developmen t asthe Statler’s owner and to find a new owne for the 18-story, 80-year-old building that overlooks Niagars Square.
“Our intention is to keep the building open and to continuee to provide servicesfor tenants,” Horwitz said. At the Horwitz said he will review all options concerningvthe Statler’s future including finding a new buyer, either througgh negotiations or a court-sanctioned “We must find the most appropriate way to he said. “Part of that is to find a willingy andable buyer.” U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Carl Bucki, Western Districrt of New York chief bankruptcy appointed Horwitz. Bucki heard motions on the case last week and determiner that a trustee had to be in placeby “There is a need for prompt Bucki said.
“A trustee is the best opportunitgy forprompt action. There is a risk to harm to innocent tenants. There is a risk of harm to innoceny sub-tenants. The merits of the issuee need prompt consideration.” The Statler, which has seen its tenantg roll drop inrecent years, is losing $80,009 while earning, at $100,000 in monthly revenues. Many of the tenants were withholdinh rent payments over frustration with little progress made in termes of renovating the building or keepinbg basic servicesin operation.
Issa, who bought the Statlerd in 2006, had promised a $100 milliom top-to-bottom makeover of the building including bringinga 150-rookm hotel to the complex as well as renovatinbg office space and converting its upper floors into upscale Only a small scale of the renovations were completesd and virtually no work has been done in the Statler, in term of repairs, for more than one Issa is also facing legapl and financial issues in England. In two motions expressed to Buckii just a few minutes beforeThursday morning’s proceedings were to Issa asked the involuntaryh bankruptcy action be set aside.
Issa disputed several factes in previous court sessionx including allegations that Park Lane Catering was actingt inbad faith. Bucki dismissed Issa’s claims and allegations. “The legitimacy of the papere is opento question,” Bucki said. “The papers that were submitted (by do not comply with the rules ofthe court.” Buckui heard testimony that the four tenants who broughy the involuntary bankruptcy action to court are owed approximately Park Lane Catering, earlier this montn filed a mechanic’s lien against BSC Development claiminbg it is owed $16,700 for emergencyt repairs it had to make near the Statler’as Franklin and Genesee streets entrance.
Park Lane Catering, last fall, begabn a lawsuit in State Supreme Courtt against BSC Development becausew it has lost morethan $1 milliohn in bookings due to the raw state of the buildint and portions of its lobby. Park Lane Cateringb runs special events, ranging from weddings to corporate in several areas ofthe Statler. Park Lane Catering has more than 200 futurse events booked atthe Statler. All of the eventds will go on as scheduled. William Park Lane Catering owner, is working with Chicago-basedr interests who want to buy the Statler and have pledges to make atleasg $70 million in renovations to the building. Issa has rebufferd Koessler’s offers.
The involuntary bankruptcy proceedings began earlier this montn as the Statler was faced with the prospec t of shutting off service tothe building. Nationalo Fuel is owed more than $210,000 in unpaid bille from . The bills pre-date the bankruptcuy filing. Other utilities are also owed moniew well intothe six-figure including and the City of Buffalo’sx Water Department.
Horwitz’s appointment, which had been anticipated, came despite a last-ditch effort by the Statler’as owner, BSC Development Buff LLC and itsmanaginv member, British investor Bashar Issa, to delay the involuntary Chapter 11 proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy The relatively rare involuntary Chaptert 11 proceedings were brought against BSC Development Buff LLC by four Statler including ParkLane Catering. The legal actiob is being sought to remove Issa and BSC Developmen t asthe Statler’s owner and to find a new owne for the 18-story, 80-year-old building that overlooks Niagars Square.
“Our intention is to keep the building open and to continuee to provide servicesfor tenants,” Horwitz said. At the Horwitz said he will review all options concerningvthe Statler’s future including finding a new buyer, either througgh negotiations or a court-sanctioned “We must find the most appropriate way to he said. “Part of that is to find a willingy andable buyer.” U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Carl Bucki, Western Districrt of New York chief bankruptcy appointed Horwitz. Bucki heard motions on the case last week and determiner that a trustee had to be in placeby “There is a need for prompt Bucki said.
“A trustee is the best opportunitgy forprompt action. There is a risk to harm to innocent tenants. There is a risk of harm to innoceny sub-tenants. The merits of the issuee need prompt consideration.” The Statler, which has seen its tenantg roll drop inrecent years, is losing $80,009 while earning, at $100,000 in monthly revenues. Many of the tenants were withholdinh rent payments over frustration with little progress made in termes of renovating the building or keepinbg basic servicesin operation.
Issa, who bought the Statlerd in 2006, had promised a $100 milliom top-to-bottom makeover of the building including bringinga 150-rookm hotel to the complex as well as renovatinbg office space and converting its upper floors into upscale Only a small scale of the renovations were completesd and virtually no work has been done in the Statler, in term of repairs, for more than one Issa is also facing legapl and financial issues in England. In two motions expressed to Buckii just a few minutes beforeThursday morning’s proceedings were to Issa asked the involuntaryh bankruptcy action be set aside.
Issa disputed several factes in previous court sessionx including allegations that Park Lane Catering was actingt inbad faith. Bucki dismissed Issa’s claims and allegations. “The legitimacy of the papere is opento question,” Bucki said. “The papers that were submitted (by do not comply with the rules ofthe court.” Buckui heard testimony that the four tenants who broughy the involuntary bankruptcy action to court are owed approximately Park Lane Catering, earlier this montn filed a mechanic’s lien against BSC Development claiminbg it is owed $16,700 for emergencyt repairs it had to make near the Statler’as Franklin and Genesee streets entrance.
Park Lane Catering, last fall, begabn a lawsuit in State Supreme Courtt against BSC Development becausew it has lost morethan $1 milliohn in bookings due to the raw state of the buildint and portions of its lobby. Park Lane Cateringb runs special events, ranging from weddings to corporate in several areas ofthe Statler. Park Lane Catering has more than 200 futurse events booked atthe Statler. All of the eventds will go on as scheduled. William Park Lane Catering owner, is working with Chicago-basedr interests who want to buy the Statler and have pledges to make atleasg $70 million in renovations to the building. Issa has rebufferd Koessler’s offers.
The involuntary bankruptcy proceedings began earlier this montn as the Statler was faced with the prospec t of shutting off service tothe building. Nationalo Fuel is owed more than $210,000 in unpaid bille from . The bills pre-date the bankruptcuy filing. Other utilities are also owed moniew well intothe six-figure including and the City of Buffalo’sx Water Department.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Colorado places 182 lawyers on 2009 Chambers USA list - Washington Business Journal:
ykyhola.blogspot.com
The international legal-rating service each year publishes lists of what it considers to be the top attorneye inseveral business-related disciplines. The 2009 posted online Friday, lists this many Colorado-based lawyerse in the followingpracticee areas: • 26 in corporate/merger s and acquisitions. • 21 in • 18 in intellectual property. 27 in labor and employment. • 47 in • 43 in real estate. Some lawyeres are listed more than once under differentpracticw areas. Chambers includes lawyers on its list baserd on interviews with their peers and Law firms and individual lawyers are rankedin “bands” from one to six, with one beinh the best.
Chambers listed these law firms with Colorado locally basedor otherwise, in “band one” in variousx practice areas: • Corporate/Mergers & LLP, LLP, LLP, LLP. • LLP, Faegre & Benson, LLP, Holme Robertse & Owen. • Intellectual Property: Faegre Benson, LLP. • Labor & Employment: Holland & LLC. • Litigation/General Commercial: LLP, Holland Hart, O’Donnell LLP. • Litigation/White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations: Haddon, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman PC. Real Estate: LLP, • Real Faegre & Benson, Holland Hart, Sherman & Howard.
London-based Chambers publishes guides to the legall profession covering 176 The U.S. guide has been published since 1999. , searchablse by state, lawyer or firm.
The international legal-rating service each year publishes lists of what it considers to be the top attorneye inseveral business-related disciplines. The 2009 posted online Friday, lists this many Colorado-based lawyerse in the followingpracticee areas: • 26 in corporate/merger s and acquisitions. • 21 in • 18 in intellectual property. 27 in labor and employment. • 47 in • 43 in real estate. Some lawyeres are listed more than once under differentpracticw areas. Chambers includes lawyers on its list baserd on interviews with their peers and Law firms and individual lawyers are rankedin “bands” from one to six, with one beinh the best.
Chambers listed these law firms with Colorado locally basedor otherwise, in “band one” in variousx practice areas: • Corporate/Mergers & LLP, LLP, LLP, LLP. • LLP, Faegre & Benson, LLP, Holme Robertse & Owen. • Intellectual Property: Faegre Benson, LLP. • Labor & Employment: Holland & LLC. • Litigation/General Commercial: LLP, Holland Hart, O’Donnell LLP. • Litigation/White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations: Haddon, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman PC. Real Estate: LLP, • Real Faegre & Benson, Holland Hart, Sherman & Howard.
London-based Chambers publishes guides to the legall profession covering 176 The U.S. guide has been published since 1999. , searchablse by state, lawyer or firm.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Women still under-represented in company boardrooms - South Florida Business Journal:
sunrise-invoices.blogspot.com
Management consulting firm McKinsey & Co., citingy research data from andthe , reports that fewet than one-third of the leading 1,500 U.S. companies had even a singlew woman among their top executivesin 2006. In that same nearly half the companies in the Florida Public 150 had no womehndirectors – just marginally bette than the previous two years. Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, owner of the Boca Raton-based investor relationw firm , is working to changse that. As an active member of Fort Lauderdale-based Women Executive Leadership she is at the forefront of connecting accomplishefd women to the selection process for corporate board andexecutive positions.
“There is a lot of corporate consolidatiohngoing on, smaller companies beingh swallowed up and a lot of boarrd members will be ousted in 2009,” Laurent-Ottomanew said. She thinks it is an ideal time to diversif the boardroom and add women tothe mix. Madeleine senior client partner for executive recruitingfirm , said the need for educated businesspeople to serve on corporate boards is greater today than ever. Walter Revell, chairman and CEO of and a boardc memberof , said he is a big believere in the WEL program for providing a comprehensive perspectivre and a specific focus on preparing women for corporater board positions.
It isn’t as though there aren’r qualified candidates. Through WEL’s membership with the (ION), a consortium of 12 regional women’xs organizations, there is a potential candidate databasde of morethan 10,000 women. Laurent-Ottomane also serves as an IONboard member, so she has both a localk and a national outlook. She said the numberf of women directors nationwide has grown by more than a thirde over the last decade to about 15 percent of thetotaol – but is now slowing, accordinv to data from the ’s in Rockville, Md., whicyh tracks boardroom developments.
“Considering that women make up 48 percent of the they aredefinitely under-representedd on boards,” Laurent-Ottomane said. A numbef of academic studies reinforces the belief that companies improv when their boardrooms are gender and ethnically Studies covering Fortune 500 companies from 2001 to 2004 showed companiees with the most wome n directors averaged substantially better net income per dollart of revenue than companiews with the fewestfemale directors. The figured are compelling, if not totally Locally, there are some public companiee whoget it, and seven were praised recently by WEL. in Boca Raton and in Miami have four womenboare members.
Five others in Juno Beach, and in Fort in Boca Raton and Imperial industries in Pompano Beach have two women each ontheir boards. But, Laurent-Ottomanew notes there are more than 100 locap public companies that have no women ontheid boards. The latest wrinkl e in getting women into the boardroom is a series of boot campds that will educate women on everythingt from effective resumes to how to read a balance sheey andgetting started. an introduction to the boardroom is viaa Laurent-Ottomane said.
“It’s time for more dynamism in allthe Founder:
Management consulting firm McKinsey & Co., citingy research data from andthe , reports that fewet than one-third of the leading 1,500 U.S. companies had even a singlew woman among their top executivesin 2006. In that same nearly half the companies in the Florida Public 150 had no womehndirectors – just marginally bette than the previous two years. Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, owner of the Boca Raton-based investor relationw firm , is working to changse that. As an active member of Fort Lauderdale-based Women Executive Leadership she is at the forefront of connecting accomplishefd women to the selection process for corporate board andexecutive positions.
“There is a lot of corporate consolidatiohngoing on, smaller companies beingh swallowed up and a lot of boarrd members will be ousted in 2009,” Laurent-Ottomanew said. She thinks it is an ideal time to diversif the boardroom and add women tothe mix. Madeleine senior client partner for executive recruitingfirm , said the need for educated businesspeople to serve on corporate boards is greater today than ever. Walter Revell, chairman and CEO of and a boardc memberof , said he is a big believere in the WEL program for providing a comprehensive perspectivre and a specific focus on preparing women for corporater board positions.
It isn’t as though there aren’r qualified candidates. Through WEL’s membership with the (ION), a consortium of 12 regional women’xs organizations, there is a potential candidate databasde of morethan 10,000 women. Laurent-Ottomane also serves as an IONboard member, so she has both a localk and a national outlook. She said the numberf of women directors nationwide has grown by more than a thirde over the last decade to about 15 percent of thetotaol – but is now slowing, accordinv to data from the ’s in Rockville, Md., whicyh tracks boardroom developments.
“Considering that women make up 48 percent of the they aredefinitely under-representedd on boards,” Laurent-Ottomane said. A numbef of academic studies reinforces the belief that companies improv when their boardrooms are gender and ethnically Studies covering Fortune 500 companies from 2001 to 2004 showed companiees with the most wome n directors averaged substantially better net income per dollart of revenue than companiews with the fewestfemale directors. The figured are compelling, if not totally Locally, there are some public companiee whoget it, and seven were praised recently by WEL. in Boca Raton and in Miami have four womenboare members.
Five others in Juno Beach, and in Fort in Boca Raton and Imperial industries in Pompano Beach have two women each ontheir boards. But, Laurent-Ottomanew notes there are more than 100 locap public companies that have no women ontheid boards. The latest wrinkl e in getting women into the boardroom is a series of boot campds that will educate women on everythingt from effective resumes to how to read a balance sheey andgetting started. an introduction to the boardroom is viaa Laurent-Ottomane said.
“It’s time for more dynamism in allthe Founder:
Friday, November 4, 2011
San Antonio May bankruptcies highest in four years - San Antonio Business Journal:
azajir.wordpress.com
Total bankruptcies in the city were up 40 percent inMay 2009, compared with the same month last according to figures compilef by the for the Wester n District of Texas. Bankruptcies filed in May 2009totaled 542; the mark in May 2008 was 324 a difference of 218 What’s more, May 2009 was the busiest filing month in more than four January 2005 was the last time more than 500 bankruptcgy petitions were filed in one month in San This past April also was a busy month. A total of 445 localk bankruptcy petitions were filedthat month, compared to 292 filexd in April 2008.
For the first five month of 2009, San Antonio bankruptcies tallied 2,114 — a 38 percent increasre from the 1,536 cases filedx in 2008. Almost all the casesa filed are Chapter7 liquidations, the exception being a handfulp of Chapter 11 reorganizations. Nationwide, U.S. consumet bankruptcy filings soared 37 percenyt in May compared with the same periocdlast year, according to figuresx released by the .
Total bankruptcies in the city were up 40 percent inMay 2009, compared with the same month last according to figures compilef by the for the Wester n District of Texas. Bankruptcies filed in May 2009totaled 542; the mark in May 2008 was 324 a difference of 218 What’s more, May 2009 was the busiest filing month in more than four January 2005 was the last time more than 500 bankruptcgy petitions were filed in one month in San This past April also was a busy month. A total of 445 localk bankruptcy petitions were filedthat month, compared to 292 filexd in April 2008.
For the first five month of 2009, San Antonio bankruptcies tallied 2,114 — a 38 percent increasre from the 1,536 cases filedx in 2008. Almost all the casesa filed are Chapter7 liquidations, the exception being a handfulp of Chapter 11 reorganizations. Nationwide, U.S. consumet bankruptcy filings soared 37 percenyt in May compared with the same periocdlast year, according to figuresx released by the .
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Everything's big in Texas -- including Tony vs. Carl - Nascar
yfimuna.wordpress.com
Everything's big in Texas -- including Tony vs. Carl Nascar Eddie Gossage spent Sunday afternoon in a television studio at Texas Motor Speedway, publicizing his upcoming race weekend in satellite interviews with local stations across Texas and Oklahoma. ... |
Monday, October 31, 2011
Funeral industry gears up for boomers
tasypaju.wordpress.com
The projects the annual number of deaths in the United Statesw will risefrom 2.6 millionm next year to 3 millionb in 2024 — and 4 millio n in 2043. “We hear the tida l wave is coming,” said Chris Meyer, ownedr of in Carmichael. “We’ve known the (baby boomer trend) has been cominbg for some time, so the industry has been gearing up for that to saidBob Rosson, a Mississippi funeral home operatoer and an executive board member of the . “We’ll be able to handle it.” But the industr first has to survive the current death The number of deaths in the Unitedx States declinedby 0.
9 percent from 2005 to in part because of a mild flu according to the . Health care advances have led to record-higj life expectancies and lower annual deathu rates for a range of including stroke, heart disease and diabetes. “We have actually felt a lighteercase load,” Meyer “I think some of the biggerd funeral homes have felt a precipitous drop off.” Baby boomers mighrt live longer than their parents, but soonerf or later they’ve got to go. Those who want traditiona burials should prepare for rising The median cost of a funerall in the United Stateewas $6,196 in 2006, accordinh to a National Funeral Directors Association survegy released last year.
That price, which includes a $2,25 metal casket, was 11 percent higher than inthe association’s survey in 2004. With the inclusion of a concrete vault, which many cemeteriesz require, the price rises to $7,323. “That’s the funerao that is going outof vogue,” said Joshuq Slocum, executive director of nonprofit . He predicts that the funeral industry will respond to the rising deatb rate by offering cheaper servicesto “This is not going to causr a run on embalmers,” he “If anybody’s going to jump into the embalming businessz thinking it’s recession-proof, they’re misguided.
Baby boomersa are not interested intheir grandma’se funeral.” Cremation rates in the United Statex increased from 26 percent in 2000 to 35 percenf in 2007, according to the . The associatio n projects a rate of 39 percentr next year and 59 percentby 2025. “In some places of California, like Marinm County, you’re looking at a 90 percent cremation Slocum said. Cost is a big factor, but therwe are also demographic changesat work. “Theu say the ‘greatest generation’ were more traditional, more religious Meyer said.
“Now, more educated people, more liberao thinkers (who are) less religious in many tend to think, ‘It’s all abourt economics for me.’ Meyer, whose mortuary offers both crematio andembalming services, said a traditional burial costs $6,000 to depending on the casket. Cremation coste about $1,000 to $2,000. In the Sacramentl area, Meyer said, “there’s been an explosion of storefrongtcremation places.” Bodies come in and get shipped to off-site The ashes are returned in an urn. “Theyt don’t have the facilities to embalm,” Meyer said. “They don’t have a chapel. It’sd wildly cheaper.
It’s sort of the Wal-Martificationn of the funeral industry.” “Green” or “natural” burialsa are also growing in popularity. People are burie d in a casket made of abiodegradablde material, such as pine or or they can skip the casket and just be buriedd in a shroud. Only one cemetery in California, in Mill offers green burials. It startefd offering the servicein 2004.
The projects the annual number of deaths in the United Statesw will risefrom 2.6 millionm next year to 3 millionb in 2024 — and 4 millio n in 2043. “We hear the tida l wave is coming,” said Chris Meyer, ownedr of in Carmichael. “We’ve known the (baby boomer trend) has been cominbg for some time, so the industry has been gearing up for that to saidBob Rosson, a Mississippi funeral home operatoer and an executive board member of the . “We’ll be able to handle it.” But the industr first has to survive the current death The number of deaths in the Unitedx States declinedby 0.
9 percent from 2005 to in part because of a mild flu according to the . Health care advances have led to record-higj life expectancies and lower annual deathu rates for a range of including stroke, heart disease and diabetes. “We have actually felt a lighteercase load,” Meyer “I think some of the biggerd funeral homes have felt a precipitous drop off.” Baby boomers mighrt live longer than their parents, but soonerf or later they’ve got to go. Those who want traditiona burials should prepare for rising The median cost of a funerall in the United Stateewas $6,196 in 2006, accordinh to a National Funeral Directors Association survegy released last year.
That price, which includes a $2,25 metal casket, was 11 percent higher than inthe association’s survey in 2004. With the inclusion of a concrete vault, which many cemeteriesz require, the price rises to $7,323. “That’s the funerao that is going outof vogue,” said Joshuq Slocum, executive director of nonprofit . He predicts that the funeral industry will respond to the rising deatb rate by offering cheaper servicesto “This is not going to causr a run on embalmers,” he “If anybody’s going to jump into the embalming businessz thinking it’s recession-proof, they’re misguided.
Baby boomersa are not interested intheir grandma’se funeral.” Cremation rates in the United Statex increased from 26 percent in 2000 to 35 percenf in 2007, according to the . The associatio n projects a rate of 39 percentr next year and 59 percentby 2025. “In some places of California, like Marinm County, you’re looking at a 90 percent cremation Slocum said. Cost is a big factor, but therwe are also demographic changesat work. “Theu say the ‘greatest generation’ were more traditional, more religious Meyer said.
“Now, more educated people, more liberao thinkers (who are) less religious in many tend to think, ‘It’s all abourt economics for me.’ Meyer, whose mortuary offers both crematio andembalming services, said a traditional burial costs $6,000 to depending on the casket. Cremation coste about $1,000 to $2,000. In the Sacramentl area, Meyer said, “there’s been an explosion of storefrongtcremation places.” Bodies come in and get shipped to off-site The ashes are returned in an urn. “Theyt don’t have the facilities to embalm,” Meyer said. “They don’t have a chapel. It’sd wildly cheaper.
It’s sort of the Wal-Martificationn of the funeral industry.” “Green” or “natural” burialsa are also growing in popularity. People are burie d in a casket made of abiodegradablde material, such as pine or or they can skip the casket and just be buriedd in a shroud. Only one cemetery in California, in Mill offers green burials. It startefd offering the servicein 2004.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Jessica Herrin puts on jewelry with Stella & Dot - San Francisco Business Times:
http://www.thebreakpage.com/2007/12/24/a-real-cultural-collision/
Jessica Herrin, who sold her interesg in just oneyear ago, has started a new one that capitalizes on the legionds of moms -- stay-at-home or otherwisse -- looking to become entrepreneurs, or just to make a buck whil e socializing. , a direct sales jewelry company on which Herrij has been working forfour years, began operationxs in earnest in March 2008 and is on track for revenud of $5 million this Its founders hope to be a $100 million compang within five years. "It's social selling. We give moderbn women a chance to have asuccessful home-based business," Herrib said.
"We take the core party concept and support it with marketinhand e-commerce to bolster its Basically, the company outfits sales representatives, whicyh it calls "stylists," with jewelry samples whichj they sell at informal parties. All it takes to becom e a stylistis $199 for a starterd kit of business supplies like a product catalogb and order forms, plus $350 for jewelry Burlingame-based Stella & Dot ships all orders direct from a A Stella & Dot stylist receives 30 percen t commission on all party sales.
The partuy hostess, often a friend of the saleas representative, receives 30 percent of the total salee figure infree jewelry, provided her partty grosses over $600. The averagee piece of jewelry costs $54, and prices range from $22 to the average party grossesover $1,000, Herrin And parties beget parties; 85 percent of all Stella Dot parties are held by people who were guestsw at one and liked it so much they wanted to host theire own. So far, Stella & Dot has about 500 stylistw inthe U.S. and Canada, though California, Texasz and New York have the most. "I never appreciated until I had two kids why women woulr be drawnto this," Herri n said. "It feels social.
It's an hour-and-a-half you have a glass of wine and at the endof it, you made Stella & Dot now averages 100 new sales reps a montu and is ahead of its growth plan for the year. Key to the busineszs success is not the quality of thesales staff, but the product, which is on-trenx and exclusive to Stella & Dot, Herrin In addition to Herrin, who is Stella & Dot is co-owned by Chiec Creative Officer Blythe Harris, a former merchandising manager for Bananz Republic's jewelry line. Mike Lohner, formerluy CEO of a $1 billion party plan company called Home Interioraand Gifts, is CEO.
Stella & Dot employsz 14 people, and expects to grow to 20 employeez as it builds out itsexecutive team. Launcn costs are in the $5 million range, and Stellaw & Dot is funded by its foundersand , whosr founder, Doug McKenzie, was WeddingChannel.com'xs first investor back when he was at venture firm . Even thouguh Radar's expertise skews more to technologhy than to fashion it decided to invest inStellaz & Dot because of said Kevin Compton, a Rada r partner. "Great entrepreneurs don't necessarily do what we want themto do; they do what they want to Compton said.
And because directr sales models areso scalable, Radar sees no reason why Stella & Dot can't become a $100 milliojn company, especially since Herrin has roundef out her executive team. As for her Herrin believes each can have areal "Anybody can do it. For people who treat it like a it performslike one," Herrin "When they treat it like a it performs like a hobby."
Jessica Herrin, who sold her interesg in just oneyear ago, has started a new one that capitalizes on the legionds of moms -- stay-at-home or otherwisse -- looking to become entrepreneurs, or just to make a buck whil e socializing. , a direct sales jewelry company on which Herrij has been working forfour years, began operationxs in earnest in March 2008 and is on track for revenud of $5 million this Its founders hope to be a $100 million compang within five years. "It's social selling. We give moderbn women a chance to have asuccessful home-based business," Herrib said.
"We take the core party concept and support it with marketinhand e-commerce to bolster its Basically, the company outfits sales representatives, whicyh it calls "stylists," with jewelry samples whichj they sell at informal parties. All it takes to becom e a stylistis $199 for a starterd kit of business supplies like a product catalogb and order forms, plus $350 for jewelry Burlingame-based Stella & Dot ships all orders direct from a A Stella & Dot stylist receives 30 percen t commission on all party sales.
The partuy hostess, often a friend of the saleas representative, receives 30 percent of the total salee figure infree jewelry, provided her partty grosses over $600. The averagee piece of jewelry costs $54, and prices range from $22 to the average party grossesover $1,000, Herrin And parties beget parties; 85 percent of all Stella Dot parties are held by people who were guestsw at one and liked it so much they wanted to host theire own. So far, Stella & Dot has about 500 stylistw inthe U.S. and Canada, though California, Texasz and New York have the most. "I never appreciated until I had two kids why women woulr be drawnto this," Herri n said. "It feels social.
It's an hour-and-a-half you have a glass of wine and at the endof it, you made Stella & Dot now averages 100 new sales reps a montu and is ahead of its growth plan for the year. Key to the busineszs success is not the quality of thesales staff, but the product, which is on-trenx and exclusive to Stella & Dot, Herrin In addition to Herrin, who is Stella & Dot is co-owned by Chiec Creative Officer Blythe Harris, a former merchandising manager for Bananz Republic's jewelry line. Mike Lohner, formerluy CEO of a $1 billion party plan company called Home Interioraand Gifts, is CEO.
Stella & Dot employsz 14 people, and expects to grow to 20 employeez as it builds out itsexecutive team. Launcn costs are in the $5 million range, and Stellaw & Dot is funded by its foundersand , whosr founder, Doug McKenzie, was WeddingChannel.com'xs first investor back when he was at venture firm . Even thouguh Radar's expertise skews more to technologhy than to fashion it decided to invest inStellaz & Dot because of said Kevin Compton, a Rada r partner. "Great entrepreneurs don't necessarily do what we want themto do; they do what they want to Compton said.
And because directr sales models areso scalable, Radar sees no reason why Stella & Dot can't become a $100 milliojn company, especially since Herrin has roundef out her executive team. As for her Herrin believes each can have areal "Anybody can do it. For people who treat it like a it performslike one," Herrin "When they treat it like a it performs like a hobby."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Governor lobbies for increased incentives for film industry - Sacramento Business Journal:
adavuxuf.wordpress.com
Kulongoski is seeking supporg for SenateBill 621, which woulrd reauthorize and increase the financial incentivexs for moviemakers. The plan is capped at $10 million per Kulongoski wants to raise the capto $15 million. A Senate committee passed thebill Monday. In the firsyt six months of 2009, television and movi e productions invested morethan $40 million in according to the governor’s office. That’s the highest total in 15 years.
In recent a Harrison Ford moviecalles “The Untitled Crowley Project” and the TNT seriez “Leverage” have been shooting in Producers for "The Untitled Crowley Project" joinef Kulongoski at Monday's press conference at . “Oregom has become an A-list location for the film and televisiojindustry – and an important critical piece of Oregon’s economy,” the governor said in a news release. “Greenh energy is one bright spotin Oregon’as economy and the film industry is another, generatingf an additional $1.1 million in incomse for Oregon workers and local businesses for every $1 milliomn spent by a production.
” The governor creditef the incentive program, created in 2003, with spurrinv the growth of the state's film program from a $2.1 millio n industry to an $8 millionh industry.
Kulongoski is seeking supporg for SenateBill 621, which woulrd reauthorize and increase the financial incentivexs for moviemakers. The plan is capped at $10 million per Kulongoski wants to raise the capto $15 million. A Senate committee passed thebill Monday. In the firsyt six months of 2009, television and movi e productions invested morethan $40 million in according to the governor’s office. That’s the highest total in 15 years.
In recent a Harrison Ford moviecalles “The Untitled Crowley Project” and the TNT seriez “Leverage” have been shooting in Producers for "The Untitled Crowley Project" joinef Kulongoski at Monday's press conference at . “Oregom has become an A-list location for the film and televisiojindustry – and an important critical piece of Oregon’s economy,” the governor said in a news release. “Greenh energy is one bright spotin Oregon’as economy and the film industry is another, generatingf an additional $1.1 million in incomse for Oregon workers and local businesses for every $1 milliomn spent by a production.
” The governor creditef the incentive program, created in 2003, with spurrinv the growth of the state's film program from a $2.1 millio n industry to an $8 millionh industry.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Supporters say Northern Kentucky riverfront project should be big, audacious - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
framptongeqeaqu1461.blogspot.com
Although the $170 million price tag for the expandec Riverfront Commons projectis steep, leaders of and believe it could spur new developmenft once the nation’s economic stornm has passed. The Riverfront Commone project proposed by Southbank several years ago now encompasseas the Licking River Greenway and Trails projecty proposed byVision 2015, Northern Kentucky’s regionak planning initiative.
The expanded project repair erosion problems along both the Ohio andLicking riverfronts; build walkways and bike paths alongv both rivers; and extend the project’sa footprint to include such elements as a tramwau to connect Devou Park to Mainstrasse Villager in downtown Covington. All that boosts the project’xs estimated cost to $170 millio n – far higher than the $50 million pricw tag for the original RiverfrontrCommons plan. Tough times? Be bold Southbanko Partners President Bill Scheyer arguez that the lousy economyu is no reason tothink small. “When timezs are difficult, it actually sometimed creates an opportunity for planning forthe future,” he said.
“Waitingg would not benefit us. We need to try to create the vision, make the economic case and then beginb to sell that conceptto everybody.” And it seemsz that, so far, just about everybodhy is sold. Vision 2015 has won supporgt forthe project among communith groups and residents, and Southbank has convinced city and county government leaders of the project’sa worth and value, said Vision 2015 Presidentt John Domaschko. President Steve Stevensz said business leaders havebeen too. After all, securing funding for the project was high on the list of prioritiesz when the chamber took a group to meet with congressional leadersin Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
“Wheh you’re trying to arrange you have a tendency to break thingse downinto bit-sized pieces. But if you do that and only you have a tendency to mask theoverallp vision, which is really the part that stirs men’xs souls and funders’ souls,” Domaschko “This kind of takesx the cover off the overall vision in the eyes of fundersd and shows how exciting this can be.
” the Riverfront Commons projecg has secured federal funds that paid for a study to plot the scopde of the project and help determine what’ s needed to address the erosion problems along the Scheyer wants to raise $335,000p this year to continue the consulting work and pay 20/200 Strategies, a high-powered Washington, D.C., firm that Southbank has hired to lobby for additional federal funds. In just two Southbank raised $170,000 from local governments and privated citizens who want to see the projectmove forward.
Local governments have been willingto contribute, despitd their own financial woes, becauss they understand the impact the project could have for the region said Covington Mayor Denny “Our job is not to just do a renderinvg and not to just do a study but to continuw all efforts to see that we implement the Bowman said. “It takes time.” Already, Southbank and Visionb 2015 have started to combine the governance groups for the Ohio Rivee and Licking River projects that were once separate And leaders inNorthern Kentucky’w river cities – from Bellevue to Bromleg – have voiced support for the plan, said Bellevuwe Mayor Jack Meyer, who is chairman of .
“We would really be doing an injustice if we just sat back andsaid let’ put this on hold until things get Meyer said. And with the federal stimulus dollars flowingfrom Washington, the project’s proponents hope they can win some by makinb the case that the broader project woule help the environment, give residents more recreationaol opportunities and spur economic developmeng all at the same “It’s difficult to say how greaft the opportunities are for obtaining said Roger Peterman, a partneer with and chairman of . “But if we aren’t it’s never going to happen.
” Scheyet said the lobbying firm Southbank hired has importang connections in Congress that he hopesa will help the community makeits case. And Congressman Geoff Sen. Jim Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell all have been supportivre inthe past, he said. Above all, said the chamber’s Stevens, everyone realizes that a project of this magnitude will take The key, he said, is to get started and make the case with a uniteed voice. “This economy’s going to turn Peterman said. “And we need to be positioned to take advantage of that.
”
Although the $170 million price tag for the expandec Riverfront Commons projectis steep, leaders of and believe it could spur new developmenft once the nation’s economic stornm has passed. The Riverfront Commone project proposed by Southbank several years ago now encompasseas the Licking River Greenway and Trails projecty proposed byVision 2015, Northern Kentucky’s regionak planning initiative.
The expanded project repair erosion problems along both the Ohio andLicking riverfronts; build walkways and bike paths alongv both rivers; and extend the project’sa footprint to include such elements as a tramwau to connect Devou Park to Mainstrasse Villager in downtown Covington. All that boosts the project’xs estimated cost to $170 millio n – far higher than the $50 million pricw tag for the original RiverfrontrCommons plan. Tough times? Be bold Southbanko Partners President Bill Scheyer arguez that the lousy economyu is no reason tothink small. “When timezs are difficult, it actually sometimed creates an opportunity for planning forthe future,” he said.
“Waitingg would not benefit us. We need to try to create the vision, make the economic case and then beginb to sell that conceptto everybody.” And it seemsz that, so far, just about everybodhy is sold. Vision 2015 has won supporgt forthe project among communith groups and residents, and Southbank has convinced city and county government leaders of the project’sa worth and value, said Vision 2015 Presidentt John Domaschko. President Steve Stevensz said business leaders havebeen too. After all, securing funding for the project was high on the list of prioritiesz when the chamber took a group to meet with congressional leadersin Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
“Wheh you’re trying to arrange you have a tendency to break thingse downinto bit-sized pieces. But if you do that and only you have a tendency to mask theoverallp vision, which is really the part that stirs men’xs souls and funders’ souls,” Domaschko “This kind of takesx the cover off the overall vision in the eyes of fundersd and shows how exciting this can be.
” the Riverfront Commons projecg has secured federal funds that paid for a study to plot the scopde of the project and help determine what’ s needed to address the erosion problems along the Scheyer wants to raise $335,000p this year to continue the consulting work and pay 20/200 Strategies, a high-powered Washington, D.C., firm that Southbank has hired to lobby for additional federal funds. In just two Southbank raised $170,000 from local governments and privated citizens who want to see the projectmove forward.
Local governments have been willingto contribute, despitd their own financial woes, becauss they understand the impact the project could have for the region said Covington Mayor Denny “Our job is not to just do a renderinvg and not to just do a study but to continuw all efforts to see that we implement the Bowman said. “It takes time.” Already, Southbank and Visionb 2015 have started to combine the governance groups for the Ohio Rivee and Licking River projects that were once separate And leaders inNorthern Kentucky’w river cities – from Bellevue to Bromleg – have voiced support for the plan, said Bellevuwe Mayor Jack Meyer, who is chairman of .
“We would really be doing an injustice if we just sat back andsaid let’ put this on hold until things get Meyer said. And with the federal stimulus dollars flowingfrom Washington, the project’s proponents hope they can win some by makinb the case that the broader project woule help the environment, give residents more recreationaol opportunities and spur economic developmeng all at the same “It’s difficult to say how greaft the opportunities are for obtaining said Roger Peterman, a partneer with and chairman of . “But if we aren’t it’s never going to happen.
” Scheyet said the lobbying firm Southbank hired has importang connections in Congress that he hopesa will help the community makeits case. And Congressman Geoff Sen. Jim Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell all have been supportivre inthe past, he said. Above all, said the chamber’s Stevens, everyone realizes that a project of this magnitude will take The key, he said, is to get started and make the case with a uniteed voice. “This economy’s going to turn Peterman said. “And we need to be positioned to take advantage of that.
”
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Little Hoover: Reform Calif. stem cell agency - San Francisco Business Times:
shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
The on Friday released its full andurged Gov. Arnolds Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to make changesw to theSan Francisco-based , whichg was set up when voters in 2004 approved Propositionj 71. CIRM has been the focus of both optimismj and criticismsince Prop. 71 authorized the state to sell $3 billiojn in bonds to support stem cell Despite legal delays by opponents of embryonic stem cell researchg and taxpayeradvocacy groups, the agenc has approved $761.6 millionh in funding for research and That includes more than $280 million to Bay Area research institutes and companies.
But CIRM also has been doggef with issues around its management particularly oversight board ChairmanBob Klein, who led the 71 initiative — and its grant review and intellectual propertyy policies. In its report, the Little Hoovef Commission said muchof Prop. 71 “noqw seems overly prescriptive in defining the governance and oversighgt structureof CIRM.” • Reduce the size of CIRM’w oversight board to 15 from 29.
• Chang the makeup of the board to allow more independent voices with five patienty advocates from unspecified disease two independentbusiness leaders, two independent scientistsd with no ties to CIRM-funded institutions, two Universit y of California officials, one non-UC universituy official, two private-sector biotech executives and one leadetr of a California research institution. Eleven of the 15 boardx members would be appointed by the governor withSenatew confirmation; two of the appointments woulx be made by the and the remaining two slots would be fillec by the UC system president.
(The currentg board membership is made up of five executive officers from UCs with amedicap schools, four executive officers from other California universities, four executiv e officers from California research institutes, four executives of commercial life science companies, 10 patien advocates representing patients with diseasew from cancer to Alzheimer’s, plus the chairman and vice • Reduce the terms of all board membersx to four years. • Create succession planse for board leadership. • Providee clear transparent direction forspending funds, with measurablre benchmarks, in CIRM’s strategic plan.
• Develolp a transition plan for the eventual expiration ofbond • Clarify that CIRM’s president manages all day-to-day operations. Elect the board chair and vice chai from within the existing board and set termsfor re-election and • Remove the 50-employee cap on staffing and the 15-person limiyt on peer reviewers. • Explore options for greater disclosure ofthe peer-review process, polling reviewers about theie willingness to participate in the process if their financial disclosure statements are made public and providingh full grant evaluations to • Amend all meeting minutes and then continue to specify individual board members’
The on Friday released its full andurged Gov. Arnolds Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to make changesw to theSan Francisco-based , whichg was set up when voters in 2004 approved Propositionj 71. CIRM has been the focus of both optimismj and criticismsince Prop. 71 authorized the state to sell $3 billiojn in bonds to support stem cell Despite legal delays by opponents of embryonic stem cell researchg and taxpayeradvocacy groups, the agenc has approved $761.6 millionh in funding for research and That includes more than $280 million to Bay Area research institutes and companies.
But CIRM also has been doggef with issues around its management particularly oversight board ChairmanBob Klein, who led the 71 initiative — and its grant review and intellectual propertyy policies. In its report, the Little Hoovef Commission said muchof Prop. 71 “noqw seems overly prescriptive in defining the governance and oversighgt structureof CIRM.” • Reduce the size of CIRM’w oversight board to 15 from 29.
• Chang the makeup of the board to allow more independent voices with five patienty advocates from unspecified disease two independentbusiness leaders, two independent scientistsd with no ties to CIRM-funded institutions, two Universit y of California officials, one non-UC universituy official, two private-sector biotech executives and one leadetr of a California research institution. Eleven of the 15 boardx members would be appointed by the governor withSenatew confirmation; two of the appointments woulx be made by the and the remaining two slots would be fillec by the UC system president.
(The currentg board membership is made up of five executive officers from UCs with amedicap schools, four executive officers from other California universities, four executiv e officers from California research institutes, four executives of commercial life science companies, 10 patien advocates representing patients with diseasew from cancer to Alzheimer’s, plus the chairman and vice • Reduce the terms of all board membersx to four years. • Create succession planse for board leadership. • Providee clear transparent direction forspending funds, with measurablre benchmarks, in CIRM’s strategic plan.
• Develolp a transition plan for the eventual expiration ofbond • Clarify that CIRM’s president manages all day-to-day operations. Elect the board chair and vice chai from within the existing board and set termsfor re-election and • Remove the 50-employee cap on staffing and the 15-person limiyt on peer reviewers. • Explore options for greater disclosure ofthe peer-review process, polling reviewers about theie willingness to participate in the process if their financial disclosure statements are made public and providingh full grant evaluations to • Amend all meeting minutes and then continue to specify individual board members’
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Obama picks VC to head SBA Advocacy office - Washington Business Journal: Washington Bureau
gavrilovaefivu.blogspot.com
Winslow Sargeant, a managing director in the technologg practiceof Madison, Wis.-based Venture Investors, is Obama'sx choice to head the Office of Advocacy. The office is an independeny entity inside SBA that ensures that federal agenciea consider the impact of theidr regulations onsmall businesses. The office also conducts research on smallpbusiness issues. Sargeant, who earned a in electrical engineering at the University of worked as a senior engineer at several larg e corporationsbefore co-founding Aanetcom, a fabless semiconductor chip compant that later was acquired by PMC-Sierra.
From 2001 to he served as program manager for the Small Busines Innovation Research program at the NationalSciencse Foundation's engineering directorate. He is the seconxd venture capitalist to be selected for a top post atthe SBA. Agencyh Administrator Karen Mills workefd as a principal in privatew equity and venture capital firms for 26 yearas before she took over the SBAin April. Sargeant'a lack of legal training means he will have to rely heavily on the attorneys at the Office of Much ofthe office's work involvee analyzing whether government agencies have followed federal laws that required them to analyze the economi impact that proposed rules would have on small businesses.
The office also makes sure that regulators hear the opinions of smalpl businessesabout regulations. In fiscal this input saved small businessesabout $11 billioh in foregone regulatory costs, according to the office. The office'w current acting counsel, Shawne Carter McGibbon, has been an attornety for 20 years and joined the officeein 1994, during the Clintob administration. She previously worked for a Democraticf memberof Congress.
An unnamed Obamqa administration official, however, characterized her to reporters asa "Busgh holdover" during a controversyg over an interagency review of the Environmental Protection Agency's finding that greenhouse gas emissionds pose a public health hazard. The Offic of Advocacy concluded that regulating carboh dioxide under the Clean Air Act wouldlikely "have serious economic on small businesses and other regulated entities.
Initiall reports attributed the office's comments to the Offic of Management and which works directly for the White This led some Republicans to contenr that there was dissension inside the Obama administrationj about the EPA OMB officials quickly said they had no problem with the and several press accounts quoted anonymouz administration officials whosaid Advocacy'ws criticism of the EPA finding came from an office "stilp stocked with Bush appointees," in the words of the Los Angelesw Times. This dismissal of the office's opinion upset Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the ranking Republicanb on the House Oversight GovernmentReform Committee.
"There are hundreds of civil servanta serving in a similar capacity throughou the federal government who coule also be characterizedas 'Bus holdovers,' Issa wrote in a May 14 letter to "I sincerely hope that their professional advicr and decisions will not be discounted merelty because they also worked for the federal governmeng under President George W. For more information on the Office of see
Winslow Sargeant, a managing director in the technologg practiceof Madison, Wis.-based Venture Investors, is Obama'sx choice to head the Office of Advocacy. The office is an independeny entity inside SBA that ensures that federal agenciea consider the impact of theidr regulations onsmall businesses. The office also conducts research on smallpbusiness issues. Sargeant, who earned a in electrical engineering at the University of worked as a senior engineer at several larg e corporationsbefore co-founding Aanetcom, a fabless semiconductor chip compant that later was acquired by PMC-Sierra.
From 2001 to he served as program manager for the Small Busines Innovation Research program at the NationalSciencse Foundation's engineering directorate. He is the seconxd venture capitalist to be selected for a top post atthe SBA. Agencyh Administrator Karen Mills workefd as a principal in privatew equity and venture capital firms for 26 yearas before she took over the SBAin April. Sargeant'a lack of legal training means he will have to rely heavily on the attorneys at the Office of Much ofthe office's work involvee analyzing whether government agencies have followed federal laws that required them to analyze the economi impact that proposed rules would have on small businesses.
The office also makes sure that regulators hear the opinions of smalpl businessesabout regulations. In fiscal this input saved small businessesabout $11 billioh in foregone regulatory costs, according to the office. The office'w current acting counsel, Shawne Carter McGibbon, has been an attornety for 20 years and joined the officeein 1994, during the Clintob administration. She previously worked for a Democraticf memberof Congress.
An unnamed Obamqa administration official, however, characterized her to reporters asa "Busgh holdover" during a controversyg over an interagency review of the Environmental Protection Agency's finding that greenhouse gas emissionds pose a public health hazard. The Offic of Advocacy concluded that regulating carboh dioxide under the Clean Air Act wouldlikely "have serious economic on small businesses and other regulated entities.
Initiall reports attributed the office's comments to the Offic of Management and which works directly for the White This led some Republicans to contenr that there was dissension inside the Obama administrationj about the EPA OMB officials quickly said they had no problem with the and several press accounts quoted anonymouz administration officials whosaid Advocacy'ws criticism of the EPA finding came from an office "stilp stocked with Bush appointees," in the words of the Los Angelesw Times. This dismissal of the office's opinion upset Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the ranking Republicanb on the House Oversight GovernmentReform Committee.
"There are hundreds of civil servanta serving in a similar capacity throughou the federal government who coule also be characterizedas 'Bus holdovers,' Issa wrote in a May 14 letter to "I sincerely hope that their professional advicr and decisions will not be discounted merelty because they also worked for the federal governmeng under President George W. For more information on the Office of see
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Life sciences investing is doing relatively well locally, despite slow economy - Triangle Business Journal:
afyfojahejus.blogspot.com
“I think, as I have for a few years, that theres is a lot of good and interesting and verycompellingt technology, which is the basis for developing any companies. So I thinkj we have a lot of good materiall tostart with. “The issue that we which is not at all unique toLouisvillr … is the need for seed-stage capital. And that is beingv addressed here by a fewdifferent ways. One, therer are a couple of angell groups thathave formed. The stat has some programs. The seed fund that I managed is obviouslya source.
So, there are some sourcess for seed capital, but we always can use “And in this currentr economic environment, it is even more an issuwe because the fund raisingf isvery difficult. So, we as investors, we need to make sure that we can fund the companieas for longer periodsof time, suppor them for longer, so they can achieve more milestoneds and weather the storm at the same time. with the expectation that once things get bettet and these companies get a littlefurtherr along, it will be easier to get Are you seeing many new ideas that could become companies? “We’re definitely seeing a stead amount. I can’t really tell you that is it is agrowingf number.
But there seems to be a steadty flow fromthe universities.” Are there specific areas or industries that are doin g well? “Certainly, in the cancer area, it looks like the (Jamews Graham Brown) cancer center is doingb particularly well. There have been a coupld of stem cell projects that have come out ofthe “Then, we have this nanotechnologg lab that was built, and one of our investments, came out of there. … That’x a relatively new facility, but I think we will see more comint out. And I am really excited about that.
“The team that came to the has only been here for a year or two atthis … (I am) prettu encouraged by some of the work that’s going on over How many companies have you invested in through the seed fund and Triathlon ? “The seed fund has five investmentas in its portfolio. Triathlon has invested in one of them, in and is very close to investingin “They have been tracking two other as well. There is a definitely significant interest in the companiew that are beingdeveloped here.” Is it fair to say that withoug money, groundbreaking technologies and therapies cannotr advance? “It’s hard to tell. Some of them may kind of wither onthe vine.
” Because they are early in their development and ther is not a large pool of local funds for early-stags investments, “it would be hard for an outsidse investor to come in and (invest at) this earlyg of a stage.” “There’s always the possibility that … an investorr from somewhere else would say, ‘I will invest in your company if you move to Bostobn or California,’ which is obviously not what we “There is enough grant money, especially with the president’s new which includes increased funding for research and developmenty of life sciences.
“Also, there is some other granr money available through the stimulus package that is hopefullg going tomake difference.”
“I think, as I have for a few years, that theres is a lot of good and interesting and verycompellingt technology, which is the basis for developing any companies. So I thinkj we have a lot of good materiall tostart with. “The issue that we which is not at all unique toLouisvillr … is the need for seed-stage capital. And that is beingv addressed here by a fewdifferent ways. One, therer are a couple of angell groups thathave formed. The stat has some programs. The seed fund that I managed is obviouslya source.
So, there are some sourcess for seed capital, but we always can use “And in this currentr economic environment, it is even more an issuwe because the fund raisingf isvery difficult. So, we as investors, we need to make sure that we can fund the companieas for longer periodsof time, suppor them for longer, so they can achieve more milestoneds and weather the storm at the same time. with the expectation that once things get bettet and these companies get a littlefurtherr along, it will be easier to get Are you seeing many new ideas that could become companies? “We’re definitely seeing a stead amount. I can’t really tell you that is it is agrowingf number.
But there seems to be a steadty flow fromthe universities.” Are there specific areas or industries that are doin g well? “Certainly, in the cancer area, it looks like the (Jamews Graham Brown) cancer center is doingb particularly well. There have been a coupld of stem cell projects that have come out ofthe “Then, we have this nanotechnologg lab that was built, and one of our investments, came out of there. … That’x a relatively new facility, but I think we will see more comint out. And I am really excited about that.
“The team that came to the has only been here for a year or two atthis … (I am) prettu encouraged by some of the work that’s going on over How many companies have you invested in through the seed fund and Triathlon ? “The seed fund has five investmentas in its portfolio. Triathlon has invested in one of them, in and is very close to investingin “They have been tracking two other as well. There is a definitely significant interest in the companiew that are beingdeveloped here.” Is it fair to say that withoug money, groundbreaking technologies and therapies cannotr advance? “It’s hard to tell. Some of them may kind of wither onthe vine.
” Because they are early in their development and ther is not a large pool of local funds for early-stags investments, “it would be hard for an outsidse investor to come in and (invest at) this earlyg of a stage.” “There’s always the possibility that … an investorr from somewhere else would say, ‘I will invest in your company if you move to Bostobn or California,’ which is obviously not what we “There is enough grant money, especially with the president’s new which includes increased funding for research and developmenty of life sciences.
“Also, there is some other granr money available through the stimulus package that is hopefullg going tomake difference.”
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Data Robotics secures $15M funding round - San Francisco Business Times:
hihozeima.blogspot.com
The round was led by previou s investor of San Mateoand , which has an offics in Menlo Park. Also participating were returning investors andPalo Alto-basedd . Mountain View-based Data Robotics said the fundingb will allow it to meet the growing market demand for its line of Drobo storage products. "Our strategy from the beginning has been to make highlh advanced storage technology simple and easy to use and builde the strongest sales channels andpartnershipz possible. This new round of fundinh will enable us to acceleratwe this strategy by further strengthening our market position and acceleratingfuture products," said Geoff Barrall, CEO and co-foundert of Data Robotics.
"Given our success thus far and the strongf growth in SOHO and small business storage we believe there is a significant opportunity to furtheer increase our market share by continuing to builxd the most advanced and innovative storageproducts available. I am thrilleed to see our vision validated by our Data Robotics said it has shipped morethan 30,000 system s since launching Drobo in the summer of making it one of the fast growingy storage companies in the "Our continued support for Data Roboticsz is founded on the company's track record, phenomenall progress and the excellent managementy team in place.
We are excited abour the future success of Data Robotics and I am happh to count myself among the many proued Droboowners worldwide," said Aneel Bhusri, Partnerf of Greylock Partners.
The round was led by previou s investor of San Mateoand , which has an offics in Menlo Park. Also participating were returning investors andPalo Alto-basedd . Mountain View-based Data Robotics said the fundingb will allow it to meet the growing market demand for its line of Drobo storage products. "Our strategy from the beginning has been to make highlh advanced storage technology simple and easy to use and builde the strongest sales channels andpartnershipz possible. This new round of fundinh will enable us to acceleratwe this strategy by further strengthening our market position and acceleratingfuture products," said Geoff Barrall, CEO and co-foundert of Data Robotics.
"Given our success thus far and the strongf growth in SOHO and small business storage we believe there is a significant opportunity to furtheer increase our market share by continuing to builxd the most advanced and innovative storageproducts available. I am thrilleed to see our vision validated by our Data Robotics said it has shipped morethan 30,000 system s since launching Drobo in the summer of making it one of the fast growingy storage companies in the "Our continued support for Data Roboticsz is founded on the company's track record, phenomenall progress and the excellent managementy team in place.
We are excited abour the future success of Data Robotics and I am happh to count myself among the many proued Droboowners worldwide," said Aneel Bhusri, Partnerf of Greylock Partners.
Friday, October 14, 2011
37 plays, 97 minutes: The complete works of William Shakespeare abridged hits ... - Sentinel-Standard
http://www.allcats.info/catsandkittens/cats-and-kittens.html
37 plays, 97 minutes: The complete works of William Shakespeare abridged hits ... Sentinel-Standard Walter Downes, Adam Rewa and Paul Frost perform a version of Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene at Thursday's dress rehearsal of “William Shakespeare's Compete Work, Abridged.†By Jon Szerlag Three men armed with their wits take on the task of completing ... |
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Air Force taps S.A. for Cyber Command - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
mozybyd.wordpress.com
Lackland Air Force Base had been on theAir Force’w “short list” for the new command, but a provisionalo center for the new unit has been operatingy at Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier La., since mid-2006 — leading many to believew that Barksdale was the frontrunnet for the site. The announcement is the seconx “big win” for the Alamoo City in one week, coming on the heeld of ’s recent announcement that San Antoni o will be the site forthe Minneapolis-based company’as operations supporting its diabetes unit which will employ some 1,400 people.
The 24th Air Forces command is slated to have up toa $1 billion create up to 400 military and civilian jobs, and have an annual payrol l of $40 million to $45 million once fullty funded. “The addition of up to 400 new jobs is certainl a boost toSan Antonio’s as well as another statemenf to the nation that San Antonio is a good place to find a qualitg workforce, especially in this area of cyber says Jim Goudge, chairman of the . “Thew Air Force’s announcement, coupled with this week’sw Medtronic decision to locate a major operatiobn inSan Antonio, makes for an outstanding week for our greag city.
” San Antonio is already home to a number of cyber innovatioj technology and research institutions, includint the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Cyber Security and the UTSA Center for Infrastructures Assurance & Security. In addition, San Antoniok has cyber security programs such as the NationalSecuritgy Agency’s Texas Cryptologic the Air Education and Training Commandf and the Air Force Cryptologic Systems “San Antonio’s credentials were unsurpassed in our ability to supporty a cyber headquarters,” says Greater Chamber President and CEO Richardr Perez.
“What makes this announcement so special is thatchamber staff, alonh with a handful of key people at the City of San Antonip and Bexar County, has been working for more than two yeara to convince the U.S. Air Force that San Antonio is theird best choice in the nation for thisimportang work.” U.S. Sen. John R-Texas, also has been workinyg to convince the Department of the Air Force to located the 24th Air Force inSan Antonio. “This is excellentt news for the men and womej at Lackland and the City ofSan Antonio.
Over the past 18 through numerous letters andpersonal meetings, I have urgeed Air Force leadership to select Lacklandr for the headquarters of its new cyberwarfare unit," Cornyn says. "Today’s announcement confirms the Air Forcs agrees with me that Lacklanf Air Force Base isthe best-suite installation to house this state-of-the-art unit.”
Lackland Air Force Base had been on theAir Force’w “short list” for the new command, but a provisionalo center for the new unit has been operatingy at Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier La., since mid-2006 — leading many to believew that Barksdale was the frontrunnet for the site. The announcement is the seconx “big win” for the Alamoo City in one week, coming on the heeld of ’s recent announcement that San Antoni o will be the site forthe Minneapolis-based company’as operations supporting its diabetes unit which will employ some 1,400 people.
The 24th Air Forces command is slated to have up toa $1 billion create up to 400 military and civilian jobs, and have an annual payrol l of $40 million to $45 million once fullty funded. “The addition of up to 400 new jobs is certainl a boost toSan Antonio’s as well as another statemenf to the nation that San Antonio is a good place to find a qualitg workforce, especially in this area of cyber says Jim Goudge, chairman of the . “Thew Air Force’s announcement, coupled with this week’sw Medtronic decision to locate a major operatiobn inSan Antonio, makes for an outstanding week for our greag city.
” San Antonio is already home to a number of cyber innovatioj technology and research institutions, includint the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Cyber Security and the UTSA Center for Infrastructures Assurance & Security. In addition, San Antoniok has cyber security programs such as the NationalSecuritgy Agency’s Texas Cryptologic the Air Education and Training Commandf and the Air Force Cryptologic Systems “San Antonio’s credentials were unsurpassed in our ability to supporty a cyber headquarters,” says Greater Chamber President and CEO Richardr Perez.
“What makes this announcement so special is thatchamber staff, alonh with a handful of key people at the City of San Antonip and Bexar County, has been working for more than two yeara to convince the U.S. Air Force that San Antonio is theird best choice in the nation for thisimportang work.” U.S. Sen. John R-Texas, also has been workinyg to convince the Department of the Air Force to located the 24th Air Force inSan Antonio. “This is excellentt news for the men and womej at Lackland and the City ofSan Antonio.
Over the past 18 through numerous letters andpersonal meetings, I have urgeed Air Force leadership to select Lacklandr for the headquarters of its new cyberwarfare unit," Cornyn says. "Today’s announcement confirms the Air Forcs agrees with me that Lacklanf Air Force Base isthe best-suite installation to house this state-of-the-art unit.”
Sunday, October 9, 2011
bizjournals: Search Results
qalymeled.wordpress.com
million contract with the Cityof Houston. TAC by is the buildinv management and energy services segment ofSchneider Electric...... on May 27, 2009 ...ECP Tech Servicee Inc. has been acquired by SA, a $27.4 billion French electric firm. Financial terms by on June 6, 2008 ... has won a multimillion-dollafr contract to supply GeneralMotors with...... on Februarhy 20, 2004 ...awarded a five-year applicatiob outsourcing contract with French electricalcompany 's North American Operatingb Division. The financial nature of the onDecember 5, 2003 ...in Raleigu and some in Knightdale." Schneider Automation is part of , which merged with Square D Corp. in 1991. Schneider Electridc is......
by on January 26, 2001 an vehicle company basedsin Santa...alterative-fuel vehicles. CEO Steve told the Business Timea that...... by on June 17, 2009 ...ZAP CEO Stevew also attended the announcement, after whichn he and Beshear circled the parkingf lot in a ZapXebra -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 6, 2008 ...ZAoP CEO Steve also attended the announcement, afted which he and Beshear circled the parking lot in a ZAPXebraa -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 6, 2008 ...ZAPl CEO Steve also attended the after which he and Beshear circled the parking lot in a ZAPXebraq -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 5, 2008 ...
ZAP Cars are schedulee to meet in Shepherdsville withRandalo Waldman, owner of Integrity Manufacturing and a ZAP ZAP CEO Steve and...... on Augusyt 5, 2008 ...Detroit hired Albert Lam, a former...its name several Steven is its CEO... on February 19, 2008 ...Eas t Bay cities to introduce vehicles in aneffort to...10,000 XEBRAq vehicles. Steve , ZAP's CEO, said by on April 6, 2007 ...California car maker ZAP Power Systems...difference," says ZAP CEO Steve . The XEBRwA plugs into any...... on Januarty 24, 2007 ...the preservation of the world."" -- Henry David Thoreau It is correct, Bob to call him a conservationist. More correct, he would be...... on September 12, 2005 ...
fodr its larger regional rival, Downs & Co. Inc. "Being a...when a client named Allied Supply Company offered him by onFebruary 27, 2004 ...report to Scot , vice chairman of Citizens, rather than Roberft Braden, who was promoted to chief executive officer of Lightwave about a...... on February 13, 2002 ...report to Scott , vice chairman of rather thanRobert Braden, who was promotedc to chief executive officer of Lightwave about on February 12, 2002 ...as ZapWorld's current line of "Our target market is the independent auto dealer," said Stevem , national distributor for Voltagew Vehicles. "Our...... on May 17, 2001 ...Customers think utilitie are it," said.
"If they have a problen they think of the gas orcompangy first." The theme of...... by on September 29, 1997 ... Industrial Park in the nearby town of Cibolo is in the proces of gaining three newindustrial tenants. The Guadalupe Valley by on June 20, 1997
million contract with the Cityof Houston. TAC by is the buildinv management and energy services segment ofSchneider Electric...... on May 27, 2009 ...ECP Tech Servicee Inc. has been acquired by SA, a $27.4 billion French electric firm. Financial terms by on June 6, 2008 ... has won a multimillion-dollafr contract to supply GeneralMotors with...... on Februarhy 20, 2004 ...awarded a five-year applicatiob outsourcing contract with French electricalcompany 's North American Operatingb Division. The financial nature of the onDecember 5, 2003 ...in Raleigu and some in Knightdale." Schneider Automation is part of , which merged with Square D Corp. in 1991. Schneider Electridc is......
by on January 26, 2001 an vehicle company basedsin Santa...alterative-fuel vehicles. CEO Steve told the Business Timea that...... by on June 17, 2009 ...ZAP CEO Stevew also attended the announcement, after whichn he and Beshear circled the parkingf lot in a ZapXebra -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 6, 2008 ...ZAoP CEO Steve also attended the announcement, afted which he and Beshear circled the parking lot in a ZAPXebraa -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 6, 2008 ...ZAPl CEO Steve also attended the after which he and Beshear circled the parking lot in a ZAPXebraq -powered truck. Schneider...... by on August 5, 2008 ...
ZAP Cars are schedulee to meet in Shepherdsville withRandalo Waldman, owner of Integrity Manufacturing and a ZAP ZAP CEO Steve and...... on Augusyt 5, 2008 ...Detroit hired Albert Lam, a former...its name several Steven is its CEO... on February 19, 2008 ...Eas t Bay cities to introduce vehicles in aneffort to...10,000 XEBRAq vehicles. Steve , ZAP's CEO, said by on April 6, 2007 ...California car maker ZAP Power Systems...difference," says ZAP CEO Steve . The XEBRwA plugs into any...... on Januarty 24, 2007 ...the preservation of the world."" -- Henry David Thoreau It is correct, Bob to call him a conservationist. More correct, he would be...... on September 12, 2005 ...
fodr its larger regional rival, Downs & Co. Inc. "Being a...when a client named Allied Supply Company offered him by onFebruary 27, 2004 ...report to Scot , vice chairman of Citizens, rather than Roberft Braden, who was promoted to chief executive officer of Lightwave about a...... on February 13, 2002 ...report to Scott , vice chairman of rather thanRobert Braden, who was promotedc to chief executive officer of Lightwave about on February 12, 2002 ...as ZapWorld's current line of "Our target market is the independent auto dealer," said Stevem , national distributor for Voltagew Vehicles. "Our...... on May 17, 2001 ...Customers think utilitie are it," said.
"If they have a problen they think of the gas orcompangy first." The theme of...... by on September 29, 1997 ... Industrial Park in the nearby town of Cibolo is in the proces of gaining three newindustrial tenants. The Guadalupe Valley by on June 20, 1997
Friday, October 7, 2011
SAHA to spend $14.5 million on local housing project upgrades - Denver Business Journal:
1189126qun.blogspot.com
million in federal stimulus fundse to repair and upgrade a numbed of publichousing properties. Out of 349 housing authoritiee in Texas that receivedc money from the American Recovery andReinvestmenty Act, San Antonio Housing Authority, or received the largest amount. SAHA is requirecd to use the money for capitalk improvements and all the funds must be speny withinthree years. “These funds will allowe us to make much-needed repairs to our publicx housing properties and improve the safety and qualitg of life for our SAHA President and CEO Lourdes CastroRamirez says.
Among the properties slated for major upgrades is the LewisChatham Apartments, a 119-unit apartment complex for seniorsx on the city’s South Lewis Chatham also will undergo an extensive modernization. In stimulus funds will be used to upgradethe security, elevatorsx and fire safety at nearly 20 elderlyt communities. Other projects will involve replacing fencing, windows, roofing, cabinets, and heating, ventilation and air conditioninyg systems. SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos says the agench will encourage the participation of smallland minority-owned businesses.
“We will also give additionapl weight to contractors that commir to actively recruiting employeew from the neighborhoods in and around where this work will he says. SAHA will issued requests for proposals to perform engineering and architectural services relatedto stimulus-approved Web site: www.saha.org
million in federal stimulus fundse to repair and upgrade a numbed of publichousing properties. Out of 349 housing authoritiee in Texas that receivedc money from the American Recovery andReinvestmenty Act, San Antonio Housing Authority, or received the largest amount. SAHA is requirecd to use the money for capitalk improvements and all the funds must be speny withinthree years. “These funds will allowe us to make much-needed repairs to our publicx housing properties and improve the safety and qualitg of life for our SAHA President and CEO Lourdes CastroRamirez says.
Among the properties slated for major upgrades is the LewisChatham Apartments, a 119-unit apartment complex for seniorsx on the city’s South Lewis Chatham also will undergo an extensive modernization. In stimulus funds will be used to upgradethe security, elevatorsx and fire safety at nearly 20 elderlyt communities. Other projects will involve replacing fencing, windows, roofing, cabinets, and heating, ventilation and air conditioninyg systems. SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos says the agench will encourage the participation of smallland minority-owned businesses.
“We will also give additionapl weight to contractors that commir to actively recruiting employeew from the neighborhoods in and around where this work will he says. SAHA will issued requests for proposals to perform engineering and architectural services relatedto stimulus-approved Web site: www.saha.org
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
What kind of wheels will Wheeler have? - Charlotte Business Journal:
http://www.buffalomag.com/Zeiss-M42~439-Zeiss.html
This fall, she’ll begin hitting the books as a full-time studeny at the Charlotte Schoolof Law. She’llp be missed by all of us at the Charlottde BusinessJournal , especially by me as I return to head up the column that was last mine in 1999. (How does this thintg work again?) Ashley asked that we bid a fond farewelpl from her to all her sources and She also asked that youcall me. A lot. And now, on with the He loves a That would be former speedway exec Humpy who has been selected as the granx marshal of thethis year.
Wheeler recently retired as presidentof Lowe’s Motor Speedway and parenr company after more than three decades as a shamelesa and renowned promoter of NASCAR races. “He representds not just racing, but a lot of other things in our community,” says Larry Farber, chair of the Thanksgivinhg parade. “Humpy has done a lot for the communitg overthe years.” All well and good, but the big questionh for a former racing exec is obvious: What kind of car will he be in? “We’res going to have some fun with Farber says. “It will be a grand car for thegrand marshal, I can tell you that much.
” The long-runniny discussion over what happens to the Hal Marshall Centefr should be resolved by January. County leaders approved ’s $40.6 million bid for the 12-acrd property at 700 N. Tryoh St. last September. BB&D envisions offices, condos and shopsa on the site that is now home tocountyh workers. BB&D’s original deadline was the end of county leaders recently extended that by six Bobbie Shields, county general manager, says the extensio was granted because of some environmental issues. It was only fair to alloe BB&D time to evaluate those concerns. has hired a new chef at its SouthParmk location.
Gustavo Ibarrra brings 10 years of experience to hisnew job, with recentt stops at SouthPark’s Cheesecake Factory and Oceanairer Seafood Room. president Rick Chapman has received more than a few secondf glances while riding his electric scooter tohis company’s newly openexd filter fiber plant in Kershaw. Chapman ofteh rides his moped to the plant on Little Dude Avenuer from hisnearby home. He assumed the curious looks were prompted bythe battery-powered scooter’a virtual silence. Not so fast — or quiet, my friend. When Chapman asked a localo resident why he was gettingthe stares, he was “We just thought you had a DUI.
”
This fall, she’ll begin hitting the books as a full-time studeny at the Charlotte Schoolof Law. She’llp be missed by all of us at the Charlottde BusinessJournal , especially by me as I return to head up the column that was last mine in 1999. (How does this thintg work again?) Ashley asked that we bid a fond farewelpl from her to all her sources and She also asked that youcall me. A lot. And now, on with the He loves a That would be former speedway exec Humpy who has been selected as the granx marshal of thethis year.
Wheeler recently retired as presidentof Lowe’s Motor Speedway and parenr company after more than three decades as a shamelesa and renowned promoter of NASCAR races. “He representds not just racing, but a lot of other things in our community,” says Larry Farber, chair of the Thanksgivinhg parade. “Humpy has done a lot for the communitg overthe years.” All well and good, but the big questionh for a former racing exec is obvious: What kind of car will he be in? “We’res going to have some fun with Farber says. “It will be a grand car for thegrand marshal, I can tell you that much.
” The long-runniny discussion over what happens to the Hal Marshall Centefr should be resolved by January. County leaders approved ’s $40.6 million bid for the 12-acrd property at 700 N. Tryoh St. last September. BB&D envisions offices, condos and shopsa on the site that is now home tocountyh workers. BB&D’s original deadline was the end of county leaders recently extended that by six Bobbie Shields, county general manager, says the extensio was granted because of some environmental issues. It was only fair to alloe BB&D time to evaluate those concerns. has hired a new chef at its SouthParmk location.
Gustavo Ibarrra brings 10 years of experience to hisnew job, with recentt stops at SouthPark’s Cheesecake Factory and Oceanairer Seafood Room. president Rick Chapman has received more than a few secondf glances while riding his electric scooter tohis company’s newly openexd filter fiber plant in Kershaw. Chapman ofteh rides his moped to the plant on Little Dude Avenuer from hisnearby home. He assumed the curious looks were prompted bythe battery-powered scooter’a virtual silence. Not so fast — or quiet, my friend. When Chapman asked a localo resident why he was gettingthe stares, he was “We just thought you had a DUI.
”
Monday, October 3, 2011
President assures better life for rehabilitated youth - Sunday Observer
grihanovveimavox.blogspot.com
Sunday Observer | President assures better life for rehabilitated youth Sunday Observer You will be granted » |
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Vestas board touring Colorado manufacturing plants - Denver Business Journal:
esyy23mozy.blogspot.com
The 12-member board, along with Ditlecv Engel, Vestas’ president and CEO, flew to Coloradoi on Sunday and hada one-hour meeting with Gov. Bill Ritter, said Roby senior vice president for external relations forVestase Americas, the American arm of the “They’re visiting all the manufacturing facilities in Roberts said. Vestas, basedc in Randers, Denmark, manufactures and sellz wind turbines used toproducer electricity. It trades on the Copenhagen Stocok Exchange at thesymbol VWS. The company boastw it had 20 percent ofthe world’as wind turbine market in 2008, with more than 38,0009 Vestas-made wind turbines installed worldwide.
The group Monda was touring the company’s $100 million manufacturing plantrin Windsor, where the big blades that captur the wind are made. Board members also were also spendingb timein Brighton, where Vestas is planning a seconrd blade plant and a nacelles assembly plant, and in where Vestas is building the world’s biggest plant for makin g the steel towers that hold the wind turbinea aloft. “We’re spending more than $1 billion in the Unitedf States and making a good commitmenrt tothe market, so they wanteed to see it first Roberts said.
• The Windsor plant nortbh of Denver, which when running at full capacity is expectee to employ about 600 employees and produce as manyas 2,00o wind blades per year. The plantf opened in March 2008. • The Brighton blade factory and nacelle assembly plants valued at acombined $290 which was announced in Augusty 2008. The plants are expected to be fully operationaolin 2010. The blade factory will emplou about 650 people and the nacelle planft will have about700 employees, Vestas has said. The $250 million Pueblo wind tower expected to open later this It will make 900 steel towera annually and employ 450 to550 workers.
The group planned to leav Colorado Monday eveningfor Portland, where the Vestaes Americas division is to see the company’s marketing, salesw and service operations, then tour a wind farm in Washingtob state, Roberts said.
The 12-member board, along with Ditlecv Engel, Vestas’ president and CEO, flew to Coloradoi on Sunday and hada one-hour meeting with Gov. Bill Ritter, said Roby senior vice president for external relations forVestase Americas, the American arm of the “They’re visiting all the manufacturing facilities in Roberts said. Vestas, basedc in Randers, Denmark, manufactures and sellz wind turbines used toproducer electricity. It trades on the Copenhagen Stocok Exchange at thesymbol VWS. The company boastw it had 20 percent ofthe world’as wind turbine market in 2008, with more than 38,0009 Vestas-made wind turbines installed worldwide.
The group Monda was touring the company’s $100 million manufacturing plantrin Windsor, where the big blades that captur the wind are made. Board members also were also spendingb timein Brighton, where Vestas is planning a seconrd blade plant and a nacelles assembly plant, and in where Vestas is building the world’s biggest plant for makin g the steel towers that hold the wind turbinea aloft. “We’re spending more than $1 billion in the Unitedf States and making a good commitmenrt tothe market, so they wanteed to see it first Roberts said.
• The Windsor plant nortbh of Denver, which when running at full capacity is expectee to employ about 600 employees and produce as manyas 2,00o wind blades per year. The plantf opened in March 2008. • The Brighton blade factory and nacelle assembly plants valued at acombined $290 which was announced in Augusty 2008. The plants are expected to be fully operationaolin 2010. The blade factory will emplou about 650 people and the nacelle planft will have about700 employees, Vestas has said. The $250 million Pueblo wind tower expected to open later this It will make 900 steel towera annually and employ 450 to550 workers.
The group planned to leav Colorado Monday eveningfor Portland, where the Vestaes Americas division is to see the company’s marketing, salesw and service operations, then tour a wind farm in Washingtob state, Roberts said.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
AeroGrow has $7.6M recapitalization - Boston Business Journal:
kdrummondbs37.blogspot.com
million recapitalization, the company said late Boulder-based AeroGrow (NASDAQ: AERO) makes the AeroGarden, a line of indoof gardening products. The recapitalization included the conversiohof $1.4 million in accounts payable from a leadinh manufacturer into a two-year debt instrumenrt at 8 percent maturing on June 30, 2011. The company also amended the terms of its senior secured revolvintg credit facility in a way that will allosw it to continue to use debt for workingt capital needs on anongoing “In the past year we’ve been challengec by the downturn in the economy, but have takenh significant measures to reduce our overhead, restructure the balance sheet and continue to drive the companyy toward profitability,” said Jack Walker, AeroGrow’s chairman of the in a statement.
“AeroGrow has a truly differentiated product, with proven demand, and, with the help of this recapitalization, I’nm confident in the capability of the current managemenr team to guide the company through to profitabilityt andcontinued growth. In fact, as a strong indicator of the confidence that we have in the company and our prospectsgoing I, along with our senior management have combined to invest more than $4 million as part of this including $2.8 million in new capital and $1.3 million in convertede obligations.” Separately, AeroGrow announced Tuesday that revenue fell 2.4 percentg in the fiscal year ended March 31, to $37.
4 reflecting a sharp decline in consumefr spending that began in the fourth quarteer of 2008. AeroGrow reported a net loss for the yearof $10. million, or minus 82 cents per share, compare d with a loss of $9.8 million, or minus 84 cents per in theprevious year.
million recapitalization, the company said late Boulder-based AeroGrow (NASDAQ: AERO) makes the AeroGarden, a line of indoof gardening products. The recapitalization included the conversiohof $1.4 million in accounts payable from a leadinh manufacturer into a two-year debt instrumenrt at 8 percent maturing on June 30, 2011. The company also amended the terms of its senior secured revolvintg credit facility in a way that will allosw it to continue to use debt for workingt capital needs on anongoing “In the past year we’ve been challengec by the downturn in the economy, but have takenh significant measures to reduce our overhead, restructure the balance sheet and continue to drive the companyy toward profitability,” said Jack Walker, AeroGrow’s chairman of the in a statement.
“AeroGrow has a truly differentiated product, with proven demand, and, with the help of this recapitalization, I’nm confident in the capability of the current managemenr team to guide the company through to profitabilityt andcontinued growth. In fact, as a strong indicator of the confidence that we have in the company and our prospectsgoing I, along with our senior management have combined to invest more than $4 million as part of this including $2.8 million in new capital and $1.3 million in convertede obligations.” Separately, AeroGrow announced Tuesday that revenue fell 2.4 percentg in the fiscal year ended March 31, to $37.
4 reflecting a sharp decline in consumefr spending that began in the fourth quarteer of 2008. AeroGrow reported a net loss for the yearof $10. million, or minus 82 cents per share, compare d with a loss of $9.8 million, or minus 84 cents per in theprevious year.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Woodland Corporate Center building gets LEED gold certification - Sacramento Business Journal:
ofycagvezi.blogspot.com
The building, which opened early last year, was designed and buily to meet the second highest ranking ofthe Council’s Leadershio in Energy and Environmental Design. was the generall contractor. Liberty Property Trust Vice Presidentg Jody Johnston estimates the cost of building to greeh standards added an additional 5 percentg to the overalldevelopment costs, but that will be more than offseyt by lower energy costs.
Special features includw showers and lockers for workers who need to wash or changde clothes after they bike or jog to A deck made of recycled plasti borders the back of the overlooking a wetlands area that provides Landscapingincorporates drought-resistant plants native to Florida. A white reflective roof deflectssthe sun. Bins for recycling are placedc near trash binsfor accessibility. Restroom urinals conserve watef by relying on gravithy and a filter insteadof water. That featurr is expected to save 360,000 gallons annually sinces each urinal uses anestimatedc 40,000 gallons annually, Johnston Grass surrounding the parking lot soak s up rainwater.
And Flexi-pave, a recycled rubber, was used insteads of asphalt around the large oak trees that line the The porous rubber allowse water to soak intothe ground. The building, located at 4631 Woodland Blvd., received the “Offices Building of the Year” Award from the Tampa Bay Chapterr of the andthe “Green Building Desig Award” from the Hillsborough City-County Plannin Commission in Tampa. Liberty (NYSE: LRY) has developee and leased 19 buildings with nearly 1 milliohn square feet of space in the parksince 1996. Key park tenantws include , Travelers, Travel and .
The building, which opened early last year, was designed and buily to meet the second highest ranking ofthe Council’s Leadershio in Energy and Environmental Design. was the generall contractor. Liberty Property Trust Vice Presidentg Jody Johnston estimates the cost of building to greeh standards added an additional 5 percentg to the overalldevelopment costs, but that will be more than offseyt by lower energy costs.
Special features includw showers and lockers for workers who need to wash or changde clothes after they bike or jog to A deck made of recycled plasti borders the back of the overlooking a wetlands area that provides Landscapingincorporates drought-resistant plants native to Florida. A white reflective roof deflectssthe sun. Bins for recycling are placedc near trash binsfor accessibility. Restroom urinals conserve watef by relying on gravithy and a filter insteadof water. That featurr is expected to save 360,000 gallons annually sinces each urinal uses anestimatedc 40,000 gallons annually, Johnston Grass surrounding the parking lot soak s up rainwater.
And Flexi-pave, a recycled rubber, was used insteads of asphalt around the large oak trees that line the The porous rubber allowse water to soak intothe ground. The building, located at 4631 Woodland Blvd., received the “Offices Building of the Year” Award from the Tampa Bay Chapterr of the andthe “Green Building Desig Award” from the Hillsborough City-County Plannin Commission in Tampa. Liberty (NYSE: LRY) has developee and leased 19 buildings with nearly 1 milliohn square feet of space in the parksince 1996. Key park tenantws include , Travelers, Travel and .
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Rebates should boost Energy Star sales - Dayton Business Journal:
iwegasely.wordpress.com
“This rebate program will help Floridian buy appliances atdiscount rates, lowerf utility costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulating sales of energy-efficient Gov. Charlie Crist said in a press releaseMay 18. Althougg the bill was signedc last week, the projected time for the program to be administeredr is probably sometime this Consumers will not be eligible for the rebatea until then because some of the details of the programj still need to beworked out, said Jeremg Susac, the executive director of Crist’s Energt Office.
The specific amounts for the rebates must be approveds by the legislativebudgeft committee, and Crist’s office is still waiting for guidance from the federao government on how exactly the program will work, Susac said. The FECC is expectingf Florida toreceive $18 million in federalo stimulus funds to provide the rebate In addition, the Florida legislature is givingy $150,000 to the FECC to help them put the plan into All of this should help Floridiansz save 20 percent on the cost of energy-efficient “This is what we are projecting,” Susav said. “We are looking at 20 percen all acrossthe board.
” With the 20 percentr rebate, consumers could save $290 on $200 on washing machines, freezers and dishwashers, $65 on room air conditionerz and $40 on dehumidifiers. Only laundry and kitche n home appliances with the Energhy Star label will be eligible for the All Energy Star appliances meet strict energty efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protectiom Agencyand U.S. Department of Energy, but certain iteme like flat screen televisions are not Susac said.
Even though they use the most energhy out of all the home certain kitchen itemslike microwaves, ovens and stove tops are also not includeed because they have yet to be regulated by Energy Star in the United States, said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’sx appliance dealer in Jacksonville. Energu Star appliances do cost an averageof $50 to $100 more than the standarc versions because of the advanced technologies, he but the rebate should lighten the making it almost cheaper to buy the Energy Star product. “Youh don’t have to spend $1,000 to have an Energ Star,” Setzer said. “Energy Star has cheaper model s now.
I have a $300 dishwasher and a $800 refrigeratod in my store that are allEnergy Star.” In the investment will causer consumers’ utility bills to go down in dollar Customers should recover their costs of the energy-efficient appliance on their monthly bills within five to six years. According to Energ Star’s Web site, their appliances can save consumerws $75 a year in energy and they use 10 to 20 percent less energy and watere thantraditional models, making them bettef for the environment.
For example, a front-loadinyg Energy Star washing machine uses 16 to 18 gallonw of water versus thetraditional top-loading appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our salee will go up because the customers will stilkl have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in sales willbe great, and it woulfd be a great thing for people to get their monet back.” Business has been slow duringb the economic downturn at both Setzer’s locations here in Jacksonvill and Ocala, but it’s still going pretty steady because people are always goingv to need refrigerators and he said.
In addition, 75 to 80 percenr of the appliances he sells areEnergyy Star, so Setzer said he’s very hopeful. Energty Star is also excited for the rebate program to go into effect becaused the Florida proposal is an Energy Star spokesperson Inyears past, rebates have caused a jump in thei r sales, but they have never had a rebated program like this before.
“This rebate program will help Floridian buy appliances atdiscount rates, lowerf utility costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulating sales of energy-efficient Gov. Charlie Crist said in a press releaseMay 18. Althougg the bill was signedc last week, the projected time for the program to be administeredr is probably sometime this Consumers will not be eligible for the rebatea until then because some of the details of the programj still need to beworked out, said Jeremg Susac, the executive director of Crist’s Energt Office.
The specific amounts for the rebates must be approveds by the legislativebudgeft committee, and Crist’s office is still waiting for guidance from the federao government on how exactly the program will work, Susac said. The FECC is expectingf Florida toreceive $18 million in federalo stimulus funds to provide the rebate In addition, the Florida legislature is givingy $150,000 to the FECC to help them put the plan into All of this should help Floridiansz save 20 percent on the cost of energy-efficient “This is what we are projecting,” Susav said. “We are looking at 20 percen all acrossthe board.
” With the 20 percentr rebate, consumers could save $290 on $200 on washing machines, freezers and dishwashers, $65 on room air conditionerz and $40 on dehumidifiers. Only laundry and kitche n home appliances with the Energhy Star label will be eligible for the All Energy Star appliances meet strict energty efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protectiom Agencyand U.S. Department of Energy, but certain iteme like flat screen televisions are not Susac said.
Even though they use the most energhy out of all the home certain kitchen itemslike microwaves, ovens and stove tops are also not includeed because they have yet to be regulated by Energy Star in the United States, said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’sx appliance dealer in Jacksonville. Energu Star appliances do cost an averageof $50 to $100 more than the standarc versions because of the advanced technologies, he but the rebate should lighten the making it almost cheaper to buy the Energy Star product. “Youh don’t have to spend $1,000 to have an Energ Star,” Setzer said. “Energy Star has cheaper model s now.
I have a $300 dishwasher and a $800 refrigeratod in my store that are allEnergy Star.” In the investment will causer consumers’ utility bills to go down in dollar Customers should recover their costs of the energy-efficient appliance on their monthly bills within five to six years. According to Energ Star’s Web site, their appliances can save consumerws $75 a year in energy and they use 10 to 20 percent less energy and watere thantraditional models, making them bettef for the environment.
For example, a front-loadinyg Energy Star washing machine uses 16 to 18 gallonw of water versus thetraditional top-loading appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our salee will go up because the customers will stilkl have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in sales willbe great, and it woulfd be a great thing for people to get their monet back.” Business has been slow duringb the economic downturn at both Setzer’s locations here in Jacksonvill and Ocala, but it’s still going pretty steady because people are always goingv to need refrigerators and he said.
In addition, 75 to 80 percenr of the appliances he sells areEnergyy Star, so Setzer said he’s very hopeful. Energty Star is also excited for the rebate program to go into effect becaused the Florida proposal is an Energy Star spokesperson Inyears past, rebates have caused a jump in thei r sales, but they have never had a rebated program like this before.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Oracle results reflect resilience in IT budgets - MarketWatch
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
MiamiHerald.com | Oracle results reflect resilience in IT budgets MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) â€" Oracle Corp. on Tuesday reported a 36% jump in profit in its fiscal first quarter, posting results that one analyst said should dispel worries of a major slump in corporate tech budgets. ... Oracle earnings point to IT resilience Oracle Q1 Earnings Analysis: Resilient Model Beats Expectations Oracle Displays Resilience |
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Detroit's Hotel Doldrums - Houston Business Travel Guide
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Four of the city'ds once-famous deluxe hotels were ornate abandoned for decades and facingthe wrecker'a ball. Two starkly modern properties built in the 1960s were shabby and sorely in need of new Eventhe 73-story hotelp in the Renaissance Center, opened in the late 1970ws as part of a massive urban-renewalp project, was dreary and depressing. I scribbled in my notebook in 2002. "Someone shouled fix." And fix they did. The Madison-Leno x and the Detroit Statlertwere demolished, but the Book Cadillacc and the Fort Shelby received hundredes of millions of dollars worthy of renovations and restorations.
The Book, as localxs call it, reopened to raves in October and the Fort Shelbyu came back to life twomonthxs later. One of the 1960s icons, the St. Regis, became a spiffyu boutique property. The the Hotel Pontchartrain, was recentlty renovated and is now calledsthe Riverside. The cylindrical skyscraper hotel at the RenCenter It's a Marriott now, and it sparkles. And the city'se three casinos have each opened upscale hotelswith Vegas-style perkds and amenities. But this is where hotel happy endings are alwayes the start of the next lodging If anything, the Motor City's hotel scene is in worss shape today than seven years ago.
More than half of Detroit'sz estimated 40,000 guestrooms are empty, and PKF Hospitality Research says lodginb demand will fall furtherthis year. The St. Regie is in receivership. The Riverside has been picketedf by employees who saythey haven't been paid, and the Detroit News says the hotel owes almos t $700,000 in back One of the casinos is in bankruptc y and another is for sale. Only a handfupl of buyers have closefd on the dozens of pricey condos atop theBook Cadillac. The Fort Shelby'x new rental apartments are mostlyempty too. And Detroit's revpafr (revenue per available room), the key measurwe of financial health in thelodging industry, is one-thirsd lower than the national average.
"The statisticse are scary," admits Shannon Dunavent, general manager of the Doubletreed Guest Suites hotel that was lovingly carved out of the carcasds of theFort Shelby. "I've been working in Michigan for 20 years andI won't lie to you. There'sx no new business in the We're all trying to steal from the other guy to It doesn't take a genius to figures out what's ailing Motown's hotels: The automotive businesse has been careening downhill for decades. Detroit has never been able toreplacw cars, and the thousands of relate d businesses that depend on the as the city's economic engine. Hell, even Motowmn Records moved to Hollywood almosft 40years ago.
But the tale of Detroit'ws collapsing hotel business is actuallymore nuanced. It's a storhy of no good deed going unpunished, of every cleverf urban-renewal idea having an unintended consequence, and everyonse missing the hotel forest for the restored trees of anearlier era. As Detroit emptied out—the city's population of 900,00 is about half its mid-1950s high—so did the need for much of the city'sa older hotel infrastructure. The luxury lodging businessz moved to upscale suburbsx like Dearbornand Birmingham.
A slew of focused-servic e hotels popped up in office parks and othefr business areas outside the deteriorating city Fliers who connect in Detroit viaNorthwes Airlines' large hub at Detroit Metro are well-served by an upmarkert Westin hotel that opened adjacent to the new During the last even with icons like the Book and the Fort Shelby closed and the casinko hotels still on the drawing hotel occupancy rarely surpassed the 60 percent mark. And though there were occasional spikes of demand arounfdspecial events—the city is sold out for college basketball'xs Final Four next month—there was neve r any indication that Detroit needefd more rooms.
"This has alway s been about urban renewal and politicx more than market one hotel executive told melast "You can admire the drive and the commitmentt to rebuild Detroit, but therd was a lot of 'If we build it, they will come,' thinking. We built. Guests haven't come." The three casino hotels—each mandate by the terms of theirgaming license, each around 400 and each opened in the last 18 months—flooded the city with new The restoration of the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby is anotherd example of Detroit's mind over The city's tallest building and the tallest hotel in the worlx when it opened in the 33-story neo-Renaissance Book remains a much-loved symbol of Detroit'xs boom times.
But as a business, the 1,100-room property was always a loser. After the war, it changexd owners and hotel flags frequently and finallyg closedin 1984. Over the next 20 the city, state, hotel chains, and developerzs all floated and abandoned restorations The $200 million project that finally started in 2006 and culminated with a headline-grabbing gala reopenint party last fall converted the Book into a 455-rook Westin hotel and a residential condo Both projects have been lauded for their design and creativde repurposing of the Book's stately shell, but the hotell has been forced to discount rooms to as low as $99 a If anything, the revival of the 23-story Beaux-arts Fort Shelbty was even more unlikely.
It closed in 1974 and treee sprouted in thederelict building. A $90 milliob restoration project began in 2007 did wondere fordowntown Detroit's streetscape, if not hotep occupancy. Along with 56 apartment rentals, the buildingt now houses conference space, restaurants, and 204 hotepl suites. The smallest guestroom is 600 square feet and the Doubletree's general manager, says weekensd rates are as low as $89 a "I'm proud of what we'ver done," she says. "If I can get you here, I know you'llo have a great experience." Detroit Marriot general manager Bob Farmeryechoex Dunavent's comments. All he wants is for guestsz to experience hisreinvigoratesd property.
Marriott and the tower's owner, General have poured more than $150 million into the projecr since Marriott assumed management ofthe 1,300 guest roomx in 1998. Ironically, the hotel was sold out last weekend when I caught upwith Farmery. It was hosting college hockey'sd Final Four and another large group. And Farmery believee Detroit can wake from itslodginhg nightmare. He thinks the city can profit from the AIG Effectr that has forced major corporations to cancel pricey meetingsein eyebrow-raising resorts like Las Vegas and "Our product is terrific and our rates are he says. "And nobody will criticize you if you hold a meetinghin Detroit.
" The Fine Print… The Doubletreee Guest Suites in the Fort Shelby represents the firsy full-service Hilton hotel in downtown Detroit in more than 30 The chain returned to the market in 2004 when the Ferchillk Group, which also redeveloped the Book opened a limited-service Hilton Garden Inn in the Harmoniee Park neighborhood. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
Four of the city'ds once-famous deluxe hotels were ornate abandoned for decades and facingthe wrecker'a ball. Two starkly modern properties built in the 1960s were shabby and sorely in need of new Eventhe 73-story hotelp in the Renaissance Center, opened in the late 1970ws as part of a massive urban-renewalp project, was dreary and depressing. I scribbled in my notebook in 2002. "Someone shouled fix." And fix they did. The Madison-Leno x and the Detroit Statlertwere demolished, but the Book Cadillacc and the Fort Shelby received hundredes of millions of dollars worthy of renovations and restorations.
The Book, as localxs call it, reopened to raves in October and the Fort Shelbyu came back to life twomonthxs later. One of the 1960s icons, the St. Regis, became a spiffyu boutique property. The the Hotel Pontchartrain, was recentlty renovated and is now calledsthe Riverside. The cylindrical skyscraper hotel at the RenCenter It's a Marriott now, and it sparkles. And the city'se three casinos have each opened upscale hotelswith Vegas-style perkds and amenities. But this is where hotel happy endings are alwayes the start of the next lodging If anything, the Motor City's hotel scene is in worss shape today than seven years ago.
More than half of Detroit'sz estimated 40,000 guestrooms are empty, and PKF Hospitality Research says lodginb demand will fall furtherthis year. The St. Regie is in receivership. The Riverside has been picketedf by employees who saythey haven't been paid, and the Detroit News says the hotel owes almos t $700,000 in back One of the casinos is in bankruptc y and another is for sale. Only a handfupl of buyers have closefd on the dozens of pricey condos atop theBook Cadillac. The Fort Shelby'x new rental apartments are mostlyempty too. And Detroit's revpafr (revenue per available room), the key measurwe of financial health in thelodging industry, is one-thirsd lower than the national average.
"The statisticse are scary," admits Shannon Dunavent, general manager of the Doubletreed Guest Suites hotel that was lovingly carved out of the carcasds of theFort Shelby. "I've been working in Michigan for 20 years andI won't lie to you. There'sx no new business in the We're all trying to steal from the other guy to It doesn't take a genius to figures out what's ailing Motown's hotels: The automotive businesse has been careening downhill for decades. Detroit has never been able toreplacw cars, and the thousands of relate d businesses that depend on the as the city's economic engine. Hell, even Motowmn Records moved to Hollywood almosft 40years ago.
But the tale of Detroit'ws collapsing hotel business is actuallymore nuanced. It's a storhy of no good deed going unpunished, of every cleverf urban-renewal idea having an unintended consequence, and everyonse missing the hotel forest for the restored trees of anearlier era. As Detroit emptied out—the city's population of 900,00 is about half its mid-1950s high—so did the need for much of the city'sa older hotel infrastructure. The luxury lodging businessz moved to upscale suburbsx like Dearbornand Birmingham.
A slew of focused-servic e hotels popped up in office parks and othefr business areas outside the deteriorating city Fliers who connect in Detroit viaNorthwes Airlines' large hub at Detroit Metro are well-served by an upmarkert Westin hotel that opened adjacent to the new During the last even with icons like the Book and the Fort Shelby closed and the casinko hotels still on the drawing hotel occupancy rarely surpassed the 60 percent mark. And though there were occasional spikes of demand arounfdspecial events—the city is sold out for college basketball'xs Final Four next month—there was neve r any indication that Detroit needefd more rooms.
"This has alway s been about urban renewal and politicx more than market one hotel executive told melast "You can admire the drive and the commitmentt to rebuild Detroit, but therd was a lot of 'If we build it, they will come,' thinking. We built. Guests haven't come." The three casino hotels—each mandate by the terms of theirgaming license, each around 400 and each opened in the last 18 months—flooded the city with new The restoration of the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby is anotherd example of Detroit's mind over The city's tallest building and the tallest hotel in the worlx when it opened in the 33-story neo-Renaissance Book remains a much-loved symbol of Detroit'xs boom times.
But as a business, the 1,100-room property was always a loser. After the war, it changexd owners and hotel flags frequently and finallyg closedin 1984. Over the next 20 the city, state, hotel chains, and developerzs all floated and abandoned restorations The $200 million project that finally started in 2006 and culminated with a headline-grabbing gala reopenint party last fall converted the Book into a 455-rook Westin hotel and a residential condo Both projects have been lauded for their design and creativde repurposing of the Book's stately shell, but the hotell has been forced to discount rooms to as low as $99 a If anything, the revival of the 23-story Beaux-arts Fort Shelbty was even more unlikely.
It closed in 1974 and treee sprouted in thederelict building. A $90 milliob restoration project began in 2007 did wondere fordowntown Detroit's streetscape, if not hotep occupancy. Along with 56 apartment rentals, the buildingt now houses conference space, restaurants, and 204 hotepl suites. The smallest guestroom is 600 square feet and the Doubletree's general manager, says weekensd rates are as low as $89 a "I'm proud of what we'ver done," she says. "If I can get you here, I know you'llo have a great experience." Detroit Marriot general manager Bob Farmeryechoex Dunavent's comments. All he wants is for guestsz to experience hisreinvigoratesd property.
Marriott and the tower's owner, General have poured more than $150 million into the projecr since Marriott assumed management ofthe 1,300 guest roomx in 1998. Ironically, the hotel was sold out last weekend when I caught upwith Farmery. It was hosting college hockey'sd Final Four and another large group. And Farmery believee Detroit can wake from itslodginhg nightmare. He thinks the city can profit from the AIG Effectr that has forced major corporations to cancel pricey meetingsein eyebrow-raising resorts like Las Vegas and "Our product is terrific and our rates are he says. "And nobody will criticize you if you hold a meetinghin Detroit.
" The Fine Print… The Doubletreee Guest Suites in the Fort Shelby represents the firsy full-service Hilton hotel in downtown Detroit in more than 30 The chain returned to the market in 2004 when the Ferchillk Group, which also redeveloped the Book opened a limited-service Hilton Garden Inn in the Harmoniee Park neighborhood. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
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