bertayfybuqutyp.blogspot.com
Sales at Fury Dodgr Chrysler, which has been in the Leonarde family for46 years, are up 40 percent from 2008 so far this and the dealership is profitable, Leonar said. “Our dealership doesn’t cost them a They just bill me for what I buyfrom … That would be like Targett saying it didn’t want certain customerw shopping there anymore because its sales were down. Wouldx that make any sense?” Leonard isn’t alone in his Members of Congress have joined Chrysler dealer s nationwide in questioning why the automaker needs to closd 789 dealerships by June 9 less than four weeks after the dealerx were notified ofthe decision.
Both Chrysler and , which planss to close 1,100 dealershipse by October 2010, contend they need to reducw the size of their dealer network to be more competitive with Toyotasand Honda, which sell more cars in the United Statesx with a lot fewer Adding to the frustration, many of the dealerxs slated for closure say they haven’t been told why they’rwe on the list, said Scotty Lambert, executive vice president of the Minnesotza Automobile Dealers Association. “The problem is that this processd is justso nontransparent,” he said. “W e don’t know what went into the box to come out withthesr decisions.
” Chrysler, in a bankruptcyy court filing, argues that trimming the ranksa of its dealers will boost the profitability of the dealers that enabling them to invest in improvements that will drive up “After a period of time, and substantially improvedx marketing and investments, overall sales in the reduced network are anticipated to grow beyonx current sales levels within the existing network,” Chryslerd contends.
That’s highly according to the National AutomobileDealers “There’s not an auto executiv that I know of who doesn’tg acknowledge that when a dealership closes, they lose markey share,” said David Hyatt, NADA’s vice president and chiefd public affairs officer. Cuttingt costs was not a major factorin Chrysler’s The automaker will save some administrativew expenses by having a smallet dealer network to but that’s about it. Dealers buy theirf cars before the vehicles leave the payfor shipping, front the costs of any rebates or warrantgy work and purchase repair equipment.
Dealerx provide “a robust distributiomn network at virtuallyno cost” to Hyatt said. “We’re an asset, not a liability,” said Wade Walker, an auto dealetr in Montpelier, Vt., who is scheduled to lose his Jeep franchis eJune 9. Walker and about 300 other Chrysler dealers have challengedthe automaker’s request for a bankruptc judge to terminate their dealershi agreements and preempt state laws that would requirer Chrysler to give dealers more time to wind down theird businesses. Chrysler has been workinbg to reduce its dealer network forseverakl years. That process needs to be acceleratef because of its proposed alliancewith Fiat, it contends.
Bankruptch courts routinely terminate contracts if doingv so benefitsthe debtor’d estate and is an exercise of souns business judgment, Chrysler states in its Chrysler dealers, however, contend that abruptly closin dealerships doesn’t meet this “There is no evidencse that by rejecting dealership agreements New Chrysletr will save money to any material degrew or enhance its competitiv e position in the automobile industry,” statesx a filing made by the Chrysler Nationakl Dealer Council. “To the closing dealers narrows distributiom andreduces Chrysler’s sales and income as fewer dealerw buy fewer cars and retail sales are lost to other brands.
” Chrysler’s bankruptcy judge is scheduled to hold a hearingf on this issue on Wednesday. That same day, the U.S. Senates Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Chryslerr and GMdealership closings. “These companiess cannot be allowed to take taxpayer funds for a bailout and then leavwe local dealers and their customers to fend for themselvess with no real notice and noreal help,” said committere Chairman John D.
(Jay) Rockefeller IV, “We must ensure that the auto dealers are treatex equitably and have the opportunity to unwind theird operations in a manneer that will minimize hardships to employees who lose theirf jobs and communities that areadversely impacted,” said Sen. Kay Bailey R-Texas. Hutchison was encouraged by a promise from Chrysler PresidentJames Press, who told her the compan y would help the terminated dealers sell their vehicle and partsd inventory. If this assistance falls short, Hutchison is prepares to push legislation that woulsd give the dealerships an extra 60 daysbeford closing.
Meanwhile, auto dealers and memberas of Congress are lobbying President Baracj Obama and his automotive task force to reconsider the wisdom of closing so many dealershipwso quickly. The Obamaa administration rejectedthe automakers’ initial restructuring plansz and urged them to be more “It should not be the role of governmeny to force these small-businesas owners out of said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., one of several House members who sent a letteer to task force chiefSteven co-founder of the Quadrangle Group, a New York private-equity “This decision will not fix the problems of the auto manufacturint industry, yet it will cost our communities good jobs.
” Jeep dealere Walker said he doesn’t think the auto task forcs “gets it.” “I think it’sz because they’re all Wall Street people — they’re not Main Street Walton said.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Pending home sales jump 6.7 percent - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
olimstgon.blogspot.com
Pending sales of existing homes, or contracts signe but not closed, rose 6.7 percent in April from March, accordinvg to the . April's pending sales were up 3.2 percenf from a year ago, the NAR says. The biggest increas e in April was inthe Northeast, whered pending sales jumped 32.6 percent from the previou s month. The NAR's pending home sales index is a forwarrlooking gauge, and the group cautions that it is more volatilwe than actual closed "The relationship between contracts on pending home sales and closingsd on existing home sales is taking longerr than in the past for several reasons," says NAR chief economisr Lawrence Yun.
"Mortgage processing time has it is taking many months to closes on those homes requiring shorf sales withlender approval, and some sales are falling throug h at the last moment." Still, Yun says he believes the housinhg market has already bottomedf out in some areas. The groupp last week reported closed sales of existing homearose 2.9 percent in April. The NAR'xs housing affordability index was also atits second-highest level on record in April.
Pending sales of existing homes, or contracts signe but not closed, rose 6.7 percent in April from March, accordinvg to the . April's pending sales were up 3.2 percenf from a year ago, the NAR says. The biggest increas e in April was inthe Northeast, whered pending sales jumped 32.6 percent from the previou s month. The NAR's pending home sales index is a forwarrlooking gauge, and the group cautions that it is more volatilwe than actual closed "The relationship between contracts on pending home sales and closingsd on existing home sales is taking longerr than in the past for several reasons," says NAR chief economisr Lawrence Yun.
"Mortgage processing time has it is taking many months to closes on those homes requiring shorf sales withlender approval, and some sales are falling throug h at the last moment." Still, Yun says he believes the housinhg market has already bottomedf out in some areas. The groupp last week reported closed sales of existing homearose 2.9 percent in April. The NAR'xs housing affordability index was also atits second-highest level on record in April.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
United Way, Dr. Phillips launch campaign - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
borislavamcoc.blogspot.com
The campaign, established with grants totalingynearly $350,000 from Dr. Phillipsz Charities and , is being administered by United Way’e stewardship program that provides emergench assistance tolocal residents. The United Way boarde backed a move allowing the organization to tap reserver funds to cover administrative expenseds so that grant dollars will go directly to help peoplesin need. United Way President/CEO Robert H. Brown said the campaigmn represents a temporary response to an unprecedenteed burden being placed on the communityg by the ongoingeconomic challenges. Dr.
Phillip s Charities is offering a grang ofnearly $300,000, which includes $98,109 in start up funds and a challenge matching grant of nearly $200,000. Dr. Phillipd Charities, one of the region’s largest philanthropic has awarded morethan $23 million to local nonprofits over the past threes years. Bank of America contributed $50,009 to the campaign. The goal is to provide aid to morethan 1,35 0 families over the next five Agencies providing similar services that have exhausted their resourcezs can also access the Heart of Florida United Way is Centrap Florida’s largest provider of funds to the region’s healtu and human service programs.
The campaign, established with grants totalingynearly $350,000 from Dr. Phillipsz Charities and , is being administered by United Way’e stewardship program that provides emergench assistance tolocal residents. The United Way boarde backed a move allowing the organization to tap reserver funds to cover administrative expenseds so that grant dollars will go directly to help peoplesin need. United Way President/CEO Robert H. Brown said the campaigmn represents a temporary response to an unprecedenteed burden being placed on the communityg by the ongoingeconomic challenges. Dr.
Phillip s Charities is offering a grang ofnearly $300,000, which includes $98,109 in start up funds and a challenge matching grant of nearly $200,000. Dr. Phillipd Charities, one of the region’s largest philanthropic has awarded morethan $23 million to local nonprofits over the past threes years. Bank of America contributed $50,009 to the campaign. The goal is to provide aid to morethan 1,35 0 families over the next five Agencies providing similar services that have exhausted their resourcezs can also access the Heart of Florida United Way is Centrap Florida’s largest provider of funds to the region’s healtu and human service programs.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Bay area CFOs wrangle with government, tigers, doctors and more - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
deeshu-tatum.blogspot.com
William C. Brown, When Brown took over as CFO at MercuryyEnterprises Inc. nine years ago, the company had audits and budget s months overdue and a litany of issueewith accounting. Under Brown's leadership, the Clearwater compangy has made anaccounting 180-degreed turn, and revenues have increased by 50 percent. Durinh the same time, staf f levels in accounting and technology have been reduce from 16to nine. Brown continued his forward thinkiny in 2007 bycreatingv new, detailed financial analysis of revenue segments and productd -- including plans for a new respiratory airway producf -- and improving employees' retiremeny plan options.
Scott Lowe, For Surgery Partnerss and CFO Lowe, 2007 was a year of moving and The company, which provides development and managementt for physician practices and multisite ambulatory surgeryt centers, upped its annual sales by 56 percent. Durinhg Lowe's tenure, net revenues have risen, due in part to the acquisitionb or construction of eight ambulatorysurgery centers. Lowe cited credibilith with the medical community and aggressive research efforts to target markets and specificc ambulatory surgery centers for acquisition as importangt strategic initiatives forSurgert Partners, which is based in Jeffrey P. Seligsohn, Old Harbor Bank The St.
Petersburg roots of Seligsohh mesh well with the local philosophy of Old Harbor where Seligsohn servesas CFO. a King High School graduate who was born on MacDil l AirForce Base, was a veteranb of the St. Petersburg bankinv industry before he helpedf start Old Harbor Bankin 2003. With the guidancer of the trumpet-playing motorcycle enthusiast, Old Harbor has steadily increasedc sales, by an average of more than $4 millioh per year during the lastthree years. Finding the righ t products and services for local businesses and consumers requires a feel for the people in the Tampa Bay somethingthat Seligsohn's community involvement has afforded him amplew opportunity to gain. Kenneth J.
Cruley, Senior VP, Secretary and CFO If Cruley's management philosophy was expressed in terms of breakfast eating it might go somethinglike "come early, eat oftebn and never be When Cruley arrived in 1996 as CFO of Firsy Watch, the daytime-only dining restaurant had 12 locationsx in five states. First which was founded in Bradentonin 1983, now has 78 locationxs in 11 states. Cruley worked with the company' independently owned and operated First Watch franchises to consolidate the restaurantsz into First Watch Restaurants a restructuring that put the companhy in a better positionto grow.
Annualk sales at First Watch rose from 2005 to and the company planw to open 100 restaurantsby 2009. Aris Rogers, Streamlining financiakl operations has been the hallmark of initiatives as CFO of AmericaII Corp., a semiconductot distribution and supply chain management company in St. Petersburg. Rogers has revampeds the company's enterprise resource planning improving the accuracy and timeliness of informatio delivery and increasingprocess efficiencies. The changes, whicuh required that Rogers galvanizer the efforts of diversee personneland departments, put America II in a betterd position for future growth and have improvee the company's relations with supplyt chain partners.
Rogers, who also serves on the boardd on the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association, joined America II in 1993. Deannm Wojcicki, The Sembler Company If shopping for a financial manager that values efficiency and it would be hard to find a better buy than CFO of The Sembler a nationally known developer of shopping centerds basedin St. Wojcicki, who joined in 1989, is responsible for processing thousands of transactionxevery month.
William C. Brown, When Brown took over as CFO at MercuryyEnterprises Inc. nine years ago, the company had audits and budget s months overdue and a litany of issueewith accounting. Under Brown's leadership, the Clearwater compangy has made anaccounting 180-degreed turn, and revenues have increased by 50 percent. Durinh the same time, staf f levels in accounting and technology have been reduce from 16to nine. Brown continued his forward thinkiny in 2007 bycreatingv new, detailed financial analysis of revenue segments and productd -- including plans for a new respiratory airway producf -- and improving employees' retiremeny plan options.
Scott Lowe, For Surgery Partnerss and CFO Lowe, 2007 was a year of moving and The company, which provides development and managementt for physician practices and multisite ambulatory surgeryt centers, upped its annual sales by 56 percent. Durinhg Lowe's tenure, net revenues have risen, due in part to the acquisitionb or construction of eight ambulatorysurgery centers. Lowe cited credibilith with the medical community and aggressive research efforts to target markets and specificc ambulatory surgery centers for acquisition as importangt strategic initiatives forSurgert Partners, which is based in Jeffrey P. Seligsohn, Old Harbor Bank The St.
Petersburg roots of Seligsohh mesh well with the local philosophy of Old Harbor where Seligsohn servesas CFO. a King High School graduate who was born on MacDil l AirForce Base, was a veteranb of the St. Petersburg bankinv industry before he helpedf start Old Harbor Bankin 2003. With the guidancer of the trumpet-playing motorcycle enthusiast, Old Harbor has steadily increasedc sales, by an average of more than $4 millioh per year during the lastthree years. Finding the righ t products and services for local businesses and consumers requires a feel for the people in the Tampa Bay somethingthat Seligsohn's community involvement has afforded him amplew opportunity to gain. Kenneth J.
Cruley, Senior VP, Secretary and CFO If Cruley's management philosophy was expressed in terms of breakfast eating it might go somethinglike "come early, eat oftebn and never be When Cruley arrived in 1996 as CFO of Firsy Watch, the daytime-only dining restaurant had 12 locationsx in five states. First which was founded in Bradentonin 1983, now has 78 locationxs in 11 states. Cruley worked with the company' independently owned and operated First Watch franchises to consolidate the restaurantsz into First Watch Restaurants a restructuring that put the companhy in a better positionto grow.
Annualk sales at First Watch rose from 2005 to and the company planw to open 100 restaurantsby 2009. Aris Rogers, Streamlining financiakl operations has been the hallmark of initiatives as CFO of AmericaII Corp., a semiconductot distribution and supply chain management company in St. Petersburg. Rogers has revampeds the company's enterprise resource planning improving the accuracy and timeliness of informatio delivery and increasingprocess efficiencies. The changes, whicuh required that Rogers galvanizer the efforts of diversee personneland departments, put America II in a betterd position for future growth and have improvee the company's relations with supplyt chain partners.
Rogers, who also serves on the boardd on the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association, joined America II in 1993. Deannm Wojcicki, The Sembler Company If shopping for a financial manager that values efficiency and it would be hard to find a better buy than CFO of The Sembler a nationally known developer of shopping centerds basedin St. Wojcicki, who joined in 1989, is responsible for processing thousands of transactionxevery month.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Oncor seeks $300M in stimulus funds - Dallas Business Journal:
utyziluz.wordpress.com
Oncor will apply for the funds througbh the American Recovery and Reinvestment Actof 2009. The deadliner to apply is Aug. 6. Citingb data from the Council ofEconomic Advisers, Oncor believes the stimulus funds woulde support the creation of 1,600 jobs in 2010. If the funding is Oncor will spend the money to deplohy moresmart switches, which will help the energy companty isolate problems in neighborhoods and reconfigurw power lines. Other enhancements will include controllingt the feeder voltage throughthe company’s capacitofr control and enhancements that will help the electrivc provider locate electric delivery problems in a more efficient manner, Oncor said.
In addition, downtownh electric networks will be modernizeedunder Oncor’s proposed plan. Oncor also is aimingy to improve itstelecommunicationse network, an improvement that will enhancw the company’s power grid. “Oncor’s vision for a modern, interactive, intuitiver electric grid is real, tangible and happeninf now,” said Oncor Chairman and CEO Bob “Our first considerations in seeking theses stimulus grants are whethee the funds will help consumers lower their electric bills or advance smart grid initiativew to improve serviceand That’s where we have focused our attentio and energy.
”
Oncor will apply for the funds througbh the American Recovery and Reinvestment Actof 2009. The deadliner to apply is Aug. 6. Citingb data from the Council ofEconomic Advisers, Oncor believes the stimulus funds woulde support the creation of 1,600 jobs in 2010. If the funding is Oncor will spend the money to deplohy moresmart switches, which will help the energy companty isolate problems in neighborhoods and reconfigurw power lines. Other enhancements will include controllingt the feeder voltage throughthe company’s capacitofr control and enhancements that will help the electrivc provider locate electric delivery problems in a more efficient manner, Oncor said.
In addition, downtownh electric networks will be modernizeedunder Oncor’s proposed plan. Oncor also is aimingy to improve itstelecommunicationse network, an improvement that will enhancw the company’s power grid. “Oncor’s vision for a modern, interactive, intuitiver electric grid is real, tangible and happeninf now,” said Oncor Chairman and CEO Bob “Our first considerations in seeking theses stimulus grants are whethee the funds will help consumers lower their electric bills or advance smart grid initiativew to improve serviceand That’s where we have focused our attentio and energy.
”
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Plumber: Stylish bathroom furniture - The Seattle Times
yfimuna.wordpress.com
Plumber: Stylish bathroom furniture The Seattle Times But today, most major plumbing product companies carry complete lines of bathroom furniture customized to fit their sink tops. One final tip: This is a high-end piece of furniture that usually has to stay with the house. So, invest knowing that you ... |
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tourism group honors best of tourism promos - Dayton Business Journal:
vavyzina.wordpress.com
The Tourism Industry Association Recognition orTIARA Awards, highlight excellence and creativ e accomplishment in travel marketing and The Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, whicn hosted the TANM conference, took home the awars for . The village of Chama won an honorablwe mention for itsvisitorsd guide. The best went to the Chocolate Turtle Bed Breakfastin Corrales. Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino receiverd honorable mention. Buffalo Thunder took top honors for best print advertising and for outstandin new event for its grande openinglast year.
The Rio Rancho Convention and Visitor’ Bureau “Pork & was named top outstanding recurring Roswell’s UFO Festival earned an honorable mention inthat category. The most innovative promotion award went to the Albuquerque Conventio n and Visitors BureauHoliday Video, “Life of a Brownm Paper Bag.” The award for most successfu public relations effort was divided into three categories. Bishop’s Lodg Ranch Resort & Spa won the privat sector category for its 90thanniversargy celebration.
The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau earnef top kudos forits , with the town of Taos takin honorable mention for its annual public relations And the top award for presss tours went to the state’s Nort h Central Tourism Region. More information is available at TANM'sa . Next year’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism, co-sponsored by TANM and the New MexicokTourism Department, will be at Buffalo Thunderf Resort & Casino in Santa Fe, Aprilo 19-21.
The Tourism Industry Association Recognition orTIARA Awards, highlight excellence and creativ e accomplishment in travel marketing and The Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, whicn hosted the TANM conference, took home the awars for . The village of Chama won an honorablwe mention for itsvisitorsd guide. The best went to the Chocolate Turtle Bed Breakfastin Corrales. Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino receiverd honorable mention. Buffalo Thunder took top honors for best print advertising and for outstandin new event for its grande openinglast year.
The Rio Rancho Convention and Visitor’ Bureau “Pork & was named top outstanding recurring Roswell’s UFO Festival earned an honorable mention inthat category. The most innovative promotion award went to the Albuquerque Conventio n and Visitors BureauHoliday Video, “Life of a Brownm Paper Bag.” The award for most successfu public relations effort was divided into three categories. Bishop’s Lodg Ranch Resort & Spa won the privat sector category for its 90thanniversargy celebration.
The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau earnef top kudos forits , with the town of Taos takin honorable mention for its annual public relations And the top award for presss tours went to the state’s Nort h Central Tourism Region. More information is available at TANM'sa . Next year’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism, co-sponsored by TANM and the New MexicokTourism Department, will be at Buffalo Thunderf Resort & Casino in Santa Fe, Aprilo 19-21.
Friday, December 16, 2011
A first-rate second chance - Kansas City Business Journal:
loxezop.wordpress.com
The thought of hiring ex-offenders sends a shudder througjhsome employers. But for Taylor, plangt manager of in Olathe, the practice is logica and familiar. "If you give somebodyu a chance when nobody else will give them a they are going to be the most loyap and hardworking employees thatyou have," he said. Eighteen of 22 employeexs at Royal Metal's Olathe plant are Taylor said hetargets ex-offenders for employment becausre he knows what it meane to get a second chance. A seven-time convictedc felon, Taylor left a drug and crime-fillex life behind when Royal Metal hired him as a laborer 10years ago.
The benefitsd to hiring ex-offenders can add up to much more than personap gratification for manufacturing companies grappling with a nationwidde shortage ofskilled workers, he said. Many of the peoplew Taylor hires are on work release and use that transportation so heknows they'll be on time ever y day. He said they also have grea attitudes and are willing to work hard becausee they would rather be at work than lockecd in their room at ahalfway house. Drugs aren't a problem either because theit probation officershandle testing. Hiring and training ex-offendera straight out of jail is also part of a strategh that keepspayroll down.
"Wee train and teach them, but our pay scalw isn't going to grow very high," Taylof said. "These are jobs that have prettgy high pay scales once you learnthe trade. So once they have they often move on to bigger and better and we start over from Scott Anglemyer, executive director of , said manufacturerxs often are the strongest partners for Kansas City area organizationsd finding work for people released from prisomn or jail. He said retailerxs often are concernedabout ex-offenders handling monety or merchandise. Laws prevent many financial servicees firms fromhiring felons. "Manufacturers don't have thos types of restrictions for themost part," Anglemyer said.
"Ther e are a lot of manufacturers out ther who understand the plight of individuals with a criminapl background who maybe made one bad mistakw and are now paying for it the rest oftheir lives." Based in Kansas City, Kan., Workforce Partnershipl is one of many area organizations that help find work for peoplse released from prison or John Casner, the organization's coordinator of re-entry services, touts tax credits and othee incentives to encourage employers to hire The federal Work Opportunities program offers a 25 percentr tax credit for the first $6,000 of pay for ex-offendera working at least 120 hours duringt their first year of employment.
If the employee works more than400 hours, the tax credit can reach as much as 40 percent for the firsr $6,000. If an employer trainz an ex-offender for a job, the Workforce Investmenf Act program can reimburse as muchas $3,00p0 of the cost and then reimburse 50 percent of the employee' salary for three to six depending on the complexity of the job. Another federal program providese a free bond for as long as a year for companiesz thatrequire bonding. Brandi Jahnke, regional director for in Kansas City, said the paperwork scares off some companiees considering theincentive programs. Her organization, devoted to helping clients become self-reliant, help employers fill it out.
As interesterd as employers often are abou thetax credits, Jahnke said more are interestes in hiring ex-offenders because of the support system arounr them. Connections to Success provides mentoring and helpsxwith transportation, child care, health problemx and other issues. "When an ex-offender enrollws with our program, they've committed to be with us for at leastfa year," Jahnke said. "If there is a employers can call us, and we trouble-shoot for them. We're that additional support, and if you're hiring someone off the street, they may not have She said many employers who givean ex-offendet a job often are pleased and call back for furthe leads.
Royal Metal's Taylor offers himself as an exampls when encouraging other employers tohire ex-offenders. Instead of serving time behind bars, now he's servingv as a volunteer at the Johnsohn County Department of Corrections andhelping ex-offenders turn their lives around. "They aren't going to stay lockef up forever," he said. "Eventually, they are goinbg to get out and be your So wouldn't you rather have them employed and makintg a decent living instead of going back to a life of
The thought of hiring ex-offenders sends a shudder througjhsome employers. But for Taylor, plangt manager of in Olathe, the practice is logica and familiar. "If you give somebodyu a chance when nobody else will give them a they are going to be the most loyap and hardworking employees thatyou have," he said. Eighteen of 22 employeexs at Royal Metal's Olathe plant are Taylor said hetargets ex-offenders for employment becausre he knows what it meane to get a second chance. A seven-time convictedc felon, Taylor left a drug and crime-fillex life behind when Royal Metal hired him as a laborer 10years ago.
The benefitsd to hiring ex-offenders can add up to much more than personap gratification for manufacturing companies grappling with a nationwidde shortage ofskilled workers, he said. Many of the peoplew Taylor hires are on work release and use that transportation so heknows they'll be on time ever y day. He said they also have grea attitudes and are willing to work hard becausee they would rather be at work than lockecd in their room at ahalfway house. Drugs aren't a problem either because theit probation officershandle testing. Hiring and training ex-offendera straight out of jail is also part of a strategh that keepspayroll down.
"Wee train and teach them, but our pay scalw isn't going to grow very high," Taylof said. "These are jobs that have prettgy high pay scales once you learnthe trade. So once they have they often move on to bigger and better and we start over from Scott Anglemyer, executive director of , said manufacturerxs often are the strongest partners for Kansas City area organizationsd finding work for people released from prisomn or jail. He said retailerxs often are concernedabout ex-offenders handling monety or merchandise. Laws prevent many financial servicees firms fromhiring felons. "Manufacturers don't have thos types of restrictions for themost part," Anglemyer said.
"Ther e are a lot of manufacturers out ther who understand the plight of individuals with a criminapl background who maybe made one bad mistakw and are now paying for it the rest oftheir lives." Based in Kansas City, Kan., Workforce Partnershipl is one of many area organizations that help find work for peoplse released from prison or John Casner, the organization's coordinator of re-entry services, touts tax credits and othee incentives to encourage employers to hire The federal Work Opportunities program offers a 25 percentr tax credit for the first $6,000 of pay for ex-offendera working at least 120 hours duringt their first year of employment.
If the employee works more than400 hours, the tax credit can reach as much as 40 percent for the firsr $6,000. If an employer trainz an ex-offender for a job, the Workforce Investmenf Act program can reimburse as muchas $3,00p0 of the cost and then reimburse 50 percent of the employee' salary for three to six depending on the complexity of the job. Another federal program providese a free bond for as long as a year for companiesz thatrequire bonding. Brandi Jahnke, regional director for in Kansas City, said the paperwork scares off some companiees considering theincentive programs. Her organization, devoted to helping clients become self-reliant, help employers fill it out.
As interesterd as employers often are abou thetax credits, Jahnke said more are interestes in hiring ex-offenders because of the support system arounr them. Connections to Success provides mentoring and helpsxwith transportation, child care, health problemx and other issues. "When an ex-offender enrollws with our program, they've committed to be with us for at leastfa year," Jahnke said. "If there is a employers can call us, and we trouble-shoot for them. We're that additional support, and if you're hiring someone off the street, they may not have She said many employers who givean ex-offendet a job often are pleased and call back for furthe leads.
Royal Metal's Taylor offers himself as an exampls when encouraging other employers tohire ex-offenders. Instead of serving time behind bars, now he's servingv as a volunteer at the Johnsohn County Department of Corrections andhelping ex-offenders turn their lives around. "They aren't going to stay lockef up forever," he said. "Eventually, they are goinbg to get out and be your So wouldn't you rather have them employed and makintg a decent living instead of going back to a life of
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
GM enters bankruptcy filing - Phoenix Business Journal:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-oldx automaker — once the world’a biggest company and Western New York’ds largest manufacturing employer fordecadew — is among the largest in U.S. history and largest-evetr U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the compan to operate while protected from its pushes GM intoa fast-track bankruptcy and provides $30 billio of additional taxpayer funds to restructure itself.
Generao Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said in a preparedd statement that GM was being reinventeed and that the company is ready for the jobat "The economic crisis has causef enormous disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunityu for us to reinvent our business. We are going to do it once and do it The court-supervised process we are pursuingv provides us with powerful toolas to accelerate and complete our as well as strong safeguards for our customerd and our business," he The GM plan as detailed by U.S. official would allow a much smallet GM to emerge from courtr protection within 60 to90 days. GM also plansx to close 11 U.S.
facilitiee and idle another three plant s by the endof 2010. GM’s Tonawanda engine where 1,100 people will remain open. The automaker has not providedx an updated target for job cuts but was lookinh toeliminate 21,000 U.S. factorgy jobs from the 54,000 union members it now Also not immediately clear iswhat GM’s bankruptcy filint will mean for ’s plantsa in Lockport, Rochester and threee others. General Motors plans to take back the facilitiezs from the former parts subsidiart that it spun offin 1999, according to a tentativde deal reached last week between GM and the UAW.
The factoriez in New York, Michigan and Indians would operateunder Delphi’s union rules, but be considered part of GM, once The Lockport plant — Delph i Thermal Systems, which has 2,10 employees — was founded as Harrison Radiator Co. in 1910 and becames part of GMin 1918. For 81 years it operated under General Motors ownership untipl the independentDelphi Corp. was Delphi itself is operating under bankruptcy courtr supervision having filed for Chapter 11 inOctobee 2005. The Troy, Mich.-based company was read to emerge from bankruptcy in April 2008 but thosew plans fell apart when a key investor droppeed out ofa $2.
55 billion stock deal with the General Motors employs 92,000 in the Unitedd States and is indirectly responsible for 500,000 retirees. The U.S. government woulx hold a 60 percent financial interest in a reorganizerd GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percent The governments of Canada and the provinc of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percentg ownership stake in exchange for financialk aid. GM bondholders would get 10
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-oldx automaker — once the world’a biggest company and Western New York’ds largest manufacturing employer fordecadew — is among the largest in U.S. history and largest-evetr U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the compan to operate while protected from its pushes GM intoa fast-track bankruptcy and provides $30 billio of additional taxpayer funds to restructure itself.
Generao Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said in a preparedd statement that GM was being reinventeed and that the company is ready for the jobat "The economic crisis has causef enormous disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunityu for us to reinvent our business. We are going to do it once and do it The court-supervised process we are pursuingv provides us with powerful toolas to accelerate and complete our as well as strong safeguards for our customerd and our business," he The GM plan as detailed by U.S. official would allow a much smallet GM to emerge from courtr protection within 60 to90 days. GM also plansx to close 11 U.S.
facilitiee and idle another three plant s by the endof 2010. GM’s Tonawanda engine where 1,100 people will remain open. The automaker has not providedx an updated target for job cuts but was lookinh toeliminate 21,000 U.S. factorgy jobs from the 54,000 union members it now Also not immediately clear iswhat GM’s bankruptcy filint will mean for ’s plantsa in Lockport, Rochester and threee others. General Motors plans to take back the facilitiezs from the former parts subsidiart that it spun offin 1999, according to a tentativde deal reached last week between GM and the UAW.
The factoriez in New York, Michigan and Indians would operateunder Delphi’s union rules, but be considered part of GM, once The Lockport plant — Delph i Thermal Systems, which has 2,10 employees — was founded as Harrison Radiator Co. in 1910 and becames part of GMin 1918. For 81 years it operated under General Motors ownership untipl the independentDelphi Corp. was Delphi itself is operating under bankruptcy courtr supervision having filed for Chapter 11 inOctobee 2005. The Troy, Mich.-based company was read to emerge from bankruptcy in April 2008 but thosew plans fell apart when a key investor droppeed out ofa $2.
55 billion stock deal with the General Motors employs 92,000 in the Unitedd States and is indirectly responsible for 500,000 retirees. The U.S. government woulx hold a 60 percent financial interest in a reorganizerd GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percent The governments of Canada and the provinc of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percentg ownership stake in exchange for financialk aid. GM bondholders would get 10
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Warren Buffett sells remaining Constellation shares - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
ivyhofy.wordpress.com
Buffett, his company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), and that company’s subsidiarg , are each no longer stockholders inConstellation CEG), according to a form with the Securitiess and Exchange Commission filed Monday. They have been slowlyy divesting the stock over the past weekwsand months, owning 7.3 percent in Februaryy and 6.3 percent last The sale ends the relationship betweeh the investor and one of two Fortune 500 companies in Baltimore Iowa-based MidAmerican got a 10 percent stakde in Constellation when its $4.7 billionb bid for the company made in September was rejected three months late.
That offer came afte a cash crunch led to a steel declinein Constellation’s stockj price over several days and some investorw feared bankruptcy. Constellation spurned the offer in favor of a deal tosell 49.99 percen of its nuclear business for $4.5 billion to Frencjh firm , which had also been in the bidding for the compangy in September. For the Constellation had to pay $175 million in breakup fees and $418 millionm for stocks. It also had to repay a $1 billioj loan from Buffett with 14 percent A decision on whether the deal with EDF requires Marylandr approval is expected in a The deal is expectedc to closethis fall.
Buffett, his company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), and that company’s subsidiarg , are each no longer stockholders inConstellation CEG), according to a form with the Securitiess and Exchange Commission filed Monday. They have been slowlyy divesting the stock over the past weekwsand months, owning 7.3 percent in Februaryy and 6.3 percent last The sale ends the relationship betweeh the investor and one of two Fortune 500 companies in Baltimore Iowa-based MidAmerican got a 10 percent stakde in Constellation when its $4.7 billionb bid for the company made in September was rejected three months late.
That offer came afte a cash crunch led to a steel declinein Constellation’s stockj price over several days and some investorw feared bankruptcy. Constellation spurned the offer in favor of a deal tosell 49.99 percen of its nuclear business for $4.5 billion to Frencjh firm , which had also been in the bidding for the compangy in September. For the Constellation had to pay $175 million in breakup fees and $418 millionm for stocks. It also had to repay a $1 billioj loan from Buffett with 14 percent A decision on whether the deal with EDF requires Marylandr approval is expected in a The deal is expectedc to closethis fall.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Canal Side hotel site may be on move - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
hyperwave-exhausted.blogspot.com
The hotel concept, while stilll preliminary, may be a highlight of a slightluy tweaked development plan forthe $315 milliohn Canal Side project, pegged for the lower Main Street just south of the New York State Thruway. Cana l Side was unveiled in Decembeeby , the local arm of , whichu is charged with overseeing projects alongy Buffalo’s waterfront. Canal Side’s finalk development plans will be shown to the public in July as part of a series of mandated public hearings connecte d to environmental reviews ofthe project.
The environmentalk reviews are due to be completed this Movingthe hotel, rumored to be one from the Marriotyt corporate family, is perhaps the biggesy adjustment in the Canal Side development plan. proposed renovating the eight-story Donovabn Building into a multi-use complexc anchored by a hotel. Sourcee now indicate the Donovan Building may be primarily used for Clas A office space and apartmentseor condos. A hotel is consideref a crucial element inCanal Side’s overall development The Webster block is currentlyy used as a surface parking lot for downtown workersa during the day and for patrons attending events at HSBC Arena on nightse and weekends.
The block is located between HSBC Atrium and thearena and, at one was considered the site of a proposef 14-story Adelphia Tower. Matt spokesman for Erie Canal HarborDevelopment Corp., said while the Cana l Side plan is being revised, the agency’s primary focus remaind on finishing the demolition of Memorial Auditoriumj and preparing for construction of a 150,000-square-foot Bass Pro store to anchor the downtown development project.
The hotel concept, while stilll preliminary, may be a highlight of a slightluy tweaked development plan forthe $315 milliohn Canal Side project, pegged for the lower Main Street just south of the New York State Thruway. Cana l Side was unveiled in Decembeeby , the local arm of , whichu is charged with overseeing projects alongy Buffalo’s waterfront. Canal Side’s finalk development plans will be shown to the public in July as part of a series of mandated public hearings connecte d to environmental reviews ofthe project.
The environmentalk reviews are due to be completed this Movingthe hotel, rumored to be one from the Marriotyt corporate family, is perhaps the biggesy adjustment in the Canal Side development plan. proposed renovating the eight-story Donovabn Building into a multi-use complexc anchored by a hotel. Sourcee now indicate the Donovan Building may be primarily used for Clas A office space and apartmentseor condos. A hotel is consideref a crucial element inCanal Side’s overall development The Webster block is currentlyy used as a surface parking lot for downtown workersa during the day and for patrons attending events at HSBC Arena on nightse and weekends.
The block is located between HSBC Atrium and thearena and, at one was considered the site of a proposef 14-story Adelphia Tower. Matt spokesman for Erie Canal HarborDevelopment Corp., said while the Cana l Side plan is being revised, the agency’s primary focus remaind on finishing the demolition of Memorial Auditoriumj and preparing for construction of a 150,000-square-foot Bass Pro store to anchor the downtown development project.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Global warming: New study concludes recent temperature increases are well ... - Summit County Citizens Voice
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
ZME Science | Global warming: New study concludes recent temperature increases are well ... Summit County Citizens Voice By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY รข€" The Earth's current rate of warming is well outside the natural range of climate variability, and at least 75 percent of the increase in temperatures in recent decades can be attributed to human ac tivity, according to a ... Three-quarters of climate change is man-made It's "Extremely Likely That at Least 74% of Observed Warming Since 1950" Was ... Human Factor Huge on Climate Change |
Monday, December 5, 2011
Marketing, ad firms share space, skills - San Francisco Business Times:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
The owners of the firms — , and LLC represent decades of advertising experience and operate out of the former barn at S66 W14523Janesville Road, Muskego. While all three serve their own cadre of they also collaborate with each other using different Dan Buttery, 39, owner and president of HVT Marketinv Corp., moved into the space in September but has spent most of his time at the , wherse he helped promote both the Body Worldas exhibit from February to June 2008 and the Titanidc exhibit, which opened in fall 2008 and closed at the end of May. HVT, whicgh Buttery started in 2004, began after he was forcef into retirement fromthe U.S.
Army Reserve aftetr suffering a back injuryu while on duty in Buttery said he has worked with more than 350 clientsd and experienced an averagr of 20 percent annual growth in saledssince 2004, with 2009 sales approachingg $100,000. Mary Bridges, director of marketing and communications at the MilwaukeerPublic Museum, said Buttery’s work helped the museuj surpass attendance goals for both exhibits. “I attribute (record attendance) in part to efforts from planning and assistingthe media,” she said. “He is very organizecd and very professional.
” Moving to the renovated where he collaborates with the other hasmade Buttery’s firm more “It addresses flexibility in pricing wherwe the client is still gettinv a premium service from all of us who are senior level but you only pay for it when you need he said. Scott Lynch, 42, presidentf of Arsenal Advertising Inc., said he and partner Steve Clementi, 37, movee into the space in September 2008 after leaving corporate advertisingv jobs to strike out ontheir own.
“We saw an opportunityg to create a business that could be a little bit more nimble and provide clients withbettet value,” said Lynch, former vice president and creativre director at , formerly known as along with Clementi, formert senior art director at Nonbox, started theit company in June 2008 and sincde that time have secured 14 clients, including the , Milwaukee, and , First year annual capitalized billingsd are estimated to top $830,000. The 2,400-square-foot barn was purchased in 2006 byScotr Conklin, 45, and Jay Harris, 46, partnerws at Hac Job Image Craftingt LLC, which they founded in 2004.
Hac Job, whichh provides imaging utilizing Photoshop and3D technology, takes up abouy two-thirds of the first floor of the and includes work stations that are fittec onto wheels which can be easily mover to increase studio space when With 50 clients nationwide and annual sales approaching $400,000, Conklin and Harris have used the talents of Lyncyh as well as Buttery. “They help us and we help It’s been great,” Conklin said. All three firms have been tappedr to work on a project for MRZ Promotions inPort Washington.
Patrick Baudhuin, vice president of marketiny and promotionsfor MRZ, said HVT has provided pricing and market researchj for a new digita billboard that will be installedr inside taxi cabs. Baudhuin said once the producgtis launched, Arsenal and possibly Hac Job woulr then provide the creative work for the advertisements.
The owners of the firms — , and LLC represent decades of advertising experience and operate out of the former barn at S66 W14523Janesville Road, Muskego. While all three serve their own cadre of they also collaborate with each other using different Dan Buttery, 39, owner and president of HVT Marketinv Corp., moved into the space in September but has spent most of his time at the , wherse he helped promote both the Body Worldas exhibit from February to June 2008 and the Titanidc exhibit, which opened in fall 2008 and closed at the end of May. HVT, whicgh Buttery started in 2004, began after he was forcef into retirement fromthe U.S.
Army Reserve aftetr suffering a back injuryu while on duty in Buttery said he has worked with more than 350 clientsd and experienced an averagr of 20 percent annual growth in saledssince 2004, with 2009 sales approachingg $100,000. Mary Bridges, director of marketing and communications at the MilwaukeerPublic Museum, said Buttery’s work helped the museuj surpass attendance goals for both exhibits. “I attribute (record attendance) in part to efforts from planning and assistingthe media,” she said. “He is very organizecd and very professional.
” Moving to the renovated where he collaborates with the other hasmade Buttery’s firm more “It addresses flexibility in pricing wherwe the client is still gettinv a premium service from all of us who are senior level but you only pay for it when you need he said. Scott Lynch, 42, presidentf of Arsenal Advertising Inc., said he and partner Steve Clementi, 37, movee into the space in September 2008 after leaving corporate advertisingv jobs to strike out ontheir own.
“We saw an opportunityg to create a business that could be a little bit more nimble and provide clients withbettet value,” said Lynch, former vice president and creativre director at , formerly known as along with Clementi, formert senior art director at Nonbox, started theit company in June 2008 and sincde that time have secured 14 clients, including the , Milwaukee, and , First year annual capitalized billingsd are estimated to top $830,000. The 2,400-square-foot barn was purchased in 2006 byScotr Conklin, 45, and Jay Harris, 46, partnerws at Hac Job Image Craftingt LLC, which they founded in 2004.
Hac Job, whichh provides imaging utilizing Photoshop and3D technology, takes up abouy two-thirds of the first floor of the and includes work stations that are fittec onto wheels which can be easily mover to increase studio space when With 50 clients nationwide and annual sales approaching $400,000, Conklin and Harris have used the talents of Lyncyh as well as Buttery. “They help us and we help It’s been great,” Conklin said. All three firms have been tappedr to work on a project for MRZ Promotions inPort Washington.
Patrick Baudhuin, vice president of marketiny and promotionsfor MRZ, said HVT has provided pricing and market researchj for a new digita billboard that will be installedr inside taxi cabs. Baudhuin said once the producgtis launched, Arsenal and possibly Hac Job woulr then provide the creative work for the advertisements.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
First National enters agreement with OCC - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
antoninahubihe.blogspot.com
The agreement is an outgrowth of an OCC examinationn of the Winter Park lender in It addresses five areas of concern and requires to the bank to form a compliancs committee composed of members of its boardrof directors. The bank is undet orders to add procedures to monitor its commercial real estateloan portfolio. It also must implemenr a plan to manage loans that are deeme weak and in jeopardyof • Establishment of a program to ensure an adequater allowance for loan and lease losses. Agreement not to accept brokered depositsin exc.
essa of 10 percent of total deposits without OCC permissioj • Development of a three-year plan of operations that incorporates conditionds of the agreement. First National Chairwomam Susma Patel said in a writte statement that the bank has taken stepzs she believes put it in compliancde withthe agreement. She said regulatory agenciex are tightening standards for lenders as theeconomy deteriorates. “The downturn in real estats valuations in the Florida marke tis well-publicized and, as a result, regulatory agenciee are expecting a higher standard of procedurak monitoring of loans secured by commercial real she said.
The agreement is an outgrowth of an OCC examinationn of the Winter Park lender in It addresses five areas of concern and requires to the bank to form a compliancs committee composed of members of its boardrof directors. The bank is undet orders to add procedures to monitor its commercial real estateloan portfolio. It also must implemenr a plan to manage loans that are deeme weak and in jeopardyof • Establishment of a program to ensure an adequater allowance for loan and lease losses. Agreement not to accept brokered depositsin exc.
essa of 10 percent of total deposits without OCC permissioj • Development of a three-year plan of operations that incorporates conditionds of the agreement. First National Chairwomam Susma Patel said in a writte statement that the bank has taken stepzs she believes put it in compliancde withthe agreement. She said regulatory agenciex are tightening standards for lenders as theeconomy deteriorates. “The downturn in real estats valuations in the Florida marke tis well-publicized and, as a result, regulatory agenciee are expecting a higher standard of procedurak monitoring of loans secured by commercial real she said.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Big projects may get a little piece of stimulus package - Kansas City Business Journal:
cicugaha.wordpress.com
Although the $775 billio plan is far from being set in as littleas $90 billion may be spent on conventionall infrastructure projects such as roadds and bridges, said Charlier Sunderland, CEO of in Overland Park. “And that’s over two years,” said immediate past chairman ofthe Chicago-based . “Thag wouldn’t make much of a dent for our Brian McCarthy, CEO of the Portlands Cement Association, said the Obama administration was keeping details of the stimulues plan “pretty close to the “But I’ve heard the $90 billion figure, and I’vew heard $180 billion,” he said.
When asked whether the association was planninb to lobbyfor more, Mc-Carthy said, “Ofv course we are.” Discussion of the stimulua plan comes at a time when locapl and state money for publifc infrastructure is dwindling and the global economic crisi is choking off financing for commercialk projects. Annual U.S. sales of the primary ingredientin concrete, are expectef to fall to less than 90 million metricd tons this year from a high of 130 milliomn metric tons in 2006, McCarthy said. As a he already has heard of abougta half-dozen recent closings among the roughly 100 U.S.
cement and he said he expects “This is the biggest drop in term s of demandthat we’ve seen, really, sinces the Depression,” Sunderland said. Founded in 1882, Ash Grovre Cement operates nine cement plants In anticipation of a 12 percent dropin U.S. cemenf demand this year, following a 13 percentg drop in 2008, Ash Grove suspended production of which is ground to make Portland at its plantin Inkom, Idaho. Aboutg 45 of the plant’s 68 employeee were laid off. “This stimulus package couldn’rt come at a better time,” said Bill Clarkson Jr., vice presidenrt of both , a Kansas City-based heavy constructor, and .
“But I hope Charlid (Sunderland) is wrong” about how much will be committexdto infrastructure, Clarkson The Missouri and Kansas departments of transportatio are nearing the ends of theird multiyear highway financing plans, Clarkson and Missouri remains among the nation’s five worst statesd in terms of bridge deficiencies. “There’s also a lot of need on the Kansaas side,” Clarkson said. “Take U.S. 69 from I-435 north to 75th Streetg in Overland Park. It’ds in abysmal shape, and the traffic count has doublexd within the last10 years.
” Ed executive director of the , agreed that thered was plenty of local demand, as evidenced by a list of $781 million in ready-to-bid infrastructure projectds recently compiled by officials in Kansas City alone. Of course, that doesn’t includs the $2.5 billion in sewer improvementsw needed inKansas City, DeSoignie said. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., plans to help addresw that need by seeking atleast $25 billion in federal stimulus money for watef and sewer projects nationwide.
DeSoignie said the latest he has heard from Washingto is that the stimulus package will end up inthe $700 billionb to $900 billion range and that it will be split roughlhy in thirds among infrastructure, tax cuts, and aid to citiew and state Medicaid programs. Unfortunately for heavy DeSoignie said, the infrastructure piece may be splitt again among roadsand bridges, watefr and sewer projects, green initiatives, even libraryy projects and information technology for hospitals. He said the groupl hasn’t been given any numbers for the subcategories.
If traditionalp infrastructure is givenshort shrift, heavy constructors will have another opportunity via the federal highway bill, which is up for reauthorizatio n in the fall. But Congress could put off the reauthorization by passinbg continuing resolutions that hold spending to current orreducex levels. “They could put the whole thing off while this stimulus money is outthere churning,” DeSoignie said.
Although the $775 billio plan is far from being set in as littleas $90 billion may be spent on conventionall infrastructure projects such as roadds and bridges, said Charlier Sunderland, CEO of in Overland Park. “And that’s over two years,” said immediate past chairman ofthe Chicago-based . “Thag wouldn’t make much of a dent for our Brian McCarthy, CEO of the Portlands Cement Association, said the Obama administration was keeping details of the stimulues plan “pretty close to the “But I’ve heard the $90 billion figure, and I’vew heard $180 billion,” he said.
When asked whether the association was planninb to lobbyfor more, Mc-Carthy said, “Ofv course we are.” Discussion of the stimulua plan comes at a time when locapl and state money for publifc infrastructure is dwindling and the global economic crisi is choking off financing for commercialk projects. Annual U.S. sales of the primary ingredientin concrete, are expectef to fall to less than 90 million metricd tons this year from a high of 130 milliomn metric tons in 2006, McCarthy said. As a he already has heard of abougta half-dozen recent closings among the roughly 100 U.S.
cement and he said he expects “This is the biggest drop in term s of demandthat we’ve seen, really, sinces the Depression,” Sunderland said. Founded in 1882, Ash Grovre Cement operates nine cement plants In anticipation of a 12 percent dropin U.S. cemenf demand this year, following a 13 percentg drop in 2008, Ash Grove suspended production of which is ground to make Portland at its plantin Inkom, Idaho. Aboutg 45 of the plant’s 68 employeee were laid off. “This stimulus package couldn’rt come at a better time,” said Bill Clarkson Jr., vice presidenrt of both , a Kansas City-based heavy constructor, and .
“But I hope Charlid (Sunderland) is wrong” about how much will be committexdto infrastructure, Clarkson The Missouri and Kansas departments of transportatio are nearing the ends of theird multiyear highway financing plans, Clarkson and Missouri remains among the nation’s five worst statesd in terms of bridge deficiencies. “There’s also a lot of need on the Kansaas side,” Clarkson said. “Take U.S. 69 from I-435 north to 75th Streetg in Overland Park. It’ds in abysmal shape, and the traffic count has doublexd within the last10 years.
” Ed executive director of the , agreed that thered was plenty of local demand, as evidenced by a list of $781 million in ready-to-bid infrastructure projectds recently compiled by officials in Kansas City alone. Of course, that doesn’t includs the $2.5 billion in sewer improvementsw needed inKansas City, DeSoignie said. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., plans to help addresw that need by seeking atleast $25 billion in federal stimulus money for watef and sewer projects nationwide.
DeSoignie said the latest he has heard from Washingto is that the stimulus package will end up inthe $700 billionb to $900 billion range and that it will be split roughlhy in thirds among infrastructure, tax cuts, and aid to citiew and state Medicaid programs. Unfortunately for heavy DeSoignie said, the infrastructure piece may be splitt again among roadsand bridges, watefr and sewer projects, green initiatives, even libraryy projects and information technology for hospitals. He said the groupl hasn’t been given any numbers for the subcategories.
If traditionalp infrastructure is givenshort shrift, heavy constructors will have another opportunity via the federal highway bill, which is up for reauthorizatio n in the fall. But Congress could put off the reauthorization by passinbg continuing resolutions that hold spending to current orreducex levels. “They could put the whole thing off while this stimulus money is outthere churning,” DeSoignie said.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Helping children recover involves hurdles - Carlisle Sentinel
gavrilovaefivu.blogspot.com
Helping children recover involves hurdles Carlisle Sentinel The model involves a lot of discussion between the psychologist and child victim, laying out what's OK and not OK, what age-appropriate relationships are healthy and reassuring them that none of what transpired was their fault. ... |
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Bizouard wins IFMXF Gdansk day one - ESPN
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
ESPN | Bizouard wins IFMXF Gdansk day one ESPN Saturday was his third post-injury event this year and his first time back on the podium. He'll be one of the riders to watch in the final two events: Izzo finished in second place overall, behind Podmol, in the 2010 FIM Freestyle MX Championships. |
Thursday, November 24, 2011
FDI for multi-brand retailing gets past cabinet threshold - Hindustan Times
http://sahpac.com/utility-undergrouning.html
Indian Express | FDI for multi-brand retailing gets past cabinet threshold Hindustan Times You will soon be able to walk into a mega deep discount store run by global retailers such as Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour in your neighbourhood. the BJP and the Left, the union cabinet - at a two-hour meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ma nmohan Singh ... Government of India Unleashes Potent Phase II Reforms Cabinet to decide on raising FDI limit today |
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
State vying for big biotech facility - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
inofiquxi.wordpress.com
Modeled on the Johns Creel project, Stanton Springs includes areasfor office, research, business servicw and light industrial uses, according to its Web The company might also have an interes in the 487-acre Fort which state officials envision as a scientific research facilit y on par with The Research Triangle Park in Northn Carolina. The Georgia sites being lookefd at are concentrated around what the state is marketinhg asan “innovation crescent” — a region that spans a dozen counties surrounding Atlanta. The area stretchess from downtown’s and campuses to Athens-Clarke home of UGA.
Metro Atlanta has the skillee workforce, research institutions and state government backingf to lure a largerbiomedical development, said Eric Tomlinson, co-chairman of Georgia Bio and CEO of Atlanta-base d , who said he was not familiar with the potential biotecuh project. Atlanta’s internationally connected airport and theSavannayh port, Tomlinson said, would make the regio n attractive to vaccine manufacturingv operations, which are typicallt supported by global distribution If the project came to “it would continue Georgia’s march to become recognized as one of the key centera of biotechnology in the United States,” Tomlinson said.
“Aq lot of new industry [and investment] could mutatre around this.” The state is actively recruiting thebiotechy industry, the GRA’s Cassidy said. “All of the signalsd from the state are: ‘We want to recruitg and build this industry inthe state,’ ” Cassidyh said. Atlanta’s strengths as a globally accessible location make the region attractived for a globalbiomedicalk company, just as it does for , and , said Tom managing director at Georgia Venture Partners. “Thre industry is looking for ways to save costs andincreaseed efficiency, through consolidation,” said Callaway, who was not familiar with Projecgt Boss.
“For [a company] to identify Georgiaq as a place to potentially consolidatee would be a signal tothe ... biotecgh industry that Georgia’s open for business.”
Modeled on the Johns Creel project, Stanton Springs includes areasfor office, research, business servicw and light industrial uses, according to its Web The company might also have an interes in the 487-acre Fort which state officials envision as a scientific research facilit y on par with The Research Triangle Park in Northn Carolina. The Georgia sites being lookefd at are concentrated around what the state is marketinhg asan “innovation crescent” — a region that spans a dozen counties surrounding Atlanta. The area stretchess from downtown’s and campuses to Athens-Clarke home of UGA.
Metro Atlanta has the skillee workforce, research institutions and state government backingf to lure a largerbiomedical development, said Eric Tomlinson, co-chairman of Georgia Bio and CEO of Atlanta-base d , who said he was not familiar with the potential biotecuh project. Atlanta’s internationally connected airport and theSavannayh port, Tomlinson said, would make the regio n attractive to vaccine manufacturingv operations, which are typicallt supported by global distribution If the project came to “it would continue Georgia’s march to become recognized as one of the key centera of biotechnology in the United States,” Tomlinson said.
“Aq lot of new industry [and investment] could mutatre around this.” The state is actively recruiting thebiotechy industry, the GRA’s Cassidy said. “All of the signalsd from the state are: ‘We want to recruitg and build this industry inthe state,’ ” Cassidyh said. Atlanta’s strengths as a globally accessible location make the region attractived for a globalbiomedicalk company, just as it does for , and , said Tom managing director at Georgia Venture Partners. “Thre industry is looking for ways to save costs andincreaseed efficiency, through consolidation,” said Callaway, who was not familiar with Projecgt Boss.
“For [a company] to identify Georgiaq as a place to potentially consolidatee would be a signal tothe ... biotecgh industry that Georgia’s open for business.”
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Monti Wins Broad Support in Parliament - New York Times
hydiuco.blogspot.com
Monti Wins Broad Support in Parliament New York Times Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy on Friday won broad support in Parliament for his new government รข€" whose mission will be to spur growth and reduce debt during a Europe-wide economic crisis รข€" and called on lawmakers to work ... |
Friday, November 18, 2011
Judge rules against Foreclosuresdaily, Kane, Vanhoose, others - Nashville Business Journal:
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
Hillsborough County Circuit JudgeJame M. Barton II decided the case Feb. 29, but it wasn’tt released until the end of March. The suit was fileed by Fifth ThirdBank Jan. 5 against Foreclosuresdaily, Irwib H. Cantor, Nancy Cantor, Michaelk J. Kane, David Vanhoose, Deborah Johnso and Michael Parisi claiming the company owed morethan $495,000 on a line of credit as well as $30,0000 on a bankcard. Kane and Vanhoosse are co-founders of Foreclosuresdaily, while the Johnson and Parisi were Kane could not be reachedfor comment. Previous listesd numbers for Foreclosuresdaily were no longer working. Foreclosuresdaily vacated its office in January soon afterd Fifth Thirdbank sued.
A secone lawsuit is pending in Pinellas County byclaiming $1.3 millionh is owed, an amount that could grow to $12 million in potentiall damages. Foreclosuresdaily, fueled by a record-number of housing foreclosures, was once one of the fastestg growing companies inthe nation. listed it amony its fastest growing companies last September aftert the company grew nearly 400 percentfrom $2.8 millionm in revenue in 2005 to $14.2 million in 2007. It was the seconed fastest growing company in the Tampa Bay area in 2008 behin donly , as honored by the ’s Fast 50. The judgment was entered jointly and severally against all the partiesz and is accruing 8 percent interestin 2009.
Hillsborough County Circuit JudgeJame M. Barton II decided the case Feb. 29, but it wasn’tt released until the end of March. The suit was fileed by Fifth ThirdBank Jan. 5 against Foreclosuresdaily, Irwib H. Cantor, Nancy Cantor, Michaelk J. Kane, David Vanhoose, Deborah Johnso and Michael Parisi claiming the company owed morethan $495,000 on a line of credit as well as $30,0000 on a bankcard. Kane and Vanhoosse are co-founders of Foreclosuresdaily, while the Johnson and Parisi were Kane could not be reachedfor comment. Previous listesd numbers for Foreclosuresdaily were no longer working. Foreclosuresdaily vacated its office in January soon afterd Fifth Thirdbank sued.
A secone lawsuit is pending in Pinellas County byclaiming $1.3 millionh is owed, an amount that could grow to $12 million in potentiall damages. Foreclosuresdaily, fueled by a record-number of housing foreclosures, was once one of the fastestg growing companies inthe nation. listed it amony its fastest growing companies last September aftert the company grew nearly 400 percentfrom $2.8 millionm in revenue in 2005 to $14.2 million in 2007. It was the seconed fastest growing company in the Tampa Bay area in 2008 behin donly , as honored by the ’s Fast 50. The judgment was entered jointly and severally against all the partiesz and is accruing 8 percent interestin 2009.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Beck Group cited by OSHA over Landmark floor collapse - Dallas Business Journal:
vavyzina.wordpress.com
The has proposed $48,500 in penalties against The Beck a Dallas-based general contractor that also does business as , for nine allegec violations. The violations listed includefd improper construction ofconcrete formwork, not protecting employeesz from trip hazards, not putting rails aroundx elevator and stairwell not establishing a crosswalk through or aroundx a work zone, and improperly securing a ladder. OSHA listed all of the citationswas "serious" but did not list any of the Beck citationse as "willful." The Beck Group did not immediately return a phone call requestinhg comment. OSHA also cited subcontractod of Denver for unsafeworking conditions.
Citations issuedx against that companyby OSHA's Area Officw in Englewood, Colo., included two willful violations with proposed penaltiew of $140,000 for a structurao collapse hazard and improper shoring and bracing. CEI was also citerd for six serious violations with a proposed penaltyof $26,00p for employee exposure to collapse, fall and tripping The injured employees were involved in the placement and finishinhg of a concrete deck on the Landmarkm Tower condominium project in Greenwood Village, southeast of when the shoring, concrete and formwork collapsed, and the employees fell to the floor below.
Beck Residential contracted with CEI to provid shoring and formwork for support of the concrete framre ofthe building, an OSHA report releaserd Wednesday said. General contractors, like are responsible for providing a safe working saidJohn Healy, OSHA's area office directort in Englewood, Colo. Willful violations are those committed with an intentionalk disregard of the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and its A serious violation is definef as one committed where there is substantiap probability that death or serious physical harm could and the employer knew or shouldc have known ofthe hazard, Healy said.
The Beck Group and CEI have 15 business days from receipg of the citations to requestg a conferencewith OSHA's area or to contest the citationsz and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safetyg and Health Review Commission.
The has proposed $48,500 in penalties against The Beck a Dallas-based general contractor that also does business as , for nine allegec violations. The violations listed includefd improper construction ofconcrete formwork, not protecting employeesz from trip hazards, not putting rails aroundx elevator and stairwell not establishing a crosswalk through or aroundx a work zone, and improperly securing a ladder. OSHA listed all of the citationswas "serious" but did not list any of the Beck citationse as "willful." The Beck Group did not immediately return a phone call requestinhg comment. OSHA also cited subcontractod of Denver for unsafeworking conditions.
Citations issuedx against that companyby OSHA's Area Officw in Englewood, Colo., included two willful violations with proposed penaltiew of $140,000 for a structurao collapse hazard and improper shoring and bracing. CEI was also citerd for six serious violations with a proposed penaltyof $26,00p for employee exposure to collapse, fall and tripping The injured employees were involved in the placement and finishinhg of a concrete deck on the Landmarkm Tower condominium project in Greenwood Village, southeast of when the shoring, concrete and formwork collapsed, and the employees fell to the floor below.
Beck Residential contracted with CEI to provid shoring and formwork for support of the concrete framre ofthe building, an OSHA report releaserd Wednesday said. General contractors, like are responsible for providing a safe working saidJohn Healy, OSHA's area office directort in Englewood, Colo. Willful violations are those committed with an intentionalk disregard of the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and its A serious violation is definef as one committed where there is substantiap probability that death or serious physical harm could and the employer knew or shouldc have known ofthe hazard, Healy said.
The Beck Group and CEI have 15 business days from receipg of the citations to requestg a conferencewith OSHA's area or to contest the citationsz and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safetyg and Health Review Commission.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Enormous crowd gathers to choose Democratic mayoral candidate in Burlington - BurlingtonFreePress.com
http://electronique-concept.com/index.php/metiers/industrie.html
Enormous crowd gathers to choose Democratic mayoral candidate in Burlington BurlingtonFreePress.com A huge crowd showed up at Memorial Auditorium to choose from among four candidates for Burlington mayor. / David Farre, Burlington Free Press Four men made theirr case for becoming the Democratic candidate for Burlington mayor this afternoon, ... |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Scene: The Blue Kazoo - Toledo Blade
vilyfijohy.wordpress.com
Toledo Blade | Scene: The Blue Kazoo Toledo Blade 3 at The Claddagh Irish Pub from 8 pm to 11 pm Any recordings: People have been asking for a while and we are working on our first album, but to really experience The Blue Kazoo is to see them live. The audience makes the show and it's a band you must ... |
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
N.C. foreclosure filings drop - St. Louis Business Journal:
plesciamipukoa1855.blogspot.com
North Carolina ranked 36th in the natiom for foreclosure filingslast month. Foreclosurew filings in the state fellnearly 16.1 perceng in May from April. Across the foreclosure filings rose 18 percent in May from ayear ago. Theree were 321,480 foreclosure filings nationwide, which affected one in everyg 398 U.S. households. Nevada, California and Florida posted the top foreclosure rateslast month. Filings nationwide fell 6 percentf in Mayfrom April. Calif.-based RealtyTrac tracks default notices, auction-sale noticew and bank repossessions. Its figures exceefd those compiled bythe N.C.
Commissioner of The company counts everyforeclosure filing, including multiple filings for a singl e household. The commissioner counts each householxonly once, regardless of the number of filingws it receives.
North Carolina ranked 36th in the natiom for foreclosure filingslast month. Foreclosurew filings in the state fellnearly 16.1 perceng in May from April. Across the foreclosure filings rose 18 percent in May from ayear ago. Theree were 321,480 foreclosure filings nationwide, which affected one in everyg 398 U.S. households. Nevada, California and Florida posted the top foreclosure rateslast month. Filings nationwide fell 6 percentf in Mayfrom April. Calif.-based RealtyTrac tracks default notices, auction-sale noticew and bank repossessions. Its figures exceefd those compiled bythe N.C.
Commissioner of The company counts everyforeclosure filing, including multiple filings for a singl e household. The commissioner counts each householxonly once, regardless of the number of filingws it receives.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Week 9 injuries: Peyton Hillis out; Sam Bradford questionable - USA Today (blog)
sucujovide.wordpress.com
USA Today (blog) | Week 9 injuries: Peyton Hillis out; Sam Bradford questionable USA Today (blog) Hillis has been involved in a contract dispute and missed games due to a lingering hamstring injury and strep throat. On Friday, Hillis re-injured his hamstring in practice making his chance of playing Sunday against the Texans ... NFL: Injur y may put Peyton Hillis on sideline Peyton Hillis Injury: Browns Running Back Likely Out Again And Some Suspect ... Peyton Hillis Aggravates Hamstring Issue: Injury Update |
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Another sorry trip to Austin - KUsports
obofym.wordpress.com
Another sorry trip to Austin KUsports Both plank-walkings have had messy, sad sides to them. In the case of Mangino, who just two years earlier had coached his team to a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl title, it was sad to see him as the object of an investigation launched by his boss, ... |
Monday, October 31, 2011
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal: Tech & Innovation : Business Advice
ulyanaimiiurebor.blogspot.com
Because that's what the idea was. I woulds replace my home officetelephone line, whicyh I only use for outgoing calls, and instead start making all of my callsx over the Internet. This way I could pockett the $50 a month I've been givingg to Verizon and use those savings to buy more important things. Like … food. Except it really didn't turn out that way. Why? Becausde the Internet phone services I triedworkeds ... but just not all the Which is typical of most For example, I played arounds with Skype (www.skype.com) for a few weeks. Not bad.
Signing up for the service was free and the headser that I purchased from Staplesfor $20 only had to be replaceds once (I do not advise lending one' s headset to a 12 year old. Enough said). installing the Skype application on mylaptop didn't cause it to lock up or crasgh on me. So for that reason alone I felt that things were Once upand running, Skype did as promisedf … just about all of the time. I used the littlew computer generated keypad on my laptop to make If I called another Skype user the callwas Unfortunately, I don't really have a lot of conversationw with high school and college kids, nor do I care to reall y speak to anyone under 25.
So there's not a lot of phon e numbers in mySkype directory. you can use Skype to call a regular land line and then get chargedr a few centsper call. So that's what I mostly did. The problej was the connection. It worked. Most of the But sometimes it just didn't. Sometimee I had to call back the perso n two or three times to get a good Orspeak loudly. There were a few instances where I saidnaughty words. Then there was this one time where I trief to participate in a conference call and had to make the three other people wait whileI re-called the call-in numbet a few times until there was no crackling sounr on the phone. That was fun too. So I stoppefd using Skype.
Frustrated I turned to another Net calling service calledmagicJacok (www.magicjack.com). No, this has nothing to do with changinbg the tires ofa car. And there was no pleasuree involved. For $40 magicJack ships me a little unit that I plug into the USB port of my I then hook my office phone into the After installing theprogramk I'm able to make phone calls from my regulaer phone (not the headset I boughgt from Staples … bye-bye $20). Like Skype, magicJacl places its calls overthe Internet, along with the othet 100 trillion bits of informatiohn crossing the same pipelines. See whered I'm going here?
Their deal is that you can make unlimitedx calls you want to anyoned in the UnitedStatess (I'm told they're working on overseaas plans) for only $50 per I did the math and that's $550 less a year than I'n spending on my office line, so there you go ... magic ! Unfortunately ... not so magical. Why? Same thingg with Skype. It worked. Most of the I suffered from the occasional disconnected calls or calls that had to be or calls thatjust didn'gt sound like a very good call at all. More naughty words. More blood thinner required. In the end I brokwe down and kept my office Youwin Verizon. I just need things that work as they promised towork ...
all the I have enough headaches inmy life. I have kids and a mortgagre and dandruff. I can'yt sit around and worry that an important conversatiomn with a prospective customer is going to get cutoffv orsound horrible. Verizon's line in my officer works allthe time. It'sw one less hassle to deal with. I still keep the magicJack and Skype serviceszbecause I've had occasion to use them when traveling. Most likelhy I'll forget to cancel my subscriptionj sonow I'll be paying an extra $50 a year for next to But I'm a penny pincher. Not a Sure, it's less expensive to use these Netcallinh services. But I'm sacrificing some quality. Some dependability.
I'k giving myself more headaches. To me, it'a not worth it. These technologies are great for kidsor socializing. But to rely on them for businesds purposes, at least so far, isn't a greart idea for me.
Because that's what the idea was. I woulds replace my home officetelephone line, whicyh I only use for outgoing calls, and instead start making all of my callsx over the Internet. This way I could pockett the $50 a month I've been givingg to Verizon and use those savings to buy more important things. Like … food. Except it really didn't turn out that way. Why? Becausde the Internet phone services I triedworkeds ... but just not all the Which is typical of most For example, I played arounds with Skype (www.skype.com) for a few weeks. Not bad.
Signing up for the service was free and the headser that I purchased from Staplesfor $20 only had to be replaceds once (I do not advise lending one' s headset to a 12 year old. Enough said). installing the Skype application on mylaptop didn't cause it to lock up or crasgh on me. So for that reason alone I felt that things were Once upand running, Skype did as promisedf … just about all of the time. I used the littlew computer generated keypad on my laptop to make If I called another Skype user the callwas Unfortunately, I don't really have a lot of conversationw with high school and college kids, nor do I care to reall y speak to anyone under 25.
So there's not a lot of phon e numbers in mySkype directory. you can use Skype to call a regular land line and then get chargedr a few centsper call. So that's what I mostly did. The problej was the connection. It worked. Most of the But sometimes it just didn't. Sometimee I had to call back the perso n two or three times to get a good Orspeak loudly. There were a few instances where I saidnaughty words. Then there was this one time where I trief to participate in a conference call and had to make the three other people wait whileI re-called the call-in numbet a few times until there was no crackling sounr on the phone. That was fun too. So I stoppefd using Skype.
Frustrated I turned to another Net calling service calledmagicJacok (www.magicjack.com). No, this has nothing to do with changinbg the tires ofa car. And there was no pleasuree involved. For $40 magicJack ships me a little unit that I plug into the USB port of my I then hook my office phone into the After installing theprogramk I'm able to make phone calls from my regulaer phone (not the headset I boughgt from Staples … bye-bye $20). Like Skype, magicJacl places its calls overthe Internet, along with the othet 100 trillion bits of informatiohn crossing the same pipelines. See whered I'm going here?
Their deal is that you can make unlimitedx calls you want to anyoned in the UnitedStatess (I'm told they're working on overseaas plans) for only $50 per I did the math and that's $550 less a year than I'n spending on my office line, so there you go ... magic ! Unfortunately ... not so magical. Why? Same thingg with Skype. It worked. Most of the I suffered from the occasional disconnected calls or calls that had to be or calls thatjust didn'gt sound like a very good call at all. More naughty words. More blood thinner required. In the end I brokwe down and kept my office Youwin Verizon. I just need things that work as they promised towork ...
all the I have enough headaches inmy life. I have kids and a mortgagre and dandruff. I can'yt sit around and worry that an important conversatiomn with a prospective customer is going to get cutoffv orsound horrible. Verizon's line in my officer works allthe time. It'sw one less hassle to deal with. I still keep the magicJack and Skype serviceszbecause I've had occasion to use them when traveling. Most likelhy I'll forget to cancel my subscriptionj sonow I'll be paying an extra $50 a year for next to But I'm a penny pincher. Not a Sure, it's less expensive to use these Netcallinh services. But I'm sacrificing some quality. Some dependability.
I'k giving myself more headaches. To me, it'a not worth it. These technologies are great for kidsor socializing. But to rely on them for businesds purposes, at least so far, isn't a greart idea for me.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Developer building Jax Beach apartments - Jacksonville Business Journal:
paramonaxogilozi.blogspot.com
is building a 228-unit luxury apartment community callef Broadstone Beach House at Jacksonville The developer declined to comment on the cost of construction and the building permit information was not available bypress time. The compangy acquired the 11.2-acre site for $6.1 millio n in 2007, according to city records. The communit at 1300 Shetter Ave. is near Wingate Paws Dog Park and CradleCreej Preserve.
The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartmentds range in size from 772 square feetto 1,45 2 square feet and rents range from $990 to Amenities at Broadstone Beach House includer a swimming pool, a fitness center with flat-screem televisions on each piece of exercise equipmentf and a clubhouse with an outdoorf fireplace, a media room and a billiarda room and wireless Internet access throughout the commohn areas of the community. Phoenix-basedd Alliance Residential develops andoperatesd multi-family communities in California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington, accountingg for more than 55,000 units.
is building a 228-unit luxury apartment community callef Broadstone Beach House at Jacksonville The developer declined to comment on the cost of construction and the building permit information was not available bypress time. The compangy acquired the 11.2-acre site for $6.1 millio n in 2007, according to city records. The communit at 1300 Shetter Ave. is near Wingate Paws Dog Park and CradleCreej Preserve.
The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartmentds range in size from 772 square feetto 1,45 2 square feet and rents range from $990 to Amenities at Broadstone Beach House includer a swimming pool, a fitness center with flat-screem televisions on each piece of exercise equipmentf and a clubhouse with an outdoorf fireplace, a media room and a billiarda room and wireless Internet access throughout the commohn areas of the community. Phoenix-basedd Alliance Residential develops andoperatesd multi-family communities in California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington, accountingg for more than 55,000 units.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
First green project in foreclosure - Memphis Business Journal:
kowutoco.wordpress.com
million construction mortgage. The 33,000-square-foof Vive Verde, also knownj as EcoCentre, is the first South Florida projecf seeking Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesignn (LEED) certification from the U.S. Greenn Building Council to face Inan interview, Romano said the extra cost of the building’s gree n features is not the reason it fell into “The fact that the building is a greenb building is not why the building financially is in trouble,” Romanp said. “It has to do with a failurw to properly and adequately financially plan the building in the and I blame myselffor that.
” Despite a cost-consciousx office-leasing environment, the concept of green office buildinges is here to according to Christian Lee, vice chairman of in and Vive Verde’s foreclosure is just one entry on a long list of commerciak foreclosures that will happenn regardless of whether a building is green. He notedf that the more important factorfor Romano’s buildinhg will be office demand in Lake “Building green adds to the cost [of a building], but in the long run, any greenm building will be more attractivwe to an investor because it’s alreadyt green,” he said.
“Otherwise, new investors woulr be figuring in the cost to make it because all commercial buildings aregoing green.” Rob a LEED-accredited consultant with the Weston-based , agrees. “I don’ t think this one foreclosure on a greejn building is any commengt on the LEED system or green buildings, I think it’s just the he said. “I’m surprised because it’s a leased-upp building.” He added that Romano’s large inner courtyarf could have been downsized to fit more rental spacse inthe building, and yet still have retainede many of the environmental benefits. On May 26, Fort Lee, N.J.
-basedf filed the foreclosure action against ViveVerdes North, managing member Romano and othe r parties associated with the project, accordingg to Palm Beach County Circuit Court records. The four-story building, at 1005 Lake in Lake Worth, was completed in August. Its officwe space is about 70 percent leased, and it has two emptyu retail spaces, Romano said. The greemn features of the building work exactlyg ashe hoped, he said. A rooftop garden catchea rainwater, while condensation is collectes from the air conditione r for watering plants and ponds andflushing toilets. Grey waterf is recycled in the waterf features ofthe atrium.
The use of skylightxs and windows cuts down onelectricity usage. Many fixtures were made with recycled materials. A sign outside advertises it asa “living Inside, goldfish swim through a pond and a statue of a Nativs American bathes in the sunlight in the garden. Despite the energyg and water savings, Vive Verde Nortn has not made any payments onthe $6.9 million mortgagwe this year, said John Hart, an attorneuy with Carlton Fields in West Palm Beach who represents Meecorp in the “My client would like to get paid, but if that doesn’ t come to pass, they are preparesd to take title to the property and prepar e to get paid that way, Hart said.
Vive Verde North has a $4 milliom second mortgage with Williamsville, N.Y.-based , which is names in Meecorp’s complaint. Romano said his companty got behind on mortgage payments becausw it ran out of money and could not get the loan refinanceds by atraditional bank. “It is making me physicallyu ill that thisis happening,” he said. “Iu will continue to work night and day to make this all work These days, I’m losing a lot of sleep over He said his plan for the building was flawe from the beginning because he wrote an incorrect financia plan. He said the construction for his first development project came in on budget and its utilitiesxoperate efficiently.
Romano said the green featureds of Vive Verde attracted some although several of them would have signed leasezs in the buildingwithout them. He is confidentt the building will earn LEED but said that not opening with that designationh has not hurt the Romano was aimingfor gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Buildinh Council.
million construction mortgage. The 33,000-square-foof Vive Verde, also knownj as EcoCentre, is the first South Florida projecf seeking Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesignn (LEED) certification from the U.S. Greenn Building Council to face Inan interview, Romano said the extra cost of the building’s gree n features is not the reason it fell into “The fact that the building is a greenb building is not why the building financially is in trouble,” Romanp said. “It has to do with a failurw to properly and adequately financially plan the building in the and I blame myselffor that.
” Despite a cost-consciousx office-leasing environment, the concept of green office buildinges is here to according to Christian Lee, vice chairman of in and Vive Verde’s foreclosure is just one entry on a long list of commerciak foreclosures that will happenn regardless of whether a building is green. He notedf that the more important factorfor Romano’s buildinhg will be office demand in Lake “Building green adds to the cost [of a building], but in the long run, any greenm building will be more attractivwe to an investor because it’s alreadyt green,” he said.
“Otherwise, new investors woulr be figuring in the cost to make it because all commercial buildings aregoing green.” Rob a LEED-accredited consultant with the Weston-based , agrees. “I don’ t think this one foreclosure on a greejn building is any commengt on the LEED system or green buildings, I think it’s just the he said. “I’m surprised because it’s a leased-upp building.” He added that Romano’s large inner courtyarf could have been downsized to fit more rental spacse inthe building, and yet still have retainede many of the environmental benefits. On May 26, Fort Lee, N.J.
-basedf filed the foreclosure action against ViveVerdes North, managing member Romano and othe r parties associated with the project, accordingg to Palm Beach County Circuit Court records. The four-story building, at 1005 Lake in Lake Worth, was completed in August. Its officwe space is about 70 percent leased, and it has two emptyu retail spaces, Romano said. The greemn features of the building work exactlyg ashe hoped, he said. A rooftop garden catchea rainwater, while condensation is collectes from the air conditione r for watering plants and ponds andflushing toilets. Grey waterf is recycled in the waterf features ofthe atrium.
The use of skylightxs and windows cuts down onelectricity usage. Many fixtures were made with recycled materials. A sign outside advertises it asa “living Inside, goldfish swim through a pond and a statue of a Nativs American bathes in the sunlight in the garden. Despite the energyg and water savings, Vive Verde Nortn has not made any payments onthe $6.9 million mortgagwe this year, said John Hart, an attorneuy with Carlton Fields in West Palm Beach who represents Meecorp in the “My client would like to get paid, but if that doesn’ t come to pass, they are preparesd to take title to the property and prepar e to get paid that way, Hart said.
Vive Verde North has a $4 milliom second mortgage with Williamsville, N.Y.-based , which is names in Meecorp’s complaint. Romano said his companty got behind on mortgage payments becausw it ran out of money and could not get the loan refinanceds by atraditional bank. “It is making me physicallyu ill that thisis happening,” he said. “Iu will continue to work night and day to make this all work These days, I’m losing a lot of sleep over He said his plan for the building was flawe from the beginning because he wrote an incorrect financia plan. He said the construction for his first development project came in on budget and its utilitiesxoperate efficiently.
Romano said the green featureds of Vive Verde attracted some although several of them would have signed leasezs in the buildingwithout them. He is confidentt the building will earn LEED but said that not opening with that designationh has not hurt the Romano was aimingfor gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Buildinh Council.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Chamber summit focuses on competitiveness - New Mexico Business Weekly:
onesawava.wordpress.com
The event is designed to bring togetherthe region’s leaderd in business, government and academia to present what steps the public and private sectors can take to make New Mexico’sw economy more competitive. Speakers will include Thomas O. Hunter, presideny and director of . He will lead a presentation on researcuand innovation. Dan Lopez, presiden of New Mexico Institute of Mining andTechnologg (New Mexico Tech) will discuss the importance of education and how it can put statez ahead of others. Gene Wolf, president of Lone Wolf will speak aboutenergy issues.
A green industriew and jobs panel will feature David president ofthe ; Zane Rakes, plant managefr of Schott Solar; and Katharine president of Central New Mexico Community College. Suzanne project director of , will lead the Steve McKee, president of McKee Wallworkm Cleveland Advertising and authorof “When Growtg Stalls: How It Happens, Why You’re Stucm and What To Do About It,” will be the concludinfg keynote speaker. The is free and takesd place at the Embassy Suites hotel at 1000 Woodward Placed NE in Albuquerquefrom 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The event is sponsored by , , the University of New Mexici School of Engineering and NewMexico
The event is designed to bring togetherthe region’s leaderd in business, government and academia to present what steps the public and private sectors can take to make New Mexico’sw economy more competitive. Speakers will include Thomas O. Hunter, presideny and director of . He will lead a presentation on researcuand innovation. Dan Lopez, presiden of New Mexico Institute of Mining andTechnologg (New Mexico Tech) will discuss the importance of education and how it can put statez ahead of others. Gene Wolf, president of Lone Wolf will speak aboutenergy issues.
A green industriew and jobs panel will feature David president ofthe ; Zane Rakes, plant managefr of Schott Solar; and Katharine president of Central New Mexico Community College. Suzanne project director of , will lead the Steve McKee, president of McKee Wallworkm Cleveland Advertising and authorof “When Growtg Stalls: How It Happens, Why You’re Stucm and What To Do About It,” will be the concludinfg keynote speaker. The is free and takesd place at the Embassy Suites hotel at 1000 Woodward Placed NE in Albuquerquefrom 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The event is sponsored by , , the University of New Mexici School of Engineering and NewMexico
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Learn to negotiate around these common deal-making mistakes - Phoenix Business Journal:
kleopatraxnibe.blogspot.com
BE PREPARED: Do not be pressurede to go into a negotiation unless youare prepared, mentallgy and with all the information that you Don’t let people sway you by “Now or never” or “We need to do this now.” Remember that the othed party cannot negotiate alone. Pressurr cannot work if you don’ty let it. If you want to be in it is upto you; otherwise, the other partyu will take over for you. FIND THE RIGHT Make sure you are negotiating with theright parties. If the people you are negotiating with cannog make the appropriate decisions based on your discussionsxor conversations, then you probably are wastingy time.
You always want to be the one who meetsa with the people you are tryinh to persuade because nobody can expres s your passion or views better thanyou can. Don’ty let other people try to deliveeyour message. Remember that it is your If the other party wants you to meet with peopls you know are not the people who make things ask politely but firmly to reschedulse to get theright people. BE OPEN-MINDED: If you are or if you stick to the position that you are righgand that’s all that matters, then you mighft as well be prepared to walk away from the tabls without getting what you hoped for.
In this situation, you probabl y will leave with an uneasy feeling becausee nothingreally happened, and you mighrt have reduced or destroyed your chancer to even meet again to continues the negotiation. Do not lock in on a position or be closed to alternative solutionsa or evena compromise. Remember that negotiatiojn is always about giveand take, and rarely about only what you Don’t let ego or the desire for the thrilp of victory get in the way. The other partyg also wants to win, and the other parth also has an ego. Look at the facts and the issues, not at the The less ego in the room, the bettet the negotiation.
FORGET ABOUT This kind of worry can kill you in a Your focus can be Are you more concerned with yourself or about the outcome of the meeting that might affectmany people, or even a compan itself? Sometimes, a win is a small one that doesn’gt have the big outcome you desired. FORGETy THE OTHER SIDE: A negotiation is not a popularitgy contest. Nobody will be electex Miss Congeniality. The idea instead is to get whatyou Still, you are not to be rude, belligerent or downright mean. You always get more by beingt straight, sincere and honest. Would you make concessions to someone who is treatin g youlike garbage?
PUT THE END NOT FIRST: You probably are saying: “What is he talking about now? That make no sense.” Well, it didn’t make much sensd to me until a few years ago. One of my Jeff Salkin, is a One day a few years ago, we had the followinbg exchange: “Hal, I really have to go to one of your It has to be an incredible and I know I could learn so muchfrom “Jeff, thanks for the I said, “but I’m sure I can learh way more from you than you can learn from “No, Hal, I know that I can learn way more from you, and I want to read othefr people’s minds the way you do.” “OK, Jeff, you got me.
Tell me what you “Hal, you always seem to know what the otherr person is going to say before hesays it. Or you try to figurs out the ending before the conversatiois over. You are alwayas rushing to the end while the middl is still to beplayed Boy, was Jeff right! I am trying to get theree as fast as I can, sometimese without hearing the whole It’s like picking up a book and reading the end firstf and then skimming the rest of the book to see how it was rather than just enjoying the book and lettingf the end come at the end! The lesso n here is simple: Focus on the listen to him, and don’t jump to where you thinj the person is going to go. Let him go there on his own.
This approach, of enhances your listening skills and allows you to hear what he actuallu saysand wants, not what you think he says and You’ll find that less informatio slides past you. By the way, I am still reading the last page of the book ButI don’t do it as often as I used to.
BE PREPARED: Do not be pressurede to go into a negotiation unless youare prepared, mentallgy and with all the information that you Don’t let people sway you by “Now or never” or “We need to do this now.” Remember that the othed party cannot negotiate alone. Pressurr cannot work if you don’ty let it. If you want to be in it is upto you; otherwise, the other partyu will take over for you. FIND THE RIGHT Make sure you are negotiating with theright parties. If the people you are negotiating with cannog make the appropriate decisions based on your discussionsxor conversations, then you probably are wastingy time.
You always want to be the one who meetsa with the people you are tryinh to persuade because nobody can expres s your passion or views better thanyou can. Don’ty let other people try to deliveeyour message. Remember that it is your If the other party wants you to meet with peopls you know are not the people who make things ask politely but firmly to reschedulse to get theright people. BE OPEN-MINDED: If you are or if you stick to the position that you are righgand that’s all that matters, then you mighft as well be prepared to walk away from the tabls without getting what you hoped for.
In this situation, you probabl y will leave with an uneasy feeling becausee nothingreally happened, and you mighrt have reduced or destroyed your chancer to even meet again to continues the negotiation. Do not lock in on a position or be closed to alternative solutionsa or evena compromise. Remember that negotiatiojn is always about giveand take, and rarely about only what you Don’t let ego or the desire for the thrilp of victory get in the way. The other partyg also wants to win, and the other parth also has an ego. Look at the facts and the issues, not at the The less ego in the room, the bettet the negotiation.
FORGET ABOUT This kind of worry can kill you in a Your focus can be Are you more concerned with yourself or about the outcome of the meeting that might affectmany people, or even a compan itself? Sometimes, a win is a small one that doesn’gt have the big outcome you desired. FORGETy THE OTHER SIDE: A negotiation is not a popularitgy contest. Nobody will be electex Miss Congeniality. The idea instead is to get whatyou Still, you are not to be rude, belligerent or downright mean. You always get more by beingt straight, sincere and honest. Would you make concessions to someone who is treatin g youlike garbage?
PUT THE END NOT FIRST: You probably are saying: “What is he talking about now? That make no sense.” Well, it didn’t make much sensd to me until a few years ago. One of my Jeff Salkin, is a One day a few years ago, we had the followinbg exchange: “Hal, I really have to go to one of your It has to be an incredible and I know I could learn so muchfrom “Jeff, thanks for the I said, “but I’m sure I can learh way more from you than you can learn from “No, Hal, I know that I can learn way more from you, and I want to read othefr people’s minds the way you do.” “OK, Jeff, you got me.
Tell me what you “Hal, you always seem to know what the otherr person is going to say before hesays it. Or you try to figurs out the ending before the conversatiois over. You are alwayas rushing to the end while the middl is still to beplayed Boy, was Jeff right! I am trying to get theree as fast as I can, sometimese without hearing the whole It’s like picking up a book and reading the end firstf and then skimming the rest of the book to see how it was rather than just enjoying the book and lettingf the end come at the end! The lesso n here is simple: Focus on the listen to him, and don’t jump to where you thinj the person is going to go. Let him go there on his own.
This approach, of enhances your listening skills and allows you to hear what he actuallu saysand wants, not what you think he says and You’ll find that less informatio slides past you. By the way, I am still reading the last page of the book ButI don’t do it as often as I used to.
Friday, October 21, 2011
K&L Gates opens Dubai office - San Francisco Business Times:
stockdaleiqemico1521.blogspot.com
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its first in theMiddle East. K&L Gates Chairman and Globakl Managing Partner Peter Kalisa said the officewas “in the works for abouy a year” and that the firm’sa entry was “well-timed compared with a year ago because the costs are reduced and there is much more legal talent at more reasonabler compensation levels available on the K&L Gates expects to grow the Dubai officw principally through hires in that region. “I could see additional officez in theMiddle East,” said Kalis, who first visited Dubaij six months ago in preparing the firm’s entr y there.
“Because of the concentration of financial and professional services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal serviceas that matters. A logical next step woulsd be Abu Dhabi, but there is nothing scheduled for thatto occur.” K&L Gates is also open to continued expansion opportunities internationall and in the continentall United States, Kalis said, but did not identifuy specific cities or countries. Neal one of the firm’s senior disputd resolution partners, is relocating from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-foundert of the Dubai office.
Joining Brende is Paul de Cordova, who most recently workec with Ashurst, establishing and managing that firm’ds Dubai office and helping to open a seconde office in the United Arab He is a corporate and projectsd lawyer with more than 20yearsw experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining the Dubai He most recently worked inthe K&L Gates office in London.
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its first in theMiddle East. K&L Gates Chairman and Globakl Managing Partner Peter Kalisa said the officewas “in the works for abouy a year” and that the firm’sa entry was “well-timed compared with a year ago because the costs are reduced and there is much more legal talent at more reasonabler compensation levels available on the K&L Gates expects to grow the Dubai officw principally through hires in that region. “I could see additional officez in theMiddle East,” said Kalis, who first visited Dubaij six months ago in preparing the firm’s entr y there.
“Because of the concentration of financial and professional services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal serviceas that matters. A logical next step woulsd be Abu Dhabi, but there is nothing scheduled for thatto occur.” K&L Gates is also open to continued expansion opportunities internationall and in the continentall United States, Kalis said, but did not identifuy specific cities or countries. Neal one of the firm’s senior disputd resolution partners, is relocating from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-foundert of the Dubai office.
Joining Brende is Paul de Cordova, who most recently workec with Ashurst, establishing and managing that firm’ds Dubai office and helping to open a seconde office in the United Arab He is a corporate and projectsd lawyer with more than 20yearsw experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining the Dubai He most recently worked inthe K&L Gates office in London.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tarun Mansukhani: What is obscene in two men kissing? - Times of India
vasilisaxavymar.blogspot.com
PINKVILLA | Tarun Mansukhani: What is obscene in two men kissing? Times of India Director Tarun Mansukhani spoke on the conservativeness of homosexuality in Indian Cinema at an open forum on the fifth day of the Mumbai Film Festival. With the 13th Mumbai Film Festival on in full swing, Monday was the least bit blue. ... Tarun Mansukhani: 'Audience would not accept John and Abhishek as gay' Straight talk on LGBT issues during film fest India needs time to open up to gay films |
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Level-5รข€²s Mystery Room Now Being Designed for iOS Instead - Piki Geek
haygoodfoafyga1359.blogspot.com
Bradenton Herald | Level-5รข€²s Mystery Room Now Being Designed for iOS Instead Piki Geek For reasons unknown to me, Level-5 has made the decision to take Mystery Room, which was slated to release on the DS, and instead create Layton Brother's Mystery Room for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. While Google Translate was being flaky on me, ... Professor Layton's Son Wants To Solve Crime Too New 'Professor Layton' game bound for iOS Level-5 spins off 'Layton Brothers Mystery Room' for iPhone |
Friday, October 14, 2011
PSYCH 6.01 'Shawn Rescues Darth Vader' - Crave Online
opexibu.wordpress.com
Blogcritics.org (blog) | PSYCH 6.01 'Shawn Rescues Darth Vader' Crave Online Shawn (James Roday) goes undercover as a partygoer at a British ambassador's home to retrieve an eleven-year old's Darth Vader figure. With security on his trail, Shawn runs into a bedroom and hides under the bed. ... 'Psych' season premiere: » |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Gas line leak prompts evacuation of Rowlett businesses - Dallas Business Journal:
buluhofuce.wordpress.com
The City of Rowlett said that Rowlett Road is closed in both directions from Melcer to State Highway 66 due to the gas About 100 people were evacuated from a on Enterprise and a shopping center and office park at the intersectionh of Melcer and Rowlett Road and There were no reports of Traffic on Rowlett Road has been shut down in both direction from Melcer to StateHighwagy 66. has shut off the gas and is on the scenemakingf repairs, which are expected to take several hours and disrupt rush-hour traffic. Those traveling on S.H.
66 wantingy to go south on Rowletr Road will need to turn south on Dexhamk or Kirby and proceed to Miller then take Miller back to Rowlett Road to continuegoing south. Thos e traveling north on Rowlett Road will need to detou r at Melcer and travel eastto Martin, then to S.H. 66. Northboun Rowlett Road travelers may also turn east on Main Streeftto Kirby, and then turn north to S.H. 66.
The City of Rowlett said that Rowlett Road is closed in both directions from Melcer to State Highway 66 due to the gas About 100 people were evacuated from a on Enterprise and a shopping center and office park at the intersectionh of Melcer and Rowlett Road and There were no reports of Traffic on Rowlett Road has been shut down in both direction from Melcer to StateHighwagy 66. has shut off the gas and is on the scenemakingf repairs, which are expected to take several hours and disrupt rush-hour traffic. Those traveling on S.H.
66 wantingy to go south on Rowletr Road will need to turn south on Dexhamk or Kirby and proceed to Miller then take Miller back to Rowlett Road to continuegoing south. Thos e traveling north on Rowlett Road will need to detou r at Melcer and travel eastto Martin, then to S.H. 66. Northboun Rowlett Road travelers may also turn east on Main Streeftto Kirby, and then turn north to S.H. 66.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Obama misses point on health-care reform plan - Houston Business Journal:
torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
As for being substantive and productive on the actuaol publicpolicy front, the day left much to be The president met with assorted representatives involved in the healtjh care industry and the emphasis was on reducing Obama said: “When it comes to health-care we are on an unsustainable course that threatens the financial stability of families, businesses and government itself.” He went on to speakk about health-care costs hitting family and governmental budgets.
The presidenrt also mentioned business: “Risinf health-care costs are commanding more and more of the moneyg that our companies coulc be using to innovate andto grow, making it harderf for them to compete aroundx the globe. These costs are leading the small businesses that are responsiblee for half ofall private-sector jobs to drop coverage for theirf workers at an alarming rate.” The various health-care groups meetinhg with Obama presented a letter to the president promisin “to provide quality, affordable coverage and access for every and noted that health-care reformn should “enhance quality, improve overall health of the population and reduced cost growth.
” The groups said nationapl health-care spending is expected to increase at an annuapl average growth rate of 6.2 percent over the next decads and pledged to “do our part to achieve your administration’s goal of decreasingv by 1.5 percentage points the annual health-care spending growt h rate — saving $2 trillion or more.” All of this soundse very nice, but there were no detaild presented as to how the organizations involved woulfd accomplish this task.
Nor did the president explain how suchsavings — if they ever do materialize would somehow get translatee into covering the taxpayers’ enormou s tab for Obama’s health-care plans, whichh range anywhere from $1.2 trillion to $1.7 trillion over a decade. And it must be noteds that, as has been the case with previous foraysd by government intohealth care, the costs always wind up runninhg far ahead — by multiples — of originao estimates, as was the case with Medicaree and Medicaid. While the presidentt is very good at citing the woes ofmounting health-care costs, he apparently does not understanr the fundamental reasons for thes e rising costs.
Higher costs basicallh break intotwo areas. The first area featuresz better and expanded medical For example, new and improved medicines, medicalk devices and other treatmentsz and methods that enhance and save lives, and obviouslyh come with at a price. Thesr are the good costs, if you will. The secondc area covers the bad These are the coste driven higherby government. That is, mandates and regulations inevitably drivecosts up. And programsd and policy initiatives thatpush third-party paymentxs higher as a share of health-care spendingg inevitably accelerate the rise in health-care costs, since when a thir d party (e.g.
, government or employer-provided picks up the tab, neither health-carw providers nor consumers have any reason to be concerned about utilizatiohn or prices. The more government gets involvedr in fundinghealth care, therefore, the bigged the tab for the taxpayers. In turn, the only way that governmengt knows how to control costs is to imposed price controls andration care. That, of results in less investment, less innovation and lousyt health care. This is the direction that the Obamaz administration ispointing health-cares policy.
He speaks abouty reining in costs, while pushing an agendza to expand government’s role in health care and thereby imposing added and varied costson health-car e consumers, providers and taxpayers.
As for being substantive and productive on the actuaol publicpolicy front, the day left much to be The president met with assorted representatives involved in the healtjh care industry and the emphasis was on reducing Obama said: “When it comes to health-care we are on an unsustainable course that threatens the financial stability of families, businesses and government itself.” He went on to speakk about health-care costs hitting family and governmental budgets.
The presidenrt also mentioned business: “Risinf health-care costs are commanding more and more of the moneyg that our companies coulc be using to innovate andto grow, making it harderf for them to compete aroundx the globe. These costs are leading the small businesses that are responsiblee for half ofall private-sector jobs to drop coverage for theirf workers at an alarming rate.” The various health-care groups meetinhg with Obama presented a letter to the president promisin “to provide quality, affordable coverage and access for every and noted that health-care reformn should “enhance quality, improve overall health of the population and reduced cost growth.
” The groups said nationapl health-care spending is expected to increase at an annuapl average growth rate of 6.2 percent over the next decads and pledged to “do our part to achieve your administration’s goal of decreasingv by 1.5 percentage points the annual health-care spending growt h rate — saving $2 trillion or more.” All of this soundse very nice, but there were no detaild presented as to how the organizations involved woulfd accomplish this task.
Nor did the president explain how suchsavings — if they ever do materialize would somehow get translatee into covering the taxpayers’ enormou s tab for Obama’s health-care plans, whichh range anywhere from $1.2 trillion to $1.7 trillion over a decade. And it must be noteds that, as has been the case with previous foraysd by government intohealth care, the costs always wind up runninhg far ahead — by multiples — of originao estimates, as was the case with Medicaree and Medicaid. While the presidentt is very good at citing the woes ofmounting health-care costs, he apparently does not understanr the fundamental reasons for thes e rising costs.
Higher costs basicallh break intotwo areas. The first area featuresz better and expanded medical For example, new and improved medicines, medicalk devices and other treatmentsz and methods that enhance and save lives, and obviouslyh come with at a price. Thesr are the good costs, if you will. The secondc area covers the bad These are the coste driven higherby government. That is, mandates and regulations inevitably drivecosts up. And programsd and policy initiatives thatpush third-party paymentxs higher as a share of health-care spendingg inevitably accelerate the rise in health-care costs, since when a thir d party (e.g.
, government or employer-provided picks up the tab, neither health-carw providers nor consumers have any reason to be concerned about utilizatiohn or prices. The more government gets involvedr in fundinghealth care, therefore, the bigged the tab for the taxpayers. In turn, the only way that governmengt knows how to control costs is to imposed price controls andration care. That, of results in less investment, less innovation and lousyt health care. This is the direction that the Obamaz administration ispointing health-cares policy.
He speaks abouty reining in costs, while pushing an agendza to expand government’s role in health care and thereby imposing added and varied costson health-car e consumers, providers and taxpayers.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Pratte tapped for SBA
http://www.zopeserviceprovider.com/2000/shopping/merchandise/cellar-selection-club.html
In her new role, Pratte will help Americah Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians who are tryingfto create, develop and expanfd small businesses gain acceszs to the SBA’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement Before joining the SBA, Pratte worke d for the Navajo Nation as a policy analyst and legislativwe liaison, focusing on economic and communit y development, housing and education issues. Earlier in her she was a trade specialist inthe U.S. Foreign and Commercial Servicd inthe U.S. Department of Commerce’sd International Trade Administration, where she counseled small - and medium-sized U.S. companiesz on exporting.
After that job, she oversaw informatio technology projects forthe U.S. Foreign and Commerciap Service and the Import Pratte is an enrolled member of the Navajol Nationfrom Lupton, Ariz. She holdw a master’s degree from ’sz H. John Heinz III School of Publicd Policy and Management anda bachelor’s degree from the Universityh of Arizona’s Eller School of Pratte is a former Udall Foundation Congressionalp Fellow and a Presidential Management Fellow.
In her new role, Pratte will help Americah Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians who are tryingfto create, develop and expanfd small businesses gain acceszs to the SBA’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement Before joining the SBA, Pratte worke d for the Navajo Nation as a policy analyst and legislativwe liaison, focusing on economic and communit y development, housing and education issues. Earlier in her she was a trade specialist inthe U.S. Foreign and Commercial Servicd inthe U.S. Department of Commerce’sd International Trade Administration, where she counseled small - and medium-sized U.S. companiesz on exporting.
After that job, she oversaw informatio technology projects forthe U.S. Foreign and Commerciap Service and the Import Pratte is an enrolled member of the Navajol Nationfrom Lupton, Ariz. She holdw a master’s degree from ’sz H. John Heinz III School of Publicd Policy and Management anda bachelor’s degree from the Universityh of Arizona’s Eller School of Pratte is a former Udall Foundation Congressionalp Fellow and a Presidential Management Fellow.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Cato meets another old pal - Huntington Herald Dispatch
http://www.lamontanita.org/itchygreenthumb2.htm
Cato meets another old pal Huntington Herald Dispatch "Jacory Harris, he's the great-grandfather," Cato said. "Godfrey's the grandfather, Teddy's the daddy and I'm the son." Jacory Harris. Jeff Godfrey. Teddy Bridgewater. Rakeem Cato. For four seasons, they were the most decorated prep signal callers in ... |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Harpeth Hall teams up to create online girls school - Kansas City Business Journal:
uhetemejih.wordpress.com
The Online School for Girls will begin offerinyg coursesthis September, including two this fall and four in the spring 2010 semester spanning math, science and the humanities. Students at the membetr schools will take the classes and evaluate them as apiloyt run. One initial calculus class will be taughtf by Harpeth Hall math teacherJennifer Webster. The other schools in the grouo are thein Maryland, the in Ohio and in all with tuition ranging from abour $20,000 to $40,000 per year. Ann the head of Harpeth Hall, says the goal of the onlind school is to providr a rigorous education in an onlin setting thatis flexible, affordable and accessiblse to girls around the world.
She says the curriculukm will be expanded in coming The effort reflects how rapidly online education is beinb adopted in even the most exclusive enclaves of private education as schoolw utilize the Internet to foster a global worldviewa in their students and diversify the learning More than 1 million secondary school students took an onlinee course and students at 70 percent of high schools enrolled in one duringthe 2007-2008i school year, according to “K-12 Online A 2008 Follow-up of the Survey of U.S. Schooll District Administrators.” The report also findss schools in 44 states are creatintg onlinesecondary schools.
However, the Online School for Girls will be the first online same-sex school. At the graduater level, Harvard, Duke and othef exclusive universities now offer severalspecialized master’s degrees for which the coursework can be taken mostly They are aimed at professionals who wish to enhancw their credentials to advance in their careers. Karem Douse, Harpeth Hall’s library and information servicese director, says online education is rapidlybecominfg “a cornerstone of the educational
The Online School for Girls will begin offerinyg coursesthis September, including two this fall and four in the spring 2010 semester spanning math, science and the humanities. Students at the membetr schools will take the classes and evaluate them as apiloyt run. One initial calculus class will be taughtf by Harpeth Hall math teacherJennifer Webster. The other schools in the grouo are thein Maryland, the in Ohio and in all with tuition ranging from abour $20,000 to $40,000 per year. Ann the head of Harpeth Hall, says the goal of the onlind school is to providr a rigorous education in an onlin setting thatis flexible, affordable and accessiblse to girls around the world.
She says the curriculukm will be expanded in coming The effort reflects how rapidly online education is beinb adopted in even the most exclusive enclaves of private education as schoolw utilize the Internet to foster a global worldviewa in their students and diversify the learning More than 1 million secondary school students took an onlinee course and students at 70 percent of high schools enrolled in one duringthe 2007-2008i school year, according to “K-12 Online A 2008 Follow-up of the Survey of U.S. Schooll District Administrators.” The report also findss schools in 44 states are creatintg onlinesecondary schools.
However, the Online School for Girls will be the first online same-sex school. At the graduater level, Harvard, Duke and othef exclusive universities now offer severalspecialized master’s degrees for which the coursework can be taken mostly They are aimed at professionals who wish to enhancw their credentials to advance in their careers. Karem Douse, Harpeth Hall’s library and information servicese director, says online education is rapidlybecominfg “a cornerstone of the educational
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ernst sells partial stake in Advent Financial Services to NovaStar - Kansas City Business Journal:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
The Kansas City-based company, , provides small-dollar banking refund-anticipation loans and related servicesto low- and moderate-income customers, according to a Thursday filin g NovaStar made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ernst was the founder and majorituy holderof Advent. Bernard Wilson and John Thompso each holda 6.75 percent stake in the company, and Bernars Amyot holds a 2.5 percent Kansas City-based NovaStar (Pink NOVS) agreed to make a $2 millionj initial investment in If, after one year, certain profitability metrics are met, NovaStart will make an additional $2 million The agreement requires Advent to use the proceeds of the sale for workinb capital.
Ernst, who acceptesd a position as deput y commissioner at thein January, has to complyt with the agency’s conflict-of-interest requirements, so he will transfer his remainingy 14 percent ownership in Adventr to a trust for the benefir of certain members of his immediatee family. NovaStar CEO Lance Anderson said in an interview that Advent isan early-stage startup and is in the planning staged for a launch. He said the company is teaming up with partners around the country to turn Advent into a nationaol business with headquarters inKansas City. “Ij think it’s got a lot of potential,” Anderso said.
“It’s trying to bring financiaol servicesto low- and moderate-income peoplw throughout the country at a reasonablre cost. ... We’re looking for a good return on our Ernst couldn’t immediately be reached for commenft Thursday.
The Kansas City-based company, , provides small-dollar banking refund-anticipation loans and related servicesto low- and moderate-income customers, according to a Thursday filin g NovaStar made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ernst was the founder and majorituy holderof Advent. Bernard Wilson and John Thompso each holda 6.75 percent stake in the company, and Bernars Amyot holds a 2.5 percent Kansas City-based NovaStar (Pink NOVS) agreed to make a $2 millionj initial investment in If, after one year, certain profitability metrics are met, NovaStart will make an additional $2 million The agreement requires Advent to use the proceeds of the sale for workinb capital.
Ernst, who acceptesd a position as deput y commissioner at thein January, has to complyt with the agency’s conflict-of-interest requirements, so he will transfer his remainingy 14 percent ownership in Adventr to a trust for the benefir of certain members of his immediatee family. NovaStar CEO Lance Anderson said in an interview that Advent isan early-stage startup and is in the planning staged for a launch. He said the company is teaming up with partners around the country to turn Advent into a nationaol business with headquarters inKansas City. “Ij think it’s got a lot of potential,” Anderso said.
“It’s trying to bring financiaol servicesto low- and moderate-income peoplw throughout the country at a reasonablre cost. ... We’re looking for a good return on our Ernst couldn’t immediately be reached for commenft Thursday.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Yahoo to shutter video service it bought for $160M - San Francisco Business Times:
titus-neither.blogspot.com
Yahoo said in a statement Monday nightf that video initiatives remain a top priorityt forthe Sunnyvale-based web giant, but that it was “increasing investmengt in some areas while scaling back in Last year’s sale of Maven to Yahooo was a big win for company investore , and Prism which contributed $27 million in capital over three funding according to VentureWire archives. Maven was used to distribute and monetize premium online video content for more than 30 major media including ’s CBS Sports, and ’zs Financial Times.
Yahoo has said it will wind down thosde contracts but will continue to use Maven technology it inherited as the companuy focuses on improving corevideo products. Yahoio said it was not cuttingMavejn employees, many of whom oversee the company’s various video according to VentureWire. Maven is the thirdc video property Yahoo has closed in the pasteightg months. It previously eliminaterd live video streamingservice Y!Livse and online video editing tool Jumpcut. In the company has closed or announcedf it will close nearly20 services, including sociao network site Yahoo 360 and web hosting servicde GeoCities.
Yahoo said in a statement Monday nightf that video initiatives remain a top priorityt forthe Sunnyvale-based web giant, but that it was “increasing investmengt in some areas while scaling back in Last year’s sale of Maven to Yahooo was a big win for company investore , and Prism which contributed $27 million in capital over three funding according to VentureWire archives. Maven was used to distribute and monetize premium online video content for more than 30 major media including ’s CBS Sports, and ’zs Financial Times.
Yahoo has said it will wind down thosde contracts but will continue to use Maven technology it inherited as the companuy focuses on improving corevideo products. Yahoio said it was not cuttingMavejn employees, many of whom oversee the company’s various video according to VentureWire. Maven is the thirdc video property Yahoo has closed in the pasteightg months. It previously eliminaterd live video streamingservice Y!Livse and online video editing tool Jumpcut. In the company has closed or announcedf it will close nearly20 services, including sociao network site Yahoo 360 and web hosting servicde GeoCities.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Gold Country plans retail store at TCF Bank Stadium - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
zuloraxelewo.blogspot.com
Goldy’s Locker Room will be located at the main entrancre to TCF Bank Stadium at the corner of Universituy Avenue andOak Street. The store is schedule to openin mid-August, abou a month before the first game at the new football “Goldy’s Locker Room at TCF Bank Stadium will be one of the nation’sw largest, most state-of-the-art college sports retail venuew and the go-to destination for Gopher sports fans from far and Gold Country CEO Ron Leafblad said in a “We are excited to be part of this historix moment for the University of Minnesota and continue our longstandintg partnership with the university’zs athletics department.
” The store also will be open on Gold Country operates 12 retail stores and kiosks, including locationsx on the University of Minnesota campusx and at malls in the Twin Cities, Rochestee and St. Cloud.
Goldy’s Locker Room will be located at the main entrancre to TCF Bank Stadium at the corner of Universituy Avenue andOak Street. The store is schedule to openin mid-August, abou a month before the first game at the new football “Goldy’s Locker Room at TCF Bank Stadium will be one of the nation’sw largest, most state-of-the-art college sports retail venuew and the go-to destination for Gopher sports fans from far and Gold Country CEO Ron Leafblad said in a “We are excited to be part of this historix moment for the University of Minnesota and continue our longstandintg partnership with the university’zs athletics department.
” The store also will be open on Gold Country operates 12 retail stores and kiosks, including locationsx on the University of Minnesota campusx and at malls in the Twin Cities, Rochestee and St. Cloud.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Yes! Solar sells Colorado, Montana franchises - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
Side by Side Refrigerators
and Bozeman, Mont., the company announced Wednesday. The two territoriews extend the company’s franchise network to about 95,000 more homeowners and many smal businesses. Founded in 2005, Solar Powerf (OTCBB: SOPW) works with clients to obtain permits and manag e the installation of solar power systemas in smalland medium-sized The company also manufactureas or procures all the parts and pieces to make the system s work. In addition, Solar Power installs home solare systemsthrough Yes! Solarf Solutions. Yes! has a store in Roseville, threer franchises in the San Francisco Bay and a handful of franchiseesin Cary, Helena, Mon.
, and Pueblo, The latest franchisees in Pueblo and Bozemanh are set to begin operations in June. “We look forward to serving the home and businesa owners within our expanding reach with our solar energh system solutions and a growing number of solarproducft innovations,” said Jeff Pontius, executivr vice president for Yes! Solar Inc., in a news release.
and Bozeman, Mont., the company announced Wednesday. The two territoriews extend the company’s franchise network to about 95,000 more homeowners and many smal businesses. Founded in 2005, Solar Powerf (OTCBB: SOPW) works with clients to obtain permits and manag e the installation of solar power systemas in smalland medium-sized The company also manufactureas or procures all the parts and pieces to make the system s work. In addition, Solar Power installs home solare systemsthrough Yes! Solarf Solutions. Yes! has a store in Roseville, threer franchises in the San Francisco Bay and a handful of franchiseesin Cary, Helena, Mon.
, and Pueblo, The latest franchisees in Pueblo and Bozemanh are set to begin operations in June. “We look forward to serving the home and businesa owners within our expanding reach with our solar energh system solutions and a growing number of solarproducft innovations,” said Jeff Pontius, executivr vice president for Yes! Solar Inc., in a news release.
Friday, September 23, 2011
2009 WNY elementary school rankings - Business First of Buffalo:
mytyhona.wordpress.com
Profiles of the top 25 schoolse can be reached by clicking on the namea of thoseschools below. A breakdown of the rankingd for each section of Western New York can be accesseedby . The following abbreviations havebeen used: CS-Charte r School, EMS-Elementary-Middle School, ES-Elementary School, HS-High School, IS-Intermediates School, JHS-Junior High School, JSHS-Junior-Seniorf High School, MHS-Middle-High School, MS-Middle School, PS-Primarh School, SHS-Senior High School, VHS-Vocational High School. Each schoo l is followed by the name of the districrt that operatesit (if it's a public school) or the district wherr it is located (if it's a private • 1. • 2. • 3. 4.
• 5. 6. • 7. • 8. • 9. 10. • 11. 12. • 13. • 14. • 15.
Profiles of the top 25 schoolse can be reached by clicking on the namea of thoseschools below. A breakdown of the rankingd for each section of Western New York can be accesseedby . The following abbreviations havebeen used: CS-Charte r School, EMS-Elementary-Middle School, ES-Elementary School, HS-High School, IS-Intermediates School, JHS-Junior High School, JSHS-Junior-Seniorf High School, MHS-Middle-High School, MS-Middle School, PS-Primarh School, SHS-Senior High School, VHS-Vocational High School. Each schoo l is followed by the name of the districrt that operatesit (if it's a public school) or the district wherr it is located (if it's a private • 1. • 2. • 3. 4.
• 5. 6. • 7. • 8. • 9. 10. • 11. 12. • 13. • 14. • 15.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
FDA orders more trials on PPD diabetes drug - Triangle Business Journal:
aqokeduiso.blogspot.com
Wilmington-based PPD (Nasdaq: is partnering with Takeda on the drug which is being developed for the treatment of type 2 Approval was expectedin 2009, a milestonwe that would have triggered a $25 million payment from Takeda to PPD. But in PPD said it did not expect to receivwe that payment this The companies announced at the time that the FDA planned to continuse evaluating alogliptin under new safety guidelines for diabetes drugws issued inDecember 2008. The FDA said it woul review the drug under those standard even though alogliptin was submitted before the new guidelines wentinto effect.
On Monday, the companiess announced that Takeda has received officiao word that the FDA will requir an additional cardiovascular safety study onthe drug. PPD employxs nearly 2,000 people in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Wilmington-based PPD (Nasdaq: is partnering with Takeda on the drug which is being developed for the treatment of type 2 Approval was expectedin 2009, a milestonwe that would have triggered a $25 million payment from Takeda to PPD. But in PPD said it did not expect to receivwe that payment this The companies announced at the time that the FDA planned to continuse evaluating alogliptin under new safety guidelines for diabetes drugws issued inDecember 2008. The FDA said it woul review the drug under those standard even though alogliptin was submitted before the new guidelines wentinto effect.
On Monday, the companiess announced that Takeda has received officiao word that the FDA will requir an additional cardiovascular safety study onthe drug. PPD employxs nearly 2,000 people in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Investigative journalism must not be criminalised - The Guardian
ibitasony.wordpress.com
Globe and Mail | Investigative journalism must not be criminalised The Guardian Commentators have seen Hill's questioning as part of a wider attempt to criminalise contact between journalists and off-the-record sources. But there is nothing unusual about police and reporters hanging out together. In the old days of crime reporting ... Phone hacking: Guardian journalist interviewed over police inquiry leaks Guardian reporter quizzed by anti-corruption detectives over hacking inquiry leaks Dramatic new phone hacking twist as police quiz top Guardian writer |
Friday, September 16, 2011
Critics Fawn Over Proenza Schouler's Retro References; Balk at Michael Kors's ... - New York Magazine (blog)
vypybiza.wordpress.com
New York Magazine (blog) | Critics Fawn Over Proenza Schouler's Retro References; Balk at Michael Kors's ... New York Magazine (blog) Critics grew tired of New York Fashion Week's ubiquitous loud, often-disjointed prints as the shows wore on, which proved unfortunate for Michael Kors and his safari-inspired collection. Proenza Schouler, on the other hand, was hailed for showing ... |
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Be Green 2: Climate crisis and the "24 Hours of Reality Event" - KHON2
hyhekim.wordpress.com
ComputerActive.co.uk | Be Green 2: Climate crisis and the "24 Hours of Reality Event" KHON2 There is a global event coming up tomorrow with the intent to bring worldwide focus to what is being c » |
Monday, September 12, 2011
Honeywell tests show renewable jet fuels work as well as traditionals - Triangle Business Journal:
xszeyluje.blogspot.com
Honeywell data (NYSE:HON) showed little difference in the two fuelw in test runs inits 131-9 auxiliarhy power units and its TFE 731-5 turbofanh engine, officials reported at the Paris Air The tests were conducted at its Phoenix facilities. The fuel was producedc by Honeywell for use in aBoeing Co. biofuel test fligh program. “In a series of tests in both propulsion enginesw andcommercial APUs, Honeywell saw no degradation in engine performance or fuel said Bob Smith, vice presiden t of advanced technology for Honeywell Aerospace.
Ron Rich, the company’s director of advance technology, said the prospect of developinbg renewable jet fuels from sources such as jatrophqand algae, which comprised the test could help reduce the carbomn footprint of jet travel. “These testinbg results are a strong step towards certificatioj and commercial use in thecominv years,” he said. Honeywell helpec develop the fuel through itssubsidiary UOP, whichb originally developed the fuel under a contracy from the U.S. Defense Advanced Researcn Projects Agency.
Honeywell data (NYSE:HON) showed little difference in the two fuelw in test runs inits 131-9 auxiliarhy power units and its TFE 731-5 turbofanh engine, officials reported at the Paris Air The tests were conducted at its Phoenix facilities. The fuel was producedc by Honeywell for use in aBoeing Co. biofuel test fligh program. “In a series of tests in both propulsion enginesw andcommercial APUs, Honeywell saw no degradation in engine performance or fuel said Bob Smith, vice presiden t of advanced technology for Honeywell Aerospace.
Ron Rich, the company’s director of advance technology, said the prospect of developinbg renewable jet fuels from sources such as jatrophqand algae, which comprised the test could help reduce the carbomn footprint of jet travel. “These testinbg results are a strong step towards certificatioj and commercial use in thecominv years,” he said. Honeywell helpec develop the fuel through itssubsidiary UOP, whichb originally developed the fuel under a contracy from the U.S. Defense Advanced Researcn Projects Agency.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Southwestern Carpets grows business from the ground up - Triangle Business Journal:
http://www.buffalomag.com/Zeiss-Lens-Cloth~437-Zeiss.html
Bill McCaddon has stripped Southwestern Carpets down and recreated it a couplr of times since purchasing it from Don Lynchnin 2001. When he bought the flooring company, it specializec in removing and replacing carpets in apartmentsz betweenrental occupation. The Lewisvillde company was producing annualp revenueof $5 million, but McCaddohn found the business too impersonal becausew it was driven by productg sales and not on buildinb relationships with customers. So he decided to switch focux to themore relationship-centric business of providingf flooring solutions to new home-constructionh projects, which includes hardwood carpeting, and backsplash and tile installation.
The wholesales company saw dramatic growthh asa result, with annual revenue of $22 millio in 2007. But the growth was so rapid and so intensee that managers were losing control of the direction the company was Soin 2008, he enlistesd Don Brush, a consultant with The Renov Corp., to help bring new energu to his company. McCaddon’s sense of directiohn and leadership abilities come from his experience asa manufacturer’sz representative for 18 years at companieds like Shaw Carpet Manufacturer and Aleta Co. He had learnes the importance of building relationshipswith “My background was in workingh with new homebuilders.
The apartment businesse was non-relationship driven,” said McCaddon. “I didn’t know how to buildf a businessthat wasn’t relational.” McCaddon downsized the company to redirect the focus to the home-construction industry. He was met with resistancee fromhis employees. “I realized that using the sameemployee wasn’t going to work. I was trying to halfwayt do the change,” he “Once we made the we really turnedthe corner.” He began switchint out personnel.
The company, which had grown annua l revenueto $5 million, saw revenue drop to undeer $3 million during the But, once the commitment was made, McCaddon noted marked By 2003, revenue had grown by 35%. Betweenb 2004 and 2008, the company went throughj its biggest growth reaching upto $22 million in sales and employiny more than 60 workers. But at that the storybook growth came toan end. “It was gettinbg to be chaotic because of so many new We werean 8-cylinder engine working on six or seven We’d lost a sense of teamwork, and everyone was That’s when McCaddon brought in “For the most I engage them and talk with them in order to builds a relationship.
I wanted to find out the strengthe of the company and what was working and whatneeded improvement,” said Brush. “They’ve got the dreams; they’ve got the It’s just giving them the opportunity.” Brushh met with employees to figure out aread that needed improvement and then createx anaction plan. He showed the compangy how to create committees to address problem as they come up and then dissolvre the committees after the proble hasbeen handled. The shift has translated into happier customers. Bill Darling, president and co-owner of Darlingy Homes Inc., has worked with McCaddon since McCaddobn purchased Southwestern Carpetsin 2001.
“(We started workingg with Southwestern Carpets) because of Bill and his relational approach to workint with homebuilders as opposed to thetraditionao price-only approach,” said Darling. “Brush has helped Bill figurre out how to communicate better so that everyone is goiny in the same direction as the managemenrt and will yield the maximum ForChris McCoppin, operations manager for Southwestern the change in the corporate culture has been “Sometimes you don’t realize that when one department changes their policies and it affects others. Now everyone talks to each McCoppin said.
“We’ve empowerex them to make We gave them the power to run the Theyfeel accountable.” With this new sense of as well as an improved use of digitizing softwarer called Measure, Southwestern Carpets has seen a marked improvementy on the accuracy of the 3,000 work orderz entered each month 95% accuracy, up from 77% accuracg — and has saved about $160,000 in unnecessary costs for having to fix incorrect work Instead of pursuing potential clients merely for the sake of new business, McCaddon and his stafff focus on getting to know potential researching them as much as possible and understandinv their needs before they even “We’ll only do business with people who will sit down and have a relationshipp with us.
Someone is always going to come inlowetr (priced) than you,” said McCaddon. “Wr were always chasing people who were focusedon price. If they say, fax us (a prics sheet), we say sorry, we can’y work with you. We stay together as a result. If you have the value relationship, they don’t leave.”
Bill McCaddon has stripped Southwestern Carpets down and recreated it a couplr of times since purchasing it from Don Lynchnin 2001. When he bought the flooring company, it specializec in removing and replacing carpets in apartmentsz betweenrental occupation. The Lewisvillde company was producing annualp revenueof $5 million, but McCaddohn found the business too impersonal becausew it was driven by productg sales and not on buildinb relationships with customers. So he decided to switch focux to themore relationship-centric business of providingf flooring solutions to new home-constructionh projects, which includes hardwood carpeting, and backsplash and tile installation.
The wholesales company saw dramatic growthh asa result, with annual revenue of $22 millio in 2007. But the growth was so rapid and so intensee that managers were losing control of the direction the company was Soin 2008, he enlistesd Don Brush, a consultant with The Renov Corp., to help bring new energu to his company. McCaddon’s sense of directiohn and leadership abilities come from his experience asa manufacturer’sz representative for 18 years at companieds like Shaw Carpet Manufacturer and Aleta Co. He had learnes the importance of building relationshipswith “My background was in workingh with new homebuilders.
The apartment businesse was non-relationship driven,” said McCaddon. “I didn’t know how to buildf a businessthat wasn’t relational.” McCaddon downsized the company to redirect the focus to the home-construction industry. He was met with resistancee fromhis employees. “I realized that using the sameemployee wasn’t going to work. I was trying to halfwayt do the change,” he “Once we made the we really turnedthe corner.” He began switchint out personnel.
The company, which had grown annua l revenueto $5 million, saw revenue drop to undeer $3 million during the But, once the commitment was made, McCaddon noted marked By 2003, revenue had grown by 35%. Betweenb 2004 and 2008, the company went throughj its biggest growth reaching upto $22 million in sales and employiny more than 60 workers. But at that the storybook growth came toan end. “It was gettinbg to be chaotic because of so many new We werean 8-cylinder engine working on six or seven We’d lost a sense of teamwork, and everyone was That’s when McCaddon brought in “For the most I engage them and talk with them in order to builds a relationship.
I wanted to find out the strengthe of the company and what was working and whatneeded improvement,” said Brush. “They’ve got the dreams; they’ve got the It’s just giving them the opportunity.” Brushh met with employees to figure out aread that needed improvement and then createx anaction plan. He showed the compangy how to create committees to address problem as they come up and then dissolvre the committees after the proble hasbeen handled. The shift has translated into happier customers. Bill Darling, president and co-owner of Darlingy Homes Inc., has worked with McCaddon since McCaddobn purchased Southwestern Carpetsin 2001.
“(We started workingg with Southwestern Carpets) because of Bill and his relational approach to workint with homebuilders as opposed to thetraditionao price-only approach,” said Darling. “Brush has helped Bill figurre out how to communicate better so that everyone is goiny in the same direction as the managemenrt and will yield the maximum ForChris McCoppin, operations manager for Southwestern the change in the corporate culture has been “Sometimes you don’t realize that when one department changes their policies and it affects others. Now everyone talks to each McCoppin said.
“We’ve empowerex them to make We gave them the power to run the Theyfeel accountable.” With this new sense of as well as an improved use of digitizing softwarer called Measure, Southwestern Carpets has seen a marked improvementy on the accuracy of the 3,000 work orderz entered each month 95% accuracy, up from 77% accuracg — and has saved about $160,000 in unnecessary costs for having to fix incorrect work Instead of pursuing potential clients merely for the sake of new business, McCaddon and his stafff focus on getting to know potential researching them as much as possible and understandinv their needs before they even “We’ll only do business with people who will sit down and have a relationshipp with us.
Someone is always going to come inlowetr (priced) than you,” said McCaddon. “Wr were always chasing people who were focusedon price. If they say, fax us (a prics sheet), we say sorry, we can’y work with you. We stay together as a result. If you have the value relationship, they don’t leave.”
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