Winston-Salem Journal articles from December 2004

Winston-Salem Journal archives from December 2004

Officials seek contractors for preparation of Winston-Salem, N.C., Dell plant.
December 31, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 31--Winston-Salem economic officials said yesterday that they are attempting to hire Triad contractors for the bulk of the $15 million in site-preparation work required for a proposed Dell Inc. plant. But...

Suit claims Krispy Kreme knew of slowing sales before profit warning.
December 31, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 31--A federal lawsuit alleges that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. knew its sales were slowing long before it issued a profit warning in May that sent its shares tumbling. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 14 in...

Winston-Salem, N.C., group awards grading contract for Dell plant.
December 30, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 30--Winston-Salem Business Inc. said yesterday that it has selected a Charlotte contractor to provide grading services for the proposed Dell Inc. plant at Alliance Science and Technology Park. Blythe...

Winston-Salem, N.C., gets to work on planned Dell plant.
December 29, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 29--Winston-Salem is close to completing plans for the first phase of work on Dell Inc.'s 500,000-square-foot plant in southeast Forsyth County. Bob Leak, the president of Winston-Salem Business Inc., said...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-area jobless rate rises in November.
December 29, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 29--An increase in temporary layoffs, as well as people pursuing seasonal retail jobs, led to the Triad's unemployment rate rising in November for the second consecutive month. The N.C. Employment Security...

Appalachian State University offers business program for high school students.
December 28, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 28--Patrick Conley said he dreams of running his own business, especially in a job that keeps him active in the outdoors and far from a desk. After attending a three-week leadership program at Appalachian...

Site-development plans for new Dell manufacturing plant get under way.
December 24, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 24--Now that Dell Inc. has made its long-awaited announcement, the hard work begins. Economic-development officials, as well as Winston-Salem and Forsyth County leaders, are all working to complete...

US Airways reservationists, airport agents approve contract with cost-savings.
December 24, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 24--US Airways reservationists and other airport agents represented by the Communications Workers of America approved a new contract yesterday that gives the bankrupt airline some cost-savings. The contract,...

Public companies to begin telling investors of fraud-prevention procedures.
December 23, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 23--Public companies will soon be telling investors if they have effective procedures in place to reduce the risk of mistakes or fraud in their bookkeeping. A key measure in a sweeping corporate-reform law...

Dell kiosk in Winston-Salem, N.C., expects rise in business with new plant.
December 23, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 23--Jack Jackson's timing couldn't have been better. Jackson, a Winston-Salem resident, was shopping for a Dell desktop computer at Hanes Mall late yesterday, hoping to buy a new computer system before...

Dell welcomed by Winston-Salem, N.C., residents, but incentives cause concern.
December 23, 2004... Byline: Michael Hewlett Dec. 23--Commissioner Walter Marshall attended a junior varsity basketball game at Carver High School last night. All he heard about was Dell. Some people who had lost jobs told him they couldn't wait to...

Desktop computers to be assembled at new Dell plant in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 23, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 23--Local businesses and consumers planning to buy Dell Inc. desktop computers late next year could be end up with computers assembled in Winston-Salem. The 500,000-square-foot plant is scheduled to open next...

Former furniture workers may be ideal or Forsyth County, N.C., Dell plant.
December 23, 2004... Byline: Laura Giovanelli Dec. 23--LEXINGTON, N.C. -- Tammy Hodge's last unemployment check arrived in the mail yesterday. While Forsyth County and Winston-Salem officials celebrated Dell, Inc.'s decision to put its new manufacturing...

Royal Cake Co. in Winston-Salem, N.C., lays off 20 workers.
December 22, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 22--Royal Cake Co. Inc. in Winston-Salem has laid off about 20 workers, the company said yesterday. "Due to less than expected sales for the quarter, Royal Cake found it necessary to lay off approximately 20...

Winston-Salem, N.C., personnel services firm teams with human resources service.
December 22, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 22--Golden Personnel Services Inc. in Winston-Salem is trying a new concept that it hopes will help small businesses with human-resources issues. The staffing service has teamed with a minority woman-owned...

North Carolina is biggest loser of textiles industry jobs among states.
December 22, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 22--North Carolina lost more textiles industry jobs than any other state from September 2003 through September 2004, according to the federal government. The good news is that the industry's national job...

Economic study in North Carolina yields promising recommendations.
December 20, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 20--A highly touted assessment of Northwest North Carolina's economy has generated little public fanfare since consultant AngelouEconomics released the study in November 2003. But economic officials said...

Gas station convenience mart redesign shows off first example in Clemmons, N.C.
December 18, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 18--Bigger was better for Quality Oil Co. when designing its next generation of Quality Mart convenience stores, the first of which recently opened in Clemmons just off U.S. 421. The 24-hour store contains...

North Carolina's unemployment rate rises in November for first time in 3 months.
December 18, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 18--North Carolina's unemployment rate rose for the first time in three months during November, but economists said yesterday that business activity is still gaining strength. The N.C. Employment Security...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Southern Community Financial plans manager succession.
December 17, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 17--Southern Community Financial Corp. said yesterday that it has established a management-succession plan with the promotion of Jeff Clark to president of the holding company. Clark, 40, will continue in...

Krispy Kreme filing with SEC cautions earnings restatement may be coming.
December 17, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 17--Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. disclosed yesterday that it made mistakes in its accounting but that an independent law firm cleared the company and employees of any "intentional misconduct" in its repurchase of...

Commercial photography studio occupies downtown Winston-Salem, N.C., 'castle'.
December 16, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 16--The downtown building once known as the Nissen Wagon Shop and often called "the old castle" has become the residence and workplace of the owners of a Winston-Salem commercial photography studio. Lee...

Pepsi Bottling Group division to hire 150 workers in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 15, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 15--Pepsi Direct, a business unit of The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc., wants to hire 150 customer-service and sales representatives in Winston-Salem in 2005, a company official said yesterday. The unit wants to...

RF Micro Devices will expand plant in Greensboro, N.C., adding 75 jobs.
December 15, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 15--GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Gov. Mike Easley said yesterday that RF Micro Devices Inc. will add 75 jobs over the next two years as part of a $75 million expansion. The jobs will pay an average salary of $36,000 a...

Winston-Salem, N.C., woman gets her start in stationary industry by doodling.
December 15, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 15--Devora Transou has always been a doodler. "I go through thousands of notepads a year just doodling," she said. "I write notes and business on one side of the paper, but you better believe most of that...

Winston-Salem, N.C., employers say they'll maintain work force in first quarter.
December 14, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 14--A majority of Winston-Salem employers are content to enter the new year with current staff levels, according to a survey by Manpower Inc. released yesterday. The Manpower Employment Outlook found that...

Winston-Salem, N.C., university honors its first MBA graduates.
December 14, 2004... Byline: Jeanne Sturiale Dec. 14--About two years ago, Lisa Duncan decided to jump-start a long-time career dream -- getting an MBA degree. Managing time was Duncan's main concern. She had a one-year-old son and a full-time marketing...

Sara Lee's apparel unit opens Winston-Salem, N.C., research, development center.
December 14, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 14--Sara Lee Corp.'s branded-apparel division officially opened its research and development center yesterday in renovated hosiery-factory space on Hanes Mill Road in Winston-Salem. The 250,000-square-foot...

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to reduce retailers' discount.
December 14, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 14--R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. said yesterday that it is reducing the discount it gives to retailers on the company's biggest-selling brands and is raising prices on some other brands. Reynolds said that it...

Winston-Salem firm Quality Oil uses diverse businesses to stay competitive.
December 13, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 13--There is a lot more to Quality Oil Co. LLC than its name implies. The Winston-Salem company, best-known for its heating-oil operation and its Quality Mart and Quality Plus Smoke Shop outlets, also has its...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based community college explores financial training program.
December 11, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 11--Forsyth Technical Community College is considering creating an associate's degree in financial services to better meet the growing job-training needs of local companies. Officials representing four...

Atlanta-based investment group previews Winston-Salem, N.C., hotel renovations.
December 10, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 10--Noble Investment Group offered a sneak peek yesterday at the new Marriott and Embassy Suites hotels that city officials hope will give an economic boost to downtown Winston-Salem. The group, based in...

Commission finds that Chinese firms 'dumped' furniture in U.S. market.
December 10, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 10--A year-long investigation into the dumping of Chinese wooden-bedroom furniture in the United States concluded yesterday with petitioners claiming victory. But opponents said that the ruling won't stop...

Winston-Salem, N.C., considers incentives to keep US Airways' reservations jobs.
December 9, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 9--Winston-Salem is considering offering economic incentives to US Airways Group Inc. as part of a proposal aimed at persuading the bankrupt airline to consolidate its reservation operations in the city. ...

Decisions in legal cases against tobacco industry will affect manufacturers.
December 9, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 9--Decisions in several major legal cases against the tobacco industry could highlight 2005 for Reynolds American Inc. and other major tobacco companies, Fitch Ratings said yesterday in a report. "Favorable...

Dell computer assemblers receive extensive, sustained training.
December 8, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 8--LEBANON, Tenn. -- Working for Dell Inc. isn't for everyone, company executives and employees at its Lebanon, Tenn., manufacturing plant stressed yesterday. But for Triad residents who can thrive in a...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based food company buys salsa, tortilla maker.
December 8, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 8--T.W. Garner Food Co., the maker of Texas Pete Hot Sauce, has bought a Vermont salsa and tortilla-strip company for an undisclosed amount, T.W. Garner's president said yesterday. The deal to buy the maker...

US Airways to combine Pittsburgh and Winston-Salem, N.C., reservation centers.
December 8, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 8--US Airways Group Inc. plans to consolidate its Winston-Salem and Pittsburgh reservation centers if the airline's reservation clerks ratify a new contract with wage-and-benefit concessions. The company,...

Winston-Salem, N.C., university center to offer economic research to nonprofits.
December 7, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 7--A survey center at Wake Forest University is branching beyond the campus to provide economic research to area nonprofit organizations and companies. The Survey Research Center, which was founded in...

North Carolina expert's book tells job seekers to pick up pace over holidays.
December 7, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 7--A Triad career counselor has written a free Internet book that tells job seekers to pick up the pace of their search during the holidays, rather than cocooning until the new year. Damian Birkel said he...

Winston-Salem, N.C., medical practice illustrates industry business challenges.
December 6, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 6--Listen to Doug Miyazaki talk long enough and he begins to sound like a business executive. Miyazaki keeps an information sheet near his desk, which tracks the health-insurance premium costs of his...

Davidson County, N.C., keeps Dell incentive offer under wraps.
December 4, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 4--Davidson County is trying to keep its incentive offer to Dell Inc., or a potential supplier, close to the vest for as long as possible. The county Board of Commissioners posted a legal notice for a...

Food Lion unveils plans to makeover 70 North Carolina stores.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 3--Food Lion LLC plans to give about 70 of its stores in the Triad a makeover next year. The supermarket chain will remodel stores in Alamance, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph and Stokes...

Triad region of North Carolina urged not to rest on getting Dell computer plant.
December 2, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 2--Dell Inc.'s planned computer-making plant will go a long way toward spotlighting this area as a growing technology center, but the region shouldn't rest on its laurels. That was the message from U.S....

Unemployment in North Carolina's Triad region goes up during October.
December 2, 2004... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 2--The Triad's unemployment rate increased for the first time in four months during October, rising to 4.5 percent from 4.3 percent in September, the N.C. Employment Security Commission reported yesterday. ...

Krispy Kreme tests bite-sized doughnut holes in North Carolina stores.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 1--Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. is testing bite-sized doughnut holes, a new product for the company, in its Triad stores. Krispy Kreme is hoping that the doughnut holes -- along with other new products -- will...

Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., seeks tech ideas for incubator.
December 1, 2004... Byline: M. Paul Jackson Dec. 1--If you've got an idea for a technology company, Wake Forest University wants you. The university's Babcock Demon Incubator plans to add three technology start-ups to its offices, hoping to fill the...

Law-enforcement agencies probe Furniture USA.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 1--Furniture USA in Clemmons has been the subject of several lawsuits in recent months and is being investigated by local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies. Furniture USA could not be reached for...