Crain's Chicago Business articles from March 2006

Crain's Chicago Business archives from March 2006

What should we do? Struggling to think of where to take out-of-towners on their next visit? Take some advice from two Chicago VIPs and some lesser-knowns.(Focus: Tourism)
March 6, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN big wig #1 William Daley, 57 Chairman of the Midwest, J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. 1. The family box at U.S. Cellular Field Between April and September, Mr. Daley's first stop is the home of the Chicago White...

Market forces squeeze grocers; As business fragments, non-traditional sellers gain.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON As groceries crop up in more and more places, traditional supermarkets are feeling the pinch-so much so that a grocery consultancy predicts non-traditional retailers will be selling more food than supermarkets by 2013....

NO STONE UNTURNED; Zell's globetrotting exec searches Brazil to Libya for new real estate investments.(Sam Zell)
March 6, 2006... Byline: ALBY GALLUN With extra pages sewn into his passport, Gary Garrabrant is the real estate equivalent of the backpacker who tries to find the next hot spot before hordes of tourists arrive. The CEO of Sam Zell's Equity...

Boomers propel housewares show; Backlash against plain products; attendance records expected.
March 6, 2006... Byline: KATE RYAN The annual International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place is set to break attendance records this year, helped by the demands of well-heeled baby boomers and a wealth of new products. The March 12-14 event...

At Deadline.(Burger King)(Illinois casino revenue)(funding for new railroad crossing gates)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Burger King-McD's lawsuit revived A group of Burger King franchisees has resurrected a lawsuit against McDonald's over a "Monopoly'' promotional game in 2001 that the group alleges unfairly lured customers away from Burger King. The suit,...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
March 6, 2006... THIS WEEK MARCH 6: Jewish Vocational Service presents What to Say About Yourself When Other People Are Listening. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. JVS, 1 S. Franklin St. Free. (312) 673-3437. MARCH 7: Chicago Bar Assn. presents Effective Pretrial...

The man behind the curtain.(Mayor's Office of Special Events executive director James Law interview)(Interview)
March 6, 2006... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN As executive director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events, James Law organizes and promotes the city's free festivals, holiday celebrations and parades. Crain's spoke with Mr. Law, 51, about why he never runs...

Mending OfficeMax; The CEO has a plan to turn around the No. 3 office supplier, but the Itasca company has far to go to catch up with rivals Staples and Office Depot.(Chief Exeuctive Officer)
March 6, 2006... Byline: SANDRA JONES After battling a disgruntled investor for much of last year, OfficeMax Inc. CEO Sam K. Duncan has some breathing room as he tries to fix the ailing office supply seller. But turning around a troubled retailer is a rare...

Judge dismisses Sears dealers' lawsuit; Group doesn't want retailer's brands in Kmarts in their areas.( )
March 6, 2006... Byline: SANDRA JONES A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Sears dealer store owners who want to block Kmarts in their territories from selling Sears brands. U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery of Minnesota in mid-January...

Phoenix area a focal point for Alter Group projects; Chicago no longer a top priority for Skokie firm.
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Alter Group Ltd., the Skokie-based commercial development firm, is moving beyond Chicago to concentrate much of its new construction work in the Southwest. Closely held Alter has acquired 80 acres on the west side...

Gotta have that house-and not above stalking; Pursuit rarely pays off; 'If you ever want to sell. . . .'.(luxury homes marketing)
March 6, 2006... Byline: DARCI SMITH When Greer Haseman lists a home in Oak Park, she can pretty much guarantee she'll be handed an envelope or shoebox filled with notes the sellers have collected throughout the years from people interested in buying their...

Loan Ranger.(The Business of Life)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Kevin Davis Philip Brilliant, 49, president, Chicago Financial Services Inc. Duties: Oversees 36 employees at a residential mortgage company. Guides customers through application and qualification process. "I can tell you...

Flow beyond the pond.(Landscaping industry )
March 6, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Olvera Forget the ugly plastic pond. Garden enthusiasts are going all out with cascading creeks, rippling waterfalls and reflective pools brimming with flora and fauna. So, who is taking the plunge toward a one-with-nature...

Model home: your crib on canvas; Elevating the house through an artist's eye.
March 6, 2006... Byline: ANNE MOORE In the recent boom years of real estate, homes are thought of in terms of investments. But some owners take appreciation to a new level by having their home's portrait painted. For some, it's a celebration of a new...

Rod's blue period; DITCHING HIS EARLIER GUISES, GOVERNOR RUNS LIKE AN OLD-FASHIONED DEMOCRAT.
March 6, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz A little more than four years ago, when my partner and I were returning from a trip out of town, we decided to grab a quick dinner at a greasy spoon on West Addison Street. The fare wasn't much better than the slop the...

Moving President Bush's clean energy rhetoric to reality.
March 6, 2006... Byline: Howard A. Learner President George W. Bush has recognized that America is "addicted to oil.'' He crossed a partisan divide by emphasizing new clean energy technologies-biomass energy, wind power, solar energy and coal...

Investors seek payback in tech wreckage; Burned in RCN flameout, backers sue Morgan Stanley.
March 6, 2006... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER Winning an exclusive right to wire the Loop and Gold Coast for cable TV seemed like a road to riches in the mid-1990s, especially for a politically connected lawyer like Edward T. Joyce, a law school classmate...

UAL using Ted in Mexico bid; Carrier touts no-frills brand in competition for new route from Chicago.(United Airlines)
March 6, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION Vying against two discount carriers, United Airlines is putting Ted on the front lines of a hotly contested battle for a new route to Mexico here. With routes to award under a new aviation agreement with Mexico,...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
March 6, 2006... THIS WEEK MARCH 7-11: Assn. of American Geographers, Palmer House Hilton, estimated attendance 5,000. MARCH 7-12: Illinois Education Assn., Hyatt Regency O'Hare, estimated attendance 1,200. MARCH 8-11: Legal Marketing Assn.,...

Problem-plagued Tribune stock is cheap.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. Lee Murphy The pick: Ariel has owned shares in Tribune Co. for more than a decade. It added 550,000 in the fourth quarter to bring its total to 10.1 million shares, about 3.5% of the media company's stock. Tribune shares trade...

Sellers left on simmer; As superheated market cools, homeowners recall a pre-housing-boom virtue: patience.(Homer Glen )
March 6, 2006... Byline: DAN RAFTER Craig and Stephanie Lindemann are trying to downsize from their million-dollar home now that their sons have moved out-if they can find a buyer. The couple's Homer Glen home, listed for more than $1.2 million, has been...

Moto taps whiz behind Honda ads.(Simon Thompson appointed to Motorola Inc)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Crain News Service LONDON-Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc. has tapped one of the U.K.'s hottest marketing talents by appointing Simon Thompson, who's been behind Honda's recent award-winning advertising, as its regional marketing...

Ready for its close-up; How Hollywood sees, and shoots, our gritty home.
March 6, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Hollywood may have A-list celebs and legendary film studios, but Chicago is no slouch when it comes to making movies. Since 1980, more than 700 films have been shot on locations here-so many that the city plans to...

Macy's marketer faces toughest job in Chicago; Calm Field's fans, create new mid-market retailer.
March 6, 2006... Byline: LISA SANDERS AND MYA FRAZIER Crain News Service Transforming a well-known regional retail name into a national icon is a bold play, even for risk-taker Anne MacDonald. But Federated Department Stores Inc. Chairman and CEO Terry...

Growth leaves General Employment behind; Too much cost-cutting focus, not enough new business, CEO says.(Annual Meeting)
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The outlook is upbeat for the staffing industry, but investors still lack confidence in the prospects for General Employment Enterprises Inc. The Oakbrook Terrace-based company's shares traded at about $1.60 last...

Design Scanner.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Christina Le Beau Jeanne Gang, 41, is principal of Chicago's Studio Gang Architects Ltd., which Architectural Record named a "vanguard of contemporary design.'' Her modern mix: Google Earth lets her zoom on any location: "I...

Too many at $2 million; 'For sale' signs abound at key price point in Lincoln Park; on North Shore, it's $3 million.(Chicago-area neighborhoods)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MARK SCHEFFLER Look around many high-end Chicago-area neighborhoods, and you'll see tall trees, quaint shops and dozens of "for sale'' signs. This surplus of upper-end houses differs by price point and geography: In Lincoln...

Not a seller's market: an agent's view.(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)(Interview)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Ed Avis Linda K. Martin is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Winnetka North. She's been in real estate for 25 years. Crain's: Who is buying high-end homes in Winnetka these days? Ms. Martin:...

Sleeping like a rock star.(Sutton Place Suite)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Ever wonder where rock stars and Hollywood celebrities crash while in Chicago? Hint: It's not the Red Roof Inn. It's usually at one of these glitzy penthouses. So if you're looking to trash a suite, escape the...

Land down under: It's just as luxe; 'Lower level' may have driving range, theater along with wine cellar.
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Investors in million-dollar homes with elegant two-story foyers and sprawling family rooms, offices and bedrooms are heading underground again. They're building bars, wine cellars, home theaters, exercise rooms...

$1-million homes in their sights; Neighborhoods, burbs near seven-figure mark; the 'jump' time slows.(The Business of Life)
March 6, 2006... Byline: DAN RAFTER Having outgrown their Gold Coast condo, Louis and Jenny Rossignuolo went searching for more space and found it in Chicago's East Village neighborhood, just east of Ukrainian Village and a few blocks from Wicker Park. Its...

McD's slips in China; As burger sales slump, competitor KFC soars on wings of chicken.(McDonald's Corp)
March 6, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON Colonel Sanders is running rings around Ronald McDonald in China, where chicken is as familiar as apple pie, but beef is a foreign commodity. Sales fell last year at Chinese McDonald's Corp. outlets open at least...

Builders slow pace at loftier levels; With inventory high, a pause in construction.(The Business of Life)
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY With $1-million home listings in many suburbs around Chicago mounting, high-end homebuilders are likely to pursue fewer new-construction starts as they sort through economic data and try to get a fix on homebuyer...

Moto teams with Ferrari designer.(Motorola design service contract)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... As mobile phone companies struggle to set their products apart, they're luring designers to add some status to the devices. The latest team: Motorola and Italian auto designer Pininfarina. Famous for its sleek, sexy Ferrari styles, Pininfarina...

For The Record.(Boeing management and appointment)(McDonald's restaurant close)(Chemical plant security)
March 6, 2006... In a move with few outward signs of change, Boeing has stopped considering Chicago its world headquarters. No jobs will be lost or moved. The Boeing logo stays atop its Loop home. But the aerospace giant now refers to Chicago in less-lofty...

on the move.(EN Engineering appoints Kevin Krueger)(Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc appoints John Pietrowicz)(DiMeo Schneider & Associates LLC appoints Scott C. Blimm)
March 6, 2006... ARCHITECTURE/ ENGINEERING EN Engineering, Woodridge: Kevin Krueger, 35, to chief financial officer and continuing as vice-president, from controller. FINANCIAL SERVICES Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Chicago: John Pietrowicz,...

Head of Allstate unit looks to sign on more agents.
March 6, 2006... Byline: Gregory Meyer Job: President, Encompass Insurance, a personal insurance unit of Allstate Corp., since January. Vitals: 40 years old; bachelor's degree, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1987; law degree, University of Notre Dame,...

Swimming with the 'fishes'; Why maintaining a top Chicago attraction takes a lot of nerve.(Focus: Tourism)
March 6, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Marine biologist Keith Pamper says "fishes.'' But don't be too quick to correct his terminology. Mr. Pamper is a diver at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, and as long as he's donning a wet suit-and defying death while...

LONG HOURS AT THE NUKE PLANTS; Exelon generators run leaner than others.
March 6, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS For years, Wall Street cheered Exelon Corp. for the efficiency and profitability of its nuclear power plants. Over the last five years, head count at Exelon's Illinois plants has declined 6%, making them the...

Hospira stock dips on earnings report.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Julie Jargon Hospira Inc.'s stock fell 14% last week after the hospital products company announced fourth-quarter profit dropped 46% on lower sales and higher costs. Lake Forest-based Hospira, which was spun off by Abbott...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 6, 2006... A Feb. 27 report should have said about half of the beneficiaries of the Chicago Transit Authority's retiree health plan are eligible for Medicare. Corrections to Crain's Feb. 20 list of Illinois' largest verdicts and settlements in 2005:...

Suitors circle consultancies; U.S., Japanese, Indian firms eye Chicago companies.
March 6, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Acquity Group LLC CEO Chris Dalton receives three to four overtures a week from dealmakers offering to hook him up with bigger firms looking to buy a mid-sized consultancy like his. Mr. Dalton's 5-year-old...

Ad brokers hail cabs; New city rules spur hot market, aggressive tactics; owners, drivers share cash.(News)
March 6, 2006... Byline: BOB TITA A pair of ad brokers is engaged in a fierce competition to control newly permitted ads on the exterior of Chicago taxis. At stake is an estimated $10 million a year in sales fees from signs on 6,900 cabs in the city....

When mom and dad are the seller; Lots of free 'advice' and no sweetheart deals, but a good move for some.(buyers of family homes)
March 6, 2006... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI When John Julian purchased his Lake Forest home, there was a strange string attached: He had to care for the previous owners' Shih Tzu, Jose, for a full year while the couple resettled in a condo development. ...

'Weaknesses' at 11% of biggest firms in '04; Study looks at first year disclosure required.
March 6, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Eleven percent of the 100 largest public companies in Chicago reported "material weaknesses'' in annual reports for 2004-the first year such disclosures were required. That's a bit better than the nationwide...

Commitment to reform earns Claypool our nod.(Forrest Claypool)
March 6, 2006... John H. Stroger Jr. has served Cook County honorably in 12 years as County Board president. He repaired county finances early in his tenure, earning a respectable AA bond rating. Later, he pulled together a coalition to support the construction...

Is spring cleaning a task of the past?(Manic Maids Inc)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Even with weekly or biweekly cleanings, scheduling an additional deep cleaning in the spring is necessary to rid a home of a winter's worth of dust, says Sonia Zimmer, owner of Chicago-based Manic Maids Inc. Spring...

Welcome move into Streeterville; Copperblue classes up options near Navy Pier.
March 6, 2006... Byline: ANNE MOORE It's fitting that a fine-dining restaurant would make a home at the base of Lake Point Tower, one of Chicago's first luxury skyscrapers. Built in 1968, it's still distinctive in the city's skyline because of its curved...

Is a bionic arm within reach? N'western, Rehab lab at forefront of Pentagon push for a lifelike limb.(Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
March 6, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION In a lab at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's flagship hospital in Streeterville, scientists are working on a Manhattan Project of sorts for artificial arms. Chicago is a focal point of a new, $54-million...

South Side center to get 2 big-box stores; Home Depot, Target slated for Morgan Park retail development.(Primestor Development Inc)
March 6, 2006... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Home Depot Inc. and Target Corp. plan to open stores in a new Morgan Park shopping center, one of the biggest retail developments planned for the city's South Side. The two retailers together would occupy about...

Big commercial projects slated for Northbrook; Shopping center to go on land leased from missionary group.
March 6, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The village of Northbrook, which for years confounded developers with its anti-growth posture, is now courting commercial construction under its current mayor, with several large projects poised to start soon. ...

This Week: Sears Tower owner seeks refinancing.(Carlton Group)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Byline: Alby Gallun Two years after paying $840 million for the Sears Tower, a group led by New York investor Joseph Chetrit wants to refinance the 110-story West Loop skyscraper. The partnership has hired Carlton Group, a New York real...

Alexi's business; GUN SHOP OWNER, FELON GOT LOANS FROM STATE TREASURER CANDIDATE'S BANK.(News)(Alexi Giannoulias)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz On his campaign Web site, Illinois treasurer hopeful Alexi Giannoulias describes himself as "a banker-a community banker, to be more precise.'' It's an indication that Mr. Giannoulias' job as vice-president and chief loan...

UAL's legal tab: $100 mil.(Kirkland and Ellis charges United Air Lines Inc. for handling banktruptcy case)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Kirkland & Ellis has tallied its bill for guiding UAL through bankruptcy court. The total: $100 million. The costs break down to about $94 million in fees and more than $6 million in expenses for the work Kirkland performed from December 2002...

Blagojevich, for lack of a better choice.(Opinion)(Blagojevich, Rod R.)
March 13, 2006... Voters in the Democratic gubernatorial primary face an unhappy choice between a candidate with no qualifications for the job and another with only one: four years of experience as governor. On the basis of that slim advantage alone, we give...

Hearty pub lunches to spirit you away; Grown-up flair: Guinness in soup-and ice cream.(The Business of Life)(Grace O'Malley, Fado Irish Pub)(Restaurant review)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Laura Bianchi Irish warmth and hospitality is welcome all year long, but even more so as St. Patrick's Day nears. I sidestepped the crowds and visited two popular pubs before the river turns green. But expect major crowds on the...

Teen spirits.(Focus: Small Business)(high school students starts their own business after school)
March 13, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY There's more to life than the senior prom-at least, to the 60 Chicago high school students enrolled in an after-school program that helps them start their own businesses. The program, established in 2003 by the...

Winter golf: It takes green; Pricey lessons conquer lull; 'I'm not used to doing anything poorly'.(The Business of Life)(a new crop of technology in golf instructional forums around chicago)
March 13, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY A simple, short putting stroke is subjected to exhaustive scrutiny at the GreenToTee Golf Academy in Glencoe. Digital analysis from SAM Putt Lab informs you that your aim is 5 degrees to the left of your target, while...

City pension chiefs blast Sudan law; New rules put billions at risk, they argue.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: KATE RYAN A new law that bars public pension funds from investing in companies that do business in Sudan could cost Illinois' public pension funds billions of dollars, according to managers of six city funds lobbying for a change....

Wine Finder.(The Business of Life)(Scott Tyree)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Laura Bianchi Scott Tyree, 45, wine director, Tru, Chicago Duties: "A lot of people think the sommelier's job is to show up in a nice suit and talk about wine.'' Two-thirds is administrative-purchasing and pricing wine,...

People reader.(The Business of Life)(Robert A. Clifford)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Dan Weissmann Robert A. Clifford, 54, personal injury attorney and principal partner at Clifford Law Offices P.C., frequently wins multimillion-dollar verdicts for clients, and his political donations-mostly to Democrats-have...

Allstate hanging on to financial biz; Insurer says it won't sell slow-growing division.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Allstate Corp.'s $560-million deal last week to sell its variable annuities business has some on Wall Street wishing the insurer would unload its entire financial services division. Allstate's stock probably would...

On the Move.(People)(Young Chai and Bryce Hanna appointed to Lucien Lagrange Architects Ltd., Michael Kennedy appointed to Fifth Third Bancorp and Barry M. Masek appointed to Virchow Krause and Co.)
March 13, 2006... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Lucien Lagrange Architects Ltd., Chicago: Young Chai, 34, to senior architect, from project architect at Earth Tech Inc. Also, Bryce Hanna, 35, to senior architect, from architect at DeStefano & Partners Ltd. ...

Hospitals gut bill to curb debt collection; Madigan's proposal 'neutralized' by lobby for state's industry.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Illinois hospital lobbyists are claiming victory after watering down legislation to sharply limit aggressive tactics in collecting unpaid bills from patients. In a March 6 newsletter to members, the Illinois...

Aon fights talent drain; Lawsuit answers efforts by upstart rival to tap Chicago firm's exec pool.(News)(David J. Finnis and Gary Marchitello of Integro Ltd.)
March 13, 2006... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Crain News Service ATLANTA-After attracting talent from the world's biggest insurance brokers over the past year, Integro Ltd. faces litigation over its efforts to build a large-account brokerage from scratch. ...

Coup targets Metra czar; Board setting stage for ouster of Ladd, rail agency's boss since '84.(News)(Appointment of Metra's board of directors)
March 13, 2006... Byline: BOB TITA Metra directors are laying the groundwork for a boardroom putsch against Jeffrey Ladd, chairman of the commuter rail agency since its founding 22 years year ago. In two decades at the top of the nation's largest...

1Q sales forecast gives 14% boost to Littelfuse.(Markets)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Bob Tita Littelfuse Inc.'s stock jumped 14% last week on the fuse maker's forecast of higher-than-expected sales and profit for the first quarter. The company predicted Friday that first-quarter sales would increase at least...

Green pastures.(Focus: Small Business)(Rohini Dey's management of Vermilion)(Company overview)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Cynthia Hanson The hot shot Rohini Dey, 37, owner of Vermilion, an Indian-Latin fusion restaurant in River North, with 40 employees and annual sales of $2 million. her challenge Raising $1 million to launch the...

The man with the plan.(Focus: Small Business)(Commonground LLC's Sherman Wright)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Cynthia Hanson The hot shot Sherman Wright, 35, managing partner of Commonground LLC, a 10-employee Chicago marketing agency with annual sales of $1.8 million. his challenge Writing a solid business plan. I met my...

For The Record.(Briefs)
March 13, 2006... Developers J. Paul Beitler and Michael W. Reschke may scrap their plan to build a 2,000-foot-tall broadcast tower near Navy Pier in favor of a spot on top of the 115-story Fordham Spire, a nearby luxury condo and hotel tower proposed by...

This Week: Bird flu summit drawing big crowd.(Briefs)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Paul Merrion Because of intense interest in the March 17 federal bird flu summit here, the half-day information-sharing session will be invitation-only and held at Rosemont's 1,200-person-capacity Donald E. Stephens Convention...

Experts on experts; Focus on core business key to steady growth.(Round Table Group Inc)
March 13, 2006... Byline: DEE GILL It took Russ Rosenzweig and his two partners three years of work, after their day jobs and on weekends, to cobble together enough names of intellectuals to start a company that finds academic and industry pros who act as...

What's the best way to tip a maitre d'?(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Don't approach the maitre d', make a request and immediately hand over money-that can feel more like a bribe than an expression of gratitude, says Kara Sherman, general manager of MK in River North. Instead, wait until...

TreeHouse dips into soup; Dean Foods spinoff to take on industry leader Campbell.(TreeHouse Foods Inc)
March 13, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON Investors have been bidding up shares of TreeHouse Foods Inc., a Westchester-based maker of pickles and non-dairy creamers that's diving into the soup business with a $275-million acquisition. Closing at $26.25...

Topinka has best chance to beat Rod.(Opinion)
March 13, 2006... In a weak field of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls, Judy Baar Topinka stands out as the candidate with the best chance of defeating incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich. Our endorsement goes to Ms. Topinka, because the ethical shortcomings...

Rehabbing a failed idea.
March 13, 2006... Byline: Christina Le Beau The hot shot Cary Chessick, 39, co-owner of Restaurant.com, an Arlington Heights-based online restaurant gift certificate seller with 85 employees and annual revenues of $7 million. his challenge ...

'Daddy, what do you do?'.(LaSalle Network employment service)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Christina Le Beau The hot shot Thomas Gimbel, 33, founder of the LaSalle Network, a Chicago-based staffing and recruiting firm that specializes in accounting and finance placements. It has 35 employees and annual revenues of...

STEEL-PLATED RESULTS; Chicago's largest steelmaker is on a hot streak-but will it buck an industry downturn?(News)(Ipsco Inc)
March 13, 2006... Byline: BOB TITA In 2001, with the American steel industry drowning in a flood of cheap imports and pulled under by a glut of domestic production, Ipsco Inc. opened a $425-million steel mill outside Mobile, Ala. Even as other steelmakers...

RISING: UNITED EXECS' STOCK GRANTS; Fresh from Ch. 11, Tilton's take doubles.(News)(Glenn Tilton)
March 13, 2006... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Barely a month out of bankruptcy, United Airlines is already lavishing stock options on senior executives, including CEO Glenn Tilton, who has seen the value of his pay package double since January. Since Feb....

Salad salvation; Is the man getting you down? Then read this.
March 13, 2006... Byline: CHRISTINA LE BEAU It was a Friday in October 2001. Judd Rosenberg was calling on a customer for Alliant Foodservice Inc., the Deerfield food distributor where he worked. The customer, the owner of Cafe Descartes, was planning to...

Spanish paper looks for untapped markets.(People)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Gregory Meyer Job: General manager in Chicago for Hoy, the Tribune Co.-owned Spanish-language newspaper, since January. Vitals: 37 years old; bachelor's degree, Michigan State University, 1991; MBA, Northwestern University,...

Sushi tanking? Chefs look for fresh angles.
March 13, 2006... Byline: Virginia Gerst In a drifting market and amid press reports of mercury-infused seafood, sushi bars appear to be banking on patrons' sense of adventure to stay afloat. Tom Miner, principal in Technomic Inc., a Chicago-based food...

Bean builds big pile of cash; First-term rep amasses one of the largest war chests in Congress.(News)
March 13, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION WASHINGTON-Out to prove she's not a one-term wonder, U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean is sitting on about $1.5 million in cash on hand, one of the biggest campaign war chests in Congress. With no opponent in the March 21...

After shares' big run-up, Aon has become too pricey.(Markets)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... Byline: H. Lee Murphy The pick: With Aon Corp.'s shares almost doubling since hitting a low last April, it's time to stop buying them, Mr. McKissack says. Channing sold 131,000 shares in the fourth quarter but is holding onto around...