Crain's Chicago Business articles from November 2005

Crain's Chicago Business archives from November 2005

Charged with keeping credit bureau secure.(People)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Gregory Meyer Job: Chief security officer, Trans Union LLC, the Chicago-based credit reporting agency, since Sept. 26. Vitals: 47 years old; attended University of Florida. Jobs including chief information officer at Colorado's...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
November 7, 2005... this Week NOV. 7: Chicago Bar Assn. presents Advising Emerging International Clients. 3 to 6 p.m. Chicago Bar Assn., 321 S. Plymouth Court. Fee: $70 members, $120 non-members. (312) 554-2056. NOV. 7: Illinois CPA Society presents...

Circuit board maker eyes the auction block; Shock waves of tech crash still rock M-Wav.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY With its printed circuit board markets shrinking, M-Wav Inc. has tried outsourcing manufacturing, divesting assets, shuffling management and making acquisitions. Now, the company is considering putting itself up for...

Harder row to hoe; For farmers, that is. Not their bankers.(Focus: Farm Banking)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN The top crop in Illinois agriculture this year may be banking. Don't tell that to the farmers, who were dealt a double blow by Mother Nature. First, a drought cut into corn yields. Then, Hurricane Katrina knocked...

Metal maker first has to raise some gold; Int'l Titanium Powder seeks $35 mil. to start up.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION It was on a late summer day in 1996, relaxing with a beer on his friend's sailboat after a race, when former Argonne National Laboratory scientist Richard Anderson turned to Arthur Wong, his long-time sailing buddy,...

Sparkle scouts: How to spot vintage gems; Costume jewels abound; go beyond the brooch.(The Business of Life)
November 7, 2005... Byline: GRETCHEN WAHL Last fall, no trendy woman could leave the house without a huge vintage (or vintage-style) rhinestone brooch on the lapel of her Chanel (or Chanel-style) jacket. This year, the fashionable woman is layering chunky...

Future still on hold at Board of Trade; Investors want to see agriculture contracts traded on computers.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: KATE RYAN Chicago Board of Trade Chairman Charles Carey helped herd the 157-year-old exchange's independently minded members into the modern era by expanding electronic trading, but he still has some strays to round up. ...

Stock Report: Report of talks drives up Bally.(Markets)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Jeremy Mullman Shares of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. surged 15% to $6.46 last week on a report that the company is in talks to be sold or taken private. The Chicago health club chain's stock surged on heavy volume after...

New bank blitz in the works; Fifth Third set to open 100 more branches here.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Just when the bank-building frenzy in Chicago seemed to be ebbing, Fifth Third Bancorp is preparing to open 100 new branches here in a renewed challenge to market leaders Chase, LaSalle and Harris. The...

Shed maker opens 2 sales offices in Chicago push; Wants to sell here and east in Home Depot.(News)(Tuff Shed Inc. )
November 7, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA A Denver-based storage shed manufacturer that's ridden the coattails of retail giant Home Depot Inc. is pushing into the Chicago market. Tuff Shed Inc. recently opened sales offices in Streamwood and Franklin Park,...

On the Move.(People)(Environmental Systems Design Inc.)(Holy Family Medical Center)(Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa)
November 7, 2005... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago: Robert M. Weber, 53, to senior vice-president of the technology group, from senior vice-president at McClier Corp. HEALTH CARE Holy Family Medical Center, Des...

What's the best way to keep Fido safe on his now-dark evening walk?(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith Clip a flashing Pet Blinker ($6.50, at pet boutiques and online) on his collar to make him visible up to a half-mile away, says Candace D'Agnolo, manager of Galloping Gourmutts, a canine bakery and boutique at 2736 N....

'Clean this guy up!'; Ambitious seek edge by looking better; a reality-TV takeoff.(The Business of Life)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SHIA KAPOS When co-workers compared Barry Schain and his partner to "The Odd Couple''-casting him as the messy Oscar Madison-the managing broker of a Chicago real estate development company took the ribbing in stride. Then, he...

Blasting off: A buyer's guide.(News)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... How much will a trip to outer space set you back? Space Adventures Ltd. offers a one-week stay at the International Space Station, transportation included. Cost: $20 million Space Adventures also offers a sub-orbital space flight,...

BradsDeals coupon is out of this world; Online bargain-hunter offers cash back on space trip.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Boldly going where no Web site has gone before, BradsDeals.com is offering a blue-light special on commercial space travel-and says it has a dozen takers so far. The Evanston Internet discounter offers to pay 10%...

Tellabs flirts with Wall Street.(Markets)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Tellabs Inc., cherished by investors in the 1990s and spurned in recent years, is rekindling the romance. The Naperville maker of telecom equipment was the best-performing stock on the New York Stock Exchange...

Northern, Mellon chasing big bucks; U.S. expansion pursues high-net-worth segment.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: CHARLES PAIKERT Crain News Service Chicago's Northern Trust Corp. and Pittsburgh's Mellon Financial Corp. are expanding across the country as they seek more business managing money for millionaires. Both companies are looking...

The great farmland grab; The hottest commodity in Illinois farming may be the land itself.(Focus: Farm Banking)
November 7, 2005... Byline: CHRISTINA LE BEAU It's been a crazy few years for residential development, and for farmland development in particular. Fueled by a strong U.S. economy and low interest rates, the American Dream has super-sized, even as land values...

Interest earner.(Anne Arvia management)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Anne Arvia, 42, came to ShoreBank as a controller in 1991. Nine years later, she was tapped to lead the Chicago bank's operations, and since 2003 she has been both president and CEO. Her list: Wall Street Journal...

Tampico the next Snapple? CEO aims to broaden Hispanic-oriented brand.(News)(chief executive officers)
November 7, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Scott Miller aims to make Tampico fruit juice as well known as Snapple. Already popular with Hispanic consumers, the tropical punches made by Chicago-based Tampico Beverages Inc. have a long way to go before they...

O'Hare leaders must learn from terminal woes.(O'Hare International Airport renovation costs)
November 7, 2005... Troubles in a terminal renovation project at O'Hare International Airport bode ill for the massive runway expansion now under way. As the Chicago Tribune reported last week, a $315-million facade overhaul for O'Hare terminals is $48...

At Deadline.(Late News)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... City Hall sets plans for citywide Wi-Fi The city is preparing to seek bidders to beam Wi-Fi broadband service across Chicago, not just in city facilities, said Mayor Daley. Speaking to Crain's editorial board, the mayor said service would...

Apartment market hits roof; Downtown occupancy rate, average rent rise.
November 7, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN After four years of pain, downtown apartment owners are starting to enjoy the good life again. The average downtown apartment building's occupancy rate hit 96.4% in the third quarter, up from 94.2% in the second...

They'll cure what ails you (or at least smell really nice).(The Business of Life)(Buyers Guide)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Olvera Before drugstores, apothecaries were where pharmacists dispensed medicines, doled out curative advice and, in some cases, performed surgery. Today, a mix of natural, organic and luxury products-offered up in a...

Ben Pao rolls over a rival; Tender barbecued ribs kick off a winning feast.(Ben Pao and P. F. Chang's China Bistro Chinese cuisines )(Restaurant Review)
November 7, 2005... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI Located blocks from each other near the Mag Mile, Ben Pao and P. F. Chang's China Bistro duke it out for dining dollars. The first is a link in the ever-growing chain of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc., the...

State Senate nixes guv's ICC pick.(state utility regulatory board lead requires votes of Senates)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Interim ICC Chairman Martin Cohen is out of a job. Gov. Blagojevich's choice to lead the state utility regulatory board needed 30 Illinois Senate votes for the appointment to be confirmed. Last week, he got only 28. Mr. Cohen was executive...

For The Record.(A. T. Kearney management buyout)(property tax is not increased in the budget)(Motorola settlement with Mike Zafirovski former president)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A. T. Kearney officers will decide in the next month whether to participate in a management buyout of the consultancy. Kearney and parent EDS agreed last week to sell the firm to its officers (ChicagoBusiness.com, Aug. 24). A total sale price...

WAKING UP WATER TOWER; Once au courant, now old hat: Mall's new owner seeks to recover lost cachet.(Water Tower Place contracts)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SANDRA JONES Water Tower Place's new owner aims to restore glitz and glamour to the dowager of the Magnificent Mile. Through a mix of new stores, restaurants, expanded evening hours and a live theater, the mall's managers hope...

This Week: Daley seeking CEO to lead Olympic push.(chief executive officer for city olympics management)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz Mayor Daley says he intends to name a corporate CEO "by Christmas'' to quarterback the city's study of whether to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Speaking to Crain's editorial board last week, Mayor Daley said the CEO...

ROOMS TO GROW; With 3,300 hotel units on drawing board, developers bet big on travel rebound.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Downtown hotel construction is poised to grow from a trickle to a flood as developers try to capitalize on the rebounding hotel market. Developers have at least 15 projects on the drawing boards that could add 3,366...

Bon-Ton gets fixer-upper with Carson purchase; How to jazz up chain? Retail experts weigh in.(News)
November 7, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Carson Pirie Scott, the 151-year-old Chicago department store chain set to be acquired by Bon-Ton Stores Inc., has been leaking retail marketshare for years and is in desperate need of a fix, experts unanimously...

Seed money: Life after soybeans and corn.(Focus: Farm Banking)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Sure, Illinois grows a lot of corn and soybeans. But that's not all. Since 2001 the state has invested $550,000 on a batch of exotic crops aimed at reducing farmers' dependence on subsidies, while opening new...

Living off the land: selling it, renting it; How some farmers are beating the tax man.(Focus: Farm Banking)
November 7, 2005... Byline: CHRISTINA LE BEAU When Illinois land values began rising five years ago, word spread about an 80-year-old provision of the U.S. tax code that enables a property seller to avoid capital gains taxes by reinvesting the profits in a...

Blago has tough road ahead, but GOP has it tougher.(Opinion)(Column)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Paul M. Green I predict someone will win the Illinois Republican gubernatorial primary in March and that person will be an Illinoisan. This will be a major upgrade over the 2004 GOP U.S. Senate fiasco-unless some party leaders kick...

Ethanol demand energizes ADM shares; Investors aren't put off by a 29% profit drop.(Markets)
November 7, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Demand for ethanol is fueling investors' appetite for Archer Daniels Midland Co. stock. Since late April, shares in the corn and soybean processor have climbed 35%, closing Friday at $24.21. Even a 29% drop in...

A 6,000% increase in assets?(Focus: Farm Banking)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Harris, primarily built through acquisitions, completed the consolidation of its 26 Chicagoland charters in May of this year. The charters collapsed into one charter, Harris N.A., regulated by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency....

Need to Know.(agricultural industry production and employment details)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... 77% - Percent of Illinois that's farmland. 1.5 million - Illinois workers employed in the agriculture industry. 2nd - Illinois' rank in corn and soybean production in the U.S., after Iowa.

Turmoil on radar for UAL alliance; US Air network-sharing accord being renegotiated.(News)(United Airlines)
November 7, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON A partnership worth about $200 million annually to United Airlines is up in the air as US Airways merges with a United rival. US Airways is reinventing itself as a low-cost carrier as it melds operations with...

Farmhands of finance.(Focus: Farm Banking)(Interview)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN Rural banking may be strong, but there's still plenty to worry about. Here's the dirt from three experts: John Blanchfield, 51, director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking at the American Bankers...

Static over Sharpton radio deal; Syndicator says activist hasn't lived up to pact.(radio programs deal)
November 7, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN A Chicago radio syndicator is embroiled in a dispute with the Rev. Al Sharpton, contending the civil-rights activist and erstwhile presidential candidate is shirking a deal to host a daily talk show for the...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
November 7, 2005... THIS WEEK NOV. 7-10: Omega Group International Inc., Wyndham O'Hare, estimated attendance 200. NOV. 9: Institute of Food Technologists, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, estimated attendance 3,000. NOV. 9-12: American Assn. of...

One farmer's finances.(Focus: Farm Banking)
November 7, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Mark Jorstad doesn't encounter many strangers. "One, maybe two a year at the most,'' says Mr. Jorstad, 50, who owns a 3,000-acre corn and soybean farm in Grundy County. Most of his vendors-the ones who sell...

Lisa's star turn; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HITS THE RIGHT NOTES IN CARVING OUT AN INDEPENDENT IMAGE.(News)(Lisa Madigan )
November 7, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz It was a Hollywood moment -unscripted, and worth more than a hundred press releases. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and I had just finished lunch. We were talking about her record and upcoming re-election...

Sky Lighter.(The Business of Life)
November 7, 2005... Byline: Kevin Davis Tom Caulfield, 54, assistant chief engineer, John Hancock Center Years on job: 33 Salary: $50,000-$75,000 Duties: Five times a year, helps install 552 eight-foot-long fluorescent bulbs into fixtures on the...

Options will take bite of '06 profits; Companies that gave executives big stock option packages will pay the price.(Markets)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Local companies that shower executives with stock options are going to get squeezed next year. New accounting rules aimed at giving investors a clearer picture of costs for executive pay packages require...

'DARTH TATER' GETS FRESH; As McDonald's menu gets healthier, a career potato man grapples with apples and grapes.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Mitch Smith can tell a good potato by the way it feels in his hand-firm, sprout-free and about 7 ounces. Until recently, though, he didn't know a Gala apple from a Pink Lady. Mr. Smith, director of quality systems...

The art of selling art.(Focus: Small Business)(Perimeter Gallery)(Frank Paluch)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Meredith Landry Perimeter Gallery, River North Frank Paluch, director Perimeter Galley, now in its 24th year, fosters up-and-coming artists while also promoting more established artists like Jack Levine and Toshiko Takaezu. So,...

No starving artist.(Focus: Small Business)(Stephen Kelly)(Stephen Kelly Gallery)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Meredith Landry Stephen Kelly Gallery, River North Stephen Kelly, owner Stephen Kelly opened his gallery at 750 N. Franklin St. in September 2004 and is already turning a profit. But Mr. Kelly, 44, is more than a businessman....

Hollywood in Chicago.(Focus: Small Business)(Rebekah Iliff)(Rockit Ranch Productions)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Meredith Landry Rockit Ranch Productions, River North Rebekah Iliff, director of marketing and PR In 2002, local hipsters Billy Dec and Brad Young began Rockit Ranch Productions as a marketing and PR firm centered on the...

Sultan of swing (and food).(Focus: Small Business)(Sam Sproviero)(Green Dolphin Street Restaurant and Jazz Club)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Meredith Landry Green Dolphin Street Restaurant & Jazz Club, Bucktown Sam Sproviero, general manager On the corner of Ashland and Webster sits Green Dolphin Street Restaurant & Jazz Club-a pocket of cool on the site of a former...

State sees resurgence of new bank startups; Late-'90s-style rise fueled by easier access to capital.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Bank startups in Illinois are rising for the first time in five years. Several large banks, of course, have been on aggressive growth binges, opening roughly 700 new branches in the Chicago area over the last...

MidwestGen's alternating current; New power pricing turns Exelon rival's fortunes.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS If you want to know why Exelon Corp. is fighting so hard to force Chicago-area customers to pay market prices for power, look no further than its once-woebegone rival, Midwest Generation LLC. Chicago-based...

First Industrial an Ohio player; REIT's venture makes it a state heavyweight.
November 14, 2005... Byline: STAN BULLARD Crain News Service Chicago-based First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. plans to woo tenants, sell properties and buy more after taking its first big stake in Northeast Ohio's industrial real estate market. "We're...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
November 14, 2005... this Week NOV. 15: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform presents The Most Powerful Voice in America: How Candidates and Voters Speak to Each Other Through the Media. 8:30 a.m. to noon. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Fee: $20....

IT'S SHOWTIME FOR TRIB'S QUIET CEO; Investors expect bold action from FitzSimons.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN With his predecessor's decisions still reverberating through Tribune Co., Chairman and CEO Dennis FitzSimons suddenly faces seismic choices of his own. Shareholder unrest at Chicago-based Tribune, and some of its...

Rules askew on men's suits; Makers duke it out: High-style jackets have 2 buttons . . . or is it 3?(The Business of Life)
November 14, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The natty Donald J. Madia, a co-owner of Blackbird restaurant who once sold menswear on Oak Street, can speak at length about the rope shoulders, closed vents and compressed waists of the exquisitely tailored suits he...

Makeover for Wabash; City to spend $20 mil. brightening up dark, noisy street in Loop.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Wabash Avenue in the Loop, a tired retail corridor that has seen better days, is getting a $20-million facelift. Under a spruce-up scheduled to begin in the spring, the city plans to add planters, improve sidewalks...

Feds invade State Street; U.S. grabs 2 buildings for massive federal office complex.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN In a rare, street-level display of federal power, the U.S. government is seizing two buildings along State Street where it plans to build a huge office complex. Federal officials want to take over the west side of...

What's the easiest way to back up your home computer?(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith Forget tape drives or the Internet-CDs and DVDs offer the quickest backup for a home computer, says Steve Kenney, head of the Chicago office at IT consultancy Responsive Inc. Create a directory on your hard drive and...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 14, 2005... A story in the Oct. 31 issue incorrectly reported the amount of deposits in the northwest suburban branches Harris Bank added through its 1994 acquisition of Suburban Bancorp. Deposits in those branches rose to $513 million in 2005 from $489...

Heavy Lifter.(The Business of Life)(Abraham Deng)(Merchandise Mart)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Kevin Davis Abraham Deng, 25, freight elevator operator, Merchandise Mart Years on the job: Three Salary: $10 to $15 per hour Duties: Transports all manner of merchandise between the Mart's 19 floors for 350 events per...

Non-profit vet out to raise association profile.(People)(Alzheimer's Association)(Johns, Harry)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Michael McHugh Job: President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Assn., since August. Vitals: 48; bachelor's degree, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Fla., 1990; MBA, Kellogg School of Management, 1992. Increasingly senior positions at...

Two grants for museum at U of C.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... NEA grant for SmART Explorers: The Smart Museum received $48,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to advance smART Explorers, an arts education program teaching fifth-graders how to look, think and talk about art. The grant money...

2,000 new attendants at United.(United Airlines flight attendants recruitment)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... United Airlines, the No. 2 U.S. carrier, said it is hiring 2,000 flight attendants as it increases the numbers of international flights and as domestic jets fly longer-range routes. The new hires, the unit of Elk Grove Township-based UAL...

Saving client Ryan: a $10-mil. mission; Meter runs on Winston as trial ace Webb defends ex-guv gratis.(Dan Webb)
November 14, 2005... Byline: GREG HINZ AND STEVEN R. STRAHLER Winston & Strawn LLP's free defense of former Gov. George Ryan, led by top-gun trial lawyer Dan Webb, has cost the firm more than $10 million so far, an unprecedented instance of largesse that's...

Wedge war; CONSERVATIVES ARE FOCUSING ON CULTURAL ISSUES RATHER THAN BLAGO'S VULNERABILITIES.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz One conservative Web site describes a veteran local official seeking higher office as "a curse on the whole (GOP) ticket''-because his refusal to say if he's gay makes him "part of a cabal that subverts'' Republican...

This Week: Deutsche Bank sinks teeth into McD's.(Briefs)(McDonald's)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Julie Jargon Deutsche Bank has bought almost 30 million shares of McDonald's stock valued at $959 million, bringing holdings to more than 40 million shares, or a 3.2% stake, according to an SEC filing. Several firms have snapped up...

On the Move.(People)(Community First Banking Co.)(Gardner, Carton and Douglas)(CB Richard Ellis Inc.)
November 14, 2005... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Metro Transportation Group Inc., Hoffman Estates: Janis L. Fix, 50, to vice-president, from financial manager. Also, John W. Severin, 44, to vice-president, from principal. FINANCIAL SERVICES Community...

Tiny bites beyond wine flights.(The Business of Life)(Buyers Guide)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Olvera Wine flights, a series of mini portions meant for sampling, have inspired a host of imitators. Where can the fickle palate find just a taste? Hot Chocolate 1747 N. Damen Ave., (773) 489-1747 The...

Passing the fry guy's test.(News)(Mitch Smith)(McDonald's Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... The final test of a potato's quality comes when Mitch Smith, suppliers and a team of McD's sensory specialists sample fries at McDonald's Oak Brook headquarters. panning for gold The sensory evaluation lab, a sterile room outfitted...

Top Salton execs cut their pay as sales lag; Voluntary reductions in place until company's restructuring succeeds.(News)
November 14, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Salton Inc., the home appliance company that's been burned in recent months by lagging sales of its George Foreman grills, is aiming to cut costs-including in the corner office. In a proxy filing with the...

Sears director makes bundle on stock sale; Insider Day unloads almost 1 million shares.(Markets)(Julian C. Day )(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: SANDRA JONES Sears Holdings Corp. director Julian C. Day isn't waiting around to find out how Chairman Edward S. Lampert's turnaround plan turns out. Since Mr. Lampert engineered the merger of Sears and Kmart in March, Mr. Day...

Baby boon: the 4th child; Affluent families quadruple their fun; for the well-off, 'motherhood is in fashion'.(The Business of Life)
November 14, 2005... Byline: SANDRA JONES The Chicago area's most prosperous neighborhoods are experiencing a baby boom. Two kids? So predictable. Three? It's been done. These days the arrival of the fourth child-especially when coupled with mom quitting...

At Deadline.(Late News)
November 14, 2005... L.A. firm snaps up Tootsie Roll stock Tootsie Roll has attracted the attention of L.A. investment firm Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management. Kayne has bought 1.1 million shares of Tootsie valued at more than $34 million, bringing...

Need to Know.(Focus: Small Business)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Sources: Restaurant magazine, New Trier Township High School District 203 1 Chicago restaurant on Restaurant magazine's "50 Best Restaurants in the World'' list 2004 (Charlie Trotter, No. 32). $104 million Price paid...

CNA rises as Katrina worries subside.(Markets)(CNA Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Steve Daniels Shares of CNA Financial Corp. hit a 52-week high last Thursday as investor concerns over Hurricane Katrina dissipated. The stock ended the week up 9%, closing Friday at $34.42. Unlike most of its competitors, who...

Kings of the kitchen; Honey 1 BBQ, Bucktown Robert Adams Jr. and Robert Adams Sr., owners Moto, Near West Side Homaro Cantu, chef.(Focus: Small Business)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Gretchen Wahl Running a restaurant can be a brutal affair. Average profit margins are historically low, tastes and styles change rapidly and competition is fierce. A study by Ohio State University found that 61% of all...

Keeping heads cool; Art + Science salon, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Evanston locations Laurence Hegarty, manager and principal stylist.(Focus: Small Business)(Interview)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Meredith Landry Keeping heads cool Laurence Hegarty, 44, came to the U.S. 21 years ago from London-a global epicenter of cool. Mr. Hegarty, who's a stylist, and business partner David Raccuglia opened their first Art & Science...

Game Geek.(The Business of Life)(Elaine A. Hodgson)(Incredible Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Laura Bianchi Elaine A. Hodgson, 50, is president and CEO of Incredible Technologies Inc., an Arlington Heights-based manufacturer of coin-operated video games, including bar favorite Golden Tee. From Incredible Technologies'...

Mentoring, health care top priority list for women in biz.(Opinion)
November 14, 2005... Byline: Teresa Seipel Health care benefits, mentoring resources and more advocacy of women, by women-that's what women in business want, according to participants in a Women's Summit of more than 35 organizations and civic groups convened...

Note to Readers.(News)
November 14, 2005... Because of a production error, a story that appeared on Page 20 of the Nov. 7 issue appeared again on Page 26, where the first part of another story should have run. To read the second story in its entirety, go to ChicagoBusiness.com/titanium.

E-trading good for ag contracts, CBOT's owners.(Opinion)(Chicago Board of Trade)
November 14, 2005... That scraping noise emanating from the intersection of LaSalle Street and Jackson Boulevard is the sound of dragging feet at the Chicago Board of Trade. The Board of Trade (CBOT) is moving slowly on electronic trading of agricultural...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
November 14, 2005... THIS WEEK NOV. 15-16: Inner City Economic Forum, Palmer House Hilton, estimated attendance 275. NOV. 15-17: Assn. of the Non-Woven Fabrics Industry, Navy Pier, estimated attendance 2,500. NOV. 15-17: National Assn. of Workforce...

New degrees, sites back on the books at DeVry; Enrollments up as focus turns to health care.(Annual Meeting)
November 14, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY A year ago, DeVry Inc.'s sales and earnings were shrinking. Today, the for-profit educator appears to be regaining its footing. DeVry is once again making acquisitions, formulating new degree programs and building...