Crain's Cleveland Business articles from December 2004

Crain's Cleveland Business archives from December 2004

Holiday Picks.(News)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... December 6-30: Step back in time at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens as the Akron treasure tranforms its 65-room Manor House to re-create a 1917 holiday celebration. Outside, more than 350,000 lights illuminate the grounds. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m....

Going Places.(People)
December 6, 2004... Job Changes Education OHIO CENTER FOR BROADCASTING: Bruce Ryan to school director. THE RATNER SCHOOL: Judi Naft to marketing and public relations coordinator. Financial Services BROWN GIBBONS LANG & CO.: Scott Berlin and...

Program focuses on future grief.(Special Report)
December 6, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Marsha Newman hadn't yet lost her friend to cancer, but she knew it was coming. She couldn't stop crying when she thought about holidays, good times they'd had, or even when she saw other people enjoying life. ...

Schneider, partner close $44M fund.(Mitchell Schneider)
December 6, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Add a new enterprise to the roster of the man behind the Legacy Village lifestyle center: a $44 million real estate investment fund that will put money into projects throughout the country as well as in Northeast Ohio....

Chartwell partnership buys Falls Filtration bldg.(Real Estate)
December 6, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD The leveraged buyout that this year created Falls Filtration Technology Inc. from the one-time Air Maze Corp. business in Cuyahoga Falls is about to yield a big real estate deal and will bring another manufacturer to...

URS reins passed to Laubscher protege.(News)(Bill Laubscher )
December 6, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Gary Hribar, a URS Corp. vice president, has succeeded Bill Laubscher as the head of the architecture, engineering and design firm's Cleveland office. Mr. Hribar, 44, is a longtime protege of Mr. Laubscher, 61, who...

Late News.
December 6, 2004... MERGING COMPANIES EYE CLEVELAND HQ Cleveland stands to gain a small headquarters from the big publicly traded company that would be created by the pending merger of Commonwealth Industries Inc. of Louisville, Ky., and Imco Recycling Inc....

Health costs fall more to workers.
December 6, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Some employers will rest a bit easier in 2005 as the double-digit increases in health insurance premiums that long have plagued them give way to single-digit hikes. However, their employees may toss and turn a bit...

Regionalism's impact on blacks to get look; Presidents' Council obtains $450,000 grant for planned study.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER The Presidents' Council, a group of black business owners and executives who work to foster the growth of minority-owned companies, has received a $450,000 grant to study the impact regional consolidations of government...

Seeking subjects for Crain's special issue.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Mark Dodosh The 25th anniversary issue of Crain's Cleveland Business is scheduled to hit newsstands and mailboxes next May 16, and we really could use your help in putting it out. This isn't a plea for aspiring writers, though...

The Week: November 29 - December 5.(The Insider)
December 6, 2004... The big story: The days of a one-man show on the football side of the Cleveland Browns' operations are over. With the Nov. 30 resignation of Butch Davis as the team's head coach, Browns officials announced they had begun a search for a general...

The Week in Quotes.(News)
December 6, 2004... "It's the first time in almost 10 years that we're seeing single-digit rate increases.'' - Dan O'Malley, principal, Towers Perrin. Page One "One of the fastest-growing segments in retail is discount retail. Those stores don't buy cards...

What's new.(The Insider)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... COMPANY: Good Marketing Inc., Cleveland PRODUCT: Duck, Duck Goose The folks at Good Marketing Inc. refer to themselves as "the kid experts,'' and they're out to prove it again with this game, which Nick Jr. magazine recently selected...

Short Takes.(Briefs)
December 6, 2004... * TAKING FLIGHT: In-home senior care provider Visiting Angels of NE Ohio has moved to 7139 Hopkins Road in Mentor. The company previously was operated from the home of owners Wayne and Mary Kay Brodnan in Mentor. "This location allows us to...

Beachcliff makeover in the works.(Real Estate)(Beachcliff Market Square)
December 6, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Beachcliff Market Square, a mall built inside a one-time theater in downtown Rocky River, stands to be recast as a Main Street-style, open-air shopping center in a $30 million project. The mall's owner,...

Care management companies lighten caregivers' loads.(Special Report)
December 6, 2004... Byline: SHARON N. SCHNALL Pat Howell and Terry Ann Donner have formed companies based on guiding caregivers through the process of helping an elderly loved one - a concept saddled with the challenge of educating people about what geriatric...

Places of Note; A look at Northeast Ohio's interesting spaces.(Special Report)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Kimberly Bonvissuto Somerset Point The place: Somerset Point Retirement Community of Shaker Heights offers residential assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services and respite care. The location: Somerset...

See how they line up to run.(Opinion)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Brian Tucker The fact that Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman was here last week (along with appearances in Ohio's other large towns) to join in a statement about the General Assembly shows that he's serious about the state of our...

Luring docs no easy task.(Special Report)(medical care)
December 6, 2004... Byline: EILEEN BEAL Good things often have unintended consequences. Take living longer, for instance. A century ago, the average lifespan was 47. Today, advances in public health, better nutrition, technomedicine and pharmaceuticals...

Docs' group backs Metro in urging county for more funds.(News)(MetroHealth Systems)
December 6, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND It appears most of the ways MetroHealth Medical Center has suggested for Cuyahoga County to increase its financial support to the county-subsidized hospital are dead on arrival. However, that isn't stopping the...

More in store for downtown; Constantino's to offer Warehouse District residents grocery with uptown sensibility.
December 6, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ It probably won't compete with Sushi Rock or Sushi 86, but the soon-to-open Constantino's Market in downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District plans to include the Japanese delicacy on its menu of prepared foods. ...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
December 6, 2004... Because of incorrect information provided to Crain's, a Nov. 29, Page One story about Philips Medical Systems contained incorrect sales figures. Sales of Philips Medical Systems CT scanner equipment and services in 2003 exceeded $700 million....

Analysts diverge on American Greetings' prospects.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ With American Greetings Corp. spoiling the holidays for some of its 2,000 Brooklyn-based employees, two analysts describe the company's decision to cut jobs as an unavoidable, short-term move to stay competitive. ...

Tugboat biz seeks aid to keep project afloat; Great Lakes Towing turning to city, county after state rejects loan for complex's construction.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: DAVID BENNETT Great Lakes Towing Co. wants to build a $4.5 million maintenance complex to take advantage of a portable barge business it bought last summer, though financial aid to make sure the operation is stationed in Cleveland...

What's Online.(News)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Headlines from www.NEOhio.CrainTech.com Aztek searching for gold * Westlake-based IT company planning expansion, hiring employees. Taking a bite out of spam * Gov. Bob Taft expected to sign anti-spam bill. Searching for...

Reverse mortgage program could help seniors with taxes.(News)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER Cuyahoga County Treasurer James Rokakis has hired the Squire, Sanders & Dempsey law firm to come up with a reverse mortgage program that will give seniors on limited budgets a way to manage their property taxes without...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
December 6, 2004... Try to hang in there, Brian * I just wanted to say that only those with a "fish to fry'' would discontinue a newspaper over an article, as Brian Tucker related a Crain's subscriber did recently in his Nov. 15 Commentary, "Tolerance for...

Randy's team II.(Opinion)(Randy Lerner )
December 6, 2004... Back in mid-April, in an editorial headlined "Randy's team,'' we wrote: "The pending departure of Carmen Policy from the role of president and CEO of the Cleveland Browns plants coach Butch Davis firmly behind the wheel of the football team....

The Big Issue.(Opinion)
December 6, 2004... Will the long-awaited House of Blues help downtown Cleveland? ADAM TONTI Lyndhurst It can't hurt. Hopefully it will be a stimulus to bringing more people here. It's beautiful what they've done here, and I've been coming to...

Arabica, two franchisees brew discord.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Arabica Coffeehouse Systems Inc., a chain of Restaurant Developers Corp. in Independence, has sued two of its franchisees for more than $27,000 in total judgments. In two separate complaints filed since late...

Eyes on the prize; NASA Glenn focusing on biomedical research for manned mission to Mars.(Insight)(NASA Glenn Research Center)
December 6, 2004... Byline: SHANNON PETTYPIECE Ask Marsha Nall of NASA Glenn Research Center when President Bush announced that NASA would revive efforts to send a manned mission to Mars and she'll rattle off the date - Jan. 14, 2004 - like it is her own...

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)
December 6, 2004... Here's one card you hope you can leave home without * Akron General Medical Center patients soon will have one more card to carry that holds their personal information. The hospital launched the Very Important Patient Card, which holds...

Stopol to take its auctions online; First sale to offer more than $10M of machinery.(News)
December 6, 2004... Byline: DAVID BENNETT Companies looking for that perfect, 3,000-ton injection molding machine or the latest thermoforming device no longer must make a lot of phone calls or hunt through trade advertisements. Now, all that searching for...

In praise of Blackwell; Forbes extols him as elections' "unsung hero''.(News)(J. Kenneth Blackwell)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has a big admirer in publishing magnate and failed presidential candidate Steve Forbes. In the Nov. 29 issue of Forbes magazine, Mr. Forbes describes Mr. Blackwell as "an unsung hero'' of the...

The Week in Quotes.(News)
December 13, 2004... "We're trying to tell our story. I think they'll simmer down once they see how our options compare to others." - Marty Ranft, vice president and general manager, McDonald's Ohio operations. Page One "This was never our intention. We're...

Surging Olympic Steel looks to strengthen itself via acquisition.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: DAVID BENNETT Much as it is in steel manufacturing, consolidation is the name of the game in the steel distribution business. That reality isn't lost on Olympic Steel Inc., a publicly traded steel distributor based in Bedford...

Going Places.(People)
December 13, 2004... Job Changes Education CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY: Jack Kleinhenz to senior regional economist, The Center for Regional Economic Issues. ENGINEERING BBC&M ENGINEERING: Glen R. Andersen to associate. R.E. WARNER &...

The Week: December 6 -12.(The Insider)(Calendar)
December 13, 2004... The big story: What's on Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell's wish list for 2005? "I want a casino,'' the mayor said at a news conference last Thursday, Dec. 9. Mayor Campbell said she favors a change in the Ohio Constitution that would allow...

Nanofilm's windshield coating rolls into automotive market.(Technology)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SHANNON PETTYPIECE Nanofilm Ltd. is planning a big push into the automotive market, beginning with a new product that the company in Valley View says does for the windshield what Teflon did for the frying pan. Last week,...

Partying like it's 1999; Not quite, but restaurateurs still see pickup in company holiday festivities.
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Joe Saccone says he has five pieces of proof that holiday party planning is on the rebound. In the last nine months, Mr. Saccone, president of the Twinsburg-based Hyde Park Group of Restaurants, has added a total of...

City strikes down nine tax abatement agreements; Lack of documentation leads to loss for some businesses.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER The city of Cleveland is getting tougher on companies that fail to live up to their obligations under tax abatement agreements. City Council has approved a resolution supporting the termination of tax abatement...

Beacon plans to build biz park in Richfield.(Real Estate)(Business park)
December 13, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Beacon Development Co. is preparing to create a 50-acre industrial park in Richfield Village, with a new factory and office building for Herschall Products Co. of Elyria as its first occupant. The new park, dubbed...

Expansion at L.J. Minor stirs push for growth; New product development on food processor's plate as it wraps up W. 25th plant upgrades.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: DAVID BENNETT Nestle USA's L.J. Minor unit has culminated $35 million of investments in its plant in Cleveland with the completion of a $3.5 million expansion that includes adding 14,000 square feet for shipping, warehousing and...

Geauga ER focus of $3M expansion.(Health Care)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Geauga Regional Hospital this month is embarking on a $3.2 million expansion that will more than double the size of its emergency room. Scheduled for completion in late 2005, the expansion will grow the ER to...

New York & Co. exiting two malls.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Holiday bargains for some local shoppers will come at the expense of two malls where New York & Co., a women's apparel and accessories chain, has begun going-out-of-business sales. The retailer's stores at Westgate...

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)
December 13, 2004... What a difference a few hours make * You never know what's going to happen when you put Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell together with members of Cuyahoga County's Board of County Commissioners. Last Tuesday, the mayor - who served on the...

Aborted IPO puts Hyland in wait-and-see mode.(Technology)(Initial Public Offerings)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SHANNON PETTYPIECE Ambitions at Hyland Software Inc. that were spurred by a planned, $65 million initial public offering will need to wait a bit longer to be fulfilled as the company is forced to scale back some of its plans after...

The Big Issue.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... Would it be good or bad for Cleveland if Wal-Mart built a Supercenter in the city? Bill Norwick Chagrin Falls I guess I can see both sides of it. They have put a lot of small businesses out of business, but the city doesn't have a...

Short Takes.(Small Business)(Brott Mardis & Co)(Ohio Department of Labor)(Eyedeal Graphics)(HVAC Service & Control of Twinsburg)
December 13, 2004... * OH MY, O'NEIL'S: Akron CPA firm Brott Mardis & Co. has moved into the former downtown Akron O'Neil's department store building on South Main Street. The firm, with a staff of about 30 people, decided to move after outgrowing its former space...

Conrad's taps Brokaw to tune up campaign.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ One of Northeast Ohio's most well-known whispers is about to get a little bit louder. Conrad's Total Car Care and Tire Centers, a prolific radio advertiser identifiable by the raspy voice that whispers its name at...

Stinky move.(Opinion)
December 13, 2004... We believe in giving credit where credit is due. So, let's give Cuyahoga County commissioners Jimmy Dimora and Tim McCormack credit for a stinker of a move in trying to sign off on a deal to buy a 62-acre piece of Whiskey Island before a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
December 13, 2004... A Dec. 6, page 4 story about auction company Stopol Inc. incorrectly identified Strongsville-based Demag Plastics Group as one of 22 original equipment manufacturers participating in an online auction held last week.

Late News.
December 13, 2004... WELLINGTON WINS GRANT TO CONTINUE SPRUCE-UP * Wellington, a village of 4,500 in southern Lorain County, has won a $400,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to continue its multimillion-dollar downtown revitalization. The...

Beef jerky biz takes off; Flight attendant grows company from at-home snacks to a local store landing.(Small Business)(Dana Samoly)(Gourmet Jerky Ltd.)
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Dana Samoly isn't your typical beef jerky aficionado. Petite and polished, the 33-year-old Ohio City woman looks nothing like Macho Man Randy Savage, who for years has been encouraging us to "snap into a Slim Jim.'' ...

What's New.(The Insider)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... COMPANY: Plastic Safety Systems Inc., Cleveland PRODUCT: Navigator Barricade The company, which makes temporary traffic control products, describes the barricade as a "pedestrian and slow-moving vehicle delineation device'' the helps...

Realty One signs say so long to suburbs.
December 13, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Signs show that Realty One's corporate headquarters is headed to downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District from its high-profile Georgian building towering over the busy intersection of Interstates 480 and 77 in...

Church gains publicity after networks nix ad campaign.(Marketing)
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ You've probably seen the Cleveland-based United Church of Christ's latest - make that first-ever - national advertising campaign. But you probably saw it on the front page of your newspaper and not on your television....

McDonald's mobilizing to save Clinic site.
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Armed with nutritional information, hamburger giant McDonald's Corp. this week will dispatch a team of executives to the Cleveland Clinic in an attempt to save its franchise at the hospital's food court. Toby...

Akron-Canton stepping up; Regional airfield on track for continued robust growth through decade.(Insight)
December 13, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER Fred Krum, director of the Akron-Canton Regional Airport, says he isn't in competition with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. He'll also tell you Akron-Canton leases a billboard just outside Hopkins that touts...

Inside this issue.(News)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... Headlines from: www.NEOhio.CrainTech.com JumpStart gets a boost * The economic development organization receives another $500,000 from the state to invest in early-stage companies. `Tis the season for Michael Stanley * The...

Holiday Picks.(News)(Calendar)
December 13, 2004... December 16: Enjoy the "Holiday Musical Rainbow: The Story of Kwanzaa'' with storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston this Thursday at Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave. Holiday Musical Rainbows teach children ages 5 to 10 years old about holiday...

Letter: Cleveland's demise a slap in the face.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 13, 2004... * What happened to my great city? I look out the window of my office and I see nothing. I walk the streets to my appointments and I hear nothing. No excitement. No traffic. No people gathering to talk. No interesting buildings going up. What is...

Philips, Astro team to bolster production.(News)
December 13, 2004... Byline: DAVID PRIZINSKY Philips Medical Systems and Astro Model Development Corp. have teamed up to speed the production of mobile computed tomography (CT) scanning systems for use by the U.S. military in Iraq and other global hot spots....

Tax Liens.(News)(Public Notice)
December 13, 2004... The Internal Revenue Service filed tax liens against the following businesses in the Cuyahoga County Recorder's Office. The IRS files a tax lien to protect the interests of the federal government. The lien is a public notice to creditors that...

CSU to offer forensics for RNs; Nurses can be new link in criminal justice system.(News)(Cleveland State University)(Registered Nurses)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Nurses are the first people the wounded and ill often see when they enter the hospital, so they serve as the initial eyes and ears of the caretaking process. They soon can become an important part of the criminal...

Hitchcock claims space across street from office.(Marketing)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Hitchcock Fleming & Associates Inc., one of Northeast Ohio's largest marketing communications shops, has leased an additional 7,000 square feet across the street from its Wolf Ledges Parkway office. President and...

Program helps fight check fraud.(Small Business)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SUSAN BRACHNA David Caiati looks back on his experience with check fraud and is thankful a tampered check never cleared, but it came close enough to spur changes at his company. Back in May, Mr. Caiati, controller at the law...

Church missed chance to cultivate discussion.(Opinion)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SCOTT SUTTELL The United Church of Christ is getting the national attention it wanted with a $1.7 million ad campaign to boost its visibility. It's too bad the campaign's message is so unnecessarily inflammatory and the strategy...

Law boosts visa fees.(Small Business)
December 13, 2004... Byline: Michael Sharon Congress is making substantial changes to the H-1B and L-1 visa processes, increasing fees among other new restrictions, which will make it more difficult to hire foreign nationals. In the Omnibus Appropriations...

Steris invests to re-charge sales; New showroom and lab, acquisitions part of effort to spur growth.(Technology)
December 13, 2004... Byline: SHANNON PETTYPIECE Steris Corp. this year has expanded its offices, built a showroom, made a few acquisitions and worked on developing new counter-terrorism products - all in an effort to nudge flattening sales at the Mentor-based...

Grand Openings.(Small Business)
December 13, 2004... Cali Juice 105 First St. Hudson 44236 www.calijuice.com First & Main store sells smoothies, homemade soups, wheatgrass for humans and pets, fresh-squeezed juices and various health items. Smoothies are made with fresh juice, fruit,...

Thoughts turn to Gray's old friend.(Opinion)(Nate Gray)(Michael R. White)(Column)
December 13, 2004... Byline: Brian Tucker With all the scandals, and allegations of scandal, swirling around Cleveland businessman Nate Gray, the one former politician most closely identified with him, former Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White, is also the one...

Tacking on title insurance adds protection.(Small Business)
December 13, 2004... Byline: Michael Sikora Real estate - the single largest investment for most individuals and businesses - is not truly protected without title insurance. One of every four real estate transactions is met with a title problem, making...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... The following businesses recently have filed for protection from creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Cleveland. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that must be approved by the court. Chapter 7 is a total liquidation....

New law's tax deduction benefits domestic production.(Small Business)
December 13, 2004... Byline: Peter DeMarco The recently enacted American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 is something of an early holiday gift to American business because of its broad application and generous tax breaks. It represents the first broad-based...

Going Places.(People)(BBC&M ENGINEERING)
December 20, 2004... Job Changes Engineering BBC&M ENGINEERING: Chun-Yi Kuo to project engineer. Finance FIRST PLACE BANK: Steven Greenwald to vice president, mortgage loan officer. OHIO SAVINGS BANK: David R. Prichard to vice president. ...

What's New.(The Insider)(Brief Article)
December 20, 2004... COMPANY: Ridgewood Industries LLC, Bedford Heights PRODUCTS: Shaveman, Lady Shave Ms. and the Beard and Mustache Trimmer Ridgewood, founded by the Nottingham-Spirk design firm in Cleveland and a group of investors, has launched a...

Story ending for West Side restaurateur; Owner of Lakewood landmark saying goodbye after 44 years.(News)
December 20, 2004... Byline: JENNIFER A. WEBB Maria Bastulli has turned over the apron strings of her namesake restaurant, Maria's Roman Room, a Lakewood institution for 44 years. At age 73, Mrs. Bastulli said it is time to devote her time to new...

Team NEO ready to ramp up marketing efforts.(News)(Team Northeast Ohio )
December 20, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER The economic development organization Team NEO is road-testing a marketing slogan and expanding its efforts to make the region's older communities more attractive to expanding businesses. The tagline it hopes will...

CSU's online courses prep patient advocates for the field.(Technology)
December 20, 2004... Byline: EILEEN BEAL At some point in your life you will spend time in a hospital, clinic, rehab center or nursing home. The folks in white will take care of your health. Dietary, housekeeping and transport staffs will see to physical...

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)
December 20, 2004... A Rather nude idea: Eye on, clothes off America * What, you thought the year would end without more Sharon Reed news? Frazier Moore, The Associated Press' television writer, has an idea for the next career move of the WOIO-TV, Channel...

Avalon gets new management.(News)
December 20, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD After adding to its menu the Avalon Event Center in North Royalton as a management client, the operator of Signature of Solon Banquet Center has recast itself as Signature Event Centers to reflect its recently gained...

Holiday Picks.(News)
December 20, 2004... December 23 & 26: If you're into Christmas trees, the Cleveland Play House's "Festival of Trees'' is the event for you. More than 70 decorated trees will be on display in the lobby of the Play House at 8500 Euclid Ave. This week you can view...

Agency's top duo pushing PR.(News)
December 20, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ When Mark Nylander took over as CEO of Cleveland's Liggett-Stashower Inc. almost one year ago, his background in public relations signified the changing times at one of Northeast Ohio's largest advertising shops. ...