Crain's Cleveland Business articles from March 2004

Crain's Cleveland Business archives from March 2004

Pizza chain pushing for more sites in area.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ An Arizona-based pizza buffet chain sees in Ohio a chance for major U.S. expansion and has tapped a Parma franchising company to help achieve its goal. Eatza Pizza Inc. operates 23 restaurants nationwide, including...

Grand Openings.(News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Ranallo & Aveni LLC 6685 Beta Drive Cleveland 44143 Formed by Robert A. Ranallo and James V. Aveni, the firm has an emphasis on commercial transactions, real estate development and financing, construction law, entity formation and...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... News judgment questioned Editor: Upon reading the Feb. 16 issue of Crain's, I was reminded once again how low the media will go to write a story. Your Page One lead story, "Felder dogged by lawsuits,'' not only was inaccurate but...

New parent plans Proto Circuit growth.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: TOM JACKSON Coretec Inc., a Canadian company that makes printed circuit boards, is buying Proto Circuit Inc. of Cuyahoga Falls and plans to expand employment immediately at the local plant. Proto Circuit boasts "a beautiful...

Datebook.(Calendar)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... Week of March 6-12 Tuesday Marilee MacAskill, Dale Carnegie Training. Sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Direct Marketing Association.Windows on the River, Powerhouse in the Flats. 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $25 members. $35 nonmembers....

Going Places.(People)
March 1, 2004... Job Changes Architecture HWH ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS PLANNERS INC.: Peter Jancar to chairman; Joseph Jay Matts to president. LESKO ASSOCIATES INC.: Robert W. Blatchford Jr. to president; Seyed M. Ayat to vice president; Todd A....

U.S. Bank switches up top brass here.(News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN After nine years in Northeast Ohio, Andrew Randall, president for U.S. Bank in Cleveland, has been appointed president for the financial institution's Milwaukee region. Succeeding Mr. Randall is Kurt Treu, who has...

The Interview.(Legal File)(Interview)
March 1, 2004... Byline: Scott Suttell Keith Ashmus speaks softly and chooses his words carefully. In the hallways of his law firm, Frantz Ward LLP of Cleveland, he's routinely described as polite and gentlemanly. So it's a bit of a surprise to hear...

Red Cross aiming to boost coffers with new campaign.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross, which has provided disaster services to Cuyahoga and Geauga counties for 99 years but has seen contributions dwindle during the economic slump of the last...

Trade show exhibit maker to fold up.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK A maker of customized trade show booths is shutting down its nationwide offices, including a 50-person operation in Strongsville. Exhibit Dynamics Inc. of Grand Prairie, Texas, on Feb. 4 filed for Chapter 11...

Short Takes.(Briefs)
March 1, 2004... * ON THE MOVE: Roetzel & Andress attorney Basil J. Musnuff, a partner in the firm's Product Liability Group, has moved to the firm's Cleveland office from the Akron office. Mr. Musnuff focuses his practice in the area of product liability with...

Rising expenses lead Fairport to close four funds.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN In anticipation of growing expenses and increasing regulatory requirements, Fairport Asset Management LLC of Cleveland will announce today, March 1, that it will close four of its five mutual funds. The closure of...

Theater project in early stage; Successful Issue 31 could help Detroit Shoreway group's arts plan.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER The prospect of new money for the arts already has raised the spirits on Cleveland's West Side, where a coalition of arts and community development organizations has put together a $12 million plan to turn a portion of...

Of the Tims, Hagan deserves support.(Column)(Column)
March 1, 2004... Byline: Brian Tucker As our editorial on this page states, tomorrow is a pivotal Election Day because of the weighty tax issues before the voters of Cuyahoga County, who already pay more taxes than most, if not all, of this state's other...

Ricerca refocuses on contract drug deals.
March 1, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK After a few years in which it harbored ambitions of becoming a full-scale pharmaceutical firm, Ricerca Biosciences LLC has new leadership that favors a focus on contract drug development and is planning an expansion...

Gr. Cleve. Tomorrow closer to reality.
March 1, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER Well, it's almost finally official. The long-awaited merger of Cleveland Tomorrow, the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and the Greater Cleveland Roundtable is beginning to be a reality. A new board of...

Late News.
March 1, 2004... KEYBANK BOOSTS COMMITMENT TO CITY KeyBank has agreed to commit $460 million toward loans and equity investments in the city of Cleveland over the next four years, thereby extending its formal community reinvestment agreement with the city....

Stonebridge lands three new tenants.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Two downtown office tenants - community web site Cleveland.com and the interior architectural firm Mulle & Associates - are headed across the Cuyahoga River for the five-story office building component of the...

Web services provider ROI Supply acquired.(News)(AmericanEagle.com)(Return On Investment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK A relative newcomer to Cleveland's web development circles has acquired one of the region's small but established web development and software providers. AmericanEagle.com, a Chicago-based web developer that opened...

Baker partner part of effort to aid African AIDS patients.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN Attorney Steve Petras prefers not to talk publicly about his personal political beliefs. He won't even say if he's a Democrat or a Republican. But Mr. Petras, a partner at the Cleveland law firm Baker & Hostetler...

Two bailiffs, one bench.(Legal File)
March 1, 2004... Byline: CAROL A. LUCAS Sandy Kormos and Deborah Kreski share a lot - a desk, a salary, even vacation time and sick leave. They're living proof that job sharing can work. For a dozen years, they have shared duties as bailiff to Judge...

Brokerage firms form new bond.(News)(Ronald Markowitz Real Estate Inc.)
March 1, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD NAI Alan R. Daus & Associates and NAI Ronald Markowitz Real Estate Inc. have merged in another step in Daus' drive to become a full-service real estate brokerage. The companies will set up shop together today,...

NASA Glenn gearing up to strut stuff; Center hopes tech showcase gives businesses better idea of offerings.
March 1, 2004... Byline: TOM JACKSON The new director of NASA Glenn Research Center says he's tired of hearing his center referred to as Cleveland's best-kept secret. So, he's setting out on a mission to reach out to the community. Julian Earls has...

Big day.(Opinion)
March 1, 2004... March 2 deserves the label of Super Tuesday, but not because of the Democratic presidential primaries that will take place that day in Ohio and several other states. Rather, this Tuesday may be the most significant non-November Election Day...

Tax break may help lure food biz to Avon.(News)(DM Fields LLC)
March 1, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ The Ohio Department of Development has offered a Texas foodservice company a job-related tax credit to encourage the business to build a manufacturing plant and create at least 40 full-time positions in Avon, where city...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The following businesses recently have filed for protection from creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Cleveland and Akron. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that must be approved by the court. Chapter 7 is a total...

Careful choices, chemistry crucial to client teams.(News)
March 1, 2004... Byline: DARRYL CROSS For many years, corporations have used formal industry and client teams to increase customer loyalty and revenue. However, for most law firms, this is a relatively new practice. Law firms traditionally are...

Small business outlook.(Small Business)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Nationally, small businesses surveyed had these plans and options. Expect economy to improve: 41% Expect higher real sales: 37% Plan to increase capital outlays: 34% Now a good time to expand: 25% Plan to increase...

Strong sales prompt Jewish News to add magazine.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Buoyed by increased advertising, The Cleveland Jewish News this month will launch Jstyle, a publication that will combine many of the newspaper's lifestyle sections into a quarterly magazine. The full-color glossy...

Tenants to give Tower City shoppers a new mix.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Forest City Enterprises Inc., looking to plug holes at its downtown shopping mall, soon will welcome to Tower City Center a two-story Italian eatery and a high-end eyewear store. Castaldi's Market and Grill of...

A bit of caution goes a long way; Simple steps can prevent computer trauma.(Small Business)
March 8, 2004... Byline: TOM JACKSON As we advance into the 21st century, high technology and the Internet are creating exciting new ways for things to go wrong at small businesses. Viruses, computer hackers, password breaches, computers crashing...

Buy-sell agreements bring key issues into consideration.(Small Business)
March 8, 2004... Byline: Joseph K. Juster When investing your money and energy into starting a business, take time to prepare for the day when a death, divorce or outright sale to a third party could result in a spouse, ex-employee or worse - your...

Going Places.(People)
March 8, 2004... Job Changes Education CASE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Morton H. Grusky to vice dean for finance and administration. Financial Services AMERICAN EXPRESS TAX AND BUSINESS SERVICES INC.: John P. Hayes; William J. Petrus; Peter S....

IdeaStar, Netforce now united.(News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Byline: TOM JACKSON Cleveland's IdeaStar Inc. has purchased Netforce of Shaker Heights in a move that joins together two established companies that design, develop and manage web sites. The new version of IdeaStar will have 22...

A new job won't be served up on a silver platter.(Opinion)
March 8, 2004... Byline: KARIN E. DEFFLER It's another typical Monday morning. The phones are ringing off the hook. We answer them and the conversation goes something like this: "I'm calling about your ad.'' "OK, what ad?'' "The one in the...

IRS introduces new rules for fixing mistakes.(Small Business)(Internal Revenue Service)
March 8, 2004... Byline: Carl Grassi As the height of tax return filing season approaches, we're all looking to maximize the deductions that will reduce our final tax liability to the IRS. Given the volume of rules and regulations applicable to calculating...

Clinic takes stake in new Saudi hospital.(Health Care)
March 8, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND The Cleveland Clinic is a minor equity owner in a hospital scheduled to open next year in Saudi Arabia. It marks the first time an American hospital has held ownership in a hospital in that country. The Clinic...

From behind the desk to the on-deck circle; Kaczmar Architects' draftsman puts in time on the diamond.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Come March 11, Alex Eckelman will trade the mouse of his computer-aided design terminal at Kaczmar Architects Inc. in Cleveland for a baseball bat and glove in Kissimmee, Fla., as he battles for a position with one of...

New investors to fuel ethanol maker's growth.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK Tim Curtiss has developed a business that has the government and individual investors doling out cash. After spending the majority of his career in institutional equity sales, Mr. Curtiss in July 2002 co-founded a...

Plenty of room at the inns; Bed & breakfasts pop up in area, gain following.(Small Business)
March 8, 2004... Byline: GRETCHEN WOODS Ask most small business owners about their businesses and you're likely to hear about profit margins and return on capital. Invite a Cleveland bed and breakfast owner to do the same and you'll more likely get a shrug...

Directing a turnaround; Film Society able to cut debt with tough self-editing.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: SCOTT SUTTELL The Cleveland Film Society has put itself back on solid financial footing after learning how to say cut, and it projects that by fall it will have wiped out more than $100,000 in accumulated debt. Through a...

Glynias back in game with Lucidyx.(Technology)(Manuel Glynias)(Lucidyx LLC)
March 8, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK If you've wondered where Manuel Glynias has been since he sold his bioinformatics company, NetGenics Inc., to German biopharmaceutical firm Lion Biosciences AG in January 2002, wonder no longer. After waiting out a...

Effort on to buy Oglebay's vessels; Bid could keep marine unit here.(Oglebay Norton Marine Services Co.)
March 8, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN A former Oglebay Norton Co. CEO is assembling a group of investors to bid on Oglebay's Marine Services subsidiary in an effort to keep the company's most familiar assets - its ore boats - a part of Cleveland. Tom...

Healthy time for housing; Builders still upbeat after more starts in '03.
March 8, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD It may not be the fourth consecutive year in which housing starts rise in Northeast Ohio, but 2004 nonetheless is shaping up as a solid year for area homebuilders. Fresh statistics from CRM Development Research of...

Advice for those on election's short end.(Opinion)
March 8, 2004... Byline: Brian Tucker Depending on how far we might want to go back in history, I'm either one-for-two or one-for-three as a candidate. I mean, there was that student council race in elementary school, but that's so long ago I can't...

They get it.(Opinion)(Voters Behaviour)
March 8, 2004... It's tempting for people who supported the losing side in an election to say that many voters didn't understand or fully appreciate their candidate or their cause. That mistake shouldn't be made in interpreting the election of Tim Hagan as a...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The following businesses recently have filed for protection from creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Cleveland and Akron. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that must be approved by the court. Chapter 7 is a total...

Jay Hotel to receive a condo makeover.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD The Jay Hotel's new owner, a joint venture formed by Fairmount Properties of Cleveland and Heartland Developers of Shaker Heights, plans to convert to condominiums a property in Ohio City that has been synonymous with...

Lubrizol on lookout for buys; New market acquisitions key to plan for growth.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN Lubrizol Corp., a Wickliffe-based maker of additives for motor oil, coatings and personal care products, is looking to grow by acquiring businesses in new markets, according to president and soon-to-be CEO James...

Marketing Mix.(Marketing)
March 8, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Great Lakes' new brew makes light of blackout It's not exactly a nostalgic Norman Rockwell painting, but the folks at Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing Co. hope their efforts to market a new beer conjure fond memories...

Short Takes.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... * IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Cookies by Design has closed its Mayfield Village location and moved into Legacy Village. The company sells edible, hand-decorated cookie arrangements and other gourmet cookies. LJL Inc. owns the franchise and also has...

Calling all former 40 Under 40s!(News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Attention all Crain's Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 alumni. Coming this December, Crain's will host its first-ever reunion for all former honorees of our annual 40 Under 40 feature. To be part of the Ultimate Crain's Networking Event, we...

Letter: Good riddance, Issue 31.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 8, 2004... Editor: Issue 31 has been defeated for the good of all the people. The last few days featured lots of hard work with research, letter-writing, faxes and endless campaigning to get the underlying truth out to the people about Issue 31....

Partnership asks patience on promise of new voices.(News)
March 8, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER Those who have noticed that the new board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership bears a striking resemblance to the organization that preceded it, take heart. The group's organizers did try to bring a fresh look to its...

Bristol to send jobs to suburbs.
March 8, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Bristol West Holdings Inc., a high-risk auto insurer that recently went public, plans to transfer about 100 employees from downtown Cleveland to Independence when it consolidates its Northeast Ohio operations into a...

Late News.
March 8, 2004... FDA OK'S IMALUX CANCER DETECTOR Imalux Corp. in Cleveland has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a medical imaging device that could detect cancerous cells based on a single evaluation. The company's device,...

Grand Openings.(Small Business)(Directory)
March 8, 2004... The South Side 2207 W. 11th St. Cleveland 44113 New Tremont bar and restaurant also serves lunch. 216-937-2288 Equipment Solutions Provider (ESP) 4755 W. 150th St. Cleveland 44135 Restaurant equipment...

Some help up the ladder to leadership; Black MBA chapter aims to tap into senior execs' experience.(Finance)
March 15, 2004... Byline: SUSAN ADAMS Alton Tinker, president of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, likens his plan for the group's future to a giant game of connect the dots. The organization's Leaders of Tomorrow program...

Short Takes.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... * WEST SIDE CONSULTANTS: Three former executives of Blue Coral Inc., a maker of car care products, have teamed up to form Aftermarket Solutions LLC, a consulting firm in Westlake that will offer management advice on new product development,...

Coming together for a family in need.(Opinion)
March 15, 2004... Byline: Brian Tucker Ann Walt remembers all too well the day her life turned upside down. "You tuck your kids in, kiss them goodnight, and go to bed thinking all's right with the world,'' she said recently. "The next day everything...

Industrial use slated for Euclid Kmart site.(Real Estate)
March 15, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD After getting a blue light special for its acquisition of the former Super Kmart in Euclid, an investor group plans to redevelop the hulking 186,000-square-foot structure and its 22-acre site for industrial or office...

Taking healthy living to heart; Clinic's chief cardiologist fitness nut who's not afraid to spread the word.(Eric Topol)
March 15, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK Dr. Eric Topol and other cardiologists from the Cleveland Clinic were caught up in last week's media frenzy surrounding a study financed by Bristol-Myers Squibb that blew up in the pharmaceutical giant's face by...

Recruitment effort launched to find long-term caregivers.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Agnes Cassell is a portrait of the kind of person that is desired by providers of long-term care: she's young, enjoys being a nursing assistant to the elderly, and has held her job for nine years. However,...

Biz be ready: States tinkering with tax policies.(Finance)
March 15, 2004... Byline: CATHERINE J. SHAW Business owners might see significant changes in the state and local tax arena as state authorities in Ohio and across the country collaborate in unprecedented ways to improve tax reporting and collection...

Wolf trio pitches buyout; Faced with a shutdown, local office execs design acquisition package parent is close to accepting.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Recognizing what she described as an "opportunity disguised as a crisis,'' Wolf Group Cleveland president Sarah Melamed and two associates are close to completing a buyout of the ad shop from its cash-strapped corporate...

Going Places.(People)
March 15, 2004... Job Changes Architecture AUSTIN CO.: Don Schjeldahl to vice president and director, Facilities Location Group. Education CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY: Thomas J. Kolda to director of gift planning. Finance ...

On the Job; Mary Taylor, Ohio legislator and CPA with Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Co.(Finance)
March 15, 2004... Byline: Jeff Stacklin Mary Taylor sits at the confluence of business and government. As a professional, Ms. Taylor, a Republican, divides her time between the Ohio House of Representatives and the public accounting firm Bober, Markey,...

Mayor acts to keep mfg. in town.(News)(Manufacturing)(Project ACT )
March 15, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER Mayor Jane Campbell is trying to prove the city of Cleveland takes it core industries seriously. To stem the flight of manufacturers from Cleveland, the Campbell administration is launching Project ACT - a targeted...

Do it right.(Opinion)
March 15, 2004... Last week's restart of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant means an important source of electric power for the economy of Northern Ohio soon will be back on the line. Also on the line will be something equally critical - the credibility of the...

Letter: Felder story unfair.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... Editor: I was out of town when Crain's Cleveland Business ran its story headlined "Felder dogged by lawsuits.'' Upon my return I initially read the response sent in by Bruce Felder's son, Todd. This, in turn, prompted me to find the...

New AxioMed CEO brings along a big-time fund-raising record.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: SHASTA CLARK AxioMed Spine Corp., a developer of artificial spinal discs, has hired a new president and CEO who most recently helped prepare an orthopedic company for an acquisition valued at $3 billion. David Floyd took the...

Brecksville broker target of SEC Ponzi allegations.(Finance)
March 15, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN Brecksville securities broker Steven Thorn promised investors they'd make triple-digit returns through his global investment funds, federal authorities say. Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission wants to recoup...

Firm set to open D.C. office as Westlake Reed Leskosky; van Dijk no longer name partner but still active.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD Cleveland's largest architecture firm plans to open a Washington, D.C., office and has shortened its name to Westlake Reed Leskosky. The name change from van Dijk Westlake Reed Leskosky reflects the move of famed...

Cleveland looking to explore corporate sponsorship options.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: JAY MILLER It's not likely the city of Cleveland will change the name of its headquarters to American Greetings Center. Or even National City Hall. Still, the Campbell administration is looking into selling naming rights and...

Risks can run high when dealing in foreign bonds.(Finance)
March 15, 2004... Byline: HARRIET TRAMER When John Arango warns investors against turning to foreign bonds to earn higher interest rates than they would on U.S. Treasuries, his message comes through loud and clear. "There is no free lunch,'' said Mr....

Late News.
March 15, 2004... LAW FIRM TO MOVE TO AKRON CITY CLUB Akron law firm Scanlon & Gearinger Co. in June will move to a 12,000-square-foot office in the former Akron City Club in the Akron Centre Plaza Building on South Main Street. While the new space is...

Abatement cap idea has builders burning.
March 15, 2004... Byline: STAN BULLARD New housing developments throughout Cleveland are bright spots in the city's economic development picture, but the property tax abatement policy subsidizing the housing renaissance is about to come under assault from...

Mayor sets sights on Target types for city.
March 15, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ Looking to reverse a retail trend that has hurt the city's economy since the advent of the shopping mall, Mayor Jane Campbell has launched an effort to bring national discount chains such as Wal-Mart and Target to urban...

Brecksville up next for Western Reserve; Bank lures Chicago-area exec to head up its first branch expansion.(News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN Western Reserve Bank of Medina prides itself on comfy, first-name-basis relationships with its customers. So expect to see Michael J. Gorman out on the streets and in the offices of Brecksville businesses as he gets...

Sherwin to stick to selling Stewart.(News)
March 15, 2004... Byline: HENRY GOMEZ As the Martha Stewart empire teeters and companies re-examine partnerships with the media maven turned convicted felon, Cleveland's Sherwin-Williams Co. is not in a hurry to ditch the domestic diva. ...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 22, 2004... Integrated Marketing Communications of Rocky River was misidentified in a Grand Openings listing on page 18 of the March 8 issue.

Benesch talks merger amid layoffs.
March 22, 2004... Byline: JEFF STACKLIN Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, a 275-attorney law firm based in Cincinnati, has emerged as a possible merger partner with the smaller Cleveland law firm of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, which last week laid off...

Where's Wahoo? Tribe mascot is still around, but script "I" taking on larger role.(Special Report)
March 22, 2004... Byline: SCOTT SUTTELL Walk along Ontario Street outside Jacobs Field and you'll see colorful banners dressing up the sidewalk, announcing the much-welcomed arrival of another baseball season. What you won't see, though, is the smiling...

More hands on deck for skipper Wedge; Manager optimistic about healthier and wiser team.(Special Report)
March 22, 2004... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Imagine setting sail for the first time as the captain of a new boat - one much larger than you've ever sailed before. Now imagine that after the ship has sailed, many of your most experienced crew members become...