Crain's Detroit Business articles from April 2004

Crain's Detroit Business archives from April 2004

Rossetti offers Compuware tour.(News)(Matt Rossetti)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Joanne Scharich "Compuware's New Headquarters: An Insider's View'' is the topic of the April 21 Ideas Before Dawn meeting co-sponsored by Detroit Downtown Inc. and Crain's Detroit Business. Matt Rossetti, president of Rossetti...

Expanding social circle pays off.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... I was having a hard time getting over a broken heart this winter, but now that I've popped out of my funk, I've found that there seem to be even more opportunities for professional single people to meet than there were a year ago. Of...

Retail renaissance; Redesign, expansion bring in tenants, shoppers to two Ann Arbor malls.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely For years stores were empty at Arborland, an outdated minimall on Washtenaw Avenue at U.S. 23 in Ann Arbor. While up the street, an aging motel and an old Buick dealership occupied prime real estate at the corner of...

Wireless war; Restaurants, cafes, hotels jockey to offer Internet access - but differ on whether they want you to pay.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Hard Rock Cafe's linchpin to success centers on visual stimulation, but its latest Detroit attraction can't be seen at all - free wireless access to the Internet. Hard Rock Detroit became a "hot spot'' on...

Golf coarse designer's work can b eseen around area, and in book.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan The handprints of golf-course architect Arthur Hills are all over metro Detroit. From the heralded Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club in Clarkston to Taylor Meadows Golf Course, a pint-sized municipal course in Taylor,...

Captain is a regular guy - with an edge.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan Hal Sutton is a professional golfer who wears two hats on the PGA Tour. He's one of the most popular guys on tour. Sutton's considered friendly, approachable, a blue-collar worker and a straight shooter in the...

Picking the teams.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... How the Ryder Cup teams are selected: * U.S. selection process: The team will be chosen after points are compiled by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, which players accumulate with top-10 finishes at PGA Tour co-sponsored...

Millions of fans will meet 'The Monster'.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan The south course at Oakland Hills Country Club has a storied history of championship golf, from its first U.S. Open in 1924 to the 2002 U.S. Men's Amateur, but those tournaments can't live up to golf's grandest party,...

Other tournaments at Oakland Hills.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Oakland Hills Country Club's South Course has hosted many top tournaments over the years: Yea: Tournament 1922: Western Open 1924: U.S. Open 1929: Women's Amateur 1937: U.S. Open: 1951: U.S. Open 1961: U.S. Open ...

Ryder Cup interest has grown over years.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan Twenty five years ago, the Ryder Cup was just another golf tournament. The Ryder Cup had its fans who loved the patriotic spirit of the tournament and its match-play format, but the tournament was struggling to...

Banks, small biz hail passage of SBA bill.(News)( U.S. Small Business Administration)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane Small businesses and banks are cheering congressional approval of a bill that increases and continues a key small-business loan-guarantee program. On its way last Friday to President Bush's expected signature was...

Nederlander plans Detroit outlet mall; Calls land near fairgrounds a good fit for retail project.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Developer Joseph Nederlander plans to build a 251,600-square-foot outlet mall and some big-box retail on 34 acres next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds on Woodward Avenue in Detroit and hopes those plans will put an...

Local stocks up; Analysts credit tax cuts, tax refunds for boost.(impact of taxation)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Tax refunds and the tax cut are keeping consumer spending high and pushing up Detroit area stocks related to retail and home building, analysts say. It helped local stocks outperform the Standard & Poor's 500...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
April 5, 2004... Going where the workers are Editor: In response to Matthew Wilk's letter to the editor regarding Richard Florida and the "Creative Class,'' ("Jobs are what's really `cool,''' March 22), Mr. Wilk should really take the time and read...

Marshall Field's picks Tribute chef.(Special Report)(restaurant)(CafeDIA)
April 5, 2004... Takashi Yagihashi, executive chef for Tribute restaurant, continues to earn more accolades and recognition. Marshall Field's named Yagihashi to the Field's Culinary Council. The company established the council in 2003 to advise the...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 5, 2004... tuesday april 6 The Art of Giving Great Service. Meeting of the Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Lake Forest Golf Club, 3110 W. Ellsworth, Ann Arbor. Speaker: Maggie Bayless, Zingerman's. Free for...

Costs for cleanup trip up state effort to sell Northville land.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Developers and Northville Township officials hope the state will consider a price markdown on a controversial land parcel in the township. The former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site consists of 422 acres at...

The Web, unplugged.(News)(wireless Internet access)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... More businesses are offering wireless Internet access. Some charge and others offer free access. Free: Hard Rock Cafe, Detroit Espresso Royale Caffe, three locations in Ann Arbor Roosevelt's Billiards Bar & Grill, Farmington...

Developer makes progress on Detroit shopping-center plan.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Developer makes progress on Detroit shopping-center plan Djelosh "George'' Juncaj is making gradual progress on his plans to build 30 retail strip centers mostly in underserved areas of Detroit. Since the...

Crain's seeks benefits vendors for buyer's guide.(News)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Crain's seeks benefits vendors for buyer's guide Crain's Detroit Business plans to publish a directory of vendors in its Employee Benefits Buyers Guide, which will appear in the May 3 issue. We need your help to make the directory...

Small-business nomination deadline nears.(News)
April 5, 2004... Crain's Detroit Business is seeking nominations for its 2004 Small Business Awards. The awards will honor local small businesses that have proven to be exceptionally innovative or have overcome difficult problems. Companies must...

Federal revisions make it easier for employers to probe misconduct.(News)(federal law )
April 5, 2004... Byline: Robert Ankeny Changes to a federal law will make it easier for employers to investigate allegations of workplace wrongdoing, a prominent business-litigation lawyer said. Amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act that took...

Golden Opportunity.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan State tourism officials think that the 35th annual Ryder Cup to be played at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township Sept. 14-19 will give the region more than just a one-shot economic boost and will do...

Steady growth starts to add up for EQ.(News)(Environmental Quality Co.)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Environmental Quality Co. has quickly expanded from three hazardous-waste treatment and disposal divisions to 18 divisions since 1997 and has tripled its revenue along the way. But company executives say they have...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
April 5, 2004... * A Rumblings item on Page 34 of the March 29 edition should have said that predevelopment sales, not occupancy, of lofts in The Ellington condominiums to be built at Woodward and Mack avenues will begin in May. The development is due to be...

Energy coalition hopes to get pop from popup ads.(Rumblings)
April 5, 2004... Energy coalition hopes to get pop from popup ads Michigan residents who go online for a daily dose of news, sports or other info also are getting a pitch they might not expect: to support changes in Michigan's electric choice law. The...

Henry Ford Hospital names new CEO.(Review)
April 5, 2004... Anthony Armada has been appointed president and CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network. Armada was previously senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente's metro Los Angeles service area. He replaces Thomas Groth, who...

Jay Chevrolet owners plan dealership for Lyon Township.(News)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely The owners of Jay Chevrolet Inc. in Highland Township plan to break ground in June on a new Chevrolet dealership in northern Lyon Township called Liberty Chevrolet Inc. and hope to open it by next spring. Jay...

State weighs possibility of $200m budget problem.(News)
April 5, 2004... Another state budget shortfall may be on the horizon. State officials last week said a $200 million shortfall in the state's budget for the current fiscal year could be possible, because revenue has flowed into state coffers at a lower rate...

The Mouse that roars.(News)
April 5, 2004... * Spring fore-ward: Golf season is upon us. A list of charity events can be found on our Web site, www.crainsdetroit.com. Click on "Guides & Directories'' under the Resources section of the gray navigation bar. Look for "Golf events for...

This Just In.(Deloitte & Touche USA L.L.P.)(Normandy Holdings L.L.C.)(News)
April 5, 2004... Deloitte names new chief for Great Lakes region Deloitte & Touche USA L.L.P.'s board of directors late last month named Thomas Dekar its new Great Lakes regional managing partner. Dekar, 54, has worked at Deloitte & Touche's Detroit...

Caponigro PR starts advertising arm with ex-Trio staffers.(News)(Public Relations)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Caponigro Public Relations Inc. launched an advertising agency after hiring several former staff members from recently closed agency Trio Communications in Ferndale. The new agency, Caponigro Marketing Group...

Oakland County sues vendor over IT upgrades it says didn't work.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Oakland County filed suit last week against a tech company that allegedly bungled a project to upgrade the county's court computer information-management system - costing the county $6.3 million and delaying an...

Gunn Levine takes in principals of Kessler Francis Cardoza firm.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Gunn Levine Architects has hired the former principals of Kessler Francis Cardoza Architects Inc., increasing the size and scope of the architecture firm. Ed Francis and Jim Cardoza join Thomas Gunn, Harvey...

Innovation always has a seat at the table.(Column)(linking technology to furniture)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARY KRAMER Innovation always has a seat at the table Late last month, I visited Steelcase University, a huge facility next to the Grand Rapids area headquarters of Steelcase Inc., the office furniture-maker. The building is a...

Looking for 40 Under 40.(News)
April 5, 2004... Crain's Detroit Business is looking for successful executives for its annual 40 Under 40 feature. This special report, to be published Sept. 27, will honor the best and brightest in Southeast Michigan who have made their marks in business...

4 ArvinMeritor execs leave after duties shifted to division chiefs.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky ArvinMeritor Inc. is shifting its purchasing, engineering and quality responsibility from its headquarters to its three main divisions, which has resulted in the departure of four executives. One executive vice...

Arborland.(Special Report)(management of minimall)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The problem: * The minimall did a poor job of keeping up with retail trends and had a hard time keeping tenants in competition with Briarwood Mall and downtown Ann Arbor, despite a prime location at a busy intersection. The solution:...

Iraq consortium attracts 8 companies.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Strong Eight Detroit area companies have committed to a consortium aimed at getting some of the $2.5 billion in contracts to help rebuild Iraq, Ideally, 30 companies would make up the consortium, which does not yet have...

Famed golf school branches out.(Special Report)(Crystal Mountain Resort)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville is bringing a branch of its acclaimed golf school to the 63-hole Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center in Plymouth. Golf magazine has ranked Crystal Mountain as one of the top 25...

Initiative hopes to draw more to golf.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan Recent statistics from the National Golf Foundation have shown that the number of golfers isn't growing. The frustrated players who quit offset the people who do take up the game. The "Play Golf America Day''...

Devine intervention saved Michigan PGA.(Special Report)(Ken Devine)(Professional Golfers' Association)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Jason Deegan When Ken Devine took over as CEO of the Michigan Section of the Professional Golfers' Association of America in 1991, the organization was in disarray. His predecessor, who was later found guilty of embezzlement,...

Recent EQ acquisitions.(News)(Environmental Qualification)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... * February: $12.23 million for three waste-treatment plants, including one in Detroit, and a recycling operation formerly owned by Houston-based U.S. Liquids Inc. that had annual sales of about $27 million. * February 2003: Systems...

People.(appointments)
April 5, 2004... architecture James Grigsby to president and CEO, JPRA Architects, Farmington Hills, from partner. Also, William Beitz Jr. to executive vice president and COO from partner; James Ryan, founder, to chairman; and Daniel Rodriguez to senior...

Opinion.(construction of Motown museum, educational and entertainment complex)
April 5, 2004... Berry Gordy Jr. must deliver on promise Somewhere in last week's announcement of the sale of the Motown music catalog should be the catalyst to jumpstart plans to create the definitive Motown experience in downtown Detroit. Berry Gordy...

Historic cities fear repeat of Lake Orion fire.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich James Allen is thankful that the newspaper headlines and TV stories exactly one month ago weren't about a fire in his downtown. Allen, the city of Northville's fire chief, knows how downtown Northville is at...

Troubled HMOs may soon be sold; OmniCare, Wellness Plan said to be in play.(News)(Health Maintenance Organizations)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx At least two publicly traded health plans are in negotiations with the state to purchase financially troubled Detroit-based Medicaid HMOs OmniCare Health Plan and The Wellness Plan, managed-care professionals said. ...

Bankruptcies.(Public Notice)
April 5, 2004... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of March 26-April 1. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total...

Somehow, it just seems like a bad tradeoff.(Column)
April 5, 2004... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Last weekend was one of my favorite weekends. It's the day when we switch ahead our clocks for daylight-saving time. Sure, we might have to spend some time turning all our clocks ahead one hour. From time to time,...

Semco gets infusion of cashfrom Singapore investment firm.(News)(SEMCO Energy Inc.)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane A Singapore investment firm headed by a former U.S. ambassador is becoming Semco Energy Inc.'s largest stockholder, in a $50 million deal that also gives the firm two seats on Semco's board. An affiliate of equity firm...

Calling buff bosses!(News)
April 5, 2004... Detroit has been called a lot of things over the years. But "fat city''? That unkind label really hurts, but it's from a new ranking in Men's Health magazine. So here's a chance for local top executives to set an example: Participate in...

Fore lessons.(Special Report)
April 5, 2004... * Crystal Mountain Golf School is at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center, 8768 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth; (734) 453-7272; www.foxhills.com. * Individual lessons: $85-$125 an hour for adults and $60-$90 for juniors. * One-day midweek...

Blue Care Network finances back in the black.(News)(Blue Care Network of Michigan Inc.)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx It looks like the third time is the charm for Blue Care Network of Michigan Inc., whose third post-merger president led the health maintenance organization to net income of $53.1 million in 2003. Earnings at the...

Who are they.(Special Report)(home of Steve and Rene Samet of King Pharmaceuticals)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo * Who they are: Steve Samet, executive vice president and general manager, King Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rochester, and Rene Samet, scientist and consultant, King Pharmaceuticals. * Where they live: A...

Business Diary.(News)
April 5, 2004... contracts Dorken Corp. U.S.A., Ann Arbor, has chosen Kracoe Szykula & Townsend Inc., Troy, as its advertising and public-relations agency. Building Technology Associates Inc., Oak Park, has been awarded a contract by the U.S....

Annual Meetings.(News)(business meetings)(Public Notice)
April 5, 2004... * BorgWarner Inc., 10 a.m CDT April 21, 200 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1800, Chicago. * Integral Vision Inc., 4 p.m. May 6, Integral Vision headquarters, 38700 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills. * Kaydon Corp., 11 a.m. May 7, Courtyard...

The road ends, and life begins.(Steve Samet and Rene Samet share their experience of staying on the hills of Oxford)
April 5, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo The road to Steve and Rene Samet's home in the rolling hills of Oxford is long. It takes you away from the bustle of downtown Oxford. It leads you to the country where bumpy dirt roads make you suddenly...

Huron Village Shopping Center.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The problem: * After successfully building a store for Barnes & Noble in the early 1990s, developer Bill Conlin and his partner, Pittsburgh-based R. Gordon Matthews and Associates, were approached by Walgreen Co. about putting a store on...

Warning signs.(Special Report)(workplace violence)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Incidents of workplace violence are often preceded by signs such as: * Direct, veiled and conditional threats. * A fascination with violence, militaristic activities or weaponry. * Paranoia, depression or suicidal tendencies. ...

The Rules.(employee's medical information handling rules)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Beginning Wednesday, companies that handle employee's medical information in sponsoring health coverage will have to: * Have a privcy officer * Train all employees who work with the health plan about privacy regulations * Have a...

Bills, bills, bills.(News)(judgments against La-Van Hawkins or his companies)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Judgments against La-Van Hawkins or his companies since November 2001: Albert Kahn & Associates Inc., Detroit: $392,793 (no payment). New World Aviation Inc., Allentown, Pa.: $214,046 (no payment). Austin Garfield Park Realty,...

This Just In.
April 12, 2004... GM trust puts 8 malls run by Taubman up for sale General Motors Pension Trust, which owns 10 malls built and managed by Bloomfield Hills-based Taubman Centers Inc., put eight of them up for sale last week, including Briarwood Mall in Ann...

WSU biz school to host awards program.(News)(Wayne State University School of Business Administration)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... The Wayne State University School of Business Administration's annual recognition and awards program April 17 will celebrate 50 years since the school awarded its first master's of business administration degree. Jack Martin, CFO of the...

Charge may spread energy-choice battle; Edison victory may lead suppliers to target Consumers.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane For every customer Consumers Energy Co. has lost to alternative electricity suppliers, the Detroit Edison Co. has lost 14. But that may be changing. Some suppliers wooing the utilities' customers are shifting...

Cape Health to take Botsford's Medicaid plan.(News)(Botsford Health Care Continuum)(Cape Health Plan)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx The Farmington Hills-based Botsford Health Care Continuum plans to assign its state Medicaid HMO contract and 11,000 members to Cape Health Plan on July 1. The assignment of Botsford Health Plan members to Cape...

Week in Review.(Review)(miscellanios)
April 12, 2004... Lear to buy German company for $220M Lear Corp. said it will buy German electronic-components-maker GHW Grote & Hartman GmbH for about $220 million. Grote & Hartman makes terminals and connectors for the auto industry. Interiors-maker Lear...

Businesses scramble to prepare for HIPAA deadline this week.(News)(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 )
April 12, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Federal health privacy laws take effect Wednesday for employers that sponsor small health plans, and experts say most employers are unprepared. Those same experts warn that employers big and small can't afford to...

An inside job; The least secure part of the network is often the employee.(Special Report)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Data theft is happening more often than many think, but most companies won't talk about it, and there aren't many reliable numbers to prove the trend. Businesses aren't eager to talk about the problem because in...

Developers less likely to take 'no' for an answer; Settlements cost cities millions.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Robert Ankeny Several large damage awards have given developers and other businesspeople new resolve to pursue fair treatment from local governments for their projects, real estate development lawyers said. Sterling Heights...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
April 12, 2004... It's time to outsource top jobs Editor: Regarding the current outsourcing controversy ("Smaller businesses now looking overseas,'' March 15): The last time I was laid off, I enrolled in IT classes to augment my skills. I got my...

Creditors seeking $1M-plus from Hawkins.(business planning)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Michael Strong Norman Yatooma is prepared to bring moving trucks to the front door of La-Van Hawkins' office if Hawkins doesn't hand over a check for $100,000 by April 16. "I hope I can go to his house right after I go to his...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 12, 2004... * A This Just In item on Page 1 of the April 5 issue should have said that Thomas Dekar is the new regional managing principal for the Great Lakes region of Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. The firm inadvertently provided the wrong title.

Annual meetings.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 12, 2004... * Intermet Corp., 9 a.m. April 15, Intermet headquarters, 5445 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Troy. * American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc., 2 p.m. April 29, American Axle headquarters, 1 Dauch Drive, Detroit. * Delphi Corp., 8 a.m....

People.(appointments)
April 12, 2004... architecture Paul Tonti to director of architecture, design and technical architectural staff, SmithGroup Inc., Detroit, remaining as vice president. Also, Wayne Bills to office workplace studio leader, remaining as vice president; J....

The mouse that roars.(News)
April 12, 2004... Web poll: Of the 246 repondents to our last poll question, "How should a replacement tax for Cobo Center be funded?'' * 129 or about 52 percent said a property and/or sales tax for Southeast Michigan residents and businesses. * 62 or...

Business Diary.(Briefs)(miscellanious)
April 12, 2004... call for nominations The Engineering Society of Detroit, Southfield, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, Southfield, are accepting nominations for the 2004 da Vinci Awards. The awards recognize individuals,...

Companies try to head off trouble.(Special Report)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Local security and crisis-management teams are seeing increased calls for help in developing zero-tolerance policies against workplace violence and addressing threats before they turn into violent acts. Over the...

Pre-employment screening protects people, property.(Special Report)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin More local businesses are beginning to use pre-employment screening to protect themselves, their employees and their intellectual property. Screening of potential employees is not new; it's something many companies...

Deadline Friday for benefits buyer's guide.(News)
April 12, 2004... Crain's Detroit Business plans to publish a directory of vendors in its Employee Benefits Buyers Guide, which will appear in the May 3 issue. We are seeking companies doing business in the Detroit area as: * Employee-benefit consultants....

Newspaper workers move toward strike.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Nearly 100 union members at Livonia-based HomeTown Communications Inc. authorized negotiating committees to call a strike in an April 4 vote. Workers at the parent company of the Observer & Eccentric...

New Kresge chief experiments with helping nonprofits raise money.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The Kresge Foundation is evaluating new funding initiatives under the leadership of its new chairwoman, Irene Hirano. In a departure from its primary brick-and-mortar funding, Kresge has begun a trial program,...

Detroit needs an at-large City Council.(Column)(Column)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Maryann Mahaffey In his Feb. 16 column, Keith Crain argued that Detroit City Council members should be elected by districts. After serving on the City Council for 30 years, I have come to believe that switching to districts would...

Building to Suit.(News)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Three cases recently have put land use issues before the court. Novi Litigants: Sandstone Associates L.P. vs. the city of Novi Settlement: Monetary damages plus interest eventually totaled $70 million. City settled in 2001 by...

Out of the house; Foreclosures soar in Detroit area.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith, Katie Merx Job cuts and overextended credit are driving increased residential foreclosures in metro Detroit and the state so far this year. The number of pending listings for the five-county area spiked 35...