Crain's Detroit Business articles from July 2006

Crain's Detroit Business archives from July 2006

Taubman Centers Inc.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Taubman Centers Inc. broke an important barrier for the first time in 2005 - the $500 barrier. The Bloomfield Hills-based owner and manager of shopping centers posted sales per square foot at its properties of $508 last year, up from $466...

Burnett can bounce back.(Leo Burnett)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... When a major advertising agency loses a big account, as Leo Burnett Detroit did last week with the loss of the $225 million Cadillac account, layoffs generally follow. The advertising and marketing community is an important asset for the...

Fraud inflation: Part 2 of 2; Lenders feel bite from mortgage scams to artificially pump up home values, other schemes.(Focus)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith, Tom Henderson Mortage lenders seek changes Tim Doyle, senior director of government affairs for the Mortgage Bankers Association, said "our members are constantly looking for new tips and tools to avoid being...

Fraud inflation: Part 1 of 2; Lenders feel bite from mortgage scams to artificially pump up home values, other schemes.(Focus)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith, Tom Henderson Ann and Scott Tappan were eager to sell their Birmingham house last spring when they received a phone call from a prospective buyer. A real estate investment group offered to buy the house - which...

Things seem to be looking up around here.(Column)
July 3, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN You can't really put your finger on it, but there is a sense that things are looking up. Slowly. I don't know whether it's because the Tigers are winning or downtown is staying clean. But there is a sense in this...

New owners look to carve out new Butcher's Inn.(Executive Life)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Eastern Market's Butcher's Inn is poised to make a comeback with a new group of owners. Butcher's Inn, which has a long and colorful history, was a popular place for both breakfast and an early morning Bloody Mary...

University District: Close knit and close by.(Executive Life)(Province overview)
July 3, 2006... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Lucky and Jerry Weddigen were renting a flat in Southwest Detroit in 1973 with their toddler son when they began looking for a stable neighborhood with good schools. They began their search in the University...

Enforcement, timely filing can curb fraud.(Opinion)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Michigan ranks 10th nationally in mortgage fraud, and the problem is getting worse. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, losses in this state from October through May 2006 approach $69 million - more than in the previous three full...

Business Diary.(Starbucks Coffee Co. names Airfoil Public Relations Inc as its public-relations agency)(Campbell-Ewald gets U.S. Mint national advertising contract)(Johnson Controls selected by General Motors Corp. to supply seating systems)
July 3, 2006... CONTRACTS Starbucks Coffee Co., Seattle, has named Airfoil Public Relations Inc., Detroit, as the public-relations agency to support its Great Lakes, North Central Ohio and Allegheny Mountain regions' marketing initiatives. Franco...

Meridian to file new reorg plan, may leave Chapter 11 by fall.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Allen Park-based Meridian Automotive Systems Inc. may be able to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy by fall. Last week, the auto parts supplier announced that it reached agreements with all of its major creditor...

Briefly.(Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. to repurchase shares of stock on the open market)(Store and Move coming to Detroit market through two local dealers)(Goodwin Co. has won an award for having the best mass-media campaign)
July 3, 2006... Asset Acceptance to buy back up to 6.7 percent of shares Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. of Warren said it will repurchase up to 2.5 million shares of stock on the open market, or about 6.7 percent of its outstanding shares. Asset...

Bankruptcies.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit June 23-29. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. S.C.P....

A conversation with John "J.T." Maloney, Griffin Properties.(Focus)(Interview)
July 3, 2006... There are more restaurants for sale in Southeast Michigan right now than there have been for years, according to John "J.T.'' Maloney, associate broker with Southfield-based Griffin Properties. But that's OK, because there are lots of...

Tall ships will pass city by on river tour.(Rumblings)
July 3, 2006... The "tall ships'' will sail up the Detroit River the week of July 16-20, but they won't be stopping in the city this time. Peter Mello, executive director of Newport, R.I.-based American Sail Training Association, said his group tried to...

Corrections.(Correction)
July 3, 2006... * The chart accompanying the story about individual insurance plans on Page 1 of the June 26 issue cited an incorrect coinsurance percent for the Humana One PPO plans. The coinsurance should have been listed as 20 percent. *...

Bank merger looks good to analysts - and a competitor.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Locally analysts and at least one competing banker were pleased by the news Tuesday of the merger between Ann Arbor-based Republic Bancorp Inc. and Flint-based Citizens Banking Corp. The analysts said it will...

$5m gift a legacy of love for art.(Executive Life)(Obituary)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Shirley Chang was a patron of the arts. On more than one occasion, she and her husband, retired Flint urologist Cheng-Yang Chang, hosted traditional Chinese artists in their Ann Arbor home. Shirley Chang had...

Burnett Cadillac loss highlights need to diversify; Other local ad agencies have made transition.(Leo Burnett Detroit loses $225 million Cadillac account)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Bill Shea, Jennette Smith The crossroads faced by Leo Burnett Detroit is one previously negotiated by other local ad agencies, and the choice it provides is the same: Diversify and nourish creativity or risk closure. Leo...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
July 3, 2006... Renaissance sticks to mission Editor: I read with interest your article about potential overlap between our organization and the Detroit Regional Chamber in the area of economic development ("Chamber chief: Roles can't overlap,'' June...

Defining Michigan: State's tourism industry debates best way to promote attractions.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane With nearly 966,000 registered boats in the state, Van Snider knows boaters have a big role to play in Michigan's tourism economy. And as head of a Livonia-based group that represents the business side of recreational...

Senior Alliance back in the black.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin The Senior Alliance Inc. is on the road to recovery after nearly losing its state designation as an Area Agency on Aging in fall 2004 over missed payments to its largest vendor, Wayne County. The certification...

Duggan: We're OK without WSU; DMC chief says specialty hospitals can lure docs.(Wayne State University)(Detroit Medical Center)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Michelle Martinez Mike Duggan says that he can steer The Detroit Medical Center toward sustained profitability without investing more in the suburbs or its Wayne State University Physicians Group affiliation. The key, said the...

Sunrise Senior Living uses center as model for Alzheimer's care.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Michelle Martinez McLean, Va.-based Sunrise Senior Living Inc. is using its new 46-bed Grosse Pointe Woods location as a test site for assisted-living centers devoted exclusively to memory-impaired residents. Sunrise (NYSE:...

For some, it was a natural evolution from cruising during their teen years. For others, it is a thrilling escape from everyday life. These executives have A need for speed.(Executive Life)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Michelle Krebs Dan Denison of Ann Arbor caught the bug on a business trip to the United Kingdom. A decade ago, the co-founder of Denison Consulting, an Ann Arbor business that advises on corporate culture and leadership, was a...

This Just In.(EaglePicher Holdings Inc. will move headquarters to Detroit)(Lawrence Technological University and Marygrove College get new presidents)(Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget agreement includes funding increases for schools, colleges and universities)
July 3, 2006... EaglePicher HQ will likely be in metro Detroit EaglePicher Holdings Inc.'s headquarters will likely be somewhere in metro Detroit after the company emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, EaglePicher COO David Treadwell said. Treadwell,...

Overtime-exemption bill back to Senate.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane The legislative battle on overtime isn't over yet. Although the Legislature last week gave final approval to a bill to retain overtime exemptions for employers, the measure was never delivered to Gov. Jennifer Granholm...

Crain's adds reporter.(News)
July 3, 2006... Bill Shea, former city/military editor of the Port Huron Times Herald, has joined Crain's Detroit Business as a reporter covering media, advertising and marketing, and Washtenaw and Livingston counties. Shea, 32, worked at the Port Huron...

Valassis explores big changes as slowing sales take toll.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Bill Shea Livonia-based coupon giant Valassis Communications Inc. could announce in the next three weeks a possible sale, acquisition or other significant change, the company said. The company (NYSE: VCI) on June 26 lowered its...

Week in Review.(Strike at Delphi Corp. averted)(Northwest Airlines Corp. to dump its contract with flight attendants)(James Vandenberghe is DTE Energy Co.'s board member)
July 3, 2006... Delphi buyouts lessen chance of strike, many say The threat of a strike at Troy-based Delphi Corp. greatly lessened last week with 12,600 announced retirements and buyouts of hourly union workers, putting the company well along the road to...

In the spotlight.(People)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Michael Tierney has been named president and CEO of Madison Heights-based Peoples State Bank effective July 5. In addition, Tierney will assume the positions of president and CEO of PSB Group Inc. (OTC: PSBG), the...

Racing to get behind the wheel?(News)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Daniel Eizans If I weren't a journalist and had the financial backing, I'd love to be a race-car driver. While the execs featured in this week's Executive Life section (Page 11) certainly have the funds and the drive to make their...

People.(appointments )
July 3, 2006... ARCHITECTURE Robert Jordan to director of architecture, Sidock Group Inc., Novi, from senior project manager, Schonsheck Inc., Wixom. Paul Wade to chairman of the board of directors, Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc., Detroit, from...

Strength Capital raises $140M; Equity fund ready to begin buying companies.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Strength Capital Partners L.L.C., a private equity firm in Birmingham, finished raising its second fund of $140 million Friday and is about to go on a buying spree. Five investments totaling about $50 million have...

Promote our state with a united voice.(Opinion)
July 3, 2006... Byline: John Bailey Now is the time for us to band together and turn things around in Michigan. The farthest thing from our minds should be to minimize the effect of great ideas, waste money and lose resources; we should rather look to...

Court chips out Golden Tee game payouts.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Playing golf arcade game Golden Tee for money has been put on par with slot machines by the Michigan Court of Appeals, effectively jeopardizing the liquor licenses of establishments that offer game play for money....

Directions for your business.(Focus)
July 10, 2006... Want more free advice for starting or running your own business? Visit www.crainsdetroit.com and click on "How To" under "Crain's Web Features" in the lefthand navigation bar.

Should your company be on a list?(News)
July 10, 2006... Contact our research department at cdbresearch@crain.com. Need reprints? Call (800) 494-9051, Ext. 144.

Bing Group.(Bing Group sold its stake in the Bing Assembly Systems L.L.C.)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Early this year, Bing Group sold its 51 percent stake in the Bing Assembly Systems L.L.C. joint venture with Lear Corp. to former Lear executive Jim Comer. The seating and mirrors operations Comer acquired from Bing included two plants in...

Crain's List: Largest life-insurance companies.(securities of American Community Mutual Insurance Co)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... list of 5: see print copy. * * * New states A drive to expand into new states and fund a new consumer-driven health care unit spurred American Community Mutual Insurance Co. to issue $30 million in surplus notes in 2005. The...

Don't restrict foundations.(Opinion)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Two Michigan lawmakers have introduced bills that would require charitable foundations chartered in Michigan to spend half their grant money each year within this state. Rather than stimulate grant-making, it could backfire and cause...

Crain's List: Largest mutual insurance companies.(News)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
July 10, 2006... List of 20: see print copy. * * * Biggest gainers Increase in direct premiums written in Michigan, 2004-05: Guardian Life: 16.7% Factory Mutual: 9.6% Primerica Life: 4.2% New York Life: 3.0% Frankenmuth...

Comerica gets bid for Munder Capital from its managers.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Mark Bruno Crain News Service As the sale of Munder Capital Management nears a close, sources say that a bid from management might be substantial enough to wrangle the Birmingham-based money manager free from its parent,...

About this feature.(Metro)
July 10, 2006... What's driving the latest trend? What are the hidden factors? How do things really work? Metro is dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at business and lifestyle trends and topics in metro Detroit Have an idea for a future Metro story?...

Bankruptcies.
July 10, 2006... The following business filed for Chapter 7 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit June 30-July 6. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. Rush Services L.L.P., dba Continental Dry Cleaners, 2555 Orchard Lake Road, Sylvan Lake,...

Briefly.(Leitz Metalworking Technology Group expands to Auburn Hills)(Tower Automotive Inc. faces losses and Chapter 11 bankruptcy)(Venture-capital financing for HandyLab Inc. of Ann Arbor)
July 10, 2006... Leitz Metalworking opens center in Auburn Hills Germany-based tooling manufacturer Leitz Metalworking Technology Group opened its automotive support center in Auburn Hills on June 8 with plans to expand its imprint in the United States. The...

TI Auto wins deals worth $118.2M.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Warren-based TI Automotive Ltd. announced last week that it has won contracts with three automakers and a supplier worth about $118.2 million during the next three to four years. More importantly, some of the...

This Just In.(Blue Care Network of Michigan lowers premiums for healthy lifestyles)(Bills to promote alternative sources of energy and use of renewable fuels)(Ave Maria Mutual Funds introduces low-risk liquidity option to its investment family)
July 10, 2006... New Blues plan rewards healthy lifestyles Blue Care Network of Michigan today is introducing a new plan that rewards healthy lifestyles with lower premiums. The Blues HMO arm is rolling out a plan that lowers premiums by as much as 10...

Detroit Historical Museum makeover more than cosmetic; Staffing changes for big push to raise money.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny The Detroit Historical Museum is slated to close for 10 weeks starting July 24 for a "Museum Makeover,'' but the changes are much more than cosmetic. Much of the professional museum staff is gone, or on a...

Stopping theft of trade secrets is priority, feds say.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Philip Nussel Crain News Service U.S. authorities say they are increasingly on the lookout for theft of trade secrets as the auto industry gets more global. "Theft of trade secrets and cyber crime is one of the top priorities...

Networking, 'grassroots marketing' keys for new firms.(Focus)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker When John Ezzo began his janitorial service 19 years ago, his marketing strategy was to knock on the doors of offices in hopes of getting a few minutes with the person in charge of making decisions. It may have...

Week in Review.(General Motors Corp. plans alliance with Renault, Nissan.)(Valassis Communications Inc. to buy Advo Inc. in a $1.3 billion deal.)(Michigan Bureau of State Lottery to help in tourism-marketing efforts.)
July 10, 2006... GM board votes to discuss alliance with Renault, Nissan The General Motors Corp. board of directors on Friday agreed to have GM executives meet with their counterparts at Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA to discuss the possibility of a...

Bar tab; Politics, other concerns can make prices for liquor licenses vary wildly.(Metro)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Across metro Detroit few issues spark as much recurring debate among local elected officials as the approval, transfer and renewal of liquor licenses. Those policies can dramatically affect the price and...

Corrections.(Correction)
July 10, 2006... * Eisbrenner Public Relations was named incorrectly on Page 31 in the July 3 edition. * A headline on Page 2 in the July 3 issue gave an incorrect name to the University of Detroit Mercy. * A story about Detroit-based Cyprian Centers...

A business, block by block; Architect turns idea for light-responsive tiles into a thriving startup.(Focus)(Company overview)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich What started as an idea while Abhinand Lath was working on his master's degree in architecture at the University of Michigan has morphed into a business gaining attention from the national media and architectural...

Steps for startups: Incorporating your biz.(Focus)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison Entrepreneurs should plan to incorporate their businesses as soon as possible in order to protect themselves from personal legal liability, experts say. Companies can choose to register as an S corporation, a C...

Where business is blooming; Wesley Berry mixes old ethics, new technologies to blossom.(News)(Company overview)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison Wesley Berry Florist Inc. represents both the old and new guard of local flower shops. The West Bloomfield Township-based company, which opened in 1946, prides itself on sticking to founder Wesley Berry's policy...

Steps for startups: Landing your first client.(Focus)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison Securing your first client is often as simple as letting people know that you've opened a business, said Don Reimer, president of Southfield-based Small Business Strategy Group Inc. "Let people know that you now...

People.(appointments)
July 10, 2006... DISTRIBUTORS Angela McBride to assistant vice president of internal audit, Handleman Co., Troy, from director of financial compliance. Dana Shelby to director of operations, A.T. Callas Co. and Cal-Pak Inc., Troy, from customer service...

The horizon may change in the future.(Automobile industry)(Column)
July 10, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN It would seem unlikely that we will see any radical change to our corporate skyline with the discussion of an affiliation between General Motors, Nissan and Renault. At best, it will take a long time to get anything...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
July 10, 2006... Insurance costs are just business Editor: Michael Morse's June 19 Other Voices article ("An unethical practice that's not dead yet) is the latest incarnation of the myth of redlining. Insurance, whether life, auto or property, is the...

From the lab to the faucet; Sensicore ramps up to commercialize water-testing technology.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich When 14 ducks were found dead in a Pittsburgh water reservoir last month, the city turned to an Ann Arbor company's product to make sure contamination wasn't to blame - and had an answer in less than five minutes....

Business Diary.
July 10, 2006... ACQUISITIONS Stewart Title of Detroit Inc., a subsidiary of Houston-based Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE: STC), announced the acquisition of Lapeer County Abstract and Title Co. CONTRACTS Hdstudios, Griot Editorial,...

The magic of networking.(Focus)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich One of my first assignments as a reporter taught me an important lesson: Never underestimate the power of the schmooze. At my first job about 10 years ago, and fresh out of college, my editor "assigned'' me to...

For teachers, merit raises have merit.(Column)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Mary Kramer For the first time in more than 20 years, Michigan's Teacher of the Year is a veteran of Detroit Public School classrooms. Kimberly Kyff teaches fifth grade at Jamieson Elementary School, an award-winning west-side...

Fix overtime hole.(Opinion)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Gov. Jennifer Granholm has pledged to go anywhere to bring jobs home. Maybe she should also consider hanging on to jobs Michigan already has. One way is to help fix a legislative mistake tied to Michigan's new minimum-wage law that takes...

In the spotlight.(new appointment of Jacqueline Sellers )(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Detroit-based law firm Clark Hill plc has hired Jacqueline Sellers to lead its expanded national litigation practice. Sellers joins the firm from the Troy office of Minneapolis-based Blackwell Igbanugo, where she managed the warranty,...

Suppliers' case takes on patents; Ruling could upend process.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Hundreds of thousands of patents issued or pending could be invalidated or turned down if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against a Troy-based auto supplier in what some call the most significant patent case of this...

Oakwood physicians sign deal with Olympia Medical.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Michelle Martinez One month after Oakwood Healthcare Inc. announced its affiliation with the Wayne State University Physicians Group, Oakwood's physicians have announced one of their own. "I'm not here to work against...

Advanced Photonix says its numbers don't tell real story.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson On the surface, it looked like dismal news for Advanced Photonix Inc. when it released earnings results on June 29 for the quarter ending March 31. The company, which was lured from California by $1.2 million in...

Rumblings.(Motor City Harley-Davidson & Buell buying the former Anderson Sales & Service Inc.)(Naviciti L.L.C. contracted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to create an interactive visitor maps)(Gas Station TV to install pump-mounted digital TV screens)
July 10, 2006... Celani gets further into gear with acquisition Tom Celani, former partner in MotorCity Casino and owner of Motor City Harley-Davidson & Buell in Farmington Hills, last week expanded his business by buying the former Anderson Sales & Service...

Alliance would further squeeze GM's suppliers.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Crain News Service It can't possibly be good news for North American suppliers that Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. CEO Carlos Ghosn is waiting in the wings to talk to General Motors Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner about a new global...

Booze-free dining.(Kathmandu Chullo)(Restaurant review)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Pradip "Rocky'' Poudel, owner of Kathmandu Chullo, operates his Nepalese restaurant in Royal Oak without a liquor license and has no interest in purchasing one. For Poudel, the decision to forgo a liquor license...

U.S. Smart HQ to be in B. Hills; UnitedAuto creates new subsidiary.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker, Bradford Wernle UnitedAuto Group Inc., which on June 28 announced it would be the exclusive distributor in the U.S. for DaimlerChrysler AG's new Smart ForTwo, is setting up a local subsidiary to distribute and market...

Honigman called best corporate law firm in Detroit in survey.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn L.L.P. was rated the best corporate law firm in Detroit in a legal industry study in Corporate Board Member magazine's July/August issue. Honigman rose from third place last year...

UM looks to double size of executive MBA program.(University of Michigan)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan plans to double enrollment in its executive MBA program, five years after its launch. "Momentum is picking up as people get to know what we're...

Product, staff, money all needed to take the next step.(Focus)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker Bob Poloskey and David Saroli knew their company was ready for the next step when their software was developed and the pair had a few satisfied customers. As an early-stage company, Auburn Hills-based Osiris...

Prentice closes Morels, Shiraz, Thunder Bay.(Matt Prentice Restaurant Group)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Bingham Farms-based Matt Prentice Restaurant Group has closed three of its 11 restaurants. Morels, an American Bistro and Shiraz, both in Bingham Farms, and Thunder Bay Brewing Co. in Auburn Hills closed on July...

Budget agreement freezes revenue sharing.(Governor Jennifer Granholm's 2007 budget agreement has no increase in state revenue-sharing.)(New Internet portal for state-tax registrations.)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Local governments are trying once again to win an increase in state revenue-sharing, after a proposed hike failed to make it into the state's recent budget agreement. House Republicans in April had proposed a $15...

Huron Capital buys 5 California transit firms.(News)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Huron Capital Partners L.L.C., a private-equity firm in Detroit, is to announce the purchase today of five Southern California companies it hopes to use as a base to launch a super-regional transportation company that...

New look, same solid information.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Daniel Eizans If you haven't been cruising up and down our left-hand navigational bar lately, you may not have noticed two new links. Thanks to our new designer, Ai-Ting Huang, crainsdetroit.com has a brand-new online media kit...

Hamilton Anderson Associates.(News)(Wayne State University)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... The $55 million Wayne State University Towers residence hall, designed by Hamilton Anderson, is part of the university's drive to increase the numbers of students who live on campus.

We're feeling lucky.(Opinion)
July 17, 2006... Hail to the victors! News last week that Google Inc. plans to move its AdWords division to Ann Arbor is almost as important symbolically as it is from a nuts-and-bolts real estate and payroll perspective. It's also a solid home run in...

'Nuclear option' keeps suppliers on their toes.(News)
July 17, 2006... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Crain News Service At a time of extraordinary industry distress, North American automakers are using an obscure legal weapon - dubbed the "nuclear option'' by suppliers - to keep assembly lines running. This...

Takin' it to the geeks.(News)(MySpace.com Inc.)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Byline: Daniel Eizans Is there anything out there that can't be marketed on MySpace? Despite recent criticism of the social networking site, some politicians are making use of "official'' pages in their respective campaigns. ...