Crain's Detroit Business articles from June 2004

Crain's Detroit Business archives from June 2004

Local equity investors getting in the game.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Local equity investment firms and corporate dealmakers are staring down what's shaping up to be a very busy year, with a few dealmakers cautiously optimistic that this could be their busiest year ever. "We've closed...

$20M spent to keep telephones ringing; Telecom firms buy backup generators, batteries.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Telecommunications providers have spent about $20 million locally in the last 10 months to make sure they don't fail when all else does should another massive power outage grip Southeast Michigan. Verizon...

Family ties.(News)(Local music bands)
June 7, 2004... Family ties Unlike the 1960s and early 1970s when the legendary and influential Motown Records dominated music in metro Detroit, today's local music industry has three leading families. They are: The White Stripes Jack White, born...

Schools continue move toward online MBAs.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Online MBA courses are gaining in popularity as busy professionals seek advanced degrees to get ahead in the workplace. Several local educational institutions now offer MBA programs entirely online and report...

Evaluate online programs before you enroll.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin There are a large number of "diploma mills'' on the Internet, cranking out degrees for a fee and with very little effort on the part of students. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And you're...

Business Education Briefs.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... EMU names biz school dean David Mielke will join Ypsilanti-based Eastern Michigan University's College of Business July 1 as dean. He replaces Nick Blanchard, who'd served as interim dean since Earl Potter III left a year ago to become...

Put the money where the music is.(Opinion)
June 7, 2004... For a city constantly fretting over its national image, Detroit has consistently missed the beat, er, boat. Not since the heyday of Motown has Detroit boasted such a powerhouse of musical talent. Detroit has national players in virtually...

Deciding to stay home; Compuware's chief sees outsourcing as an incentive.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich While some view offshore outsourcing as a way to save money and others as the whipping boy for the destruction of American jobs, Peter Karmanos Jr. looks at it another way: an incentive to get better. So says...

Schools, regional cooperation top Detroit Renaissance priorities.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane The future of Detroit school governance isn't a new issue for the CEOs in Detroit Renaissance Inc. But it is one of their highest priorities this year. And with time dwindling to craft a new solution, Detroit...

Week In Review.(Review)
June 7, 2004... Kmart selling up to 24 stores to Home Depot for up to $365M Kmart Holding Corp. has agreed to sell up to 24 stores to The Home Depot Inc. of Atlanta for up to $365 million in cash. The two companies will set the exact number of stores, the...

More Mackinac coverage.
June 7, 2004... More Mackinac coverage * Key players to meet on cigarette tax, jobs plan. Page 6. * Why Peter Karmanos doesn't outsource overseas. Page 81. * Skilled labor shortage is a bigger threat. Page 82. * The Michigan Economic...

50 fittest CEOs (part 1 of 2).(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Leland Bassett, 59 Leland Bassett, chairman and CEO of Detroit-based Bassett & Bassett Inc., did not want to have any excuses for not working out. So, when Bassett and his wife, Tina, built their house 12 years ago, they had a small...

University of Phoenix looking to open Macomb County campus.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin University of Phoenix looking to open Macomb County campus The University of Phoenix is planning to establish a Macomb County campus, possibly in Sterling Heights, by mid-2005. The university is speaking with...

Rising mortgage rates likely to make stocks bounce in housing industry; Job growth, financing options may moderate fluctuations.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Companies tied to the housing industry expect stock price fluctuations and possible shifts in business as mortgage rates creep up. Job growth and alternative financing options, though, are expected to temper the...

Former NPower executive gets probation in embezzlement case.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The former director of operations at NPower Michigan in Detroit, Darrell Thirkield Sr., was sentenced to five years probation in April after pleading guilty to one count of attempted embezzlement of $20,000 or more....

Palace Sports set to score profits from playoff runs.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Strong playoff runs by the Detroit Pistons and the Tampa Bay Lightning ensure both teams owned by William Davidson will post profitable seasons. The Pistons nabbed the NBA Eastern Conference championship last...

Rumblings.
June 7, 2004... Chamber works on SBT rehab New ideas on Michigan's single-business tax may emerge this fall out of a work group formed by the Detroit Regional Chamber. The group of about a dozen people with tax expertise from the manufacturing,...

This contest makes us sweat.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Shawn Selby We get all hot and sweaty just thinking about this. Crain's Detroit Business teamed with the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, WWJ 950, Brogan & Partners and Absopure to find this year's 50 Fittest CEOs. ...

Lower costs give smaller labels a chance.(News)(Labels are in charge of releasing, promoting, marketing and selling artists' music)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Detroit's independent recording labels are in a better position today to make money and develop successful artists than they were just five years ago, despite the continued dominance of five major record labels. ...

Shaking the family tree; Documenting heritage demands that exec be one part detective, one part historian.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Laura Bailey What most people don't know about Karen Batchelor, vice president of public affairs at the Detroit Regional Chamber, is that she is happiest when she's elbow-deep in historical records about her family. "If I...

Climbing the family tree.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... * Start by recording information you already know about your immediate family, then try to record details about relatives. * Look for birth or death certificates, Bibles, land deeds or other information that you may have in your home that...

Who they are: John Melstrom, partner, Fenner, Melstrom, Dooling in Auburn Hills, and Violet Melstrom.(North and South Manitou islands)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo * Who they are: John Melstrom, partner, Fenner, Melstrom, Dooling in Auburn Hills, and Violet Melstrom. * Where they live: A 3,500-square-foot, four-bedroom, Atlantic shingle-style home in Leland overlooking...

Living up north; Second homes give executives a place to rest and rejuvanate.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Up north: Two words that conjure up Norman Rockwell-like images of small towns, friendly people and a pace of life that woos even the busiest of business executives to surrender to its magical spell. Words that...

Sales increase for second year.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Thanks to a recovering economy, low interest rates and the demographics of baby boomers, northern Michigan real estate agents say sales of second homes there are increasing for the second year in a row. The...

Business Diary.(Business)(Directory)
June 7, 2004... acquisitions The Reliance Group of Michigan, a Farmington Hills printing and promotional products company, has been acquired by Reliance Group employee John Doering of Livonia. contracts Awecomm Technologies, Southfield, reached a...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... Troy ignores city's real needs Editor: Never in my life have I felt so unrepresented by elected officials as I did May 10, as I sat in Troy City Hall council chambers from 7:15 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. listening to city of Troy staff try to...

About the office.(Special Report; Richard Blouse Jr., president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Who he is: Richard Blouse Jr., 58, president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber. What he does: Reports to a 65-member board of directors and leads a staff of nearly 100 serving the largest chamber of commerce in...

For more info.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... * Cruising the Great Lakes: (800) 319-9997, www.cruisingthegreat lakes.com. * Great Lakes Cruise Co.: (888) 891-0203, www.greatlakes cruising.com

Chef works to keep gourmet food affordable.(Special Report)(Jeremy Restaurant & Bar)
June 7, 2004... Jeremy Grandon followed his passion. His passion led him right out the door of Tribute and into his own restaurant in Keego Harbor named Jeremy Restaurant & Bar. He's closing in on his first anniversary and hasn't felt a twinge of regret....

Graduate Certificate Programs.(Special Report)(Brief Article)(Directory)
June 7, 2004... * Central Michigan University College of Extended Learning 755 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 222, Troy, 48084; (248) 244-1200; www.cel.cmich.edu/metro-detroit Programs: General administration; health services administration; hospitality...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 7, 2004... Tuesday june 8 Conference and Annual Meeting: The Cost-Quality Link: Incentives for Excellence. Meeting of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council Inc. Sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business and WWJ 950. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Keynote speakers:...

Council: Shared standards help reduce cost of health care.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Health care providers and business leaders have set a goal of improving the quality of care and cutting half a billion dollars from health care spending in the next three years. They'll do it by working cooperatively....

UDM rolls out executive MBA program; School gives biz building $6.5m upgrade.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The University of Detroit Mercy will begin offering an executive MBA program in August. UDM is behind other schools in the area in offering such a program, but the Detroit university hopes its work with both local...

Wayne MBA students get hands-on role in helping with startups.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Mike Scott Students working toward their MBAs at Wayne State University have the chance to influence how a new business is set up and operated. The university's New Venture class pairs MBA students with technology startups...

Crain's seeks Health Care Heroes.(News)
June 7, 2004... Crain's Detroit Business is seeking nominations for Health Care Heroes, a special section to be published Aug. 30 honoring individuals and companies in the health care industry. Winners will be named in the following categories: *...

The mouse that roars.(News)
June 7, 2004... * This week on the Web: Visit www.crainsdetroit.com to read the latest daily breaking business news. Among the stories expected this week: Mackinac Policy Conference: This newspaper went to press Friday evening, but the movers and shakers...

Students: Michigan still isn't cool.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx In a ranking of the nation's cool cities by college students, Michigan cities didn't break the top 10. The results were included in a survey of 971 Michigan college students that the Lansing polling firm EPIC-MRA...

School board vote is crucial for Detroit.(Column)(Column)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Mary Kramer John Porter. Deborah McGriff. David Snead. Eddie Green. David Adamany. Ken Burnley. Since I moved to Detroit 15 years ago, we've had six school superintendents for Detroit Public Schools. And we wonder why the...

Health care findings.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Other findings from the EPIC-MRA survey include: * 81 percent think Medicare should be able to negotiate drug costs with pharmaceutical companies. * 78 percent said Medicare should be able to purchase drugs from Canada. * 78...

YouthVille project two-thirds of way to $14M goal.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin About six months away from completing YouthVille Detroit and a year into its capital campaign to fund the project, the Detroit Youth Foundation is nearly two-thirds of the way to its $14 million fund-raising target....

There's certainly plenty to talk about.(Column)(Column)
June 7, 2004... Byline: KEITH CRAIN So we've arrived again at the annual get-together at our favorite Michigan hotel, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. What started out in 1981 as a replacement for a stag boat trip in the Caribbean has developed...

Detroit Artists.(News)
June 7, 2004... Detroit artists There are numerous artists across several genres from Detroit who have either recently broken through onto national charts or are being talked about in music trade publications or local publications as legitimate potential...

Amping up music in the Motor City; There's no magic bullet, but these measures have helped elsewhere.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Over the past five years, Detroit's musicians have been producing cutting-edge, influential music at a rapid pace. News publications ranging from The Washington Post and New York magazine and trade magazines in...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of May 28-June 3. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total...

Key players to meet on cigarette tax, jobs plan.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane There could be movement in the political impasse over Gov. Jennifer Granholm's cigarette-tax increase and Senate Republicans' jobs-growth bills. Two key players - Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema, R-Wyoming, and...

Best foot forward is important to making good first impression.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx I recently had a first date with George Costanza. OK, his name wasn't really George Costanza, but he bore a striking resemblance to the "Seinfeld'' character and was lacking in a few useful social skills. A date...

Detroit studios, labels and others.(News)
June 7, 2004... Metro Detroit boasts a number of recording studios, independent labels and other music companies. Below is a sampling: Studios * United Sound & Film Technologies L.L.C., Detroit. The legendary United Sound studio was reopened last...

Funding crunch hampers local music festivals; Events fight for sponsorships as they struggle to break even.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Metro Detroit's major outdoor music festivals are a vital component of the local music industry, but financially, many are facing hard times. "Even an event at the top of its game must struggle to get funded,''...

Outdoor festivals draw thousands, generate millions.(News)
June 7, 2004... Metro Detroit's annual outdoor festivals draw hundreds of thousands of people every year and generate millions of dollars in spin-off spending for Detroit's economy. The following is a sampling of the larger festivals this year. *...

New MBA focuses on turning businesses around.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Many universities and colleges teach students in their MBA programs how to do business in an ideal world. But the number of troubled companies is rising, and education needs to keep pace with that,...

Degree combines business with education administration; MBA program at UM one of two in country.(Special Report)(Master of Business Admonistration, University of Michigan)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The University of Michigan will begin offering a dual master's degree in business administration and education this fall to meet the changing needs of the educational sector. The educational market is getting more...

Graduate certificates can give boost when it comes to hiring; Graduate certificates can give boost when it comes to hiring.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Graduate certificate enrollment numbers are holding steady locally and rising nationally as business professionals look for ways to stand out from their peers or test the waters before entering an MBA program. ...

Funky studios form backbone of scene.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Tucked away behind the State Theatre on the second floor of 60 W. Elizabeth St. sits Ghetto Recorders L.L.C. - a recording studio equipped with analog recording gear and, according to its Web site, all the amenities...

Showing potential; Harbortown condos sell quickly, riverfront park dedicated.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Robert Ankeny Condominium sales and the dedication of the Tricentennial State Park and Harbor on the Detroit River last month are the latest signs of renewal of the city's waterfront from both the public and private sectors. ...

Test is reminder of why it is good to be in shape.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Bob Allen It's difficult to discern which had a bigger impact on my performance during the fittest-CEO test: Running six miles less than two hours before taking the test, or having to overcome profound embarrassment because it took...

50 fittest CEOs.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Women under 50 * Keena Catanzaro, owner, Re/Max Partners, Royal Oak. * Maureen Gallagher, president and CEO, Insurance Partners Agency Inc., Southfield. * Christine Harriss, owner, Quill Communications, Royal Oak. * Dana...

Great Lakes cruises blend luxury with learning.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Marti Benedetti This summer, the Great Lakes could see a record number of cruise ships traversing its expansive waters and scenic coasts. Passengers who want to try a Great Lakes cruise will have seven ships to choose from...

Waterfront living; From Detroit to Monroe, there are plenty of choices for homes with a view of the Detroit River.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Pete and Sue Wallace had been looking for a waterfront condominium in the Downriver area for several years. With their children in college and a work schedule that keeps them going more than 60 hours a week,...

Oakland County looks to be hub for emerging sectors.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky A seven-month study confirmed what Oakland County Community and Economic Development Director Dennis Toffolo saw on a trip to William Beaumont Hospital - most of the top companies in emerging businesses are...

Looming skilled-labor shortage is bigger threat to state, study says.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Outsourcing jobs overseas makes good headlines, but the state should be more worried about attracting new business and addressing a looming shortage of skilled labor, a private-sector study says. Of the 2.8...

New biz doctoral degree gains foothold in area.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Joel Golden In January, Southfield-based Lawrence Technological University became the first local school to offer a doctoral degree in business geared toward professionals. The degree, a doctor of business administration, is...

Crain's, DDA to host `Cool Cities' meeting.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Joanne Scharich Attracting young adults to live in Detroit is the topic of the June 9 "Ideas Before Dawn'' breakfast meeting. Sponsored by Detroit Downtown Inc. and Crain's Detroit Business, "A Tale of Cool Cities'' features a...

Race discussion a high point of Mackinac conference.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Mary Kramer Race discussion a high point of Mackinac conference Something quite remarkable happened Friday at the 24th annual public policy conference here. And it made a spot at John Rakolta's dinner table the hottest dinner...

This Just In.(Commercial Workers Union )
June 7, 2004... Thomas offers plan for new Detroit school board MACKINAC ISLAND - A new proposal for Detroit school governance may come up in the Legislature, as soon as next week. Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, said Friday he hopes in the next two...

Medical care needs changes, leaders say; Experts call for focus on preventive care, health maintenance.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx If the region's business and medical care leaders adopt changes that were scheduled to be proposed at the Mackinac Policy Conference and beef up programs insurance companies already have in the works, it could move the...

MEDC tries to beef up international profile; Reopening trade offices, foreign tour part of plan.(News)(Michigan Economic Development Corp.)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane After recent years of bare-bones international operations, Michigan is getting back on the map to attract foreign investment and sell products abroad. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. is redirecting money and...

People.
June 7, 2004... architecture Jim Lemire to project manager, HarleyEllis, Detroit, from director of architecture, Wolf Wineman, Farmington Hills. construction Gino Del Pup to partner and director, R.E. Fraley Co. Inc., Clinton Township, from...

Small biz: Let feds pay; Poll: Majority would favor tax for universal health care.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx The majority of Southeast Michigan small-business owners favor universal health care and most would even support new taxes to pay for it, according to a survey by Lansing-based polling firm EPIC-MRA. Universal health...

Businesses balking at big tab for Cobo plans.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith As the debate continues about whether to expand or build a replacement for Cobo Center, there's still no one at the table reaching to pick up the check. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said last week...

Thomas Martin appointed CFO at American Axle.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Detroit-based auto supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. has hired board member Thomas Martin as its new CFO. Martin is to resign from the board, where he was a member of the audit committee. American Axle's former CFO, Robin...

DMC looks to build conference center, hotel as part of expansion.(News)(Detroit Medical Center )
June 7, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx As the Detroit Medical Center plans on at least two major building projects to accommodate expanding specialty and international medicine programs, it is joining the opposition to its competition's suburban expansion...

A see-through view to the lake.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Every weekend from spring to early winter, you can find John and Violet Melstrom in their favorite spot in the world - their custom vacation home on the shores of Good Harbor Bay in Leland. With spectacular views...

50 fittest CEOs (part 2 of 2).(Special Report)(Quill Communications)
June 7, 2004... Christine Harriss, 38 For Christine Harriss, the owner of Royal Oak-based Quill Communications, the addition of a golden retriever into her life almost 10 years ago provided a newfound reason to exercise. Although Harriss began working...

Chamber offices reflect Detroit theme.(Special Report)
June 7, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo When Richard Blouse decided to redesign his corner office at the Detroit Regional Chamber, he didn't have to think long about whom he'd call for help. Local designer Dominic Pangborn, president and CEO of...

Dressed to fly; Clothier makes business out of making travel easier.(Special Report)(Lynn Portnoy boutique)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Nicole Lanctot Bringing one carry-on bag on the airplane can save time for the busy executive, but how will her business attire survive the scrunch? Lynn Portnoy, owner of the Southfield-based Lynn Portnoy boutique, has one...

HIPHOPE (part 1 of 2); Detroit hopes to marshal local acts' national success into a brand that can spur tourism, improve image.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely D12, a band of six hip-hop artists that includes Eminem, picked Detroit's State Theatre April 30 for an album-release event partly because this is the band's hometown and strongest fan base. But there was another...

HIPHOPE (part 2 of 2); Detroit hopes to marshal local acts' national success into a brand that can spur tourism, improve image.(News)
June 7, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely The government side Kilpatrick views the music industry not only as an important point of pride for the Detroit community, but as an industry that can draw tourists and raise Detroit's international profile. ...

CEO, others to get awards.(News)(Brief Article)
June 14, 2004... The Wayne State University Corporate Leadership Awards are Wednesday at the Hilberry Theatre, Detroit. Honorees include Edward Christian, chairman, president and CEO of Saga Communications Inc.; Terry Reiley, president of the Rehabilitation...

Lawmaker pushes new arts, culture tax; Bill would levy statewide 5% charge on admission to entertainment venues.(News)
June 14, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane A new arts and cultural funding proposal set to emerge in the Legislature calls for a tax on admission to a gamut of entertainment venues, both profit and nonprofit. The legislation being readied by Senate...

Breakfast to examine offshore outsourcing.(News)(Brief Article)
June 14, 2004... Byline: Joanne Scharich "Offshoring and the Globalization of Service Activities: Business and Policy Issues in the Next Decade'' is the topic of the Crain's Detroit Business Private 200 Breakfast on June 24. Keynote speaker Robert...

Briefly.(Briefs)
June 14, 2004... International Academy freshmen win National Econ Challenge Four students of the Bloomfield Hills-based International Academy became the first team comprised entirely of freshmen to win the National Economics Challenge, sponsored by the...

Rumblings.
June 14, 2004... Station scores with airing of Pistons games The Detroit Pistons-Los Angeles Lakers matchup is proving to be a major ratings draw. Gary Schlaff, research director at WXYZ-Channel 7, said ABC's coverage of the Thursday game brought the...

Local CEOs optimistic, but expectations lag national counterparts'.(News)(Chief executive officers)
June 14, 2004... Byline: Michael Strong A survey of 40 CEOs of small to medium-size companies in Detroit shows they're optimistic they'll report improved revenue and profits as well as add new employees by the end of the year. Of the 40 respondents,...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
June 14, 2004... We must work to fix health funding Editor: I'm writing to correct my quoted position in the June 7 issue ("DMC looks to build conference center, hotel as part of expansion''). As dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine,...