Crain's Detroit Business articles from November 2004

Crain's Detroit Business archives from November 2004

Execs expand their families through adoptions.(Special Report)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Laura Bailey When Ukrainian social workers presented Tami Door with her son Hayden, she thought it was the wrong child. She and her husband, Rick, she explained, came to the Ukraine to adopt a 15-month-old child, not a newborn...

Crain's Outlook breakfast Nov. 10.(News)
November 1, 2004... Crain's Detroit Business and Detroit Downtown Inc. will host this year's Crain's Outlook breakfast Nov. 10. Join the editorial staff of Crain's and the economic forecast experts from Public Sector Consultants Inc. and get a practical look at...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... * A Page 3 story about a condominium development in Rochester gave an incorrect last name for Bill Fox, director of real estate strategy for Trident Properties.

Business Diary.(Briefs)
November 1, 2004... Acquisitions Critical Home Care Inc., Southfield, has acquired American Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment of Peoria and Jacksonville, Ill., a provider of oxygen, other respiratory services and durable medical equipment. Contracts ...

Week in Review.(Briefs)
November 1, 2004... ArvinMeritor looks to sell pair of subsidiaries Auto supplier ArvinMeritor Inc. said that it would sell its light-vehicle replacement-parts business and its Roll Coater Inc. subsidiary in one of new CEO Chip McClure's first major moves. ...

Rumblings.
November 1, 2004... Maybe Kilpatrick should check out this guidebook Many of the perceived conflicts of interest at Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's family's Next Vision Foundation, reported last week in the Detroit Free Press, are addressed in a set of...

Detroit won't fight veto of Madison-Lenox demolition.(News)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Robert Ankeny The city of Detroit has elected to stay out of a dispute between the Ilitch family through its Ilitch Holdings Inc. and preservationists over the fate of the 100-year-old Madison-Lenox Hotel. "The ball is in the...

The mouse that roars.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... Visit www.crainsdetroit.com to read the latest daily business news. Among the stories expected this week: Wednesday: CMS Energy Corp. is scheduled to release third-quarter results. Thursday: TRW Automotive Inc. and DTE Energy Co. are...

Flagstar says Wall Street ignoring its growth plans for bank branches.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Flagstar Bancorp Inc. executives and analysts say investor focus on a slowing mortgage business is suppressing the Troy-based banking company's share price, but not its growth. Plans to nearly double the Flagstar...

People.
November 1, 2004... Architecture James Chatas, Drew Pennington, and Mark Reile to principals, TMP Associates, Bloomfield Hills, from senior associates. Construction Mark Johnston to president, Ajax Paving Industries Inc., Troy, from vice president....

Restaurant events help to fill charities' plates.(Special Report)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Restaurants have been in overdrive lately raising money for various charities. The Palm restaurant in Troy held recently held its third annual Men's Night. The event, which provides educational information about...

False start; SBC ads tout sponsorship - after it died.(SBC Communications Inc.)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane University of Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin wasn't the only one with a fumble last week. SBC Communications Inc. had no signed contract before it began running radio and TV ads last week for the "SBC...

This Just In.(meshed briefs)
November 1, 2004... Blues' small clients will see 9 percent rate increase Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan expects its small clients who renew their health insurance next year will see a 9 percent average increase in their premiums. The expected average...

Council: State faces deficits for years to come.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane Michigan is going to continue to have a chronic budget gap of more than $300 million a year even as the economy picks up, according to new analysis by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. "It's kind of a dismal...

Boys Hope Girls Hope seeks $2.5M after closing homes.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit is launching a $2.5 million capital campaign led by its trustees after funding cuts forced the residential program to close one of its three homes. The nonprofit hopes to reopen the...

Selling Ford Road; Ikea one part of big idea for Canton Twp.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Swedish furniture retailer Ikea's selection of Canton Township for its first store in Michigan was due in part to aggressive recruiting by Canton Township officials to fill retail voids along Ford Road. "It's one...

Battle over gambling.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... About $15 million was spent through Oct. 17 to campaign for and against Proposal 1, the gambling proposal on Tuesday's ballot, according to the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network. And that spending was expected to accelerate in the...

Deficits spur Ferndale nonprofit into merger deal.(News)(Community Services of Oakland plans deal with Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency )
November 1, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin After operating the past four years at a deficit, Ferndale-based Community Services of Oakland plans to fold its operations into the much larger Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency at the end of this year. ...

Getting out the vote; Proposal 1 ads pay off big for local TV stations.(political advertising expenditure)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Local television stations are hitting the jackpot with last-minute campaign spending on Proposal 1, the Tuesday ballot initiative to require most new gambling proposals in Michigan to obtain voter approval. ...

Let's hope election gets settled early.(Column)(election forecasting)
November 1, 2004... Byline: KEITH CRAIN The last thing this country needs is another battle over hanging chads. No one really has any idea who's going to win the presidential election on Tuesday, but one thing is for sure: Both sides are loaded for bear...

CFO, PDQ; New regs drive wave of hirings: `The stakes are so much higher these days'.(Chief Financial Officer)(Franklin Mortgage Funding Inc.)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich The organizational chart at Franklin Mortgage Funding Inc. had a glaring omission in the eyes of co-founder Edan King: no CFO. That's a problem when your company is growing like Franklin, he said. The...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Oct. 8-14. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation....

U.S. Steel actions rile union, River Rouge; Firm files for tax cut; grievances skyrocket.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Both the city of River Rouge and a union are questioning the corporate neighborliness of the steel giant they once saw as a savior for the area. U.S. Steel Corp., which owns the 1,110-acre Great Lakes Works in...

Small talk needn't be a large social hurdle.(Special Report)(book Review)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Gary Anglebrandt The holidays are fast approaching, and to some people that means one awful thing: making small talk with co-workers at parties. The prospect of chatting up co-workers and their spouses strikes fear in the...

Ilitches could return to hero status.(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Mary Kramer Mike and Marian Ilitch were heroes when they led one of the first major investments in downtown historical preservation in the late 1980s. By moving Little Caesar Enterprises Inc. from Farmington Hills to offices in the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Explain gap in wealth numbers Editor: The article in the Oct. 18 issue titled "Foes say Prop E is business handout'' was interesting. I am certain the Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Renaissance are well-meaning organizations. ...

Not into you? Time to move on.(Special Report)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx The new book, He's Just Not That Into You, by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, has got me thinking. I know a lot of very smart, professional women who would like to be in monogamous, permanent relationships but...

Balancing act; New Munder CEO looks to bring investment house closer to parent Comerica while pushing it into higher-margin businesses.(Special Report)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Dennis Mooradian has changes in store for Munder Capital Management. But the chairman and CEO of the Birmingham-based money manager doesn't want people to get the wrong impression: he isn't trying to sell Munder to...

Defending the booth; Ohio tosses plan for e-voting after Compuware tests.
November 1, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Detroit-based Compuware Corp. has influenced how Ohio voters will cast ballots Tuesday, but politicking had nothing to do with it. Michigan's largest tech company was hired by Ohio Secretary of State J....

Calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... Tuesday NOV. 2 The Journey of Organizational Change. Women Business Owners of Southeast Michigan. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Speaker: Beverly Seiford, Dannemiller Tyson Associates. Lake Forest Golf Club, 3110 W. Ellsworth, Ann Arbor. Free to...

Sports Hall looks to raise $5M-$7M for permanent home.(News)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The Bloomfield Hills-based Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Inc. plans to launch a $5 million to $7 million capital campaign early next year to fund a permanent, interactive museum in Detroit. The organization, which...

Tree houses; Log homes' popularity grows, along with amenities.(Special Report)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo For more than 20 years, John Holden, president of Howell-based Armor Protective Packaging, and his wife, Shari, dreamed of owning a log home. They loved the warm, country feel of a log home and envisioned...

DTE signs credit-line deals.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane DTE Energy Co. and its two utility subsidiaries have entered into $975 million worth of new, longer-term revolving credit agreements with their banks, at the same time reducing shorter-term credit agreements by $325...

Jerky maker's beef nets $4.9m verdict; Packaging dispute led it to miss out on Atkins-inspired mania for meat products.(News)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely American Foods Co. Inc., a Macomb Township-based beef jerky manufacturer, is hoping that a $4.9 million jury award will help it recover market share it lost since problems with its packaging vendor derailed efforts to...

Kilpatrick gives foes ammunition.(Opinion)(Kwame Kilpatrick)(Proposal E)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... If Proposal E goes down in Detroit, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick can take the blame. Proposal E would give Detroit's mayor the power to nominate a candidate for school CEO; the nomination would require approval by an elected school board which...

Designed for living.(Special Report)(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Growing up, Dana Locniskar saw business opportunities in a snowstorm. He was the kid going door-to-door with his shovel looking for a driveway to clear. As soon as he was old enough, he had a paper route. Raised in...

Orchestrations for the Home.(Special Report)(Michigan Design Center Orchestrations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Michigan Design Center's Orchestrations for the Home design showcase runs Saturday through Monday at the MDC, 1700 Stutz Drive, Troy. The show features more than 40 design vignettes by interior designers as well as seminars on interior...

End of fast-pay program puts some suppliers in crunch.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky A program that gave suppliers early payments from automakers is ending, sending some with a cash crunch scrambling to find an alternative. Tower Automotive Inc., for example, is trying to get its lenders to let...

April Christian.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 23. Hometown: Ishpeming. Education: Northern Michigan University, bachelor of fine arts, graphic communications. Current job: Graphic and Web designer, M. Tavernini & Associates, Marquette. Within hours after April...

Roger Kreager.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 33. Hometown: Saginaw. Education: Eastern Michigan University, bachelor of science, organizational communications/marketing. Current job: Owner and operator, Chef Source. Williams-Sonoma, move over. Chef Source of...

Ginger Bosn.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 24. Hometown: Fenton. Education: Kettering University, BSME with a biomedical applications specialty. Job: Product Development Engineer, Pall Corp., Ann Arbor. Ginger Bosn is excited to be on the research and development...

Capitol focus will remain on state's budget shortfall.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane It's still about the money. Michigan's tight budget situation this year will continue to be a central story in the Capitol, influencing both spending and policy. The nonpartisan Citizens Research Council of...

Business Diary.(Briefs)
November 8, 2004... Acquisitions Michigan Surgery Specialists has acquired the former Great Lakes Rehabilitation Hospital in Southfield. The hospital is now operating as Oakland Regional Hospital and is slated for a $15 million renovation. Silver Hawk...

Michigan Aerospace Corp. gets $600,000 NASA grant.(News)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Ann Arbor-based Michigan Aerospace Corp. received a $600,000 grant from NASA last month to develop part of a new wind measurement system. The grant was given to Michigan Aerospace through NASA's Goddard Space...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total...

Huron Capital's second private-equity fund hits $90M.(News)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Detroit-based Huron Capital Partners L.L.C., has raised $90 million for its second private-equity fund, The Huron Fund II L.P., Huron Managing Partner Brian Demkowicz said. The firm announced the second fund in...

Rumblings.
November 8, 2004... Kilpatrick: City has to cut jobs to balance budget Detroit's biggest challenge in 2005 remains balancing its budget, and the city will definitely have to reduce its workforce, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said. "We'll be talking to the...

Hotel numbers on the rise.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Hotel occupancy is climbing as business travel gradually rises. Smith Travel Research estimates metro Detroit occupancy at 63.2 percent, up from 58.8 percent a year ago. The prices of hotel rooms also are on an...

Finding (and keeping) the talent.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Mary Kramer What are the hottest job sectors for young college graduates? How can small to midsize employers tap the best collegiate talent, whether it's through creating internships or knowing the expectations of the recent grads?...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 8, 2004... * A Rumblings item on Page 42 of the Nov. 1 issue should have listed the Michigan Nonprofit Association's Web site as www.mna online.org. * An item in the Nov. 1 People column should have said that Yogendra Rahangdale had been named...

Web site links grads, jobs.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... A coalition of public and private partners teamed to create a new Web site to link Michigan employers with recent college graduates and internship candidates. Any company in Michigan can post jobs or internships free of charge on the new...

New Web site to connect employers, young workers.(News)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Michigan employers will be able to post entry-level jobs for college graduates and internship opportunities free of charge on a Web site announced today. The site, www.hiremichigansbest.com, is aimed at connecting employers with college...

Ann Arbor, biz leaders work on developing affordable housing.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Sheena Harrison Ann Arbor city officials, developers and businesses are working to overcome obstacles to development and affordable housing in the city - something community leaders say is needed to prevent pushing workers with...

Second City plans March opening at former Local Color Brewing.(News)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely Second City Comedy Club expects to open in March in its new location, the building formerly occupied by Local Color Brewing Co. at 42705 Grand River Ave. in Detroit. The 20,000-square-foot former brewery is large...

Improvement after lean times.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely So far, 2004 has been the best year both locally and nationally for staffing companies since 2000. Troy-based Kelly Services Inc., one of the world's largest staffing companies, is having its best year since 2000...

Chip George, Matt Young.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Chip George Age: 30. Hometown: Holland. Education: Hope College, bachelor of science, environmental geology, and bachelor of arts, business. Current job: CEO, Comfort Research. Matt Young Age: 30. Hometown: St....

William Hickey.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Age: 50. Hometown: West Bloomfield Township. Education: Bachelor's degree, Northwood University; Madonna University, MBA. Current job: Global Account Manager, T-Systems. William Hickey dropped out of high school to enlist in...

Susan Bowyer.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Age: 42. Hometown: Rochester Hills. Education: University of Michigan-Flint, bachelor of science, applied science. Oakland University, Ph.D., physics. Job: Senior staff biomedical research investigator, Henry Ford Hospital....

Kilolo Gause.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 31. Hometown: Southfield. Education: Lawrence Technological University, bachelor of science, mechanical engineering; Oakland University, master of science, mechanical engineering. Current Job: Product engineer/Jeep platform,...

Sonya Saba Abukhader.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 26. Hometown: Dearborn Heights. Degree: Henry Ford Community College, AS in nursing. Job: R.N., Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit. As a student nurse, Sonya Abukhader wasn't looking forward to her clinical rotation...

Donna Gent.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Age: 36 Hometown: Lake Orion Education: University of Michigan, master's of business administration Job: CEO, Vale Solutions Inc. Donna Gent is trying to raise $3 million to $5 million to help her Ann Arbor-based Internet...

Matthew Mace, Aric Faber.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Matthew Mace Age: 27. Hometown: Nashville, Mich. Education Western Michigan University, bachelor's of business administration, computer information systems. Job: CEO, BlueGranite. Aric Faber Age: 31. Hometown:...

Low-watt bright spot; Dim projections for Big Three cast shadow on economic forecasts.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx There's a light at the end of Michigan's economic tunnel, but local economists predict that it's a 40-watt bulb. Economists are forecasting only the slightest of improvements in the local economy next year, primarily...

Improved energy code has many benefits.(Opinion)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Alecia Ward Gov. Jennifer Granholm has an opportunity to reach out and pick the lowest-hanging fruit in Michigan. No, it's not an apple or a bunch of cherries; it's a new energy code for homes and residential buildings. With...

Biz community weighs future after Prop E defeat.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Robert Ankeny Detroit business leaders say the business community must continue to support improvements in Detroit Public Schools' management and academic programs, in spite of the defeat of Proposal E in a bitter and hard-fought...

What is "Hire Education?''.(Supplement)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... "Hire Education'' is published by Crain's Detroit Business as part of its ongoing series examining "Workforce Michigan'' issues affecting the state. The supplement includes information to help employers find qualified college interns and...

The $1.8 billion question; Embattled SBT has few friends, but consensus has yet to build around alternatives.
November 8, 2004... Byline: Amy Lane Like a lot of businesspeople, Tom Zimmerman isn't a fan of Michigan's single-business tax. The second-generation executive in family-owned Spectrum Automation Co. doesn't like having to pay the tax in lean years, and...

Week in Review.(Briefs)
November 8, 2004... BorgWarner to buy control of Beru for $476M Auto supplier BorgWarner Inc. said it has reached an agreement to buy 63 percent of the shares of German supplier Beru AG for about $476 million. The move, if approved by regulators, would...

High raw-material prices still taking toll.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Raw-material costs for steel and plastic resins are expected to be high at least through the first half of the year. Hot-rolled steel has gone from $295 a ton last year to $756 a ton this year. Widely used plastic...

Reputation, internships, Web key to finding best, brightest employees.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Marti Benedetti Small and medium-sized companies that want to attract the best and brightest employees need to establish their company as a place where people want to work. "Be committed on a day-to-day basis to grow a healthy...

Growing occupations reflect needs.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Marti Benedetti Today's college graduates will do well to choose a profession in health care, information technology or environmental science. Local, state and national studies identify those as "hot'' fields for employment...

Calendar.(Calendar)
November 8, 2004... Tuesday Nov. 9 Privacy Issues Online and Off: Whose Information Is It, Anyway? Ann Arbor IT Zone. 5-7 p.m. Speakers: Claudia Rast, principal, Pear Sperling, Eggan & Daniels P.C.; and Michael Harnish, associate at Plante & Moran. Ann...

Ashley Capital sets sights on Oakland; Plans $35M in distribution centers in Orion Township.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Jennette Smith Ashley Capital L.L.C. plans to build two large speculative distribution centers in Orion Township, marking the New York City developer's first push into Oakland County. The project includes one...

Organizations prepare for new rules, scrutiny.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin * Nonprofits should expect increased regulation and legislation from the federal government next year. Changes to the 990 and 990-PF tax forms filed by nonprofits and public foundations are likely to be introduced...

Get ready for ownership change.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Michigan can expect to see more banks change hands and more hands start banks in 2005, financial professionals say. "Nothing is sacred,'' said Patrick McQueen, president and CEO of Bloomfield Hills-based The Private...

Graduates bring long lists of what they want in a job.(Supplement)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Marti Benedetti Employers, listen up. Today's graduates not only want a job that fits their interests and challenges them, they are looking for training so they can continue to learn, a work schedule that allows them to have a...

The mouse that roars.(News)
November 8, 2004... Visit www.crainsdetroit.com to read the latest daily business news. Among the stories expected this week: Monday: Semco Energy Inc. is scheduled to report third-quarter results. Wednesday: The Crain's Detroit Business Outlook breakfast...

New ways to pay for coverage.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Katie Merx Insurance agents and employer health-benefits consultants say employers are becoming increasingly interested in consumer-directed health care plans as a way to continue offering coverage to employees without going broke....

Business can help smooth transition.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Detroit voters overwhelmingly support a return to a traditional elected board. In voting down Proposal E last week, they determined they will elect a board next fall, with board members taking office in January 2006. (See stories, Pages 20 and...

New techs to affect businesses.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Two technologies expected to be more widely used next year: * Radio frequency identification: Though criticized by some analysts as being oversold, it's a technology that touches virtually every industry, and...

Transition is pressing issue.(Special Report)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Sherri Begin The Detroit Public Schools' board and CEO Kenneth Burnley will begin looking at ways soon to keep key management staff from leaving the district for more secure jobs before a new elected board takes over in January...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 8, 2004... We still need Electoral College Editor: While I agree with Keith Crain about the importance of an educated electorate, I find myself in rare disagreement with him in regards to a popular vote for the presidency ("Thinking about the...

Biz groups support scholarships.(Supplement)(Directory)
November 8, 2004... How do students find internships? Business and industry trade groups can often help. The following is a sample of trade groups and associations that have collegiate chapters or support scholarship and internship programs in Michigan. ...

Document this; Film festival adds sponsors, focuses on becoming regional, national draw.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Brent Snavely The 3-year-old Detroit Docs International Film Festival is growing so quickly that organizers and sponsors believe it can become a regional or national draw in the coming years. This weekend's festival will...