Crain's Detroit Business articles from October 2003

Crain's Detroit Business archives from October 2003

What the planners say.(Special Report)(financial planners on divorce)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Here's what a handful of certified divorce financial planners recommend to people trying to plan a divorce: Know what you need. Come to the negotiations with a clear, concise and complete idea of the costs of your life. Write them down. ...

People.(appointments, various companies)
October 6, 2003... architecture Shawn Speed to project manager, The Design Group, Architects, Troy, from project assistant. construction Tim Thome to vice president-estimating, Campbell/Manix Inc., Southfield. Sharif Makki to director of...

Nancy Barrett.(News)(Wayne State University provost)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Age: 60 Title: Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Wayne State University. Career: Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1996-2003; provost and vice...

Upcoming conventions.(Special Report)(Calendar)
October 6, 2003... A list of major meetings in the Detroit area. Does not include labor union meetings. National Congress for Community Economic Development Annual Conference Oct. 6-12 Attendance: 650 Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center ...

Hotel growth.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Additional rooms planned or under consideration for downtown Detroit: Project: Rooms Greektown Casino: 400 MGM Grand Detroit Casino: 400 MotorCity Casino: 400 Book Cadillac Hotel: 478 Hilton Garden Inn: 198 ...

State studies new lottery games and ways to sell them.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Self-serve machines where daily-game lottery players could place their own wagers may be on the horizon for Michigan stores. The machines are among the new games and ways to sell tickets that the Bureau of State...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
October 6, 2003... * The formal name of LDMI Telecommunications is LDMI Telecommunications Inc., not Long Distance of Michigan Inc. as stated in a Page 3 story in the Sept. 29 issue. * An information box in an article on Page 24 of the Sept. 22 issue of...

Rumblings.(briefs)
October 6, 2003... DTE crews win fans for work on East Coast Michigan utility crews may not always be given the easiest time in their home regions, but they've been a welcome sight as they've helped restore power to East Coast residents battered by Hurricane...

Winners and losers.(Opinion)(briefs)
October 6, 2003... Winners and losers from the week of Sept. 29: * Free traders for peace? If free-trade agreements expand between the United States and the Middle East, Detroit can claim credit for helping to seal the deals because of last week's ambitious...

Week in Review.(Review)(briefs)
October 6, 2003... Interim DMC boss warns of building, benefit cuts Detroit Medical Center interim CEO Gwen MacKenzie outlined changes the health system is considering in an updated memo to the academic medical center's physicians and staff. In her memo,...

To learn more.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Fledgling wine connoisseurs can get up to speed fast with the help of a selection of books. The bible is Windows on the World Complete Wine Tasting Course by Kevin Zraly. If you buy only one book, this is the one. You also can't go wrong...

Gadgets: An open-and-shut case.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Corkscrews have come a long way. Older models often make you work to get the cork out of the bottle but can be had for $10 to $15. The newest kind makes removing a cork effortless. The Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew removes a cork in three seconds...

Tastes like What?(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Some of the most commonly used terms used to describe wine: Acidic: Wines require some acidity to taste fresh and lively, but too much acidity can result in a tart and sour taste. Balance: Good wines should be balanced, meaning they are...

Taking Stock.(News)(briefs)
October 6, 2003... Methode shareholder sues for access to offer from Dura Dura Automotive Systems Inc. may have an ally in its bid to gain control of Methode Electronics Inc.'s board. Rochester Hills-based auto supplier Dura (Nasdaq: DRRA) has a tender...

Biz happy with Granholm's workers' comp flip.(News)(Gov. Jennifer Granholm)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Business officials say they can accept a new plan from Gov. Jennifer Granholm that retains, rather than abolishes, a state commission that hears workers' compensation appeals. "We had said all along that we wanted to...

This Just In.(briefs)
October 6, 2003... JCI Automotive chief leaves company Rande Somma, president of Plymouth-based Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Group Inc., who was passed over in a management shakeup last July, has left the company. Somma, 52, had been in his...

Expo offers help with doing business in Africa.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Business leads in emerging markets are sometimes tough to find, so Bruce Mair seeks out events such as this week's African World Expo Business Link Conference in Detroit. The conference will be held today...

Covisint to end online catalog biz; Messaging service is new priority.(News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Covisint L.L.C. is getting out of the electronic catalog business. Reverse auctions could be next. The catalog was one of Covisint's first offerings after the industry exchange began operating in 2000. But...

Franklin Financial's owners buy bank in plan to gain national presence.(News)(Franklin Financial Group to acquire Approved Federal Savings Bank)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx The owners of Southfield-based mortgage originator Franklin Financial Group plan to take their business nationwide by the end of the year with the purchase of a federal savings bank in Virginia Beach, Va. Franklin...

Free trade in Middle East is key, biz leaders say.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong Nicola Antakli believes he could sell 5,000 General Motors Corp. vehicles to customers in Syria instead of the 1,000 vehicles he now sells if the United States can pull together the Middle East Free Trade Area...

Center offers art advice for home, biz.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Henry James said, "It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance.'' And the Ann Arbor Art Center would add, it is art that makes good business sense. With its Art Consulting Service, launched...

MSX looks beyond automakers for new business.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: K.C. Crain Ford Motor Co.'s decision last week to let go more contract employees by the end of the year was another bit of unwelcome news for MSX International, which provides temporary staffers to automotive companies. Ford is...

So whose fault is this mess, anyway?(Column)(corporate scandals)(Column)
October 6, 2003... Byline: KEITH CRAIN I've noticed over the years that there are an awful lot of executives who are referred to as "Teflon executives.'' Whatever might happen, you can be assured that they didn't have anything to do with what happened or...

'Queer Eye' sets the record straight on guys.(Special Report)(Column)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Have you seen the Bravo cable channel's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''? The straight guys who are on it are a prime example of why professional single women complain that there is just nobody suitable to date. On...

Prentice reaches for new heights.(Special Report)(Matt Prentice's restaurant project)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong Unique Restaurant Corp. President and CEO Matt Prentice and General Motors Corp. worked out their differences and put ink to paper last month to finish a deal, started more than six months ago, to take over The...

Power circuit; CEO comes out of retirement to turn around Ann Arbor company.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Richard Koch was supposed to golf away days like last Tuesday near the Atlantic Coast in North Carolina. Instead, he spent the chilly, overcast day 700 miles away from his family, inside a ho-hum Ann Arbor...

Filing is kink in plans to build plant for Hyundai in Alabama.(News)(Chapter 11 bankruptcy affects contract for Venture Holdings Co. L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Venture Holdings Co. L.L.C. owner Larry Winget is trying to salvage a $100 million deal to build a plant to supply Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama L.L.C. The plant in Prattville, Ala., would employ 600 and...

Developing a taste for wine; Restaurants, friends can help you find good varieties of vino.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Marti Benedetti Wine guru Madeline Triffon has a simple suggestion for choosing your friends and your wine. "Hang out with people who know quality wine and can make recommendations,'' said Triffon, wine director for Unique...

Questions remain about Cobo expansion.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith It's been a familiar debate in Detroit for years: Open more hotel rooms downtown, and additional conventions at Cobo Center will follow. The hotel rooms are coming. The total is expected to nearly double to...

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 6, 2003... Tuesday Oct. 7 Security Threats & Risk Mitigation Forum. Sponsored by the NetWorks Group. 8-11:30 a.m. Panelists from Comerica, Ford Motor Co., Henry Ford Health System. Sheraton Detroit Novi, 21111 Haggerty Road, Novi. Free. Contact:...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total...

When the honeymoon's over; Divorce professionals can help prevent costly financial mistakes.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Amy Mindell "I don't care about the money. I just want it over.'' No bride ever would say this while planning her wedding, but far too many people feel this way when leaving a marriage. With about half of all U.S....

Hospitality sells at Ryder Cup.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky The Ryder Cup Matches are a year away, but hospitality spots for the 2004 tournament at Oakland Hills Country Club are nearly gone. All 58 corporate hospitality chalets on the Bloomfield Hills course are sold....

Earnings boost stocks; Suppliers, tech companies fare well in 3Q.
October 6, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely Local stocks, supported by generally healthy earnings and an improving economy, should continue to climb after a strong third-quarter performance. "I think it's a foreshadowing of an even better profitability in...

`Discover Detroit' TV show gives glimpse of Detroit offerings.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith A new television show on Detroit Public Television offers viewers ideas on metro Detroit attractions, restaurants and events. "Discover Detroit'' airs the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. on WTVS-Channel...

Richard Koch.(News)(CEO, Power Efficiency Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... CEO of Power Efficiency Corp., 62 Koch joined a group of four other partners who formed the Kansas City, Mo.-based American City Business Journals organization in 1982. He had been a CPA with a company called Fox & Co. after he left Arthur...

Natural-gas price worries ease; MichCon looks to lower per-unit cost, raise service charges.(Michigan Consolidated Gas Co.)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Not many months ago, an $80 million increase in this winter's natural-gas prices looked possible for Michigan Consolidated Gas Co.'s customers. Now, the 1.2 million residents and small businesses that buy gas from...

You can tango; Stress melts away for execs who feel the Latin rhythms.(Special Report)(Argentine Tango Detroit L.L.C.)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Natalie Lombardo Spicy Spanish melodies fill the air as tightly embraced couples sharply move across the floor, blocking out the world while they hold each other's gaze. After a hard day at the office. Tango, the world's...

Unsecured creditors want trustee to run Venture during reorganization.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Unsecured creditors of bankrupt auto supplier Venture Holdings Co. L.L.C., frustrated with the company's management, want a trustee to run the company during the proceedings. Such a move is unusual in Chapter 11...

Couple flipped home to open views of Cass Lake.(Special Report)(home renovation)
October 6, 2003... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo It didn't take long for Russell Gregory to make an offer on the 3,700-square-foot house on Cass Lake that he and wife Pamela now call home. The builder's custom home sits on an island surrounded by 150 feet of...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
October 6, 2003... Two suggestions for Cobo Center Editor: Regarding the Sept. 22 story "Cobo plan may have regional authority,'' as the mayor and the city pursue winning regional support, I hope that they aim for a solution that can serve the needs of...

Best-managed nonprofits.(News)
October 6, 2003... Are you a board member or manager of a nonprofit organization? Consider nominating your favorite nonprofit for the annual "Best-Managed Nonprofit'' contest, sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business. The deadline for applying is 5 p.m. Oct....

Meadowbrook plans $9M HQ; Project caps insurer's financial turnaround.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Meadowbrook Insurance Group plans to break ground on a $9 million headquarters building off of I-696 in Southfield this fall and move in by Oct. 1 next year. The city of Southfield approved the insurance company's...

United Way: Big names pull big donors.
October 6, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely In the past five weeks, United Way Community Services of Detroit has coaxed computer giants Bill Gates and Michael Dell to town to make personal fund-raising pitches to big potential donors. Detroit lags many...

More room at the inn; Influx of new rooms has some downtown hoteliers predicting challenges.(Special Report)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith, Robert Ankeny Cary Turecamo is getting ready for a rate war. The creation of hundreds - and possibly thousands - of new hotel rooms in downtown Detroit by mid-decade will be very good for business and leisure...

Entrepreneurial program starts fourth year with a new look.(News)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich What started as a simple idea scrawled on the back of a napkin in a downtown Detroit restaurant in 2000 has turned into a program that has awarded $500,000 and provided training for more than 2,300 small...

New this year.(News)
October 6, 2003... The Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest has created separate competitions for new business ideas and early-stage companies.

Profile.(Special Report)(brief profiles of two executives' hobbies)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Who he is: Russell Gregory, 42. What he does: Attorney and president, Gregory & Reiter P.C., American Baby & Child Law Centers, Farmington Hills. His hobbies: Boating, golfing and surfing the Internet for real estate. Who she is:...

About Covisint.(News)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... * The company was formed to foster better electronic communication between automakers and suppliers and other vendors. * It was founded in 2000 by the three domestic automakers and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Renault S.A. and PSA Peugeot...

New Wayne State provost works on streamlining, budget-cutting.(News)(Nancy Barrett)
October 6, 2003... Byline: Laura Bailey Some might say that Nancy Barrett stepped into a minefield after taking the job of Wayne State University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. When Barrett arrived from the University of Alabama...

Burnley's school reforms are paying off.(Column)(Detroit Public Schools' Ken Burnley)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Mary Kramer Over the past three years, I've probably met with or heard Detroit Public Schools CEO Ken Burnley speak publicly at least 15 times. But his report card on school reform progress to an audience at the Detroit...

This just In.(Bridgewater Interiors adds 600 new workers)
October 13, 2003... Bridgewater Interiors to add 600 jobs in Warren Bridgewater Interiors L.L.C. will create 600 new jobs in Warren by taking over a Johnson Controls Inc. operation at the former tank plant on Van Dyke Avenue. Bridgewater Interiors is a...

Bankruptcies.(businesses file for Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy protection)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Nicole Lanctot The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Oct. 3-9. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7...

Home grown in Macomb; Longtime local developers reap benefits as growth roars ahead.(News)(family-owned building companies)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith Visit Luciano's Restaurant in Clinton Township or Tiramisu in Shelby Township, and you just might overhear Macomb County's leading developers plotting the next big subdivision. The second and third generation of...

People.(executive appointments)
October 13, 2003... architecture Gerald Reinbold to business leader for architectural design, SSOE Architects-Engineers, Troy, from vice president, SmithGroup Inc., Detroit. Michael Barden to associate, Integrated Design Solutions L.L.C., Troy, remaining...

Family ties.(News)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith * Anthony Lombardo, president of Lombardo Cos., is a cousin to the three partners and brothers at Moceri Cos.: Dominic, Frank and Mario. Lombardo, his brother Sebastian Lombardo and sister Annalisa Schamanek own...

Detroit Edison asking state to redo choice; Wants only largest customers to be able to switch power suppliers.(News)(electricity deregulation)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Saying that partial electricity deregulation has left it bleeding customers and revenue, the Detroit Edison Co. is seeking legislation that, among other changes, would allow only its largest customers to switch to other...

Rouge mulls options to deal with money problems.(Review)(Rouge Industries Inc. to refinance principal line of credit)
October 13, 2003... Dearborn-based steelmaker Rouge Industries Inc. said it "continues to pursue strategic alternatives'' as it tries to refinance its principal line of credit. The company had hoped to refinance that credit line by Sept. 30. Alternatives could...

Limiting choice won't solve Edison's woes.(Opinion)(Edison may raise rates for residential customers)
October 13, 2003... Detroit Edison Co. wants to change state legislation passed in 2000 that gave its electricity customers a choice in energy suppliers. Specifically, Edison wants to restrict choice to only its largest customers. Why? In essence, choice is...

Minority business group looks to cement ties with foreign automakers.(News)(Michigan Minority Business Development Council )
October 13, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky The head of Michigan's minority business group wants to forge closer ties between his member auto suppliers and the foreign-owned automakers. Earlier this year, the Michigan Minority Business Development...

Corrections.(Correction)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
October 13, 2003... * On Page 30 of the Sept. 29 issue, Larry Wisne was incorrectly identified as the father of Epoch Restaurant Group President Toni Wisne Sabina. Anthony Wisne is her father. Larry Wisne is her brother. * An article on Page 13 of the Sept. 29...

Border-crossing backers could lose own plans.(News)(proposed suspension bridge)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong None of the backers of three border-crossing proposals may get to build their proposed projects after a binational study completes its recommendation for a new crossing. Once a site and the type of crossing, such...

Ex-Crowley's CEO happy that legal action is over.(Rumblings)(Crowley, Milner & Co. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy)
October 13, 2003... ife hasn't been easy for Dennis Callahan since Detroit-based Crowley, Milner & Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 4, 1999. Callahan, who had been chairman, CEO and president of the department store for 10 years, lost his career...

Calendar.(Society of Automotive Engineers meeting)
October 13, 2003... Tuesday oct. 14 The Chrysler Crossfire Story from Concept to Reality. Meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. 5:30 p.m. San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy. $37 members, $15 student members, $42 others. Contact:...

Failed takeover bid didn't derail Taubman Centers' expansion.(News)(Taubman Centers Inc. beats hostile takeover bids)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely Taubman Centers Inc. never lost sight of its earnings and expansion goals, even at the height of its fight to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by Simon Property Group Inc. Taubman (NYSE: TCO) won the war last...

Bills would restart SBT rollback, add new tax credits.(News)(Michigan taxes)
October 13, 2003... On the eve of what could be another grim state revenue-estimating conference, there's no shortage of ideas on economic aids. The question is, should Michigan increase or decrease taxes? Halting the state's ongoing cut in its income-tax...

Art Van shoots to score with Yzerman, Ireland furniture lines.(Art Van Furniture Inc.'s exclusive furniture designs)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely Art Van Furniture Inc. has unveiled exclusive lines of furniture with Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman and former supermodel Kathy Ireland as a way to give the company's 29 stores additional star power. ...

Letters.('Queer Eye' stereotypes)
October 13, 2003... 'Queer Eye' plays to stereotypes Editor: By the tone of Katie Merx's Oct. 6 article ("Datebook: `Queer Eye' sets the record straight on guys,''), I'm sure you meant your "Queer Eye'' piece to be tongue in cheek, and I can appreciate...

The new front door; Hospitals pump millions into emergency rooms with a view toward increasing admissions.(Special Report)(Hospitals in Detroit expanding emergency rooms)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Hospitals throughout metro Detroit are expanding their emergency rooms to benefit from a booming business that's feeding patients and profits to other departments. By 2005, metro Detroit hospitals will have pumped...

GDX Automotive's parent looks to revive profits at local unit.(News)(GenCorp Inc. may sell its noncore business)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Sherri Begin GenCorp Inc. once again is cleaning house at its Farmington Hills-based GDX Automotive unit. If the price were right, the company probably would sell the noncore business, GenCorp CEO and President Terry Hall said...

Taking heart; Detroit doc's device may help stave off heart failure.(News)(left ventricular assist devices)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Laura Bailey After 32 years perfecting a device he hopes will revolutionize the way patients in the late stages of heart failure are treated, Detroit's Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz now has a good chance of selling it once it receives U.S....

Legal Aid plans to buy old Crain Communications HQ.(News)(downtown office building sold)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny One of Detroit's largest but least-known "law firms'' plans to buy a downtown building for its headquarters and move its nearly 90 lawyers and 70 support staff from offices in the Penobscot Building next year. ...

Business Diary.(Business)(SET Enterprises Inc. acquires Michigan Steel Processing Inc.)
October 13, 2003... acquisitions SET Enterprises Inc., a Warren metal processor, recently acquired Michigan Steel Processing Inc. of New Boston, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp. of America. In the transaction, Sumitomo and its parent company contributed the...

Macomb County projects.(News)(construction)
October 13, 2003... Macomb County projects High-profile projects planned or under construction: * Wolverine Golf Club. The course at 25 Mile and Romeo Plank roads in Macomb Township is slated for residential redevelopment by a group led by developers John...

Postal Service officials want site in Pontiac for $88M hub.(News)(U.S. Postal Service's new 950,000-square-foot distribution center)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich The U.S. Postal Service wants to build a 950,000-square-foot distribution center that could cost at least $88 million and lead to nearly 2,000 jobs in Pontiac. The fate of the Northeast Metro Michigan...

Blues' small-biz rates to rise 10% in 2004; Insurer cuts costs with lower commissions.(small business health costs rising)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is cutting costs internally, but premiums in Southeast Michigan still will increase an average of 10 percent for small-business customers in 2004. The increases for area-rated...

How far are you willing to drive to work?(Column)(workers' commute trips)
October 13, 2003... Byline: KEITYH CRAIN I have a friend who was living in the northwest suburbs, and he had to drive to Auburn Hills every day. Both ways. He told me that it took him well over two hours a day, closer to 21/2. Guess what? He moved a lot...

Hospitals adding observation units for ER patients.(Special Report)(emergency department improvements)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center opened a 16-bed observation unit for its emergency department this year to improve the Dearborn medical center's ability to treat patients and get reimbursed. It's something...

Anything but boring; CBS Boring draws big attention with new robotic system.(News)(CBS Boring gets major contract from Caterpillar)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Sometimes stress can be a powerful motivator. That's what CBS Boring & Machine Co. Inc. found out in late 1999 when it faced a big price-cut demand from a major customer, Caterpillar Inc., on a job it couldn't...

Deadline nears for best-managed nonprofits.(News)(annual competition )(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... The deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for applying for the annual Crain's Detroit Business "Best-Managed Nonprofit'' competition. The competition is open to 501(c)(3) organizations with at least one full-time staff member. Organizations must be...

Home grown in Macomb part 2; Longtime local developers reap benefits as growth roars ahead.(News)(success of large family-owned home builders)
October 13, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith Frank Munaco, sales manager with MJC Cos., said prices for key sites in Macomb are rising, resulting in a rise in unit costs and more challenges for smaller builders. "The biggest and most desirable sites are...

GlobeFinancial ad in Crain's was fraudulent.(News)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... A display advertisement on page 27 of Crain's Sept 29 issue apparently is part of a fraudulent solicitation for financial service and debt consolidation. The ad for a company calling itself GlobeFinancial lists a toll-free number that...

Pulte Homes fills vacant COO job.(News)(Steven Petruska named executive vice president and COO)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith Bloomfield Hills-based Pulte Homes Inc. (NYSE: PHM) named a new COO, a position that had been vacant. Steven Petruska was named executive vice president and COO, effective Jan. 1, 2004. He fills a position left...

Briefly.(Briefs)
October 20, 2003... Unisource Staffing becomes Viscon Staffing with new owners Auburn Hills-based Unisource Staffing Group L.L.C. became Viscon Staffing Group L.L.C. in August after a change in the company's ownership. Four partners founded Unisource...