Black Enterprise articles from April 2003

Black Enterprise archives from April 2003

Economic divide widens. (Web Features).(the net as a source of information)(Directory)
April 1, 2003... After reading our special report, "Economic Divide in America," visit blackenterprise.com for additional reports on minority homeownership, affirmative action and education, the gender gap and the glass ceiling, plus transcripts of interviews...

Last-minute tax filers. (Web Features).(Directory)
April 1, 2003... With the April 15 deadline to file your taxes quickly approaching, filing online can help you get it done fast with faster refunds than if you filed the traditional way. Visit our spotlight on taxes to learn how to get your taxes done on time...

Franchise solutions. (Web Tools).(Directory)
April 1, 2003... Have you been looking for the right business opportunities to fulfill those entrepreneurial dreams? Blackenter prise.com can help you find the industry that suits your talents. By using our free Franchise Finder, you can locate business...

Web columns.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... RESOURCE LINE Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at black enterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Lewis' column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding...

Free Microsoft Money. (Web Tools).(investments online)
April 1, 2003... ShareBuilder and blackenterprise.com are offering investors a unique and innovative way to invest for the long-term. Through blackenterprise.com's ShareBuilder, you can set up an online account to build your portfolio through automatic,...

What does winning really mean? (Publisher's Page).
April 1, 2003... Moses led his people to the promised land although he never set foot there himself. Similarly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that leading the Civil Rights Movement would prove triumphant, even as he accepted that he might not live to see it....

About this issue.
April 1, 2003... As you plan and execute your investment strategy for 2003, we offer this succinct advice: Don't panic. Yes, it's true that the stock market has fallen for a third consecutive year, the first time since 1939-1941 at the end of the Great...

Top 50 colleges. (Letters).
April 1, 2003... LET ME START BY COMMENDING YOU FOR not overly skewing the results of your top 50 colleges list toward historically black colleges and universities. While I support their existence, they are not necessarily the best choice for African Americans....

What about us? (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT YOU omitted the Georgia Institute of Technology from your list of "50 Best Colleges for African Americans." Georgia Tech is a recognized national leader in the production of minority scientists and engineers....

Supporting HBCUs. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR article "Support Our Colleges--Now!" (Publisher's Page, January 2003). As a graduate of Morris Brown College, I am appalled at the predicament that the institution is currently in. Poor money management,...

Looking forward. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... EVERY MONTH I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BLACK ENTERPRISE. Your magazine proves that blacks can have control over their finances. I have often bought copies of your magazine for my fraternity brothers and friends, to inspire them. You just...

Stimulus: take two: will President Bush's new plan boost the sluggish economy? (Washington Report).
April 1, 2003... It would be foolhardy to expect Democrats and Republicans to agree on how best to stimulate the nation's economy. So it came as no surprise that Democrats call President George W. Bush's jobs and growth package "class warfare," while...

A new rival for bet? Radio One, Comcast to launch black-oriented cable channel. (Business News).
April 1, 2003... Broadcast company Radio One Inc. and cable giant Comcast Corp. are joining forces to create what some insiders believe eventually become a legitimate contender to Black Entertainment Television's dominance of the African American TV market. ...

Musicians get vocal: coalition looking to fight for artists' rights. (Business News).
April 1, 2003... While the recording industry continues to reel from a sales slump caused by sluggish economic conditions and increased piracy, a new threat is emerging as an artist advocacy group looks to put the legal rights of artists--many of whom are...

Tom Joyner expands his REACH. (Newsbytes).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... * Radio personality Tom Joyner (pictured above) and network executive David Kantor have partnered to form REACH Media. The new multimedia company will target African Americans through radio, television, event production, and the Internet. ABC...

BE Investment Bank. (Newsbytes).(Williams Capital Management Trust launches Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... * Williams Capital Management Trust, which is owned by Williams Capital Group L.P. (No. 1 on the BE INVESTMENT BANK list with $196.2 million in total issues) reported that it launched its first mutual fund, Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund,...

Sengstacke Enterprises Inc., longtime owners of the Chicago Defender, the nation's lone black-owned daily newspaper, reached an agreement to sell the publication to Real Times Inc., a company headed by Sengstacke relative Thomas Picou. (Newsbytes).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... * Sengstacke Enterprises Inc., longtime owners of the Chicago Defender, the nation's lone black-owned daily newspaper, reached an agreement to sell the publication to Real Times Inc., a company headed by Sengstacke relative Thomas Picou....

Stock market forecast: blackenterprise.com readers predict long-term recovery, not convinced about economic stimulus plan. (Facts & Figures).
April 1, 2003... With mixed signals about the U.S. economy, a yo-yo stock market, a stagnant unemployment rate, new home sales surging to a record $1.1 million in December, and worries over a possible war with Iraq, it can be hard to tell what the future holds....

A dream of a home: the AmeriDream Charity gives the gift of down payments. (Real Estate Strategies).
April 1, 2003... Once Elgie and Gall Johnson could no longer bear the 45-minute commute from their home in Fort Worth, Texas, to his job as a tax consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and her job as a grants management specialist with the U.S. Department of...

Reviewing 22 stocks from 2002: our stock portfolios weathered a rough market to do quite well. (Investing).(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... At the beginning of 2002. BLACK ENTERPRISE sifted through large and small companies and chose two groups of stocks we hoped would weather the effects of a sagging economy. We tailored one portfolio to include value stocks, shares with bargain...

Contrary to popular opinion: in the stock market, Hamilton Lewis likes to take a different route. (Private Screening).(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... Houston money manager Hamilton Lewis doesn't necessarily advocate going with the crowd. Instead, he prefers to see what the majority of investors are doing and then to take an opposite tactic. The 19-year veteran of the markets, who started as...

Emerging markets hit the wall: Nathan Lewis' minority-owned or managed companies has setbacks. (Stock Update).(Equity Research Group at Atlanta-based Jackson Securities)
April 1, 2003... Following trends within the minority community was the focus of Nathan L. Lewis, head of the Equity Research Group at Atlanta-based Jackson Securities, when he offered stock selections in our Private Screening column last April. Lewis reasoned...

Choosing an advisor. (Ask B.E.).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q I would like to find information on how to select a financial advisor that is right for my needs. Can you help?--M. McCalla Via the Internet A BLACK ENTERPRISE addressed this issue last November in an article titled "Can You Trust Your...

Twin tailors: these brothers are designing their venture stitch by stitch. (Making It).( Ronald Delice and Rony Delice )
April 1, 2003... With a love of fashion kindled during their youth, twin brothers Ronald and Rony Delice are igniting the runways, and men's fashion, with their edgy designs. In 1997, the Haitian-born brothers founded Ron & Ron, a designer clothing and...

Federal agencies to dismantle contract bundling: President demands reform aimed at boosting competition among small businesses. (Small Business News).
April 1, 2003... For several years, small and minority-owned businesses have struggled to get their fair share of the federal procurement pie. One of the biggest obstacles is contract bundling, which combines several smaller contracts into one huge package...

Taking it to the streets: urban marketing firm benefits from rise in minority spending. (Making It).(Urban Marketing Corporation of America)
April 1, 2003... Carl Washington and Damon Haley saw the growing spending power of minority groups while working in corporate America. So they decided to take the entrepreneurial route and benefit from it. Formed in 1999 by the enterprising duo, Urban...

Business planning. (Savvy Solutions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q I want to start a business, and I know one of the first steps is the business plan. Can you tell me how long it should be, what kind of things should be included, and howl should get started?--J.G. Smith Via the Internet A Generally,...

When good hosts go bad: website down again? Here's how to avoid e-business nightmares. (E-Commerce).
April 1, 2003... In today's business world, an Internet presence is almost as important as having a phone line. But who do you trust to host your Website and ensure reliable uptime, scalability, and flexibility, and to change and update your site when needed?...

A need for speed: key chain drives pack power (and data) in a tiny form. (Inside Technology).(Disk-On-Key by M-Systems )
April 1, 2003... If time is money, there is good reason to consider hassle-free key chain drives, such as Disk-On-Key by M-Systems (www.diskonkey.com). The tiny drives go anywhere and store data like any hard drive, but the Flash-based technology means you no...

Too much money?(Microsoft's Money 2003 Deluxe)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 1, 2003... If you have the time and the inclination to tackle all aspects of your financial life, then Microsoft's Money 2003 Deluxe is the software for you. The hefty application (a 143MB install) is packed with features (some new) that let you do...

See me speak. (Cyberwise).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q The new camera phones are really hot. Do you think it's wise to invest in one? Is it really practical for business use?--L. Walker Houston A Although I'm generally wary of every new, cool gadget to hit the market (there are so many these...

Leading by direction, not dictation: a new role for today's mentor. (Making Connections).
April 1, 2003... In 1993, Berthenia A. Harmon left a lucrative position she held for six years as an accounting specialist at a New Jersey insurance firm to pursue a career in education. While studying for a master's degree in early childhood education at Kean...

How accountable? (Since You Asked ...).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q I am a first-year graduate student at Roosevelt University in Chicago, working on my master of science in accounting. Because of recent accounting scandals, is a career in accounting worth pursuing? If so, what are some of the top companies...

Guitar man: his instruments have resounding curves. (Career At A Glance).
April 1, 2003... While most children simply play with their toys. Sherwood T. "Woody" Phifer spent his childhood deconstructing them. By the age of 4, he was making his own Phifer built go-carts, bicycles, kites, and remote control glider planes. "If it was a...

Girl Scouts of the USA. (On The Move).(Cynthia Bramlett Thompson elected chair of National Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Cynthia Bramlett Thompson has been elected as the chair of the National Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of the USA, the highest volunteer position in the organization. Her participation with the Girl Scouts dates back more than 35 years....

A.T. Kearney. (On The Move).(Jeffery S. Perry elected vice president of management consulting)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Jeffery S. Perry has been elected vice president of management consulting firm A.T. Kearney in the firm's Chicago office. He is responsible for driving business development for mergers, acquisitions, and alliances as well as client delivery...

Intel. (On The Move).(Janice F. Wilkins appointed vice president of finance and enterprise services and director of internal audit)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Janice F. Wilkins was recently appointed vice president of finance and enterprise services and director of internal audit for Intel in Santa Clara, California. The company's first African American vice president, Wilkins is responsible for...

Fannie Mae. (On The Move).(Donald Remy elected senior vice president and deputy general counsel)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Donald Remy has been elected senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Fannie Mae, the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages. He is responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a...

Washington Gas Energy Services Inc. (On The Move).(Ransome E. Owan appointed director of regulatory and external affairs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Ransome E. Owan has been appointed director of regulatory and external affairs at Washington Gas Energy Services Inc. in Herndon, Virginia. He manages regulatory and legislative compliance relating to commodity retail sales to government,...

Convention calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2003... * 2003 DuSable Business Conference University of Chicago African American MBA Association April 12-13, 2003 Chicago 773-834-2533 http://gsbwww.chicagoedu/student/ aambaa/DBC/dbc.html * Marketing Opportunities in Business &...

This tax cut may pay dividends. (Black Wealth Initiative).
April 1, 2003... President George W. Bush is back for round two. His 2001 tax cut, which was intended to shore up the sagging economy, put money in the pockets of taxpayers in the form of tax rebates. The Bush administration's new stimulus plan offers...

Adopting a wealthy attitude: Robert Jones has embraced the idea of acquiring wealth. Now he must take concrete steps. (Family Finances).
April 1, 2003... ROBERT JONES, A 34-YEAR-OLD TAX AUDITOR FOR THE Cook County Department of Revenue in Chicago, is not unlike most young people who in their early work life spend money for immediate gratification--focusing more on wants than needs. He spent most...

Economic divide in America: read our series of blackenterprise.com reports examining key factors that affect African Americans' ability to build wealth. (Special Report).
April 1, 2003... EDUCATION Supreme Court ruling on University of Michigan case could impact education for years to come ON APRIL 1, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR arguments in one of the most significant cases this year as it relates to race...

Funds that rev up your portfolio: our list of 90 top-performing vehicles can help steer you to a promising financial future. (Mutual Fund Overview).
April 1, 2003... JUST WHEN MUTUAL FUND INVESTORS THOUGHT THAT THINGS COULDN'T get any worse--they did! In 2001, recession and terror attacks rocked the stock market, sending U.S. stock funds to double-digit losses. Large-company growth funds, the ones that led...

Fix your finances now! After three of the worst years for investors, we offer guidance from top financial advisors. (Investment Roundtable).
April 1, 2003... IF INVESTORS EVER NEEDED SOLID ADVICE, THEY NEED IT NOW. As the stock market careens toward a possible fourth consecutive year of negative returns, the responsibility of averting or diminishing further losses to your 401(k) statements and other...

April 2002: B.E. stock update. (Investment Roundtable).
April 1, 2003... Overcoming the third consecutive year of double-digit losses in the financial markets proved to be a difficult task for the two stock-pickers from last year's investment roundtable Charles Payne, founder of the New York City investment-advisory...

Managing your student loan debt: with the right approach, paying for college can be less of a burden. (Personal Finance).
April 1, 2003... IT'S NO SECRET THAT HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS ARE ON THE rise. Over the last two decades, the price of attending two- and four-year public and private colleges has grown more rapidly than inflation and family income. In fact, last year the average...

A special ride: how a car enthusiast drives with passion. (Automotive).
April 1, 2003... They can have any color they want, as long as it's black," was Henry T. Ford's response to requests for color variety in his Model T. Today, thanks to the growth of the automotive aftermarket industry, color is the least of the options...

Going through changes: face it: change is unavoidable. Take control of yourself so that the changes don't control you. (Attitude Enhancement).
April 1, 2003... George Alexander has just realized a dream that many share: He is a published author. He went on tour with his first book, Why We Make Movies: Black Filmmakers Talk About the Magic of Cinema (Broadway Harlem Moon; $15.95), earlier this year,...

A dream or a goal? (Help Yourself).(BLACK ENTERPRISE Wealth Building Kit)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q I have the reasons to save and invest, but lack the will power and resources to get and stay motivated. I have plans. I have dreams. I just don't have the motivational tools to achieve them. Can you help?--A. Taylor Via the Internet A I...

Smart traction: finding the best tires for your car. (Consumer Life).
April 1, 2003... Astonishingly, of the 800 million tires that roll daily to various destinations, 80 million are legally bald. Many more are underinflated or the wrong size, endangering lives every time they hit the road. Tires should be replaced according to...

Is it time to get serviced? Minding your checkups can save time, money, and your vehicle. (Secret Savings).
April 1, 2003... Dan Sam, a personal trainer and student who lives in Brooklyn, New York, knows firsthand how expensive car maintenance can be. "I had a 1988 Saab 9000 for three years, and when the transmission blew out, I paid almost as much to get it fixed as...

Car notes: Auto Website gives you more than quotes. (Priceless Resources).(www.autoinsuranceguru.com)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... www.autoinsuranceguru.com offers premium prices for car insurance, but even more useful is the information on comparison shopping. Auto Insurance Guru helps you shop for package deals, discern discount categories, and get higher deductibles. It...

Debt crisis. (Ask Your Advocate).
April 1, 2003... Q I'm a 22-year-old college student who has racked up almost $8,000 in credit card debt. I honestly have no way of paying these bills in a timely manner. Instead of filing for bankruptcy, I would tike to consolidate my bills with a consumer...

Quilt trip: a doctor's Rx is in cultural expression. (Personal Passions).
April 1, 2003... "Oh, my goodness, I've felt that way," exclaims an onlooker to "Bamboozled: Brothers in Corporate America," the 51.5-inch by 46.5-inch quilt montage of men's shirts accented with neckties, depicting images of the old darkie stereotypes of the...

Southern exposure: high style adventure in South Africa. (Travel Talk).
April 1, 2003... "Don't bother to hold on. There is nothing to hold on to, and there is nowhere to fall. We are going to do a bungee jump now!" bellows our helicopter pilot, Fred Viljoen, as he steers the small five-seater plane sideways between two mountain...

Hot to trot. (The Finer Things).(Saleen-bonspeed Edition Thunderbird)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... April showers reign on performance, style, and thunder as Steve Saleen and Ford introduce the Saleen-bonspeed Edition Thunderbird this spring. Sporting 19-inch front and rear forged alloy wheels and fitted with Pirelli's high-performance P Zero...

Reality check. (The Finer Things).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A virtual high-performance supercar, this mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-passenger baby was conceived in cyberspace, birthed as the first street-legal composite car, and christened in Daytona, Florida, in February 2001. The Photon takes the...

Power structure. (The Finer Things).(V12 Vanquish)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The V12 Vanquish, specially designed for Aston Martin, has twin paddles mounted on the steering panel to facilitate instant gear changes and control its six-speed manual transmission. Available as a two- or four-seater, each car is hand-built...

New York International Auto Show. (What's Happening).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... * Whether it's the 2004 Cadillac SRX, a sneak peek at the 2005 Aston Martin AMV8 Vantage, the myriad of concept cars, or increasingly popular hybrids, the New York International Auto Show is sure to rev excitement for any car enthusiast....

Wild Wheels: Art for the Road. (What's Happening).
April 1, 2003... * On the other coast, car buffs can revel in nostalgia and delve in extreme expressionism through two auto exhibits at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Wild Wheels: Art for the Road, currently running through May 26, features...

Kustoms with a "K". (What's Happening).(classic era of the car customization movement exhibit)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... * Kustoms with a "K" explores the evolution of the classic era of the car customization movement that began in the late 1940s and sparked a decade-long styling revolution. The exhibition runs through April 13 and features many of the eras most...

Planning your strategies: the moves you make determine your destiny. (Entrepreneurs Conference).
April 1, 2003... BLACK ENTERPRISE has always prided itself on helping black entrepreneurs and professionals network, often turning brief associations and contacts into valuable contracts that can mean the difference between a business remaining stagnant or...

Back to the East side. (Extra Options).
April 1, 2003... Join us as we celebrate our 10th annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2003. We return to the magnificent Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, where a networking bonanza, fine cuisine, and old-fashioned fun among...

Additional copies available. (Extra Options).
April 1, 2003... The latest issue of BE's Teenpreneur appeared in our March 2003 issue, and as always we received numerous e-mails and phone calls inquiring about the next edition. If you know someone who is interested in purchasing additional copies, call...

Cutting edge of technology. (Our Next Order Of Business).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Who are the innovators leading the next tech revolution? Check out the next issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE, our business technology special, for a report on the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and professionals who will change the...