Black Enterprise articles from April 2004

Black Enterprise archives from April 2004

Your two cents.(Web Features)(filing the taxes is difficult, survey reports)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... YOUR TWO CENTS We asked 390 blackenterprise.com readers what they think is the most difficult part of filing their taxes. Here's what they had to say. Getting paperwork together (154) 39% ...

Last-minute tax filers.(Web Features)
April 1, 2004... With the April 15 deadline for filing your taxes fast approaching, filing online can help you get it done fast and get you faster refunds. Visit our spotlight on taxes to learn how to get yours done on time via mail or online....

Financial empowerment series.(Web Features)
April 1, 2004... Let BLACK ENTERPRISE show you how one evening can jump-start a lifetime of security and prosperity. Go to www.blackenterprise.com/fes for details.

Web tools.(blackenterprise.com)
April 1, 2004... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/franchise finder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today! GET $25 WHEN YOU INVEST www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney Sharebuilder and...

Resource line.(Web Columns)
April 1, 2004... Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs; you can find advice at blackenterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Latif Lewis' column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding investors....

Web highlights.(Web Columns)
April 1, 2004... JOB SEARCH Give yourself a free career makeover using our online job search. B.E. NOW ON TV AND RADIO Look for streaming video and audio clips from our latest business news ventures. HOMEOWNERSHIP Find out the steps you need to take to...

Threatened by those sworn to protect.(publisher's page)
April 1, 2004... February 4, 1999: West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is felled by a shower of 41 bullets fired by four New York City police officers. April 7, 2001: 19-year-old Timothy Thomas is killed by Cincinnati police officer Stephen Roach. July 5,...

Taking diversity for a spin around the track.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing needs to recruit black drivers)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... Why is diversity a big deal to Brian France, chairman and CEO of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing? In the 55-year history of this Southern sport--with its good ol' boys fan club and confederate-flag-waving members--we can't...

Profiles of encouragement.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... The January 2004 issue cover photo and article "Profiles in "Courage" were great. Zola Mashariki is the child of one of my friends, and she has been a scholar for as long as I have known here [since she was in day care]. She and my daughter...

Family reunions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I JUST RECEIVED MY JANUARY 2004 ISSUE OF BE, AND I WAS SO greatly touched by "Profiles in Courage" that I just had to write about it. I am a 31-year-old, African American, single mom. I won't say that I am a victim of today's economy,...

Leadership in adversity.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... Lloyd Ward: villain or victim? The answer this question is pretty simple: victim. Over the years, I have followed what seems to be an impeccable career of Lloyd Ward. In the public eye, he has represented himself as an effective titan...

'Dartmouth's finest'.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I WRITE TODAY TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A FINE PIECE IN THE "PROFILES in Courage" pages [January 2004]. I am not personally acquainted (yet) with Zola Mashariki, but she is well-known in these parts as a prominent Dartmouth alumna. The...

Stopping a killer.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... YOUR ARTICLE "SUGAR BLUES" IN THE EXECUTIVE HEALTH GUIDE OF THE January 2004 issue was right on. Like Kevin A. Pemberton, who was featured in the piece, this past summer I exhibited all the symptoms he shared: headaches, extreme fatigue, and...

An awesome tool.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... IN SUPPORT OF A MAGAZINE fundraiser for my daughter's school, I subscribed to BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine. I had never actually read every article in any magazine until I picked up BE. The information in Moneywise has been very helpful for me...

New chief in charge.(Newsbytes)(Ed Welburn was named new vice president of General Motors)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Taking General Motors to the next level of creating compelling cars and trucks is the charge of Ed Welburn, GM's new vice president of design. The 53-year-old Welburn is the sixth person in GM's 95-year history to hold the position--and the...

Michael Lee-Chin buys merchant bank.(AIC Ltd. acquires Total Finance of Trinidad & Tobago)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, chief executive officer of AIC Ltd., Canada's 13th largest mutual fund company, acquired a merchant bank in Trinidad & Tobago--Total Finance--as he continues to deepen his investments in the region. His Canadian...

'L.A.' Reid ousted by Arista, signed by Def Jam.(Antonio 'L.A.' Reid is being fired by Arista Records)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, the A-list record producer behind Usher, TLC, and Toni Braxton, has been ousted by Arista Records. Parent company BMG's pending merger with rival Sony Music, plus Arista's $100 million losses last year, are thought to be...

Chisholm-Mingo struggles to survive.(Chisholm-Mingo Group Inc.)
April 1, 2004... One of a few large wholly African American-owned ad firms, Chishlom-Mingo Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last fall. Industry experts are now saying that poor management plus the inability of the New York City-based firm (No. 5 on...

GM & B.E. form partnership.(Business News)(General Motors Corp., Black Enterprise)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... General Motors is the title sponsor of the ninth annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, to be held May 12-16, 2004, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas The sponsorship marks the first time the world's largest vehicle manufacturer...

James Bell is Boeing's top numbers guy.(Newsmakers)(african american executives)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The outlook on black executives at the helm of top U.S. businesses remains bleak. However, things are looking up with the appointment of James A. Bell as CFO of Boeing, the $50 billion aerospace company. Bell had been acting CFO since Nov. 24,...

New addition to top black corporate executives.(News points: deals, trends and people)(Oracle Corp. promoted Charles Phillips as the co-president)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... BLACK ENTERPRISE black "digerati" Charles Phillips was promoted to share the position of co-president of Oracle Corp., along with fellow former vice president Safra A. Catz The announcement came after Lawrence J. Ellison stepped down as...

NFL looks promising for black coaches.(Sports News)(National Football League)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Recent hires in the NFL have Drought the number of black coaches to a record five, St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith was hired by the Chicago Bears, and the Arizona Cardinals tapped ex-Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green, They...

Serena Williams aces Nike deal worth approximately $40 million.(Sports News)(the highest-paid female athletes in the world after the deal)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Serena Williams aces Nike deal worth approximately $40 million. The five-year endorsement deal makes the tennis star one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world. Incentives and promotions, as well as a contract extension, could push...

Three-time Grand Slam tennis champion and Wimbledon finalist Zina Garrison was appointed Captain of the Fed Cup, the first African American to hold that title in the organization's 40-year history.(Sports News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Three-time Grand Slam tennis champion and Wimbledon finalist Zina Garrison was appointed Captain of the Fed Cup, the first African American to hold that title in the organization's 40-year history. The Fed Cup is the premier women's...

My home, my legacy: African Americans are committed to making the dream of homeownership come true for future generations.(Facts & Figures)
April 1, 2004... Minority homeowners are more eager for their children to own their own homes than non-minority homeowners. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Sears, Roebuck & Co., 85% of minority homeowners say thin compared 61% of non-minorities....

Are health savings accounts in your future? New Medicare law offers more than just drug benefits.(One For Your Money)
April 1, 2004... When Congress passed a law that included major new changes to Medicare last November, headlines proclaimed that the federal health insurance program for people over 65 would provide prescription drug coverage for the first time. In truth, the...

Waiting for profits to improve: Dennis Hinton of The Resource Group says a good balance sheet and cash on hand are key for growth.(Private Screening)
April 1, 2004... When D. Dennis Hinton select stocks for his clients, he looks for companies on the brink of a brink of a turnaround that have a good balance sheet and cash on hand. Hinton is the chief money manager and executive vice president of The...

A rebound to riches: Hamilton Lewis' portfolio of downtrodden stocks gained a stellar 86%.(Stock Update)
April 1, 2004... Hamilton Lewis prides himself on his ability to select companies that are ready to rebound after having been temporarily punished by the market. The owner of Houston-based Hamilton Lewis Capital Management says buying stocks at a discount is...

How to build your portfolio: learn how three primary asset classes fit together to boost your wealth in today's environment.(Book Excerpt)
April 1, 2004... On the markets seem to be swirling, murky, and uncharted waters. Tides rise and fall; fortunes are made and are lost. Dangers--your icebergs, sharks, and typhoons--lurk about ready to wreck your investment boat and send your savings to the...

Balancing risk and reward: the B&S Investment Club uses market professionals to better understand risk.(B&S Private Equity Group Ltd.,)
April 1, 2004... Every other month, the Detroit-based B&S Investment Club (B&S stands for Brothers and Sisters) hosts a member of the financial community at its meeting. Club president Darrin Flowers says interfacing with representatives of the financial...

Education tax deductions.(Ask B.E.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Does the IRS allow parents to deduct their dependents' tuition and any related expenses if they attend parochial school? --P. Briggs Millburn, NJ Unfortunately, the answer to your question has a few conditions. According to the IRS....

Pumping up portfolios: how one entrepreneur helps clients stay fiscally fit.(Arthur Wylie Wealth Management Group)
April 1, 2004... Arthur Wylie's passion for investing started in college, when he discovered that he not only enjoyed, but had a knack for trading stocks. It was not long before Wylie transformed his fascination with the stock market into a thriving business...

SBA raises set-aside limits: but is the increased threshold good for black business?(Small Business Administration)
April 1, 2004... More companies in the services sector can now qualify for government set-asides and other forms of aid, according to the Small Business Administration. While the agency recently raised the ceiling for companies in the facilities support...

Joining forces: these two entrepreneurs teamed up to build a trucking firm.(Making It)(Ashley Grant, Ricky Warren )
April 1, 2004... When Ashley Grant and Ricky Warren first contemplated opening their own trucking company, they already knew the ups and downs of the business. For one thing, start-up costs are expensive and competition stiff. Notwithstanding, the two friends...

Fashion-forward funding.(Savvy Solutions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I am a budding designer, specializing in high fashion for plus-sized girls/women I want to launch my own line next year. I have a business plan, but I need startup money--approximately $25,000. rye thought of trying to get personal investors,...

When good PCs go bad: CEO finds lucrative market in retiring old computers.(Stampp Corbin, Chief Executive Officer, RetroBox)
April 1, 2004... While some technology companies focus on selling the latest, cutting edge products, one Columbus, Ohio, firm has found sweet success by concentrating on the tail end of a PCs life cycle. RetroBox, founded in 1997 by Stampp Corbin, helps Fortune...

Mind your money: getting the most out of financial-management software.(Intuit's Quicken Premier 2004, Microsoft Money 2004 Premium)
April 1, 2004... Most people don't start a cross-country trip without a map, but they'll do just that with their finances. It's much easier to steer toward a positive financial destiny if you grab control of your finances, watch where you're going, and follow a...

Connect from afar: now you can have your own tech geek at your fingertips.(Windows XP Remote Assistance)
April 1, 2004... Every office has its Alpha Geek. He may be just one important program ahead of the pack--or he maybe able to write his own. With the range of skill levels in any office, some employees are already helping others via lengthy e-mail exchanges or...

A new tradition.(Cyberwise)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I have always wanted to be a writer, and I have worked hard to write a book. I heard that there are some sites that encourage writers to publish their work without paying huge sums of money up front. Do you know of any such publishing houses?...

But can he count? Make sure your CFO is a money guy.(Career News, Chief financial officer)
April 1, 2004... Chief financial officers and other top executives have been front and center in the recent media coverage of corporate scandals. The fallout, which shook investor confidence, caused the SEC to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires...

Frankly speaking.(Since You Asked)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I am ready to follow my dream of becoming a professional motivational speaker. I have no clue how I should begin. I recently joined a Toastmasters club and am considering joining a national speaking association. --M. Davis Via the...

Morrison & Foerster.(On the Move)(appointed Sherri N. Blount and her husband Edward W. Gray Jr.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 1 Sherri N. Blount, with her husband Edward W. Gray Jr. (listed below), has recently joined the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Morrison & Foerster as a partner in the intellectual property specialty area, Blount is the former vice...

Edward W. Gray Jr., with his wife Sherri N. Blount (listed above), has also joined the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Morrison & Foerster as a partner in the specialty area of intellectual property.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 2 Edward W. Gray Jr., with his wife Sherri N. Blount (listed above), has also joined the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Morrison & Foerster as a partner in the specialty area of intellectual property. Gray is currently general counsel for...

HBO.(On the Move)(appointed Olivia Smashum as the new executive vice president of Home Box Office)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 3 Olivia Smashum is the new executive vice president of affiliate marketing at HBO, making her the highest-ranking African American for the company. She will oversee all HBO and Cinemax acquisition and retention, marketing and market research...

Charter Communications Inc.(On the Move)(appointed Joiava "Joy" Philpott )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 4 Joiava "Joy" Philpott has been appointed to corporate vice president of government affairs and franchise relations for Charter Communications Inc. in St. Louis. Philpott's responsibilities include overseeing state and local government...

California Black Chamber of Commerce.(On the Move)(Aubry L. Stone has been appointed as economic development officer of state)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 5 Aubry L. Stone has been recently appointed to serve as California's state commissioner for economic development. Stone along with 16 other statewide commissioners, is responsible for economic growth and development in all aspects Of...

Convention calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2004... African American HBA Association University of Chicago April 2-3, 2004, Chicago, IL; 773-643-6805; www.chicagogsbaambaa.org National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) April 3-7, 2004; Philadelphia, PA; 202-408-9300;...

Entrepreneurship through homeownership: Kara Turner used real estate as a foundation for her business.(Black Wealth Initiative)
April 1, 2004... FIVE YEARS AGO, KARA TURNER HAD to sell her home, "I loved the house," she says, "but I needed the money for my day care business, So I moved in with my mom." But not for long. Two years after selling her $150,000 home, the 34-year-old...

Taking saving to the next level: Tisca Dorsey is learning how to put investment knowledge to practical use.(Financial Black Fitness Enterprise Contest Winner No. 46)
April 1, 2004... For the past few years, Tisca Dorsey has been doing the right thing--becoming a well-informed and educated investor. In 1999, Dorsey started schooling herself about money management. Now looking to grow her assets, she has been researching...

Preserving your portfolio: our panel of expert money managers shows you how to make sure your earnings from the current market rebound don't get washed away.(Investment Roundtable)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... IT SEEMS ALMOST EVERYONE HAS BENEFITED FROM THE LONG-AWAITED RECOVERY THAT PROPELLED THE ADVANCE OF THE FINANCIAL MARKETS IN 2003. THE 28.28% RETURNS LOGGED BY THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE AND THE 50.01% RETURNS OF THE NASDAQ MARKET INDEX...

Caught in a storm: Black Enterprise offers 90 selections that might be a silver lining in the dark clouds of the recent mutual fund scandals.(Mutual Fund Overview)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... On the surface, 2003 was an excellent year for mutual funds. Virtually every fund category posted gains--the first time that's happened since 1996. The fund categories that held the most money (those emphasizing large-cap domestic stocks)...

Building a bridge to college financing: with college costs rising out of control and financial markets in turmoil, 529 plans can save the day--if managed properly.(Investing)(Selecting appropriate plan)(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... Three years ago, Robin Walker didn't have any money invested to cover either of her children's post-secondary school costs. While the legal secretary made a reasonable salary, she knew she wouldn't, be able to send daughter Sheriden and son...

Let's make a deal: everything is negotiable when buying a new car.(Auto Buying Guide)
April 1, 2004... Buying a car is never easy. Any given car usually has three or four worthy competitors offering similar performance and features at close to the same cost. Doing the research, in magazines or online, takes time. Choosing a dealer, working out...

The new face of NASCAR: race, money, and politics, in motor sports' fast lane.(Special Report)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... On a warm but breezy morning in Florida, Bill Lester is surrounded by a flurry of activity. Although it's the middle of winter, the 80-degree weather promises for a good day at the track. Standing amid an array of tires, tools, and oil...

Slow down--or life will catch up to you: curtailing stress before it leads to physical illness.(Attitude Enhancement)
April 1, 2004... Losing sleep was a small price to pay for becoming a successful filmmaker, Tchaiko Omawale reasoned, but her body soon taught her otherwise. "I always got myself into doing more work than I needed to." says the 26-year-old, who ran an AIDS...

B.E.'s successpert speaks.(Motivation: your guide to maximizing your most valuable asset--yourself)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Approximately 19 million American adults suffer from an anxiety disorder. "Telltale signs that things are going awry are still in the physical arena," says E. Carol Webster, Ph.D., psychologist and author of Success Management: How to Get to...

It's nothin' but a number: if you don't mind your age, it won't matter.(Common Ground)
April 1, 2004... "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you really are?"--Leroy "Satchel" Paige I was in a store recently when I heard a crash, followed by a loud, miserable wail. I turned and saw a boy of maybe 10 straggling to his feet,...

A poet's lament.(Help Yourself)(Poetry Publishing)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I have been searching the Web to find potential publishers of poetry. Most publishers don't accept unsolicited work. Most require literary agents. In my quest to have my poetry published, I am finding it difficult getting started. Can you help?...

Make it happen: how two icons realized their mission--and their dream.(Guts & Glory)(Biography)
April 1, 2004... What makes the best successful? How do they ultimately reach their goals? That's what we asked Spike Lee, the provocative, award-winning filmmaker of such classics as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, and Elaine Jones, the former president and...

Get used to it: gaining value from certified pre-owned vehicles.(Consumer Life)
April 1, 2004... Donald Byrd was all set to buy a brand-new luxury SUM when he stepped onto the lot of Baranco Lincoln-Mercury car dealership in Duluth, Georgia, last May. After viewing all of the hot rods, he caught sight of a sweet, champagne-colored 2000...

Don't let the dealer rip you off! Automobile scams to avoid.(Buyer Beware)
April 1, 2004... Did you, hear the one about the woman who was all set to buy the fully loaded 2002 Kia Optima? Turns out, within three days of making a commitment to buy, the sales guy calls her co say, "You have to get down here quick because someone else is...

Car insurance.(Ask Your Advocate)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... My car insurance has doubled over the past few years: The company says the state has allowed it to raise the rate. I'm fed up with the high cost of insurance. Where can I find information to help me choose a new carrier? --Via the Internet...

Paper mates: Valerian Butler Smith III on the write way.(The Enthusiast)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Letter writing today seems to be a dying communication and art form, but not for investment banker Valerian Butler Smith III. He has kept the tradition of written correspondence to family, close friends, and associates for more than 25 years....

New Orleans' spice: Leah Webber knows the city's hot spots.(City Profiles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... There's more to New Orleans than jazz music. sumptuous Creole/Cajun cuisine, and Mardi Gras. This subtropical city is also home to a variety of museums, more than 30,000 national historic sites, and the largest collection of mature live oaks in...

Around town.(New Orleans: tourism promotion)
April 1, 2004... ACCOMMODATIONS * The Windsor Court Hotel (300 Gravier St.; 504-523-6000) offers English decor and ambience and excellent business amenities, such as specially arranged golf, hunting, and fishing outings, The Grill Room is popular for...

Style-eyes: Tonya Salvant changes glasses in a blink.(In Fashion)
April 1, 2004... "I'd study all night but look fashionable in the day. I'd wear the big Jackie O. glasses to hide the bags under my eyes," muses Tonya Salvant about her law school tenure. But she believes her love affair with eyewear began with her mother....

Exploring winning strategies: upcoming conference helps take your business to the next level.(Entrepreneurs Conference)
April 1, 2004... For close to 35 years, Earl G. Graves Sr. and his dedicated team at BLACK ENTERPRISE have served as a valuable source of business news and information for both aspiring entrepreneurs and veteran professionals. We've made it our obligation to...

Using technology to build a better mousetrap.(Publishing next month)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Next month we will look at the business of technology and how business owners, including a few CEOs from our BE 100S companies, are employing it effectively in three areas. In one feature, we provide a glimpse of where these technologies can...