Black Enterprise articles from August 2004

Black Enterprise archives from August 2004

Open the door to your new home.(Web Features)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... No matter your homeownership goal (to be a first-time buyer, trade up, refinance, of purchase an investment property), we have the keys to open the door to your new property. Our revamped homeownership section provides the knowledge and...

Back to school.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A recent federal study shows that in the last decade, the number of students who borrowed money to cover rising tuition costs rose from 30% to 45%. This greater reliance on loans means students will graduate with higher debt. Learn how you can...

Web tools.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder 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)(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Whatever your professional of 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 highlight.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
August 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...

A picture of black entrepreneurship?(publisher's page)(Soul Plane and stereotypes of African Americans)
August 1, 2004... Nashawn Wade, the protagonist played by actor Kevin Hart in the MGM/United Artists film Soul Plane, says, "I'm an entrepreneur. I'm going to do something I can be proud off." Unfortunately, that sentiment is the only thing in the film that...

BWI reaches a milestone: 50 winners and $100,000.(About This Issue)(Black Wealth Initiative)(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... Nearly five years ago, we embarked on an ambitious plan to make building wealth one of our legacies. The platform we created to accomplish this mission is the BLACK ENTERPRISE Black Wealth Initiative. We kicked off the 21st century with an...

Omarosa's agenda.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Omarosa [Manigault-Stallworth] didn't enter the apprentice contest to show her leadership skills. She entered the contest to show off her star and diva qualities. Omarosa was a master of achieving her agenda and goals. Omarosa showed...

Great job!(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... WHAT AN EXCELLENT ANALYSIS and summary of The Apprentice by Editor-in-Chief Alfred A. Edmond Jr. in your May 2004 issue ["Make-or-Break Leadership Lessons From The Apprentice"]. After reading it, I felt proud to be a subscriber to BLACK...

You're fired!(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE B.E. JUMP ON BOARD THE TRUMP TRAIN IN THE May 2004 issue. The article "Make-or-Break Leadership Lessons From The Apprentice" paints Omarosa [Manigault-Stallworth] with a negative brush. As an African American woman, I am...

Home is where the wealth is.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I am a 20-year veteran in the real estate market, and I am always impressed with your articles about purchasing or selling a home ["Using Real Estate to Build Wealth," March 2004]. Also, your mortgage information is excellent. As a Century...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... The footnote on the BE ASSET MANAGERS list and the BE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS list, appearing in our June 2004 issue, should have read: "in millions of dollars to the nearest thousand." And the reference to Ariel Capital Management should have...

Racing for sponsorship.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... LET ME COMMEND YOU ON YOUR ARTICLE ON BILL LESTER, NASCAR, and the trials and tribulations of other minority racers ["The New Face of NASCAR," April 2004]. Your article truly characterizes NASCAR's attempts to diversify the sport from our...

Burrell CEO steps down: succession plan will help maintain the vision of this pioneer's advertising firm.(B.E. 100S)
August 1, 2004... Early in his career, Thomas J. Burrell set out to create an advertising firm that exploded myths about black culture, buying power, and brainpower. Now, after helping to redefine the industry and garnering clients like Bacardi, Verizon, Sears,...

What's brewing at Starbucks?(National News)
August 1, 2004... Sipping coffee while enjoying stimulating conversation, reading a good book, or just plain relaxing has been a coffeehouse tradition for years. These days, music is being added to the mix, and one of the nation's most recognizable coffee brands...

A failing grade for No Child Left Behind: is President Bush's key domestic program living up to the promise of better education?(Washington Report)
August 1, 2004... School systems have been scrambling to produce results ever since 2001, when Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. NCLB, designed to provide more public education funding to help disadvantaged children with reading math, and other basic...

Coke loses top black executive and general counsel.(Newsbytes)
August 1, 2004... After challenging three years at The Coca Cola Co., where he directed the soft drink giant's worldwide legal affairs, Deval Patrick is stepping down. As executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, the Harvard College...

Pioneering black ad agency closes doors forever.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Ending 27 years of operation as one of the nation's leading African American-owned advertising agencies, the Chisholm-Mingo Group Inc. has folded. The decision to close made by 61-year-old Chairman and CEO Samuel Chisholm, came five months...

John Deere named in discrimination suit: former employee alleges that his application to buy two shops was unfairly rejected.(Business News)
August 1, 2004... Kenny Edwards Understands that business ownership is key to building wealth. That's why, after spending 30 years as a John Deere employee, Edwards, 57, set out to fulfill his dream of owning a John Deere dealership. Instead, he faced his worst...

Soap opera star takes up legislative fight for foster care reform.(Newsmaker)
August 1, 2004... It's not until the news reports that a child has died or been rescued from an abusive home that attention is drawn to the plight of the 542,000 young people in the U.S. foster care system. Roughly 38% of those children are African American,...

Rev. Al Sharpton signs on with CNBC.(National News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton is joining CNBC as a political commentator. He is expected to provide network coverage on the upcoming Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Sharpton will share...

Almost five decades after Emmett Till's racially motivated killing.(National News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Almost five decades after Emmett Till's racially motivated killing, the Justice Department is reopening the case. The announcement by the office of the assistant attorney general for civil rights came following a long campaign waged by the...

Alphonse "Buddy" Fletcher Jr., a BE Wall Street All-Star, is donating $50 million.(National News)(fellowships for African American students )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Alphonse "Buddy" Fletcher Jr., a BE Wall Street All-Star, is donating $50 million to further the cause of African American students. The chairman of New York-based Fletcher Asset Management plans to award 50 fellowships in the amount of $50,000...

Black women a key vote in election 2004? This bloc is poised to play a decisive role on Election Day.(Facts & Figures)
August 1, 2004... Women are likely to cast the majority of black votes that John Kerry is expected to receive this November. In the 2000 presidential election. 94% of black women voted Democratic, making them "the single Strongest group in the country," says...

Managing without Medicare: with experts projecting bankruptcy by 2019, how will you handle future medical expenses?(Special Report)
August 1, 2004... Lorna Huie, a 49-year-old business analyst, is worried that Medicare will run out by the time she turns 65. According to a government report issued in March, Medicare trustees say that the program has "deteriorated significantly" and that funds...

Offensive and defensive stock picking: Walt Clark of Clark Capital Financial sets his game plan to outperform the market.(Private Screening)
August 1, 2004... Like other money managers who analyze stock market cycles, Walt L. Clark, president and CEO of Clark Capital Financial L.L.C. in Columbia, Maryland, has his own method for picking stocks: He classifies companies as either offensive or...

A focus on firm profits: keeping a keen eye out for companies with the potential to grow quickly paid off for Trevon Hunt.(Stock Update)
August 1, 2004... Trevon Hunt, a former adviser for the Chicago stock market firm Zacks Investment Research, was right on target with the stock selections he offered us in the August 2003 issue of stack ENTERPRISE. The firm's strategy--to invest in companies...

Big returns in the smallest packages: micro-cap funds can produce an oversized payoff for investors.(Mutual Fund Focus)
August 1, 2004... Over the years, stocks have been great investments. Ibbotson Associates in Chicago calculates that $1 invested in large company stocks at the end of 1925 would have grown to $2,284.79 by the end of 2003, assuming that no taxes were levied and...

Investing to maintain a lifestyle: Jerone Buchanan hopes to buy a home, secure her retirement, and travel the globe.(Investment Strategies)
August 1, 2004... When she immigrated to the United States from the Caribbean island of Anguilla in the 1980s, Jerone Buchanan was determined to gain financial independence. She pursued a career as a nurse and eventually elevated herself to assistant director of...

What about debt management?(Ask B.E.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q What is your opinion of debt management programs? What are the pros and cons? --K. Smith Via the Internet A Entering a debt management program is a serious decision, and I think it should be viewed as a very last resort....

The buddy system: these longtime friends formed a growing CPA firm.(Making It)(Alyssia Benford-Lee, Katrina Bumpers, Timothy Watson)(Benford Brown & Associates L.L.C.)
August 1, 2004... Friendship is the glue that binds Benford Brown & Associates L.L.C. Alyssia Benford-Lee, Katrina Bumpers, and Timothy Watson met while attending Florida A&M University and had known each other since 1988. So there was a high level of trust when...

The urge to merge: more small to mid-sized companies consider M&A as a growth strategy.(Management Advice)
August 1, 2004... In a June 2003 Trendsetter Barometer survey of more than 400 CEOs of high-growth firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that of the CEOs who planned to implement special initiatives to generate new business growth, 20% planned to use mergers...

For the love of the game: how one woman scores in the sports entertainment industry.(Making It)(Cydni Bickerstaff)(Biography)
August 1, 2004... Cydni Bickerstaff is no rookie to the sports arena. As the daughter of veteran NBA head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, currently with the Charlotte Bobcats, she grew up surrounded by athletes. As an adult, she combined her affinity for professional...

House passes healthcare bills: will the Senate sign off on AHPs before Election Day?(Small Business News)(Association Health Plans)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation by a 252-162 margin in May that would create Association Health Plans (AHPs) for small businesses. While President George W. Bush's camp would want to see the Senate pass the legislation...

Self-publishing for profit.(Savvy Solutions)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q I'm interested in self-publishing a children's book. What are some good sources of information? --D. Moore Via the Internet A In traditional publishing, the publisher screens books for quality and marketability and invests in...

Business on her own terms: this entrepreneur works hard to create a company with a conscience.(Black Digerati)(Faye Coleman)(Biography)
August 1, 2004... Faye Coleman throws herself into everything she does--including her business. As president and CEO of Silver Spring, Maryland-based Westover Consultants Inc., Coleman leverages technology to handle an impressive lineup of projects for...

Finding God online: churches tap into the Internet to reach congregants.(Tech News)
August 1, 2004... Don't feel like getting out of bed to attend church? Can't reach the church secretary to get a tithing receipt for your tax deduction? No problem. By implementing online technologies and adding Websites to their offerings, many churches are...

Smart tech solutions for small businesses: cutting costs doesn't have to mean cutting corners.(On The Shelf)(Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses)(Book Review)
August 1, 2004... Is your small business in need of a big tech makeover? Are you thinking about starting your own company but are unsure of which tools you will need? If so, you might find some answers in Ramon Ray's Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses...

Can you hear me yet?(Cyberwise)(Internet telephony)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q I have a small company and I'm looking for an inexpensive (not cheap) way to handle my telephone system. I know that there are companies that let you use the Web for phone services, but I remember that the quality of the calls weren't always...

Cruise control: yacht captain charts luxury liners.(Career At A Glance)(David Linnear)(Biography)
August 1, 2004... With long locks pulled back from his face, David Linnear admits he doesn't fit the stereotype of a yacht captain. But he lets his stellar boating credentials, which include stints with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, speak for him. Linnear...

Past the prestige: what career options does your Ph.D. offer?(Making Connections)
August 1, 2004... Twenty-two years ago, Debra Banks, then director of career services at Chicago State University and a year shy of completing her doctoral course work, accepted an offer to work for First Chicago as a college recruiter. Today she is vice...

Your home is your financial base. Lay a foundation for wealth building: come to Wells Fargo for your Home Mortgage or Home Equity loan.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Every home is different. Every family is unique. That's why our home mortgage consultants and personal bankers will recommend a home mortgage or equity loan that's particularly right for you. We have a variety of loans with features and...

Relocation tools: what you need to know about moving to a new town.(Making Connections)
August 1, 2004... The promotion you wanted will now take you halfway across the country. Or maybe you've decided to embark on a career opportunity in another country. Moving to a new environment presents a number of challenges: How will your children adjust to...

Pay checks.(Since You Asked)(salary information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q When searching for a job, how do you find out salary information such as pay relative to other positions within the organization? Or salaries comparable to positions in other organizations? I know how to determine how much money I must have...

United Way of America.(On The Move)(Johnnetta Cole appointed board chair of United Way)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... 1 Johnnetta Cole is the newly appointed board chair of United Way of America in Tampa, Florida. She is the first African American to hold this position. Her duties will be to push high standards of integrity and performance while maximizing the...

New York Stock Exchange.(On The Move)(Robert A. Marchman named senior vice president in the regulation group)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... 2 Robert A. Marchman has been promoted to senior vice president in the regulation group at the New York Stock Exchange. He will be responsible for coordinating and directing investigations and litigations, as well as contributing to enforcement...

Deloitte & Touche L.L.P.(On The Move)(Byron O. Spruell named national leader of the Business Insurance Consulting group)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... 3 Byron O. Spruell has been named national leader of the Business Insurance Consulting group for Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. The division is the oldest and largest insurance coverage unit of the four major professional services firm. Spruell, who...

Verizon.(On The Move)(Howard Woolley appointed senior vice president, wireless public policy and government relations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... 4 Howard Woolley is the new senior vice president, wireless public policy and government relations, for Verizon in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the public policy initiatives of Verizon Wireless with Congress, the executive branch, all...

Convention calendar.(Powerplay; african american organizations)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... BDPA Information Technology Thought Leaders August 4-8, 2004; Dallas, TX; 301-220-2180; www.bdpa.org National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) August 4-8; Washington, DC; 301-445-7100: www.nabj.org National Black Police...

Making their own money: the Alphonsos created a currency system to teach their children how to handle finances.(Black Wealth Initiative)
August 1, 2004... Friday is payday in the Alphonso household. That's when Ryan, 10, and Brianne, 8, collect payment from their parents, Stacey and Richard, for having completed their chores. The children are given coupons worth $1, $2, or $5, which can then be...

Getting it right the second time around: early retirement proved costly for Shirley Malone.(Family Finances)
August 1, 2004... Early retirement sounded like a good idea to Shirley Malone two years ago. She was 50 and suffering from professional burnout, having spent nearly 23 years at telecommunications giant SBC Communications in Torrance, California. Malone saw...

Getting the corner office: how to avoid the mistakes women make that put them outside the power circle.(Women Achievers)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... G. Arlivia Babbage Gamble is used to being the only female of African American in high-level meetings at State Farm Insurance Cos. This division vice president knows that her male colleagues--nothing personal, mind you--sometimes ignore the...

The power of your reputation equals profits can be a tangible business strategy.(Interview)(Excerpt)
August 1, 2004... Soul Food: 52 Principles of Black Entrepreneurial Success by Robert L. Wallace is a motivational book designed to help today's business owners succeed in this dog-eat-dog world of commercial exchange. Each chapter offers advice to entrepreneurs...

The life of a landlord: acquiring the building is just the beginning. Maintaining tenant relations is critical to becoming a successful property manager.(Real Estate)
August 1, 2004... If you think that landlords have little to do after the first of each month, when they make their rounds to collect rent checks, think again. Harry Norton II, 39, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, says that he always sits down with prospective...

Not just singing the blues: depression is a serious medical affliction that can alter quality of life, or in extreme cases, end it.(Executive Health)
August 1, 2004... In 1995, Rene Ruballo noticed a troubling change within him. This now retired New York City police officer and father of four started losing interest in everything he once felt passionate, about, including his police work and spending time with...

Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... George B. Hopkins Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, The Americas Novartis George oversees technology infrastructure services, leading a team of 500 employees and managing a budget of $150 million. Employed with Novartis for over...

Wall Street rogues: fast cars, women, and cash. These financial whizzes had it all. But some of them crossed the line to get rich and ended up serving hard time, creating scandals that continue to affect the black investment community.(Special Report)
August 1, 2004... Alan Brian Bond had it all. He lived an opulent lifestyle that included shopping sprees at Saks Fifth Avenue, sprawling homes in New Jersey and Florida, and a fleet of 75 luxury and antique cars, But these days, home is a cell located in rural...

Business dining etiquette: beat your competition with winning table manners.(Peak Performance)
August 1, 2004... "I could not believe it. Several peers and I were out to lunch with a client. During the meal, one [co-worker] was chewing and talking with a mouth full of food. I was so embarrassed!" says Lila Widemann, vice president and trust officer for...

The steps to success: faith can lead the way.(Words To Strive By; Doing Business by the Good Book: 52 Lessons on Success Straight from the Bible)(Book Review)
August 1, 2004... Business and religion can coexist, according to David L. Steward in his book Doing Business by the Good Book: 52 Lessons on Success Straight from the Bible (Hyperion; $19.95). In short, easy-to-read chapters, Steward explains how you can apply...

After-school program transforms lives: Earnestine Russell-Drumgold struggled to create a safe haven for kids.(Everyday Hero)
August 1, 2004... Dave Jones was a 17-year-old self-described street hustler in Baychester, New York, when be found himself at a crossroads. "I got pistol-whipped by seven dudes," he says. His mother gave him an ultimatum: stay on his current path and end up in...

Get serious about saving.(Help Yourself)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q I am a 31-year-old, newly divorced mother of four, I have an income of $2,046,56 a month, but I still come up short on my bills. My credit score is only 577. I am a full-time college student in addition to working full time. I feel trapped...

Watch out for the ATM caper: thieves are setting up shop at your local cash machine.(Consumer Alert)
August 1, 2004... You're running low on cash and there's not a bank in sight. But wait, out of the corner of your eye, you spy an ATM inside a deli that's seen better days. You type in your PIN number and then a message pops up on the screen, asking you to...

A new money system: daily organization is the key to financial fitness.(Consumer Life)
August 1, 2004... If your money management system has you drowning in piles of receipts, bills, and financial statements, you're not alone. "We get the same amount of paperwork in a week that our grandparents got in a year," says Christy Best, a personal...

Spam could be a scam: Internet tricks are becoming high crimes.(Consumer Alert)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... These days, every computer should come with a warning: User beware! Internet surfers may not have to contend with high tides, but they do have to deal with some unscrupulous online pirates. "Cybercrime is our third priority after...

Auto dealer dilemma.(Ask Your Advocate)
August 1, 2004... Q I purchased a new minivan, [however], I did not ask how much each option cost. After several attempts, I [spoke] to the salesman and he told me that he eliminated the destination fee and only charged $200 over dealer's cost. The bottom line:...

Enhance your mind, body, and space with a variety of free educational resources!(Priceless Resources)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... An extensive multilingual tool that includes a dictionary with more than 7 million entries in more than 200 languages, www.Logos.net has forums and glossaries for cross-cultural business endeavors or personal use. Access recipes, tips on...

She's got a brand new bag: TV producer's designs express her inner child.(Personal Passions)
August 1, 2004... Unable to find the bag she was looking for--one with a "cute little black girl on it"--Keisha McClellan decided that she would probably have to make it herself. So the Chicago-based television producer trotted off to an art supply store and...

A royal send-off: the Queen Mary 2 launches in style and splendor.(Travelogue)
August 1, 2004... The echo from a past era could be heard for 10 miles. It was the whistle blast--basso profundo--from the original ocean liner the Queen Mary that is now pare of the Queen Mary 2 (QM2). The whistle sounded on April 25 in front of the Statue of...

Northern exposure: Copenhagen is Kenneth Smith's home court.(City Profile)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Icy winters don't prevent Copenhagen. Denmark's capital city, from being one of Scandinavia's hottest destinations in Northern Europe. A fishing village until the mid-12th century, Copenhagen is now a bustling metropolis heavily influenced...

Champagne toasts: Brian Nembhard schools us on the best of the bubbly.(The Enthusiast)
August 1, 2004... Champagne is the festive wine par excellence, says Brian Dalkeith Nembhard, president and CEO of Nembo Imports Ltd., a New York- and Caribbean-based importer and distributor of fine champagnes and wines." It's one of the most expensive of...

Don't miss out on the hot summer fun: the 2004 Golf & Tennis Challenge is next month!(Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Excitement is brewing for the 11th annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf& Tennis Challenge this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-6, 2004! Join us as we return to Miami's renowned Doral Golf Resort & Spa--one of the city's legendary resorts--for what has...

Register early for your dream vacation.(Ski Challenge)
August 1, 2004... Join us for the seventh annual Black Enterprise/AXA Advisors Ski Challenge, next Presidents' Day weekend, Feb. 16-21, 2005. We'll be back in our traditional location: the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, the region's premier AAA Four Diamond resort,...

Black Enterprise Unlimited.(Unlimited Options)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Black Enterprise Unlimited is a division of Earl G. Graves Ltd. dedicated to the creation of products and services designed to meet your business needs, We can be contacted at B.E. Unlimited, 130 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10011-4399 fax:...

Hot franchise prospects with sizzling returns.(Next Month)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... For years, BLACK ENTERPRISE has encouraged potential entrepreneurs to examine whether opening a franchise is a viable option. There are advantages to joining an existing company structure as opposed to creating one from scratch. A prospective...