Black Enterprise articles from August 2006

Black Enterprise archives from August 2006

One year later.(WEB FEATURES)(disaster reconstruction)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A year after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, some residents have gone back to rebuild their homes and businesses, others have started new lives in different cities, and many are still trying to figure out how to move on. Visit...

Plan for the future.(WEB FEATURES)(tuition costs increases)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 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.(YOUR ONLINE GUIDE TO WEALTH BUILDING: blackenterprise.com)
August 1, 2006... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today! GET $30 WHEN YOU INVEST www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney ShareBuilder and...

Resource line.
August 1, 2006... Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at blackenterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Philana Patterson provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding investors....

Web highlights.(WEB COLUMNS)
August 1, 2006... JOB SEARCH Give yourself a free career makeover using our online job search. Go to: Career B.E. NOW ON TV AND RADIO Look for streaming video and audio clips from our latest business news ventures. FINANCIAL PLANNING GUIDE ...

Get your first home--and keep it.(publisher's Page)
August 1, 2006... What else can we do? How can we better connect you to the know-how and financing essential to build and grow successful businesses? How can we arm you with the strategies and fortitude necessary to achieve rewarding and fulfilling careers? What...

Finding revenues and recognition.(black peoples)
August 1, 2006... Since the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, entrepreneurship has been an avenue for building wealth among African Americans. Most wealthy African Americans are not entertainers or athletes--as much as the media would lead you to...

Complementary disciplines?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I am writing in response to "The Business of Faith," featured in the May 2006 issue of your magazine. I found the article informative, yet lacking in proper critique of the culture currently present in some megachurches. Please do not get me...

Expanding the meaning of church business.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... THANK YOU, BLACK ENTERPRISE, FOR FEATURING "Business of Faith" in your May 2006 issue. Bishops T.D. Jakes and Eddie Long and Pastor Kirbyjohn Caldwell have successfully integrated the realities of for-profit and nonprofit business...

Skewed point of view.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I'M A YOUNG ENGLISH PROFESSOR AND YOUR magazine started appearing in my in-box at work I passed it on to my African American literature class and intended to do the same with each issue until I skimmed page 12 in the May issue. Business and...

Are we confused or is the church?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... BLACK ENTERPRISE'S May cover story, "The Business of Faith," is extremely timely. It is important that black people--who have cemented their foundation with the assistance and strength of the church--still believe in its mission. The question...

The message is not just in the words.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I HIGHLY ANTICIPATE EACH MONTHLY EDITION OF BLACK ENTERPRISE, but was very disappointed with your May 2006 issue. After reading the first 25 pages, I laid the magazine down with the front cover displaying the three pastors and the back cover...

Get ready for retirement.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... YOUR ARTICLE "PENSION PROBLEMS" (MONEYWISE, MAY 2006) was a well-needed reality check for many American workers. In the past, pensions have been such a problem for corporations because companies convinced workers to accept lower wages in...

A job well done.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... My wife and I had the pleasure of attending this year's Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference for the first time. It was truly a magnificent event that will most certainly remain one of the most significant business conferences we've ever...

Causes of death?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... (Re: "The Death of a Network," Newspoints, May 2006) I can't tell you how many times I've heard black people complain that the shows on the UPN network are insulting. I think that the writing suffered when [the network] became more about...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2006... Note: The following corrections have been made to the digital edition of the July 2006 issue. * In Moneywise, May 2006, ("Stock Picks"), it is incorrectly stated that AT&T Corp. acquired SBC Communications Inc. Indeed, SBC Completed its...

Skilled strategist to head Bod Evans: top 75 executive Steven Davis named CEO.(POWER PLAYER)(chief executive officer )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Steven A. Davis, a veteran of the food-service industry who made a name for himself as a turnaround expert, was recently named chief executive officer of Bob Evans Farms Inc., a restaurant chain and sausage distribution company based in...

Bob Johnson enters banking industry: despite a tough climate for financial services, this billionaire's track record may prove to be an advantage.(Robert L. Johnson of RLJ Development L.L.C.)
August 1, 2006... Having built businesses in the cable television, hotel, and sports and entertainment industries, Robert L. Johnson, CEO of RLJ Development L.L.C. (No. 25 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE list with $168.1 million in revenues) is turning to banking....

NY advertising agencies facing discrimination charges: symposium highlights bigotry in industry.(New York City Commission on Human Rights)
August 1, 2006... In a staggering blow to Madison Avenue's predominately white establishment, the New York City Commission on Human Rights issued subpoenas to CEOs of 16 New York advertising agencies. Spearheaded by Human Rights Commissioner Patricia Gatling,...

Selling his image: Muhammad Ali offers rights to his name and likeness to CKX for $50 million.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has sold 80% of the marketing rights to his name and likeness to New York-based entertainment company CKX Inc. for $50 million. CKX currently controls 85% of the marketing rights to the late Elvis Presley, the rights...

Car dealer's passion drove his success: B.E. 100s CEO killed in an auto accident.(Cornelius A. Martin )(In memoriam)
August 1, 2006... Cornelius A. Martin had a passion for speed and fast toys. As President and CEO of Martin Management Group, (No. 4 on the RE AUTO DEALER 100 list in 2006 with $386 million in revenue) based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, that fervor extended into...

Is this the finale? Amid investigations and a questionable resignation, the SBA is trying to save its credibility.(WASHINGTON REPORT)(Small Business Administration)(Hector Barreto resigns)
August 1, 2006... The resignation of Hector Barreto, bead of the Small Business Administration, leaves many speculating that he was forced out by the Bush administration in an effort to clean house within an organization Soiled with criticism. There are also...

Progress undone: experts say the nation's public schools are increasingly segregated.(FACTS & FIGURES)(Statistical data)
August 1, 2006... America's most segregated schools are not in the Southern states, where many of the hard-won battles for desegregation were waged in the 1950s and 1960s. Instead, California, New York, Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan have the greatest number...

Is an interest-only loan right for you? This special mortgage product has several pros and cons.(Lawrence Ragland )
August 1, 2006... When Lawrence Ragland was looking to expand his real estate holdings, he used funds he obtained from a cash-out option on a five-year interest-only loan. Interest-only loans allow buyers to lower their mortgage payments by paying the interest...

Media monitors: the Ujamaa Investment Club relies on news events to sharpen their understanding of the financial markets.
August 1, 2006... In November 1992, Food Lion, the grocery store chain, became the subject of a national media investigation regarding unsanitary practices and labor law violations. An ABC News report accused the company of selling outdated food, cheese gnawed...

Winning through diversification: Jeffrey Marcus finds it the main ingredient for successful investing.(STOCK PICKS)(economy)
August 1, 2006... Jeffrey Marcus, senior portfolio manager at Paradigm Asset Management Co. L.L.C., (No. 14 on the BE ASSET MANAGERS list with $1.06 billion in assets under management) predicts the economy will slow in the second half of the year due to the...

Profits with a purpose: socially responsible investment funds give investors revenues with a clean conscience.(MUTUAL FUND FOCUS)
August 1, 2006... If investors want to let their conscience be their guide, there are an increasing number of mutual funds that allow them to do just that. Concerned investors, for instance might not want to back a company that makes profits from cigarettes,...

Medical accounts offer flexibility: but consumers should carefully examine these savings plans.(Robin Gillespie)
August 1, 2006... Robin Gillespie, a Philadelphia-based personal trainer and fitness instructor, keeps a rigorous workout pace to keep fit. Now she's bringing the same discipline to her finances. Gillespie, 38, recently opened a flexible spending account to help...

Pay loans now or later.(Student loans)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Q A I am a second year student at Florida A&M and I have $10,000 in student loans. Should I try to pay them now on a low-payment process or wait it out until graduation and consolidate them? --T. Rollem Via the Internet Your student...

Elegant execution: from start to finish, The Baker Group specializes in total-event production.(MAKING IT)
August 1, 2006... Some business owners shudder at the thought of cold calling. The idea of telephoning total strangers to persuade them to set up a meeting can be terrifying, but Tammy Dickerson thrives on that pressure. When the owner of The Baker Group, a...

Star power: grow your business by teaming up with a high-profile talent or celebrity.(Synthia Saint James' )
August 1, 2006... Synthia Saint James' vibrant artwork is created to stimulate the eye with its bold shapes and brilliant colors. The works of the internationally renowned artist, whose creations include the U.S. Postal Service Kwanzaa stamp, also elicited a...

Get your bid noticed: a company's small size can be a plus when pursuing government contracts.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
August 1, 2006... The U.S. government buys more than $800 billion of products and services each year, making it the world's biggest customer. Given all the business available, you would think small businesses would be beating the government's door down. They're...

High demand for tutoring.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Q A I am interested in opening a tutoring center in my neighborhood, but I would like to know more about that type of business. F. Ramirez Miami Your timing for opening a tutoring center couldn't be better. There is a strong...

Fame and fortune: Klegg Electronics owner links with celebrity to compete with industry giants.(BLACK DIGERATI)
August 1, 2006... When Paula Abdul handed out Klegg Minis to audience members on The TonyDanza Show in February, she did more than put the smallest color-display MP3 player into the hands of eager recipients. The American Idol diva put the spotlight on a product...

Pursuing biotechnology: opportunities abound for innovative entrepreneurs in this multibillion-dollar industry.(TECH NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Dr. Judith Gwathmey, chief executive and scientific officer of Gwathmey Inc., is excited about the growing business opportunities in the burgeoning biotechnology industry. Gwathmey says her firm, which tests drugs to identify safety and...

Let's hear from the audience: group response systems allow real-time interaction with your presentations.(E-BUSINESS)(audience response software)
August 1, 2006... When a client asked event design and production company LIVE! TechnOlogies Inc. to create a team-based music trivia game for its sales meeting it was clear the event called for a response system that was more sophisticated than "raise your hand...

Players in motion: entrepreneur scores big with animation playbook software.(HOT PICKS)(PowerTeam Sports Inc.)(Joseph Burt)
August 1, 2006... Joseph Burt remembers watching his buddy, former San Francisco 49er Guy McIntyre, struggling to learn Coach Bill Wish's complicated offensive maneuvers from the professional football team's playbook "He had his finger on this complicated play...

Sell phones.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... QA I'm in the process of starting a wireless business, but I'm having trouble finding a company where I can purchase cell phones to resell in my store. Is there a number to call or Website to visit? G. Bronson Via the Internet If...

Fitting right in: using assessment to find the right employee.(Melvin Alexander)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Before landing his position as director of new product initiatives at a Maine-based company, Melvin Alexander fielded questions from as many as 15 executives at a time--including the CEO. Management solicited information about Alexander from...

Map it out: an innovative productivity tool promises to boost performance.(Stephen Pierce)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... As CEO of Impulsive Profits Inc., Stephen Pierce wasn't interested in learning a new software program. But when an employee promised that it would make meetings more efficient, he gave the program a chance. Today, three years later, Pierce is a...

On the hunt.(online job hunting)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Q A I recently graduated with my master's in communications and now I'm seeking employment. I've found a company I'm interested in working with, but I'm not sure how to research the firm aside from exploring their Website. I have a few job...

UPP Entertainment Marketing.(ON THE MOVE)(Kevin E. Hooks joins Axis Agency)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 1 Kevin E. Hooks has joined Axis Agency, a multicultural marketing agency, as senior vice president. In this capacity, Hooks will work with clients on integrating multicultural communications strategies into their marketing campaigns. Prior to...

Toussaint Capital Partners L.L.C.(ON THE MOVE)(Paul T. Williams Jr. been appointed)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 2 Paul T. Williams Jr. has been named president of Toussaint Capital Partners L.L.C., a Wall Street investment banking firm. Williams, who appeared on BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Top Black Lawyers list in 2003, plans to expand the firm's institutional...

Verizon Business.(ON THE MOVE)(Terri Dean is promoted)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 3 Terri Dean has been promoted to senior vice president of global communications for Verizon Business. She is responsible for advancing the vision and mission of the organization as well as communicating the business unit's progress and...

Andrew Frazier.(ON THE MOVE)(New York Life Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 4 Andrew Frazier has joined New York Life Insurance Co.'s newly formed diversity office as assistant vice president. Frazier is charged with identifying and implementing best practices for diversity and inclusion within the corporate culture....

Accor North America.(ON THE MOVE)(Glenda Shelby is appointed)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 5 Glenda Shelby is the new vice president of the diversity and corporate people department at Accor North America, one of the largest hotel chain owner and operators in North America. She is responsible for developing, administering, and...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... Warm Spirit 6th Annual Sales Celebration & Conference Aug 3-6; Orlando; 888-:388-9276; www.warmspirit.com National Black Nurses Association Annual institute & Conference 2006 Aug. 9-12; Fort Lauderdale; 301-589-3200; www.nbna.org 31st...

Dancing with debt: after stumbling over expenses for years, the Robinsons move toward a positive net worth.(BLACK WEALTH INITIATIVE)
August 1, 2006... CREDIT CARDS, AUTO LOANS, AND A mortgage had Valerie and Kenneth Robinson drowning in $50,000 worth of debt in the mid '80s. And with interest rates at that time hovering around 12.75%, it was the worst kind of debt--the expensive kind. ...

A life makeover: Leslie Henderson plans to retire from her job to pursue her 'reel' passion.(FINANCIAL FITNESS CONTEST WINNER NO. 72 / FAMILY FINANCES)
August 1, 2006... LESLIE HENDERSON HAS HOLLYWOOD on her mind. At 41, she's a 20-year veteran looking forward to retiring from the Houston Police Department within the next 10 years, Single and free-spirited, she is counting down the time until she can fulfill...

Making their ma+rk: honored at the 11th Annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, our 2006 Small Business Awards winners are serving customers and educating their communities.(AMERICA'S BEST SMALL BUSINESSES)(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE A COMPANY THAT NOT ONLY produces superior goods and services but also conducts business to make people's lives betters? We discovered the answer in our search for the 2006 BLACK ENTERPRISE Small Business Awards...

A turn for the better: for one struggling startup, an incubator offered a turnaround solution.(ENTREPRENEURSHIP)(Another Level)
August 1, 2006... CYNTHEA WILLIAMS WAS facing adversity from her staff. Three of her employees, she says, were taking advantage of 'her service-disabled veteran status, which provides access to set-aside government contracts, to set up their own businesses. The...

Take two herbal tronics and call me in the morning: holistic treatment are as a medical alternative. Here's what you need to know.(EXECUTIVE HEALTH)
August 1, 2006... AS AN OVERWEIGHT CHILD, JEFFREY Banks endured years of ridicule and rejection. By the time he reached his senior year of high school, he weighed 400 pounds and was diagnosed with Type It diabetes. "I remember the morning that it happened. I...

Is your broker a crook? If your money is lost and your financial adviser is missing, here's what you can do to recoup your investment.(INVESTING)
August 1, 2006... LIKE MANY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN learning about Walt Street, George L. Forbes spent years educating himself about stocks and bonds. Forbes, head of the Cleveland NAACP and former president of the Cleveland City Council, even sat on a powerful...

Achieve your dream of homeownership 'you could win $10,000: even if you don't win the cash, you'll come out on top. But don't take our word for it--three entrants from our first contest tell how homeownership pays off.
August 1, 2006... AS HOME PRICES CLIMBED IN HER AREA, Melody Jiggetts, 25, felt she needed to strike quickly, When the rent on her one-bedroom apartment in Whittier, California, increased almost 29% in two years, she decided she'd rather pay her own mortgage...

Beat back burnout: five strategies to stay motivated.(CareerBuilder.com)
August 1, 2006... Do you dread the morning? Is much of your day spent stressed or daydreaming about what you really want to do? Do you have trouble finding joy, passion, and motivation in your life? If so, you're part of a national epidemic. A recent study...

Networking for success: making a mentor-mentee relationship work.
August 1, 2006... Nina Smith, chief marketing officer for Sage Software, learned early in her career the importance of mentoring. When a colleague was promoted at Xerox Corp., "I went into the VP's office and asked why I didn't get the promotion," recalls Smith....

Taking your body to market.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Q A How can I get published? I'm starting the last chapter of my novel, which I have been writing for several years. I didn't have publishing in mind when I started writing, but now I want to make my book a reality. What steps do I take from...

Home improvement 101: here's how to get the most value for your money.(CONSUMER LIFE)
August 1, 2006... When William Maxwell of Cheverly, Maryland, adjoined a home office to his house, it added up to dollars and sense. When Maxwell sells his house, he may receive almost $30,000 more in profit. As homeowners, we all want the best for our...

In a debt crisis? Tips on how to make the consolidation process work for you.
August 1, 2006... When April Washington, CEO of Baltimore-based Threefold Music Group, was a young, single parent, her poor credit made homeownership seem like an impossible goal. "I wasn't fiscally responsible or educated in that area; I was late on just...

The money trap: according to one author, to gain financial freedom, we must stop chasing each other into debt.
August 1, 2006... Money is one of those sensitive topics that can make us cringe at even the slightest mention of the word. We constantly worry that we don't have enough and obsess over how to get more. These are intensely private obsessions, baggage we don't...

Saving more.(ASK YOUR ADVOCATE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Q A I need advice on how to save money. How can I achieve and maintain a better credit score and stay out of debt? K. Ross Newark, NJ One way to accomplish that goal is to write down your monthly expenses. That means everything...

A vinyl history: Robert Brown's music collection reflects years of love, politics, and social change.(THE ENTHUSIAST)
August 1, 2006... Angela Davis and Huey Newton posters stand guard on the walls in an off-campus apartment dimmed by black light. Incense burn and the silky crooning of the Stylistics set the mood. "R&B songs definitely helped a brother's rap," reflects Robert...

A Casa de Campo experience: grand villas, great vistas, and exceptional golf.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)(Hotel review)
August 1, 2006... Picture free-dining establishments, a chic marina fashioned after Italian ports, and extravagant villas. Now imagine three 18-hole golf courses perched just off the coast of the Dominican Republic, and you've only begun to envision this...

Faux and fabulous: Tobey Renee Sanders has a finish for any room.(AT HOME)(Faux Decor)
August 1, 2006... When Tobey Renee Sanders hired a painter to do more than just paint plain white walls, she wasn't prepared for the cost. So she styled her four rooms herself. Decorating her new Atlanta home, she brushed an X-pattern over silver paint on her...

Get ready!
August 1, 2006... Summer's hottest leisure and networking exchange is going to sizzle with this year's live entertainment. Funnyman Tommy Davidson and legendary soul singer Jeffrey Osborne will be on hand to make you laugh, sing, and all out entertain you at the...

Experience the power ... again!
August 1, 2006... In case you missed BLACK ENTERPRISE'S very first Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, we're bringing it back just for you! Now is the time to register early and reserve your place at the next summit, Feb. 7-10, 2007, at the Arizona...

Back talk with Victoria Rowell.(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Earlier this year, Victoria Rowell received a 2006 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for her role as Drucilla Winters on YoUng and the Restless. Although she is used to receiving accolades, Rowell is most proud...