Black Enterprise articles from February 2005

Black Enterprise archives from February 2005

Organization equals success.(Web Features)(www.blackenterprise.com/getorganized)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... You've sent the kids off to school and braved the traffic on your way to work only to be bombarded with tons of e-mails, letters, and phone calls as soon as you enter the office. If that's not enough, you have meetings lined up for the...

Innovation is key.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Most companies are looking for the next big thing to attract new customers, increase revenue streams, and grow their businesses. No matter what industry you are in, learn about strategies you can use to give your firm a leg up over the...

Franchise Finder.(Web Tools)(www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder)(www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... 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 blackenterprise.com allow you...

Resource line.(Web Columns)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... 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)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... 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...

Celebrating the best and the brightest.(Publisher's Page)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... Progress is a funny thing. When we published the first listing of "The 25 Hottest Black Managers in Corporate America" in February 1988, there were no CEOs on the list, nor did any women make the all-star roster. The Hudson Institute had just...

Tracking the corporate elite.(About This Issue)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... Since the inception of this magazine, we have chronicled the evolution of blacks in corporate America. We have recorded the mile stones of pioneers in the 1970s--men and women our publisher dubbed "Buffalo Soldiers" in honor of the wars they...

Madame C. J. Walker: breaking new ground: this daughter of slaves built a haircare empire and created a model for financial empowerment.(Ultimate Wealth Builders)
February 1, 2005... Every day, millions of African Americans engage in the ritual of grooming. It may seem commonplace, but applying hair grease to one's scalp or getting a relaxer served as a catalyst for wealth creation among a group of black entrepreneurs for...

An entrepreneurial couple.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Your article, "Inn Vogue" [November 2004], featuring the work and accomplishments of Monique Greenwood and Glenn Pogue, was informative and positively encouraging. Monique and Glenn not only talk the talk, but live it. Because of her words...

A real lifesaver.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I READ YOUR ARTICLE IN THE NOVEMBER 2004 ISSUE TITLED "Network Marketing or Pyramid Scheme?" I think it is awesome that BLACK ENTERPRISE has accepted network marketing as a legitimate business model and would like to educate African Americans...

Inspired to make a difference.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I HAVE PURCHASED THE LAST THREE issues of your magazine. I have such a strong desire to become a successful entrepreneur. Your article "Connections for Business" [Black Wealth Initiative, November 2004] was such an inspiration. I am a...

A ray of hope.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I am writing to commend you on your cover story, "Favorite Son" [October 2004]. Barack Obama is a gleaming ray of hope for the failing human condition in America. I have a 13-year-old son, William. I have been laid off once or twice in my...

What about smaller HBCUs?(Letters)(Historically Black Colleges and Universities )(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I WAS LEAFING THROUGH THE OCTOBER 2004 ISSUE AND CAME UPON "The 50 Best Colleges for African Americans." While I am sure that stringent statistical methods were used to compile this list, it still raised an issue that has bothered me for a...

Minimum wage a no-brainer.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I AM RESPONDING TO THE ARTICLE IN THE October 2004 issue of BE, "Upping The Minimum Wage" [Enterprise]. This has had me stumped for years. Whenever the minimum wage is up for discussion, big business and small business seem to develop some...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2005... In the Investment Roundtable of our October 2004 issue, "Investing Outside the U.S.," a quoted reference to the combined capitalization of African capital markets was incorrect. The correct combined capitalization is $300 billion (not million)....

NAACP's Mfume steps down; nation's oldest civil rights group may face internal turmoil.(Washington Report)
February 1, 2005... When Kweisi Mfume took the reins of the NAACP as president and CEO in 1996, the organization was nearly $14 million in debt, tarnished by a costly sex scandal involving former President Benjamin F. Chavis, and grappling with questions about its...

Fighting Irish fire first black coach.(Sports News)
February 1, 2005... Despite compiling a 21-15 record, including a standout inaugural year with a 10-2 regular season and a trip to the Gator Bowl, the first black head coach of any sport for the Fighting Irish is gone. Tyrone Willingham was fired as head football...

Food industry veteran has it his way; Chuck James seals whopper deal, becomes Burger King's largest black franchisee.(Power Player)
February 1, 2005... Food industry veteran Charles H. "Chuck" James III is now Burger King's largest African American franchisee. In a deal announced in November, James, who is CEO and managing owner of C.H. James Restaurant Holdings L.L.C., purchased 37 Stores in...

Miami's Royal Palm sells for $127.5m.(National News)
February 1, 2005... The Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort, a black-owned luxury Miami hotel, is changing hands now that developer R. Donahue Peebles has agreed to sell it to The Falor Co. for $127.5 million. Peebles stands to make a hefty profit, as he reportedly...

Tavis Smiley renounces National Public Radio.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Talk show host Tavis Smiley bids farewell to National Public Radio. Smiley, 40, reportedly said NPR has tried hard but fallen short of reaching "a broad spectrum of Americans who would benefit from public radio." The Tavis Smiley Show was...

Black relationship guru Michael Baisden has struck a syndication deal with ABC Radio Networks.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Black relationship guru Michael Baisden has struck a syndication deal with ABC Radio Networks. His popular radio show, Love, Lust and Lies, is among the highest-rated afternoon drive programs in the New York metro area, heard daily on 98.7 Kiss...

Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch settles landmark race and sex discrimination class action lawsuits.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch settles landmark race and sex discrimination class action lawsuits, agreeing to pay $40 million to several thousand plaintiffs, The settlement calls for Abercrombie to increase diversity not just in hiring and...

The youth vote: gaining clout: postelection surveys show record turnout among young adults and black voters.(Facts & Figures)
February 1, 2005... Vote or Die! That was the battle cry of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and other political hip-hop activists. It appears that young voters answered by turning out at the polls in record numbers. Nearly 21 million Americans under age 30 cast their votes...

Investing with kin: Family Tree Investment Club is building togetherness and financial futures.(Investment Clubhouse)
February 1, 2005... At the annual Clinton family reunion in South Carolina, there's plenty of food, fellowship, and fun. There's also a lot of finance, money management, and investment education going on. "We come together to share knowledge," says Jerraune...

Focus on expansion: Steven Singleton of Robert Van Securities looks for companies with accelerated growth.(Stock Picks)
February 1, 2005... During his nine-year tenure at Robert Van Securities Inc., Senior Vice President and Director of Research Steven Singleton has been through many ups and downs with the stock market. The Oakland, California-based firm executes domestic, taxable,...

Peach state slow to ripen ... Porter Bingham's focus on Georgia-based companies needs more time to bear fruit.(Portfolio Review)
February 1, 2005... Last year, when BLACK ENTERPRISE invited Porter Bingham, president and CEO of The Malachi Group, to provide an exclusive portfolio of stocks for our readers, he had Georgia on his mind. He suggested that his Atlanta-based firm had a keen...

Stay out of foreclosure: here's what to do if you miss a mortgage payment.(Homeownership)
February 1, 2005... Perhaps the biggest fear any homeowner can have is foreclosure. A foreclosure occurs after a homeowner is late 45 days or more with a mortgage payment. To collect the remaining debt, the lender posts a foreclosure sale notice on the house and...

A trainer's retirement plan.(Ask B.E.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I am a 41-year-old ex-felon. I've been out of the workforce for 20 years. I'm pursuing a career in the fitness industry as a personal trainer. For someone my age and in my position, what would be a viable retirement savings plan? ...

Seeing face value: cosmetic medical spa captures ethnic skin care market.(Making It)
February 1, 2005... When Drs. Eliot F. Battle and Monte O. Harris opened the doors to their cosmetic medical spa in March 2002, they did something that would send a shudder up most small business consultants' spines: They made a conscious decision not to...

Popping perfection: how one businessman's gourmet popcorn became a recipe for success.(Making It)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Popcorn has never tasted so good to Lavonne Sanders, an entrepreneur who has turned popping golden kernels of corn into a lucrative business venture. As president and CEO of Popcorn and More Inc., Sanders' keen sense of taste and his passion...

Maximizing employee performance: grow your business by empowering your workforce.(Management Advice)
February 1, 2005... It wasn't enough that Rockwell Collins, an aviation and information technology systems provider in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, needed to replace its foundational leadership development program. The company's goal was to redesign its training workshops...

Protecting ideas.(Savvy Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I am in the process of trying to patent my idea. What are some good Websites that can help me? D. Harris Via the Internet It's not easy to safeguard you ideas in the business world. "You should keep in mind that a patent...

Leading the way: this trailblazer in the field of high-tech logistics is drawing lots of attention.(Black Digerati)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... As the first African American woman to graduate from Ohio State University's marketing and logistics department, the second woman in her discipline to become a full professor, and the first woman to hold a multimillion-dollar-endowed chair--the...

Entering a hot zone: Philadelphia's mayor wants to make his city a wireless hot spot.(Tech News)
February 1, 2005... All eyes are on Philadelphia these days as the City of Brotherly Love makes a move to become the first major metropolitan area to go wireless. New York City's Bryant Park, along with several small cities and suburbs across the nation, have...

Surfing stand-ins: these three browsers are reliable alternatives to Internet Explorer and Netscape.(B.E. Tested)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2005... When it comes to looking at Web pages, most people are accustomed to using the two most common browsers: Internet Explorer and Netscape. However, there are several Web browsers out there, and you should seriously consider your alternatives to...

Setting up shop.(Cyberwise)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I'm considering a startup business that markets and sells urban apparel over the Internet. Would you provide me with resources on starting a Website? --W. P. Canady Tennessee Colony, TX Apparel is one of the most popular...

A mannequin model: Shay Taylor is a perfect fit.(Career Spotlight)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Name: Shay Taylor Career: Fit Model Age: 38 Salary Range: $100,000 part time--$300,000 full time Power Move: After developing a clientele, Taylor incorporated herself and solicited her own clients as an independent contractor....

Charmed, I'm sure: proper business etiquette goes beyond the salad fork.(Making Connections)
February 1, 2005... After eight months as the marketing manager at a major book-publishing house, Wayne Harris resigned. Harris and his supervisor did not get along but Harris felt obligated to give three and a half weeks notice, instead of the standard two. ...

Back to school.(Since You Asked)(vocational guidance counselors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I am turning 40 in a couple of months and I have always had the desire to become a guidance counselor. I have a bachelor's in deviant behavior and social control and an A.A.S in human services. I am presently working as a calculation clerk,...

New York Life Insurance Co.(On The Move)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Gregory Deavens has been hired as a senior vice president at New York Life Insurance Co. In this new position, Deavens is responsible for financial analysis, budget and cost, and rating agency functions for the company. He formerly led investor...

Rainbow/PUSH-Wall Street Project.(On The Move)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Andrew T. Carr has been named executive director of the Rainbow/PUSH-Wall Street Project. He is direct adviser and counsel to the organization, responsible for maintaining and expanding the Wall Street Project's prominence in the financial...

The Garden City Group.(On The Move)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Shandarese Garr is the vice president of operations, securities division at The Garden City Group. She is responsible for the administration of all securities projects and management of all cases. Garr is the organization's former assistant...

Local Initiatives Support Corp.(On The Move)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Eric Price has been named Local Initiatives Support Corp.'s senior vice president for neighborhood markets. Price's responsibilities will include overseeing national initiatives that support the organization's community development efforts....

Reebok International Ltd.(On The Move)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Denise Kaigler is the senior vice president and chief communications officer of Reebok International Ltd. In her new role, Kaigler leads Reebok's worldwide communications efforts and serves as the corporation's top communications strategist,...

Convention calendar.(Powerplay)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... United Negro College Fund: National Alumni Council 2005 Conference Feb. 3-6, 2005; Orlando, FL; 703-205-3400; www.uncf.org National Minority Business Council 25th Annual Awards Luncheon Feb. 16, 2005; New York; 212-997-4753; www.nmbc.org...

Reinvest your raises: Gloria Brown makes it a point to live on the same salary she made in 1992.(Black Wealth Initiative)
February 1, 2005... FEW PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY ARE LIVING on the same amount of money they were more than a decade ago--and enjoying it. Gloria Brown can. Back in 1992, she was earning $45,000, lived on about $25,000, and saved and invested the rest. Fast-forward to...

Suspending the spending: without a budget, the hills' high income won't stop them from having negative net worth.(Family Finances)
February 1, 2005... WILLIAM AND SUNDARKIA HILL KNOW a lot about spending. When William graduated from college in 2001, he made a lot of money, and he admits to spending quite a bit of it. "There was no such thing as a budget. We traveled a lot to D.C. and...

Choosing the right investment properties: there's more to creating a profitable real estate portfolio than just buying what's available. Here's how to make the best choices.(Real Estate)
February 1, 2005... Ronald Phillip Ellison Jr. has been investing in real estate since he was a teenager. Back in 1988, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had a lot of properties for sale in the Detroit area. "My father helped me buy one for...

Finding cash for your business: entrepreneurs who are shut out by bankers and venture capitalists can stay in the game by finding alternate sources of financing.(Capital Ideas)
February 1, 2005... Karen Tappin Saunderson has been an entrepreneur ever since she was a college student putting together gift baskets for parents to send to their children. While working as a high school teacher in New York, she continued to sell the baskets at...

Fabric of success: starting an apparel business takes more than cutting-edge designs. It requires research, contacts, and a whole lot of cash.(Dream Business)
February 1, 2005... SOME GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS ARE BORN ON THE front of cocktail napkins. Others are created in 30-page business plans. For the partners of RyanKenny, an Atlanta-based high-end clothing line for men, their company was birthed from a simple...

How networking really works; debunking the myths that prevent professionals from moving ahead.(Career Strategies)
February 1, 2005... As a first line manager at Prudential in Atlanta, Gregory Morrison made sure he never missed the chairman's annual state of the company address. It was by invitation only for company officers at a location 10 miles from Morrison's worksite,...

The 75 most powerful African Americans in corporate America: meet 75 executives who hold tremendous clout in the world of business, including the 18 who earned CEO positions.(Special Report)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... CONSIDER THEM THE CORPORATE ELITE--an exclusive dub of high-powered black executives who determine the billion-dollar bottom lines and market values of the world's largest corporations. Just who are these dynamos? BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Most...

Executive education: the new school.(special advertising section)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2005... Executive education is big business. Companies spend millions of dollars a year to make sure their executives have the right skills to meet every business challenge. Most business schools--Harvard, Columbia and Howard universities among...

A 'Dash' to the finish: young doctor overcomes battle with life-threatening illness.(Trials And Triumphs)
February 1, 2005... As a second-year medical student at Howard University, Dr. William Dash faced a daunting challenge that he never anticipated. Instead of fighting to save the lives of others, the aspiring physician had to fight to save his own life. In 1998,...

Memos from the CEOs: marked urgent: Richard Parsons, Ann Fudge, and Ken Chenault offer powerful lessons in leadership.(Pep Talk)
February 1, 2005... When BLACK ENTERPRISE Editor-at-Large Caroline V. Clarke set out to write the powerful success book, Take A Lesson: Today's Black Achievers on How They Made It and What They Learned Along the Way (Wiley Books; $24.95), her premise was simple:...

Honor thy self.(Help Yourself)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I am a 38-year-old African American woman who is married with three children. I work part-time and attend school. My goal is to be successful and become an entrepreneur. However, I am tired of being my own enemy. I know that some of us...

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? What filing for bankruptcy really means.(Know Your Rights)
February 1, 2005... In 1994, Mia Conyer of Baltimore had dug herself into a financial hole. "I had a car that I had purchased at a very high interest rate of 24%," says the 36-year-old professional, who was 19 when she purchased the car. By the time she realized...

No credit? No problem! Here's how to get good credit if you don't have any.(Consumer Life)
February 1, 2005... These days, having good credit is far more important than simply having the ability to borrow money. Credit comes into play when you apply for a job or try to rent an apartment. Even auto insurance can be determined by your credit rating. ...

Travel plans gone awry; how to prepare for emergencies.(Consumer Alert)
February 1, 2005... Before you take that next international business trip, family vacation, or Caribbean cruise for two, make sure you're covered in case of emergency. Exploring insurance options and policies for airlines, hotels, and other venues may save you...

High-speed Web access: getting the best deals for your personal or business use.(Buying Power)
February 1, 2005... Time is money for business owners like Antuane Barnes. The principal of Some Assembly Required is constantly on the go with his company, which specializes in the assembly and delivery of a variety of products, including home, office, and patio...

Starting over.(Ask Your Advocate)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... QA I am rebuilding my credit with Capital One and would like to open an account with a bank that specializes in rebuilding credit. I would also like to know how to take advantage of banks that offer low interest rates. In addition, how can...

Deep sea diva: Rebecca Hunter holds her own under water.(Personal Passions)
February 1, 2005... Her logbook reads like the diary of a National Geographic adventurer: "battled murky waters in Fiji, trailed spotted eagle ray in Belize, encountered hammerhead shark in Egypt." These are modest jaunts compared to Rebecca Hunter's dive last...

Coming in from the cold: warm and inviting Swedish cuisine.(First-Class Ticket)
February 1, 2005... When tracking the world's best destinations for gastronomic pleasures. Sweden tops the list, Who knew? Yes, this Northern European country in the Eastern region of the Scandinavian Peninsula is racking up points for more than just Swedish...

Not just window dressing: the art of hanging a great curtain.(At Home)
February 1, 2005... A softer option to blinds and shutters, draperies are an accent with considerable weight. Curtains set the tone for a room and can add vibrancy to any area of your home. But like any accent piece, the right setting requires style expertise--or...

Register now.(Entrepreneurs Conference)
February 1, 2005... Early bird registration for the 10th annual Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference is under way. Join us May 18-22, 2005, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas. With this year's theme, "Seasons of Change: Taking Risks,...

Backtalk with scholar Dr. Cornel West.(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Cornel West, professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University, is one of our community's most gifted and thought-provoking intellectuals. In the 25 years since he earned his Ph.D. from Princeton, West has been writing,...