Black Enterprise articles from February 2008

Black Enterprise archives from February 2008

Pioneers and trailblazer.(Then & Now)
February 1, 2008... This Black History Month, we thought it fitting to highlight the adventurously entrepreneurial, revolutionary inventions and influences of our people--people who who did not listen as others said they were incapable. [ILLUSTRATIONS...

Black Enterprise Podcast.(Web Features)
February 1, 2008... The BLACK ENTERPRISE Podcast is a great way to get your daily dose of personal finance, homeownership, consumer, career and small business tips. Listen each day as the BE editors guide you through the maze of financial fitness: *...

Why board service matters.(publisher's page)
February 1, 2008... When BLACK ENTERPRISE published its first exclusive report on black board service in 1973, there were 72 African Americans serving on the boards of about 100 corporations. In the ensuing years, black Americans have established a small but...

Bringing B.E. to your T.V.(About This Issue)(Black Enterprise Business Report)
February 1, 2008... This month we're shedding light on the influence that blacks wield on the corporate boards of America's 250 largest publicly traded companies. But even before this issue hit the newsstands, we were hard at work bringing you the inside scoop on...

College planning? More than money.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... I enjoyed reading and participating in the November 2007 article on 529 college savings plans ("Classroom Cash"). It was well-written and very informative. One thought: Saving for college is just one aspect of planning for college, and I think...

A little planning goes a long way.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE CHAMBERS FAMILY OVER THE loss of their daughter ('After the Storm," November 2007). It's a terrible thing families have to go through, but the expenses incurred are unavoidable. I am constantly surprised at the...

Penny-wise or pound-foolish?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... THIS IS A RESPONSE TO THE LETTER TITLED "Temporary Insanity" from your November 2007 Letters column. There is nothing wrong with BLACK ENTERPRISE running the article "The Best of Everything." Does that article belong in BE? I say yes, it does....

Making positives out of negatives.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In response to your address "Enough is Enough" (Publisher's Page, November 2007), I wholeheartedly agree with your position that black folks need to be less accepting of entertainment and social conditions that...

Preaching to the choir.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... I AM WRITING TO THANK MR. Graves for offering suggestions as to how we can project a more realistic and better black image ("Enough is Enough," Publisher's Page, November 2007). BLACK ENTERPRISE reaches a lot of people, but not enough of our...

Credibility accountability.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... HAVING BEEN A BLACK ENTERPRISE subscriber for more than 10 years, I think your article, "The Best of Everything," (August 2007) would have had better credibility if it had been written from the viewpoint of someone in the business world who had...

Love and honor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... ON BEHALF OF WIVES, MOTHERS, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and black women in particular, I wish to express my gratitude for your editorial tribute to Barbara Graves and others in the 2007 December issue ("My Wife, My Partner," Publisher's...

RS Information Systems signs buyout deal: CEO Rodney Hunt to sell B.E. Company of the Year.(B.E. 100s)
February 1, 2008... RS INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC. (NO. 16 ON THE BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $328 million in sales) has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Wyle, a privately held provider of high-tech aerospace engineering, testing, and research...

Black on black business: Moorehead buys Hank Aaron's Toyota Dealership.(B.E. 100s)(Thomas A. Moorehead of BMW/MINI acquires Hank Aaron Toyota)
February 1, 2008... IN A BE 100s DEAL, BMW/MINI OF STERLING, VIRGINIA (No. 20 on the BE AUTO DEALER 100 list with $122.3 million in sales) acquired Hank Aaron Toyota in McDonough, Georgia, for $18 million. As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Hank L. Aaron...

ICV capital's new investment: adds promotional company to its portfolio.(B.E. 100s)(Press-A-Print International L.L.C.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... NEW YORK CITY-BASED PRIVATE equity investment firm ICV Capital Partners L.L.C announced in October that it had acquired Press-A-Print International L.L.C, a promotional products company with roughly $18 million in revenues. Press-A-Print joins...

Training the troops: battlefield simulations bring growth to UNITECH.(B.E. 100s)(Universal Systems and Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY (UNITECH) (No. 52 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $78.25 million in sales) reported that it received a total of more than $45 million in new Department of Defense orders during September and October,...

CEO tapped for Perrier, Poland springs: John J. Harris takes the helm of Nestle Waters.(POWER PLAYER)
February 1, 2008... JOHN J. HARRIS IS HOPING TO INCREASE NESTLE'S share of the multibillion-dollar bottled water industry. The former CEO of Nestle Purina Europe was recently named CEO of Nestle Waters, where he will oversee a $1 billion budget and some 32,000...

Blacks go broadband: high-speed Internet adoption grows among African Americans.(FACTS & FIGURES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS with broadband Interact connections has pearly tripled since 2005. A survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that 40% of African American homes had a high-speed Internet connection in 2007, up...

Are you ready to do it yourself? Discipline and self-study can help you profit from online trading.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)(Website list)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JAMES JOHNSON SCOFFS AT THE IDEA THAT INVESTING should be left to professionals. "We all have at our fingertips, via the Internet, 80% to 90% of the tools the professionals say they have," says the 54-year-old...

Beyond earnings: Silas Myers says growth investing isn't all about chasing momentum.(STOCK PICKS)(Mar Vista Investment Partners)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... From all outward signs, what we can expect from the stock market in the months ahead may be disconcerting to investors Case in point: The S&P 500's 4% drop in November was the worst monthly showing since 2002. Prognosticators foresee a bear...

Taking flight: aerospace helped Alfred Jackson's portfolio take off.(STOCK UPDATE)(Davis Hamilton Jackson & Associates L.P.)
February 1, 2008... IT LOOKS LIKE FORMER NFL WIDE RECEIVER ALFRED Jackson, now a principal with Houston-based Davis Hamilton Jackson & Associates L.P., has transferred his deft touch to the investing arena. The portfolio that Jackson assembled has climbed 29.5%,...

On their own: Bronx high school students open a bank branch.(MONEY MANAGEMENT)(North Fork Bank)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EUNICE SOMUAH HAD NEVER BEEN ON A JOB INTERVIEW before. The 19-year-old senior at Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology in New York City knew this was one she had to ace: North Fork Bank, a division...

A precious resource: investing in the fate of fresh water.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)
February 1, 2008... The price of oil may be flirting with $100 a barrel, but water may be more precious in the years to come. The earth's supply of drinkable water is on the decline, yet the world population is on the rise, at 6.6 billion and counting. ...

In times of need.(MONEY MATTERS)(how to avoid penalties in your defined contribution plan)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] QA I am in my 30s and was recently laid off. I have $50,000 in a pension account with my former employer. Can I withdraw the money to pay my mortgage without paying a penalty. --C. Levine Via the...

The right remedy: entrepreneur's success is a matter of life and death.(MAKING IT)(Leah Brown's Aten Solutions Inc.)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... LEAH BROWN IS HELPING TO SAVE LIVES. WHEN PHARMACEUTICAL companies want to conduct clinical trials to see if specific drugs or treatments will relieve certain symptoms, her company, Aten Solutions Inc., finds the staff to make it happen. "Our...

A late night run: after-hours pediatric practice fills void for affordable urgent care.(STARTING UP)(Night Light After Hours Pediatrics)
February 1, 2008... A visit to a hospital emergency room can be a traumatic experience for both parents and their little ones. Witnessing this made it clear to Dr. Anastasia Gentles, a practicing pediatrician, that there must be a better alternative. "I saw a need...

Revitalizing real estate: couple sails through sea of housing woes.(MAKING IT)(Christopher Garlin and Regina Mincey-Garlin of RCG Cos. L.L.C.)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ASK CHRISTOPHER GABLIN AND REGINA MINCEY-GARLIN why their small real estate firm is thriving while major lenders and two billion-dollar hedge funds file for bankruptcy protection, and they credit their mission: to...

Laying the groundwork: in developing personnel, the work takes place beforehand.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
February 1, 2008... HIRING THE RIGHT EMPLOYEES IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL COMPANIES, BUT FOR small-business owners, a bad hiring decision can be lethal. "Strategy and execution around hiring will make or break a small business," says Darrell Williams, founder of...

The business of beauty.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... QA I am a mother of two pursuing my dream of opening a nail salon, but now I feel as if I have hit a brick wall. have my manicurist license and plan to take more classes to receive my esthetician license. Not knowing my next step, I am...

Breaking records: Harlem's DigiWaxx uses technology to redefine the music industry.(BLACK DIGERATI)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COREY "CL" LLEWELLYN, 30, WAS BARELY OUT OF HIS TEENS when he decided he wanted to be a major player in the music industry. As an intern in 1995, he spent most of his time lugging clothes from video shoots back to...

Double duty.(B.E. REVIEWS)(Pantech Duo smart phone)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... A NEW CLASS OF CELL PHONES IS attempting to combine the multiple features of a consumer phone with the highspeed data functions of a Blackberry-style smartphone. Pantech Wireless Inc.'s new Duo (www.pantecbduo.com), a doubleslider unit, fits...

HDTV to go.(B.E. REVIEWS)(Pinnacle Systems PCTV HD Ultimate Stick)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... YOU'VE PROBABLY HAD ONE OF THOSE moments at time airport when you wish you could switch the waiting-area TV to something other than the screaming pundits. While you can't do anything about that, you can escape the madness: Outfit your notebook...

Growing grass roots online: have bloggers and social networks triggered a new protest movement?(TECH NEWS)
February 1, 2008... NATIONAL COVERAGE OF THE "JENA 6" CASE HAS LULLED significantly since the September marches on the Louisiana town. But before and after the story emerged, participants used social networking sites such as Facebook, along with e-mail and text...

Make relationships count: CRM software that works.(E-BUSINESS)(customer relationship management software)(Website list)
February 1, 2008... IN THE OLD DAYS, ALL YOU NEEDED TO KEEP TRACK OF CUSTOMERS was a Rolodex. But with the Internet, mobile technology, and globalization, the world of customer relations has expanded. Fortunately, customer relationship management (CRM) software...

Mobile snapshots.(CYBERWISE)(using your mobile phone's camera)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... QA I know that digital cameras are now standard on most cell phones, but besides taking pictures of business contacts (who never really want to be photographed) and snapping random shots to send occasionally to my friends, what can I do with...

Staying on top: a seasoned professional offers strategies for sharpening your game--on and off the job.(EXECUTIVE SUITE)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Several years ago, you decided to take a break from corporate America. After you left, what did you do to stay current with what was going on in your company? I maintained some relationships with folks I was...

Staying engaged.(ACTION PLAN)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... ANDRE HUGHES, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HUMAN CAPITAL FOR Accenture, says Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need (Currency; $16.95) provides a colorful blueprint for constructing an all-star roster of contacts...

Location, location.(employee relocation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... WILLING TO TRAVEL TO GAIN experience? Good, because overseas assignments are rapidly increasing. According to an annual survey published by GMAC Global Relocation Services, an employee relocation and assignment management services firm, more...

Technically speaking.(ACTION PLAN)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... SUSTAINING PROFITABILITY IN A TECHNOLOGY MARKET RIFE with commoditization, long sales cycles, and short shelf lives proved challenging for Texas Instrument's Marketing Manager Gerard Andrews. "In this market-driven industry, a...

Go team? Why building a cohesive organization is a necessary exercise.(EXECUTIVE MEMO)
February 1, 2008... When key personnel began leaving the volunteer nonprofit he directed, Thomas Beauford, a vice president with HSBC bank in Buffalo, New York was determined to turn around the organization. But how do you get workers with different personalities,...

Follow my lead.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(head start for aspiring financial advisers)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... QA I am a 27-year-old elementary school teacher who's passionate about educating children, but I'd also like to develop an expertise in financial education and teach single, black, professional women with modest incomes. I don't have any...

Danielle Cherry.(On The MOVE)(SMG Multicultural)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Cultural Activation Development Director Organization: SMG Multicultural, a division of Starcom MediaVest Group Location: New York Responsibilities: Increase knowledge and interest in...

Helga Greenfield.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... New Position: Associate Vice President for Advancement Operations Organization: Spelman College Location: Atlanta Responsibilities: Advancing operations in support of ongoing relations and fundraising programs Former Position:...

Lori Anne Douglass, Esq.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Partner, Trusts and Estates and Wealth Preservation Organization: Moses & Singer L.L.P. Location: New York Responsibilities: Concentrating in asset protection, estate and business...

Baron D. Thrower.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Senior Vice President, General Manager Organization: Liberty Mutual Location: Portsmouth, NH Responsibilities: Managing the information systems infrastructure technology personnel as well...

Stephen Harris.(On The MOVE)(A&E Television Network)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Director, Nonfiction and Alternative Programming Organization: A&E Television Network Location: New York Responsibilities: Oversees development and production of nonfiction, alternative,...

Convention calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hands for Hope Starlight Jazz & Serenade Concert Feb. 1; North Hollywood, CA, 818-763-4673; www.hands4hope.org General Motors Minority Dealers Association Annual GMHDA Scholarship & Awards Gala Feb. 8;...

Moving into the digital space: how new media create opportunities for minorities.(TRENDS)(I Am Blackness on ON Networks)
February 1, 2008... WHEN A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT IN an after-school program at the University of California, Berkeley equated academic success with "acting white," it left an impression on tutor Carrletta Lindsay, an independent producer with San...

Negotiating muscle.(WORTH CHECKING OUT ...)(Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2008... When it comes to playing and succeeding at the corporate game, the art of negotiating is still a tough barrier for women. The book Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want (Bantam; $25) is a guide...

Destination Africa: a look at how tourism could change the face and economics of Africa.(WORLDVIEW)
February 1, 2008... AFRICAN COUNTRIES ARE ENJOYING A HIGHER GROWTH rate in international tourism arrivals than the global average, thanks in part to more sophisticated travelers and their desire for more unique experiences. And African governments are increasingly...

Procurement benefits.(THE DIVERSITY Q)(Interview)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY 18% OF ALL U.S. FIRMS, ACCORDING TO THE latest data issued in a report by the Small Business Administration, titled Minorities in Business: A Demographic Review of Minority Business Ownership....

Together we stand: the National Black Theatre Festival is a driving force behind growing black theater companies.(Black Wealth Initiative: SECURING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TWO MONTHS BEFORE 60,000 BLACK playwrights, costume designers, stage managers, and performers descended on Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the National Black Theatre Festival suffered a tragedy. Its founder, artistic...

Getting back on track: newlyweds LaToya and David Griffin find themselves back in credit card debt.(Financial Fitness Contest Winner No. 88)
February 1, 2008... THE VIRGINIA BEACH COUNTRY CLUB wedding of LaToya and David Griffin left a lifetime of memories, but the couple's $11,000 bill has yet to vanish. They had their dream wedding last August. Now, the newlyweds are trying to dig out from under an...

Race & gender: when it comes to discrimination cases, are black women left to fend for themselves?(SPECIAL REPORT)
February 1, 2008... WHEN DON IMUS CALLED THE RUTGERS women's basketball team "nappy-headed headed hos" and other derogatory names last year, there was justified public outcry. In fact, Rev. Al Sharpton led the campaign to get a public apology from the shock jock...

Your guide to love & money: Black Enterprise kicks off its series on marriage and money management.(LOVE & MONEY (PART 1 OF 3))
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT DO YOU WHEN YOU FIND out the spouse you have promised to love and cherish--in good times and bad--once flied for bankruptcy and is still thousands of dollars in debt? Even worse, pan officers refuse to provide...

We do: copreneurs simultaneously build happy marriages and thriving enterprises.(LOVE & MONEY (PART 1 OR 3))
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IT'S FAR FROM UNCOMMON. ACTUALLY, there were 2.7 million businesses owned equally by a male-female team in 2002, according to the latest studies by the U.S. Census Bureau. Of those, about 79,000 were black-owned....

The new schools: the most innovative and progressive programs offer the keys to increasing your professional market value.(EXECUTIVE EDUCATION)(Table)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXECUTIVES AT THE TOP of their careers must stay in step with the market's most important currency--information. Whether it's updating business knowledge, understanding the latest market trends, gaining perspectives...

Power in the boardroom: our exclusive list of black corporate directors at America's 250 largest companies.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CONSIDER THEN THE GUARDIANS of shareholder value. Charged with protecting trillions in assets, the directors who serve on the boards of the nation's largest corporations play the most critical role in business...

Parsons' time: in an exclusive interview, Time Warner Chairman Richard D. Parsons discusses his business accomplishments, his new role, and diversity in corporate America.(SPECIAL REPORT: POWER IN THE BOARDROOM)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In his five years as CEO of Time Warner, Richard D. Parsons tamed a sprawling, unruly media octopus. Silencing early critics, he took a rudderless company with disparate holdings--such as Warner Bros. studios, HBO,...

The labor secretary: Alexis Herman.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: Chair and CEO, New Ventures Inc. Boards: The Coca-Cola Co., Entergy Inc., and Cummins Inc. For Alexis Herman, there's no substitute for board oversight and protocol when it comes to pushing workforce...

The power broker: Vernon E. Jordan Jr.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: Senior Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. Boards: American Express Co., Xerox Corp. This grandson of a sharecropper has bridged business politics and public service for near In the process, he's...

The marketing maven: Joyce M. Roche.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: President and CEO Girls Inc. Boards: AT&T Inc., Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., Macy's Inc. "Consumer marketing maven" perfectly depicts Girls Inc. President and CEO Joyce M. Roche. It was through a search...

The activist: John W. Rogers Jr.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: Chairman and CEO, Ariel Capital Management L.L.C. Boards: McDonald's Corp., Exelon Corp., Aon Corp. When John W. Rogers Jr. performs his duties as a corporate director, one of his guides is the copy of...

The public servant: Franklin A. Thomas.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: Consultant, The Study Group Board: Citigroup Inc., Alcoa Inc. Franklin Thomas' bound memberships evolved from public service. It was 1967, and the young attorney was tapped to run Bedford Stuyvesant...

The number cruncher: Christopher Williams.(BE's Registry of Corporate Directors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title: Chairman and CEO, Williams Capital Group L.P.; Chairman and CEO, Williams Capital Management L.L.C. Boards: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Christopher Williams' financial prowess would make him a valuable...

Let it shine: organization helps disadvantaged girls see their worth.(EVERYDAY HERO)(Honey Shine)(Organization overview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS SAY, IF THEY CAN KEEP YOU uneducated, they can control you,' says Tracy Wilson Mourning, who grew up in Miami, Cincinnati, and later Las Vegas, the child of a single mother. Wilson...

He said, she said: stay clear of gossip in the workplace with a mature attitude.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)
February 1, 2008... As employees strive to achieve a healthy work-life balance by curtailing bad habits such as junk food, alcohol, or nicotine, one impulse that often falls under the radar, yet can be just as addictive and cancerous, goes unaddressed: gossiping....

Getting past the past.(PEP TALK)(seeking employment despite criminal record)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... QA I have a bachelor's degree and I am currently working on certification to gain additional expertise in my field. Four years ago, I was convicted of copyright infringement, making me a convicted felon. What options are there for someone in my...

Five low-cost ways to reduce your heating Bill: keep your family--and your pockets--warm this winter.(SECRET SAVINGS)
February 1, 2008... HEATING COSTS ARE SKYROCKETING. HOUSEHOLDS will shell out a whopping $986 for heating this winter, up from $889 in the 20%-2007 season--a near 11% increase. What's more, prices can spike as high as $200 in February because of the chilly...

Debt negotiation tips: talk your way to financial freedom.(CREDIT MANAGEMENT)
February 1, 2008... As you remove decorations and pack away the tree, it's likely that bills from your holiday shopping spree are starting to pour in. About 15% of consumers in the United States carry total credit card balances of more than $10,000, according to...

Bibliophile's delight: link to free books on the web.(PRICELESS RESOURCES)(Website list)
February 1, 2008... If your wallet is taking a hit as a result of an insatiable love for books, worry no more. You can add to your growing collection or find a new home for your old books without the guilt. There is a plethora of Websites that will indulge your...

Giving credit the cold shoulder.(ASK YOUR ADVOCATE)(credit freezing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... QA I've been hearing a lot about credit freezing. What is it? When is it a good idea to freeze your credit? --T. Pettaway Bronx, NY A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, prevents someone from opening an account in your...

An easy read: Elaine Meryl Brown offers authentic stores.(PERSONAL PASSIONS)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BY DAY, ELAINE MERYL BROWN IS STRUCTURED AND strategic, charged with in-house brand marketing video production as vice president of special markets for HBO's creative services division. But, at day's end, she starts...

Roll up and go.(FINER THINGS)(John Allan Roll Up)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... JOHN ALLAN (www.johnallans.com) is well regarded in the areas of men's grooming and male accessories. His latest convenience is the Roll Up. Made from genuine leather, this carry-all kit comes with two-ounce bottles of shampoo, exfoliating...

A loftier stay.(FINER THINGS)(Dorchester Hotel)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... THE DORCHESTER IN LONDON, (www.thedorchester.com), a historic, luxurious hotel property, is now ready to host its guests in its newly renovated rooftop suites. Pictured is the Terrace Suite, which overlooks Hyde Park. Its most indulgent feature...

Packing chic.(FINER THINGS)(Angela Theodora's Carlyle and Savoy bags)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THEY ARE THE HEIGHT OF UTILITARIAN FASHION: These bags look good, but they also work for you. Angela Theodora's (www.angelatheodora.com) leather overnighters, with a variety of smart compartments, are perfect for a...

A mystical journey: Taos offers a serene mix of culture, history, and escapism.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)(City overview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON ANY GIVEN MORNING IN HISTORIC TAOS PLAZA, A young man sits under a rotunda, sheltered from the northern New Mexico sun. He's putting together fragrant sagebrush smudging sticks--burned to cleanse the air of...

Entrepreneurs Conference.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Conference news)
February 1, 2008... Map out your blueprint for success at the 2008 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by General Motors, May 14-17 at the Charlotte Westin Hotel and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Are you ready to...

Women of power summit.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steve Harvey, host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show, will put his power forward this month when he takes his show to Palm Springs, California, to broadcast live from the third annual Women of Power Summit hosted by...

Tune in to B.E.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Black Enterprise)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Be sure to catch all-new episodes of Black Enterprise Business Report and Our World with Black Enterprise. BEBR is the only television show that provides you with news about the African American business world, and Our World delivers the...

BlackEnterprise.com.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We're delivering the goods directly to you) Hear from our experts anytime you'd like--anywhere you are. BLACK ENTERPRISE podcasts are now available online at www.blackenterprise.com/podcasts Visit today to listen and...

Backtalk with Carlos Watson.(Interview)
February 1, 2008... CNN's CARLOS WATSON HAS INTERVIEWED SCORES OF world-famous people, from presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani to athletes and entertainers such as Shaquille O'Neal and Diddy. His new one-hour show, Conversations with Carlos...