Black Enterprise articles from February 2009

Black Enterprise archives from February 2009

Why we're stepping up for Detroit.(2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference)
February 1, 2009... Last November, when we announced that Detroit would be the host city of our 2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, America's largest annual gathering of black entrepreneurs, there Were more than a few people who responded: Why Detroit?...

Reinvent yourself by firing yourself.
February 1, 2009... Every day we are bombarded by dire economic news. The most shocking headlines have come from the steady stream of reports On massive workforce layoffs in every industry imaginable, from media and financial services to manufacturing and...

We've really come a long way.(About This Issue)(Editorial)
February 1, 2009... In February 1988, BLACK ENTERPRISE unveiled "America's Hottest Black Managers." A list of 25 professionals, there was only one division president and not a single woman. In the Publisher's Page for that issue, Chairman and Publisher Earl G....

Unstoppable drive.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I AM BLESSED TO KNOW YOUR MAGAZINE, for you motivate and inspire your readers to go for their dreams. It's not one article, it's everything in your magazine that educates. My name is Michael Toran. I reside in Erie, Pennsylvania, and I stay on...

Good investing.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I SUBSCRIBED TO B.E. BACK IN 1998, and it has been my best investment to date. The articles are informative, inspirational, and motivating. It is enlightening to read about people of color who are doing amazing things in the world of business...

Gauging the weather.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I APPRECIATED THE ARTICLE about retirement cities that you included in your October 2008 issue ("20 Best Places to Retire"). I thought the criteria were thorough, and the cities you cited appear to have most of what any retiree would want. ...

And the debate continues ...(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... DR. KENNEY, I READ YOUR REMARKS in the November 2008 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE ("May The Best Man Win," Letters) and thought they were interesting. If you are waiting on an impartial analysis of both candidates and what their proposals would...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
February 1, 2009... IN "WENDELL PIERCE ON REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS," (BACKTALK, DECEMBER 2008), PIERCE'S AGE WAS INCORRECT, HE IS 45.

3 out of 10 families not earning enough to make ends meet.(Talking points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... With incomes on the decline and unemployment on the rise, families are finding it harder to make ends meet, reports the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. EPI's latest family budget data shows that 30% of all households...

Credit relief: too little, too late.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Even though President Barack Obama's economic agenda aims to help 27 million small business owners in the U.S., many entrepreneurs see it as a case of too little, too late. A survey by management consulting firm George S. May International Co....

Black college football coaches at 15-year low.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The number of African American coaches is the lowest it's been in 15 years. There are now four black head football coaches for all 120 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools (formerly Division I), down from six at the 2008 season open and eight...

Racial hate crimes down, anti-gay crimes up.(Talking points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... According to the most recent FBI hate crime statistics, racially motivated incidents were slightly down by 1% while there has been a surge in hate crimes against gays and lesbians, up 6%. Incidents of hate crimes include vandalism, threats or...

Getting more for your muni: municipal bonds are suddenly sexy. With higher yields than Treasuries and interest that's free from federal tax, a "muni" could be right for you.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORMALLY, MUNICIPAL BONDS ARE good deals for investors in high tax brackets, but they're not necessarily worthwhile for people with moderate incomes. But, of course, these are not normal times. "Today, municipal...

It's not easy being green: environmental friendliness does wonders for the planet, but is it good for your portfolio?
February 1, 2009... LIKE VIRTUALLY EVERY INVESTMENT tied to the stock market, so-called green mutual funds saw red in 2008. For many investors, simple economic survival this year will eclipse all urges to save the Earth. Still, in 2009, there is some hope that...

All that glitters is gold: despite a lackluster 2008, Joe Sterling sees gold stocks regaining their sparkle in 2009.(STOCK PICKS)
February 1, 2009... IF YOU THINK THE FINANCIAL MARKETS THREW FOLKS for a loop last year, imagine how gold investors felt. Gold has long been known as an asset that retains its value--even when the world is in turmoil. That's not how it appeared last summer,...

Money matters.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2009... I have a soda-bottle budget and champagne taste. I need to do something to put my extra money to work. I am looking to aggressively buy and sell stocks--buy today and possibly sell in two or three weeks, W. Allen Raleigh, NC It's...

6 ways to save: these tips will help you build a cash cushion in no time.(CONSUMER LIFE)
February 1, 2009... THE QUESTION "DO YOU WANT TO go to credit card hell?" lingered in Shaneyqwua Jarrett's mind for years after her father posed it when she was bombarded with credit card applications in college. Jarrett's parents had always paid for everything in...

Keeping old debts at bay: settlement requires credit bureaus to clean up reports.
February 1, 2009... A RECENT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT could help eliminate problems on the credit reports of many consumers who have filed for bankruptcy. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus must ensure all information on credit reports is accurate and...

Ask you advocate.(QA )(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2009... I lost my Social Security card. Can I get a new number? I'm afraid someone will find the card and ruin my credit. --T. Wu New York City Unfortunately, you can't get a new Social Security number. Unless you can provide evidence...

Designing a recession-proof future: marketing and branding agency looks to benefit from larger firms' economic woes.(Bella Lane Designs Inc.)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE FOR Bella Lane. It was an economic recession during the early 2000s that led the graphic designer to start a business, and it's another recession that's forcing her to switch gears. ...

A warm greeting: getting your card line to market.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHILE SHOPPING FOR MOTHER'S DAY CARDS FOR HER girlfriends several years ago, Heather A. Kollar says she discovered a void in the marketplace and decided to fill it. For three years Kollar wrote greeting card copy,...

A piece of the action: Angel investors and venture capitalists can help your company grow but it may cost you.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN AN IDEAL WORLD, BUSINESS OWNERS CAN GET THE capital they need from bank loans or their own savings. And as long as the debts are paid, business owners remain business owners--perhaps sole owners. ...

Savvy solutions.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2009... I am using my 26 years of customer service experience to develop a consultant, concierge, and personal assistant business. How do I advertise, other than word of mouth, to build my clientele? --C. Landry Conyers, GA How does...

Turbocharging efficiency: high-end-auto detailer uses customer relationship management to cut costs, boost business.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE AUTO DETAILING BUSINESS IS typically a hotbed of cool technologies, with popular shows such as MTV's Pimp My Ride opening viewers' eyes to the wealth of products and services that can turn a regular ride into a...

A little dot will do: DataDots provide next-generation tech security. (TECH NEWS).
February 1, 2009... IN THE SAME WAY THAT HUMAN DNA is used to establish identity, new technology called DataDots serve as DNA for tech devices. Developed by DataDot Technology (www.datadotdna.com), DataDots are the size of sand grains, and can contain...

Cyberwise.(entrepreneur's strategy)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2009... As an entrepreneur t am having a tough time thinking of ways to stay competitive in the current climate. What's worse, I don't have a staff to help me strategize. What can I do? --J. Franklin Via E-mail Great question. As an...

Managing across the board: a savvy lawyer explains why cross-functional leadership provides the best opportunities for organizational growth.(MARCEA BLAND LLOYD)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many types of companies and industries have recognized the value in breaking down silos between functional areas. What is the importance of cross-functional management to a company? In a complex and dynamic...

The new demand for executives: what you need to know about adapting and traveling abroad.(MAKING CONNECTIONS)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TRAVELING ABROAD FOR BUSINESS is no longer just a professional perk. "In a global economy, it's a mandatory part of doing business at the executive management level," offers Trudy Bourgeois, executive career coach...

The people advantage: an HR executive employs a new company strategy.(human resource adviser, Rodney Scaife)
February 1, 2009... SENIOR EXECUTIVES AT WEB GIANT AOL know that their most valuable and competitive asset is their employees. In an effort to differentiate their company from encroaching market rivals and solidify its position in the sector, AOL tapped Rodney...

Since you asked.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... I'm a stay-at-home mom who wants to return to work. My degree is in information systems, and with technology changing so rapidly it has been difficult to get interviews. I was wondering if I should pursue an M.B.A. or study for technology...

Michael Jones.(president of Public Broadcasting Service)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: President and Chief Executive Officer Organization: Public Broadcasting Service Location: Arlington, VA Former Position: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer,...

Bill Whitman.(vice president of McDonald's USA)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Vice President of Communications Organization: McDonald's USA Location: Oakbrook, IL Responsibilities: Oversees management communications, internal and external communications, media...

Stacey Mobley.(senior counsel of Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky L.L.P.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... New Position: Senior Counsel Organization: Dickstein Shapiro L.L.P. Location: Washington, D.C. Responsibilities: Consumer protection counseling, antitrust and data-breach investigations, and recruitment of minority lawyers ...

Wendy Lewis.(new vice president fot Diversity)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Senior Vice President for Diversity and Strategic Alliances Organization: Major League Baseball location: New York City Responsibilities: Oversee workforce and supplier...

Clarence Kegler.(vice president for Michelin)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... New Position: Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Organization: Michelin, North America Location: Greenville, SC Responsibilities: Oversee all diversity initiatives Former Position: Plant Manager ...

Breaking barriers in the workplace: how professionals with disabilities are working to benefit their companies bottom line.(CORPORATE INITIATIVES)
February 1, 2009... JAMES HARPER CONTRACTED POLIO FROM A SICK RELAtive when he was just 11 months old. The disease weakened his leg muscles causing him to spend most of his childhood undergoing reconstructive surgeries. But with therapy and the assistance of...

Building partnerships: how one minority supplier has built a sustained relationship for more than a decade.(Manufacturers Industrial Group, Johnson Controls Inc.)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE KEY TO GOOD BUSINESS IS AN award-winning team. Manufacturers Industrial Group, (No. 22 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list $233 million in revenues) one of Johnson Controls Inc.'s top minority suppliers, has...

A management program for future leaders.(WORTH CHECKING OUT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... AS BUSINESSES TODAY LOOK TO attract leaders who will not only improve and transform enterprise but inspire social change, Yale School of Management hopes to contribute to the pipeline of such talent through its Pre-MBA Leadership Program....

Opportunity knocks: Tyre Sperling took advantage of a down cycle to buy his first home below market price.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Principle No. 5 I will use homeownership as a foundation for building wealth TYRE SPERLING DREAMED OF OWNING HIS OWN HOME as early as his senior year at Florida A&M University. The Los Angeles native...

Growing their wealth: Richelle and Niko Perazich seek strategies to expand their nest egg.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICHELLE PERAZICH IS A STICKLER for detail. Every day she looks at her spreadsheet to make sure she and husband Niko are staying within their budget. "I'm a little over the top," says Richelle, who talks gleefully...

Field of dreams: far from the NFL gridiron of his past, Eugene Profit still outsmarts--and outhustles--his competitors.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EUGENE PROFIT'S FIRM IS AT A CROSSROADS. THE CEO OF PROFIT Management (No. 14 on the BE ASSET MANAGERS list with $1.36 billion in assets under management) wants to diversify his client base to gain more corporate...

There's no place like home: looking for a fresh start? Affordable home-based franchises offer lucrative business opportunities.( )
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KWAME TUTUH'S DAYS OF TEACHING SECOND GRADE are over, but on a typical weekday he still arrives at school well before the bell rings. As an Ident-A-Kid franchisee in Fulton County, Georgia, Tutuh now teaches child...

A woman's guide to managing money: different life stages, different financial needs. Whatever your situation, here's what you need to know now.(WOMEN & MONEY [PART 1 OF A SERIES])
February 1, 2009... THE TRADITIONAL LEAVE IT TO BEAVER-STYLE OF MARRIAGE OF the 1950s had the husband in charge of work and the family investments, while the wife headed up the house and the kids. Old habits are hard to shake, and even in 2009, some women still...

The new Caribbean economy: even during hard times, business and investing opportunities wait to be uncovered on the islands.(SPECIAL REPORT)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] A KEEN OBSERVER OF GROWING MARKETS IN THE DOMINICAN Republic and Puerto Rico, Russell Rainey realized long ago that exporting goods and services to the Caribbean could keep his company competitive. Rainey...

The 100 most powerful executives in corporate America: we identify the best and brightest leaders in business and industry.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OUR NATION HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN IN A RECESSION FOR roughly a year--one already characterized as the most brutal in decades. At press time, 10 million Americans were out of work--6.1% of whites, 11.2 % of blacks....

Skepticism vs. cynicism: while occasional doubt can lead to smart decisions, pure pessimism can block success.
February 1, 2009... AS PRESIDENT OF THE FRANCISCAN Center, a Baltimore-based organization providing services to the poor, Karen Heyward-West often butted heads with the organization's board of trustees over how best to help its clients become self-sufficient. In...

No risk or know risk? Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead you in the right direction.
February 1, 2009... AS A WORLD-RENOWNED SURGEON, Dr. Benjamin Carson Sr. knows firsthand that there's never room for error in the operating room. Outside the O.R. it's a different story. "Extraordinary success is rarely achieved without taking chances," says...

Pep talk.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2009... I'm a retired teacher who moved across the country to help my daughter with her kids. Working with my grandchildren, both were reading when they entered kindergarten. I've written a book about my method. What can I do to reach those parents who...

A change of pace: Tahinde Frederick gets a lifestyle upgrade in Bermuda.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TAHINDE FREDERICK WAS NETWORKING AT A BUSINESS conference in Bermuda in 2006 when she decided to test career prospects there. An assistant vice president at an insurer in New York, she sent her resume out just to...

Black Enterprise, along with title sponsors General Motors and ExxonMobil, is hosting its annual Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo in the Motor City!(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)(Conference news)
February 1, 2009... BLACK ENTERPRISE, along with title sponsors General Motors and ExxonMobil, is hosting its annual Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo in the Motor City! This year's conference will take place May 17-20, 2009 at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance...

B.E. on campus.(Black Enterprise)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The 2008-2009 BLACK ENTERPRISE College Rep Team is in full force on several notable campuses across the nation! They are Justin Houser (Morehouse), Christel Eugene (Grambling State), Donovan Harrison-Calicker (Berea), Jasmine Curry (Morgan...

Wealth for Life.(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Have you noticed our newly minted Wealth for Life campaign? its 10 principles can give you true power over your finances. Our step-by-step guide will help you build, preserve, and pass down wealth for generations to come. You'll be able to...

Blackenterprise.com.(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Personalize your blackenterprise.com experience by taking full advantage of the ability to share! Really enjoy a blog? Share it! Like a video? Share it! Love a particular article? That's right... share it! Post articles and videos to your...

Backtalk with Judge Greg Mathis.(Interview)
February 1, 2009... JUDGE GREG MATHIS UNDERSTANDS BOTH SIDES of the criminal justice system. For more than 10 years, the street thug-turned-judge has used his nationally syndicated, award-winning court TV show to inject his no-holds-barred social, political--and...