Black Enterprise articles from January 2004

Black Enterprise archives from January 2004

New Year's resolutions.(Web Features)(managing debt)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Start your New Year off on the right foot. If you were a smart spender this holiday season, you probably stayed within your spending budget on gifts for family and friends. But if the holiday season got the best of you--and we're all guilty...

Find a job.(Web Features)(online Career Center)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... During this economy, we are experiencing the best and worst of times. But while corporate downsizing is making for a bleak future, there are still career opportunities to be found. Visit our online Career Center today to find positions that...

Resource line.(Web Columns)
January 1, 2004... Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at blackenterprise.com Interactive Media Editor Lewis' column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding investors. lewisl@...

Read the fine print.(Web Columns)
January 1, 2004... Want to know what's going on with the black business community? Features Editor Hughes tracks the progress of the BE 100s and gives insight into issues affecting African Americans on Capitol Hill. hughesa@ blackenterptise.com

Franchise Finder.(Web Tools)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Want to become an entrepreneur but don't know where to start? Use our FREE Franchise Finder[TM], your ultimate business start up resource, to locate franchise and business opportunities. Select franchise that interest you based on the category...

Get $25 when you invest.(Web Tools)(ShareBuilder)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... ShareBuilder and blackenterprise.com are offering investors an innovative way to invest online through automatic, recurring dollar-based investments. With this limited-time offer, we'll give you $25 once you start investing with...

When will 'content of character' count?(Publisher's Page)(employment discrimination)
January 1, 2004... It is good, natural, and perhaps even necessary to enter a new year with a sense of optimistic anticipation. Indeed, after more than two years of coping with an economic downturn, scandal on Wall Street, the specter of terrorism, and the harsh...

About this issue.(Black Enterprise wins Gold Editorial Excellence Award)(Editorial)
January 1, 2004... Each year, the gala dinner for the Folio Celebration of Excellence Awards recognizes magazines that have achieved excellence in everything from editorial content to typography. This year, BLACK ENTERPRISE: brought home the Gold Editorial...

A woman's worth.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR VALUABLE magazine for many years. I would like to thank you for your beautiful and informative works on women and their finances ("A Man Is Not A Plan," October 2003). I had the privilege of speaking to an Atlanta group...

The right tool.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... BLACK ENTERPRISE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, So I decided to begin the "Link of Knowledge Chain" for my fellow community members. I've been an avid reader of BE since 1993 (as a high school junior in Flint, Michigan) and I have utilized every issue...

The 'C' list.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... LAURA EGODIGWE'S LIST OF THE CREDENTIALS which distinguish the three major categories of career experts--counselors, consultants and coaches--could well include another 'C' word: culture. (See "Watch Out for Career Scams;' Power-play, October...

Herman J. Russell passes torch: construction icon steps down from CEO post and transfers reins to youngest son.(B.E. 100s)(Michael Russell appointed)
January 1, 2004... The torch was passed at one of the nation's largest black-owned companies, H.J. Russell & Co. (No. 11 on the BE INDUSTIIIAL/SERVICE 100 list), when Founder and Chief Executive Officer Herman J. Russell stepped down and handed the reins to his...

The future PAC: looking to put black women in office from city hall to the White House.(Washington Report)(Women Building for the Future Political Action Committee)
January 1, 2004... In an ideal world, politicians van seats because their values most closely match those of their electorate. But in reality, the candidate who raises the most money usually has the greatest success. In the male-dominated political world, black...

Bill Gray to retire from UNCF.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... William H. Gray III (pictured above), former congressman and the first African American chairmen of the House Budget Committee, has resigned as president end CEO of the United Negro College Fund Inc. (UNCF). "I have had the wonderful...

Howard University's School of Communications has been named after John H. Johnson, publisher and chairman of Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Co.(Newsbytes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Howard University's School of Communications has been named after John H. Johnson, publisher and chairman of Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Co. (No. 5 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $424.7 million in sales), the largest...

Blacks give public schools a "C": education poll reveals differences of opinion among the races.(Facts & Figures)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Public schools were more highly rated in 2002 they were in 2000, but whites continue far happier with their schools than people of color. Most whites give their local public schools the highest grade, while the majority of African Americans and...

Portfolio course correction: after being downsized, Winifred James has adjusted her investment style to safeguard her retirement.(Investment Strategies)(Biography)
January 1, 2004... When Winnie James emigrated from the caribean to the United States to join her family in 1964, she was determined to maximize her potential and taste success in her new country. Her family was living in Crown Heights, a largely Caribbean and...

Back to technology: Patrick Lyons of NCM Capital Management says a tech binge is likely.(Private Screening)
January 1, 2004... Patrick Lyons, ah associate portfolio manager at Durham, North Carolina-based NCM Capital Management Group, s the battered and bruised technology sector, once the darling of Wall Street investors, is primed for a comeback. Lyons is charged with...

Charts show the way: money manager Terry Bedford's stock selections are going in the right direction.(Stock Update)
January 1, 2004... Terry Bedford, CEO of Bedford and Associates Research Group in Hamilton, Ontario, has always believed that "the only way to buy a stock is at a discount:' As a contrarian investor, Bedford likes to pick up companies when they are "out of favor,...

Finding the middle ground: mid-cap blend funds may help you hedge your bets as the economy recovers.(Mutual Fund Focus)
January 1, 2004... A fair number of market experts will tell You that middle-sized companies offer a unique opportunity under most market conditions. For one, they often go under appreciated by large brokerage firms until they report dazzling profit news. This...

Laid off & in debt.(Ask B.E.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q I was laid off two years ago. My husband has been working overtime trying to make up for the loss [in income]. We need to figure out how to cut our expenses. I prefer to do freelance work rather than go back into the corporate environment,...

Working on the highway: this entrepreneur minds her cash flow and the traffic flow.(Making It)(Bellandra B. Foster)
January 1, 2004... After birth other first child, Bellandra B. Foster decided to take on another challenge: becoming an entrepreneur. And with advanced degrees in engineering, it made sense for her to open a business in the male-dominated industry. Based in...

Getting the word out--inexpensively: how to get the most bang out of your marketing dollars.(Management Advice)
January 1, 2004... In 1995, Niles Communications Group Inc. (NCG), a New York based graphics communication and marketing firm, spent $25,000 on traditional marketing methods. However, the firm wasn't getting noticed. It decided to use innovative marketing...

Caribbean connection: mortgage firm looking to tap into the Latino market.(Making It)(RAD Financial Services Inc.)
January 1, 2004... The real estate market has been on fire lately. Dax Dunn can take the heat, and he's looking to crank it up. Dunn is founder and president of RAD Financial Services Inc., a firm that provides financing for mortgages, refinancing, and equity...

Calculating profits.(Savvy Solutions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q What are profit margins? How do I calculate them? --B. Turner Union City, CA A Profit margins measure how much money a company keeps after factoring in the cost of doing business (expenses). Since you want to remain profitable,...

Analyze this: Charles Phillips makes bold career move to Oracle as executive vice president.(Black Digerati)(Interview)
January 1, 2004... Theres no denying it: Charles Phillips appreciates a good challenge. For the past nine years the technology expert has been dubbed America's No. 1 software analyst by Institutional Investor and is listed on BE's "Top 50 African Americans on...

Own or rent? Revisiting the pros and cons of leasing vs. purchasing.(Tech News)(vehicles)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2004... It's obvious when you fly across the country for a tradeshow that you're going to rent a car, not buy one. And leasing a fleet of trucks might be a natural decision for your delivery company. But what about the technology throughout your firm?...

Snare and share alike: here's a quick and easy way to capture video.(Tech 1-2-3)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... If your company has cans of old movies to archive or new video to put on the Web, you need to find a way (somehow) to transfer the footage to the PC. Newer video cameras have ports that download video directly to ports on your PC-of to ports on...

Let's move.(Cyberwise)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q I've just purchased a new computer and need to move all my files and programs from the old PC to the new one. How can I do this without having to more every single file onto a floppy disk and then onto the new PC--or reinstall all my...

Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers.(Special Advertising Section)
January 1, 2004... Sedric Cade Investment Representative Edward Jones Sedric Cade loves his job as an investment representative for Edward Jones, but he also loves the way his job allows him the time to become involved in his community. Cade who...

When the work hurts--literally: overcoming the adversity of an on-the-job injury.(Making Connections)
January 1, 2004... On a brisk winter night, Eric Jackson and his partner sat in an unmarked patrol car and watched as four black males in their 20s driving a stolen car wheeled past them, stopping to talk to two drug dealers Jackson and his partner had under...

Pfizer Inc.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Yvonne Jackson has been named senior vice president of corporate human resources for Pfizer Inc., responsible for global human resources strategic development, leadership development, as well as compensation and benefits for 130,000 employees....

Burger King Corp.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Clyde Rucker has been appointed senior vice president of diversity for Burger King Corp. He will co-chair the company's Diversity Advisory Council with CEO Brad Blum and oversee business development for minority franchises and suppliers,...

Association of Academic Health Centers.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Barbara Ross-Lee has been named chairman of the board of the Association of Academic Health Centers, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of the people by advancing the leadership of academic health centers. Ross-Lee...

The Elizabeth Center for Cancer Detection.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Dr. Ellsworth R. Grant is the new medical director for The Elizabeth Center for Cancer Detection, a freestanding cancer screening facility in Los Angeles. A specialist in hematology/oncology, Grant hopes that by bringing a new mobile unit to...

Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII Host Committee.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Kim Davis is the vice president of external relations for the Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII Host Committee. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Host Committee's community relations efforts, including the emerging business program and...

Bank on real estate.(Since You Asked)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q I am a pharmaceutical professional with three to four years experience, who was laid off in December 200l and was able to secure a contract position until the following October. I am also consulting with a mortgage brokerage company on a...

Make the change today: our revised wealth-building principles emphasize homeownership and retirement planning.(Black Wealth Initiative)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In January 2000, BLACK ENTERPRISE introduced the Black Wealth initiative with the goal of making you wealthier. Since then, we've given out approximately 87,000 wealth building kits, spreading our message of fiscal responsibility through paying...

A home is the foundation for wealth: Daphne and Gary Dixon have used real estate to ensure their prosperity: the Dixons are showing their son and daughter how using real estate can help you reach your financial goals.(Black Wealth Initiative)
January 1, 2004... DAPHNE DIXON HAS A SECRET SHE'D LIKE TO SHARE: IT doesn't always take money to make money. Sometimes you can use real estate. Daphne, 43, a word processor, and her husband, Gary, 46, a mechanic, make approximate]y $50,000 a year combined,...

Getting more bang for your buck: the Whittington family is learning how to pull additional value from their incomes.(Family Finances)
January 1, 2004... THE WHITTINGTONS HAVE IT TOGETHER. DWAYNE AND Hermennia, who goes by "Mina." are both college educated, and Dwayne has an M. B. A. With an income of $120,000 the couple ranks among the top 6% of African American households. Furthermore, their...

Your safety is what drives us: auto safety tips from Allstate.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... When you've been around as long as Allstate, you learn a lot about helping to protect customers and prevent loss. We've taken more than 70 years worth of knowledge and created the Allstate Safety Connection [R]. It connects you to valuable...

Lloyd Ward: victim or villain? In an exclusive interview, the former U.S. Olympic Committee CEO tells his side about what led to his ouster. Was it a nasty campaign to discredit him, or did his unpopular business practices and management style derail his career?(B.E. Exclusive)(Interview)
January 1, 2004... IT WAS ALMOST BY ACCIDENT THAT Lloyd David Ward discovered that the press didn't welcome him as the new CEO of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). He had arrived at USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs. Colorado about, a week before...

The cure for what ails you: the economy hasn't fully recovered, but vital signs are improving. Position yourself to take advantage of the rebound.(2004 Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2004... JOSEPH "J.W." WILLIAMS' BUSINESS, STAIRCASE & MILLWORK CO., PROVIDES HIGH-END CUSTOMMADE staircases, predominantly for upscale homes. Though a luxury item mainly for those with high disposable incomes, Williams still expects business to boom...

Sugar blues: diabetes affects much more than your diet. And what you don't know about the disease could kill you.(Executive Health Guide)
January 1, 2004... FOR THE BETTER PART OF HIS 20s, KEVIN A. PEMBERTON SPENT five days a week in the gym and had the six-pack and bulging biceps to prove it. To all who knew him, he was the best example of health. But when a doctor's visit a year ago revealed that...

Profiles in courage: one lost a parent, one lost his health, one lost her way, and the other sought the family he never knew. Their honest and uplifting stories may help you face your own moment of truth.(Motivation)
January 1, 2004... Countless moments shape our lives, but a few define us. A single or loss, an event or crisis, even a book or news story can alter your course forever--or serve to solidify the path you're already on. It is that lasting, life-affirming...

In search of daddy: even in adulthood, fatherlessness has long-lasting effects.(Heal Thyself)
January 1, 2004... In the African American community, single mothers abound leaving many black children to grow up without experiencing a father's love. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 48% of black children lived with a single mother in 2002. The outcome can...

A dignified demeanor: no matter your path, let self-respect and pride light the way.(Common Ground)
January 1, 2004... "No race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem." --Booker T. Washington Frederica Kathleen Stephenson the matriarch of her family, was a resilient and beautiful woman with deep...

A soldier's story.(Help Yourself)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q I'm quickly approaching retirement from the military How do I turn my military procurement job into a civilian occupation? Also, my dream is to write novels for African American women. I have a lot of stories to tell about being a black woman...

Looting luggage: safeguarding your valuables against airport employee theft.(Consumer Life)
January 1, 2004... As a publicity executive, Jeanine Cooper Taylor jet sets across the country several times per month. On a recent trip from Miami New York City, she checked a silver, metal Michael Jordan bag, which was about the size of a briefcase. "When I...

Lost travel treasures: Unclaimed Baggage Center is a shopper's gold mine.(Buying Power)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Droves of consumers, from as far away as Russia and Australia, are flocking to a little-known treasure chest, called Unclaimed Baggage Center. It's a clearing house for lost and unclaimed airline baggage, nestled in the foothills of the...

Cosigner drama.(Ask Your Advocate)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q In 1992, my daughter graduated from college with a $3,000 student loan, which I helped her pay. However, she had another loan I was not aware of. The company is saying I cosigned for the loan, but I did not. Now they are trying to attach a...

Tracks and field: Carl Officer's train rides over hill and dale.(Personal Passions)
January 1, 2004... As the mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois, Carl Officer governs a population of approximately 31,542. As a minister and funeral director, he's offered blessings and read last rites for some of those same people. When he finds free time, he takes...

London links: Monique Jones clears the fog around the UK's capital city.(City Profiles)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Even before many grasped the concept of globalization, London had been leading the way. This modern metropolis with an old-world feel is ,one of the leading financial canters, home to more overseas banks than any other city. It's also a haven...

Sanderson.(Accommodations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Dubbed an "urban spa," the Sanderson is a boutique hotel in Soho--one of Londons' media hubs. All of the guest rooms have panoramic views of London and feature transparent glass-walled bathrooms and dressing rooms. Jones loves the hotel's...

The Ritz.(Accommodations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "The Ritz is your quintessential British hotel. It provides classic tea service [at three sittings] in the Palm Court. Reservations must be made at least two months in advance. Many of the hotel's rooms have views of Buckingham Palace, (150...

Number Sixteen.(Accommodations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Number Sixteen is a luxury bed and breakfast just a stones throw from the Natural History Museum and Harrods department store. "Number Sixteen is a converted Victorian town house in Kensington. South Kensington is the heart of the American...

Navarro's.(Restaurants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "Navarro's has great Spanish tapas in the heart of Soho" says Jones. The prawns in white wine, garlic, and parsley are one of the restaurant's signature dishes, (67 Charlotte St.; 011 44 20 7637 7713)

The Grill Room.(Restaurants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "The Grill Room at the Connaught Hotel is classic English dining," notes Jones, who says the restaurant's deep sage green carpeting and three-toned crystal light sconces provide an elegant and chic atmosphere. "it's good for business dinners."...

Green's Restaurant and Oyster Bar.(Restaurants)
January 1, 2004... At Green's Restaurant and Oyster Bar "order the fish and ships with mushy peas. It's great for a business lunch." (36 Duke St., St. James; 011 44 20 7930 4566)

Manjaro.(Restaurants)
January 1, 2004... "First Fridays at, Manjaro felt like I was in L.A, or Chicago. The restaurant serves contemporary West African cuisine. Out of the way for business, but worth checking out." (148 Holloway Rd.; 011 44 20 7609 2082)

Funky Buddha.(Nightspots)
January 1, 2004... "Funky Buddha is an international hip-hop scene with a great diversity of people:" (15 Berkeley Sq,; 011 44 20 7495 2596)

Jazz Cafe.(Nightspots)
January 1, 2004... "Jazz Cafe is where you can hear a lot of neo-Soul like The Roots and The Black Eyed Peas." (5 Parkway, Camden Town; 011 44 20 7916 6060)

"During rush hour, the tube is the easiest way to get around London.(Transportation)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "During rush hour, the tube is the easiest way to get around London. There's no air conditioning and there's limited service. Black cabs are the easiest for short trips off rush hour and after 12 a.m. I wouldn't recommend mini cabs. They are...

Traveling from the U.S., only a passport is required.(International Concerns)(to United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Traveling from the U.S., only a passport is required. The American Embassy is located at 24 Grosvenor Sq,; 011 44 20 7499.

As of press date, one British pound equaled $1.66.(Currency)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... As of press date, one British pound equaled $1.66. "I tend to use my credit card for all major expenses. For pocket money, I withdraw from a local ATM. You tend to get better rates from cards and ATM withdrawals."

Power living: Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy says executives don't get enough S.E.X.(In Good Health)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy admits to once being the classic corporate perfectionist. A Harvard M.B.A grad, Kennedy enjoyed a fast-paced media career. At 27 she became vice president of business development and operations at MTV Networks...

Networking is a click away: register early for our Entrepreneurs Conference and save big!(B.E. Entrepreneurs Conference)(Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference)
January 1, 2004... It isn't too late to nominate someone for the Small Business Awards, held this May 12-16, 2004, at the upcoming Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference, located at the Wyndham Anatole hotel in Dallas. It also isn't too early to...

Challenge yourself.(Extra Options)(Black Enterprise/AXA Advisors Ski Challenge)
January 1, 2004... Challenge yourself to a friendly downhill race of skiing against a BE 100s executive, starting at 11,480 feet, or network with potential clients along any one of Vail Cascade's 4,000 acres of incredible ski trails. At our annual Black...

The Afro-Latino connection.(Next Month)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Despite the extensive media coverage laying claim that Latinos are surpassing African Americans as the new "largest minority" group, few people have truly noted that a significant number of Latinos are of African descent. But what does this...