Black Enterprise articles from January 2006

Black Enterprise archives from January 2006

10 @ blackenterprise.com" it's our anniversary!(WEB FEATURES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... blackenterprise.com is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. One of the pioneers in the dotcom space, blackenterprise.com has come a long way. For the last decade, we have delivered news on BE 100s companies and broken stories pertinent...

Franchise finder: www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder.(WEB TOOLS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today!

Get $25 when you invest www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney.(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... ShareBuilder and blackenterprise.com allow you to invest online through automatic, recurring dollar-based investments.

Resource line.(WEB COLUMNS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 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.(online services list)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... 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...

Saving our young black men.(African Americans)
January 1, 2006... One of the most alarming trends threatening the economic stability and wealth-building capacity of African Americans is the declining presence of black men on our nation's college campuses. According to the American Council on Education, of the...

Hot opportunities, young entrepreneurs.
January 1, 2006... Innovation and youth have always been the hallmarks of American entrepreneurship. Take our publisher, Earl G. Graves Sr., as an example. Thirty-six years ago, the brash 35-year-old entrepreneur conjured up this publication--a magazine designed...

Another retirement strategy?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... Here's another retirement aid--ask your children every day what they learned in school. When our children remember what they learn each day, they are on the way to success in life, including financial success. Well-educated children can always...

Something for everyone.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM A FAN OF YOUR magazine. It is so informative. I am a record producer, my sister is an event planner, and my brothers are developers. You had something for all of us in this particular issue, but then again, you...

A source of plenty.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... THANK YOU, BE, FOR COMPILING MONTHLY SOOOOOO much useful information for African Americans to learn and grow from. Being in law enforcement and having been an entrepreneur for two years, each month I get different, relevant information that has...

Eyeing the B.E. 100s.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I'VE SUBSCRIBED TO BLACK ENTERPRISE FOR MORE THAN 10 years and it is past time I say thank you! During my undergrad and graduate school years, as an emerging young professional, BE provided me with insight and inspiration. But this letter is to...

Pension politics.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON YOUR story "Smart Retirement Planning For Every Age," (October 2005). If the county of Los Angeles or the state of California is anything but bankrupt after the type of retirement they are paying, it would be...

Omission.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2006... In "Make Peace With Your Mistakes," (October 2005, Motivation), we neglected to publish the Website for Stepping Stones: www.sstones.com

When the solution is a problem.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... In Alan Hughes' story, "Blown Away By Katrina" (November 2005), he describes the widespread doubt among many black business owners that they will actually be able to obtain contract/vendor opportunities in the rebuilding process. He references...

From humble beginnings come great things.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO "HARLEM HAVEN" (NOVEMBER 2005). THE ARTICLE WAS very well written and it made me feel proud to read how Hue-Man has grown into the largest African American bookstore in the country and is the largest bookstore in...

Will evacuees return to Louisiana to vote? Politicians' agenda in at least two states hang in the balance.(temporary homes for hurricane survivors)(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... Will the majority of those relocated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita decide to make their temporary homes permanent? "That's the $64 million question," says Ron Walters, a University of Maryland political scientist. A lot of politicians' futures...

Driving innovation in D.C.: MV Transportation awarded $540 million to improve metro public transit program.(B.E. 100s)
January 1, 2006... MV Transportation Inc. (No. 15 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $271.9 million in sales) has won a contract with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority potentially worth $540 million. Under the terms of the contract, the...

Black entrepreneurs tackle Super Bowl XL: Emerging Business Program helps African Americans with contract procurement.(sports tournament management)
January 1, 2006... Super Bowl XL in Detroit is guaranteed to deliver everything from cheers and tears to tackles and fumbles. It will also deliver big returns for lots of black entrepreneurs. More than 750 minority-and women-owned businesses, out of 1,000...

Celebrated artist crafted a window on the world: August Wilson exposed the joy and pain of black life in America.(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Pain and joy are the emotions that August Wilson's theatrical productions explored for more than two decades, providing a window to the struggles of being black in America. The Pittsburgh native was 60 years old when he died Oct. 2 of liver...

Legendary judge leaves indelible mark: Constance Baker Motley built legacy as a civil rights trailblazer.(personal narration)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Legendary judge Constance Baker Motley left an indelible mark as a civil rights advocate and gifted scholar. Motley, a Columbia Law School graduate, started her legal career with the NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund as a law clerk...

Mother of civil rights hands down her legacy: Rosa Parks gave birth to a movement and set the bar for future generations.(civil right organizations )
January 1, 2006... As thousands of mourners in Montgomery, Alabama; Washington, D.C.; and Detroit attended memorials for Rosa Parks following her death on Oct. 24, civil rights activists and historians sought to define the legacy of the soft-spoken woman dubbed...

An eminent threat? Law that OKs removal of property from one and gives to another may undermine black neighborhoods.(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Does the Supreme Court's latest ruling on eminent domain pose an eminent threat to African American communities? Anytime a law OKs "taking property that's rightly one individual's for the benefit of another, that's not good," says Rep....

Bet founder Bob Johnson lands new properties: RLJ Urban Lodging Funds forges a sought after ownership model.(entrepreneurship)
January 1, 2006... No one understands the importance of ownership more than the managers of RLJ Urban Lodging Funds. Since its formation in 2004, the private equity fund has aggressively acquired 17 hotels from California to Massachusetts and expected to close on...

BankBlackwell, which hopes to be the first African American-owned Internet bank, received deposit insurance approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., clearing its last major regulatory hurdle.(entrepreneurship)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... BankBlackwell, which hopes to be the first African American-owned Internet bank, received deposit insurance approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., clearing its last major regulatory hurdle. The approval clears the way for the bank's...

Former CNBC Chairwoman Pamela Thomas-Graham, named one of Black Enterprise's Top 75 executives in 2005, performed a corporate double play in early September.(Consumer News and Business Channel Partnership)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Former CNBC Chairwoman Pamela Thomas-Graham, named one of BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Top 75 executives in 2005, performed a corporate double play in early September. First she was appointed group president for Liz Claiborne Inc. "Tackling the challenge...

Former Deere & Co. senior executive Pierre E. Leroy, another 2005 BE Top 75 executive, assumed a key role by joining the Capital One board of directors in September.(NEWSBYTES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Former Deere & Co. senior executive Pierre E. Leroy, another 2005 BE Top 75 executive, assumed a key role by joining the Capital One board of directors in September. Leroy sits on the board's Audit and Risk Committee. "Overall, t hope to bring...

Renetta McCann stepped into the top post as chief executive officer of Starcom MediaVest Group in October.(NEWSBYTES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Renetta McCann stepped into the top post as chief executive officer of Starcom MediaVest Group in October. This industry veteran now leads global operations for one of the world's top five media agencies, She is responsible for all annual...

States see black business boom: growth of African American enterprises outpaces national average.(FACTS & FIGURES)
January 1, 2006... Black business growth significantly outpaced the national average, according to the U. S. Census Bureau's latest Survey of Business Owners. While the number of U.S. businesses increased by 10% between 1997 and 2002, from roughly 20.8 million to...

Ready to learn: female educators band together to increase their investment IQ.
January 1, 2006... Delores McGlory was always an avid reader of business and investment publications. But it wasn't until this teacher from Houston grew tired of reports on the poor investing habits of African Americans that she decided to use the knowledge she'd...

Searching for sustained growth: Randell Cain Jr. puts his trust in stocks that outperform.(economic development after hurricane damages)
January 1, 2006... As the U.S. economy attempts to recover from hurricane damage and economic doldrums, Randell Cain Jr. is playing it safe. As a principal and portfolio manager at Atlanta Life Investment Advisors, an institutional money management firm, Cain...

A financial fall: interest rate spreads hurt the stock performance of KeyBanc's Fred Cummings.(banking analysts service)
January 1, 2006... When banking analyst Fred Cummings picked a portfolio of stocks exclusively for BLACK ENTERPRISE last year, he had mixed feelings about the banking sector. At the time, the U.S. economy was slowly recovering from a recession, and companies had...

Build home equity faster: using these mortgage payment tricks can help you sustain wealth.(economic management for housing)
January 1, 2006... After six years, Olivia Brigman sold her first home. And she was well on her way to paying off the $56,000 mortgage with an 8% interest rate in about half the scheduled time. That's because Brigman, who was single when she bought the...

Long-term advice pays off: B.E. suggested these funds four years ago. Here's how they did.(black enterprises investment management)
January 1, 2006... Long-term investing is something we preach in every issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE. So, four years ago, when J. Draughn asked BE to suggest some high-growth mutual funds that could provide substantial gains (Moneywise, January 2002), it was a...

Reit or wrong.(Real Estate Investment Trust)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Q&A I am a 31-year-old accountant interested in investing in REITs. I've read a few articles on them but I still need help. Is this a good idea? --C. Ellis Via the Internet A real estate investment trust is broadly defined as a company...

Queen of hip-hop literature: renaissance publisher is sparking interest with her line of urban novels.(fiction novels marketing)
January 1, 2006... A new genre of fiction novels called hip-hop literature has exploded onto best-seller lists and become an unexpected cash cow for writers and publishing houses alike. As an author and owner of Triple Crown Publications L.L.C., Vickie Stringer...

Thinking independently: the pros and cons of using independent contractors to grow a small business.(human resource management)
January 1, 2006... Some small business owners use full-time employees, while others rely on independent contractors. Willie Middleton II prefers a mixed bag, and rounds out his two-person full-time staff with up to eight to ten independent contractors in any...

The gift of art: for jewelry designers, finding the right retail store is crucial.(jewelry retail marketing)
January 1, 2006... HUBBARD FACES TOUGH CHALLENGES IN HER SEARCH FOR A BUYER. When Wanda Hubbard decided to leave San Francisco and re-route her life in 2001, she was ready for a complete career makeover. After a 20-year career working in various capacities...

A working plan.(web service for business enterprises)
January 1, 2006... QA I am interested I starting an independent employment agency in St. Louis. What tools will I need to start this type of business? Also, can you refer me to Websites that I can use to research this project? Sharon H. St. Louis...

Modern art overhaul: Randel Mosby and his team give a New York museum a technology makeover.(technology infrastructure)
January 1, 2006... When 19,500 visitors attended opening day festivities to celebrate a four-year, $425 million renovation at New York City's Museum of Modern Art, Randall Mosby was busy behind the scenes making sure the vast new technology infrastructure was...

The new movie marketplace: portable media players spawn a wave of video downloads.
January 1, 2006... Envisioning an era where people turn to televisions, not portable video players, to watch their favorite shows, music videos, and newscasts, Apple Computer opened its online video store last October. ushering in a new age for mobile video...

Home green home: energy efficiency accentuates Harlem developer's housing designs.(housing development)
January 1, 2006... Consumers finally got the energy wake-up call last fall: higher home heating bills would burn through family budgets this winter. While energy efficiency is just beginning to dawn on most homeowners, the idea has long inspired Carlton Brown,...

Much Adu about plasmas: soccer phenom scores a high-tech entertainment setup.(NETWORKED LIVING)
January 1, 2006... On the professional soccer field, D.C. United's Freddy Adu runs circles around seasoned veterans. But when it came to setting up a home theater, the 16-year-old Ghanaian-born athlete needed an assist from the experts. Make no mistake, Adu...

All that jazz.(CYBERWISE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... QA I am interested in establishing an online business selling jazz paraphernalia such as books, CDs, posters, busts, pens, cups, mugs, etc. What advice do you have for making this work? D. Craig Via the Internet Jazz paraphernalia...

Profitability is in the people: how engaged employees can drive customer satisfaction.(customer service from Starbucks Coffee Co)
January 1, 2006... As senior vice president of global communications for Starbucks Coffee Co. in Seattle, Wanda Herndon was determined to challenge employees in her department to work more efficiently and, as a result, improve customer service. Herndon relied on...

Tapping into black buying power: new book reveals how marketers miss out by not speaking our language.(African Americans buying power and marketers services)
January 1, 2006... Marketers have long acknowledged the cool factor in being black. Couple that with black buying power--an estimated $761 billion--and African Americans with commercial influence make up a formidable group. But the African American market...

Management tools.(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... QA I am a newly licensed realtor. I am also interested in property management but cannot find information on certification, licenses, etc., in this field. Do I need certification and where can I find information that will guide me in starting...

Business and Professional Women/USA.(Roslyn Ridgeway appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 1. Roslyn Ridgeway has been elected president of Business and Professional Women/USA. She is only the second African American president in the organization's 86-year history. Her administration's theme, "Building Powerful Women:...

Mid-Atlantic States District of Microsoft.(De'Porres Brightful appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 2. De'Porres Brightful has been named Technology Solutions and Partner Unit director of the Mid-Atlantic States District of Microsoft. He is responsible for leading an organization of nearly 100 information technology specialists in providing...

BB&T's Battlefield.(Donta Wilson appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 3. Donta Wilson has been named president of BB&T's Battlefield community bank region in Fairfax, Virginia. In the 36 financial centers in his region, Wilson is responsible for commercial banking, small business banking, retail banking, private...

NitroMed Inc.(Welton O'Neal Jr. appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 4. Welton O'Neal Jr. has joined NitroMed Inc. as vice president of medical affairs, a position in which he will support the launch of BiDil, a medicine used to improve the quality of life of African Americans diagnosed with heart failure. In...

Henderson Advertising.(Rusty Jackson appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... 5. Rusty Jackson has been named to the board of directors of Henderson Advertising. As vice president and managing director of the company's event management division, Jackson brings 20 years of experience to the board, including strategy...

Buy property early: by purchasing real estate while in college, Carl White has built a real estate portfolio with more than $300,000 in equity.(real estate investing)
January 1, 2006... IN BETWEEN CONDUCTING CLASSES ON the fundamentals of engineering at Morgan State University, Carl White schools his students on the principles of real estate investing. The college professor says real estate is the cornerstone of wealth...

Real estate overload? Managing seven properties in two states presents major challenges for Tyrone Springs.
January 1, 2006... TYRONE SPRINGS HAS YOUTH AND ambition in his favor. At 23, he's managed to buy seven properties, four in Philadelphia and three in Tulsa, Oklahoma, valued at $733,000. Springs understands investing in real estate is crucial to wealth building....

Profiles in courage: they faced illness, public humiliation, and even death. Their stories are lessons on how to triumph in the face of crisis.(jewelry designer management)
January 1, 2006... IT'S BEEN SAID IN GAMBLING CIRCLES that life is the ultimate wild card. You wake up each morning with no idea of what may come your way or how you will respond. In the last few years, Detroit jewelry designer Donna Sadler, entrepreneur Nadine...

Hot opportunities for young entrepreneurs: a combination of smart ideas and popular market trends will make these enterprises sizzle in 2006.(future of youth entrepreneurs)(Cover story)
January 1, 2006... WHAT MOTIVATES A PERSON TO START an enterprise? In the beginning, it's just a simple idea. But when three dynamic young professionals creatively combined their ideas with a hot consumer trend, the result turned out to be one of the most sought...

Smart money moves for the new year: putting things in place now can enhance your portfolio in 2006.(financial flow management)
January 1, 2006... Like many Americans, Sheret Payton has a cash flow problem. She adheres to a budget, but it rarely seems to cover all of her expenses. The 24-year-old Chicago native lives at home with her father and has a 4-year-old son, Robert, to care for. A...

No more excuses: here's to a happy new you.(attorney service)
January 1, 2006... Shani Dennis, a 30-year-old attorney in Houston, has two revolving New Year's resolutions: to volunteer in her community and to exercise. However, every year, Dennis' lack of free time, provoked by a busy work schedule, makes her fall short....

Hey, you can't say that! How to cope with verbally abusive people.(control of verbal abuse in organizations)
January 1, 2006... Verbal abuse in the workplace, or anywhere else, is not something you should tolerate. But in order to combat it, figure out the best approach. "People who are verbally abusive put people on the defensive," says Patricia Evans, an interpersonal...

A new direction.(career consultants services)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... QA For two years now, I've been doing a lot of research on which direction I want to take my career. I have dozens of ideas that I am passionate about. The biggest obstacle is the fear of attempting one idea then failing and mourning from that...

Homeowner finance 101: money traps to avoid once you've sealed the deal.(finance for housing development)
January 1, 2006... You've worked hard, saved your money, and straightened out your credit to purchase the house of your dreams. Now that you've moved in, your financial concerns are over, right? Wrong. "You're more vulnerable and more at risk now because of...

When a flood strikes ...: how to protect your home with the proper coverage.(flood insurance for housing )
January 1, 2006... Purchasing a home is one of the greatest joys a person can experience. But have you taken the necessary steps to protect your beloved investment from the No. 1 natural disaster--flooding? Whether you think you need it, or live in an area not...

Protecting your privacy: legislation to stop information hounds in their tracks.(security systems in housing)
January 1, 2006... Only a few decades ago, ensuring one's privacy involved little more than buying the best home security system and a state-of-the-art car alarm. But in today's digital age, protecting your privacy requires a lot more diligence. Before you panic,...

Credit score protection.(credit cards management)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... QA My FICO score was 775 in August. At that time, I had $12,000 in credit card debt. Now my total credit card debt is $25,000. Will my FICO score go down? I always pay my credit card on time. Please advise. --T. Dacanay Via the...

Making sure the shoe fits: Preston Ramsey puts his clients on solid footing.(personal trainer opinions)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Engaged in a regular workout schedule? Unfortunately, you're sneakers are probably as old as your routine. Comfort is usually the most cited reason for wearing the same athletic shoe for years, according to Brooklyn, New York, native Preston...

Atlanta's big city appeal: Kenny Leon reshapes its potential.(True Colors Theatre Co)
January 1, 2006... As the headquarter location for Coca-Cola, CNN, Earthlink, and The Home Depot, Atlanta is re-branding itself as a metropolis distinguished for its cosmopolitan verve and southern charm. Kenny Leon, co-founder and artistic director of True...

Fighting breast cancer's fear factor: one woman's devastating family history drives her on a campaign to save other lives.(control of breast cancer)
January 1, 2006... Death resulting from breast cancer is a painfully familiar occurrence for Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins. Her sister died at 34 in 1987. Her paternal grandmother passed that same year. Prior to that, she lost her aunt. Her mother was diagnosed in...

The clock is ticking.(women executives summit meetings)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... If you haven't already registered for the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, hosted by State Farm, now's the time to reserve your seat at the event your colleagues will be buzzing about. This inaugural conference will bring together more...

Back talk with Dr. Mae C. Jemison.(Interview)
January 1, 2006... Mae C. Jemison will always be remembered as the first African American woman to go into space, serving as a science mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on Sept. 12, 1992. Seven years later, she used her NASA experience to...