Black Enterprise articles from January 2008

Black Enterprise archives from January 2008

Barack Obama for president.(publisher's page)
January 1, 2008... No one asked if America was ready to see a black man in Major League Baseball. It wasn't--until the right man, Jackie Robinson, accepted the challenge and made the most of it, and in the process changed our nation forever and for the good. Nor...

Content kings.(About This Issue)(content management structure needs to undergo a radical reconfiguration)
January 1, 2008... There's an old saw among media professionals: Content is king. That attitude reverberates through every corridor, office, and conference room at BLACK ENTERPRISE. For decades, we have provided vital information to help improve your financial...

Concerned about IBC.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thanks for the article on breast cancer ("Winning the Battle Against Breast Cancer," October 2007). It is a topic that many are uninformed about and unaware oh. There really needs to be more information on the...

Grateful cancer survivor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... (RE: "WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST Breast Cancer," October 2007) My name is Cleo Joyce Howard. I am 63 years old and have had breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and had 12 lymph nodes removed. I did not have reconstructive surgery. I took the...

No one else is to blame.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... MR. GRAVES' COMMENTARY IN THE NOVEMBER 2007 EDITION OF BLACK ENTERPRISE titled "Enough is Enough" is so profound I think every black man and woman in America ought to read it. Indeed, enough is enough. We owe the future generations of blacks in...

Perception equals reality.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... I've read two recent editions of BLACK ENTERPRISE in which Publisher Carl Graves St. addressed crucial underlying psychosocial issues that rarely get covered in a business publication yet have a tremendous impact on quality of life for African...

In total agreement.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... MR. GRAVES ABSOLUTELY HIT THIS ONE OUT OF THE PARK ("Enough is Enough," Publisher's Page, November 2007). I am not one to write to magazines to voice my pleasure or displeasure regarding commentary, however, this struck a chord in me. I...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
January 1, 2008... In "Hot List '07" (December 2007), Wyclef Jean's age was incorrectly listed. He is 38.

Tough ride in top seat: from forced resignations t0 planned successions, CEO turnover remains high.(BUSINESS NEWS)
January 1, 2008... IN ONE WEEK THE NUMBER OF BLACK CEOS OF the nation's top publicly-traded companies fell by two. Merill Lynch CEO Stanley O'Neal was ousted for making a bad bet on mortgage-backed securities. In an unrelated act, Richard Parsons announced he was...

AT&T to acquire black telecom firm: former BE 100s company to maintain staffing and recruiting business.(BUSINESS NEWS)(AT&T Inc. and Chasecom Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... CHASECOM L.P., A HOUSTON-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS company that once ranked among the BE 100s, signed a definitive agreement in October to be acquired by AT&T Inc. for an undisclosed cash sum. According to Anthony R. Chase, ChaseCom CEO,...

Lee-Chin sells Wealth Management Co.: billionaire shifts investments to the Caribbean.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Michael Lee-Chin of Portland Holdings Ltd. sell the company to Manulife Financial Corp)
January 1, 2008... MICHAEL LEE-CHIN OFTEN APPLIES THE WORDS OF A Canadian proverb to investing. "To be successful you have to make sure that you are where the puck is going." In August, Lee-Chin decided that the puck was no longer with Berkshire-TWC Financial...

On the green: Sheila Johnson adds $35 million golf resort to her expanding portfolio.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Sheila Johnson of SALAMANder Hospitality L.L.C purchases Innisbrook Resort (Tarpon Springs, Florida) and golf club)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... SHEILA JOHNSON, CEO OF SALAMANder Hospitality L.L.C., is making history with the $35 million purchase of Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, a 900-acre, 620-room, premiere golf destination near Tampa, Florida. The deal, believed to be the first...

Without consent: compensation sought for victims of North Carolina's sterilization program.(JUSTICE)
January 1, 2008... WHEN MARY ENGLISH, OF FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, was 22, a routine trip to the doctor left her infertile. The doctor told her "they had a procedure and if I went with this procedure, I wouldn't have to worry about birth control," recalls...

SBA makes reforms to federal government contracting: agency creates recertification regulations that may affect black businesses.(WASHINGTON REPORT)(Small Business Administration)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINIStration is now requiring that small businesses recertify their size status to remain eligible lot federal contracts for all contracts with durations of more than five years. The regulation was implemented...

Still unprepared for natural disasters: blacks more likely to be affected and less prepared.(FACTS & FIGURES)
January 1, 2008... IT APPEARS THAT RECENT NATURAL, DISASTERS SUCH as the California wild fires and Hurricane Katrina have taught Americans very little about emergency preparedness. According to a 2006 American Red Cross study, 19% of African Americans say they...

Looking for values: the housing slump has beaten up some stocks unfairly. Take a look before they rebound.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)(William Tell Financial Services)(Tracy Brown of William Tell Financial Services manages the portfolio)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AS SOME OF THE MAJOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON Wall Street post billion-dollar losses and even show their chief executives the door, the reality is that the subprime lending crisis is still at its earliest stages....

Retirement in black and white: we all need to help close the racial wealth gap in America.(Total Return)
January 1, 2008... THE HEADLINE FROM THE LATEST Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey is that blacks are moving backward, not forward when it comes to achieving financial freedom. That was certainly a wake-up call for me, and I hope for all of us. Since this year...

Money in the middle: Eric McKissack says investors shouldn't overlook mid-cap stocks.(STOCK PICKS)(Channing Associates)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stock markets and families may have more in common than meets the eye. In both cases, the biggest and smallest members get the most attention, while those in the middle can often go unnoticed. So it was in 2007, a...

Bad time for banking: Raymond Stewart's portfolio takes a hit.(STOCK UPDATE)(RASARA Strategies Inc.)
January 1, 2008... WHO KNEW? AT THE TIME RAYMOND STEWART, PRESIDENT and chief investment officer of RASARA Strategies Inc. in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., selected a portfolio of banking stocks in October 2006, the subprime lending crisis had yet to be revealed (see...

Opportunity investing: Africa, megacaps may offer a great balance of risk and reward.(MUTUAL FUND FOCUS)
January 1, 2008... INVESTING IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST THE EMERGING MARKETS IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST HAVE TOO often been synonymous with corruption, volatility, or both. But T. Rowe Price has decided the potential rewards of investing in countries...

Protect your assets.(MONEY MATTERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... QA I have several rental properties in my name. Should I incorporate or get an L.L.C.? If so, what can I expect to pay to have this done? --B. Lindsay New York In today's slowing real estate market, I have no doubt that there are a...

Keeping it green: urban planner uses business to push her environmental ideals.(MAKING IT)(Charnelle Hicks of CHPlanning Ltd.)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR MANY ENTREPRENEURS, THE NO. 1 CONCERN IS ADDING clients at any cost. But for Charnelle Hicks, it's more important to build an evironmentally responsible business, even if that has meant turning down work. ...

A piece of the action: to attract top chefs to his sushi restaurant, this entrepreneur used equity as an incentive.(MAKING IT)(Kaze Sushi)
January 1, 2008... ANDRE WILLIAMS WAS IN A TIGHT SPOT. WHILE WORKING for a large software company in Chicago, he saw the firm's market capitalization plummet 99%. Sweeping layoffs were the norm, and morale couldn't be lower. It was the beginning of the high-tech...

With a smile: customer service affects every aspect of your business.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
January 1, 2008... Providing an excellent consumer experience is essential to building and maintaining a thriving business. Poor customer service is among the top reasons customers desert businesses, never to return, according to a study by the Small Business...

Virtual vision.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... QA I'm looking to start an online business. I already have a business plan, but I have no clue how online businesses work. Are there any Websites that will guide me step-by-step? Should I hire professionals, or just do it myself? --D....

A community affair: Jason Knight helps members manage their finances.(BLACK DIGERATI)(Wesabe)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN JASON KNIGHT WENT LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO get out of debt, he instead uncovered a business opportunity. The CEO of the San Francisco-based startup Wesabe (www.wesabe.com) created an online community where...

Master P makes it happen.(YOU SHOULD KNOW ...)(Percy "Master P" Miller has been named president of Udub Music)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PERCY "MASTER P" MILLER HAS BEEN NAMED PRESIDENT of Udub Music, Urban World Wireless' digital music label. Miller will be responsible for marketing and branding the label as well as recruiting and developing a roster...

Touch and go.(B.E. REVIEWS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... THE HTC TOUCH SMARTPHONE HAS BEEN CALLED any number of names since it was unveiled in the European market earlier this year, "iPhone's rival" being just one. It's finally made it to our shores, and if size really matters to you, then it might...

The 'in-crowd' online: professionals take networking to new levels.(B.E. REVIEWS)
January 1, 2008... Whatever your interests, or the Internet you're guaranteed to find a network of people who share them. Music free software, Goth culture? No problem. Increasingly, professionals are also finding their way to social networking sites such as...

Happy blogging.(CYBERWISE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... QA I want to set up a Website and start a blog, too, but I don't really have the time to devote to building a site and some of the ready-made templates just look so boring. Plus I've heard about some really shady Web-hosting situations. Any...

Politically correct: how this professional protects the legislative interests of her company.(EXECUTIVE SUITE)(Interview)
January 1, 2008... How do you navigate the dynamic worlds of media and politics? Washington and Hollywood are both company towns. My division at Viacom deals with governmental policies and issues, while Hollywood is in the business of entertainment....

Starting on the right foot.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... A I am 28 years old and less than a year away from obtaining a bachelor's degree in business management. I have extensive job experience in administrative work, but I want to explore different avenues once I earn my degree. What would you...

Achieving greatness.(ACTION PLAN)(Randal Pinkett of BCT Partners insists that mediocrity has no place in business)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... "MEDIOCRITY HAS NO PLACE IN BUSINESS," INSISTS RANDAL PINKETT, 2005 winner of the NBC reality show The Apprentice and chairman of BCT Partners, a New Jersey-based management, technology, and consulting firm. He adds, "Few practices cripple a...

Building confidence.(ACTION PLAN)(in investment and asset management firms )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... WHEN HIGH-PROFILE SCANDALS AT COMPANIES SUCH AS ENRON AND Tyco rocked the financial world, investment and asset management firms faced plummeting investor confidence, unprecedented scrutiny, and unparalleled demand for accountability. ...

John Agwunobi.(On The MOVE)(appointed as Senior Vice President of Wal-Mart Stores Inc)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Senior Vice President and President, Professional Services Organization: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Location: Bentonville, AR Responsibilities: Overseeing the health and wellness business unit,...

Jacqueline Neal.(On The MOVE)(appointed as President of Glory Foods)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: President Organization: Glory Foods Location: Columbus, OH Responsibilities: Playing an active role in all aspects of the business, the expansion of Glory Foods' products, and the...

Kerry D. Chandler.(On The MOVE)(appointed as Senior Vice President National Basketball Association)
January 1, 2008... New Position: Senior Vice President of Human Resources Organization: National Basketball Association Location: New York Responsibilities: Overseeing the NBA's employee recruitment, retention, diversity, and development globally ...

Clyde Rucker.(On The MOVE)(appointments in Quizno's Franchise Corp.)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Organization: Quiznos Corp. Location: Denver Responsibilities: Managing the communications, human resources, real estate and...

Lisa Meyers.(On The MOVE)(appointments in Magic Johnson Foundation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Executive Vice President of Communications and Branding Organization: Magic Johnson Enterprises Location: Los Angeles Responsibilities: Heading media relations, market research, brand...

Strength in numbers.(NEWS)(African Americans represent an influential demographic that drives style and consumer trends)
January 1, 2008... NO ONE CAN DISPUTE THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS represent an influential demographic that drives style and consumer trends. In fact, the buying power of African Americans is projected to grow to $1.1 trillion by 2011. Marketing communications giant...

A step up.(TRENDS)(multicultural women)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... WOMEN OF COLOR NOW HAVE A HELPING HAND IN their climb up the corporate ladder. Through the emergence of the nonprofit program ASCENT: Leading Multicultural Women to the Top, there's a new avenue for the professional development of multicultural...

Job search made easy.(RESOURCES)(The Marquin Group )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... WHEN THE PARTNERS OF THE EXECUTIVE search firm The Marquin Group decided to create a job portal for top professionals, they considered all the challenges corporations faced in recruiting senior executives. Introduced in 2003, DiversityTal...

Check this out ...(RESOURCES)(Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools)(Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman's Guide to Life After College)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools (Career Press; $16.99), by Omari Bouknight and Scott Shrum has come to the rescue of prospective M.B.A. candidates. Of particular note is the fourth chapter,...

What's the black travel market worth?(WORLDVIEW)(Hugh Riley of Caribbean Tourism Organization)(Interview)
January 1, 2008... THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MARKET IS ONE OF THE TOP three fastest growing markets in the travel industry, generating annual revenues of more than $40 billion. Ranked as the most stable and resilient market segment, African Americans are three times...

Leaving a legacy: Patricia Latimore and Bourdi Apreala build a comprehensive estate plan.(BLACK WEALTH INITIATIVE)(Patricia Latimore of State Street Corp.)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT TOOK A PARENT'S MEDICAL CRISIS to prompt Patricia Latimore and her husband, Bourdi Apreala, to take action on drafting their estate plan, The Milton, Massachusetts-based couple had dragged their feet because...

Where did it all go? Nancy Nealious made some missteps in managing an inheritance.(Financial Fitness Contest Winner No. 87)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NANCY NEALIOUS HAS BEEN THROUGH a lot in a short time--and it's taken a toll on both her emotions and finances. Just 26, she's been so stressed that her hair is falling out. Her most significant loss came in August...

The next generation: African Americans are successfully launching businesses earlier in life. Here are some who are making strides in their industries.(ENTREPRENEURSHIP)
January 1, 2008... WHO'S WAITING AROUND TO GROW up? Now more than ever, age is becoming less and less the qualifying factor in starting a business. Young people want to be their own bosses and aren't waiting to do so. Generation Y (born between 1981 and 1995) is...

Looking to leap?(websites offering resources for budding young entrepreneurs)
January 1, 2008... Here are some Websites and organizations offering resources for budding young entrepreneurs * Young Entrepreneurs of America (www.yeabiz.com) Is aimed at secondary education teachers and students. YEA offers workshops, seminars,...

Million-dollar babies.(Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out)(The Real World Entrepreneur Field Guide: Growing Your Own Business)(What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... The following books and programs can help you take your business to the $1 million mark: * Make Mine a Million (www.makemineamiilion.org), is a program of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence (a nonprofit microlender) and founding...

Get the right mix.(INVESTING)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE." AS the calendar turns to 2008, it's more than likely that you've made such assertion--whether it's about your diet, job, or even relationships. But you might want to add your finances to the...

Why Barack Obama should be president: six reasons America will elect him to the Whitehouse.(WASHINGTON REPORT)(Cover story)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ROUGHLY 9,000 DEMOCRATS PACK into Veterans Memorial Auditorium on a chilly mid-November night in Des Moines, Iowa. The attendees of the annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner percolate with excitement, wildly waving banners...

Don't lie to me: dishonesty can ruin professional and personal relationships.(ATTITUDE ENHANCEMENT)
January 1, 2008... "LYING PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST COPING mechanisms I've ever chosen," says Jayson Blair. Blair is the infamous New York Times reporter who resigned his position in May 2003 after admitting he plagiarized and falsely reported stories during...

Before you hit send: crafting workplace e-mails to avoid mishaps.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)
January 1, 2008... A decade ago, Barbara Pachter told students, "E-mail is a word document that can and will come back to haunt you." "They [just] laughed. It was this new technology, and people didn't know its implications," she says. Pachter, an etiquette...

Giving your all.(PEP TALK)(balancing the act of offering services to teenagers with autism and keeping the job as well)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... QA I am the mother of two boys; one is autistic. Although I work full time, my passion is talking to people about autism and how it has affected me. Currently, I offer my services at a center for teenagers with autism. My husband asks that I...

Get fit on a dine: resolve to be healthy--and wealthy--this New Year.(BUYING POWER)
January 1, 2008... NEARLY 43 MILLION PEOPLE ARE MEMBERS OF HEALTH clubs across the United States, according to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association. "The first few months of the year are a popular time to join fitness clubs," says...

Jump ship on your wireless contract: leave your cell phone carrier without paving a fee.(CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT)
January 1, 2008... The cell phone industry tops the Better Business Bureau's consumer complaint list with more than 28,000 complaints filed with the agency last year. It's not surprising that the typical two-year contract can feel more like a prison sentence for...

Banking blues.(ASK YOUR ADVOCATE)(credit scoring)(Fair, Isaac and Company (credit scoring model))(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... QA I'm worried about my FICO score. I opened and then closed two checking accounts this year because I was dissatisfied with the banks' high maintenance fees. Will this activity lower my score? --A.M. Plainfield, NJ Your score...

No straight lines: how video visionary Julien "Little X" Lutz creates his images.(PERSONAL PASSIONS)(Julien Lutz of Sun God Collection)
January 1, 2008... HE DOESN'T HAVE CLEAR RECOLLECTION, BUT his mother says he's been drawing since the age of 2. It's not hard for Julien Lutz to believe, though. As long as he can remember, creating images on paper has been his passion. In fact, he drew all the...

A winter tune up: recommendations to help you de-stress from holiday pressures.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)
January 1, 2008... AFTER THE DEADLlNES, BUDGETS, AND EVEN THE seasonal celebrations, it's time to start the process all over again. Before you begin scheduling a new set of appointments, take time out to refuel. A new year should introduce a new you. And we have...

Did you know....(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)
January 1, 2008... BE Editor-in-Chief Alfred Edmond Jr. can be heard on The Doug Banks Morning Show each and every Wednesday morning at 9:15 a.m. Eastern? Join him as he checks in with Doug, DeDe, and Rudy to share tips on how you can achieve your financial...

BE and nightly business report.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Join PBS' Nightly Business Report for "American Dreamers, a special Martin Luther King Day special on the trials and triumphs of minority entrepreneurs. See profiles of innovative business owners from New Orleans....

Entrepreneurs conference.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Conference news)
January 1, 2008... Have you mapped out your blueprint for success? You'll have the perfect opportunity to do just that at the 2008 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by General Motors. The conference is taking place May 14-17 at the Charlotte...

BEBR and our world.(All Access: YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Black Enterprise Business Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ring in the new year with 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...

Backtalk: with Sheila Johnson.(on working with impoverished women )(Interview)
January 1, 2008... OFTENTIMES, THE VOICES OF those in need go unheard. But Sheila Johnson is listening. It may come as a surprise that the multifaceted entrepreneur has the time for much. She operates a real estate development company, is part owner of the NHL's...