Black Enterprise articles from January 2009

Black Enterprise archives from January 2009

No more excuses.(publisher's page)(Essay)
January 1, 2009... Who among us--especially those of my generation--ever dared believe that an American of African heritage would ascend to the highest office in the land in our lifetime? Who among us ever imagined that people around the world would ever use the...

Now is the time for intelligent investing.(Executive Memo)
January 1, 2009... Americans today are weathering the brutal gale winds of a perfect storm--the collapse of the housing and financial sectors, eroding consumer confidence, and the worst unemployment rate in 14 years. They're doing everything possible to buoy...

A new era at Black Enterprise.(About This Issue)
January 1, 2009... It's the dawning of a new era. Despite the recent financial firestorm, much of the nation has pushed aside their angst and embraced a new spirit of optimism* On Jan. 20, change will come to America. And the catalyst will be Barack Obama. When...

An enjoyable read.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I truly enjoyed reading your September 2008 issue. It provided helpful knowledge and information. There were business ventures I thought about but did not pursue due to lack of knowledge. Reading the issue answered many of my questions,...

Let's raise the bar.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I was appalled that your ranking of the Top 50 Colleges for African Americans (September 2008) included schools with a [black] graduation rate under 60%, presumably a failing score. While your consultant considered the academic and social...

Bravo, B.E.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I write to commend you on the bold step you took--long before a lot of others--in discerning the specialness of one Barack Obama, and further, in making your position graciously yet forthrightly. This is a new day and a new time. Thank you...

I beg your pardon.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I take great umbrage with reader Brant Boyce's assessment that a degree is only as good as the school that grants it. ("Better Examples?" Letters, October 2008). Historically, statistics show that there is little correlation between a...

Two cities, one spirit.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... It would have been more accurate if BLACK ENTERPRISE had covered Durham, North Carolina, as Raleigh-Durham ("Best Places to Retire," October 2008). I realized that all of the cities listed included surrounding areas, but Raleigh is far from...

B.E. beginnings.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I just wanted to drop a note because BLACK ENTERPRISE started me on my way to entrepreneurship! I now own a franchise, right outside of Houston. Who would have thought that a simple search would yield a great path to independence? In the past...

Minority female firms outpace all others.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Businesses owned by minority women are growing faster than those owned by men or nonminority women. Women of color are establishing businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts and more than four times that of nonminority...

Being green.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Black colleges are teaming up with Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection and the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Black colleges are teaming up with Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection and the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative to "go green." EJCC staff will train students to promote the greening of university grounds and to generate...

1 out of every 4.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(1 out of 4 African Americans have diabetes)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Black women over age 55 is diabetic. Some 2.7 million or 11.4% of all African Americans over age 20 have diabetes--more troubling is that one-third of them don't know it. African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to have diabetes than whites,...

Southern Blacks receive more subprime loans.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The percentage of subprime loans going to black borrowers is highest below the Mason-Dixon line, according to data compiled by PolicyMap. All 10 states where blacks accounted for more than 20% of subprime loans in 2006 were Southern states. ...

4 million Blacks have a B.A. degree.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Nearly 2 million African Americans are attending college or are enrolled in graduate and professional schools in spite of legislative restrictions on affirmative action in higher education. According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher...

Know your history: lessons from the past illustrate why it's unwise to pull out of a bear market.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DOUG WHITE IS NO INVESTING NOVICE. An entrepreneur whose 17-year-old company sells and services Apple computers small and mid-sized businesses, White understands that markets don't always go up. But when they dive,...

Change in your pocket? How--and when--Obama's proposals might affect your finances.(FINANCIAL FORECAST)(Barack Obama)
January 1, 2009... BARACK OBAMA FINALLY HAS A CHANCE TO FOLLOW through on his campaign mantra of change. However, when it comes to pocketbook issues such as tax cuts, health insurance, and mortgage relief, expect certain transformations to take longer than...

What not to do in an economic downturn: sure, the financial markets are in a tailspin. But, take a deep breath--and don't panic.(TOTAL RETURN)
January 1, 2009... THERE'S LITTLE QUESTION--THE FINANCIAL MARKETS IN 2008 HAVE BEEN SCARY. The stock market has fallen sharply; giant, well-known companies have gone under; banks have failed; supposedly safe bonds have lost value; and the government has...

Industrial evolution: Morningstar's Daniel Holland likes industrial companies that adapt and survive amid turmoil.(STOCK PICKS)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... CHARLES DARWIN MIGHT HAVE FOUND SOMETHING TO like about today's industrials. That's because the most nimble of these companies--whether in manufacturing, mining, or agriculture--have ways to cope and even thrive under the current economic...

Money matters.(QA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... I'm 61 years old and still working full time. I'd like to retire in seven years. I have a pretty diverse portfolio, but led like to know how I should structure my investment holdings in the current economic environment? --J.L. Siders ...

The lowdown on 401(k) debit cards: easy-to-access retirement funds spell trouble for consumers.(CONSUMER LIFE)
January 1, 2009... WHEN SHONIA BROWN, A 39-YEAR-OLD TECHNICAL writer from Atlanta, decided to borrow $10,000 from her 401(k) plan to launch a Website for lesbians of color, securing funds required her to jump through a few hoops. First, she had to explain to her...

Live well on less money: belt-tightening doesn't have to hurt.(B.E. REVIEWS)(The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money)(Book review)
January 1, 2009... "LIVING WELL IS PEACE OF MIND," says writer Sharon Harvey Rosenberg. "Living well is feeling a sense of wealth. And feeling a sense of wealth, ironically, does not mean that you have all the luxuries in your life, but you have enough to get by...

Ask your advocate.(QA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... My heating bill tends to be very high each winter. What can I do to keep costs down? --R. Brown Hartford, CT Winters can be tough on the wallet, but there are several steps you can take to keep cash in your pocket: Request a...

Borrowing trouble: it's harder for business owners to get loans these days, but some lenders still give credit where credit is due.(FINANCING [PART 1 OF A SERIES])
January 1, 2009... EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BANKS ARE not lending the way they used to. Does this mean that small businesses looking for capital from lending institutions are out of luck? Not according to Bob Seiwert, a senior vice president with the American Bankers...

Putting anxiety to work: business owners channel worries about the economy into more efficient practices.(BUSINESS NEWS)
January 1, 2009... STACEY M. ALPHONSO IS PREPARING FOR TOUGH TIMES. As president of Mecca Marketing Media, a marketing and advertising company in Philadelphia, Alphonso has cut costs about 35% this year, in part by saving on benefits as well as payroll taxes by...

Savvy solutions.(QA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... To promote my character entertainment business I use a Website and MySpace account, and I frequently hand out fliers. Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty attracting customers. What am I doing wrong, or not doing at all? --T. Johnson ...

Breaking the code: BrokenCurve refocuses its technology for growth.(BLACK DIGERATI)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... SOMETIMES, EVEN THE EXPERTS CAN make missteps when it comes to implementing technology solutions. In 2006, when Neil Nelson and Iziah Reid launched BrokenCurve (www.brokencurve.com), they had no idea that technology would change their business...

Is Twitter a fad or a solid business tool? Here's how to "tweet" your way to success.(HOW DO I ...?)
January 1, 2009... BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL ARE ALL AT WITTER ABOUT Twitter, a free service that lets users share short messages with many people via computer or cell phone. Twitter involves micro-blogging with "tweets" of 140 characters or less, but its use is...

Cyberwise.(QA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... I want to begin a blog for my event planning business; but every time I mention it, friends scoff at the idea. Am I too late to the game? --J. Hall Via E-mail Absolutely not. Blogging certainly has come into its own in terms of...

In the black: a budget-savvy executive advises on staying competitive in an economic crunch.(EXECUTIVE SUITE)(J. Philip Holloman)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In light of the struggling economy, many companies are trying to find ways to save money. What strategies can you recommend to cut costs without hurting the bottom line? The companies that are most profitable are...

New jobs under a new administration: an Obama presidency promises growth in specific industries.(MAKING CONNECTIONS)(Barack Obama)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COLLEGE GRADUATES SUCH AS 21-YEAR-OLD ALEXANdria McBride will be thrown into a flagging job market this spring. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed workers in October 2008 was 10.1...

Since you asked.(QA)(job search)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... I'm a 27-year-old graduate with a M.B.A. who lives in a small town in the deep South. I only make $9 per hour on my job as a warehouse worker, which may end soon. I'm having the hardest time finding a decent job on an M.B.A. pay scale. Any...

David Williams.(ON THE MOVE)(Deloitte Financial Advisory Services)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Chief Executive Officer Organization: Deloitte Financial Advisory Services Location: New York Former Position: National leader of Deloitte FAS' Advisory Services ...

Kim Harris Jones.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Auditor Organization: Chrysler L.L.C. Location: Auburn Hills, MI Responsibilities: Manages all corporate financial activities Former...

Jacqueline Welch.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... New Position: Senior Vice President of Human Resources Organization: Turner Broadcasting System Location: Atlanta Responsibilities: Oversees Turner's corporate-level global talent management, diversity, and development functions...

Michael Mathias.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Organization: Aetna Location: Blue Bell, PA Responsibilities: Aligning Aetna's technology vision with business strategy and implementing its...

Tracey Gray-Walker.(ON THE MOVE)(AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... New Position: Chief Diversity Officer Organization: AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. Location: New York Responsibilities: Drives the company's advancement of a diverse, inclusive environment Former Position: Vice President of...

What is your cultural I.Q.? What you need to know about working overseas.(CORPORATE INITIATIVES)(intelligence quotient)
January 1, 2009... "WHEN I FIRST STARTED TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY, I had the typical American attitude--that most countries accommodate Americans," says Michael Robinson, former vice president of professional services for Hitachi Data Systems. That attitude...

Catching the big one: NMSDC president says strategic partnerships could improve odds of landing large contracts.(DIVERSITY Q)(Harriet R. Michel)(National Minority Supplier Development Council)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... A BIG CHALLENGE FACING MINORITY SUPPLIERS IS LANDING that initial contract that opens doors for more lucrative subsequent contracts. Finding opportunities can be complicated even further by a tight economy in which many large corporations are...

The power's in the purse: new book explores the consumer influence of minority women.(WORTH CHECKING OUT)(The 85% Niche: The Power of Women of All Colors--Latina, Black, Asian)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... DID YOU KNOW THAT 88% OF THE ABSOLUTE GROWTH in the U.S. female population from 2000 to 2007 was attributable to women of color, or that minority women comprise a buying power of almost $1 trillion? The significance of those facts to marketers...

Wealth for life: following our 10 new principles will keep you on the right track for a great financial future.
January 1, 2009... WHEN BLACK ENTERPRISE UNVEILED ITS Declaration of Financial Empowerment nearly a decade ago, the idea was to create a program to help African Americans build wealth. Since then, the dynamics of wealth building (and perhaps more importantly...

Living the abundant life: Norris and Reneau Curl are taking steps to grow and protect their cash cushion.(WEALTH FOR LIFE)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORRIS AND RENEAU CURL ARE SEEING the rewards of proper money management. One smart money move they're proud of is faithfully squirreling away 20% of their income each paycheck. "We're savers by nature," says Reneau,...

The king of commercial real estate: Victor MacFarlane reigns Supreme in America's gateway cities.(POWER PLAYER)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VICTOR MACFARLANE'S PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT isn't his involvement in the grand, 80-story Time Warner Center in New York City. Nor is it his 20-year track record of providing superior returns for his...

A new day: the election of Barack Obama ushers in a new political era.(ELECTION '08)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT WAS THE ELECTION THAT SHOOK the world. On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama opened an audacious chapter in the history books by becoming the first African American-elected president of the United States. His...

Did they cause the credit crisis? Conservatives claim minority home buyers hobbled the financial system. Really?(SPECIAL REPORT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE LOUD, ANGRY CHORUS OF blame began almost immediately. As big banks and brokerage houses crumbled, and the financial markets spiraled downward last fall, observers searched for someplace--anyplace--to cast...

BE next: fearless young entrepreneurs reveal their MVP--most valuable play.(SMALL BUSINESS)(Cover story)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... AGE IS JUST A NUMBER. YEAH RIGHT. TAKE youth, smarts, tenacity, ambition, savvy, and fearlessness (a little bit of swagger doesn't hurt either) and you've got a near-perfect entrepreneur. Of course, in their eyes, it's just another day at the...

Traveling on a rocky road: everyone faces adversity, but how you approach it determines the outcome.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GENYA HARLEY SAYS THERE PAST FEW YEARS HAVEN'T been easy. The Chicagoan patiently struggles to sell the family home in a scanty housing market, manage yet another career change in the tumultuous marketing industry,...

What were you thinking? Watch out for blind spots when making decisions.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)(Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things)
January 1, 2009... "WE'VE ALL MADE STUPID MISTAKES," SAYS SHAWN O. Utsey, associate professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Oddly enough our degree of intelligence has little or nothing to do with it." In her book Blind Spots: Why Smart...

Pep talk.(QA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... I'm a 32-year-old mother of two and I've spent a great deal of time riving paycheck to paycheck, but now I want to improve my credit and become financially responsible. I've cut down on spending, but my bank account is always overdrawn so bills...

Satchel Sassy: Siedah Garrett bags a whole new direction in style.(PERSONAL PASSIONS)
January 1, 2009... NOT ONLY IS SIEDAH GARRETT CONSISTENTLY IN creative mode, she's always prepared. At an annual Christmas dinner party at the home of Quincy Jones in 2006, word got out that Garrett had started a handbag line. When singer Patti Austin asked if...

Small business catalyst: Vel Johnson relishes Orlando's supportive spirit.(CITY INSIDER)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHILE THE SLUGGISH ECONOMY IS TAKING A TOLL ON tourism, the dominant industry in Orlando, Florida, the city is seeing growth in a variety of other areas such as healthcare, education, biosciences, and its $13.4...

Backtalk with D.L. Hughley.(Interview)
January 1, 2009... ONE OF THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY, standup comedian and actor D.L. Hughley isn't one to shy away from hob-button topics. Taking a stab at news, politics, and the like, his "unconventional" weekly show D.L. Breaks the News debuted last fall on...