Black Enterprise articles from July 2004

Black Enterprise archives from July 2004

Your two cents.(Web Features)(job satisfaction)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
July 1, 2004... YOUR TWO CENTS We asked 484 blackenterprise.com readers what mattered most in keeping them happy on the job. Here's what they had to say: FULFILLMENT 153 SALARY 137 UPWARD...

Find a job.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... As of late, economists have been predicting an economic turnaround, which is music to job seekers' ears. With a hiring freeze, the biggest challenge is uncovering career opportunities. Visit our online Career Center today and use our job search...

Web tools.(franchises, investment)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today! GET $25 WHEN YOU INVEST www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney Sharebuilder and...

Resource line.(Web Columns)
July 1, 2004... 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.
July 1, 2004... 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...

Bypassing education for NBA wealth.(Publisher's Page)
July 1, 2004... An unprecedented number of talented high school basketball players made plans to skip college to enter this year's National Basketball Association draft, following in the sneaker prints of NBA stars such as league MVP Kevin Garnett and last...

The South rises again.(About This Issue)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... We learned something interesting this year when we developed (and updated) our "Top Cities for African Americans." The South is on the move--again. When we first announced this list in 2001, four out of the 10 cities were in the South; this...

Shaping the future of NASCAR.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... IMAGINE MY SURPRISE TO see your April 2004 cover story ["The New Face of NASCAR"] featuring Bill Lester, NASCAR's only black driver! My grandson, Daryn "Max" Moore, is part of the Philadelphia-based Urban youth Racing School (UYRS). Thanks to...

Rainbow/PUSH and NASCAR.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I WAS APPALLED BY YOUR ARTICLE "THE NEW FACE OF NASCAR" [April 2004]. It totally ignored the contributions of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and Rainbow Sports to the ongoing diversity initiatives in NASCAR [aiming] to improve minority participation in...

Losing the diversity race.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... HATS OFF TO BLACK ENTERPRISE FOR the long overdue ink on Bill Lester, a brother who's been out there trying to do the right thing for a long time ["The New Face of NASCAR," April 2004]. It may interest your audience to know that the problem is...

Fannie Mae faces off with federal regulators.(Newsbytes)
July 1, 2004... Fannie Mae Chairman and CEO Franklin D. Raines, one of BLACK ENTERPRISE's Wall Street-all-stars (see October 2002), is weathering a quite a storm. One of the fourth largest housing enders in the country, Fannie Mae is one of two U.S. entities...

Cochran Firm wins record $1.62 billion insurance fraud case.(National News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A landmark $1.62 billion verdict in a single plaintiff insurance fraud case won by The Cochran Firm earlier this year may bring about industry reform. Industry insiders are saying this verdict is impacting now insurance agents are hired and...

Black hopefuls join U.S. Senate race.(Washington Report)
July 1, 2004... Perhaps it was the overwhelming victory of state Sen. Barack Obama in the Chicago Democratic primary that inspired Congresswoman Denise Majette to announce her candidacy for the Georgia Senate seat vacated by Zell Miller. Despite Majette's late...

Top black executive leaves Morgan Stanley for Lazard.(Newsmaker)(William M. Lewis Jr. will serve as co-chairman of investment banking)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... One of the who's who among black Wall Street executives, William M. Lewis Jr. bids farewell to a 24-year career at financial services firm Morgan Stanley and says hello to global investment firm Lazard. Lewis will serve as co-chairman of...

2005 budget shortchanges blacks: congressional report shows Bush's budget hurts African American families.(Washington Report)(George W. Bush)
July 1, 2004... A report released by Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives says that the federal budget plan for fiscal year 2005 slashes spending for a broad range of programs benefiting African Americans. The report, titled The Bush Budget...

B-school gets stamp of approval.(National News)(business school at Medgar Evers College gets accreditation)
July 1, 2004... Medgar Evers College, one of the few Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the northern United States, recently achieved a major milestone when its school of business was accredited, giving the Brooklyn, New York-based school's...

Anthony Chase appointed to Dallas fed board.(Newsmaker)(chairman and CEO of ChaseCom L.P. will serve three-year term on board of Federal Reserve Bank)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A black businessman in Houston has been named to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Anthony R, Chase, chairman and CEO of ChaseCom L.P. (No 97 on the BE INDUSTRIAL SERVICE 100 list), will serve a three-year term...

National Urban League: State of Black America: report shows African American status is less than that of whites in economics, housing, education, and healthcare.(Facts & Figures)
July 1, 2004... If African Americans were considered three-fifths (60%) of a person in 1788 when the framers of the Constitution counted slaves for tax purposes, then their economic value in 2004 amounts to less than three-fourths (73%) when compared to their...

Women gone to market: Just Us Ladies Investing is enlightening more women about stocks and bonds.(Investment Clubhouse)
July 1, 2004... Working on a stock market presentation for a course she was taking while pursuing her master's degree in business is what motivated Renee Cleaves to establish Just Us Ladies Investing in the summer of 1998. "The stock market was filled with...

Finding value in foreign lands: Ron Holt of Hansberger Global Investors says there are attractive buys overseas.(Private Screening)
July 1, 2004... Value inventing is the core philosophy that portfolio manager Ron Holt uses to make stock selections for the Harris Insight International Fund (HILZX). Holt is the director of research at Hansberger Global Investors and is part of a...

Follow the banker: bank-loan funds allow you to capitalize on the nation's need to borrow money.(Mutual Fund Focus)
July 1, 2004... With interest rates at historically low levels, it seems like there's no place for them to go but up. But rising interest rates would decrease the value of existing bonds. The 4% interest they already yield on the market will bring lower prices...

Your home is your financial base. Lay a foundation for wealth building. Come to Wells Fargo for your Home Mortgage or Home Equity loan: as the nation's leading home mortgage lender to African Americans, * Wells Fargo helps families reach their goals with home ownership and smart management of their home asset.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Every home is different. Every family is unique. That's why our home mortgage consultants and personal bankers will recommend a home mortgage or equity loan that's particularly right for you. We have a variety of loans with features and...

It's business ... and personal: Anthony Harris is balancing his business needs against his retirement goals.(Investment Strategies)
July 1, 2004... Last summer, Anthony Harris, the 32-year-old owner of Popular Demand clothing store and Popular Demand Unisex Salon in Cleveland, decided he just couldn't pass up a third business opportunity. Banks had foreclosed on the building that housed...

Opening an IRA.(Ask B.E.)(Individual Retirement Account)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q How do you open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)?--C. Martin New Castle, DE A You can open an IRA at your local bank. Just walk in and ask for all the details. You can also open an IRA with any regular or online brokerage...

Corporate ties: this entrepreneur turned to her former employer to get her business started.(Making It)(Alice Turner Byrd)
July 1, 2004... When Alice Turner Byrd left CIGNA Corp. six years ago and formed Turner Training USA, she never dreamed that her former employer would lay the foundation for her company's success. Turner Training USA, which began operations in 1997,...

When is the price right? Effective pricing is crucial to remain competitive and move product.(Management Advice)
July 1, 2004... During the business downturn of 2001-2002, many businesses of all sizes were forced to cut prices to try to maintain market share and reduce inventory. The challenge is to reduce prices enough to entice buyers without cutting too deeply into...

Avoiding a cash flow crunch: accurate projections are key to your business' survival.(Management Advice)
July 1, 2004... Eugene Ball, director and board member of Colbert/Ball Tax Service based in Houston, says his company was gearing up for its best tax season on record. By all projections, Colbert/Ball Tax Service a franchise that processed over 30 000 tax...

Caribbean connection: this shipping professional is taking his company overseas.(Making It)(Franklin Vieira)(Caribbean Cargo & Package Services)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2004... Franklin "Bobby" Vieira may have learned the shipping business in Trinidad, but he was taught the rules of entrepreneurship when he moved to the U.S. The CEO of Caribbean Cargo & Package Services, a shipping company based at John F....

Strong structure.(Savvy Solutions)(business structure)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q I am launching my own small business venture, but I have some questions regarding business structures. Is there a right or wrong choice when choosing the type of business structure you will use? What are the advantages and disadvantages of...

Starting from zero: entrepreneur reaps success during rocky tech times.(Black Digerati)(Glenn Davis)(Interview)
July 1, 2004... Glenn Davis picked a strange time to leave his $110,000-a-year position as a technology consultant and account manager for a large IT firm to start his own company. It was March 2000, and most tech firms were downsizing, the U.S. economy was...

Wireless freedom: installing an AirPort network can be a breeze.(Networked Living)
July 1, 2004... Last Christmas, Santa Claus came down our "chimney" with two iBook G4s for our 6-year-old twins and one PowerBook G4 for my wife and I (a nice upgrade from an obsolete Mac we had purchased in 1996). We connected our new G4 to the Internet, but...

Giving where it counts: Blackgiving.com lets consumers choose their charities.(Tech News)
July 1, 2004... In varying degrees, we've all heard the gloomy statistics that often paint perceptions of the African American community, frequently deeming it a "lost cause." But it was precisely that view, and issues such as the lack of adequate healthcare...

And the award goes to ...(Hot Picks)(Verbatim Digital-Movie DVDs)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... Whether you want to wow prospective clients or spice up your company's video presentation, Verbatim's new Digital-Movie DVDs are a real showstopper. The media combine the look of a classical Hollywood movie reel with the performance of DVD+R...

A real head-turner.(Hot Picks)(Samsung a610 phone)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... Samsung's a610 phone is really something to flip over. The phone features an integrated camera, a Screen that rotates 180 degrees: and a sharp TFT Color display. The device is perfect for want to do more than chat. Users can play games on the...

Around the bend.(Hot Picks)(Kyocera Finecam SL300R)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... We've all been added at one point or another not to "get it twisted," but we think you can make an exception with the Kyocera Finecam SL300R. The 3.17-megapixel digital camera not only features full-memory consecutive shooting at 3.5fps but it...

Brave new tech world.(Cyberwise)(computer purchasing)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Q The most technologically advanced thing my parents own is a microwave oven. They've recently decided they want to buy a computer. How and where should they start? S. Brown Via the Internet A Microwave ovens are pretty advanced,...

Much higher learning: exploring the benefits of an academic career.(Making Connections)
July 1, 2004... "What I enjoyed the most [at the bank] was developing my employees--training them and watching them move from level to level. I had more passion for the teaching element of management than for building revenues," explains Patricia Hewlin of her...

Membership privileges: how to benefit from joining a professional organization.(Work It!)
July 1, 2004... Cherine Anderson, 39, a marketing manager for Nickelodeon always wanted to work for MTV. "But you send resumes, you call, and nobody would pay any attention," she remarks. Several attempts to find employment with Viacom. the parent company...

About my raise ... how to ask for and get more money.(Making Connections)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Yuri Brown landed her first job after college at Merck Pharmaceuticals. She earned $40,000 and never thought about negotiating for a higher salary. When she decided to switch careers from sales to human resources--without a context for...

Charting your course.(Since You Asked)(career planning)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q I have an undergraduate degree in business administration. I am interested in becoming an executive, but with limited professional work experience, where should I start? I would also like to know possible options that would offer decent pay...

Scholastic Corp.(On The Move)(Mary A. Winston named executive vice president and CFO)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 1 Mary A. Winston is executive vice president and CFO of Scholastic Corp. She is charged with strengthening the company's capital allocation, cash flow, and overall financial performance, Winston, who in 2003 was named one of the 100 most...

Fred Dickson has been named chief information officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 2 Fred Dickson has been named chief information officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Dickson, who has been with the company since 1999, is charged with advancing many of the initiatives he already put in place, such as providing...

Richard Gay was named senior vice president of strategy and business operations for VH1 and CMT.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 3 Richard Gay was named senior vice president of strategy and business operations for VH1 and CMT. He is responsible for all strategic planning, key initiatives, and business development, as well as overseeing VH1's digital suite of channels...

Kelvin Simmons is the first African American to direct the Missouri Department of Economic Development.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 4 Kelvin Simmons is the first African American to direct the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He oversees more than 35 separate divisions, commissions, and boards; administers a $264 million budget; and is charged with developing...

Health Policy Institute.(On The Move)(Gail C. Christopher appointed director)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 5 Gail C. Christopher has been appointed director of the Health Policy Institute under the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. She will set the agenda for the Institute's work on health policy issues for African Americans and other...

Convention calendar.(Powerplay)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... July 2004 American Black Film Festival July 14-18, 2004; Miami; 212-966-2411 www.abff.com National Urban League July 21-25, 2004; Detroit; 212-558-5300 www.nul.org Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. July 21-28, 2004; St. Louis...

The $5 million retirement plan: focusing on a positive net worth is leading the Thomas family to early retirement.(Black Wealth Initiative)
July 1, 2004... Like so many couples in their mid-30s, Stephen and Rachel Thomas have their financial dreams. Their primary goal is to retire early, and 10 years from now, when they will both be 45, they hope to have a combined net worth of $2.5 million. A...

Learning to live through a layoff: the Williams family must make major adjustments to keep their financial dreams within reach.(Financial Black Fitness Enterprise Contest Winner No. 49)
July 1, 2004... Six years after Whitney Williams was laid off from his IT job at a pharmaceutical company, he and his wife, Diane, are still struggling to get the family back on firm financial footing. Uninterested in working full time for a company again,...

Top cities for African Americans: the results are in. Here are readers' and editors' picks for the best places to work, live, and play.(Special Report)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... "The best place to be" is very likely whatever location you feel most fits your needs, whether or not that area has afforded you a well-paying job, a spacious, home, or plenty of social venues. Regardless of which metropolis you call home, our...

How to choose an annuity: if carefully constructed, an annuity can be an important part of your retirement plan--but they're not right for everyone.(Money Management)
July 1, 2004... Pathologist Arthur Bracey works in an environment of rising malpractice judgments. But he's no longer worried that an angry patient filing suit against him could take part of his near $200,000 yearly salary. Why the peace of mind? In...

Discharging a debt: until America acknowledges the devastating effects of slavery on the current economic condition of African Americans, the issue of reparations will never become law.(Book Excerpt)(Excerpt)
July 1, 2004... If success in winning reparations for historical wrongs is largely about politics, then what about the efforts of Americans to get reparations for slavery and its aftermath? The basic argument is clear as rainwater: Slavery was a crime as...

Buy, sell & rent: managing investment property takes a keen understanding of housing laws and regulations.(Real Estate)
July 1, 2004... Here's what you need to know before you take the plunge. Steven Perkins had been in court the day before. "I was involved in a dispute involving my rental property in Southfield," he recalled, referring to the Detroit suburb where he lives...

2004 Black Enterprise African American Travel Guide presented by Allstate.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... As member of a remarkable group of people who have overcome many obstacles in the quest to gain financial independence and full participation the free market system, you are in constant need of quality information. Your goal has always been to...

Switching tracks: BITco USA, a Florida-based installations company, makes a bid for a better Website.(Technology)
July 1, 2004... When J.C. Gamboa, CEO of BITco USA Inc. (www.bitcousa.com), put in her bid for BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Website Makeover Contest, she wasn't just looking to change the company's online image. "The biggest thing is for folks to see us as a new and...

Diversity leaders--advancing business performance through diversity.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... There is no question that for any organization to succeed today, it must keep pace with the nation's changing demographics. Many forward-thinking companies answer this call by providing the right products and services demanded by their...

Is your mate ready for your success? Garner the personal support you need to professionally achieve.(Peak Performance)
July 1, 2004... Your business investments are beginning to pay off--big time. The years of balancing your day job and night classes toward your M.B.A., proving yourself to upper management, or building an impressive client list for your entrepreneurial...

Inspiring tales for all: book offers quotations to live by.(Words To Strive By)(Stretch Your Wings: Famous Black Quotations for Teens)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
July 1, 2004... If you need a little pick-me up, it might be time to take a visit to the bookstore. There, you'll find a little hook full of big dreams and inspirations. Selected and edited by Janet Cheatham Bell and Lucille Usher Freeman, Stretch Your Wings:...

A market of one.(Help Yourself)
July 1, 2004... Q I have two great ideas, but I lack the knowledge to see them manifested. I wrote a book. Also, I have an idea for a magazine, I am in college majoring in communications; my previous major was nursing. My book is about my experiences in...

Forgive us our debts ... the creditor may, but the IRS won't.(Consumer Life)
July 1, 2004... Many people are excited to hear that companies such as mortgage lenders, car financiers, and credit card issuers will write off their debt when they agree to pay a certain amount of the balance. It makes perfect sense--especially if the...

Vacation time! Best places to find travel bargains.(Secret Savings)
July 1, 2004... For many of us, summer vacations evoke memories of friends, family, and exotic locations--and debt Chat can take months to pay off. With careful planning, however, you can take the trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank. Whether you're...

Gas savings strategies: on your next trip to the pump, try these tips.(Did You Know?)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The surge in gasoline prices may make you hesitate on your next trip to the pump. Prices are higher than they've ever been before. Higher crude oil prices and manipulation of supplies by oil companies are being blamed, but where does that...

Taking care of business: downloadable programs for your enterprise.(Priceless Resources)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Take care of business for less. Download office programs to help Keep information secure, organized, and accessible from various locations. Visit www.freedownloadscenter.com and find links to accounting tools like Safe Express 2.0, which...

Work at home.(Ask Your Advocate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q I am currently seeking to supplement my income through part-time telecommuting, However. everything on the Net seems to be questionable. I check out each organization through the Better Business Bureau. Is there a simpler way to find the...

On the fly: Sterling Burke builds his plane by the book.(Personal Passions)(airplane kits)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... "If you go to my mom's house and go to the airplane section of the encyclopedia, you will find a lot of dirty fingerprints," says Sterling Burke. "I learned how to fly [by] reading the encyclopedia." Well, sort of. Burke, 56, a senior partner...

Island delights: time out in Tobago.(Travelogue)
July 1, 2004... The tiny island of Tobago hovers just below the radar of luxe-life aficionados who make careers out of publicizing the world's best-kept travel secrets. Quietly and patiently, just like the pace of life in Tobago, this island's tourism pitch...

Checking in: Chicago: Cheryl Burton whirls through the Windy City.(City Profile)
July 1, 2004... People come to Chicago in search of dreams and to start new lives and new businesses, says Cheryl Burton, a television news anchor at ABC 7 News, of a town founded by a free black entrepreneur, Jean-Baptiste Point DuSable, in the 1700s. Burton,...

Stone perfect: Leslie Rinehardt and Marvin Miller are in the cut.(The Enthusiast)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... "For our clients, we enjoy experimenting with different patterns and stone. Natural stones--such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine, and onyx--are available in a range of color tones and surface textures, and their depth and uniqueness...

Last days of sizzling summer fun: Golf and Tennis Challenge promises excitement and endless networking opportunities.(B.E. Golf & Tennis Challenge)
July 1, 2004... Set your last days of summer on fire with the finest combination of exercise, entertainment, and networking at the 11th annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge. This Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-6, 2004, join us at. Miami's Doral...

What the Doral has to offer.(Extra Options)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nestled in the heart of tropical Miami, Doral Golf Resort & Spa is an oasis of pleasure for health nuts and hedonists alike. One of the few resorts in the world to offer five golf courses, Doral is home to the famed Blue Monster, a course known...