Black Enterprise articles from July 2006

Black Enterprise archives from July 2006

The best companies for African Americans.
July 1, 2006... Throughout the month we'll provide expanded coverage of the best companies for diversity. See how your company stacks up.

Web tools.
July 1, 2006... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/franchisefinder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today! GET $30 WHEN YOU INVEST www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney ShareBuilder and...

Resource line.
July 1, 2006... Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at blackenterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Philana Patterson's column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding investors....

Tribute to a trailblazer, hero, and friend.(Darwin N. Davis Sr.)
July 1, 2006... On April 16, 2006, a true hero went on to glory. With the death of Darwin N. Davis Sr. on that Easter Sunday morning, the black business community lost a true trailblazer and great champion--and I lost my best friend, "Double D." Darwin...

The truth about diversity in advertising.(Black Enterprise)
July 1, 2006... For the second year, BLACK ENTERPRISE has unveiled its list of corporate diversity leaders. There's good news and bad news. We'll give you the good news first. After researching the largest 1,000 companies and 50 global entities with strong...

Home maintenance is key.
July 1, 2006... In the article "Preparing to Buy A Home" in the March 2006 issue, I noticed that it talked about preparing a budget, but didn't give details. As someone with a 15-year mortgage who is about to make my Sinai payment, I think you need to advise...

Varied options for success.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I OWN A MARKETING FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP marketing and fulfillment. The name of my company is Kharisma Creative Solutions Inc. and it's located in Ajax, Ontario, Canada (just outside of Toronto). I have been a...

The economics of success.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I HAVE BEEN A SUBSCRIBER TO BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine since my graduation from Howard University in 1989. Earl G. Graves St. was the commencement keynote speaker that year, and he offered a free six-month trial subscription to all Howard...

A better perspective.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I commend BE on providing insight into mental illness with Back Talk in the April 2006 issue. Bebe Moore Campbell's responses hit home. My 12-year-old son is currently an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital. He has bipolar disorder. ...

Stamping out ignorance.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTABLE THAT A business magazine is discussing the issue of mental illness, as it constitutes half of the top 10 causes of disability worldwide (Back Talk, April 2006). I am a social workprofessor (and single parent) with a...

Keeping us well-equipped.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... AS A PROUD SUBSCRIBER TO BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE, I JUST HAD TO give credit where it's due. I have been reading BE for years and have acquired a lot of vital information from it. I'm the owner of a successful independent record label in...

Keep making career moves.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND ENLIGHTENING TO READ THE PERSPECTIVES and experiences of the new managers regarding their new responsibilities ("Congratulations, You're a Manager! Now What?" April 2006). In the future, would it be possible to...

Industrial/Service 100 list.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2006... Due to a printing error, the companies that were ranked between No, 21 and No. 40 were excluded from the June 2006 issue. The correction (right) provides you with the omitted page. Also, the sales figures for Inner City Broadcasting Corp....

Fighting town.(Service industries)(Table)
July 1, 2006... FIGHTING TOWN This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 21 22 Anderson-DuBose Co. Solon, CH Warren Anderson 22 23...

Top designer advances: Ralph Gilles speeds ahead at Chrysler.(DaimlerChrysler AG. Chrysler Group's Ralph V. Gilles)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... If Ralph V. Gilles were an off-road vehicle, he would be "Trail Rated," a badge of honor bestowed on Jeep 4x4s that meet stringent requirements and perform under challenging conditions. Gilles, 36, was recently promoted to vice president of...

MV transportation loses contract bid: awarding practices spark federal investigation.
July 1, 2006... A federal investigation is probing whether a multimillion-dollar government contract recommended for a BE 100s company but awarded to a white-owned firm--at a higher cost--was a case of bid-rigging. Last November, Springfield,...

Where's the CBC now? Observers say Caucus has little power in Republican-controlled congress.(Congressional Black Caucus Foundation)
July 1, 2006... There once was a time when members of the Congressional Black Caucus spoke and people listened. That time has come and gone Today, the group, with a few exceptions, has very little power to shape and influence legislation that affects African...

Unionization decreasing among black workers: big fight brewing as companies cut pension and healthcare costs.
July 1, 2006... Union membership among blacks has dropped by almost 50% in the last two decades according to a study by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Economic and Policy Research. The study found that 31.7% of all black workers were unionized in...

Concessions Miami wins $150 million contract: firm wins open-market bid to provide concessions at Miami International Airport.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Miami-Dade County Commission voted unanimously to award black-owned Concessions Miami a 10-year, $150 million deal with Miami International Airport. Per the agreement, Concessions Miami will begin construction, financing, subleasing, and...

Is millennium digital media calling it quits? Company sells off majority of cable subscriber accounts.(Millennium Digital Media, Wave Division Holdings L.L.C.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Millennium Digital Media (No. 41 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $102.3 million in sales) recently signed an agreement to sell roughly 75,000 of its cable subscriber accounts to Wave Division Holdings L.L.C., an Internet and phone...

NYC burial ground declared national monument.(New York City)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A slave burial ground in lower Manhattan has officially been declared a national monument by President Bush. More than 400 remains from the 17th to 18th centuries have been discovered at the site, dubbed the African Burial Ground. "Appointing...

Minar Products, maker of all-natural soap and toothpaste, has taken its first steps toward national distribution.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Minar Products, maker of all-natural soap and toothpaste, has taken its first steps toward national distribution. Based in Chicago, Minar's products will now be available in Jewel-Osco stores in Chicago and in Walgreens stores in Illinois and...

Terri Franklin and her Accents of Color pantyhose line finally have a leg in the door at major retail stores.(Nordstrom)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Terri Franklin and her Accents of Color pantyhose line finally have a leg in the door at major retail stores. Nordstrom stores now carry the hosiery line made for women of color. Select T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores will debut the line this...

Trade schools sapping pockets dry? Those seeking associate degrees are racking up as much debt as those in four-year schools.
July 1, 2006... African Americans graduating with associate degrees from for-profit institutions such as trade schools are racking up nearly as much debt as those graduating from public four-year colleges. Furthermore, the technical school graduates tend to...

Moving on up: equity from your first home can be your ticket to finding a place that's bigger and better.(Brittie and Andrae Crawford)
July 1, 2006... It's easy to understand Brittie and Andrae Crawford's excitement about buying a new house. They had outgrown their starter home, a three-bedroom, 1,900-square-foot property in Long Beach, California. "There was no garage, and you had to go...

Capital improvements: Michael Manns likes companies that benefit from corporate spending.
July 1, 2006... In today's market, high value growth companies with sustainable earnings are the best bets, according to Michael Manns, senior vice president and senior portfolio manager at Phoenix Investment Partners' Engemann Asset Management in Pasadena,...

Think long, think right: by relying on trend-setting firms, Larry Folmar realized positive results.
July 1, 2006... In the year since he selected a portfolio of five stocks for BLACK ENTERPRISE, Larry Folmar, president and chief executive officer of Southfield, Michigan-based Folmar Financial Group Inc., maintains that the U.S. economy has been extremely...

Midyear money moves: sometimes staying ahead of the market means sticking with a proven investment plan.
July 1, 2006... When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to slow economic growth and keep inflation at bay, Wall Street gets jittery. But for individual investors keeping close tabs on their portfolios, patience may translate into solid returns. That's...

Financing rental property.(MONEY MATTERS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... RENTAL PROPERTY Q A I am a 33-year-old female seeking to increase my wealth through real estate investing. I have great credit but little money to put down. I do not want to take money out of my current home. I read an article where a...

Paving her way: movie producer carves out a low-budget niche to make big strides in Hollywood.(Effie T. Brown)
July 1, 2006... Being able to produce quality movies on tight budgets is a source of pride for Effie T. Brown, 34, president and founder of Los Angeles-based Duly Noted Inc. In fact, she enjoys the responsibility and challenges that come her way as her...

Balanced learning: the key to the Primrose School franchise model is an innovative approach.
July 1, 2006... In 2004, Angelo and Melissa Pettis called the Primrose School Franchising Co., hoping to open a childcare facility. They were turned down. "Primrose has a screening process," Angelo, 34, says, admitting that he and his wife, 38, didn't...

Major League Baseball: everything vendors need to know to hit one out of the ballpark.(Especially for You Gift Baskets)
July 1, 2006... When Debra Harris, president of Especially for You Gift Baskets, was asked by Major League Baseball to fill an order worth $50,000, she was ready to play ball. The custom-designed gift-basket maker created and delivered more than 300 gifts for...

PEOs to the rescue: Professional Employer Organizations help entrepreneurs get back to business.
July 1, 2006... It's no secret that the fun of running a company is not in the details. Managing human resources paperwork, payroll, and recruiting all take time and money away from actual business. That's why Geary Broadnax decided to seek help with the...

Nonprofit resources.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Q I am an African American woman and my business is Pillars of Dreams Inc., which is a nonprofit organization that provides permanent supportive housing for homeless and disadvantaged women and their minor children. My question is how does a...

Watch your tone: Vernon Irvin says video will usher in the next wave of mobile content.
July 1, 2006... Ringtones began as a novel way for cellular phone users to personalize their incoming calls, but they have rapidly grown into a huge cash generator for musicians and mobile operators seeking to boost revenues. Now, ringtones are the most...

Unleash your PDA'S power: become more productive by tapping into your personal digital assistant.
July 1, 2006... Like most personal digital assistant users, Anthony Griffin, the Beverly Hills plastic surgeon seen on ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover, primarily used his handheld device as an electronic address book and calendar. But after he attended a Franklin...

Avoiding the 'phishing' hook: new online scares and virus attacks undermine your business.(E-BUSINESS)
July 1, 2006... There was a time when the biggest online threat was a virus that spread to every name in an address book and pollinated multiple computers. Known as worms, they were an inconvenience but were fairly simple to eradicate with a clean sweep from...

Resources for E-business templates.(CYBERWISE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Q I have been considering starting a virtual business to provide technical services or possibly an online retail Website. Where can I find resources that provide e-business templates for Websites to include database back-ends? --P. Nesby...

Leading the orchestra: conductor Michael Morgan creates beautiful music.(CAREER PROFILE)(Biography)
July 1, 2006... While most kids get a kick out of flailing their arms about and mimicking the gestures of a conductor, Michael Morgan was inspired to make a career out of performing such acts at the tender age of 9, "I decided I would be a conductor, just from...

The art of persuasion: how to get what you want from employers, clients, and staff.(MAKING CONNECTIONS)
July 1, 2006... As vice president at Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., Jerome Clark, 45, has found that selling is a critical part of managing more than 400 clients and over $11.5 billion. Throughout his career, he's learned that all business...

Seeking science.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Q I currently attend Florida A & H University. I am majoring in chemistry and plan to pursue pharmacy. I have three years before I graduate, but I was wondering what opportunities exist in science. I go to career fairs and the amount of people...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)
July 1, 2006... The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives 30th Annual Conference and Exhibition July 7-12; Cincinnati; 703-658-1529; www.noblenational.org NAACP 97th Annual Convention July 15-20; Washington, D.C.; 410-580-5780;...

General Electric Co.(ON THE MOVE)(appoints Eric LaBat)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 1 Eric LaBat has been named chief marketing officer for the Rail Services unit of General Electric Co. In this newly created position, LaBat is charged with overseeing studies of consumers and markets to ensure the successful launch of the...

E. Ramone Segree has joined The Jackie Robinson Foundation as vice president and chief development officer.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 2 E. Ramone Segree has joined The Jackie Robinson Foundation as vice president and chief development officer. A veteran fundraising executive, Segree brings a range of experience. He most recently served as president of his own fundraising...

Technology Products Division of Sony Electronics.(ON THE MOVE)(Tanya M. Diggs )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 3 Tanya M. Diggs has been promoted to general manager/director of corporate marketing for the Information Technology Products Division of Sony Electronics. In her new role, Diggs is responsible for creating national advertising and marketing...

Robert Dixon has joined the National Hockey League as senior director of finance.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 4 Robert Dixon has joined the National Hockey League as senior director of finance. He is charged with overseeing all of the NHL's financial reporting, including general accounting and budgets and forecasts. He also serves as the company's...

Nickelodeon Networks.(ON THE MOVE)(appoints Marsha E. Williams)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 5 Marsha E. Williams has been promoted to senior vice president of research and planning at Nickelodeon Networks. A nine-year veteran of the company, Williams is credited with establishing Nickelodeon as the leader in information and research...

The value of appreciation: The Phillips family is using property as the foundation for reaching their financial goals.(BLACK WEALTH INITIATIVE: THE VALUE OF APPRECIATION)
July 1, 2006... BRANDON PHILLIPS LEARNED THE value of being financially independent by watching his father, who owned a carpet store. "My dad was a person who worked hard," says the 31-year-old native of Pasadena, California, "but I always appreciated the...

What to expect at closing: knowing the process can take the mystery and fear out of owning real estate.(HOMEOWNERSHIP PART 5 OF 5)
July 1, 2006... WHEN TAMEKA JONES AND DEMETRIE Hylick were rushing to the meeting to close on their two-bedroom townhouse, the Baltimore couple was both excited and fearful. Engaged to be married in July 2007, the two were elated to buy their first home, but...

Cake man: creating edible works of art for high-profile clients.(PROFILE)(Raven Patrick De'Sean Dennis III)(Biography)
July 1, 2006... IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN 1992. Raven Patrick De'Sean Dennis III was moving about his New York apartment, preparing to host a Sunday dinner for a choir from Benedict College. Then the telephone rang. An executive chef named Conrad...

The 40 best companies for diversity: our second annual listing reveals the top performers in supplier, workforce, management, and board diversity. A bonus: We identify the leaders in marketing spending to reach black consumers.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Company rankings)
July 1, 2006... IN THE MIDST OF MARCHES, protests, and battles for equality, in 1969, D. Parke Gibson's The $30 Billion Negro was published. It was a book that presented African Americans as a viable consumer market--a $30 billion market that had been ignored...

Hitting a high note: accomplished composer overcomes dyslexia.(TRIALS & TRIUMPHS)
July 1, 2006... Give Darryl S. Duncan three simple words such as "funky," "mid-tempo," and "urban," and he'll compose a full musical score. The 43-year-old composer, songwriter, and producer is gifted enough to take a client's instruction and create a melody...

Tune in to yourself: when you listen to yourself, good things start to happen.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)
July 1, 2006... For most of her adolescence, Asha Tyson was labeled a problem child by family members and teachers. Her family said she was skinny, ugly, and that nobody wanted her. Her teachers thought she was dumb, especially since she had a D average in...

A new direction.(PEP TALK)(managing foster home cares)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Q I work with the Department of Juvenile Justice, but I've had dreams of opening up a foster home/ after-care program for troubled kids. I have written down plans, gone over them several times, and spoken to people about them, but I'm not...

Living the glamorous life: how to look like a millionaire without breaking the bank.(CONSUMER LIFE)
July 1, 2006... Everyone likes to live the glamorous life. But what if you don't have a six-figure income? What if, in fact, you have two kids, a mortgage, and make $60,000 or less? Either you have to spend less or make more--or both! If making more is not in...

Making the grade: new scoring system introduced by credit agencies.(CREDIT MANAGEMENT)
July 1, 2006... When you think about your credit score, Fair Isaac Corp.'s three-digit FICO score most likely comes to mind. But if the three credit-reporting agencies have their way, a new grading system may soon take effect. The new scoring model,...

Starting a scholarship.(ASK YOUR ADVOCATE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Q Where can I locate information regarding the "how-to's" of starting a scholarship to make sure that I cover all of the legal aspects? A. Burnell-Thomas Via the Internet A According to www.idealist.org, there are quite a few...

The tea spot: Lisa R. Campbell brews a perfect cup.(THE ENTHUSIAST)(Urban Tea Party)
July 1, 2006... Two flavorful international experiences sparked a passion for tea in Lisa Campbell. "You must try this, child," offered a cafe owner in Jamaica back in 1998 who was serving the ruby-tinged, South African Rooibos (pronounced roy boss) tea. Then...

Where the old world meets the new: southwest England offers romance, nostalgia, and some little-known black history.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)
July 1, 2006... Usually, London is the focal point for all news out of England. But if you want to know where transatlantic slavery began--or to experience the English countryside of romantic, historical novels--you'll have to fly 120 miles to the southwest,...

It's all in the mix: DiAunte Robinson's summer drink specials.(EXECUTIVE ENTERTAINING)
July 1, 2006... What's your favorite drink? Odds are you have more than one. And even if you don't, there's great probability that "the usual" now comes in several flavored varieties. Mixologist DiAunte Robinson (www.mixologistdiaunte.com), who works at one...

Get ready for summer's hottest networking exchange!(GOLF & TENNIS CHALLENGE)
July 1, 2006... Now is the time to start making plans to attend the hottest leisure/networking event of the year--the 13th annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge! This legendary event attracts more than 1,200 of the nation's top African American...

Back talk: with Colin Powell.(Interview)
July 1, 2006... No longer on the world stage since his retirement in 2004, former Secretary of State Colin Powell is channeling his energy into efforts that hit closer to home. As founding chairman of America's Promise, Powell challenged the nation to...