Black Enterprise articles from July 2007

Black Enterprise archives from July 2007

Expanding the meaning of diversity.(WEB FEATURES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... As we showcase in this issue, corporate America is doing a better job embracing ethnic diversity in the workplace. But how much is it doing to embrace black employees who are also gay? To get the real scoop, we talk to members of the gay,...

News with a perspective.(WEB FEATURES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Visit blackenterprise.com for insightful weekly columns. Portfolio manager and author William E. Thomason analyzes the fluctuations in the stock market and gives his stock pick of the week in his Stock Sense column. Editor-at-Large Sakina...

Web tools.(WEB FEATURES)
July 1, 2007... FRANCHISE FINDER www.blackenterprise.com/ franchisefinder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today! GET $40 WHEN YOU INVEST www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney ShareBuilder and...

Web highlights.(Website list)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... JOB SEARCH Give yourself a free career makeover using our online job search. Go to: Career B.E. NOW ON TV AND RADIO Look for streaming video and audio clips from our latest business news ventures. FINANCIAL PLANNING GUIDE ...

Choose wealth, choose health, for life.(publisher's page)
July 1, 2007... Conventional wisdom holds that poor health is a direct outgrowth of a lack of financial resources. And for the truly impoverished, that is true. But for the majority of the rest of us, the opposite is more likely to be true: Poor health habits...

The impact of diversity on Black Business.(AboutThis Issue)
July 1, 2007... When BLACK ENTERPRISE recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of the BE 100S, we highlighted a number of the milestones that marked the evolution of America's largest black-owned businesses. One factor that can't be ignored, however, is the...

Though-provoking advice.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I found the article "Tapping into YouTube" (Techwatch, March 2007) to be very insightful. Many small-business owners are struggling, trying to gain customers and grow revenues. The exposure one can get using a tool like YouTube is phenomenal....

Homeownership vs. the stock market.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... AS A LONGTIME INVESTORS IN AND ADMIRER OF ARIEL Capital Management, as well as a 19-year subscriber to BLACK ENTERPRISE, I am a serious investor in both stock and real estate markets. However, I take issue with some of the comparisons made in...

New and inspired.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I AM A NEW SUBSCRIBER AND I REALLY ENJOY READING your articles, which I find inspiring and uplifting. The issues that interest me include taking the plunge to becoming your own boss. I am starting a real estate investment business with a few...

Advocating personal financial management.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... After learning about the additions of Trevor Delaney and Mellody Hobson to BLACK ENTERPRISE in the April 2007 edition, I was excited and inspired. My company, Mikasue Designs, develops personal financial management software that provides a...

Dreams lend encouragement.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I greatly appreciated the article "Sweet Dreams..." (April 2007) on Kerri and Darryl Washington. As an entrepreneur and retiring Air Force member. I admire their courage and tenacity to chase their dreams. The thing I love most about them is...

A welcome addition.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I WAS OVERJOYED TO LEARN THAT MELLODY HOBSON of Ariel Capital will be a regular contributor to BLACK ENTERPRISE. Judging by her first column (Moneywise, April 2007), her considerable expertise and insight will both challenge and educate BE...

In enthusiastic agreement.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I TRULY ENJOYED MELLODY HOBSON'S ARTICLE, "WALL Street--The Best Address" (Moneywise, April 2007). I am excited that she will be contributing advice for BLACK ENTERPRISE's readers. I totally agree with her that African Americans "consistently...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2007... In "Keep an Eye on Oil" (Moneywise, May 2007), Brown Capital Management Inc's assets were incorrectly listed. At the time, the company was No. 6 on the 2006 BE ASSET MANAGERS list $2.7 billion in assets under management.

Rich in translation: Steve Stoute involved in a lucrative deal to sell Translation to IPG.(Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. to acquire Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY FOUNDED BY STEVE STOUTE, THE CONsumer marketing whiz who created McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" ad campaign and linked the fast-food giant with pop stars such as Justin Timberlake, may become the latest addition to the Interpublic Group...

Legend of business: Earl Graves inducted into Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame.(B.E. 100s)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Earl G. Graves Sr., founder, chairman, and publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, recently Look his place among other business luminaries inducted into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement Worldwide. He joins a prestigious...

Carter Brothers buys alarm business.(B.E. 100s)(Edwards Service)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Atlanta-based electronic security and fire alarm company Carter Brothers L.L.C. (No. 74 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $55.6 million in sales) purchased Edwards Service, a fire alarm, maintenance, installation, and inspection...

Republicans not courting our vote: the beleaguered party's damage-control strategv doesn't appear to include reaching out to blacks.(WASHINGTON REPORT)
July 1, 2007... Republican presidential candidates, led by Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain, are bearing the brant of the mistakes of the current administration. With President George W. Bush's approval rating reaching an all-time low of 28% in...

Justice may come: FBI investigates 100 civil rights-era cases.(AROUND THE NATION)
July 1, 2007... Maceo Snipes, a black war veteran, was killed in 1946 when a carload of white men up to the house where he was and shot him. nipes' niece, Lulu Kate Montfort, believes he was killed because he voted in the Georgia Democratic primary the day...

Franchise rule upgrade: new rules allow for disclosure compliance via the Web.(BUSINESS NEWS)
July 1, 2007... The franchise industry has just been ushered into the 21st century by the Federal Trade Commission with a small but momentous change in the FTC Franchise Rule. The revision allows franchisors to disclose legally mandated information through...

America's no. 1 Cuban import: Blacks go to medical school abroad and return to the U.S. to practice.(INTERNATIONAL NEWS)
July 1, 2007... Leon Daniels was working his way through college and scraping up money for the MCATs when he heard about a program that offered a free ride in medical school--if he went to Cuba. "I always wanted to do medical school and this was the...

Girl power: Rev. Run's daughters introduce new line of footwear.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Designing is in the genes for Angela and Vanessa Simmons, daughters of Joseph Simmons a.k.a Rev. Run, the rapperturned-reality show star and co-owner of Run Athletics, with $4 million in sales in 2006. The two have launched a new company that...

Homeroom has new meaning; African American parents fed up with traditional education turn to homeschooling.(FACTS & FIGURES)
July 1, 2007... MORE AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS ARE HOMESCHOOLING their kids today than ever before, according to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, which reveals a 22.6% increase between 1999 and 2003. African American homeschooled...

Room for returns: with strong demand for hotel space and limited supply, more profits may flow into shareholders' pockets.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)
July 1, 2007... AS THE TREASURER OF SISTERS Investing Seriously, an investment club with 22 members, Delores McKinley oversees a portfolio that's just shy of $100,000, and her largest bet is on Hilton Hotels. All told, the Sisters own a stake in 25 companies,...

Open for business: Gerald Loftin says don't fret about market volatility, just start investing.(STOCK PICKS)(Renaissance Financial Group)(Interview)
July 1, 2007... Forget investing trends, and ignore the market's twists and turns. That might seem like surprising advice coming from a financial planner, but Gerald Loftin stands behind it: "That's where you get into trouble, because what you find is that...

Heart problems: a costly acquisition weighs down Michael Manns' portfolio.(STOCK UPDATE)(Engemann Asset Management)
July 1, 2007... THE IDEA THAT COMPANIES HAVE TO SPEND MONEY in order to make money was an underlying rationale for the portfolio that Michael Manns assembled last July. Then a senior portfolio manager with Phoenix Investment Partners' Engemann Asset...

Broken promises: pension plans are disappearing, so take control of your retirement plan.(Total Return)
July 1, 2007... DESPITE ALL THE PUBLICITY SURROUNDING the housing bubble and the subprime mortgage market, there is an even larger financial crisis looming. I fear many of us, especially those of us in the black community, may never reach our retirement goals...

Understanding earnings season: how to make sense of the quarterly numbers.(INVESTOR INSIGHT)
July 1, 2007... It's that time of year again: earnings season. It's a time when Wall Street analysts find but whether their quarterly earnings projections for the companies they follow have hit the mark. And as you might expect, it can be a period fraught with...

Getting started online.(MONEY MATTERS)(online securities trading)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... I'm interested in online trading, but I'm not sure how to begin. Do you have any suggestions. And what are some reputable e-trading companies? --E. Lee Via the Internet With the Dow closing above 13,000, many potential investors may be...

A Noble approach: a multimillion-dollar contract put William Parrish's construction firm on solid financial ground.(Noble Strategy and School Construction Authority of New York)
July 1, 2007... WILLIAM PARRISH KNOWS HOW TO strategize and play the corporate game with the best of them and win. The owner of Noble Strategy, a construction management firm based in South Orange, New Jersey, landed a major contract with the School...

Partnering for profit: regional companies band together to build a national platform.(BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES)(Concordis Real Estate)
July 1, 2007... Every business owner wants to be certain that his or her operations are as efficient as possible. This desire applies equally to the operations of a business owner's client supply chains--the network of vendors a company relies on to conduct...

A new kind of hookup: using social networking Websites to fill your company's ranks.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
July 1, 2007... Most people are familiar with social networking Websites like MySpace.com and Match.com. The sites, popular with a range of users--from teenagers looking to make new friends with similar interests to singles searching for soul mates have become...

Virtual bliss: couple start their life together by creating a Website for brides of color.(STARTING UP)(ChocolateBrides.com)
July 1, 2007... As with most brides-to-be, Kesha Monk was on a mission to create her dream wedding. Monk currently a radio personality for 98.7 KISS-FM in New York, lived in Chicago at the time, and her fiance, Eugene Myrick, worked in Los Angeles. The...

Know your plan.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(business planning)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... I have been in business for almost three years. To expand, I know I need to have a business plan to go after financing, but I am not much of a writer. Should I invest in hiring a consultant to write it for me? --Anonymous Via the Internet...

The world at home: entrepreneur offers American technological know-how to the global marketplace.(BLACK DIGERATI)(Valarie King-Bailey of OnShore Technology Group)
July 1, 2007... WHEN VALARIE KING-BAILEY HEARD THAT HER JOB IN corporate America was going to be outsourced, she couldn't believe her ears. Not ready to start sending out resumes to potential employers, she took a step back and analyzed the off-shoring trend....

Unearthing a lost history: Ancestry.com helps make the past more accessible.
July 1, 2007... African Americans are uncovering new facets in their personal family narratives by using the Web as another tool to help them take a peek into the past. Genealogy services such as Ancestry.com enable users to begin to create individual family...

Grab and go: this mobile scanner offers color at just 2 ounces.(DocuPen RC800)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... LET'S BE HONEST, PEN-STYLE PORTABLE SCANNERS HAVE always been a bit of a hit-or-miss affair. True, we love the idea of being able to grab information on the fly without having to lug around bulky magazines and newspapers. But for the most part,...

What's next.(CYBERWISE)(online businesses)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Q I've done everything I needed tO get my business online. I have a Website up and running, but now I need to make money. How can I get more customers to visit my site and make the sales? A. Hall Dallas A As you have realized, the...

Culture cues: a company officer provides clues to the corporate landscape.(EXECUTIVE SUITE)(Interview)
July 1, 2007... How can professionals discern the truth about a company's culture? The best way I've found to validate the culture of companies is to look at their track record in terms of where are the people of color, the African Americans, in the firm....

Geography lessons: international business programs to prepare you for work abroad.(EXECUTIVE EDUCATION)
July 1, 2007... Roosevelt Dillard's career has taken him a long way from his hometown of Detroit. A program manager with Corning Inc., maker of specialty glass and ceramics components for high-technology systems, Dillard ran one of the company's engineering...

Stand out and deliver: how to develop your personal brand.(MAKING CONNECTIONS)(Interview)
July 1, 2007... In a rainy Wednesday morning, Lisa Ellis, executive vice president at Sony Music Label Group, sits in the back of a New York City taxicab with cell phone in hand. A colleague from the label's publicity department patches in a scheduled phone...

A gray matter.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Q I am a 54-year-old black American male who retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service. My wife and I have relocated to the U.S. after 30-plus years of living abroad. My wife thinks that my silver gray hair may prevent me from...

Janet Rolle.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as executive vice president at Black Entertainment Television Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... New Position: Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Organization: BET Networks Location: New York Responsibilities: Oversees all domestic marketing activities for each of the company's cable networks and the newly...

Valentino D. Carlotti.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as President of Goldman Sachs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... New Position: President, Goldman Sachs do Brasil Banco Multiplo Organization: Goldman Sachs Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil Responsibilities: Drives the establishment of a fully integrated Goldman Sachs presence in Brazil, which will...

Horace "Chip" E. Jordan.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as senior vice president of Marriott international)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... New Position: Senior Vice President of Corporate Tax Organization: Marriott international Location: Washington, DC Responsibilities: Company's federal, state, and international tax research and planning, in addition to corporate...

Richard Gay.(ON THE MOVE)(Viacom International Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... New Position: Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Operations, VH1 and CMT Organization: Viacom International Inc. Location: New York Responsibilities: Oversees strategic and long-range planning, partnerships, and...

Cheryl L. Janey.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as president of Harris Corp.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... New Position: President, Civil Programs Business Unit Organization: Harris Corp. Location: Falls Church, VA Responsibilities: Designs, deploys, and manages communications and information networks for government agencies Former...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)(Black associations meetings)(Brief article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2007... Indiana Black Expo 37th Annual Summer Celebration July 12-22; Indianapolis; 317-925-2702; www.indianablackexpo.com National Black Prosecutors Association July 15-21; Seattle; 877-588-1656; www.blackprosecutors.org National Association...

Fashion forward: Lauren "Daisy" Lewellyn takes the next step in her career.(Black Wealth Initiative)
July 1, 2007... Declaration of Financial Empowerment From this day forward, I declare my vigilant and lifelong commitment to financial empowerment and hereby pledge the following: 1 I will use homeownership as a foundation for building wealth. 2 I...

Life lessons: Jerry Jude faces the challenge of raising a special-needs child on his own.(Financial Fitness Contest Winner No. 82)
July 1, 2007... DARRIUS JUDE MAY BE ONLY 7 YEARS old, but he's a teacher. And he's taught his dad, Jerry, a valuable lesson in patience. "Dealing with my son has shown me that you can do anything you put your mind to," says Jerry. His son has symptoms of...

10 ways to get your financial house in order: want to seize control of your finances, once and for all? Here are some powerful steps to get you there.(MONEY MANAGEMENT)
July 1, 2007... IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT LEO Clark decided he finally had enough. The Los Angeles-based actor woke up, looked at his sleeping wife, Mary Anne, and then at his son, L.J., who was 6 months old. Facing mounting debt, he decided to change his...

What an increasing waistline means for your health; the battle for minimum weight.(EXECUTIVE HEALTH)
July 1, 2007... CAUGHT UP IN THE FRENETIC GRIND OF her fashion industry job, Allison Ferrell, 41, paid little attention to what she ate. As director of production, logistics, and operations for Abaete, a New York-based women's dress collection, lunch was a...

How to create a fortune from scratch: tales and tactics from an entrepreneur's life of winning deals.(The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch)(Excerpt)
July 1, 2007... "I CAME FROM WHAT MOST PEOPLE would describe as a middle-class home, an only child in a one-parent household. But by the time I was 27 I was a multimillionaire, and by the time I was 45 I was worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars," So...

40 best companies for diversity: in our third annual survey, we focus on supplier diversity and senior management representation--how much companies spend with black suppliers and who they let into the corporate suite.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... CORPORATIONS HAVE COME A LONG way from posing questions about the relevance of diversity. Studies and statistics about emerging demographics, minority spending power, and the globalization of the marketplace have moved the discussions well past...

For better or worse: use caution when enlisting others to help execute your dream.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)
July 1, 2007... EVERYONE KNOWS IT TAKES PEOPLE TO MAKE things happen. On the other hand, sharing your plans with others may produce a negative effect if those around you are unsupportive. "You can learn to be strong enough in your spirit and purpose to stay...

Seeking summer synergy: these motivational items will help refresh you spirit.(INSPIRATIONAL NOTE)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2007... MOST OF US LOOK FORWARD TO THE LAZY OF SUMMER AS A CHANGE to just relax. But you can make good use of the slower pace by taking time to recharge your spirit and refuel your drive. Let these items be your inspiration: HELPING HAND A...

Wanting to help.(PEP TALK)(starting a nonprofit organization)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... QA I am a makeup artist and hair stylist with three children and a fiance, but I once experienced the challenges of being a young, single mother. Now I want to help others in that situation. Can you offer some suggestions for starting a...

It pays to have good credit; a high score has more advantages than you think.(CREDIT MANAGEMENT)
July 1, 2007... NOWELLE WEATHERSPOO)N'S HIGH CREDIT SCORE OF 790 paid off in a big way when she secured a $120,000, 15-year mortgage at 5.6% with a monthly payment of only $813. If her score had been 620 to 674, she would have faced an APR of 7.8% and a...

Keeping consumers out of the dark: residential generators provide power in a pinch.(BEST DEALS)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2007... A My homeowner who's been hit by a lengthy power outage knows the inconvenience of being in the dark Luckily, the right residential generator can meet both budget and power requirements to provide temporary electricity during emergencies. ...

Consumer Complaints 101: how to make sure you are effectively heard.(BUYING POWER)
July 1, 2007... After spending all day in the airport waiting for her flight to take off for Atlanta Elaine Walker was nettled. "We passed the departure time and there were no announcements made," says Walker, though at one point, a flight attendant...

Keeping kids safe: websites offer tools and information to shield children from sex offenders.(PRICELESS RESOURCES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... IT TAKES A VIRTUAL VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD AS SEVERAL WEBSITES make it easier for parents to protect their children from predators. Family Watchdog at www.familywatchdog.us not only lets parents search for registered sex offenders by...

Credit score ups and downs.(ASK YOUR ADVOCATE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... I recently opened two credit card accounts with zero interest rates to do balance transfers. With the transfers, I paid off a loan I'd had for only six months. One of the new credit cards isn't even on my credit report yet, but my score dropped...

Fireproof your clothes dryer.(CONSUMER ALERT)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The U.S. Fire Administration reports that clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 fires annually. Here's how to fireproof your dryer. * Clean the dryer lint screen before and after each use. * Use a vacuum attachment to clean the chute...

How sweet it is: Bill Sands' high-end chocolate treats.(THE ENTHUSIAST)(Marble Hill Chocolatier)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... CHOCOLATE. FOR MOST OF US IT'S AN IRRESISTIBLE pleasure. But for Bill Sands, proprietor of Cincinnati-based Marble Hill Chocolatier (www.marblehillchocolatier.com), it's also a mouth-watering business developed from his love of fine food and...

Summer social: two entertaining gurus guide us on hosting polished and festive soirees.(EXECUTIVE ENTERTAINING)
July 1, 2007... A gathering of colleagues and clients doesn't have to be a painstaking task. Of course, there is the anxiety of execution, but following a few simple rules can reduce angst and make for an impressive event. The goal is to create an atmosphere...

Spanish quarters: Paradores offer alternative accommodations--and maybe even a history lesson.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)
July 1, 2007... Arriving at the courtyard entrance of the four-star Parador de Chinchon, a 17th-century Augustinian convent-turned-hotel, you feel as if you've been transported to post-Gothic Western Europe. The narrow, winding roads surrounding this parador...

All access.(YOUR MONTHLY PASS TO B.E. EVENTS, TV, AND RADIO)(Black Enterprise enhances website)
July 1, 2007... Notice something different about blackenterprise.com recently? Well, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; the site has been revamped! Now, be.com has a new, more streamlined look and better usability. The improved site puts more information...

Back talk with Katt Williams.(Interview)
July 1, 2007... ALTHOUGH HE STANDS AT ONLY 5'5", Katt Williams is steadily becoming a comedian of gigantic proportions. When not on screen in feature films such as Norbit and Epic Movie or starring in his own HBO comedy special, Katt Williams: The Pimp...

The BE 100s.(black business enterprises)
July 1, 2007... For 35 years, the nation's largest black-owned businesses have been at the forefront of an entrepreneurial revolution. These companies have made phenomenal strides despite, in many cases, lack of capital, diminished access to markets, and...

Our marathon players.(Celebrating the BE 100s)(black business enterprises)(Company rankings)
July 1, 2007... Johnson Publishing Co. Inc In 1942, John H. Johnson hocked his mother's furniture for $500 to launch Negro Digest, a weekly publication that compiled news and events for African Americans. He transformed that fledgling venture into Johnson...

Six companies poised to take the BE 100s to the next level.(The Best and the Boldest)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Since the inception of the BE 100S 35 years ago, there have been legions of successes and failures. Through it all, black entrepreneurship manages to change, adapt, and grow to any business climate or situation. There are a few players,...