Black Enterprise articles from June 2007

Black Enterprise archives from June 2007

B.E. 100s: in their own words.(WEB FEATURES)
June 1, 2007... CEOs of the BE 100s tell you how they make their businesses successful. Learn how they manage their budgets, their staffs, and their growth. During the month of June, we will bring you lessons from a new CEO every week.

We must take back our race.
June 1, 2007... There is a plaque in my office that contains a quote by the great John B. Russwurm, editor of Freedom's Journal, the first African American-owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. In the first issue, published in 1827,...

Legends of enterprise.(About This Issue)
June 1, 2007... One thing the editors of BLACK ENTERPRISE have witnessed over our 35 years of chronicling the successes and failures of black business is that given half an opportunity (and oftentimes without even that), black entrepreneurs will adapt to any...

Our hidden presence.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... What a great cover piece featured in the March 2007 edition of BLACK ENTERPRISE ("Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers")! It's 60 easy for us to believe that there are few programs that feature African Americans on TV or in theaters today because...

Authentic journalism.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... THAT WAS A TREMENDOUS COVER story highlighting the "Top 50 Power Brokers in Hollywood." Seeing Nicole Marie Richardson sitting with mega-huge, bankable titan Will Smith on page 14 not only reinforces the reach, influence, and magnitude of BLACK...

Celebrating real heroes.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE ON MICHAEL DAVIS FOUNDING THE GUARDIAN Line comic book imprint ("Biblical Superheroes," Enterprise, March 2007). I learned of the article on a forum at Reginald Hudlin's Website (www.hudlinentertainment.com). ...

Modern business promotion.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... Fiona Haley's excellent article in the March 2007 issue about how small-business owners can use youTube to attract attention for their products and services ("Tapping Into YouTube," Techwatch) is just one more example of why business owners...

Best vs. best-known technology.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM A FAN OF this magazine. I am a new reader and I regret not reading it sooner. But I was a little disturbed to read your assessment of Windows Vista (Techwatch, March 2007). The article leads me to...

Excellent media strategy.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I FOUND YOUR ARTICLE "TAPPING INTO YOUTUBE" fascinating and informative. As an Internet entrepreneur and developer of a Web-based property management tool, I enjoy learning about business strategies that I can immediately put to use. The five...

Thanks for YouTube.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... PLEASE CONTINUE TO DELIVER ARTICLES LIKE "TAPPING Into YouTube" to your readers. Small-business owners need to see articles like this, which provide them with additional options for presenting their businesses and ideas to consumers. Providing...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2007... In "Riding High" (Lifestyle, May 2007), Jaylaan Llewellyn, owner of Bluhammock Music, names her horses after Coke products in homage to her father, J. Bruce Llewellyn, who is the current chairman and CEO of Philadelphia Coca-Cola and Brucephil....

Wall street comes uptown: deal brings investment services to black-owned bank.(B.E. 100s)(Carver Federal Savings Bank and Merrill Lynch and Company Inc., team up)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... NEW YORK-BASED CARVER FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK AND MERRILL LYNCH RECENTLY announced an alliance in which the global investment firm will make its wealth management products and services available to Carver customers. "The folks that live on our...

A golden state opportunity: Piedmont Investment Advisors snags investment from country's largest pension fund.(B.E. 100s)(Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... PIEDMONT INVESTMENT ADVISORS L.L.C. IS QUICKLY MOVING UP THE RANKS of the nation's largest black-owned asset managers. The Durham, North Carolina-based firm recently received a $100 million investment from the California Public Employees'...

Robert Van securities acquires strategic partner: purchase of Blaylock & Co. joins two black-owned heavyweights.(B.E. 100s)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Oakland, California-based Robert Van Securities Inc. (RVS), a broker dealer, recently acquired New York-City based investment bank Blaylock & Co. Inc. in a merger that could produce a financial services powerhouse. Financial details of the deal...

Founder's song silenced: Walter Turnbull gave Boys Choir of Harlem something to sing about.(IN MEMORIAM)(In memoriam)
June 1, 2007... WITH HIS STUDENTS SINGING EVERYTHING FROM Bach to hip-hop and globetrotting from Harlem to Japan, Dr. Walter J. Turnbull, founder of the internationally acclaimed Boys Choir of Harlem, built a triumphant franchise that is now struggling to...

Charging lanes: Max Siegel to steer operation of Dale Earnhardt Inc.(POWER PLAYER)
June 1, 2007... Max Siegel, the new president of global operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., a Mooresville North Carolina-based car racing company, is revving up the motor sports industry's drive toward increased diversity. Siggel, 42; oversees the entire...

The evolution of Jay-Z: hip-hop entrepreneur sells clothing line.(Rocawear and Iconix Brand Group Inc. merger)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... DEFJAM PRESIDENT AND CEO SHAWN "JAY-Z" CARTER is redesigning his business empire. The hip-hop mogul recently announced the sale of his Rocawear clothing company to Iconix Brand Group Inc. for $204 million in cash and $35 million in stock....

Raven on alert for missing children.(B.E. 100s)(Raven Transport Inc.)(AMBER Alert Highway Network program)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Raven Transport Inc. is one of about 80 trucking and transportation firms chosen to participate in the national AMBER Alert Highway Network program, designed to help find abducted children. "The AMBER Alerts are dispatched directly to drivers...

Power bracelets.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Simmons Jewelry Co. to donate from its profits)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... THE $125 GREEN BRACELET, THE FIRST PIECE FROM THE SIMMONS Jewelry Co.'s Green Initiative collection, was released in April and is already showing up on the wrists of black celebrities. The bracelets are made of green malachite beads and...

Med school to open in Harlem.(AROUND THE NATION)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... While many doctors shy away from underserved, minority communities, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine--New York's first new medical school in almost 30 years--will train doctors in Harlem and encourage students who complete their...

Motor city makeover: black developer transforms Detroit waterfront.(Dwight Belyue)
June 1, 2007... WHAT WAS ONCE AN UNINSPIRING VIEW OF SEVERAL concrete silos will soon be a picturesque community on Detroit's East River waterfront thanks to developer Dwight Belyue, 47, owner of Belmar Development Group. His project, @water Lofts, is a $300...

Black men benefit more from marriage: grooms report better finances and health than their brides.(FACTS & FIGURES)
June 1, 2007... AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BENEFIT from marriage than African American women, according to the 2005 study The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans, released by the Institute for American Values. Approximately 48% of...

Street signs: when does it make sense to unload a stock?(methods and management of buying and selling stocks in stock markets)
June 1, 2007... AS THE YEAR BEGAN, IT SEEMED LIKE INVESTORS ON WALL Street couldn't have asked for a better start. The Dow Jones industrial average was routinely closing at record levels and the road ahead seemed smooth. But in late February, like a splash of...

A cautious first step: Wall Street analyst Charles Payne says new investors should start with a few conservative picks.(STOCK PICKS)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... I cringe when I hear people say they know nothing about the stock market." This is the opening line from Charles Payne's new book, Be Smart, Act Fast, Get Rich: Your Game Plan for Getting It Bight in the Stock Market (John Wiley & Sons Inc.;...

Low on fuel: higher gas prices put the brakes on Cid Wilson's portfolio of auto parts retailers.(STOCK UPDATE)
June 1, 2007... WHEN THE COST OF A GALLON OF GAS BEGAN TO average $3 last summer, investors in auto parts retailers were hit hard. A few months earlier, Cid Wilson--senior analyst and director of research at Kevin Dann & Partners, a securities firm in New York...

The young and the restless: tips for the new crop of college grads on how to travel the road to wealth.(YOUR MONEY)(Stephen Holmes)
June 1, 2007... It's been just a few years since Stephen Holmes was among the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. But, so far, the 2002 grad appears to be off to a solid financial start. Single and working as a contract analyst for Southern Co., a national...

Avoiding the tax man: be sure to assess the tax implications of your mutual fund investments.(MUTUAL FUND FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... Now that tax season is over, are you kicking yourself for not having paid enough attention to the taxes that are into your mutual fund returns? For instance, the average large-cap U.S. stock fund's pre-tax return was 12.8%, according to...

Time to invest?(MONEY MATTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... QA I am a 28-year-old college student with one more year left in my studies have a part-time job and rent an apartment with my brother. I have about $4,000 saved and I was wondering if I should invest this money or pay off part of my student...

Through the fire: despite setbacks, spa owner Angela Black is in business and back on top.
June 1, 2007... ANGELA BLACK HAD A SLEW OF JOBS SINCE GRADUATING from college. Initially, she worked for a small day spa, Pretty Is, in Washington, D.C. Shortly after that, she ventured to New York City to work at Caroline Jones Advertising, a former BE 100s...

Making faces, making money: Color Me Beautiful offers affordable, accessible kiosks.(Financial report)
June 1, 2007... Crystal Findley's eye for style is transforming women, not in America's dressing rooms but at makeup counters. "I always wanted to help women look their best," Findley says. Within the last year, the 25-year-old entrepreneur has opened three...

Growing pains: JFG overcame staffing challenges to achieve success.(MAKING IT)(Johnson Financial Group)
June 1, 2007... Michael A. Johnson's eight employees keep his company running like a well-oiled machine, but it wasn't always so finely tuned. In 2001, his decision to quickly hire staff so that he could get his company started proved costly. "One employee...

Making sense out of energy deregulation: what small businesses need to know to cut back costs and boost their bottom lines.
June 1, 2007... In the last four years, business owner Abby M. Locke has seen her electricity costs triple. To avoid cash flow problems, the 39-year-old founder of Premier Writing Solutions in Washington D.C., elected to sign up for her electricity provider's...

Internet overdrive: Doc Chaney's Overweb3D.net breathes new life into Websites.
June 1, 2007... IN 2005, DAVID "DOC" CHANEY RECEIVED THE TYPE OF divine inspiration that kept him awake for nearly three days straight. The Baltimore native became intrigued by the thought of merging video images and the Internet. As the idea and the design...

Traveling light-years: world's most wired (and wireless) airports make travel a breeze.(economic aspects of wi-fi connections at airports)
June 1, 2007... Free wireless is hard to find. It's especially difficult at the airport, where rates for Wi-Fi can reach up to $10 for a day's access--and more than double that if you're at an overseas airport. With wireless available at virtually every...

Where's my data? Online backup solutions come of age.(importance of back up systems of data in consulting business)
June 1, 2007... The nine-person team at Fair, Anderson & Langerman knows the value of protecting its clients' data from tech failures and other mishaps, but it wasn't until January 2006 that the Las Vegas consultancy firm realized that it needed an offsite...

EOS-1D Mark III.(A SPLASH OF COLOR: Vibrant new imaging products from Canon, Epson, and Panasonic)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... When it comes to digital cameras more is better. But these days, consumers are no longer impressed just by megapixel count, They also want speed, power, and innovation. Canon's new EOS-1D Mark III fits the bill. Marketed as the world's fastest...

Epson's Stylus Photo RX580.(A SPLASH OF COLOR: Vibrant new imaging products from Canon, Epson, and Panasonic)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... If the word of all-in-one printers was high school, Epson's Stylus Photo RX580 would be the "popular kid"--friendly, bright, and easy on the eyes. In the real world, the printer also delivers on its popularity with high-quality performance:...

C3 series.(A SPLASH OF COLOR: Vibrant new imaging products from Canon, Epson, and Panasonic)(color printers)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Just because an office printer is in, well, an office, doesn't mean it has to be putty-colored and boxy. At least that's Panasonic's thinking behind its C3 series of multifunction printers (copy/scan/fax/e-mail). The company recently unveiled...

Sounds good.(CYBERWISE)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... QA I am a classical musician and need an MP3 player that I can load with recordings of my rehearsal pieces. Sound quality and ease of use are important, and it should be compatible with Rhapsody. I also don't want to spend a ton of money on a...

Support at the top: a seasoned professional knows how to motivate employees.(THE EXECUTIVE SUITE)(Westina Matthews, Managing Director at Merrill Lynch and Company Inc.)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... A number of people on your team are happy and excited to come to work. How do you make that happen? When people take a position, of course, they want monetary satisfaction. But they [also] often want to feel they are providing added value...

Meet and connect.(influence of business networking on business)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW BUT WHO YOU KNOW, OR SO THE SAYING GOES. Lester Coney, executive vice president at Mesirow Financial, couldn't agree more. Charged with forging strategic alliances and brokering multimillion-dollar partnerships for the...

Volunteering helps you, too.(ACTION PLAN)(Survey)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... According to the 2005 Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey, employed Americans overwhelmingly agree that volunteering can help boost their career. "Volunteering pays huge career-building dividends," affirms Angela Eason. Deloitte Consulting senior...

The business of nonprofit.(growing competition in non profit organisations)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... "Escalating costs, diminishing resources, and increasing competition have posed many of the same business quandaries for nonprofits as for their private-sector counterparts," says Harold E. Creacy, attorney and executive director of...

Can you trust your boss? A recent survey suggests that many employees feel betrayed by their supervisors.(MAKING CONNECTIONS)(Survey)
June 1, 2007... TONY BROWN, A WEB DESIGNER FOR A SMALL FIRM IN MONTCLAIR, New Jersey, felt forced to leave his $40,000 gig because his boss took credit for the development of an important Website for a major architectural firm without ever mentioning the...

Don't tell 'em everything.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... QA I own a new online business. However, I need to work until my business starts to generate revenues. It's been suggested that I not include it on my resume because a potential employer may think I will not give enough attention to their...

Russell M. Jackson.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as senior vice president at Safeway Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... New Position: Senior Vice dent, Human Resources Organization: Safeway Inc. Location: Pleasanton, CA Responsibilities: Employee relations, compensation, and training; oversees health and wellness programs Former Position:...

Nicole Johnson-Reece.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as vice president at ARAMARK Corp.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... New Position: Vice President of Diversity Organization: ARAMARK Location: Philadelphia Responsibilities: Leads the continued development of the company's diversity strategy Former Position: Vice President of Global Diversity...

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil.(ON THE MOVE)(senior vice president at ACNielsen Corp. (Schaumburg, Illinois))(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... New Position: Senior Vice President, Communications Organization: ACNielsen U.S. Location: Schaumburg, IL Responsibilities: Coordinates communications across company businesses in the U.S. Former Position: Vice President,...

Barron Channer.(ON THE MOVE)(appointed as vice president of development at The Peebles Corp. )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... New Position: Vice President of Development, Eastern U.S. & Caribbean Organization: The Peebles Corp. Location: Miami Responsibilities: Acquisition and development activity, including sourcing and negotiating new investments and...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)(Calendar)
June 1, 2007... 100 Black Men of America Inc., 21st Annual Conference June 6-]0; Las Vegas; 404-688-5100; www.100blackmen.org Airport Minority Advisory Council, 23rd Annual AMAC/FAA Airport Business Diversity Conference June 10-13; Las Vegas;...

At home an abroad: for Dr. Christopher Lewis, community service extends far and wide.
June 1, 2007... CHRISTOPHER LEWIS BELIEVES IT TAKES a village to raise a child. But for him, the community isn't just around the corner, it's global. "If I can save even one life, I will have made a difference," he says. And there are a lot of lives that...

The next generation: Corey and Chonda olds look into extra safeguards for their sons.(management and future planning of Corey and Chonda old)
June 1, 2007... Corey olds inherited something from his father--a love of real estate. More than a decade ago, with the aid of a first-time homebuyer's program, Corey was able to obtain 100% financing to purchase his first house. "I didn't have to come up with...

A blueprint for growth.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... * Introduction to the BE 100s * CEO Roundtable * Industrial/Service Overview * Industrial/Service 100 * Industrial/Service Company of the Year * Auto Overview * Auto Dealer 100 * Auto Dealer of the Year * Advertising Overview * Advertising...

Architects of growth: CEOs redesign their companies to compete and grow in an ever-changing business climate.(B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... WHEN BLACK ENTERPRISE FIRST COMPILED its Top 100 in 1973, combined sales for the component companies (which comprised an array of industrial/service firms and auto dealers) totaled $473 million. Today, the top 100 African American...

Reinventing black business: at our inaugural CEO Roundtable, top business leaders offered their strategies on how to best transform today's BE 100s and develop tomorrow's crop of entrepreneurs.(Discussion)
June 1, 2007... THE HISTORY OF THE BE 100s HAS been carved from boom-and-bust business cycles, individual fortitude, and institutional innovation. In the 1970s, bootstrapping CEOs forged businesses that largely targeted black consumers: haircare products,...

Thriving in unpredictable times: despite economic threats, the BE Industrial/Service 100 have found inventive ways to boost revenues and market share.(35 Annual Report on Black Business B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... TODAY'S CEO MUST OPERATE HIS OR her company in an unpredictable--and somewhat perilous--environment. It's true that the U.S. economy grew 3.4% in 2006. And some economists believe gross domestic product growth might surpass 2.9% in 2007....

A blueprint for growth: industrial/service companies.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Johnson Publishing Co.)(Radio One Inc.)(World-Wide Technology Inc.)(Company rankings)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Industrial/Service Companies This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 World Wide Maryland Heights, MO Technology Inc. 2 2 ...

Wired for success: through unparalleled service to government agencies and groundbreaking joint ventures, Rodney Hunt has built RS Information Systems into a tech powerhouse.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Company overview)
June 1, 2007... RODNEY P. HUNT HAS A LOT ON HIS plate. His 14-year-old son, Bradley, has a basketball game, one of hundreds for the year. Then there are the finishing touches on his palatial 52,000-square-foot home, a meeting for his charitable organization,...

Desperate in Detroit: Black dealerships retune their businesses as consumer demands change.(35 Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(General Motors Corp.)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Wade Ford Inc.)(Company rankings)
June 1, 2007... FEW INDUSTRIES ARE AS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE as the automotive business. Changes in consumer demand have forced the three major American automakers to recalibrate their models. Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Toyota gained momentum and is now poised...

A blueprint for growth: auto dealers.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(BMW AG)(Martin Automotive Group Inc.)(Wade Ford Inc.)(Company rankings)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Auto Dealers This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 Prestige Automotive St. Clair Shores, MI 2 2 March Hodge Hartford, CT ...

Million-dollar service: catering to clients' needs has driven BMW of Sterling/MINI of Sterling to the front of the pack.(Financial report)
June 1, 2007... THOMAS A. MOOREHEAD WAS ONE OF the lucky ones. When BMW decided to build a handful of new dealerships in the U.S. for the first time in 14 years, he was fortunate to score a letter of intent. Dealers had pleaded with the automaker to do so for...

Battling to bounce back: after a tough year in the advertising game, could a shake-up be ahead among African American agencies?(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... "BLACK AGENCIES NEED TO EXPLORE new and different business models to better compete," says Donald Coleman, chairman and CEO of GlobalHue (No. 1 on the BE ADVERTISING AGENCIES list with $550 million in billings), "Consolidation and acquisition,...

A blueprint for growth: advertising agencies.(african american advertising companies)(Statistical table)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Advertising Agencies This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 GlobalHue Southfield, MI 2 2 Carol H. Williams Oakland, CA ...

Feeling the Pinch: interest rates are up, real estate is down, and black financial services firms are caught in the middle.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... THE TOPIC OF MOST FINANCIAL CONVERSATIONS changed in early February, Suddenly, all that investors were talking about was subprime lending. The shift came on the heels of announcements by HSBC Holdings and New Century Financial, two of the...

A blueprint for growth: banks.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Table)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Banks This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 Carver Federal New York, NY Savings Bank 2 2 OneUnited Bank Boston, MA 3 ...

A blueprint for growth: asset managers.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Table)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Asset Managers This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 EARNEST Partners Atlanta, GA 2 2 Ariel Capital Chicago, IL ...

A blueprint for growth: investment banks.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Table)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Investment Banks This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 The Williams Capital New York, NY Christopher J. ...

A blueprint for growth: private equity firms.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(Table)
June 1, 2007... A Blueprint for Growth Private Equity Firms This Last Year Year Company Location 1 1 Fairview Capital Farmington, CT Partners Inc. 2 2 Pharos Capital Dallas, TX...

Global quest: at the helm of Advent Capital Management, Tracy Maitland prepares to take on worldwide competition.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... SITTING AT A WORKSTATION ON THE trading room floor of Advent Capital Management L.L.C., Tracy Maitland peers into six computer screens, each flashing real-time stock market updates from around the world. In the background, Bloomberg TV...

Risk and reward: newest CEOs to join the BE 100s each answered the call to entrepreneurship.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2007... NICELY TANNED AND FRESH FROM HIS Caribbean vacation, Harold F, Mills, the 36-year-old CEO of ZeroChaos, exudes confidence and business savvy. One could say it was a much-needed rest considering Mills has been driving hard for the past...

Bob Johnson's second act: through a series of spectacular acquisitions and the creation of a new business empire, this billionaire entrepreneur is reinventing himself and reshaping black business. He tells BE what drives him and what's next on the horizon.(35th Annual Report on Black Business: B.E. 100s)(dialogue with Robert L. Johnson)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... ROBERT L. JOHNSON IS ALWAYS IN search of the next big deal, In the past 18 months, the 61-year-old mogul has acquired more than 100 Marriott and Hilton hotel properties for more than $1 billion; formed a private equity fund with The Carlyle...

The big payoff: three budgeting commandments that can help couples live richly ever after.(BOOK EXCERPT)
June 1, 2007... TALKING ABOUT HONEY IS NEVER EASY, BUT mixing romance and finance makes it that much harder. In her new book, The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money--and Live Richly Ever After (Collins; $22.95), award-winning...

Debt overload: 7 ways to pay it off, plus warning signs that you're in over your head.(CONSUMER LIFE)
June 1, 2007... A TINGE OF DESPERATION LINGERS in Nelanye Moore's voice when she speaks about her nearly $100,000 debt and the accruing interest. "My financial situation is really in shambles, and I don't know which way to go with it," she says. Due to a...

Taking the mystery out of: what every investor needs to know about the risks and rewards.(INVESTING)
June 1, 2007... WHEN THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AT STAKE are in the billions, even trillions, it should come as no surprise that hedge funds continue to generate a lot of buzz. Indeed, assets in the exclusive investment pools total more than $1 trillion, and a...

25 things you need to know: by adopting these vital skills, you can take your life to the ultimate level.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Editorial)
June 1, 2007... WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO LEARN all you need to know in a lifetime? A trip around the world? A pilgrimage to a sacred holy land? Or, how about studying the Great Books? These are certainly possibilities, but not your only options. To help you...

MADD dad: one father's fight following a devastating loss.(TRIALS & TRIUMPHS)(Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
June 1, 2007... AS THE FIRST MALE AND MINORITY NATIONAL PRESIDENT of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Glynn Birch isn't your average advocate. Nevertheless, he works tirelessly on behalf of the organization to help other families avoid the tragedy he experienced...

B.E.'s successpert speaks.(ACHIEVING YOUR PERSONAL BEST: Motivation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Rev. Arlene Churn, a Philadelphia-based ordained Baptist minister, certified grief counsel specialist, and author of The End is Just the Beginning: Lessons in Grieving for African Americans (Harlem Moon; $12.95), that rather than trying to get...

A force of one: effective planning requires self-analysis and focus.(PEAK PERFORMANCE)(Victory Personnel Services)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... AT FIRST GLANCE, IT APPEARS THAT Joseph A. Tucker Sr., president and CEO of Victory Personnel Services Inc., a Milwaukee-based, full-service professional and temporary staffing firm, was an overnight success. First-year revenues were $1 million...

Effective planning strategies.(MOTIVATION)
June 1, 2007... 1 Focus on the "why" and "how" as much as the "what" of your intended goals. Application: Ask yourself questions such as: Where am I going? Who do I want to be? Victory started as a small office--catering only to Milwaukee--with plans to...

How to 'do you': tools from a hip-hop hero to help you succeed.(WORDS TO STRIVE BY)(Book review)
June 1, 2007... Hip-hop and business mix very well; just ask Russell Simmons. The mogul took the music and fashion worlds by storm, establishing success on his own terms, in his latest venture, he shares how he did it and how we can do it too. Do You! 12...

Worth the risk?(PEP TALK)
June 1, 2007... QA For quite some time now, I have been thinking about leaving my current employer. I'm not as motivated about my work as I used to be. I've been doing research on owning a business, but haven't decided what that business will be. Would it be...

Considering long-term care: having the right insurance can protect your assets.(CONSUMER LIFE)
June 1, 2007... FOR YEARS, RICHARD PAYNE, A NEUROLOGIST AND cancer specialist who lives in Durham, North Carolina, saw firsthand how patients without long-term care coverage had limited healthcare options. "Most health insurance plans do not cover...

New study shows debit card fees are costing consumers.(DID YOU KNOW?)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... IT'S THE DAY BEFORE PAYDAY AND MONEY'S TIGHT, BUT that $5 latte is calling you. You swipe your debit card, and the transaction goes through. Before you exhale, consider this: If you have pending transactions against your account, that latte...

Want good credit? Read on.(CREDIT MANAGEMENT)(Get Your Credit Straight!)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2007... LET'S FACE IT: IT'S EASY TO FALL INTO CREDIT CARD DEBT. Increasingly, those handy pieces of plastic see us through job layoffs, medical scares, and emotional spending sprees. Before we know it, we're carrying unmanageable debt loads that can...