Black Enterprise articles from March 2003

Black Enterprise archives from March 2003

Web features.
March 1, 2003... TAX TIME IS APPROACHING The deadline for filing income taxes is soon approaching. And whether you're an individual or a small business struggling to get your taxes in order, our tax center will provide the expert advice and information you...

Web columns.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... RESOURCE LINE Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at black enterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Lewis' column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding...

Web tools.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Franchise Solutions Have you been looking for the right business opportunities to fulfill those entrepreneurial dreams? Blackenter prise.com can help you find the industry that suits your talents. By using our free Franchise Finder, you...

The ultimate goal. (Publisher's Page).(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... For most Americans, it is all but impossible to fathom any major sports league without African Americans. Not Major ague Baseball. Not the National Football League. Not even the National Basketball Association. Yet, prior to 1946, the year...

About this issue.(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... There has always been a direct correlation between business and sports: the marriage of individual effort with teamwork and the emphasis on long-range planning and strategy. And, to use a timeworn aphorism, the thrill of victory and the agony...

Show business. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... THE DECEMBER 2002 ISSUE OF BE WAS truly a wealth of [job and internship] information for young people like myself who are determined to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. But what stood out for me was the inclusion of nonprofit...

Building a legacy. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOUR publication for [the] extensive information it provides to enable our community to become savvy investors and secure wealth. I was particularly interested in [an] article [in] the December 2002 issue of your...

Keeping it real. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... YOUR MAGAZINE HAS BEEN ENLIGHTENING and inspiring to me. As a man in my mid-20s, I have not always looked out for my financial future. Sure, I have always worked and I am in college. I know what I want to do careerwise, and have been very...

Hotel ownership. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... AS A CHEF WORKING FOR STARWOOD HOTEL Company, it is a pleasure to read about black hotel ownership ["Increasing Black Ownership," Newspoints, December 2002]. I am a two-time graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and am extremely...

Chicago hope. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... AS A PH.D. CANDIDATE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, I read your November 2002 issue with interest. Your article, "What It Takes To Win," was quite timely and well done. It's unfortunate that Ron Kirk and H. Carl McCall fell short in their quests [to...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... Our listing of the Top 50 Colleges for African Americans in the January 2003 issue of BE contained incorrect enrollment figures for Wellesley College, Brown University, and Johnson C. Smith University. African American student enrollment at...

NAACP brokers export deal: black farmers to sell goods to Cuban government. (National News).(NBFA Foods, Heathsville, Virginia-based company, handles trade for National Black Farmers Association )
March 1, 2003... A deal brokered with Cuban President Fidel Castro by the NAACP will pave the way for African American farmers to export goods to the communist state. In the deal, the Cuban government would purchase some $15 million-$25 million of...

Locking up the black vote: "favorite sons" plan could sway 2004 election. (Washington Report).
March 1, 2003... Donna Brazile is looking to show the world the power of the black vote. Brazile best known as campaign manager for former Vice President Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, is urging African American leaders to run as favorite sons and...

Short on time: clock is ticking for national African American museum. (National News).
March 1, 2003... A commission chartered by Congress last year to study the creation of a National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., is nearing its deadline. The 23-member panel must present a report to President George W....

BE Asset Managers. (CMG's IPO).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * The investment-banking arm of Capital Management Group (CMG) Investments L.L.C. (No. 9 on the BE ASSET MANAGERS list with $1.8 million in assets managed) was part of the syndicate that underwrote the $870 million initial public offering for...

BE Private Equity. (CMG's IPO).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * ICV Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm that targets minority and inner-city companies (No. 7 on the 2002 BE PRIVATE EQUITY list with $130 million in assets under management), recently acquired Chung's Foods of Houston....

A cause for concern: blacks rate world affairs, economy as top U.S. issues. (Facts & Figures).
March 1, 2003... African Americans are more likely to give President George W. Bush a negative review and oppose a war with Iraq as compared with the overall U.S. population, according to a recent report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in...

Double your money every five years: The Real Deal Investment Club looks for stocks that have strong growth potential. (Investment Clubhouse).
March 1, 2003... When Larry Holman and two friends started The Real Deal Investment Club in 1995, he drew on his 15 years of experience investing in the market to come up with the club's investment strategy: Only choose stocks that would double in three to five...

Overseas earnings: the case for international funds is strong, especially given the U.S. market's current woes. (Mutual Fund Focus).
March 1, 2003... In 2002, it seemed as though investors couldn't find a safe spot on Earth to invest their money. By Dec. 11, the Standard & Poor's 500 index was down more than 20% for the year. The developed world's index, Morgan Stanley Capital International...

Pick your way to profits: Frontline Capital Advisors' Clifford Mpare sees an up year for stocks, but it pays to be picky. (Private Screening).
March 1, 2003... Heading into 2003, money manager Clifford Mpare is cautiously optimistic. He's betting that the positives that could prompt a stock market rally outweigh the worries investors may still harbor after three tough years for indexes such as the...

Growth hits the wall; NCM Capital Managements Larry Jones' growth-stock strategy stalled. (Stock Update).( )
March 1, 2003... For three straight years, the market's been down and investors are still shaking from corporate scandals and the uncertainties of an impending war. What more can happen? Not much, says Larry Jones, chief investment officer at NCM Capital...

Many happy tax returns: making these last minute adjustments could save you money. (Tax Strategies).
March 1, 2003... For Dr. Walter Harris, the calendar might say 2003, but he's still trimming his 2002 tax bill. "I expanded my practice last year; which required a great deal of cash," says Harris, 46, an ophthalmologist in Philadelphia. "I couldn't afford to...

Cashing in A 401(k)? (Ask B.E.).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... How do I go about cashing in my investments since I've been terminated from my job for a year, and I'm no longer contributing to the 401(k) plan? --F Crisp Via the Internet If you've lost your job and still have investments in your...

Youth movement: firm provides research, training for teen programs. (Making It).
March 1, 2003... Taking the unconventional approach of incorporating youth culture into education modules, Edward DeJesus and Derrick Dolphin's joint entrepreneurial venture is helping troubled teens achieve their goals. "Every young person, without exception,...

Maximizing your trade show dollars: here's how to get the most out of your investment. (Management Advice).
March 1, 2003... When Wanda Thomas introduced her new children's books two years ago, she chose to market them at a two-day Black Expo event in New York City. Armed with several display banners, books, and a lot of enthusiasm, the CEO of JCW Enterprises Inc., a...

Pension picking: help your employees boost retirement savings. (Management Advice).
March 1, 2003... Business owners who want to offer a retirement plan to their employees might want to pay attention to reruns of That '70s Show. "Trustee-directed defined contribution plans became popular in the 1970s" says Garry W. Bridgeman, a certified...

The right move: this entrepreneur doesn't regret leaving the corporate world. (Making It).(Joseph Webb)
March 1, 2003... During his years as head of corporate staffing and relocations for Motorola Inc., Joseph Webb noticed a disturbing trend. He found that many black executives like himself were without mentors or a support system, and that companies were ill...

Price formulas. (Savvy Solutions).(determining costs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... QA I want to start a business and I read that small businesses need to follow certain pricing formulas. Can you tell me what they are and whether they're effective? If not, what's factored in when determining costs? --D. Rogers San Jose,...

A less taxing alternative: e-filing software can help keep you ahead of the IRS. (Tech Options).(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... If you usually slide through the post office door right before it swings shut on April 15, you're not alone. Each year, just before midnight, millions of last-minute filers cram into mail centers to beat Uncle Sam's tax deadline. "When it comes...

International appeal: how to make your Website sing in any language. (E-Commerce).
March 1, 2003... For many people, the Internet has turned shopping into an international experience. With a click of your mouse you can order shoes from Milan, Italy; cosmetics from Paris; and African art straight from the motherland. But U.S. consumers are...

Wireless in minutes. (B.E. Reviews).(setting up home network)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Looking for a quick, pain-free way to set up a home network? Consider the Actiontec Wireless-Ready Cable/DSL Router and 802.11b Wireless Card. Actiontec has made it simple for those who quake at the thought of setting up a home network. The...

Keep in contact. (Cyberwise).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... QA I'm a small business owner looking for the simplest, "user-friendly" software to manage my daily receipts, inventory and products, client appointments, etc. Can you recommend any software packages that might best satisfy my requirements? ...

Here come the suits: raising the style standard in the office. (Inbox).
March 1, 2003... When paralegal Whitney L. Culbreath learned her law firm was planning to reverse its business-casual dress code and adopt a formal one, she thought, "Thank God. Now I don't have to guess what I should and shouldn't wear to work." The...

It's not just the suit ... : it's how you wear it. (Executive Style).
March 1, 2003... For men, when it comes to suiting up for business, there's a right way and a wrong way, and it has nothing to do with money, little to do with fashion, and everything to do with understanding what best suits your shape, form, and complexion....

Jim Beam Brands Co. (On The Move).(Boris Oglesby named vice president)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Boris Oglesby has been named vice president of Jim Beam Brands Co., the super premium and cordials division, which include's VOX Vodka, Knob Creek Bourbon, and DeKuyper. He will oversee brand management, marketing, advertising, and consumer...

University of Pennsylvania. (On The Move).(Clifford L. Stanley named executive vice president and chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Clifford L. Stanley has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His responsibilities include investments, business services, information systems, internal audit, and...

AstraZeneca. (On The Move).(Julius B. Dixon promoted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Julius B. Dixon has been promoted to area sales director for the Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area of AstraZeneca in Dallas. He is charged with providing leadership and developing the strategic direction of the sales team for the Western half of...

Mecca USA. (On The Move).(Kimberly Snow promoted to director of marketing)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Kimberly Snow has been promoted to director of marketing for clothing company Mecca USA. She is responsible for the development and execution of all aspects of the company's marketing nationwide, including advertising, promotional, product...

The Staubach Co. (On The Move).(Barry Johnson joins as vice president)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Barry Johnson has joined The Staubach Co.'s Washington, D.C., office as vice president. He is charged with general management, strategy, and marketing and business development for the global real estate strategy and services firm. He is the...

Convention calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... * National Black Law Students Association March 11-16 Los Angeles 323-974-2398 www.nblsa.org * Proud Lady Beauty Show March 15-17 Chicago 312-321-6824 www.proudlady.org * National Black Graduate Student...

Sounds of success. (Since You Asked ...).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... I am a student at a community college. I want to get into the music industry, but not as a singer. I want to be an engineer. I'm really nervous, though, that there is no money in this profession. But this is something that I want to do....

Financial discovery for all: Melvin Carrington Smith Sr. is opening eyes to financial empowerment. (Black Wealth Initiative).(Interview)
March 1, 2003... WITH A BRIGHT SMILE, A HEARTY HANDSHAKE, AND THE enthusiasm of 10 people, Melvin Carrington Smith imparts his signature phrase, "Have a super-fantastic day!" to everyone he meets. Smith, a certified financial planner at First Financial Group in...

Getting it all together: Jacqueline and Kim Jackson are squashed between their family's finances. (Family Finances).
March 1, 2003... JACQUELINE JACKSON IS PART OF THE "SANDWICH generation," a generation squeezed between the demands of their children and the responsibility they feel to their aging parents. She and her husband, Kim, both 37, have a household income of $85,000...

Best regions for business: achieving business success today may depend on where you locate your business. (Entrepreneurship).
March 1, 2003... JUST WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE YOUR company? These days that question may be a head-scratching proposition--especially with the number of states reeling from budget crises and slowly recovering from last year's recession. But geography...

What is your M.B.A. worth? Is a masters of business administration still the ticket to success? (Career Management).
March 1, 2003... SHARON GRANDBERRY HAS BEEN MORE THAN HAPPY TO AGGRESSIVELY COMPETE FOR THE CAREER she wants. Even before she completed her M.B.A., the 29-year-old instructional design consultant for Delta Airlines in Atlanta crafted a long-term plan to...

Talking to your kids about money: make saving and investing for kids fun, not work! Here's how to help them set short- and long-term goals to become financially self-sufficient. (Book Excerpt).(Excerpt)
March 1, 2003... I think one key is to keep kids knowledgeable but not obsessed with money--to give them tools to manage their money but not be overconscious about it. I teach my kids that money is the means to an end, not the end. Money is the tool to achieve...

Slam dunk! How billionaire Bob Johnson is making history as the first African American to acquire an NBA basketball franchise. (Special Report).
March 1, 2003... SEVEN DAYS INTO THE NEW YEAR, ROBERT L. JOHNSON IS limping to his place at a table before a throng of reporters and photographers. Gingerly, he takes his seat to the clicking sound of dozens of camera shutters. As he positions himself behind a...

A brand new game: for these athletes, entrepreneurship is the next playing field. (Entrepreneurship).
March 1, 2003... PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES SPEND THEIR LIVES HONING THEIR SKILLS TO PIT them against others during competition. Strenuous practices, strict diets, and arduous workout regimens are designed to ensure peak performance. Sadly, when the cheering stops...

Michael R. Holmes: Principal, Human Resources--Edward Jones. (Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... For seven years, Michael Pt. Holmes, has headed the Edward Jones Human Resources Division, where he is responsible for all human resource functions, including compensation, benefits, recruitment, leadership development, training, associate...

Annita M. Menogan: Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel--Coors Brewing Company. (Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Annita M. Menogan is Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of Coors Brewing Company. In her role as Corporate Secretary, she also directs corporate governance for the parent company, Adolph Coors Company, and its subsidiaries, both...

Willie Iles Jr.: Group Director, Development/Strategic Initiatives Group--Boy Scouts of America. (Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... As a group director for the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Willie lies Jr. provides leadership to the Marketing & Communications, Finance Support, Scoutreach, and National Events divisions. His primary focus is to position the...

Maj. General Ronald L. Johnson. (Executive suite: a spotlight on our clients' top performers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Rising stars in today's US Army live by the Army values-loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Soldiers like Major General Ronald L. Johnson, are trained to lead, follow and adapt, which enable them to...

Success is a science, not a secret: author David Niven reveals 100 keys to a life of satisfying achievements. (Words To Strive By).
March 1, 2003... What do successful people have in common? What are their secrets, their habits, Their sources of strength and inspiration, and how can you mimic them to achieve the same astounding results? This is an area that has been beaten to death....

Go! Ready! Set! (Help Yourself).
March 1, 2003... Q I've just turned 30 and I am married with six children. I have been an engineering recruiter for the last seven years with the same firm. Now I want to branch out on my own, but l run into the same problem every time I think about being...

Time out: getting the best deal on a vacation time-share. (Consumer Life).
March 1, 2003... In 1988, Marcia Elam-Moore responded to an offer by a marketing agency for a week's vacation at Disney World and Vero Beach, Florida. After she investigated the offer and found it to be legitimate, she purchased a time-share. "My family and I...

Lasting impressions: getting the most wear out of your suit. (Buying Power).
March 1, 2003... Tony Collins retired the suits he, wore to is corporate job after starting AC Handyman Services in Brooklyn, New York. more than a year ago. When he pulled out his Giorgio Armani suit for a special occasion, he was dismayed to find a moth hole...

Taken to the cleaners. (Ask Your Advocate).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Q I recently switched dry cleaners after a garment came back damaged. Every time a favorite garment needs cleaning, I hold my breath for the outcome. What should I expect from my dry cleaner? --V. Dixon Washington, D.C. A Like...

A style all their own: spring fashions from hot boutiques. (Life style: your entree to new and exciting possibilities).(Paris europa)(Everett Hall)(Gigi Hunter)(The Sole Kitchen)
March 1, 2003... Finding a great boutique in which you can satisfy your personal style goes beyond the brick, mortar, and racks of high-end merchandise. It requires developing a personal relationship with a proprietor and/or designer: someone who will...

Planning your strategies: the moves you make determine your destiny. (B.E./Microsoft Entrepreneurs Conference).(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... BLACK ENTERPRISE'S events have always attracted powerful, dynamic executives. At previous BE Entrepreneurs Conferences, we've heard strategy tips from executives such as Robert L. Johnson, founder and CEO of BET Holdings II Inc.; David Steward,...

How time flies. (Extra Options).
March 1, 2003... This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge. We're back at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, where you will find competitive golf and tennis tournaments and the opportunity to network with...

Building wealth in 2003. (Our Next Order Of Business).
March 1, 2003... If you're like most investors, you are probably scratching your head, trying to figure out what to do with your hard-earned dollars. We have the answer in next month's Annual Investment Guide. We promise to provide you with a road map to help...

One of the coolest things you can.
March 1, 2003... ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS YOU CAN watch on TV is Dexter's Laboratory on Cartoon Network (Now, don't front like you don't know what we're talking about!) It's not just that the exploits of Dexter--our favorite, pint-sized kid supergenius--are...

Seven steps to starting your own business. (Getting Started).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser, National Coordinator of the NAACP Reginald F. Lewis Youth Entrepreneurial Institute in Baltimore, suggests that aspiring entrepreneurs consider these seven steps to get started: 1 Come up with a business idea. What...

I feel ya. (Teenpreneur Letters).(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... I must say I'm feeling your magazine. It's "da bomb!" I'm a young entrepreneur and I've been planning to create my own magazine. Actually, last year, when I was in the seventh grade, I was a "straight hustler." I would sell Hershey's candy and...

Great idea. (Teenpreneur Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I think Teenpreneur is a great idea. I also have a dream and it is to make fashionable shirts at a reasonable price. I would make shirts and sell them cheap. I would also make shirts and give them to charity. I believe your idea of a...

Our bad. (Teenpreneur Letters).(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... The profile of Fatima in the premiere issue of Black Enterprises Teenpreneur (October 2002) includes a number of mistakes. The choreographer has been nominated six times for an MTV Award, but has never won one. She did not choreograph Will...

She's got to be free: how BET VJ made it to 106 & Park. (vipeeps--).(Free)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Fans of the immensely popular music video show 106 & Park feel they know Free; she's the cool older sister they wished they had. After all, Free--along with co-host AJ--has the opportunity to sit down and chat with some of today's hottest...

Home court advantage. (personal passions).(Shoshana Arbor )
March 1, 2003... Earn good grades. Score high on the SATs. Get into an Ivy League college. There is so much pressure on high-school seniors that going to school is like having a full-time job. Shoshana Arbor is no stranger to the art of the high-school juggle....

Get involved! Learn valuable work skills by doing community service. (You're the Boss).
March 1, 2003... It's no coincidence that you can help yourself by helping others. For thousands of teens across the country, community service has proven to be a great way to learn the necessary skills to build a bright future. Ifna Ejebe, a 17-year-old senior...

Where are they now? (entreprenuership).(SandoteWebsites.com)(T.K. Worm Factory)(Sister Clowns)(Crenshaw High School's Food From The Hood)
March 1, 2003... After receiving the 2001 Kidpreneurs Award at the Black Enterprises Entrepreneurs Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, 19-year-old Chris Diggs learned a valuable lesson. "Make sure you do a lot of networking, and keep others' business cards on...

The world according to Bow Wow: think being a recording artist is easy? Think again. (How They're Living).(Biography)
March 1, 2003... Many teens believe that being a teen entertainer is "the life" because it seems cool to get paid to be famous. Some think that it is all about rapping or singing on TV, performing on stage, and shopping for all the "tight gear to floss." But...

A day in the life of TV star Kyla Pratt. (How They're Living).(Biography)
March 1, 2003... Many people will tell you that being young an famous is more hard work than you think, but after watching Kyla Pratt for a day, I can't say the same. As much as I dug around for a really troublesome experience for the teen co-star of UPN's...

This can't wait: if your habit is to wait until the last minute, you need to read this--now. (Handle Your Business).
March 1, 2003... Picture this: You have a major exam coming up tomorrow. You've known about it for more than a week and now you have 10 chapters to read and memorize, and you're cramming. When you glance at the clock, you realize it's 11 p.m. and you still have...