Black Enterprise articles from March 2004

Black Enterprise archives from March 2004

Site redesign.(Web Features)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... We're unveiling a new look for blackenterprise.com. We've added many new features to enhance your online experience, including a classified advertising section, a new page format, easier navigation, and MP3 and streaming video clips from our...

Tax time is approaching.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... If you haven't received a copy of your W-2, you soon will. Whether you're an individual or a small business struggling to get your taxes in order, our tax center will provide you with the advice you need to meet your deadlines....

Franchise finder.(Web Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... www.blackenterprise.com/ franchisefinder Select from franchises that suit your interests and open your dream business today!

Get $25 when you invest.(Black Enterprises Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... www.blackenterprise.com/bemoney Sharebuilder and blackenterprise.com allow you to invest online through automatic, recurring dollar-based investments.

Resource line.(Black Enterprises Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Whatever your professional or entrepreneurial needs, you can find advice at blackenterprise.com. Interactive Media Editor Lewis' column provides useful resources for business owners, corporate executives, and budding investors....

Web highlights.(blackenterprise.com)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... JOB SEARCH Give yourself a free career makeover using our online job search. B.E. NOW ON TV AND RADIO Look for streaming video and audio clips from our latest business news ventures. HOMEOWNERSHIP Find out the steps you need to take to...

To get respect, we must have self-respect.(publisher's page)
March 1, 2004... When Ghettopoly, a racist knockoff of the popular Monopoly board game, was discovered on the shelves of Urban Outfitters retail stores last year, the response was swift and immediate. National civil rights groups, including the NAACP,...

About this issue.
March 1, 2004... A discussion among the editorial team about the content of this issue led to a spirited debate. The discussion centered on what seemed, to some, to be a contradiction in BLACK ENTERPRISE'S wealth-building mission. On one hand, much of our...

Quit begging for power.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... I have subscribed to BLACK ENTERPRISE for many years, and while I find most of the information offered to be of great import, I do tire of the proverbial "Do blacks have real power in Hollywood?" articles ["Big Time on the Small Screen,...

A really hot issue.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... UPON BEADING "THE HOT LIST" [DECEMBER 2003], I WAS impressed to see so many young, positive African Americans prospering in their respective fields. The concept of placing media icons on this type of list is not a new one, but your article gave...

Words to the wise.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... I loved the advice you gave to J. Bruce in the December 2003 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE: "'Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view'... [and] sincerely communicate a clear understanding of their... interests and...

Put the pipe down.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... KARL KANI ON YOUR "HOT LIST" [DECEMBER 2003]? Are you on crack? His clothes suck, retailers shun him, and he has no trade or consumer buzz. Do you see anyone wearing his clothes today? And his selling "$40 million a year" is a joke unless...

Dress to impress.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... I REALLY ENJOYED THE DECEMBER 2003 ARTICLE "Custom Officer" [Lifestyle]. The suit is no longer just for the workplace; it is a statement to onlookers. Even President Bush mandated that White House employees return to full professional...

Crucial information.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... THE DECEMBER 2003 ISSUE IS SERIOUSLY GREAT--EVERYthing from the tax information ["Avoiding Year-End Tax Traps"], to black representation and control on television ["Big Time on the Small Screen"], to the seriously informative black wealth...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2004... In our December 2003 cover story, "The Hot List," the age of Credit Suisse First Boston Managing Director Art Mbanefo is incorrect. He is 36. Our December 2003 feature article "Big Time on the Small Screen" incorrectly identified the...

Simmons gets $140 million for clothing: hip-hop impresario's pockets are 'phatter' with sale of urban wear clothing line.(B.E. 100S)
March 1, 2004... In a deal that surpasses the sale of his successful rap record label Def Jam, which sold in 1999 for $100 million, Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush Communications (No. 14 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $260 million in sales), has sold...

Clock running down on nation's oldest black bank: Consolidated Bank & Trust Co. faces pressure to restore profitability and financial soundness.(B.E. 100s)
March 1, 2004... A deadline set by banking regulators has the 100-year-old Consolidated Bank & Trust Co. fighting for its life. No. 19 on the BE BANKS list with $98.4 million in assets, the historic Richmond, Virginia-based establishment has until March 31 to...

Closing the deal.(Newspoints)
March 1, 2004... There have been several big deals among BE 100s banks over the last few years. Here are some of the major transactions: * October 2000: Boston Bank of Commerce (No. 15 on the 2000 BE BANKS list with $137.7 million in assets) and Los...

World trade recovery: black CPA firm snares post-9/11 contract to help rebuild New York's Ground Zero area.(Newsmaker)
March 1, 2004... It's been more than two years since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, killed thousands, put a hole in the Pentagon, and leveled New York's Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. Challenged with rebuilding the transit structure is the...

Blaylock enters new territory: top black-owned investment bank expands into asset management arena with acquisition of Abacus Financial Group.(B.E. 100s)
March 1, 2004... Blaylock & Partners L.P., a New York City-based investment banking and research firm, is positioning itself to be a leading player in the institutional asset management arena with its recent addition of Chicago-based Abacus Financial Group, a...

Ghettopoly: no! Pimp juice: yes? Board game's Asian creator says he followed the lead of African Americans who profit from the denigration of black culture.(National News)
March 1, 2004... Ghettopoly or Pimp Juice. Which is more offensive? Some critics argue both, while others say only the former because a Taiwanese American created the board game whereas the latter is an energy drink created by black rapper Nelly. ...

Radio One to acquire station.(Newsbytes)
March 1, 2004... Lanham, Maryland-based Radio One Inc. (No. 8 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 list with $335.7 million in revenues) agreed to buy WSNJ-FM radio from New Jersey Radio Partners L.L.C. for $35 million. The station will be moved to the Philadelphia...

Sylvester Croom.(Newsbytes)
March 1, 2004... Sylvester Croom became the first black head football coach in Southeastern Conference history when he took over the team at Mississippi State. The 49-year-old Croom has been an NFL assistant coach with five teams since 1987. He had been...

Bruce Gordon.(Newsbytes)
March 1, 2004... Bruce Gordon one of Verizon's highest-ranking African Americans, retired, capping a 35-year career. Gordon, 58, oversaw the $67 billion company's consumer and small business sales and marketing units for Verizon Online and DSL. Gordon began his...

Network television blackout: jobs in television industry still out of reach for African Americans.(Facts & Figures)
March 1, 2004... From Tracy Morgan to Whoopi Goldberg and Queen Latifah, more African Americans are gracing the television screen. While all four major television networks have made incremental increases in hiring minorities for on-air television roles,...

Resetting priorities: the Rooks family has adjusted their portfolio for better earnings.(Investment Strategies)
March 1, 2004... Until recently, 35-year-old Michelle Rooks, a mortgage banker at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis, had an investment portfolio consisting only of her 401(k) plan--and that was primarily made up of her company's stock. Her husband John, a 38-year old...

Looking toward expansion: Barbara Bowles of The Kenwood Group is positioning her portfolio for growth.(Private Screening)
March 1, 2004... There are indications that the current administration's economic policies have finally began to lift the economy, at least for the short-term. One of the most severe bear markets ever is starting to fade into a memory. Chicago money...

A stock picker's market: money manager Clifford Mpare reaps the rewards of his wise selections.(Stock Update)
March 1, 2004... "Last year was very good for us," exclaims Clifford D. Mpare, managing director of Piedmont Investment Partners in Durham, North Carolina. "In 2004, we are looking for explosive earnings growth. For the first half of 2004, cyclical stocks will...

Opportunities for investors: try these strategies to make money through real estate investments.(Real Estate Strategies)
March 1, 2004... Looking for a great financial opportunity? Consider real estate. Real estate investments have the unique quality of allowing you to borrow up to 90% or more of the value of a property, which you can use to create large gains from a relatively...

Buying apartment buildings.(Ask B.E.)
March 1, 2004... QA I would like to get into real estate. Where can I find out how to start buying investment property such as apartment buildings? --K. Kendall Via the Internet A significant amount of study is required before you can begin looking for...

Hitting the high note: Marcus Johnson is laying down the tracks to success.(Making It)
March 1, 2004... Enjoying an Earth, Wind & Fire concert when he was only 9 years old, Marcus Johnson discovered his life's passion: to make quality music like that of his favorite band. "My No. 1 objective is to create classic sounds," says the now...

Taking it off court: arbitration can be a cost-effective way to settle disputes.(Management Advice)
March 1, 2004... A growing number of companies are turning to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as arbitration or mediation as a way to avoid the high costs of going to court. But often, business owners are not informed about how to properly...

The power of property: this entrepreneur used real estate to finance his business.(Making It)
March 1, 2004... When 34-year-old, Greg King launched his marketing firm in 2000, he named it The Big Balloon Communications. He wanted to convey something that was larger than life, like the circus. But that wouldn't have been possible without a lot of hard...

Capital matters.(Savvy Solutions)
March 1, 2004... QA Can you tell me what's the best source of financing for a startup company and what's the difference between a venture capitalist and an angel investor? --Via the Internet There really is no "best" financing source for startups, All...

Intruder alert: tech company provides big-business protection for small firms.(Black Digerati)
March 1, 2004... Call it ADT for your PC. With the development of SpiderISA, Richard J.B. Campbell, CEO and founder of Securiant Inc., is giving small business owners the same protection for their computer systems that a home alarm device gives a homeowner. The...

On virus patrol: NAV 2004 takes the guesswork out of PC protection.(B.E. Reviews)
March 1, 2004... Norton is one of the two big names in antivirus protection, so you probably won't be disappointed if you spend $49.95 for the company's stand-alone production, Norton AntiVirus 2004. The latest version hunts down adware and spyware (which sends...

Norton's big security blanket.(Techwatch)
March 1, 2004... The term "Internet security" covers a lot these days, from attacks on ports to viruses to privacy concerns. Norton Internet Security 2004 address those issues, plus spam, unwanted cookies, and Web ads--all in one $69.95 package. You can...

Don't get burned online: hardware or software, a firewall is your first line of defense.(Tech 1-2-3)
March 1, 2004... In a building, a firewall prevents a fire from quickly burning through, giving firefighter a chance to douse flames, and occupants a chance to find safety. A computer firewall works on the same principle, standing between the system and...

Don't box me in.(Cyberwise)
March 1, 2004... QA I thought I heard somewhere that there is a "black box" type device in some cars. First of ell, is this true? Second, will someone including the government, be able to track my personal history? --W. Diggs Via the Internet Event...

Beyond the business card: how to turn business cards into meaningful partnerships, alliances, or mentorships.(Making Connections)
March 1, 2004... It takes a great deal more than attending events to be successful at networking. Your successes will depend on your efforts, which extend beyond the initial meeting and collection of cards. Often Feeling overwhelmed by the number of names,...

Getting back to I.T.(Since You Asked)
March 1, 2004... QA I have 15 plus years experience in the information technology field, I was unemployed for two years. I finally landed a job, but not in IT. It's hard for me not to think that my career in IT is over. What can I do to land another promising...

CNN/U.S.(On The Move)(Executive Vice President Appointed.)(Cable News Network/United States)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... 1 Princell Hair recently joined CNN News Group as executive vice president and general manager of CNN/U.S. in Atlanta. He is responsible for the network's day-to-day news operation, encompassing all aspects of programming and production,...

Starcom MediaVest Group.(On The Move)
March 1, 2004... 2 L. Renee Richardson has been named the director of African American markets for Tapestry, the multicultural division of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG). Richardson's responsibilities include assisting with new business development as well as...

BET Interactive.(On The Move)
March 1, 2004... 3 Michael Pickrum has been named senior vice president and chief operating officer of BET Interactive. Its flagship product. BET.com, is the leading online media platform for African Americans, averaging 5.7 million visitors per month. He is...

Dallas Bar Association.(On The Move)
March 1, 2004... 4 Rhonda Hunter has become the first African American and the first family law attorney to head the 131-year-old Dallas Bar Association. She intends to focus her term on the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of...

Comptel/ASCENT Alliance.(On The Move)
March 1, 2004... 5 H. Russell Frisby Jr. has been named CEO of CompTel/ASCENT Alliance, the largest telecommunications trade association representing facilities-based carriers, providers using unbundled network elements, global integrated communications...

Convention calendar.(Powerplay)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education March 1-6, Washington, D.C., 301-650-2440, www.nafeo.org Harvard Black Law Students Association March 5-7, Boston, 617-493-9430, www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/blsa ...

Sweet savings: Albert & Tamara Sweets put together a money-managing and investment plan that made all the difference.(Black Wealth Initiative)
March 1, 2004... ALBERT SWEETS, 36, GOT HIS FIRST REAL lesson in financial planning when he joined the military at age 17. He was making $20,000 a year and his first paycheck taught him a lot about real earned income. "The government said I was making...

Increasing earning power through education: the Richardsons have a financial curriculum that includes advanced degrees and greater investments.(Financial Black Fitness Enterprise Contest Winner No. 45)
March 1, 2004... Rafael and Janice Richardson of Montgomery, cAlabama, have dedicated their lives to education. The young couple--he's 32 and she's 34--are both teachers. Up until last September, the Richardsons had a household income of $82,000. But since...

Using real estate to build wealth: here are three ways your home can increase your net worth.(Real Estate)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... When Marceline Alburg refinanced her two-family home in Brooklyn, New York, last October, she had some lofty goals in mind. "I wanted to buy another property by using some of the money from refinancing as a down payment," she says. "I'm looking...

Corporate cues: top executives explain four business practices to better position you for success in the workplace.(Career Strategies)
March 1, 2004... It's the post-new economy era. So what does that mean for today's job seekers and professionals looking for the next golden ring? It means, once again, the rules of engagement in the workplace have changed, and we're here to sound the alarm for...

Holding her ground: they huffed and puffed, but developers could not blow down Edith Younger-Huff's business.(A Year In The Life)
March 1, 2004... The chill of fall swept through New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Edith Younger-Huff quickly scuttled into her downtown corner shop. She was feeling good about her 10-year-old hair salon, A Cut Above. Business was booming, and she had just...

Living well with the money you have: author and syndicated columnist offers straightforward financial advice for people looking to take control of their money.(Book Excerpt)(Excerpt)
March 1, 2004... Think about the word asset. What exactly does it mean? An asset is an item of property, a person, thing, or quality regarded as useful or valuable. That definition is broad enough to allow most people to justify most of what they buy as an...

A spring affair: how color can enhance your business wardrobe.(Executive Style)
March 1, 2004... What's buzzing this spring? Color--and lots of it. After a harsh winter and a tougher economic climate, radiant hues and energetic tints express an attitude that says conditions are finally clearing--and looking good. Even at the corporate...

To the readers of Black Enterprise.(special advertising section)
March 1, 2004... CITY OF ATLANTA 55 TRINITY AVENUE, S.W ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30335-0300 TEL (404) 330-6100 March 2004 To the readers of Black Enterprise: As Mayor of Atlanta, I am pleased that Black Enterprise Magazine has chosen to showcase the "Face...

The faces of Atlanta.(special advertising section)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2004... Imagine a place that is diverse in every element of its existence. A place where big business meets big fun... A place where many pages of African American history were penned by the blood, courage, tenacity and faith of Atlantans; a place...

Lifting, as she climbs: Prep for Prep prepared Shana Harris for Yale and beyond. Now, she does the same for others.(Everyday Hero)
March 1, 2004... As a 13-year-old growing up in New York City, Shana Harris, now 29, had no idea that being accepted to the Prep for Prep program would open doors. Now the director of undergraduate affairs at Prep for Prep, this Yale graduate is providing...

When dreams come true.(Words To Strive By)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2004... A generally accepted tenet of the American dream is that a high-quality education is a birthright. Quality education, however, takes on new meaning among socioeconomic classes, often leaving gifted black and Latino students behind the...

What are you leaving behind? Taking care through your words, thoughts and deeds.(Common Ground)
March 1, 2004... "I would like my life to say, to all who paid attention, that this was a man who had the great benefit of knowing what struggle was and how necessary struggle is to the formation of character. I've tried my best always to give it all I had."...

Never too late.(Help Yourself)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... QA I'm a 37-year-old single mother still struggling to get myself together. I was planning to return to school to become a nurse, but I don't want to graduate at age 40. I was thinking about becoming a journalist, but I felt I was a little too...

The repo man cometh: the real deal on vehicle repossessions.(Consumer Life)(Methods to prevent Vehicle Repossessions)
March 1, 2004... With loan terms being extended and monthly car notes increasing, many already overextended consumers are falling deeper into debt--almost $2 trillion in outstanding consumer debt to be exact. Auto loans rank second only to a homeowner's...

Stop whining and start writing: how to pen effective complaint letters.(Buying Power)
March 1, 2004... It's 5:00 p.m., the thruway is backed up for miles, and you're trying to race your sick child to the pediatrician. Suddenly, your new minivan malfunctions. By the time you get home, your child's fever is raging and so is your temper. But before...

Credit madness.(Ask Your Advocate)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... QA My mother has gotten several credit cards in my name and has defaulted on them, which has ruined my credit. She got one when I was 17 and another last year when I was 26. She got the last one saying [it was] to improve my credit, but she has...

No sour grapes: Lesvia Castro is sweet on sangria.(Personal Passions)(Lesvia Castro )
March 1, 2004... "Eight hundred Frenchmen can't be wrong," Lesvia Castro exclaims with a hearty laugh as she applies this saying to the many friends and relatives who enjoy her homemade sangria. Castro, 35, who enjoys cooking and baking for others, says that...

Here's to the good life: touring the Italian wine country.(Travelogue)(Chianti Classico wines)
March 1, 2004... In Italy, people will tell you that they take more time for life. Families gather for meals daily and wine is a staple at the dinner table. For a chance to learn about its history and culture, take a wine holiday to Tuscany, which is...

Bet on Las Vegas: L.J. Piernas enjoys much more than gaming.(City Profile)
March 1, 2004... L.J. Piernas came to Las Vegas seven years ago from the Bay Area as a manager for Nextel. He eventually started his own telecommunications business and later became a realtor for Dyson & Dyson, one of the largest realtors in Southern Nevada....

Tobacco toasts: Israel Capellan's cigars carry on a family tradition.(The Enthusiast)(Reserva Dominicana Cigars Inc.)
March 1, 2004... Each man's [tobacco] preference is the only standard for him," wrote Mark Twain in 1893. Israel Capellan agrees. "Cigars are an acquired taste," says the young tobacco merchant and owner of New York City's Reserva Dominicana Cigars Inc. ...

Moving your business to the next level: upcoming conference explores winning business strategies.(B.E./General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference)(Black Enterprise)(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... It isn't enough anymore to think outside the box--you have to back it up with winning strategies and specific courses of action. This year's Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference, held May 12-16, 2004, at the Wyndham Anatole...

Financially protecting your child's college education.(Next Month)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... With college and university costs rising out of control and financial markets slowly recovering from near-fatal disaster, there are a few investment plans that are designed to trim college costs--if properly managed. New parents are listening...