Black Enterprise articles from March 2006

Black Enterprise archives from March 2006

One prize, but hundreds of winners.(publisher's Page)
March 1, 2006... One of the greatest rewards of publishing BLACK ENTERPRISE is the opportunity to move our readers and subscribers from focusing on all of the reasons why something can't be done, to believing that all worthwhile things are possible. This simple...

Our commitment to wealth building.
March 1, 2006... You may remember the cover of the January 2000 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE. On it, we featured a baby cradled in the arms of a proud father. Our cover lines read: "The Future is in Your Hands! Black Wealth: How to Build It, Keep It and Pass It...

Maximize retirement savings.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I was very excited to read the article comparing the traditional, pre-tax 401(k) with the after-tax Roth 401(k) (Moneywise, "The New Roth 401(k)," December 2005). This is a question that I have been contemplating forever. The only thing the...

Hit.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I AM A LONG-TIME SUBSCRIBER TO BLACK black enterprises. As an African American male working in the corporate sector, I find your articles informative and insightful; they offer an interesting perspective on the corporate landscape and culture....

And miss.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I RECENTLY RECEIVED MY DECEMBER ISSUE featuring your list of the most powerful players under 40. Being under 26, I was looking forward to reading the article, but it did not take me long to realize that this was one of the most disappointing...

Standing out from the crowd.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I am proud of you for publishing "What it Takes to Be a Successful Intrapreneur" December 2005). We need more of them. It is one of those articles that can allow a person to transcend and have a shot at differentiating himself or herself in a...

Appearances aren't everything.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO MR. GRAVES' commentary on the NBA dress policy. For the most part, I agree with why the policy was instated, but there is something else that should be considered. Many companies that enforce a dress code usually...

Firm and best impressions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... WHEN I OPENED THE DECEMBER 2005 ISSUE AND saw the bold headline on the Publisher's Page ("The NBA Dress Code: Setting High Standards), I applauded. As a certified image coach and consultant, I help my clients convey professionalism,...

Corrections.
March 1, 2006... In "The Business of Art" feature (February 2006), the last name of the founder of The Boys Choir of Harlem was spelled incorrectly. The proper spelling is Turnbull. In Cathy D. Ross' profile in our "50 Host Powerful Black Women in...

Firms energized over billion-dollar deal: partnership provides scale and know-how to accommodate DOE contract.(Energy Enterprise Solutions L.L.C)
March 1, 2006... The Department of Energy has awarded a $1 billion information technology contract to Energy Enterprise Solutions L.L.C., a joint venture led by two African American contractors who are blazing their own procurement trail in the Washington,...

What's happening with our healthcare? Prescription drug benefit comes with complication, few benefits.(AROUND THE NATION)
March 1, 2006... Time in ticking for the 3.9 million African Americans who are eligible to enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug plan, as May 15 marks the deadline to participate without penalty. After 40 years, the government-sponsored insurance...

CEO invest in underserved urban market: Capri Capital Advisors' new $287.5 million fund targets commercial development.(Capri Capital Advisors LLC starts new mezzanine fund)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Capri Capital Advisors LLC., led by Quintin E. Primo III, is hoping to tap into urban commercial development with the dosing of a new fund that could spur millions of dollars in new business. The fund will provide investments to developers of...

Bath Club puts Peebles back on the map: real estate mogul looking to diversify geographically and add business lines.(B)
March 1, 2006... The recent completion of the $225 million Bath Club in Miami Beach, Florida, marks one more step in real estate developer R. Donahue Peebles' plan to grow his company Peebles Atlantic Development Corp. (No. 18 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100...

Johnson taps into Hedge fund of funds: venture with Deutsche Bank meant to help blacks grow wealth.(B.E. 100s)(Robert L. Johnson)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Billionaire and Black Entertainment Television founder Robert L. Johnson has formed a new yet unnamed fund company with African American asset managers in mind. Johnson says his new hedge fund venture with Deutsche Bank AG is designed to...

Tug of war for SBA funding: amendment passed but funding still $123 million less than last year.(Small Business Administration )
March 1, 2006... For the last five years, doing more with less has been a recurring theme at the Small Business Administration. The agency has seen its budget decline steadily from $1.1 billion to $456.5 million. The SBA then received an additional $441 million...

Prestige explores new territory.(Prestige Automotive dealership agreement with Mercedes Benz.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Prestige Automotive (No. 1 on the BE AUTO DEALER 100 list with $1.07 billion in sales) will make its first move into the import market by opening a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Owner and CEO Gregory Jackson is excited about what the addition means...

This year, the 12th Essence Music Festival, billed as "the party with a purpose," temporarily moves to Houston.(NEWSBYTES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... This year, the 12th Essence Music Festival, billed as "the party with a purpose," temporarily moves to Houston (July 1-3 at Reliant Park). Hurricane Katrina damaged the New Orleans Superdome, the festival's annual home. The festival drew record...

The recent merger between black-owned technology company RetroBox L.L.C. based in Columbus, Ohio, and Intechra Holding Corp.(NEWSBYTES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The recent merger between black-owned technology company RetroBox L.L.C. based in Columbus, Ohio, and Intechra Holding Corp., based in Carrollton, Texas, will create the largest full-service information technology asset disposition company in...

How will you retire? Whites and blacks far apart on investment and retirement strategies.
March 1, 2006... Results from a recent survey found that there continues to be a gap in the retirement investment objectives and methods of high-income African Americans and whites. Looking at contributions to retirement accounts, the study found that the...

Better choices, better mortgages: try these options when searching for an affordable home loan.(housing management)
March 1, 2006... One of the keys to purchasing a home is securing the right mortgage. "It's a big decision, but it's not a decision that should paralyze you into fear and inaction," says Pierre Dunagan, president of Chicago-based mortgage company The Dunagan...

Rely on the analysis: Tedd Alexander or Credo Capital Management thoroughly scrutinizes financial fundamentals.
March 1, 2006... For Tedd M. Alexander, III, president of the Baltimore-based Credo Capital Management LLC., analyzing a company's fundamental financial position is crucial to successful investing. Alexander has built his company on an investment philosophy...

Hedging without getting clipped: some funds offer the benefits of hedge funds without the high fees.(hedge fund market research)
March 1, 2006... Some people would have you believe that in order to get investing profits in a bull or bear market, you have to invest in hedge funds. But these vehicles, which are prized for delivering "absolute returns," are not for everyone. Some hedge...

Recovery work: Eric McKissack more than doubled the gains of the Dow and S&P.(stock prices review)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... If 2005 confirmed anything for Eric McKissack, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Channing Capital Management, it's that the buy-and-hold strategy he advocates is still one of the best ways to approach investing. That approach worked well...

Saving for a home.(MONEY MATTERS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... A I'm a 35-year-old married sales rep with a 7-year-old. My ultimate goal is to buy a house or condo. I have a substantial amount invested in my 401(k) from a previous employer, and I have saved about $10,000. I want to put aside even more....

Labor of love: how one entrepreneur adds a little motherly love to maternal fashions.(MAKING IT)
March 1, 2006... Long gone are the days when expectant mothers grew frustrated with the lack of flattering clothes. With today's maternity fashions, pregnant women can dress as glamorously or casually as they choose. Signaling this new wave in maternity fashion...

Concierge service: Opulent Lifestyle specializes in catering to the whims of the wealthy.(rich behavior)
March 1, 2006... When the rich and famous need access to the most exclusive nightclubs in New York City, they call someone who has the right connections. When they absolutely must have tickets to the hottest show on Broadway, way, they contact someone who can...

Be Nimbo, be quick: developer of new fitness device advances his invention with a corporate partnership.
March 1, 2006... Rob Lee Johnson plans to help sharpen today's athletes into first-class sports figures. But he's no fitness trainer or coach; he's an inventor whose love of athletics inspired a big idea: The Flex Nimbo. A full-body workout device, the...

Finger-licking profits: a franchise owner fulfills his entrepreneurial dream.
March 1, 2006... It's midnight and you're a hungry college student. Given the abundance of take-out and delivery businesses around college campuses, food delivery options are generally plentiful. Unfortunately, redlining restricted delivery in predominately...

Pay yourself.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... QA When starting a franchise, do you continue to work or do you take out a loan that will coverall of the franchise fees as well as your salary for a year? G. Jackson Alabama Though the franchise system is designed to offer you...

Turning business cards into opportunities: CardScan developer helps professionals leverage their contact lists.
March 1, 2006... You've had a successful week at a trade convention. You've collected dozens of business cards and connected with other professionals with whom you're sure to build strategic partnerships. Now comes the hard part--importing the information from...

Building materials: architectural firms embrace technology solutions.(Arel Architects Inc.)
March 1, 2006... When Ronald Lipford started Arel Architects Inc. in 1991, he had accrued a solid body of architectural experience at Washington, D.C. area firms, but with the economy in a free fall, he needed a competitive edge to make his endeavor a success....

Do you want to design your own home?(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Here are three home design software packages to help ensure that you get the house, rooms, and landscaping you want: * Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 4000 features built-in video tutorials that the manufacturer touts as "having an...

The missing link: young entrepreneurial team rides the new wave in mobile electronics.
March 1, 2006... Imagine being able to watch a television show, access the Internet, use Microsoft Office suite, and listen to your complete music library from the driver's seat of your car. That vision has been four years in the making for Los Angeles-based...

No booth required: set up an exhibit at a virtual trade show without leaving your office.
March 1, 2006... Going to trade show can be exhausting and expensive. First, there's the travel: the cost and energy to book a flight, rent a car, and find a hotel room--even for just one person. Then, there's the time spent at the actual show meeting and...

Supply lines.(business success methods)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... QA I am very interested in opening an online golf store. I currently have had good success buying and listing golf clubs on eBay. I would really like to establish an account with the major club manufacturers to increase my inventory and better...

The employee field trip: what executive retreats can do for your team.(team work management)
March 1, 2006... Todd Brown knows the challenges of promoting teamwork among a group of professionals. When he worked for computer giant Hewlett-Packard's national professional services and medical products group a decade ago, the lack of cohesive effort put...

Ready to move.(business students)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... QA I am Haitian-American with an M.B.A. and in management. I live near Miami, where the job market is terrible and the majority of jobs require that you speak Spanish. I was thinking about finding a city where a black man with an M.B.A, might...

Hidden bias: study shows women of color held back by discrimination.(business students career development)
March 1, 2006... With an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a reputation as a top performer, Penny Knoll had ambitions of reaching the pinnacle of corporate success. But talent notwithstanding, Knoll found that other characteristics blocked her ascension to...

Georgia Power.(Chris Womack appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Chris Womack is the new executive vice president of external affairs for Georgia Power. He is responsible for leading and directing the policies and activities of the company's governmental, regulatory, and environmental affairs and its land,...

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.(Michelle Gadsden-Williams appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Michelle Gadsden-Williams has been appointed executive director of Diversity & Inclusion at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. She will also co-chair the organization's Executive Diversity Council. Gadsden-Williams is charged with integrating...

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US L.L.P.(Darrell Gay appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Darrell Gay has joined DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US L.L.P. as a partner in the Labor and Employment practice group. A top practitioner in his field, Gay brings extensive experience in a broad spectrum of labor and employment, including...

National Football League.(Natara Holloway appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Natara Holloway has been promoted from a manager to a director in the Internal Audit Group of the National Football League. She is responsible for national and international department audits and consulting engagements for the league office in...

Disney-ABC Television Group.(Sharon D. Williams appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Sharon D. Williams has been named senior vice president of Communications Resources for Disney-ABC Television Group. In her new position, Williams oversees and coordinates efforts by the communications support divisions that assist the cable...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Networking Weekend March 3-6; New York; 212-290-8600; www.jackierobinson.org Association of Black Cardiologists 19th Annual Scientific Sessions March 11; Atlanta; 678-302-4222; www.abcardio.org ...

Freedom through entrepreneurship: Rohan Hall is teaching others the joy of owning a business.(management consultants)
March 1, 2006... When Rohan Hall founded vConcepts in 1996, he opened up a new world for himself. In the 10 years prior to his becoming an entrepreneur, he spent much of his time developing specialized software applications for multinational corporations like...

High hopes: Gena Jefferson wants to pursue her dreams of property ownership in a very expensive housing market.
March 1, 2006... AT AGE 43, REV. GENA JEFFERSON HAS accomplished a great deal, but she wants to do more, "I did everything I was told to do as a child--go to school, work hard--but I don't feel like I have anything to show for it," says Jefferson, who...

A house is now our home!: James and Kimberly Papillion are the first winners of the Black Enterprise Own Your First Home Contest.(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... THE CALL CAME ON THANKSGIVING DAY. LIKE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, James and Kimberly Papillion were preparing to join extended family members for the day's feast. A call from BLACK ENTERPRISE Chairman and Publisher Earl G. Graves Sr. was a...

Preparing to buy a home: a little planning can make the process smoother.
March 1, 2006... WHEN KIMBERLY DAVIS-HOWARD bought her first home as a rental property in Las Vegas, she was in graduate school and working full time as an MIS specialist at Macy's department store in New York. She has vivid memories about her first home buying...

In too deep: Americans have nearly $800 billion in credit card debt. Is debt consolidation the answer to your financial woes?(economic conditions)
March 1, 2006... OVER THE LAST DECADE, LARRY Williams, 46, and his family have lived a good life on a middle-class budget, They've vacationed in hot spots across the country and bought shiny, new cars and matching appliances for their two-story colonial in a...

The independent contractor's survival guide: folowing these tips can boost the finances of the self-employed.
March 1, 2006... A TRIP TO THE FAX MACHINE CHANGED Charmaine Davis' life. At the time, she was working as an information technology consultant for a major Washington, D.C., consulting firm. She noticed a sheet of paper that revealed the company was charging...

Brave heart! Four strategies for living courageously.
March 1, 2006... While living in Japan, Antoinette Jackson got a divorce and had to find her way back to the United States with her two young children, Ky'a, 9, and Michael, 6. Once back in the U.S., Jackson struggled to work several jobs, pay bills, and take...

Rewards of risk taking: how to move out of your comfort zone.
March 1, 2006... The cliche is true "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Sitting back and waiting for opportunities to fall in your lap may help yOu stay comfortable--but it will not help yOu progress with your goals. Risks certainly do feel, well, risky. But...

Listen up!(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... QA I am 51 years old and I was recently downsized out of my job of 27 years. I am writing because I always wanted to do voice-overs. Can you give me some advice on how to get started? --Mildred Davis Via the Internet The American...

The mysterious underwriters: unearthing the elusive people behind the money.
March 1, 2006... If your loan application is rejected or you're approved at an interest rate higher than expected, it may be because of an underwriter's decision. An underwriter can save you or cost you thousands of dollars each year. They tell your mortgage...

Want to lower your auto insurance? Here are some inventive ways to save.
March 1, 2006... Dan Lewis gets a migraine when he thinks about the $3,000 he pays annually in car insurance, but he's actually a darling to insurance companies. He's had no accidents and only one traffic ticket in the last decade--all on four cars: a Lincoln...

On a budget.
March 1, 2006... QA I am 55 years old, and I had a problem spending. Now I'm trying to set up a budget and stick with it, but I need help. How can I get started.'? --H. DeBerry Via the Internet Here's a neat trick that will help you set up a budget....

Timeless vintage: Terrance Nathaniel Shelton discovers what's old can be so fashionably new.
March 1, 2006... Classified by time, vintage clothing includes garments from the turn of the century to the early 1960s, says Terrance N. Shelton. "But it is constantly expanding. It's a cyclical market, meaning it's all been out there before." What's...

L.A. confidential: Brad Johnson dishes it up in the City of Angels.
March 1, 2006... Dining is important business in Los Angeles. For restaurateur Brad Johnson, success in fine dining affords him access to the pulse of Hollywood. Johnson, 49, a native New Yorker. migrated West in 1989 and opened the Roxbury, an immensely...

Working that fabric: Jazz Armstrong on the threaded essentials.(IN FASHION)
March 1, 2006... For most, it's the look and the feel of a garment, how it drapes, and how well complements our form that encourages a purchase. But further scrutiny into what provides a good fit, long-lasting wear, and even proper maintenance leads to the...

Ocean attractions: enjoying star treatment on Celebrity Cruises' Summit.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)
March 1, 2006... I was seated at the wall of windows that wrap the Waterfall Grill, enjoying cinnamon waffles and omelets, when a pod of playful dolphins sprung from the twirling sea, one after another, to kiss the warm morning sky. In the next five days of our...

Register now and save!(ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE)
March 1, 2006... Register early and save $100 when you sign up now for the 2006 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference hosted by General Motors. This annual conference brings you face-to-face with some of the nation's leading professionals and business...

Deal Makers Expo.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Whether you're attending as an exhibitor or a conference participant, the Deal Makers Expo is the hot spot for networking and scoping new business opportunities. Gain valuable insight from established business owners and connect with potential...

Back talk with Randal Pinkett.(interview with Chief Executive Officer of BCT Partners)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Randal Pinkett made national headlines last December when Donald Trump hired him as this year's apprentice. When Trump asked Pinkett about the possibility of also hiring second place runner-up Decca Jarvis, Pinkett spoke out against it. His...