Black Enterprise articles from March 2009

Black Enterprise archives from March 2009

Homeownership toolkit.(Homeownership Resource Center)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With millions of homes on the brink of foreclosure, understanding how your mortgage works is more important than ever. Become a savvy homeowner or home buyer with our Homeownership Resource Center only on...

Top in tech.(top African american tech experts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... America runs on technology. Meet some of the top black tech gurus who are making it happen. You've seen "The Host Innovative Blacks in Technology" list. Now find out how they got their start. This extended conversation will give you the lowdown...

Obama and a new generation come to power.(Barack Obama)
March 1, 2009... We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things." --President Barack H. Obama, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 2009 They've been called the "children of the dream." They are the...

Building a business model for today's new realities.(human resource management model)
March 1, 2009... In today's business climate, the scorecard for profitability at America's largest corporations seems to be the number of workers they can trim from their payrolls. In 2008, corporate layoffs surged to its highest level in seven years. Before...

We were first!(media coverage of Barack Obama)(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... In early 2003, a lanky state legislator from Illinois visited the offices of BLACK ENTERPRISE. Our editors heard about this young politician who sought to make history by becoming the third African American elected to the U.S. Senate....

Kudos.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD EARL Graves St. for the Publisher's Page article titled, "The Election of Our Lifetimes" (November 2008). People such as Earl Graves are the real leaders of our community, and Mr. Graves and BLACK ENTERPRISE represent...

Inspiration for the next generation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE NOVEMBER 2008 ISSUE THE ARTICLE "RIDING HIGH" (ENTERPRISE) caught my attention. The fact that an African American man was able to start a company just from an idea intrigued me. U.S. Navy Pilot Kerry Harris...

An enjoyable read.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... IT WAS A PLEASURE TO READ THE DECEMBER 2008 TECHwatch article titled, "A Perfect Storm." I enjoyed learning about the groundbreaking work that Evan Forde has performed in the atmospheric and ocean sciences. I had no idea that Forde helped...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2009... In "Southern Blacks Receive More Subprime Loans," (Talking Points, January 2009), the states of Mississippi and Alabama were mislabeled.

Job seekers stuck with extended unemployment.(Talking Points: What You Need to Know)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... There are now 10.3 million unemployed people in the U.S., an increase of more than 3 million from when the recession began in December 2007, reports the Jobs Picture analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank....

Little gains for corporate women.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Women's advancement in corporate leadership continues to stagnate, according to the 2008 Catalyst Census of Women Board Directors of the Fortune 500 and 2008 Catalyst Census of Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the Fortune 500. The report...

Most African Americans feeling worse, financially.(Talking Points: What You Need to Know)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... In spite of the recession, 37% of African Americans feel their financial situation has not changed in the past year, while 8% believe their status has actually improved, reveals the 2008 National Opinion Poll conducted by the Joint Center for...

1 in 10 Black teenage girls tested HIV-positive in D.C.(Talking Points: What You Need to Know)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Washington, D.C., has one of the highest AIDS rates in the country; yet, fewer of those who are infected are seeking treatment, according to the advocacy group Metro TeenAIDS. Nationally, young African Americans were disproportionately affected...

Lean on me: in the face of deep market losses, financial planners and advisers are becoming grief counselors of sorts. What they're telling their clients could help you.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DAVID JACKSON KNOWS JUST HOW much the stock market's cascading losses have shaken some investors. The financial planner with Waddell & Reed Financial Services in Kansas City, Missouri, recently held a marathon...

The energy booster: natural gas and alternative fuel stocks charge Bill Perkins' market excitement.(interview)(Interview)
March 1, 2009... BILL PERKINS, AN ENERGY TRADER BY profession, accomplished some unusual goals last year. His Houston firm, Small Ventures U.S.A., invests in commodity markets for a hedge fund; the firm's transactional volume is in the billions. The niche he...

Money matters.(QA)(budget management)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2009... My company suspended 401(k) matching recently as part of budget cuts. Should I stop depositing into my 401(k)? --Anonymous Via E-mail Welcome to the recession. Unfortunately, you're not alone. Many companies, in lieu of...

Health coverage after job loss: investigate your options before you get the ax.(CONSUMER LIFE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN BYRON WESSON OF DAYTON, OHIO, LOST HIS JOB as a manufacturing engineer at Delphi Corp. after the automotive parts supplier outsourced Wesson's position to a plant in Mexico, he joined 1.3 million people left...

Going green on a budget: be kind to the environment while stretching your dollars.
March 1, 2009... practices such as recycling and using products that do the least amount of harm to the environment--can he daunting to novices who shun the movement because of the belief that it's an expensive undertaking, says Tajuana L. Common, author of...

Ask your advocate.(QA)(credit score)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2009... My credit card was cancelled because I haven't used it for about two years. Will this lower my credit score? --S. Williams High Point, NC This most likely happened because credit card companies lose money when accounts go unused....

Installing a taut safety net: communications supplier focuses on wiring businesses that grow in any economy.
March 1, 2009... CORNELIUS HARPER AND HIS NEPHEWS CLARENCE A. Lyles III and Donte Adams had always talked about starting a business together, but once the housing market took a turn for the worse, the three real estate investors decided that day had come....

Good to get? Accounts receivable financing is an alternative option for those looking for capital.
March 1, 2009... PENN, GOOD & ASSOCIATES L.L.P. HAD an opportunity to land a lucrative contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The CDC wanted us to start immediately," recalls Clyde Penn, president of the Washington, D.C.-based marketing...

Savvy solutions.(QA)(young entreprenuers)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2009... I'm a 14-year-old ninth grader and I have developed clothing accessories that I would like to sell to major department stores. How can I go about getting my products in these stores? --R. Robinson Lawrenceville, GA Wow! It's...

Law and order: Attorney Yao Dinizulu gets practical with tech to stay competitive.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MANY LAW FIRMS STILL RELY ON paper, books, faxes, and other traditional methods that prevent them from taking the leap into the new century. However, the Dinizulu Law Group Ltd. is different. Since its inception in...

Knowledge-sharing is king: Docstoc and Scribd push the social networking envelope.(TECH NEWS)
March 1, 2009... THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT SOCIAL networking sites have begun to reshape the business landscape. What started out as a way for like-minded folks to meet and former colleagues and classmates to reconnect has morphed into a tech phenomenon. The...

Cyberwise.(QA)(office budget)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2009... Most of my office equipment is on its way out. I would like to outfit my two-employee company with new computers and make some other hardware purchases, but I'm wondering if it's wise in the current economy. Can you recommend some inexpensive...

What's in a name? A financial professional learns that building a strong brand internationally starts with a solid brand at home.(Valentino Carlotti)(Interview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title President, Goldman Sachs Brazil Bank Location Sao Paulo, Brazil Age 42 Power Play As a member of the management team within the securities division, where he was responsible for strategic planning,...

Can I ask for more money? It's a tough assignment, but for some talented professionals, the answer is yes.
March 1, 2009... MANY COMPANIES ARE IN THE MIDST OF LAYOFFS, streamlining, and cutting budgets. For some the hope is to simply maintain their organizations. For others it's an effort of maximizing revenue, even as the economy is struggling to engage consumers....

America's next booming industry: how you can jump-start a career in renewable energy.
March 1, 2009... PROFESSIONALS WITH AN INTEREST in the environment may find a variety of green opportunities from which they may consider. According to a study for the U.S. Conference of Mayors released last October, the U.S. economy could generate 4.2 million...

Since you asked.(QA)(employee promotion)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2009... I have worked in my field for more than 20 years. I work as a supervisor, but I would like to move into the management area. Each time I get one step closer to a management position, I keep getting passed over because I don't have a college...

James White.(president of Jamba Juice Co.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] James White New Position: President & Chief Executive Officer Organization: Jamba Juice Location: Emeryville, CA Former Position: Senior Vice President of Consumer Brands, Safeway Inc. ...

Bernard Bedon.(executive vice president of Starcom MediaVest Group)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bernard Bedon New Position: EVP/Global Director, Talent and Innovation Organization: Starcom MediaVest Location: New York Responsibilities: Oversees the recruitment and retention of talent ...

Dennis Hatchett.(U.S. Food Service's president)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Dennis Hatchett New Position: Division President Organization: U.S. Food Service Inc. Location: Omaha, NE Responsibilities: Oversees all operations, including sales, purchasing, finance, and logistics of the Omaha division of...

Kevin Williams.(vice president of General Motors Services and Parts Operations )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kevin Williams New Position: Vice President of GM Services & Parts Operations Organization: General Motors Location: Grand Blanc, HI Responsibilities: Leads GM's global after sales business, including...

Quentin Roach.(ON THE MOVE)
March 1, 2009... Quentin Roach New Position: Senior Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer Organization: Bristol-Myers Squibb Location: Plainsboro, NJ Responsibilities: Oversees global supplier relationship management and...

Reading lessons at work: how a book club is changing conversations around diversity.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ELAINE MOORE-WRIGHT REALIZED that book clubs were a growing phenomenon, but she questioned whether there would be time to fit one in at work. Enamored enough by the novel idea, Moore-Wright, senior IT manager for the...

Women in the boardroom: few African American women are filling seats on corporate boards.
March 1, 2009... FOR CHERYL MAYBERRY MCKISSACK. PRESIDENT AND CEO of Nia Enterprises L.L.C., her board service for the last eight years has been a rewarding experience. She is currently director on two boards--The PrivateBancorp and the Deluxe Corp., where she...

Making a mark: entrepreneur Etu Evans ensures the vitality of his community.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Principle No. 10 I will strengthen my community through philantropy. "THE SOUL OF MY FOUNDATION IS THE SOLE OF MY shoes," declares Etu Evans, founder and director of Solesville--the Etu Evans Foundation, a...

Safe haven: Sylvia King's financial discipline kept her afloat during tough times.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SYLVIA KING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A saver. She lives a simple lifestyle and takes great care to monitor her spending, as it contributes to her financial health. King, 35, also believes that homeownership is the cornerstone...

Banking on a bailout: Broadway Financial expects federal rescue package will keep bank on sound footing.(Broadway Financial Corp.)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ARMED WITH AN ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION IN CAPITAL FROM THE U.S. TREASURY Department's $700 billion "bailout" of the country's financial institutions Paul C. Hudson, chairman and CEO of Broadway Financial Corp. (No. 4 on...

Masters of innovation: from Nanotech to advanced robotics, these digeratis are reshaping the world.(SPECIAL REPORT)
March 1, 2009... By The Editors AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE A LONG history of implementing technology as a vehicle to deliver innovation. Lewis Howard Latimer, a Union Navy veteran and the son of former slaves, was just 26 when he secured his first in a series...

A woman's guide to investing: no matter your age, now's the time to take charge of your finances.
March 1, 2009... PART TWO OF THIS THREE-PART SERIES ON WOMEN and money focuses on investing. You'll read the stories of five women and see how they've approached investing in their respective stages of life. You'll meet Felicia Miller and learn how she got on...

President Obama: our new chief executive pledges to remake the nation.(Cover story)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON A BITTERLY COLD DAY IN JANUARY, THOUSANDS of Americans flooded the streets, intersections, and byways of Washington, D.C. They descended on the nation's capital, coming from across the globe to bear witness to...

Team Obama.(PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL: THE TEAM)(Barack Obama's administration)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By The Editors Much has been made of President Barack Obama's assemblage of "a team of rivals" for his first-term cabinet. Political observers compare his choices of Joe Biden for vice president and Hillary...

Fixing the economy: our board of economists offers President Obama advice on putting America back to work.(Barack Obama)
March 1, 2009... BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE'S ONE ASPECT OF Barack Obama's ascendance to the White House that's rarely noted: He is one of a few Americans who entered 2009 looking forward to a bigger home and a higher-paying job. Little more than a week...

Leadership lessons from the top: what you can learn from President Barack Obama's management style.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BARACK OBAMA WAS KNOWN AS "NO DRAMA Obama" during his historic presidential campaign. And according to actor and author Hill Harper, a Harvard Law School classmate of Obama's and a member of his National Finance...

Life after death: how to get back on track following the loss of a loved one.
March 1, 2009... WHILE HER PEERS WERE STARTING families and charting their careers, 29-year-old Nepherterra Estrada was planning her husband's funeral. "After I lost him, I initially thought my life was over," says the young widow about the months following...

Why should I care? Four ways to avoid apathy in an insecure work environment.
March 1, 2009... WITH CUTBACKS CAUSING EMPLOYEES TO DO MORE with less, morale is down in many companies and it's easy for apathy or indifference to set in. Apathy, however, can be a career killer, particularly in a tight job market, since employees who don't...

Peptalk.(education of middle aged people)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... I'm a 30-year-old man who never finished college. Being a newlywed, /see that higher education makes a difference. But I'm unsure how to go about it. Do you have any advice? --A. Reed Austin, TX People of all ages return to school...

A nature lover's adventure: Belize is a Central American playground with an enthralling wild side and soothing aquatic splendors.(FIRST-CLASS TICKET)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE VAST, MYSTERIOUS NIGHT SKY SILENCED EVERY thought in my head as I marveled at the dazzling blanket of low-hanging stars that lit our course across the New River, the longest river in Belize, to our first port of...

Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo: where deals are made.(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)(Conference news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... MEET US IN THE MOTOR CITY! Further compounding on the success of over 13 years, the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo is back--taking place May 17th-20th, 2009 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance & COBO Convention Center in...

Broadcast.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... In case you missed it, BLACK ENTERPRISE went on the front lines during the inaugural activities just to bring you two very special episodes of the best shows on television. Join Shon Gables as she takes us to Howard University's campus to...

Interns wanted!
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you think you have what it takes to work for BLACK ENTERPRISE? Apply for the Black Enterprise 2009 Summer Internship Program and BE our NEXT superstar! We're seeking energetic, creative, and motivated juniors,...

BLACKENTERPRISE.com.(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)
March 1, 2009... Still can't get enough of the Obamas? Go black enterprise.com/whitehouse and grab our latest widget. Post it any place you want to stay up to date with the most current info on the Obama White House! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Backtalk with Gwen Ifill.(Interview)
March 1, 2009... GWEN IFILL THINKS "MOOD" IS TOO small a word to describe what it felt like to be on the National Mall during President Barack Obama's inauguration. "It was an astonishing spirit that was out there," recalls the moderator and managing editor of...