Black Enterprise articles from November 2006

Black Enterprise archives from November 2006

Family and history.(publisher's Page)
November 1, 2006... A great source of pride for me is that BLACK ENTERPRISE is one of the rare media entities that uplifts, spotlights, and celebrates African American families. Walk past a magazine rack or newsstand in any given month, and if you found a magazine...

A new breed of entrepreneurs.(About This Issue)(african americans)
November 1, 2006... LACK ENTERPRISE has long advocated that one of the more potentially rewarding though often challenging paths toward financial independence is entrepreneurship. To that end, BE is dedicated to not only chronicling the successes of today's black...

Best or worst?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I was appalled when I read "The 40 Best Companies for Diversity" (July 2006). The Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris, spends over $9.5 billion in advertising each year to entice children and people of color to smoke. It being the...

Responsibility for our actions.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... THANK YOU FOR A WELL-WRITTEN, INFORMATIVE MAGAZINE that does not talk down to its audience. BLACK ENTERPRISE'S quality content marks it as a favorite publication of mine--and I'm not even black! One reader's letter to the editor regarding...

Benefiting sisterhood.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... WE, THE KAPPA UPSILON CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA Alpha Sorority Inc. at Valdosta State University, wanted to take this time to thank BLACK ENTERPRISE for encouraging the black community to strive for financial empowerment and build a better...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
November 1, 2006... * Karen Johnson's first name was omitted in "Networking for Success" (Motivation, August 2006). Johnson is a program manager for Xerox. * Carnegie Mellon and Emory universities were misspelled in "Diversity University" (Facts & Figures,...

The culture of education.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I am writing in response to the "Progress Undone" article in your August 2006 issue (Newspoints). I take issue with the article's premise that the demise of education in predominantly black and Latino communities is due to segregation. ...

Good professional counsel.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED TO SEE YOUR POWERPLAY article ("Fitting Right In") regarding using assessment to find the right employee in the August 2006 issue. As a corporate psychologist and management consultant with an Atlanta-based consulting...

Trotter shines as president of G.E. Industrial; also, a vice chairman, he leads a $36 billion business unit.(POWER PLAYER)(Lloyd Trotter)
November 1, 2006... WHEN LLOYD TROTTER, 61, BEGAN HIS CAREER AT General Electric as a tool and die-cast maker in the 1970s, he never thought he'd end up an executive for the manufacturing giant. Recently Trotter was named vice chairman of GE and president and CEO...

Big cheese at Golden Arches; Don Thompson's promotion to president of McDonald's USA caps 16-year career.(POWER PLAYER)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... DON THOMPSON WAS CHOSEN TO become president of McDonald's USA in August. Thompson learned the business and honed his skills after years of serving in executive positions with the company. Thompson was chosen to succeed Ralph Alvarez, who was...

Will New Orleans' black businesses bounce back? A year after Hurricane Katrina, black entrepreneurs are still struggling.(AROUND THE NATION)
November 1, 2006... The quick answer to the question of whether black businesses in New Orleans are bouncing back after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast just over a year ago is an unequivocal no. The estimated 8,000 black-owned businesses that...

Minimum wage hike turned back again; blacks more likely to feel the crunch of low wages.(WASHINGTON REPORT)
November 1, 2006... Congress demonstrated that it has no intention of raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour when the Senate struck down the minimum wage bill in August. Some economists say the move was to protect businesses, but they add that...

Bradley Sheares resigns from Merck; analysts say Vioxx lawsuits may have led to management shake-up.(POWER PLAYER)(Bradley T. Sheares )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... MERCK & CO. INC., THE DRUG MANUFACTURER AT THE center of more than 11,000 multimillion-dollar lawsuits involving the drug Vioxx, announced the resignation of Bradley T. Sheares in July as president of the U.S. Human Health Division. Sheares was...

Separate and unequal: how do we fix the poor state of public schools for black children?(AROUND THE NATION)
November 1, 2006... Seven out of eight black children in the state of New York attend a segregated school, according to Jonathan Kozol, an elementary school teacher and author who has been studying inner-city public schools for more than 40 years. As a teacher in...

New beginnings for VIBE.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... After being renamed editor-in-chief at VIBE, the country's top urban culture magazine, Danyel Smith is poised to usher the magazine into the future. Smith replaced Mimi Valdes after the Wicks Group, a private equity firm focused on selected...

Mogul snaps up pricey property; R. Donahue Peebles to purchase hotel for $85 million redevelopment project.(B.E. 100s)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... R. DONAHUE PEEBLES, CEO OF THE Peebles Corp. (No. 10 on the Be INDUSTRIAL/ SERVICE 100 list with $449.66 million in sales), plans to purchase the Key Colony Bay Hotel in Marathon, Florida, and transform it into a condo-hotel resort in which 72...

Plan to form online black bank crashes; BankBlackwell failed to get financing.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WHAT STARTED AS A FORMER BANK EXECUTIVE'S DREAM TO WORK WITH churches and to modernize the African American banking world ended in disappointment. BankBlackwell, a would-be black online bank that was the brainchild of former OneUnited Bank...

J.C. Watts first black John Deere dealer.(BUSINESS NEWS)(J.C. Watts Jr.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Former Congressman J.C. Watts Jr. has become the first African American owner of a John Deere dealership. In May, J.C. Watts Cos. acquired Mustang Equipment, an independent John Deere dealer with stores in San Antonio and Marble Falls, Texas,...

Independence Federal under mounting pressure; survival of black-owned thrift uncertain.(B.E. 100s)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Independence Federal Savings Bank (No. 13 on the BE BANKS list with $167 million in assets) is facing a lawsuit by its largest shareholder even while it faces demands from regulators to clean up its act. Morton A. Bender, a vocal critic of...

More blacks getting nipped and tucked; experts say stigma has lifted on cosmetic enhancements.(FACTS & FIGURES)
November 1, 2006... THE NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICANS GOING UNDER THE knife to change their appearance has increased 67% in just one year, according to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Between 2004 and 2005, the number of...

Wise advice; the Harrises have positive net worth thanks to careful asset allocation and planning.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)(Jerome and Barbara Harris)
November 1, 2006... WHEN JEROME AND BARBARA HARRIS WERE NEWLYWEDS living in a rental in Mount Vernon, New York, back in 1992, their dream was to own their own home. But they were laden with about $35,000 in consumer debt and didn't have the cash for a 10% down...

Playing it big: Young is sticking with a portfolio of large companies to weather financial storms.(STOCK PICKS)(William Young )
November 1, 2006... If you're out at sea in treacherous waters, it's better to be on a big ship than a small boat. That's the analogy that William Young uses to make the point that investors should place their bets with larger companies that can withstand an...

Corporate pains: following company insiders' moves didn't pay off for Ty Burroughs.(PORTFOLIO REVIEW)(stock price)
November 1, 2006... Stock picking is not an exact science, but every stock picker has a formula for determining when to buy, sell, and hold. Ty Burroughs, roughs, president of the Burroughs Financial Group in Atlanta, uses an investment strategy that involves...

Many healthy returns: healthcare funds may be the right prescription for long-term stock market success.(MUTUAL FUND FOCUS)
November 1, 2006... One out of five dollars spent in the United States in 2015 will be spent in doctors' offices, hospitals, and pharmacies. Not surprisingly, investors eyeing money-making opportunities should take a look at healthcare. For mutual fund investors...

Developing your children's trust: you don't have to have a fortune to establish a family living trust.(YOUR MONEY)
November 1, 2006... Your last name doesn't have to be Trump or Hilton to consider creating a trust for your offspring. A living trust, also known as a Revocable Living Trust or a Family Trust, is a viable financial planning tool for anyone--not just the rich and...

When to roll over.(MONEY MATTERS)(managing 401k plans)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A I have a 401(k) with a former employer. I like the investment options in the plan even though the company has been having some rough times financially and was recently acquired by another firm. Should I wait it out or roll over my money to...

Signature dish: Aricka Westbrooks ships her legendary deep-fried turkey to customers by mail.(MAKING IT)
November 1, 2006... THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING IN 2005, Aricka Westbrooks, 35, CEO of Jive Turkey, was sleeping on a wooden stool, leaning against the wall of her 1,500-square-foot store in Brooklyn, New York She and her staff were exhausted from frying turkeys...

Sweet delivery: Little Pie Co. delivers its desserts with tender loving care.(E-COMMERCE)
November 1, 2006... Mary Jo Slater once lived in walking distance from her favorite dessert shop in New York City--Little Pie Co. Now that she has moved to the other side of the country, a few clicks on the computer bring slices of heaven delivered to her front...

It's a beautiful thing! Launching a beauty and skincare business can be an attractive venture.(STARTING UP)( Ye-Vetta Wilson-Worst of Jesprit Corp. )(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... Skincare products come and go. To survive in a competitive marketplace a beauty and skincare business needs to offer unique products to consumers willing to pay for good looks. That task falls squarely on the shoulders of Ye-Vetta Wilson-Worst,...

Here's to your success: discover seven winning principles to grow your company.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
November 1, 2006... Turning a small into a multimillion-dollar enterprise is an entrepreneur's dream come true. what are the secrets to growing a successful company? Business growth expert and speaker S. Little (www.stevenslittle.com) provides he says most experts...

On the road again.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(information through online)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A I'm interested in starting my own trucking company (contract carrier). I've been driving trucks for 13 years. Do you know of any Websites or contacts that would provide me With help on where to begin? --A. Baker Via the Internet ...

Creating the 'wow factor': Mack Burnett is redefining advertising and turning heads with his digital displays.(BLACK DIGERATI)
November 1, 2006... AFTER READING A SURVEY FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of Realtors that found more than 74% of home buyers are using the Internet to find homes, realtor Philip A. Raices knew he had to do something dramatic to get home buyers and sellers away...

Prime location: give your clients a B.E. 100s impression by opening a virtual office.(E-BUSINESS)
November 1, 2006... Charles E.Day & Associates charges its clients thousands of dollars to improve their customer service and call-center systems. So when a potential client calls his office, president Charles E. Day knows his staff must do an excellent job. ...

The future of automotive technology: high-tech devices for your car look bright, right down to the TV screen.(HOT PICKS)
November 1, 2006... You're driving down a road that you've traveled a thousand times. Your car starts to fishtail because of icy road conditions, but you press on since it's only a few more miles to your house. Suddenly, an oncoming car swerves your way and you...

Attract more online customers: make your Website work harder for you.(E-BUSINESS)
November 1, 2006... Terry Seabrook's real estate Website needed a facelift. The original design had served The Space Co. well, but the old site (www.The SpaceCompany.com/before) was basically an electronic brochure, which generated very little business. It was...

Simplifying the startup process: here are three online services that every entrepreneur should know.(HOT PICKS)(Logoworks, BizFilings and AIM Pro)
November 1, 2006... Starting a business can be a daunting proposition. Designing the perfect logo is important to establishing a company brand, doing all the paperwork and going through the steps of incorporation can be exhausting and costly, and setting up...

Making math interesting.(CYBERWISE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A My sister and I are retired teachers who wrote a math program to give students in grades 2 to 5 additional practice using real-life situations. We are interested in transferring the program to CD-ROM and selling it. We need to contact...

The sweet spot: a sugar-coated pitch paid off big time.(THE EXECUTIVE SUITE)(interview with Debra Sandler from McNeil Nutritionals L.L.C.)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... BE: What are the key ingredients in launching a brand to the marketplace? DS: Consumer marketplace insight is a large part of any success: understanding from a consumer perspective what is needed or wanted or missing, the role of the...

Getting a seat at the table: why there is a lack of black representation on corporate boards.(DIVERSITY WATCH)
November 1, 2006... In 1977, Reatha Clark King became a member of HB Fuller Co.'s board of directors, and thereby their first woman and their first African American director, as well as one of the first in corporate America. In more than 40 years, the number of...

Time out.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(career management)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A At my present company I accepted a steep pay cut to get my foot in the door. Now my boss' behavior is causing me to have second thoughts. She regularly launches personal attacks and makes disparaging remarks about coworkers. She...

Thurbert Baker.(ON THE MOVE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... New Position: President Organization: National Association of Attorneys General Location: Washington, DC Responsibilities: The first African American to hold this position, Baker--the attorney general of Georgia--will lead the...

Emmett D. Carson.(ON THE MOVE)(joins Silicon Valley Community Foundation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... New Position: President and CEO Organization: Silicon Valley Community Foundation Location: Palo Alto, CA Responsibilities: He will supervise all aspects of the newly-created foundation, including programs and grant making,...

Eboni C. Howard.(ON THE MOVE)(joins Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... New Position: Director Organization: Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy Location: Chicago Responsibilities: She is charged with advancing the Center's mission and overseeing two projects in early childhood policy,...

Earl Cokley.(ON THE MOVE)(joins Scripps Networks)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... New Position: Vice President of Interactive Systems Development Company: Scripps Networks Location: Knoxville, TN Responsibilities: He will oversee technology leadership of the strategic business intelligence function. Former...

Mark Green.(ON THE MOVE)(joins Miller Brewing Co. )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... New Position: Head of Diversity Company: Miller Brewing Co. Location: Milwaukee Responsibilities: Green will implement diversity strategies to cultivate relationships and enhance the company's organizational culture. Former...

Convention calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2006... African American Success Foundation's Annual Success Summit Nov. 11; Fort Lauderdale, FL; 954-792-1117; http://blacksuccessfoundation.org Black Recruiters Network Association's 6th Anniversary Celebration Nov. 14; Sunnyvale, CA;...

Saving faithfully: the Smiths are on the right path to joining the millionaires' club by the time they retire.(Black Wealth Initiative)(Jennifer and Melvin Smith)
November 1, 2006... MELVIN AND JENNIFER SMITH HAVE been saver's as long as they can remember. At the age of 8, Jennifer was putting her $5 monthly allowance into a passbook savings account, which listed deposits and balances. Melvin, too, had a savings account at...

Planning ahead: Steven Taylor mulls a second career after retirement.(Financial BLACK Fitness ENTERPRISE Contest Winner No. 75)
November 1, 2006... RETIREMENT WASN'T ON STEVEN TAYLOR'S radar until this past July, when the State of Maryland Office of Corrections changed its retirement policy, Employees are no longer required to work 30 years before retiring. Now 20 years is a sufficient...

The write way to grow: entrepreneurs discover that self-published books add to the bottom line.(SMALL BUSINESS)(Cover story)
November 1, 2006... DURING THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY'S GLORIOUS RIDE DOWN easy street in the 1990s, Aundrea Lacy's online brownie business coasted right along with it. A former marketing executive who worked for Hewlett-Packard, among others, she found her most loyal...

Online self-publishing services.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... Printing-on-demand technology and online self-publishing service providers are shaping the future of publishing by making it easier for aspiring authors to get published. Here are five Internet services worth looking into: iUniverse.com...

Wanted: African American professional for hire: diversity may be a hot business topic, but many companies are still struggling to find, hire, and retain black employees. The new book Without Excuses: Unleash the Power of Diversity to Build Your Business explains to hiring managers why there's no basis for the excuse "We can't find any.".(BOOK EXCERPT)(Excerpt)
November 1, 2006... WHEN A CONSUMER PRODUCT company launches a new brand, a team of very smart professionals methodically conducts market research until they know where everyone in their target market lives, how much money they have, what cars they drive, and what...

Rise of the black Republicans? Three GOP nominees seek to make history by winning key statewide and national races. But will they gain enough crossover votes and campaign contributions to capture their political prize?(POLITICS)(Grand Old Party (US Republican political party))
November 1, 2006... IT'S CAMPAIGN SEASON AND J. KENNETH Blackwell's political machinery has kicked into high gear. On a hot, humid summer day--more than two months after he won the GOP primary to become the Republican nominee in the race for the governorship of...

Cracking the genomics code: genetic research isn't just for prime-time dramas or high-profile criminal cases. Here's how African American DNA detectives are employing scientific research to change our lives.(genetic research)
November 1, 2006... For generations, the question of origin has been especially important to African Americans. With ancestors that were transported throughout the New World, stripped of their identities, and enslaved, there was never a way for us to answer the...

The best time to buy a car: December is not the only time to get a new set of wheels. We'll show you when to make your move to the dealer's showroom.
November 1, 2006... RODNEY LEONARD, A 37-YEAR-OLD corporate procurement manager for the Coca-Cola Bottlers' Sales and Services Co. L.L.C., was racking up close to 200,000 miles on his aging 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser when he decided to shop for a new vehicle. Since...

Managing a windfall: one signed a multimillion-dollar contract; another bought a lucky lottery ticket; a third sold property rights. We'll look at what they did with their sudden gains and what you should do with yours.
November 1, 2006... It's the get-rich-quick dream shared by millions of people nationwide: to strike it big by winning the lottery. For Chicago resident Sterling Plumpp, that dream came true five years ago. Plumpp won a cool $1 million from a $10 instant...

The power of positive thought: methods for maintaining a positive attitude.(attitude enhancement)
November 1, 2006... TONY MELENDEZ HAS NO TIME FOR NEGATIVITY. This armless musician and singer is too busy touring the nation to focus on his disability. A "thalidomide baby," Melendez, 44, was born without arms. His mother had taken thalidomide, which was...

From one track to another: releasing the past can lead to a rewarding future.(ATTITUDE ENHANCEMENT)
November 1, 2006... It was a Thursday afternoon in 1992 when Linda Bond, now 49, made the life-changing decision to leave her position as a senior-level human resources executive and go back to school to become a lawyer. "It's one thing to lose your job and be...

Getting fit to model.(modeling tips for fashion models)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A I read in your magazine about fit modeling. Becoming a fit model requires a lot of research and patience. Could you give me some guidance on how to pursue fit modeling in the Atlanta metro area? I was also looking for part-time work in...

Cash in your attic: is your junk someone else's treasure?(tips for collectors' on selling their collectibles)
November 1, 2006... HAVE YOU ACCUMULATED SO MANY HEIRLOOMS, COLLECTIBLES, documents, art, books, and antiques over the years that you don't know what to do with them? If yes, maybe it's Lime to consider giving up your beloved junk--um--we mean collection. But how?...

Can you trust your kid with a credit card? Education is essential to staying out of debt.(credit management)
November 1, 2006... Janett Pike, 46, a single mother of two who lives in Hackensack, New Jersey, is sure of one thing. She won't let her son, Jarydd, a sophomore at Rutgers University, get a credit card in his own name until he's ready to graduate college. "I want...

Flying anytime soon? With new restrictions in place, here's what to expect on your next trip to the airport.(consumer alert)
November 1, 2006... This August, following a thwarted terrorist attack in Britain, the U.S. Transportation Security administration implemented a ban on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage, resulting in a 20% increase in checked baggage. Increased security alerts...

No more debt.(debt management)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q A I recently graduated from college in 2004. What is the easiest way to get out of debt? I have four credit cards, a car loan, car insurance, and an apartment. Over the next year, I would like to purchase a house but I don't want to add to my...

Handle with care: Shalea Walker goes skin deep.(skin care tips)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WHEN SHALEA WALKER OPENED Walker's Apothecary in Jersey City, New Jersey in 2004. it became the fulfillment of her dreams--a boutique focused on achieving and maintaining healthy, great looking skin. And it all starts with ingredients, Walker...

Capital view: Keisha M. Gilchrist marches on Washington D.C.(city insider)(City overview)
November 1, 2006... Distinguished for being the nation's capital and the platform for a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, Washington, D.C., is also home to a network of progressive black professionals and entrepreneurs Realtor Keisha Gilchrist,...

Kitchen aid: Antoinette Fraser prepares essentials for a designer kitchen.
November 1, 2006... BEFORE ANTOINETTE FRASER DESIGNS A KITCHEN, SHE Considers her client's personality, family life, art interests--even spiritual concerns such as Feng Shui--in addition to cooking habits. "These cues affect decisions that enhance comfort and...

Our World With Black Enterprise: make our world your world!(new television series launched)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE WAIT IS OVER! THE NEW TELEVISION series created for today's black community, Our World With Black Enterprise, has debuted. Hosted by renowned broadcast journalist Ed Gordon, Our World explores the contemporary African American experience...

Experience the power!(WOMEN OF POWER SUMMIT)
November 1, 2006... REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2007 WOMEN OF POWER Summit hosted by State Farm[R], held Feb. 7-10 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Back for a second year, this exciting and informative, four-day executive leadership conference...

Back talk with Steve Harvey.(a conversation with the African American comedian)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... Nearly seven years ago, Steve Harvey was immortalized by Spike Lee as one of The Original Kings of Comedy. That film, along with a six-year run for his hit sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show, has firmly placed him among America's most versatile...