Finance and Commerce Daily Newspaper, MN articles from March 2004

Finance and Commerce Daily Newspaper, MN archives from March 2004

St. Paul-based Ecolab Inc. announces leadership transition plan.
March 2, 2004... Byline: staff The board of directors of Ecolab Inc. announced a leadership transition plan for the St.Paul-based company. Ecolab's president and chief operating officer, Douglas M. Baker, Jr. will succeed Allan L. Schuman as chief...

American Eagle resumes service to Duluth International.
March 2, 2004... Byline: staff Today American Eagle will resume service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Duluth International Airport, providing area travelers three nonstop round-trip flights each weekday on the carrier's 50-seat or...

Real estate firms Caldwell Banker Burnet and Edina Realty kick off feel-good ad campaigns.
March 2, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Dominant residential real estate firms Caldwell Banker Burnet and Edina Realty are kicking off the traditional spring real estate sales season with feel-good ad campaigns targeting prospective home-buyers. ...

St. Paul-based 3M completes acquisition of Sweden-based Hornell International.
March 3, 2004... Byline: staff 3M has acquired Gagnef, Sweden-based Hornell International, a supplier of personal protective equipment for welders, the company announced Tuesday. Combining Hornell's products and technology for eye, face and...

Associated General Contractors of Minnesota event endeavors to make workplaces safer.
March 3, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson Workshops with titles like "MnDOT Requirements for Flagger Training and Control," and "Audiometric Testing and OSHA 300 Log Recordkeeping" may not sound like the most thrilling things in the world. But those and...

Minnesota state lottery officials consider change in promotional spending.
March 3, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger The Minnesota State Lottery could shift its promotional spending following the appointment of a blue-ribbon marketing committee being formed by interim lottery director Mike Vekich. Formation of the advisory group...

Twin Cities rank high in economic impact of artists.
March 4, 2004... Byline: staff The Twin Cities rank high in a new University of Minnesota study analyzing the economic impact of artistic communities. Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco topped the list, with the Minneapolis-St. Paul area finishing...

St. Paul-based Ecolab expanding to former Cray Research facility.
March 5, 2004... Byline: staff Ecolab Inc. announced on Thursday that it would purchase the former headquarters of Cray Research in Eagan. The facility will make room for Ecolab to move its Mendota Heights corporate research and development center....

Minneapolis-based BIO-key International eliminating long-term debt.
March 5, 2004... Byline: staff BIO-key International Inc., a biometric identification company, said it has exchanged $6.5 million of its long-term debt for equity. "This is a significant accomplishment," said Tom Colatosti, chairman of BIO-key. "This...

New funds help bolster Minneapolis-based AEFA rebuilding effort.
March 5, 2004... Byline: Mark Anderson Minneapolis-based American Express Financial Advisors continued its two-year campaign to rejuvenate its $69 million mutual fund business on Thursday, introducing a series of easy-to-use asset-allocation funds and a...

"Salute to Entrepreneurs and Financial Freedom" expo to be held at Target Center.
March 5, 2004... Byline: Liz Wolf It's not every day that basketball fans have the chance to see a Minnesota Timberwolves game and at the same time pick up business tips from successful entrepreneurs. It's also not very often that smaller business owners...

North American Properties purchasing Calhoun Square.
March 6, 2004... Byline: staff North American Properties has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Calhoun Square. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1954, North American Properties is a privately held company that develops, owns...

Minneapolis-based Martin/Williams drops $15 million Polaris account.
March 6, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Minneapolis-based Martin/Williams Advertising has resigned as the agency for Polaris Industries, the Medina-based manufacturer of snowmobiles, all-terrain and utility vehicles, personal watercraft and Victory...

Minneapolis-based Campus Media Group buys OncampusDirect Technology.
March 9, 2004... Byline: staff Campus Media Group will acquire OncampusDirect from its current owner - the firm 18:29. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "In the coming weeks, we will announce how we plan to integrate OncampusDirect into our...

Bloomington-based Colle + McVoy completes deal for Chicago firm.
March 9, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Bloomington agency Colle + McVoy announced Monday the acquisition of Chicago ad firm Mobium Creative Group, establishing its first presence in the nation's No. 2 ad market. No terms were disclosed, although Colle +...

Minneapolis-based Spectre Gaming acquires gaming system from Met Games.
March 10, 2004... Byline: staff Spectre Gaming Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Tulsa, Okla.-based Met Games, Inc.'s "Linux-based Class II" gaming system. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction will be a good...

Dallas-based Centex, Roseville-based Rottlund lead in volume on Twin Cities 'Top 25' builder list.
March 10, 2004... Byline: staff For the third consecutive year, Dallas-based Centex Homes was the top home builder in the Twin Cities as measured by total dollar volume for permits issued, according to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC). ...

Rochester-based HMN Financial finds success with new strategy aimed at metro area.
March 10, 2004... Byline: Mark Anderson The makeover that Rochester-based HMN Financial started five years ago seems to be succeeding, based on a glossy year-end financial report and share-price performance that has outpaced the stocks of all other...

Minneapolis-based Fallon Worldwide spins off Duffy Worldwide graphic design unit.
March 10, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger After a decade of operating as a fully integrated marketing agency, Minneapolis agency Fallon Worldwide is spinning off its Duffy Worldwide graphic design unit as an independent company so that Fallon can focus on its...

Minneapolis-based Winmark invests $1.5 million in Archiver's retail chain.
March 11, 2004... Byline: staff Winmark Corp. announced on Wednesday that it has made a $1.5 million equity investment in the Archiver's retail chain. After the investment, Winmark owns approximately 19 percent of the stock of Tomsten Inc., the parent...

Millions sought for upgrades to veterans homes in Minnesota.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson The Minnesota Veterans Homes Board is seeking $18.68 million in bonding money from the Minnesota Legislature for asset preservation and other construction projects at Veterans Homes campuses throughout the state. ...

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport News closes after 16 years.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Monte Hanson MSP Airport News, the newspaper that veteran Twin Cities journalist Bill Farmer launched 16 years ago to cover the airline industry and happenings at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, has ceased...

Duluth-based Allete plans public stock offering of Adesa spinoff.
March 12, 2004... Byline: staff Duluth-based energy company Allete Inc. said Thursday that its board of directors has approved plans to spin off its Adesa automotive services unit in an initial public offering of stock. Allete, which will own 80 percent...

Minneapolis ad agency Olson + Co. still in the running for Culver's account.
March 12, 2004... Byline: staff Minneapolis ad agency Olson + Co. is the lone Twin Cities agency among six semi-finalists for Prairie du Sac, Wis.-based Culver's, a chain of 240 quick, casual restaurants featuring Butter Burgers and frozen custards. ...

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank's new manager plans to build on bank's successes.
March 12, 2004... Byline: Mark Anderson Christine Hobrough's goal for her 71 U.S. Bank branches and their employees is simple enough: She wants to expand existing relationships and bring in new customers. That basic aim also sums up nicely the renewed...

Mortgage delinquencies, foreclosures stable in Minnesota.
March 12, 2004... Byline: Monte Hanson Residential mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures remained stable in Minnesota in the fourth quarter and well below the national average, according to figures released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association....

Minneapolis-based Carmichael Lynch takes top honor at Classics Awards.
March 13, 2004... Byline: staff A public relations campaign created by Minneapolis firm Carmichael Lynch Spong for an American Standard toilet brand won best of show honors Thursday night at the annual Classics Awards program sponsored by the Minnesota...

Minnesota state bonds sought for $37M waste-to-energy facility.
March 13, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson Redwood County officials are asking for state help in building a $37 million facility that would convert garbage to energy. The facility, to be located in the Redwood County community of Lamberton, would be...

Marshall Field's, Mervyn's sale could hurt Minneapolis advertising business.
March 13, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Target Corp.'s planned sale of its Marshall Field's and Mervyn's department store chains could fray a valuable lifeline of project work for Twin Cities agencies and freelancers. The sale could be troublesome for the...

Dolan Media Company names Mark Stodder head of newspaper operations.
March 15, 2004... Byline: F&C Staff Longtime publisher Mark W.C. Stodder has been named Vice President, Newspapers, supervising all newspaper operations of Dolan Media Company. The announcement was made by President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Dolan...

Four years later, 'Priceless' ad parody still pushing hot buttons.
March 16, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Credit card giant MasterCard International is smarting after a federal judge in New York last week dismissed a trademark and copyright infringement suit that centered on a Minneapolis ad agency's parody of MasterCard's...

Roaster brews coffee with a shot of activism.
March 16, 2004... Byline: Jessica Griffith If you accept a cup of coffee from CEO Timothy Tulloch at European Roasterie Inc., you won't be drinking the typical office swill in a black-lipped pot. Tulloch will select a bag of beans from the neatly...

Shakopee school delivers quality surroundings for a modest price.
March 17, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson An award-winning construction project in Shakopee is being touted as proof that quality school facilities can be put up without breaking the bank. The privately funded Shakopee Area Catholic Education Center,...

Twin Cities ranks 10th in single-family home construction.
March 17, 2004... Byline: staff The Twin Cities was the nation's 10th-busiest market for single-family home construction in 2003, according to a new poll from the National Association of Home Builders. Municipalities in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area...

Veit & Co. appointing new division managers.
March 18, 2004... Byline: staff Rogers-based Veit & Co. announced this week that Eric Pederson has joined the company as foundations division manger and Mark Lardy has been promoted to utilities division manager. Pederson, who has a civil engineering...

Hovnanian Enterprises expands to Twin Cities market.
March 18, 2004... Byline: staff Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., a national homebuilder, on Wednesday announced its expansion into the Twin Cities market. Tom Standke joined the company as president for the Minnesota division. Standke has more than 24 years...

Health House training scheduled for March 29-30.
March 18, 2004... Byline: staff The American Lung Association of Minnesota will host a two-day training session on its "Health House" construction guidelines March 29 and 30 at 490 Concordia Ave. in St. Paul. The training sessions will cover basic...

Carlson Wagonlit buying Maritz Travel's U.S. subsidiary.
March 19, 2004... Byline: staff Minnetonka-based Carlson Wagonlit Travel announced it would purchase the U.S. corporate travel subsidiary of Maritz Travel Co. The St. Louis-based subsidiary has operated under the name TQ3 Travel Solutions for three...

Construction program helps ex-offenders rebuild broken lives.
March 19, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson Bob Combs started drinking at an early age. He later progressed to a methamphetamine habit that cost him dearly - his job, his family, his relationship with his two young children and his freedom. A native of...

Minneapolis police begin campaign to promote online crime reporting system.
March 19, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Victims of motor vehicle theft, vehicle damage and personal property damage, including graffiti, can now let their fingers do the typing to file online police reports with the Minneapolis Police Department. Designed...

U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton calls for increased transportation funding for Minnesota.
March 20, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton told a gathering of transportation advocates on Friday that increased funding for roads, bridges, highways and transit is critical to Minnesota's future. Speaking at a Humphrey Institute of...

Revived Associates & Stahl lands Medina-based Polaris Industries account.
March 20, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Two and one-half years after being absorbed by Minneapolis agency Martin/Williams Advertising, Associates & Stahl is restarting operations with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ad assignment from Medina-based Polaris - an ad...

Four Twin Cities ad agencies among O'Toole Award finalists.
March 23, 2004... Byline: staff Observing the passage of winter, local ad agency executives are abuzz about the slate of Twin Cities finalists for the prestigious O'Toole Award competition by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. Presented...

BancWest Corp., Community First Bankshares merger still taking final shape.
March 23, 2004... Byline: Mark Anderson A quick glance at the map shows the strategic reasoning behind the BancWest Corp. announcement last week that it plans to acquire Fargo, N.D., based Community First Bankshares Inc. But beyond BancWest's obvious...

TCF Leasing acquires VGM Leasing for $120 million.
March 24, 2004... Byline: staff TCF Leasing Inc. said that it has acquired VGM Leasing Inc. of Waterloo, Iowa. VGM Leasing manages a $120 million lease portfolio and operates under the trade name VGM Financial Services. VGM Leasing was founded in 1991...

Two Minneapolis ad firms make pitch for Dish Network account.
March 24, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Minneapolis agencies Campbell Mithun and Carmichael Lynch are among at least five firms pitching a major ad assignment to help the Dish Network satellite TV concern better compete with rival DirecTV and cable providers....

Homeowners seek help for mold, moisture problems.
March 25, 2004... Byline: Brian Johnson Jean Caizzo and her husband purchased a four-year-old stucco house in Burnsville in 1998. They had no reason to believe that anything was wrong until 1 1/2 years later, when a real estate friend mentioned to Caizzo...

Ad agency Fallon Minneapolis puts focus on consumers' attention spans.
March 26, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger Consumers are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages daily, and ad agency Fallon Minneapolis has formally stepped up "connection planning" to help agency clients deal with the decreased attention levels of a...

Investors say reform may threaten SBA venture capital funds.
March 27, 2004... Byline: Mark Anderson While the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to spar with bankers about the shape of its centerpiece 7(a) lending program, the agency's unsung venture capital enterprise has its own reorganization dispute...

Victory Sports One network hires Bloomington public relations firm Tunheim Partners.
March 27, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger While the Minnesota Twins train in Florida for the 2004 season, the team's Victory Sports One network continues to struggle back home. The network has hired Bloomington public relations firm Tunheim Partners to help...

CABG Medical to test artificial heart graft.
March 30, 2004... Byline: Todd Messelt Minnesota medical device entrepreneur Manny Villafana says that clinical trials are planned for this summer on his company's artificial heart graft. He said his Wayzata-based startup, CABG Medical Inc., might make a...

Former Martin/Williams Advertising exec heads to Arnold Worldwide.
March 31, 2004... Byline: staff Tom Kelly, former executive vice president and executive creative director at the Minneapolis-based agency Martin/Williams Advertising, has landed a same titled position at Arnold Worldwide in Boston, Mass. Kelly, who...

Wilsons marketing executive leaping to Marshall Field's.
March 31, 2004... Byline: Bob Geiger David Skinner, the former director of marketing and brand management for troubled leather-wear retailer Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc., has left the Brooklyn Park firm for another struggling Twin Cities retailer,...