Business Journal-Portland articles from May 2000

Business Journal-Portland archives from May 2000

Extra innings for Civic deal?(Portland Family Entertainment)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Portland Family Entertainment's deal with the city to operate a renovated 74-year-old Civic Stadium has already had more story lines than a World Series seventh game. Now friction between PFE and the Multnomah Athletic Club threatens to...

Dessen Homes owner fights HUD complaint.(U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... To follow the decade-long rise and apparent downfall of Dessen Homes Inc., one need look no further than the headlines for hints. September 1997: "Dessen Homes seeks higher profile in Portland area" September 1999: "Homebuilder Dessen...

Life just got even better here: Krispy Kreme comes to town.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Portlanders may soon get their chance to nibble on famed Krispy Kreme doughnuts, courtesy of Chicago restaurateur Rich Melman. Rapidly growing Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said it granted Pacific Northwest franchise rights to a Melman...

No more flying blind in the Alaskan wilds.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... There are no roads to Bethel, a tiny speck of a village on tundra near the west coast of Alaska. Getting there requires taking flight--in an area without radar or centralized air traffic control. But that is about to change, thanks to...

Gorton takes pro-business philosophy to new heights.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Business Journal has a penchant for asking tough questions of business folk and offering critical examinations of business' impact on the community. When a quenchless thirst for profit takes priority over a community's values, there can be...

SakeOne could pay students thousands for school project.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Most 19-year-olds would rather spend their time figuring out how to buy sake, than how to sell it. University of Portland students taking a marketing introduction class, however, have become obsessed with peddling the Japanese rice wine....

OGI studies future plans with OHSU.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology and the Oregon Health Sciences University are engaged in freewheeling discussions about everything from joining forces for specific projects to an actual merger of the two institutions,...

Lattice moves into new R&D lab in Hillsboro.(Lattice Semiconductor Corp.;)(research and development)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Lattice Semiconductor Corp. moved into its new 110,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and R&D facility in Hillsboro. The new building will accommodate future expansion of the research & development, corporate marketing and administrative...

Perkins Coie LLP.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Perkins Coie LLP added several new members to its Los Angeles legal team. Joining the firm: Michele Beuerlein, Marguerite Bui and Nicholas Rockefeller. They will work on Perkins Coie's technology and emerging companies practice in Los Angeles....

Pope & Talbot Inc.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Michael Flannery, president and CEO of Pope & Talbot Inc., was appointed chairman of the directors board for Pope & Talbot, effective August 1. Pope & Talbot Inc. is a publicly held, Portland-based pulp and wood products company.

WellMed Inc.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... WellMed Inc. announced a strategic partnership with WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (NYSE: WLP), one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Under the partnership, WellPoint's California subsidiary, Blue Cross of...

RuleSpace Inc.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... RuleSpace Inc., the Portland-based maker of instant web content recognition closed an $8 million venture funding round. The round was filled in less than one day, with investments from Northwest-based FBR CoMotion Venture Capital and Pillar...

First Insight Corp.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... First Insight Corp., a Portland provider of technology-based solutions for eyecare practitioners, reported results of an industry seminar it hosted earlier this month where industry experts addressed the dramatic changes that e-commerce is...

Nike Inc.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Nike Inc. of Beaverton had news to spare this week. It said it will extend eligibility for benefits to include dependent children of an employee's permanent partner. Permanent partners of Nike employees have been eligible for benefits since...

CORRECTIONS.
May 5, 2000... Gardenburger's lender-imposed debt covenant states that the company must not have a cumulative cash loss in excess of $5 million from Dec. 23, 1999, through Dec. 23, 2002. A cash loss differs from the net income or loss a publicly held company,...

Mobile grocer now has warehouse in Portland.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Homegrocer.com picked Wilsonville to house its Portland warehouse. The Seattle-based online supermarket agreed to lease 84,000 square feet in the Stafford Distribution Center. Company officials said they would have the distribution center...

Nurses, med center have deal.(Southwest Washington Medical Center )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... After a year and a half of negotiations, nurses at Southwest Washington Medical Center have reached agreement on a new three-year contract. The contract calls for an immediate 3 percent salary increase upon approval, which is expected to...

Architect: Park Blocks can be Las Ramblas II.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... In one of the more ambitious park plans to hit Portland, architect Ernie Munch and former mayor Nell Goldschmidt are sketching plans for an open-space acquisition spree that would connect the North Park Blocks to South Park Blocks--and...

Union sues Oregon Steel, says it pollutes in Pueblo.(United Steelworkers Union; Pueblo, Colorado)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... As several bus loads of raucous union supporters convened at the annual shareholder meeting of Oregon Steel Mills in Portland, union leaders back in Pueblo, Colo., quietly filed suit against the company. The union's lawsuit, filed in U.S....

Western Power investors win at wireless shell game.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Under pressure to deliver some kind of return to shareholders, the management of construction equipment dealer Western Power & Equipment Corp. is taking the Vancouver, Wash.-based company private. Management, led by CEO C. Dean McLain...

Gene therapy excites many, including lawyers.(legal and other ramifications of the increasing understanding of the genetic code)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The scientist at the center of the scramble to solve our genetic map predicts a world where doctors heal us with medicine targeted to specific genes inside our body. Sounds so simple. What can't be ignored in the pursuit of...

Lake Oswego firm buys 'silent fan' manufacturer.(Kronos Air Technology Inc. )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Kronos Air Technology Inc. has been acquired by an Oregon shell company with almost no money and a string of scattered investments in unrelated ventures. But Kronos executives are confident the sale is a good thing. Redmond, Wash.-based...

Jana's cookies go global with new airline deal.(Jana's Classics exclusive deal with American Airlines)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... "[ldots] a taste above." That's the slogan. for Jana's Classics, the Tualatin-based cookie-maker. Way above--like 30,000 feet. Since April 1, people have been tasting the company's cookies aboard American Airlines airplanes flying...

'Outflow' better describes IPO-bound Inflow.(Internet telecommunications company is losing money)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... There's a new telecom services provider in town. But its performance and strategy sound awfully familiar. Inflow Inc., which recently leased a building in Northwest Portland, is typical of the new internet-centric communications players....

Advanced Legal Systems emerges from two firms.(merges with Mackenzie Consulting)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... After nearly a year of trading client contacts and referrals, Scott Randall and Allan Mackenzie decided to make it official and merge their firms, Advanced Legal Systems and Mackenzie Consulting. As a result of the merger, Advanced Legal...

Debate over immigration reform continues.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... "The new economy needs new Americans," members of the Immigration Reform Coalition contend in a letter to Congress advocating a "green cards, not guest workers" approach to solving the high-tech labor shortage. The technology industry is...

Don Sacco.(Regence Blue Cross/Oregon Blue Shield CEO)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: Don Sacco Organization: Regence Blue Cross/Oregon Blue Shield Title: President and CEO What we do: We offer a full range of health insurance products and other employee benefits. Education:...

Rebuilding the natural way.(Ecotrust organization seek environmentally sound practices in the Pacific Northwest)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Ecotrust's thrust is economic revitalization of small towns First came the industrial revolution. Then technology took the world by storm. What will power the economic engine of the 21st century? For the people at Ecotrust, Portland's...

Look out for Flying Rhinos down at 14th and Overton.(animation studio's product is popular with children)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... So much for emerging businesses. What we really need to look out for is emerging animals. Downtown has its South Park fish, which juts out from the restaurant's main entrance. Now Northwest Portland has its Flying Rhinoceros, the...

KPAM MAKES ITS MOVE.(Portland, OR, radio station begins service after format change)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... We've heard enough about their stellar line-up and raiding of The Oregonian and TV newsrooms. This week the new KPAMAM finally went live. The format change to news talk kicked off Monday morning at 5 a.m. with Pete Schulberg, a former TV...

WEEKLIES MAKE MOVES, TOO.
May 5, 2000... The city's two weeklies are building up their talent arsenal for a circulation war. The Stranger has hired former San Francisco Weekly reporter Phil Busse as managing editor of its Portland edition, The Mercury. Busse, whose career has...

LARS LOVE-IN.(Lars Larson, radio program)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... There's something about Lars. KXL's network Radio Northwest has added three stations that are carrying the Lars Larson show live: Ontario's KIOV, Tillamook's KMBD and The Dalles' KODL. Larson's three-hour show, which is a staple of...

VC incubation space could enhance Portland start-ups.(SmartForest and GBR CoMotion Venture Capital offer incubation space)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The benefits from the recent spate of new venture funds locating in Portland includes an emphasis on incubation for young companies. At a minimum, incubation means that entrepreneurs trying to start a business get a place to work without...

VOYAGER DOCKS IN PALO ALTO.(Voyager Capital opens office in Palo Alto, CA)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The latest example of a venture fund trying to scout Portland for investments without posting someone here is Seattle's Voyager Capital. The firm just raised a $215 million fund, its second, and opened an office in Palo Alto, Calif. The...

U.S. BANKERS ON THE MOVE.
May 5, 2000... Now that some top U.S. Bancorp executives have migrated to local community banks, look for them to start luring more former U.S. Bank talent to join them. A case in point is West Coast Bancorp's recent hiring of a chief financial officer....

COWLITZ, THE SEQUEL.(Cowlitz Bancorp. to acquire Northern Bank of Commerce)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Benjamin Namatinia's enthusiasm was well-placed. The chairman and CEO of Cowlitz Bancorporation told The Business Journal a month ago that his Longview, Wash., bank-holding company would successfully renegotiate its failed bid to acquire...

Curious about legal system? Law week's your big chance.
May 5, 2000... This week is Community Law Week, and although many events already have occurred, there is still a chance to get involved. Volunteer lawyers and judges will be available to answer questions, provide educational information about the law and...

EDWIN PETERSON HONORED.(Classroom Law Project)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Classroom Law Project, which is a nonprofit organization of educators, lawyers and civic leaders that takes the law to students, honored Edwin Peterson, former chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, as its Legal Citizen of the Year. ...

MORE 'HUCKLY BUCK'.
May 5, 2000... Now, on to some really important news, the mystery of "huckly buck." For those unsure about what I'm talking about (don't be embarrassed, I'm often unsure myself), "huckly buck" was a term used in an article about that local legal scene...

ATER WYNNE IS SMART.(awards)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Ater Wynne received the Oregon Children's Foundation first "Founders Award" at the SMART 10,000 by 2000 celebration a couple weeks ago. The award recognized the contributions Ater Wynne made to establish the foundation with former Gov....

MARKETING TONKON TORP.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Tonkon Torp took home top honors from the Legal Marketing Association's Your Honor Awards 2000. The local firm won in the advertising campaign division. The competition drew entries from 153 U.S. and Canadian law firms. The ads were...

The Pearl, Sunset regarded as telecom hotel hot spots.(Brief Article)(Column)
May 5, 2000... Technology is the undisputable ballyhoo of real estate these days, from the PikeNet "e-newsletter" to broker-on-the-street coffee talk to our very own "Deals of the Week." It's also keeping my Fridays here at the paper quite busy. Last...

FROM STONER GROUP TO SOGGY CEREAL.(office buildings, leases, Portland, Oregon)
May 5, 2000... Indeed, the market is hot, so let's gas up the griddle with "Deals of the Week." It's a little condensed this week, but this telecom business is stealing my Fridays. * Office Deal of the Week: Portland Gas & Electric signed for 35,000...

Who wants to be a millionaire?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... The popular game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" may give the "wrong answer" when it comes to wealth. The show implies riches come to the very smart and the really lucky. But Thomas Stanley, a researcher who studies the wealthy, finds...

WITH CONSCIENCE.
May 5, 2000... Investors drawn to socially responsible fund Jack Brill can't help crowing a bit. As a longtime advocate of socially responsible investing, the feisty Brill finally sees the masses beginning to put their investment dollars where their...

Just how socially responsible are those investments?(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Many investors applaud the growing number of investment opportunities offered under the banner of social responsibility, but some observers are questioning how well the label fits. Many mutual funds are loosening their screening standards,...

Portfolio 21 aims to preserve environment.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Carsten Henningsen and Leslie Christian have been peddling socially responsible investments for years. But after founding an environment-oriented mutual fund six months ago, they are reaching many more investors than in the past. The two...

So you're wealthy? Washington will treat you well.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Psssst! Hey, rich folks, wanna cut your taxes? Have I got a deal for you on a Clark County house! Forget the whispers. Many financial advisers are flat-out telling their wealthy clients to move from Portland to Vancouver. Because of its...

Young entrepreneurs still learning art of giving.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... In the business of philanthropy, there is one point upon which observers agree: Never before in American history has such a young generation earned so much money. Stock options have created instant wealth in a new generation of...

Personalized banking grows with wealthy clients.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... There's never been a better time to be in private banking. With millionaires popping out of the stock-option-rich soil wherever one turns, the demand for personalized banking services is growing fast. And commercial banks that formerly...

Largest money managers.
May 5, 2000... Largest money managers Ranked by total assets managed Rank last Rank year Company 1 1 Bank of America 503-275-1605 121 S.W. Morrison...

Portland's lucrative luve affair with its darling rose.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... It is the unofficial symbol of Portland. The city even dedicates a month of celebration to its eminent existence. Rooted in every other front yard, schoolyard or barnyard in greater Portland, the rose has this city wrapped around its thorny...

A rose is notjust a rose.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... As store manager for the new Rose Garden Store in Washington Park, Penny Keene has a hometown flair that leaves you pleasantly astonished that an hour passed between when you walked into her store and when you left. Mixing Keene with the...

Immediate response takes care of customer Problems.
May 5, 2000... I'm trying to stop my griping and whining about bad customer treatment. It only contributes to a heart attack and the offending providers don't seem to care anyway. The daily abuses we all receive are not generally a result of contemplated...

TRAIN YOUR STAFF TO BE SABOTEURS.(customer service requires training)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... I am a fundamental believer that within the bounds of reason, the "reasonable man" test so to speak, you can never do enough for the customer, particularly when that customer is bent out of shape. All too often, provider environments lack a...

A PRESCRIPTION FOR ACTION.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Fighter pilots make instantaneous decisions. If they don't they die. Customer complaints are similar. If they're not solved on the spot, the customer will probably never return, which is another form of death. Therefore, establish an...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
May 5, 2000... COMMUNICATIONS Koopman Ostbo Inc. added Kim Beeler and David Waters as account managers. Young & Roehr hired Patty Im as media assistant and Brian Mork as Traffic manager. The company promoted Connie Gray to production department...

Good Neighbor agreement liked by most, but not all.(Portland Family Entertainment and West Side)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... To Keith Witcosky, the Good Neighbor Agreement between Portland Family Entertainment and West Side denizens far exceeds a shake of the hand. "It's like no agreement I've ever seen," said Witcosky, a project manager for the Portland...

Please vote for education.
May 5, 2000... The mail-in ballots should be arriving in the mail by now. If you haven't seen yours yet, sort through the pile of mail on the bureau. The ballots are in there somewhere. That's right, no going to the voting booth this year. No standing in...

Earnings add luster to gold rush.(capital market economic forecasting)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... There was chatter last year about 2000 being the year to worry about economically, but as the first quarter ends that's not in sight. At "A Wake Up Call for Success" breakfast in Boca Raton, Fla., held in early March, Mark Vitner, vice...

Heart of the matter was UO's stupidity, not Phil's anger.
May 5, 2000... To the editor: Re: The Fourth Estate in the April 28, 2000 edition of The Business Journal. The article was not only sophomoric in analysis but also thin in content relating to solid research on the reasons behind why Phil Knight of...

The Economist.
May 5, 2000... Dear Colleague, The Economist has spent 156 years learning its trade and perfecting its craft. Now, you'd think that a publication that has informed and influenced world powers, politicos, and peacemakers since before the Civil War would...

LEADERS.
May 5, 2000... The Economist turns a probing eye on the most important events and trends in world affairs. The analyses range from the trouble with stock options and how "real" the new economy really is to the ramifications 10 years after the fall of the...

WORLD POLITICS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS.
May 5, 2000... One-third of each issue is devoted to coverage of major topical, political and social issues. Six separate regions of the globe are spotlighted: Asia, Europe, Britain, United States, The Americas, and the International section, which covers the...

BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
May 5, 2000... Explore the commercial affairs of companies, financial markets, economic trends, and management, as well as developments in science and technology. As always, The Economist keeps the perspective heavily international.

SPECIAL FEATURES.
May 5, 2000... From shedding fresh light on the "millennium bug" to following GE's metamorphosis from American manufacturer into a global services giant, The Economist explores subjects of timely interest and topical importance.

SURVEYS.
May 5, 2000... Approximately 20 times a year The Economist also publishes a survey spotlighting a specific country or industry. These in-depth analyses have previously studied milestones of the 20th Century, the sea and its future, the growth of mobile...

MOREOVER.
May 5, 2000... The world is quite an entertaining place, and The Economist introduces you to the best, the brightest, the avant-garde, and the plain unusual. Enjoy book reviews and reports on trends in the arts, films, music, and sports.

OBITUARY.
May 5, 2000... The Economist pays its last respects to the many who have forever left their mark on the world, from femme fatale, Hedy Lamarr to Raisa Gorbachev, the Soviet Union's last first lady.

INDICATORS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Study The Economist's economic and financial statistics on 15 OECD countries and 25 emerging markets. Plus, take a closer look at niche topics like stock markets, commodities, world tourism, and government bond issues.

CHARTS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Illuminating and instructive, The Economist has charted everything including the cost of a "Big Mac" at McDonald's restaurants around the world. Our charts and statistics are appreciated for their accuracy, and add a new dimension of...

STOLL, STOLL BOASTS TOP LITIGATORS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... N. Robert Stall and Robert Shlachter of Stoll, Stoll, Berne Lokting & Schlachter have been recognized as among Portland's top litigators by the National Law Journal. The two attorneys headed a list that also included William Crow of Miller...

A flame veggie with flare.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... *** We at The Business Journal recently received a promotional sample of the new, mostly mushroom Gardenburger Flame Grilled patty. We cooked patties per instructions, loaded on condiments and served 'em up. The verdict: Good, with all the...

Winners & Losers.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... David Frohnmayer The president of the University of Oregon may have erred by not telling Nike boss Phil Knight that UO was joining a human-rights group. Once the damage was done, though, he did the right thing by holding his ground. The...

TECH GROUPS SEEK INTERNET TAX CHANGES.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The presidents of 11 technology trade associations sent a joint letter to members of Congress asking them to address internet taxation in a "systematic and comprehensive manner." The associations, which range from the American Electronics...

WORKERS GIVEN ONLINE COMPLAINT OPTION.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is making it easier for workers to file complaints about workplace hazards by setting up a "Workers' Page" on its web site. The site provides workers with an electronic option for turning in...

HUD BEGINS SELLING HOMES FOR $1.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Department of Housing and Urban Development has begun selling homes to local governments for $1 in an initiative designed to create affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. HUD acquires the homes when borrowers default on loans...

Insider Trading.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The buying and selling of stock shares by area executives Elijahu Shapira Director Web Trends Corp. Shares to sell: 125,000 Share price: $52.60 Share value: $6,575,000 Mark Tschurr Shareholder Electra...

Doctor sues OHSU for $8M.(David McCarron, Oregon Health Sciences University)(Statistical Data Included)
May 12, 2000... The former head of the nephrology division at Oregon Health Sciences University is suing the medical school and three administrators who he claims forced him out of his job and smeared his reputation in the medical community. Dr. David...

Practicing fair trade can be fairly lucrative.
May 12, 2000... You won't see them marching on the streets of Portland or Seattle, but there are people who believe in fair trade where they shop. They're found on Saturdays sipping Kenyan coffee and fingering stone carvings from Zimbabwe at Southeast...

GST, investors plunge down a slippery slope.(GST Telecommunications)(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
May 12, 2000... GST Telecommunications Inc. is telling investors that it will unveil its "strategy for 2000 and beyond" later this month. But first it must survive the next few weeks by keeping itself out of bankruptcy court. "It's clear this company is...

Tri-Met wants to be dealt in to high-stakes stadium game.
May 12, 2000... If the decades-long fray between Civic Stadium-area neighbors and the Multnomah Athletic Club over parking were a poker game, Tri-Met would hold some valuable chips. And Tri-Met, apparently, is ready to play. The area's public transit...

The Civic Stadium battle: What's all the noise about?(Brief Article)
May 12, 2000... Mooker was fit to be tied by the time I slid into a chair at the Rialto. My first clue was the cantankerous attitude he threw at Shirley who normally is favored with the courteousness reserved for the person who happily serves the Mooker a...

For now, historic buildings are still standing side by side.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2000... The wrecking ball aimed at two 1880s buildings in downtown Vancouver has been suspended in mid-swing. The Frontier and the Monterey Hotel, huddled next to each other at the south end of Main Street, may have a reprieve from demolition as least...