St. Louis Business Journal articles from September 2000

St. Louis Business Journal archives from September 2000

Monsanto charges may hit $475 million.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... To lay off 375 workers worldwide by June As Monsanto prepares for a new life as an independent company, it is taking a big charge -- $425 million to $475 million -- to restructure its operations. The new Monsanto, led by Chief...

Husch, Ziercher to merge.(Husch & Eppenberger; Ziercher & Hocker)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... A casual suggestion about merging last spring by Husch & Eppenberger Partner Greg Smith to Ziercher & Hocker Managing Partner Gary Feder has brought the two firms to final discussions on combining. "We've been approached by other firms"...

Northern Trust opening retail bank in Clayton.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... Northern Trust Corp. plans to open a full-service, retail bank in Clayton within the next year. Daniel Watt, executive manager of trust, said he is negotiating a lease, although he declined to disclose the specific location. Watt is...

Savvis stock to pay for Kiel Center naming rights for six of 20 years.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... Name recognition reason given for $70 million deal With the naming-rights deal for Kiel Center, the Savvis name will be heard and seen constantly for the next 20 years -- and it won't cost Savvis a any cash for the first six years. ...

Cashing out.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... Pharmacia Corp. Chairman Robert Shapiro sold $44.2 million worth of stock in the pharmaceutical giant in July, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. The Boston-based firm said Shapiro, who engineered the sale of Monsanto to Pharmacia, sold...

Unhinged.(Hager Cos.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... Nine workers at Hager Cos. in St. Louis and 110 others at Hager plants in Alabama will lose their jobs after the sale of the company's retail hardware division to Lawrence Brothers Co. of Sterling, Ill. August "Rusty" Hager Ill, chairman of the...

Long distance.(True Fitness)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... A treadmill made by True Fitness in O'Fallon, Mo., could play a big role in the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Olympian Chris Clark of Anchorage, Alaska, who will represent the United States in the women's marathon, said she was able to keep...

Tea time.(Republic of Tea)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... The Republic of Tea is expanding its $2.99-a-bottle, ready-to-drink tea into retail distribution, with Dierberg's, Straub's and Wild Oats all handling the product Plus, it has a new line of bottled green teas. Ron Rubin, Republic's "Minister of...

The bodyguard.(Henderson & Associates)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2000... Henderson & Associates was behind the scenes keeping singer Mary J. Blige safe during her Aug. 4 concert at the Fox Theatre The St. Louis-based protective and investigative services firm, founded in 1997 by former University City policeman...

Fan fare.(Fan-A-Mania)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... St. Louis Rams gear and Scooby Doo merchandise are the hot sellers at Fan-A-Mania, the latest addition to West-field's Mid Rivers Mall. The franchise store, the first of its kind in the St. Louis area, features a mix of sports and entertainment...

On the runway.(TalentPlus agency)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Models and actors soon will join the dot-coms on Washington Avenue. Owner Sharon Tucci is moving the TalentPlus agency from the Central West End to 122 Washington Ave., now known as the McGowan Building.

Clipped.(Miniard Willis Design Group)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Five of the seven hair stylists at the Miniard Willis Design Group are going their separate ways. The salon closed its location at 407 N. Jackson Ave. in University City on Sept. 1. Co-owners Frances Miniard and Daniel Willis will reopen as...

Angelica turnaround gets boost from catalog, Internet.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Five months after Angelica Corp. failed to find a buyer for its struggling operations, the uniform and laundry services company is showing signs of recovery in all of its three divisions. The St. Louis-based company has generated new...

Bank holding companies buy into New Frontier.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Two bank holding companies based in Quincy, Ill., and Hutchinson, Kan., plan to control 40 percent of New Frontier Bancshares Inc., a startup bank in St. Charles. Mercantile Bancorp Inc. in Quincy filed an application with the Federal...

Corrections.
September 4, 2000... Soldiers' Memorial A photograph of an architectural detail in the Aug. 28 issue was incorrectly identified. The image is part of the Soldiers' Memorial at 1.315 Chestnut.

Lamping, Bitting, Newell out at Bank of America.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Three long-time portfolio managers and nine associates at Bank of America's St. Louis office have lost their jobs, as the bank restructures its operations nationwide. Jack Lamping, Tom Bitting and Kay Newell were laid off, said Jack...

Wells Fargo's regional commercial bank to open in Clayton this fall.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Wells Fargo & Co. plans to open a regional commercial banking office in early November in the Clayton Center, 120 S. Central. Paul Kalsbeek, recruited in May to head Wells Fargo's commercial banking operations, for the region, said he's...

Brown's makeover strategy on track for Naturalizer.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... New Web site, ads and fall catalog reinforce message Terry Ness plucks a $65 cherry-red, snakeskin mule off the Brown Shoe Co. showroom shelf and bends it in half. He jabs a couple of fingers into the high heel's elongated toe and Presses...

Cardinals Care goes to bat with 24 bat fields.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... A field of dreams - providing children from a poor neighborhood with a place to play baseball -- is expected to open this month, courtesy of Cardinals Care, Clayco Construction Co. and a handful of other local businesses: The field, at...

Regulator issues cease and desist against Cowsert.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Missouri regulators have warned Larry Cowsert not to violate securities laws in the state. The state's commissioner of securities issued a cease and desist order against Cowsert on Aug. 28. His software company, NewStar Collaborative...

Kenneth Balk merges with Phoenix architectural firm Durrant Corp.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Kenneth Balk and Associates (KBA), a local architectural engineering firm, has merged with Phoenix-based Durrant Corp. Durrant is the controlling company. Terms were not disclosed. The St. Louis office will be called KBA-Durrant. ...

KY stock doubles on split, new drugs.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... KV Pharmaceutical's stock has nearly doubled in price since the beginning of the year due to a recent stock split and several deals to market new drugs. KV's stock has risen from $20.94 on Jan. 3 to a 52-week high of $41.75 Aug. 28. The...

Station Casino licenses revoked; Kiel now Savvis.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Lawyers representing Station Casinos Inc. said they will seek a full hearing, after the Missouri Gaming Commission approved plans to revoke the company's gaming licenses. The commission took the action when subpoenaed casino executives...

Savvis Communications Corp.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Savvis Communications Corp., an IP network services provider, has purchased the naming rights for the Kiel Center arena. The arena now is the "Savvis Center" Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Savvis, which was founded in 1995, operates in...

Earthgrains Co.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Earthgrains Co. said it is continuing to operate its Fort Payne, Ala., bakery after members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union Local 611 (BCTGM) went on strike Aug. 26. Earthgrains is the nation's...

Gabriel Communications Inc.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Gabriel Communications Inc., a growing communications company here, is launching operations in Cincinnati. The company, which provides local and long-distance voice, data and video services, and a range of high-speed Internet services, now...

Broadband Investment Group Corp. (BIG).(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Broadband Investment Group Corp. (BIG), a new business launched with venture capital, named six senior executives to its management team. They are Jeffrey Brooks, David Hayes, Lynne Korum, Michael Morgan, Ajay Patel and Robert Rose. Tim...

Ralcorp Holdings Inc.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Ralcorp Holdings Inc. signed a letter of intent to purchase Ontario Foods Inc., a private label maker of dry mixed products that has roughly $50 million in annual sales. Ralcorp said in a press release the letter requires Ontario's parent...

Cicero's puts some thought into micro, import brews.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... The world is full of wonderful beers, and it's always a pleasure to find abroad selection of micros and imp imports at a restaurant or bar. In metro St. Louis, nobody does it better than Cicero's Restaurant and Entertainmentplex in the...

UnitedHealthcare adding 200, considers expansion.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest is hiring 200 workers to take calls from doctors and members in seven states. More than 100 have been hired since July I and are being trained or already are manning the phones. Vic Turvey, UnitedHealthcare...

Nidus Center adds TSV, MedCentral, Shurjo Medical to incubator.
September 4, 2000... The Nidus Center for Scientific Research has added three health care-related start-ups to its plant arid life science incubator on the Monsanto campus. The addition of MedCentral, TSV Industries Inc. and Shurjo Medical Technologies Inc....

Dr. Stewart Albert.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. Stewart Albert, professor of internal medicine, division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, has received a two-year, $196,437 contract award from Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. for a study related...

Daniel Gentry.(Center for HIV/STD Policy Studies at Saint Louis University,)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research,)(human immunodeficiency virus)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Daniel Gentry, associate professor of health administration and policy and director of the Center for HIV/STD Policy Studies at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, has received a one-year, $ 137,572 subcontract award from the...

Debra Haire-Joshu.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Debra Haire-Joshu, associate professor of behavioral science and health education, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, received a three-year. $594,140 grant from the American Cancer Society to develop a tutoring program partnering...

Chris King.(Environmental Protection Agency,)(funding,)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Chris King, director of the Center for Environmental Education and Training at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a program to train unemployed...

Dr. Terry Moore.(receives financing for lupus research)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. Terry Moore, director of the division of rheumatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, received $100,000 to help fund research on lupus. The funds came from the "Amazing Tastes of St. Louis" benefit and auction and a golf...

Dr. David Piwnica-Worms.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. David Piwnica-Worms. professor of radiology and molecular biology and pharmacology, received a three year, $1.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. The grant will fund efforts to establish a molecular imaging center focused on...

Dr. Mary Zutter.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. Mary Zutter, associate professor of pathology; received a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. Zutter will study how two protein on the surface of epithelial cells influence cancer development.

Michael Caparon.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Michael Caparon, associate professor of molecular microbiology, a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to study the flesh-eating bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.

Mark Johnston.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Mark Johnston, professor of genetics, received a four-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study how yeast cell detect glucose and make efficient use of it.

Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine received a five-year, $12.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging.

Dr. Timothy Ley.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. Timothy Ley, the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine and professor- of genetics, recently received three five-year grants from the National Institutes of Health totaling $4.9 million. Ley, who directs the Division. of...

Dr. John Atkinson.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. John Atkinson, the Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine, received a five-year, $1.7 million grant from the.. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study a protein that helps regulate the body's immune response and also...

Dr. Robert Waterston.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Dr. Robert Waterston, the James S McDonnell Professor and head of genetics, received a three-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institute o Allergy and Infectious Diseases to fund research to discover genes of parasitic nematodes.

J. Mark Petrash.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... J. Mark Petrash, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and of genetics, received a five-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Eye Institute and, a two-year, $80,000 grant from the Kilo Diabetes and Vascular Research Foundation to...

St. Louis County Department of Health and the City of St. Louis Department of Health and Hospitals.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... A group of researchers, in partnership with the St. Louis County Department of Health and the City of St. Louis Department of Health and Hospitals, received a $2.2 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The, renewal...

Dr. W. Richard Burack.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Five researchers received grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. They were: Dr. W. Richard Burack, instructor in pathology, who received a five-year, $508,000 grant to study membrane properties of blood cells Dr. Tamara Doering, assistant...

Getting the hang of it.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Granger Contracting becomes-a fixture in retail industry Business activity: Jim Granger is the ultimate entrepreneur. Ever since he moved to St. Louis in 1980, he has accepted challenges, taken risks and tried new things. Finally, he is...

Practical solutions.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... What is the best way to measure employee satisfaction? We can determine satisfaction if people have respect for you and there is mutual respect between management and employees. Attendance and if they are on time are good indicators. If...

No. 2 man at Social Security outlines plans in St. Louis.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Just how big an issue does the current administration believe Social Security is in this fall's election? Important enough for the No. 2 man in the Social Security Administration to go on a whirlwind dash through St. Louis Aug. 24 to get...

24% have no creative time.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... A poll by American Express Small Business Services shows 24 percent of small business owners say they make no room for creative thinking in their calendars. The poll of 300 small business owners shows while 54 percent believe creative...

Take the searching out of clipping with online service.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Even the smallest mention in the press is a great boon to your business. But poring through publications each 'day can be a job in itself. That's why clipping services have carved their 'niche -- they comb the press for you. And now Internet...

PEOPLE.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Accounting Ronnen Isakov has joined Rubin Brown Gornstein & Co. as a manager in the health-care services group. Advertising National System Inc. has appointed Jeff Wingebermuehle to senior manager of operations and Laura Reinhardt...

Accounting firms take aim at Web loopholes of clients.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Accounting firms and insurance companies are trying to tame the wild, wild Web. As e-commerce continues to proliferate and information technology pushes the boundaries of connectivity, the need for creditability and reliability in the...

Climate for workers' comp has stabilized in Missouri.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Missouri's workers' compensation industry has gone from shambles to stability in less than 10 years, allowing claims writers to start developing new programs for a competitive market. "Workers' compensation is no longer a Top 10 concern...

Specialty insurance covers range of "risky business".(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Businesses and individuals can buy insurance against any risk imaginable -- almost. And for the risks that can't be insured, there's still protection available for businesses operating "extreme" activities. . For example, Archway...

Restaurant insurers must know industry ins and outs.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... With more than 400 of St. Louis' restaurants in his book, Steve DeMaster has become an expert on the insurance needs of the city's best-known eateries. DeMaster, of the Charles L. Crane Agency, said he learned an important lesson when he...

Companies may see higher premiums in hard market.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... The insurance industry is undergoing big changes, and the impact likely will be deep and far-reaching for insurance buyers, brokers and providers. The changes for some could result in higher premiums and more difficulty in finding and...

PRORehab's test assesses candidate's fitness for job.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... At PRORehab, the clientele runs the gamut from professional athletes to "industrial athletes." Since 1991, the rehabilitation firm has been in the business of getting injured workers back on the job faster and has saved its clients...

A closer look.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... THE THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO BUSINESS LEADS Sometimes readers wonder why they should subscribe to a local business newspaper when they already receive the daily and/or a national business publication. Last week's coverage of the...

Stock Transactions.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... The following purchases or sales of stock in St. Louis-based companies or in companies with St. Louis-based subsidiaries or divisions have been reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by officers, directors and owners of more...

Where we stand.(St. Louis ranked against other cities.)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... How St. Louis measures up against other cities An important factor to consider when evaluating St. Louis' 1998 export ranking is that the $4.3 billion in exports reflects only those products which were exported directly from St. Louis....

On board.(Cardinals Care charitable foundation.)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Money and management at nonprofit organizations Cardinals Care Timothy Hanser Vice president and executive director Cardinals Care is the St. Louis Cardinals' charitable foundation supporting kids in the community. Cardinals...

For what it's worth.(Real estate transactions.)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Highlighting some of the most recent commercial real estate transactions in the St. Louis area. LOCATION: 1835 and 1855 Kehrs Mill Road in Wildwood DATE SOLD: July 13, 2000 NEW OWNER: J & G Properties Inc. AGENT: Hassan Jadali...

LMI AEROSPACE INC.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Ronald Saks President and chief executive LMI Aerospace fabricates, machines, finishes and integrates formed, close-tolerance aluminum and specialty alloy components for use by the aerospace industry. The company had a profit of...

Emerson Electric Co.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Aug. 30, $66.31 A.G. Edwards Accumulate. We have lowered our rating on EMR shares from Buy to Accumulate based on price considerations. After a very strong run the past several months, Emerson shares are trading within range of our $75...

Panera Bread Co.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Aug. 18, $14.13 FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Buy. Increasing awareness of the Panera brand continues to drive impressive results at both existing and new units as evidenced by impressive same-store sales results (up. 9.3 percent...

Charter Communications.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Aug. 3, $13.94 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strong Buy. Charter's second quarter growth in EBITDA (earnings before interest taxes depreciation, or amortization) was 11 percent, among the best in the sector. The company reported it added...

Verfaillie's team includes 10 Monsanto execs.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Hendrik Verfaillie, chief executive of the new Monsanto, will have 10 veterans of the old Monsanto, plus Curt Tomlin from Pharmacia, on his management team. Tomlin joined the company in August as controller after working in a similar post...

Computrol lands $1.5 million in venture capital.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Computrol Inc., a Chesterfield-based software firm, has received $1.5 million in venture capital funding from Open Prairie Ventures IL. P., a technology fund in Champaign, Ill. Dennis Spice, managing member of Open Prairie Ventures, joined...

Starting another Super season in our super city.(St. Louis Cardinals play.)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Can you ever remember when the people of St. Louis were so excited about the start of the pro football season?. Still on a high from last year's unexpected Super Bowl championship season, St. Louisans eagerly are anticipating the Rams...

Fathers and grandfathers.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Politeness now almost seems quaint... it even sounds a bit quaint. I do not believe that we all are just soooo busy... The pressures of life and the demand, of the clock, et al. The claim today is that time is not on our side and the...

FEEDBACK.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Readers respond to Talent, W-1W editorial W-1W will be no improvement Editor: Your premise (Aug. 25) that an "engaged electorate" is needed in Jim Talent's run for governor deserves further refinement. If the electorate really...

LARGEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATIONS.
September 4, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

LARGEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCIES.
September 4, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

St. Louis Stocks.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2000... Memo [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Companies may get flu shots last.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2000... Faced with a nationwide shortage of influenza vaccine, major providers in the St. Louis area say shots will be given later and priority will be given to people at highest risk. That means companies that offer the shots for employees may be...

Fees hiked to attract directors.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2000... Arch Coal offers new dire directors $30,000 bonus In an effort to recruit top directors to their hoards, Arch Coal Inc. and RightChoice Managed Care Inc. are. sweetening their compensation packages. Beginning this year, Arch Coal is...

Wehrenberg lays off 18 percent of corporate staff.(Wehrenberg Theatres Inc. )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2000... As Movie theater chains struggle nationwide, Wehrenberg Theatres Inc. has laid off 18 percent of its corporate staff. The eight layoffs -- the first in the company's 94-year history -- came as Wehrengerg fell short of its projected growth....

Clayton condo project on hold again.(Ritz-Carlton Residences at Fountain Place in Clayton )(Brief Article)
September 11, 2000... Maritz, Wolff palls out, cites construction cost Maritz, Wolff & Co. has backed out of a deal to build the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Fountain Place in Clayton after projected construction costs were 20 percent higher than initially...

Back in business.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2000... Leonard Ruben-stein has been-named to the new job of chief operating officer at Plaza Financial. He is the former Conning Corp. chief executive who stepped down in September 1999, after a liquidity crisis forced the sale of General American...

Notes online.
September 11, 2000... Patrons of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra can receive monthly newsletters and details about special offers and ticket discounts in their e-mail, through a new arrangement between the Symphony and PopMail.com, an Irving, Texas-based marketing...

On the block.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2000... The Schwegmann House, a bed and breakfast in Washington, Mo., is up for sale. Owners Cathy and Bill Nagel are asking $775,000 for the nine-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot inn overlooking the Missouri River. The Nagels bought the property 18 years...

Big bite.(Birch Telecom television ad campaign )(Brief Article)
September 11, 2000... St. Louis and Tulsa, Okla., are test markets for a new Birch Telecom television ad campaign that will run primarily on cable channels. The company won't say how much it's paying for the eight-week campaign launched Aug. 14, attacking...