Pittsburgh Business Times articles from April 1999

Pittsburgh Business Times archives from April 1999

Repayments threaten hospitals' financial health.(Pennsylavania hospitals to repay disproportionate share payments to Health Care Financing Administration)
April 30, 1999... BRADDOCK - For Mimi Priselac, there is a very human face to the terribly technical term of "disproportionate share" payments. As acting chief executive officer at UPMC Braddock, Ms. Priselac sees how the funds allow the hospital to offer...

As a subsidiary, FORE will not be subservient.(FORE Systems Inc.)
April 30, 1999... Firm plans to continue acquisitions practice MARSHALL - FORE Systems Inc. has purchased nine computer networking and telecommunications companies over the past four years. And even though a large London-based company has bought the...

Federal contract cash flow to small businesses slows.
April 30, 1999... But Western Pennsylvania bucks national trend In the competition for federal contract dollars, small businesses in Western Pennsylvania fared better last year than their counterparts nationwide. For the first time in recent years,...

Communicating success.(public relations industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)(Industry Overview)
April 30, 1999... Pittsburgh's public relations industry benefits from a strong economy, technology and a tight market that keeps the big boys at bay DOWNTOWN - Jack Horner had spent all of four years at Ketchum Public Relations when he decided it was time...

Bringing cyberspace down to earth.(Get Local USA's community-based Web pages)(Company Profile)
April 30, 1999... Get Local USA seeks to give local advertisers nationwide their own accessible space on the Net She was just trying to make a little extra money working in her Cranberry Township home. But Michele Weigel's idea of creating community-based...

Primanti's restaurant to open in suburbs.(Primanti Brothers)(Company Profile)
April 30, 1999... Three additional sites are being explored ROBINSON TOWNSHIP - Primanti Brothers, the local landmark restaurant famous for stacking its sandwiches with french fries and cole slaw, is expanding into the suburbs. Owner Jim Patrinos has...

Gimbels building may nab health care tenant.(United HealthCare signs up)
April 30, 1999... McKnight near deal after recent purchase of site DOWNTOWN - Less than two months after closing a $15 million-plus acquisition of the historic Gimbels Building, McKnight Development is nearing a deal to sign a major tenant. According...

Web address becomes point of contention for like-named companies.(ServiceWare Inc. sues ServiceWare Corp.)
April 30, 1999... Name game no laughing matter to Oakmont's ServiceWare Inc. OAKMONT - After 18 months of talks failed to result in an agreement, ServiceWare Inc. has filed a federal trademark infringement suit against a Canadian firm with a similar name....

When all work doesn't work.(Jane Yallum of Outsource Resources)(Company Profile)
April 30, 1999... Striking a Balance creator divides personal and professional time Jane Yallum's 4-year-old daughter, Kaila, has her own desk in her mom's home office. From there, she likes to mimic her mother by making calls on a toy phone and exhibit...

Garden chain seeds local market with Monroeville, Robinson locations.(Frank's Nursery and Crafts)(Company Profile)
April 30, 1999... Frank's, based in Michigan, does $520 million in annual sales MONROEVILLE - Frank's Nursery & Crafts, one of the country's largest gardening center chains, is looking to grow in the Pittsburgh market. With its first local site set to...

Highmark to pay $16 million to settle co-insurance class action case.(Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield)
April 30, 1999... Refunds of $40 to $1,500 due thousands of subscribers DOWNTOWN - Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will pay $16 million to settle a class action suit over how some subscribers were billed for portions of their medical claims costs. ...

Getting down to business.(Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Chairman Ronald Violi)
April 30, 1999... Ronald Violi brings corporate experience to Children's Hospital Ronald Violi is a man who gets down to business. His message is polite but clear: Let's get to the matters at hand. The chairman and chief executive officer of...

FORE's historical donation.(FORE Systems donates computer network switches to the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation)
April 23, 1999... Shoah Foundation project uses firm's technology MARSHALL TOWNSHIP - FORE Systems Inc.'s place in local history may be as one of the region's largest technology firms. But the company is leaving its mark in history globally, too, by...

Spaced out on the North Side.(Pittsburgh's parking problems)
April 23, 1999... Parking woes could befuddle fans, residents if any of a variety of potential roadblocks scuttle proposed lots, garages serving new stadiums NORTH SIDE - Studies by local planners show that the average Pirates fan feels comfortable walking...

ERECT fund plans to more than double its real estate investments here.(Employee Real Estate Construction Trust; Pittsburgh, PA)
April 23, 1999... Union pension money will be managed by Lane, Noland founder DOWNTOWN - A fund designed to invest union pension money in local real estate developments is planning a major expansion. The Employee Real Estate Construction Trust, with...

City taps Blue Bell-based Unisys to replace its tax computer system.(Pittsburgh, PA)
April 23, 1999... Few local firms respond to solicitations for bid DOWNTOWN - Unisys Corp. has been contracted to develop a new computer system to handle the city of Pittsburgh's tax collections data. Headquartered near Philadelphia, Unisys will...

Entrepreneur Shawn Ware wants his company's name to ring a bell.(Special Report: Telecommunications)(founder of Ware Communications)(Company Profile)
April 23, 1999... Ware Communications taps telecom growth POINT BREEZE - Three years ago, Shawn Ware offered to hook up a computer for the Downtown law firm of Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon. A recent graduate of Job Core, Mr. Ware viewed the project as a way...

Pittsburgh-area telephone industry adjusts to its deregulated world.(Special Report: Telecommunications)(Industry Overview)
April 23, 1999... Both sides of debate come out swinging BY MARIA GUZZO FRANKLIN - Pennsylvania Sen. Mary Jo White was vice chairman of the state's telecommunication committee. But ironically, the Republican serving parts of Butler and Venango...

AT&T tops list as competition prompts mergers in long-distance arena.(Special Report: Telecommunications)(Pittsburgh, PA)(Industry Overview)
April 23, 1999... AT&T is largest firm serving the area, with $53.2 billion in sales DOWNTOWN - Although there are only six companies on the list of long-distance telephone service providers in the Pittsburgh area, the companies say it's a competitive...

Blattner family to sell Walnut St. properties.(Shadyside, Pennsylvania)
April 16, 1999... SHADYSIDE - The Blattner family, which played an instrumental role in developing Shadyside's thriving retail mix, is putting its Walnut Street holdings on the block. At least six commercial properties will be available in what some local...

AHERF bankruptcy case costs $103,877 a day.(Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation)
April 16, 1999... Hourly professional fees 90 percent of the total DOWNTOWN - During its first four months, the Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation bankruptcy case racked up bills of more than $100,000 a day in professional fees and...

Court to name trustee in sale of Courier parent.(Sengstacke Enterprises Inc., parent company of The New Pittsburgh Courier)
April 16, 1999... First step in determining control of newspapers SOUTH SIDE - The future of The New Pittsburgh Courier and three other newspapers serving African-Americans should be a bit clearer at the end of the month. Their parent, Chicago-based...

Roadblock to future growth? SEC's review of write-offs that accompany acquisitions could slow expansion by such firms as FORE Systems Inc.
April 16, 1999... MARSHALL TOWNSHIP - Bruce Haney was out of town when the letter came. The envelope contained the ominous message that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was beginning an inquiry on the accounting practices at FORE Systems Inc....

Power plant property tax could cost you.
April 16, 1999... Change is 'inevitable result' of utility deregulation HARRISBURG - By now, everyone knows that the market for electricity in Pennsylvania is open to competition. Many are already saving money by shopping around for the best deal. But...

Locking out hackers, cyberterrorists: Robinson Township company hopes to lead security industry.(Market Central Inc.)
April 16, 1999... Vic Sulkowski believes he has the answer to electronic espionage: a six-inch square black box intended to act as a deadbolt to hackers and cyberterrorists. "It's not very pretty, but boy, does it work," he said. Inside the box are...

FORE stock price takes off amid renewed acquisition speculation.
April 16, 1999... Company refuses comment on chat-room gossip MARSHALL TOWNSHIP - Within the past two weeks, FORE Systems Inc. stock prices have jumped from $14 to $23 a share on speculation that the company is a purchase target, according to technology...

Recycling with a purpose: AgRecycle does not waste opportunities in new field.(compost supplier AgRecycle Inc.)
April 16, 1999... Carla Castagnero started AgRecycle Inc. knowing there was an untapped supply of wasted waste teeming in every backyard and dumpster. "Compost has been around since time began," she explained of her challenge to turn a gardener's ancient...

For Ridge, it's easy being green.(Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge)
April 16, 1999... But critics say his initiatives are just a restructuring of resources DOWNTOWN - Paul Wojciak said the changes in environmental laws are as clear as the air over the Golden Triangle. "Just look at Pittsburgh," he said. "The type of...

Pollution prevention is reportedly succeeding at the local level.
April 16, 1999... Stopping pollution before it occurs instead of scrubbing afterward MONACA - In the early 1990s, a project at the then-Arco Chemical plant was a huge environmental success, cutting emissions by 85 percent. But Jane Kelley,...

Local agencies add, subtract; Ketchum trims 16 employees.(Ketchum Advertising)
April 9, 1999... DOWNTOWN - Ketchum Advertising, a 75-year tradition in this city and once its largest agency, is dropping 16 employees and, say company sources, the Ketchum name. The layoff is related to the loss of the PNC Bank Corp. account, which had...

MARC plans purchase of three shops.(Local Agencies Add, Subtract)(MARC Advertising)
April 9, 1999... SOUTH SIDE - Acquisition-minded MARC Advertising, the city's largest agency, expects to announce its next purchase in May. Make that purchases. "We are in active negotiations with agencies in four cities," said MARC CEO Tony Bucci. "By...

ServiceWare in epic battle for employees; high-tech firm to recruit at 'Star Wars' showings.
April 9, 1999... OAKMONT - ServiceWare Inc. is hoping the Force will be with it as the company implements a new hiring tactic. The software development firm is straying from standard recruitment methods to garner the attention of a specific audience - the...

Competition: for better or worse? Highmark, UPMC square off over planned merger of AUH-West and West Penn.(Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; UPMC Health Systems; Allegheny University Hospitals-West; Western Pennsylvania Hospital)
April 9, 1999... DOWNTOWN - In his office on the 30th floor of Fifth Avenue Place, James Klingensmith laid out 11 pages of color-coded charts to make his case that Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield should help finance the merger of Western Pennsylvania Hospital...

Eckerd construction deal fuels Walnut Capital partnership growth plans; developers to build 19 pharmacies in region.(Eckerd Drug Co.)
April 9, 1999... SHADYSIDE - A 2-year-old development company, Walnut Capital Partnership Inc., has been approved by Eckerd Drug Co. to build 19 new stores in Western Pennsylvania and western New York. The final go-ahead for the deals means the private...

Bravo Italian Kitchen to expand area presence with two properties.
April 9, 1999... Columbus-based chain offers midpriced menu ROSS TOWNSHIP - Bravo Italian Kitchen, a privately owned Italian restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio, plans to expand in the Pittsburgh market, adding two locations. Bravo opened on...

DQE prepares to continue transformation with auction of power plants.
April 9, 1999... Analyst says future looks bright despite electric divestiture DOWNTOWN - It appears that Duquesne Light Co.'s power generation business will be going, going, gone in a few weeks. Within the next two weeks, the company's parent, DQE...

As demand for drywall surges, work on Beaver County plants progresses.
April 9, 1999... USG site to open early next year; National to be on line in fall ALIQUIPPA - Finding gypsum - the wallboard used most commonly in residential construction - can be a difficult task these days. "We haven't seen this kind of demand for...

Eyes on the franchise: success rate is greater than starting from scratch, but it requires research, good fit.(Strategies)
April 9, 1999... When Jim Brown opened a Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt franchise, he had no experience in the ice cream business. It didn't help that his family shop was located on Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin, a retail environment glutted...

Pittsburgh builders join national effort to eliminate federal 'death taxes'; many feel inheritance tax is grossly unfair.(Special Report: Insurance and Employee Benefits)
April 9, 1999... Small business owners across the country are starting a letter-writing campaign designed to overturn what they call America's "death tax." Put into place in its present form more than two decades ago, estate taxes are being hailed by a...

Benefit costs are a top concern for Pennsylvania small business; lobbying group targets legislative reform.(Special Report: Insurance and Employee Benefits)
April 9, 1999... HARRISBURG - Small business owners say state laws concerning insurance and benefits dramatically raise the day-to-day cost of business in Pennsylvania. According to a survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business,...

Heinz hunts for new corporate headquarters.(H.J. Heinz Co.)
April 2, 1999... DOWNTOWN - H.J. Heinz Co. is quietly moving ahead with plans to consolidate world headquarters at a new Pittsburgh location. Although a site has yet to be chosen, local real estate brokers say the $10 billion international food giant has...

Lemieux rescue plan questioned; rosy revenue projections may be tough to achieve.(Mario Lemieux's reorganization plan for Pittsburgh Penguins)
April 2, 1999... Pittsburgh Penguins fans who dream of seeing Mario Lemieux wave from the owner's box of a healthy, stable franchise could be in for a rude awakening. Lemieux and a group of investors submitted a plan to U.S. Bankruptcy Court on March 19...

US Airways, American talk merger; existing alliance expected to expand.(American Airlines)
April 2, 1999... US Airways and American Airlines are discussing a merger that would create the nation's largest airline, according to the president of American's pilots' union. Capt. Richard LaVoy, president of the Allied Pilots Association, said...

Forget Star Wars, bank's annual meeting is hottest ticket in the 'Burgh; Allegheny Valley Bancorp infighting may provide fireworks.
April 2, 1999... LAWRENCEVILLE - Allegheny Valley Bancorp Inc.'s upcoming annual meeting on April 13 is, unexpectedly, among the hottest tickets in town. Allegheny Valley Bancorp is the holding company for six-branch Allegheny Valley Bank of Pittsburgh....

One Gateway Center new home of Leboeuf, Lamb law practice; firm doubles its space with seven-year lease.(Leboeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae)
April 2, 1999... Firm doubles its space with seven-year lease DOWNTOWN - A law firm that first opened offices in Pittsburgh in 1993 to take advantage of an exclusive retainer deal with Alcoa is moving. But the New York-based firm Lebouef, Lamb,...

Brick account may prove to be a new building block for Hallmark/Tassone.(contract with Southern Brick Institute)
April 2, 1999... Agency adds trade group to client list that now includes GNC, Heinz DOWNTOWN - Landing the $2 million Southern Brick Institute account may have laid the foundation for advertising agency Hallmark/Tassone Inc. to win another $5 million in...

A hands-on approach to architecture: Rich De Young believes involvement in day-to-day operations is essential.(People to Watch)(COO of WTW Architects)
April 2, 1999... Growing up in northern New Jersey, Rich De Young came to a quick conclusion about what he wanted to do when he grew up. "(When I was a) little kid, my dad built custom houses," said Mr. De Young. "That's what I thought I would do, take...

Local restaurant industry enjoys slow, steady growth.(Special Report: Hospitality)(Industry Overview)
April 2, 1999... Boom economy fosters higher priced eateries DOWNTOWN - Long the engine behind growth in restaurant sales, fast-food restaurants have been losing steam in recent years. But the industry as a whole has continued to chug along. ...

Bed and breakfast and business: laws altered to allow B&Bs access to business clients.(Special Report: Hospitality)
April 2, 1999... Recent changes in city ordinances have altered the ways urban bed and breakfasts do business. Regulations have been relaxed so that B&Bs can build the meetings and receptions part of the hospitality business. They're also able to sell...

US Airways' passenger loss is offset by regional carriers' strong gains; US Airways still dominates market with nearly 80 percent share.(Special Report: Hospitality)
April 2, 1999... FINDLAY TOWNSHIP - Despite minor turbulence, US Airways maintained air superiority at Pittsburgh International Airport last year. There were few changes to the shares of many smaller carriers working in US Airways' imposing shadow. The...