Pittsburgh Business Times articles from May 2000

Pittsburgh Business Times archives from May 2000

Companies hoping for global access.(Pittsburgh air travel)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... United promises more international flights Paul Lang hopes a merged US Airways-United Airlines will keep Pittsburgh on its international radar screen. As manager of travel services for Kennedy Township-based Bayer Corp., Mr. Lang...

DESTINATION UNKNOWN.(merger of airlines could impact Pittsburgh air travel)
May 26, 2000... Business Times intern Jason Gallinger and the staff of The Business Journal of Charlotte, an affiliated paper, contributed to this report. United/US Airways deal could prove, to be a boon or bust for Pittsburgh International FINDLAY...

Angelika back in the picture.(niche-market theater chain coming to Pittsburgh area)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Film chain may help lure other retailers to South Side LAS VEGAS -- The Soffer Organization is moving ahead with plans to bring an Angelika Film Center to its South Side Works project. Angelika is a niche chain featuring independent...

Restaurateurs take gamble on Market Square's future.(Pittsburgh)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... DOWNTOWN -- With Mayor. Tom Murphy's Market Place at Fifth and Forbes proposal awaiting city council action, the idea of opening a new restaurant in Market Square might sound as promising as picnicking in a thunderstorm. Yet with the...

Sports marketers square off.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... DOWNTOWN -- The public relations and marketing work for PNC Park won a CIPRA award for creativity for agency Burson-Marsteller Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Pirates. CIPRA stands for Creativity in Public Relations Award and is considered the...

Our economic star is falling.(Pittsburgh)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Pittsburgh metropolitan area fell to 147th in a Forbes magazine ranking of the nation's 200 strongest economic zones, trailing Allentown and Bethlehem. Forbes' survey declared the Austin-San Marcos, Texas, area No. 1 and Galveston,...

Pittsburgh attorneys are on the move.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Large and small firms feeling the effects of mass migrations DOWNTOWN -- When it comes to career moves, Pittsburgh attorneys are finding safety in numbers. In the past three months, a number have left in clusters. For example: ...

FLYING HIGH.(Pittsburgh pet store owner)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Exotic bird store doesn't leave owner much time for anything else, but working with her feathered friends does provide contentment Carol Sullivan's business is for the birds, literally. It all started with a visit to see her...

D-Day nears for tech stock cash-ins.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Lockup periods end at Be Free, FreeMarkets DOWNTOWN -- Employees at two newly public high-tech firms may have to stop dreaming of new Porsches and consider Chevy Cavaliers instead. Both FreeMarkets Inc. and Be Free Inc. are nearing...

Kirkpatrick's national presence expands with San Francisco office.(Pittsburgh law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Move represents first foray there for a local law firm DOWNTOWN -- Pittsburgh's largest law firm has further bolstered its California presence. Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP has opened a San Francisco office to service a growing group...

Information technology firm CRS shifts focus to business intelligence.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Six-year-old company changes name to Veratage WEXFORD -- Chuck Weintraub saw a need for change at his firm, CRS Inc., an information technology consulting operation. Others in the same industry have shifted gears. Mastech corp....

Phaseout of capital stock tax highlight for business in new state budget.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Spending plan also trims so-called 'death tax' HARRISBURG -- Gov. Tom Ridge this week signed into law a $20.2 billion state budget for fiscal 2001 that slashes $774 million in taxes -- the largest single reduction in Pennsylvania history....

Mayor tells Las Vegas convention local developers failed to take lead.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Hopes to have Market Place plan before council in weeks LAS VEGAS -- Mayor Tom Murphy says he is in the development business because local developers failed to take initiative. "We ended up becoming private entrepreneurs," Mayor...

Heinz grows Boston Market line adding pot roast and corn bread.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Weight Watchers also set to debut new dishes DOWNTOWN -- With sales of its Boston Market brand frozen entr[acute{e}]es outstripping projections, H.J. Heinz Co. is expanding the line. "The concept is having a suite of Boston Market...

Proposal would provide businesses grace period to fix ADA violations.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Critics wonder why such relief is needed for 10-year-old law WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Becky Ogle is no clint Eastwood fan. The disabled rights activist from Bethesda, Md., parked her wheelchair outside the House Judiciary Committee's...

Food for thought.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Art Zehnder brings creativity and credentials to Westin catering From what Art Zehnder had heard about the city, Pittsburgh seemed to have as much of a future as the short-lived, marriage of Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts. But Mr....

Chico's & the bands.
May 26, 2000... Now that you've grown your tresses long enough to get in your face, pull them back like your mother is always telling you. But gum bands are too plain, scrunchies too dowdy and jeweled barrettes too juvenile for a sleek, sophisticated...

Piano Man Y2K.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Billy Joel has sold 100 million albums, won five Grammys and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (OK, so has James Taylor, but the watering-down of the Hall is a topic for another time). He hasn't produced an album of...

Web access for less.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... i-opener serves one purpose: Get you online Both the price and the i concept of the i-opener are, well, eye openers. For just $99, this small device gives users immediate, simple access to one thing: the Internet. There is no long...

Shelving your taste in bookends.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Those who have made the move from brick and plywood bookshelves to the real thing also may be ready for some sturdy bookends. Barnes & Noble in the Waterworks Mall has a dozen or so to choose from to fit a multitude of tastes. Go...

11-year hospital veteran to lead newly independent Highlands.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Michelle Frick one of few female hospital CEOs in region CONNELLSVILLE - Highlands Hospital's board has chosen Michelle Cunningham to be chief executive officer of the institution, which recently went through a "divorce" from Frick...

UPMC Presby studies new blood substitute.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... OAKLAND -- UPMC Presbyterian is one of 40 sites evaluating a blood substitute in patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery. The study is a phase III trial of Oxygent[ddot{a}], developed by Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. to reduce or...

Southside Works office dubbed 'Quantum 1'.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... SOUTH SIDE -- The first office building at the Southside Works -- the former LTV Steel mill site -- has a name and a leasing agent. The Soffer Organization, which is developing the 34 acres that fronts East Carson Street and the...

Heinz opens $22 million tomato processing plant.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... DOWNTOWN -- H. J. Heinz Co. has opened its newest factory, a $22 million tomato processing plant located near Alfaro, Spain. Heinz president and CEO William Johnson said the plant will play a "significant role" in growing the company's...

Biocontrol subsidiary makes a name change.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... GREEN TREE -- Biocontrol Technology Inc. said its IDT Inc. subsidiary has changed its name to ViaCirQ Inc. The unit has developed a therapy to be used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced ovarian and...

CORRECTIONS & AMPLIFICATIONS.
May 26, 2000... The name of David Gurwin, shareholder with Buchanan Ingersoll PC, Downtown, was misspelled on page 42 of the May 19 issue. Four foundations contributed $50,000 each to partially fund a study of industry innovation clusters in Pittsburgh....

Dick's institutes golf program here on test-market basis.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... CORAOPOLIS -- Dick's Clothing & Sporting Goods Inc. is trying to attract more duffers through its Dick's Golf Clubs. Members of the clubs being implemented at the retailer's area locations won't be teeing off in the shoe department or...

PBT Q&A.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... An inside look at interesting and influential people in Western Pennsylvania Barbara Goldman * Organization: Newsline produces an educational board game, "It's News To Me," which teaches children about newspapers. The company...

H-1B visa bill sets minimum wage of $40,000, eligibility restrictions.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Sponsor says limits are needed to protect American workers WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Judiciary Committee passed legislation to allow an unlimited number of H-1B visas to be issued to foreign professionals, but the bill includes...

TECH BEAT.(Eric Bracken's profile.)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Eric Bracken Manager, signal integrity research and development Ansoft Corp., South Side * Age: 33 * Job: Manages a group of software developers and writes code used to create electromagnetic analysis, which electrical engineers...

Save.com buys local rival for $23 million.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... GREEN TREE -- Jason Wolfe, founder of MyCoupons.com, has sold the Web site operation to a competitor, Culver City, Calif.-based Save.com. The reported sale price was $23 million. Both sites let users print grocery and other coupons...

Incubator purchases communications firm.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... SARVER -- @VentureWorks Inc. has purchased Natrona Heights-based Corner-stone Communication and Development Inc. Details of the acquisition were not provided. @VentureWorks, a Butler County-based business incubator, will divide...

California company acquired by Marconi.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... MARSHALL TOWNSHIP -- Marconi plc, which creates telecommunications services, has purchased Santa.Ana, Calif.-based Systems Management Specialists Inc., which has five data centers in the nation including one in Monroeville, for about $113...

FreeMarkets in London.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... DOWNTOWN -- FreeMarkets Inc., an online business-to-business auction, has expanded its European operations by opening a London office. The office will include sales and market-making staff to support the company's European customers.

ANSYS lands deal.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... CECIL TOWNSHIP -- ANSYS Inc., which creates computer-aided engineering software, received a contract from Houston-based Stewart & Stevenson Services Inc., which will use ANSYS' analysis software to help manufacture U.S. Army vehicles.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Looking for office chat fodder? Need a humor break? Nothing to contribute to water cooler discussions? The Web offers countless pages of entertainment, but nothing made up is as fun or amazing as the real things life serves up for people....

New federal estate tax bill to be voted on by House.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... The House is expected to vote on legislation to phase out the federal estate tax the week of June 5. Congress passed similar legislation last year as part of a $792 billion tax cut, but that package was vetoed by president Clinton. A...

New SBA partnership targets Asian Americans.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... The Small Business Administration agreed to work with the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development to increase business opportunities for Asian Americans. The outreach effort is part of SBA's program to help...

OSHA tightens procedures on interpretation letters.(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... In the wake of its about-face on home workplaces, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is changing its procedures to make sure agency officials do not assert new policies when they respond to employers' questions. A Nov. 15,...

California, Texas lead in high-tech job growth.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... America's high-tech work force grew by 1.2 million workers from 1993 to 1999, with California, Texas, Virginia, Colorado and Georgia leading the way in job creation. This explosion in high-tech employment, documented in a new report by...

Business relationships sought in Egypt, Thailand.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... While China gets all the headlines, the United States is quietly working to increase trade with other countries. SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez traveled to Egypt this month to launch a partnership to "jump-start" the growth of small...

Fight nice, boys.(City court system reform.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... To Mayor Tom Murphy, we must ask: What did you expect? Of course, we're referring to the mayor's failed bid for state cash to bail out the city court system. In a nutshell, when the mayor went a callin' on Harrisburg for the...

PARTING SHOTS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Timing is everything Credit the Pirates with wasting precious little time ignoring the advice of the Business Times. Before the ink was dry in our May 19 issue -- in which we warned that signing outfielder Brian Giles to a long-term...

Dot-coms are only rock 'n' roll.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... "I don't get it when you lose $700 million and become rock stars for it. It's a gold rush mentality". --Miramax Films co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, on the dot-com revolution. Yahoo! ran this quote on its "Odd News" Web page, a space...

Fight for 4th Congressional District seat begins early.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... "This is ground zero," U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, told about 100 givers at state Rep. Terry Van Horne's fundraiser at the Rivers Club last Monday. "We cannot win control of the House...

LETTERS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Business owners should trek to D.C. Editor: I recently participated in an annual bus trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by SMC Business Councils and the National Small Business United. The two-day visit gives small business owners...

Gone but not forgotten.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Electronic data, in e-mail, computer files and even fax machines, leaves a long trail If you are a business owner, department head, manager or supervisor, you may have legal obligations and risks regarding your employees' computer use...

Larger banks reinforce service for small firms.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... PNC, National City bundle offerings such as insurance DOWNTOWN -- Many area banks are going to great lengths to get the message across that small business isn't small stuff. That even goes for the big guys. PNC Financial Services...

ALL in the GAME.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Edgeworth Inc. teaches salespeople the rules of finance Helping companies achieve their strategic goals is as easy as rolling the dice for Edgeworth Inc. Tim Rowlands used his 11 years of experience in corporate training at the Xerox...

Incentive trusts used to dictate control as well as distribute funds.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... As people become rich younger, plans gain higher profile DOWNTOWN -- In the classic novel, "Brewster's Millions," a man has to spend $1 million quickly and quietly in order to inherit millions more in a quirky will with oddball strings...

Michael Baker names new CFO and exec vice pres.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... MOON TOWNSHIP -- Michael Baker Corp. has named William P. Mooney executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective June 15. Mooney, 49, will assume responsibility for the companys accounting, treasury and tax functions...

Inconsistent tech stocks show the importance of portfolio diversification.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Despite recent uncertainty, tech stocks still recommended ROSS TOWNSHIP -- Although investors who played heavily in technology stocks over the past few years made a killing, the recent NASDAQ plummet has forced some investors to re-learn...

Allegheny Energy buys firm's stake in generator.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... GREENSBURG -- Allegheny Energy Inc.'s Allegheny Energy Supply Co. LLC has signed an .agreement with Fairfax, Va.-based PPL Global Inc., a subsidiary of Allentown, Lehigh County-based PPL Corp., to purchase Washington, D.C.-based Potomac...

Executive director of Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group quits.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Leaves as group is asked to help similar organization in Baltimore NORTH SIDE -- Dan Holland has stepped down as the executive director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, an influential nonprofit organization that helps spur...

Global Internet Project taps CMU as virus alert source.(Carnegie Mellon University)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... During the G-8 conference in Paris, the Global Internet Project advised businesses and organizations to identify and disseminate information about computer system security issues and viruses with the Computer Emergency Response Team, or CERT,...

Mellon Ventures funds Philadelphia computer consultant.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Company to expand rapidly with $60 million financing DOWNTOWN -- Mellon Ventures Inc. and two other firms have invested $60 million in venture capital in a Philadelphia computer consulting firm headed by two Indiana University of...

Reviewing and updating nonqualified plans keeps benefits appropriate.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... In addition to compensating executives with current salaries, bonuses and qualified retirement plan benefits, many employers provide executives with benefits through nonqualified plans. It is important to periodically take stock of a...

25 LARGEST PITTSBURGH-AREA WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... 25 LARGEST PITTSBURGH-AREA WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES (Ranked by number of local full-time employees [1]) Name/Address Phone/Year founded Local employees [1]/ (Electronic addresses)...

Pittsburgh's women-owned firms see slower growth than U.S. average.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... According to the latest research from the Washington, D.C.-based National Foundation for Women Business Owners, the Pittsburgh area ranks 27th among the top 50 metropolitan statistical areas nationally for the number of women-owned...

PEOPLE.(Pittsburgh area businesses personnel changes)
May 26, 2000... ACCOUNTING AuditForce Inc., Downtown, hired Ralph Sharafinski and Samuel "Yanez as professional staff members. Freed Maxick ABL Services Inc., Green Tree, hired James Walker, Donald LaJevic and Lisa Duke as field examiners. ...

ECONOWATCH.(Pittsburgh economy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... The Pittsburgh Business Times tracks 10 economic indicators, five of which appear each week. Work force Butler County March 1999: 87,000 March 2000: 86,300 Beaver County March 1999:84,900 March 2000:84,000 ...

BEST-SELLING BUSINESS BOOKS.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... 1. Who Moved My Cheese?; Spencer Johnson, $19.95. Lessons for handling life changes 2. The Articulate Executive; Granville Toogood, $10.95. Ways to become a more effective communicator 3. The Millionaire Next Door; Thomas Stanley,...

NEW & NOTEWORTHY BUSINESS BOOKS.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Confessions of a Venture Capitalist, by Ruthann Quindlen, Warner Books/A Time Warner Co. $25.95. Ruthann Quindlen was an early champion of Microsoft and America Online. Now she shares her secrets as a successful female capitalist. Ms....

John Heinz Community Advocate Award.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Vietnam Veterans Leadership program at Western Pennsylvania awarded its John Heinz Community Advocate Award to R. Bruce Bickel, senior vice president and managing director at charitable and endowment management tar PNC Advisors, a...

Community College of Allegheny County.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Community College of Allegheny County, North Side, received a Merit Award for its "Real People-Smart Choices" television advertising series in the 15th annual Admissions Advertising competition, sponsored by the Admissions Marketing Report, a...

EDGE Architecture.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... EDGE Architecture, based in Friendship, received a Historic Preservation Award from the City of Pittsburgh and the Historic Commission for restorations to the Bruno Building, Downtown.

Fitting Kolbrener Creative.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Fitting Kolbrener Creative, an advertising, design, marketing and public relations firm Downtown, received a Merit Award in Healthcare Marketing. Report's annual marketing competition. The award was received for advertisements done for the...

Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania received a Citation for Architecture as part of Girl Scouts of the USA's 1999 Design Excellence Awards Program. The award recognizes the Girl Scouts' contribution to the design of the Eberly Family...

John McCue Advertising Design Consultants.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... John McCue Advertising Design Consultants, Mt. Lebanon, won seven awards in the 2000 Communicator Awards competition, including two Crystal Awards of Excellence, three Awards of Distinction, and two honorable mentions. The Communicator Awards...

Miller-Melone Communication and Design.
May 26, 2000... Miller-Melone Communication and Design, a Downtown marketing, advertising, public relations and graphic-design firm, received six Matrix Awards from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Association for Women in Communications. The firm was...

W. Greg Murphy.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors announced the winners of its 1999 awards: W. Greg Murphy, of Oxford Realty Services, Downtown, a division of ONCOR International, Orlando, won Industrial Lease of the Year and Industrial Sale of...

Daniel Przybylek.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Community College of Allegheny County named the following winners of its An Illumination of Legends in Leadership Awards, which recognize people who have made a positive, long-term impact on the school: Daniel Przybylek, a 28-year veteran and...

Trumbull Corp.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Trumbull Corp. and its affiliate, Lindy Paving Inc., West Mifflin, received three Pennsylvania Quality Initiative 2000 Awards. Trumbull won first place in the categories at maintenance and protection of traffic for its work on the Fort Pitt...

INSIDER TRADING.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... American Eagle Outfitters Inc.: George Kolber, director, exercised an option for 45,000 shares of common stock at $2.36 each on April 10, and now directly holds 343,378 shares of common. Recent stock price: $16.63 Ampco-Pittsburgh...

ANSYS Inc.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Cecil Township-based ANSYS Inc., which creates software that helps engineers design electronic products, began selling its new Drop Test simulation software, which simplifies the process of simulating the effects of high impact and shock...

Michael Berger Gallery.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Michael Berger Gallery will open a new location on 5416 Walnut Street in Shadyside in June with gallery hours open to the public. Wednesday through Saturday. The gallery will continue to have its accounting and business offices in the South...

BRP Entertainment.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... BRP Entertainment, Bruce Rohrbach Productions, based in Harrisburg, opened an office at 3555 Valley Drive, Bethel Park. BRP is an entertainment provider for events.

The Children's Place.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Children's Place, a Secaucus, N.J.-based retailer of children's clothing, opened a store in the Century lit Mall in West Mifflin.

L.B. Foster Co.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Green Tree-based L.B. Foster Co. and Maverick Tube Corp. of St. Louis have entered into an exclusive marketing and production agreement for piling pipe products. Maverick will sell prime piling pipe exclusively to L.B. Foster and, in turn, L....

Management Science Associates Inc.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Management Science Associates Inc. and Precision Therapeutics Inc. signed an agreement to develop an informatics management system for cancer. MSA is a Point Breeze-based provider of informatics, data management and analytics. PTI is a...

Neville Chemical Co.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... North Side-based Neville Chemical Co. completed a plant expansion of its European facility based in the Netherlands. Neville is a manufacturer of hydrocarbon resins for printing inks, adhesives, coatings and rubber products.

Precise Technology Inc.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Precise Technology Inc. will open its fourth customer-aligned production facility in Bridgeport, N.J. Based in North Versailles, Precise is a contract injection molder serving the packaging and medical markets.

Sweeney Metz Fox McGrann & Schermer.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Sweeney Metz Fox McGrann & Schermer, a Downtown law firm, changed its name to Metz Schermer & Lewis.

EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc.(for American Axle skylights)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc. received a contract to furnish skylights in two plants at American Axle in Detroit. Based in Etna, EXTECH manufactures industrial and architectural skylights and windows.