Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from July 2006

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from July 2006

Deadline looms for Boise convention center.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson The Greater Boise Auditorium District board on July 10 will consider raising the tax on hotel rooms in the area from 4 percent to 5 percent to help pay for a new convention center. The meeting is at noon at Boise...

Exec Mark Durcan sees Boise-based Micron from ground up.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert Before Mark Durcan was hired in 1984, Micron had about 750 employees as it attempted to staff its second wafer fabrication facility. Today the company has 22,000 employees worldwide, and Durcan is Micron's chief...

Boise behind in municipal golf courses.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson For years, golfers have wondered why Boise doesn't have more than one municipal golf course. Nampa has two 18-hole courses and a nine-hole course. Caldwell has an 18-hole course and a nine-hole course. Spokane, Idaho...

City plans development of new Meridian interchange.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson The Meridian City Council on June 22 approved a $97,460 contract with a Boise firm to plan the area of the future Ten Mile Interchange. The Idaho Transportation Department won't finish the Ten Mile Road interchange...

Boise-based Micron Technology Inc. reports net income of $89M for its fiscal third quarter.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Micron Technology Inc. reported net income of $89 million, or 12 cents per share, for its fiscal third quarter, which ended June 1. That compared to a $127.9 million net loss for the same period one year ago, when...

Boise hotel 'topped' with good-luck pine tree.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report The first Cambria Suites hotel in the United States is well along in construction at the Vista Avenue interchange off Interstate 84 in Boise. Danda Contractors, Clackamas, Ore., expects to finish the four-story,...

U.S. District Court judge expands lawsuit against four Boise real estate firms.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson A U.S. District Court judge on June 23 certified a class-action lawsuit that claims several large Boise real estate agencies charged illegal commissions. The suit was filed in May 2005 against defendants Coldwell...

Public comments wanted on Idaho's regional transportation plan.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report The public has until Sept. 30 to comment on a long-range regional transportation plan. The Board of the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS), at its meeting last month agreed to extend the...

Commentary: Idaho business community key to success of cancer fundraiser.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Rick Carpenter The little boy danced around luminarias at the Boise Relay For Life in a celebratory spirit, while others were having more somber moments, thinking of loved ones lost to cancer. I appreciated his parents not...

New downtown Boise building trying to attract more tenants.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson The new Banner Bank Building in downtown Boise is nowhere near full, but owners are hopeful that more businesses will choose to occupy the "green" building. Developers have found tenants for more than one-third of the...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: July 3, 2006.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Wayne Johnson, who owns the Anglers Habitat fly shop, purchased a 5,760-square-foot retail building at 716 Blaine St., Caldwell. Bob Sabino of Arthur Berry & Co. represented the seller, Warren Properties Inc. ...

Building Permits.
July 3, 2006... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPEOWNERBUILDERLOCATIONVALUE 01777-Ind School Dist.not listed 1105 N 13th St184,393 01781-signnot listedYesco8605 W Fairview Ave. 1,000 01762-roofRaja PatelOutstanding Roof1600 W Main St35,136...

Ada County considers new foothills homes.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Cartwright Ranch LLC, the developers of Hidden Springs in the north Boise foothills, has submitted an application for the Cartwright Ranch Planned Community. The development is proposed as an extension of the...

Idaho's property taxes explained in Internet video.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report With the click of a mouse, Ada County residents watch an educational video about Idaho's property tax system. Anyone who visits www.adaweb.net will have access to an eight-minute video that explains how Ada...

Idaho incomes sluggish in first three months of 2006.
July 3, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Personal income growth in Idaho slowed to a crawl during the first three months of 2006, stymied by a dramatic decline in estimated first quarter farm earnings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis....

Lawyers at Idaho firm earn national recognition.
July 3, 2006... Lawyers at Idaho firm earn national recognition Holland & Hart's Boise office was recognized with eight attorneys and four practice areas within the top rankings of this year's Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers...

Stanley Consulting employee passes engineering exam.
July 3, 2006... Stanley Consulting employee passes engineering exam Chang Ream, transportation engineer with Stanley Consultants, has passed the professional engineering exam in Idaho, and is now a licensed professional engineer. This achievement...

Idaho Business Review.
July 3, 2006... WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Member Orientation, 7:30-9 a.m., chamber headquarters lower level, 250 S. Fifth St., Boise. Information/RSVP: 472-5259, jhernandez@boisechamber.org, or www.boisechamber.org. THURSDAY, JULY...

Lawyers at Idaho firm earn national recognition.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Holland & Hart's Boise office was recognized with eight attorneys and four practice areas within the top rankings of this year's Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers USA...

Former Idaho Power exec to lead foundation.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Joe W. Marshall was named a director of the Idaho Community Foundation, a statewide public charity with assets of approximately $60 million. Marshall is the former chief executive officer and...

Treasure Valley Engineers adds three staffers.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Treasure Valley Engineers Inc. has added new staff as follows: Kris Kettelle, senior civil designer, Kristin Holtz, human resources director, and a returning employee, Michelle Marsh, office...

Idaho New York Life office selects 'Agent of the Year'.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Scott Cleveland, managing partner of the Idaho General Office of New York Life Insurance Company, announced that Thomas G. Dater, CLU is the Agent of the Year. A New York Life agent for 34 years,...

Idaho banking group donates to Boise Public Schools.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Bank of America has donated $8,500 to the Red Apple Campaign, an effort of the Boise Public Schools Education Foundation. "This is a great partnership for Bank of America and the Boise Public...

New loan officer joins Boise office of D.L. Evans Bank.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Libby Butts has joined D.L. Evans Bank as a real estate loan officer. Butts has lived in the Treasure Valley for two years after residing in Colorado and Northern California. She has an...

Boise Chamber gets new director for communications.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Diane Taylor has joined the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce as the communications manager. She is responsible for the press releases, ENews, Chamber newsletter, website, and other communications....

New administrator for Boise Chamber of Commerce hired.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Yvette Bailey is the new operations administrator for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Bailey will be responsible for all administrative and accounting functions, as well as providing support...

Civil, transportation engineers working for Forsgren Associates in its Boise office.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Forsgren Associates announced that J. Channing Syms has joined its Boise office as an engineer in training. Syms has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. He brings skilled experience...

New development manager joins Idaho Independent Bank.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Kurt R. Gustavel, president of Idaho Independent Bank (IIB), announced the appointment of R. Gary Gribben as business development and banking manager. Gribben will be responsible for establishing...

City of Meridian hires full-time purchasing agent.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd has announced Keith Watts has joined the city's finance department as a full-time purchasing agent. In this role he is responsible for compliance with all purchasing...

New vice president, development lender at Idaho KeyBank.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report KeyBank has announced the promotion of Jennifer Seamons to assistant vice president, community development, for its Idaho district. As an economic development lender for KeyBank, Seamons is...

Stanley Consulting employee passes engineering exam in Idaho.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Chang Ream, transportation engineer with Stanley Consultants, has passed the professional engineering exam in Idaho, and is now a licensed professional engineer. This achievement demonstrates his...

Meridian woman on GOP business advisory panel.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Jeanette Stark of Meridian has been appointed to serve on the committee's Business Advisory Council. Stark will serve the State of Idaho...

Electrical engineer joins Boise office of CSHQA.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report CSHQA, a Boise-based architecture/engineering firm, has hired Dan McCrea, an electrical engineer with more than 11 year experience. He is involved with the design and review of electrical systems...

Big box retailer eyeing Eagle.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson An applicant out of Bentonville, Ark., wants to use the corner of a busy Eagle intersection for commercial development. The applicant, Seayco-Perry, is based in the same town as the corporate headquarters for Wal-Mart....

Treasure Valley businessmen are jumping at the chance.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Rick Carpenter Architect Rick Stewart doesn't quite fit the mold of journalist Clark Kent, but four days a week Stewart strips his business attire, dons a parachute suit and flies like Superman. Stewart, who videos and photographs...

Former Albertsons executives helping Idaho Youth Ranch store in Boise modernize.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson Free inventory isn't enough to guarantee continued success at Idaho Youth Ranch thrift stores. The non-profit is now getting free help from retired Albertsons executives. "We think the stores are doing well, but the...

Idaho's largest newspaper gets third new owner in 11 months.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson Idaho's largest newspaper got its third owner in less than a year when Knight-Ridder shareholders approved one of the biggest media deals in U.S. history. The Knight-Ridder chain, which owned Boise's Idaho Statesman,...

50 workers, executives to leave MPC Computers in Nampa.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert MPC Computers in Nampa laid off 50 people last week, and President and CEO Mike Adkins left the company. After the layoffs, MPC Computers will employ 630 people, Vice President of Marketing Ross Ely said. That's down...

Entry deadline nears for Idaho Innovation Awards.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Law firm Stoel Rives will accept entries through July 14 for the Idaho Innovation Awards, which recognize companies in eight technology and science sectors. The categories for the awards program are: agriculture,...

Idaho Falls-based Optimal Solutions Software wins TechLaunch 3.0 competition.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert The Idaho Falls company that won this year's TechLaunch 3.0 competition makes a software program to make race cars quicker, airplanes faster and a space shuttle more efficient. Optimal Solutions Software makes a...

Boise Southwest Rotary Club donates funds.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Boise Southwest Rotary Club has donated $8,500 to the Garden City Community Free Clinic. The Garden City Community Clinic was established in December 2002 by Boise physicians Karl Watts and Susie Dillion. The...

Idaho Department of Finance shuts down phony escrow Web sites.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert The Web sites of two fraudulent escrow companies have been shut down by the Idaho Department of Finance. Department officials issued cease-and-desist orders to Banker-Trust.com on June 19 and to Federal-Trust.com later...

Idaho Assn. of Commerce & Industry to hold conference this weekend.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report The governor of Idaho and two men vying to take his place are featured speakers this week at the 32nd Public Affairs Conference of the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry trade group. Idaho's 31st governor,...

Commenrary: Journalists need to push back PR.
July 10, 2006... Byline: John Foster The latest buzzword in the newspaper business is "openness." The Spokane Spokesman-Review is now web-casting its daily editorial meetings. The Rocky Mountain News website has daily "blogs" written by editors. The Idaho...

Time to find deals in commercial real estate rental market in Idaho.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson On the long list of tasks a business owner or manager must do to survive in the competitive Idaho market, finding a new location used to rank behind drumming up new business and keeping existing clients happy. But now,...

Commentary: 'Touchy-feely nonsense'.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Dan Bobinski Not long ago I began a series of classes with a small group of relatively new managers. Some had been managers for a few years, others a few months. After the customary introductions I said, "Okay, we're going to be...

Big plans for old Boise Cascade sawmill site in Horseshoe Bend.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson The new owner of the old Horseshoe Bend sawmill is planning a commercial and residential development on the 75-acre site. Kathryn Volin's company, Ultimate Log & Custom Homes, bought the former Boise Cascade sawmill...

Two Idaho companies fined for Federal Air Act violations.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently penalized two Idaho facilities for Federal Clean Air Act violations. According to a statement, the EPA issued a $1,200 penalty to BHS Marketing in Nampa and an $800...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: July 10, 2006.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Rick Lane Construction Inc. purchased 2.4 acres of vacant property for construction of its corporate offices at 2817 Brandt Ave., Nampa. Dennis Koontz of Team Realty represented the buyer and Mike Merritt and Craig...

Boise-area construction bid briefs: July 10, 2006.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Bids are to be opened at 10 a.m. July 10 for construction of a Walker Street Utility Building for the Blackfoot School District. Plans are available from John Dixson Associates Architects, 200 Park St., Blackfoot,...

Boise-Area Construction Briefs: July 10, 2006.
July 10, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Bob Fritz, Spokane, is general contractor for a Western Leasing LLC auto rental building on Idaline Road, Post Falls. Cost: $477,224. Interstate Concrete & Asphalt, Coeur d'Alene, is general contractor for The...

Idaho Building Permits: July 10, 2006.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPEOWNERBUILDERLOCATIONVALUE 01847-roofB3S LLCMountain States Rf1529 W Washington St23,400 01882-signnot listedYesco1515 S Orchard St.2,000 01837-signnot...

Commentary: Get the right kind of advice.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Peter J. Butler and Keith A. Pinkerton We recently valued a manufacturing company with two distinct product lines, let's call them Products A and B. We expect Product A to have substantial growth, and Product B slightly less...

Engineering firm expands with 17 new employees.
July 10, 2006... Engineering firm expands with 17 new employees Materials Testing and Inspection (MTI), a Boise based engineering consulting firm, has been hiring in recent months. Hires include: Elizabeth Brown (geotechnical department), Gregg Buekelman...

Boise-based engineering firm expands with 17 new employees.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Materials Testing and Inspection (MTI), a Boise based engineering consulting firm, has been hiring in recent months. Hires include: Elizabeth Brown (geotechnical department), Gregg Buekelman (geotechnical...

Boise-based Primary Health, Inc. has new finance officer, chief actuary.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Dennis V. Bruns was recently promoted to senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Primary Health, Inc., a health insurance provider, physician network, and third party...

Graphic designer joins Boise marketing firm.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Rizen Creative, a Boise-based marketing firm, has added Brian Gibeault as a graphic designer. Gibeault most recently served as a graphic designer for Golbon where he provided graphic support for the...

Former Realtor joins development as marketing director in Sun Valley.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff David Wilkinson has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village. He will oversee marketing and sales activities for the new Sun Valley Lodge, which will be...

Former Realtor joins development as marketing director.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff David Wilkinson has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village. He will oversee marketing and sales activities for the new Sun Valley Lodge, which will be...

New associates join real estate firm in Boise.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Windermere Real Estate has announced the addition of the following sales associates to its Richard B. Smith office. Sales associate Lori Hills was formerly a sales associate at Keller Williams. In...

Boise State University professor named director of health policy center.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Boise State University has named Ed Baker director of the Center for Health Policy. Currently an assistant professor of community and environmental health, Baker has 20 years of experience in health care...

Former M-K leader elected to board of Boise firm OX-GEN.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Steven Y. Chi, former president of the Morrison Knudsen Corp. mining group, has been elected to the board of directors of OX-GEN, Inc., which offers a non-explosive, non-flammable two-hour oxygen unit...

Boise insurance agents recognized for volunteer work.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Allstate Agent Mark Freemyer received the "Agency Hands in the Community" award for his commitment to volunteering in the community. With the award comes a $500 grant from The Allstate Foundation for the...

New auditor hired by Idaho Independent Bank.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Carla Owen has been hired as an internal auditor at Idaho Independent Bank. She has one-and-a-half years auditing experience and seven years banking experience. Prior to joining Idaho Independent Bank,...

Construction firm in Boise hires new office manager.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Candice Kittrell is the new office manager at McAlvain Construction. Kittrell has years of experience in management, human resource and administrative procedures. Her responsibilities include assistant...

Walkup named new project manager for McAlvain Construction in Boise.
July 10, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Jeremy Walkup is the new excavation project manager at McAlvain Construction. He is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a degree in mining engineering, and has five years of excavation, civil road...

Explosions at a New Plymouth biodiesel plant slow development of promising Idaho industry.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert Explosions and a fire killed a worker at a New Plymouth biodiesel plant July 7. Now area residents and Idaho business watchers are wondering if the accident will slow development of a promising industry just getting...

Idaho legislators receive sponsorships for industry conference.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson Idaho businesses and the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry paid for some legislators to attend the IACI annual conference last weekend at Tamarack Resort. And that's OK, as long as the sponsorships are properly...

34 states sue Boise-based Micron Technology.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert The attorneys general of 34 states on July 13 announced lawsuits against Boise-based Micron Technology and seven other chipmakers. All are accused of price-fixing. The lawsuits represent schools, local governments,...

Idaho Business Review to host open house at new offices in downtown Boise.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report The Idaho Business Review is hosting an open house July 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at our offices in the new BoDo district of downtown Boise. The publisher, editors, reporters, administrative staff and...

Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry proposal would hike member fees.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry leaders had the state's political landscape in mind when they titled their annual public affairs conference "The Changing of the Guard." IACI itself was on the verge of change...

Idaho in the running for cellulose ethanol plant.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert One of the world's largest alternative energy companies has narrowed its site choices for an ethanol plant to two: eastern Idaho and Saskatchewan, an Idaho official said. Kipp Hicks is the executive director of...

Hewlett-Packard plans closure of some sites.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert A Hewlett-Packard press release landed in media in-boxes two weeks ago. "HP today took another step in the company's efforts to streamline operations by announcing a four-year program to ensure that its workspaces...

Greater Boise Auditorium District Board approves tax hike.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson A Boise hotel manager is considering a legal response to a tax increase approved July 10 by the Greater Boise Auditorium District Board. The Board voted 4-0 to raise the tax on hotel rooms from 4 percent to 5 percent....

Idaho governor believes transit tax election unlikely.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Brad Carlson In his frequent travels around Idaho since becoming governor seven weeks ago, Jim Risch sees less regional conflict and increasing support for property tax relief. Risch, on a tour of the western Treasure Valley July...

Downtown Boise businesses now need permits to serve alcohol.
July 17, 2006... Byline: John M. Foster The monthly First Thursday event in downtown Boise two weeks ago was less festive than usual. Some merchants and gallery owners were forced to refrain from the traditional free wine tastings because they did not have...

Boise's small-business owners know hard work.
July 17, 2006... Byline: John M. Foster It is, hands down, the best restaurant name in Boise: Donnie Mac's Trailer Park Cuisine. Donnie MacKenzie, a former owner of the MacKenzie River Pizza restaurants in Idaho, opened the burger joint earlier this year...

Accident wouldn't deter biodiesel use.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Not at this time. I would need to do a lot more research into biodiesel products before I could commit to making a shift. Jerry Nemec President Nemec Construction Inc. Boise A few key business factors that we...

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo supports guest worker plan.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo believes immigration reform should include some kind of guest worker program for those who want temporary work in the U.S. However, the Idaho Republican does not believe that an immigrant's...

Idaho joins suit against Micron.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert On July 14, Idaho joined 33 states that sued Boise-based Micron Technology and other computer chip manufacturers on charges of price-fixing. The lawsuits allege Micron and other manufacturers conspired to artificially...

U.S. Sen Mike Crapo decries fierce partisanship.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert U.S. Sen Mike Crapo, who has served in both houses of Congress, engaged the Chamber members with his simple explanations of our nation's legislative branch. The senator said the House of Representatives is like hunting...

Boise-based Micron imposes new bonus plan.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert Micron plans to change its bonus plan so employees are rewarded based on performance. The new plan, scheduled to start Sept. 1, replaces a profit-sharing plan that gives bonuses uniformly to all employees. Employees...

Former MPC Computers leader receives $169k.
July 17, 2006... Byline: IBR Staff Report Former MPC Computers CEO Mike Adkins will receive a $169,230 severance package, the equivalent of 22 weeks of his salary, according to documents filed last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Two...

Boise business leaders fight FAA.
July 17, 2006... Byline: Lora Volkert Federal officials said they can save taxpayer money if they consolidate the TRACON centers. But opponents, including both Idaho congressmen, both Idaho senators, Gov. Jim Risch, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, commercial...