Dallas Business Journal articles from October 2001

Dallas Business Journal archives from October 2001

Favored few nab 8(a) work.
October 5, 2001... Despite reforms, just 218 of 6,000 firms dominate SBA's minority-contracting program WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rodney P. Hunt started RS Information Systems in 1992 with $5,000, an idea and an edge. His idea: Combining information technology...

Dallas patent fight targets Ericsson Inc.
October 5, 2001... PLANO -- An 8-year patent battle in Dallas pitting InterDigital Communications Corp. against one of the world's biggest cellphone makers, Ericsson Inc., has moved into mediation and may be headed to eventual settlement. Some InterDigital...

Rethinking space.
October 5, 2001... The terror attacks spur D-FW firms to reconsider safety security in assessing their property needs GREATER METROPLEX -- Local companies are reexamining their real estate decisions in the wake of Sept. 11, looking closer at backup data...

Getting backers for the basics.
October 5, 2001... Venture company B4 prefers traditional over trendy PLANO -- The fallout in technology over the past 18 months means "basic" businesses are suddenly cool. And B4 Ventures L.L.C. is looking to capitalize. Based in Plano, the...

Moving in.
October 5, 2001... FORT WORTH -- Two long-time downtown Fort Worth businesses are relocating to the rebuilt Cash America building at 1700 W. Seventh St. at the edge of the Central Business District. The nine-story building, rebuilt after it was destroyed by...

New pen for Piggly.
October 5, 2001... LEWISVILLE -- Piggly Wiggly Co. is moving its headquarters from Memphis, Tenn., to the Metroplex, where corporate parent Fleming Cos. Inc. is based. Piggly Wiggly, a franchisor for more than 600 independently owned grocery stores in 16...

Going global.
October 5, 2001... UPTOWN -- Randy Cooper has left Equis Corp. to join Insignia/ESG as senior managing director. Cooper founded the Dallas office of Equis in 1997. In its second year, the branch had grown to the fifth-highest producing of the company's 30...

Saddling up at Railhead.
October 5, 2001... FORT WORTH -- Lakeland, Fla.-based Saddle Creek Corp. is expanding its presence in the Metroplex. The logistics company has a 355,000-square-foot distribution and warehouse facility in Valwood at 12845 Valley Branch Lane. Now it's building a...

Homes for the future.
October 5, 2001... GRAPEVINE -- Dallas-based Duke Inc. is completing its second phase of a 100-acre apartment development north of Grapevine Mills mall and is seeking funding for its third phase, a 19-acre complex with 348 units. The first phase was a...

JPMorgan Chase lays off 200 statewide.
October 5, 2001... Bulk of cuts in Metroplex and Houston GREATER METROPLEX -- JPMorgan Chase Texas is laying off 200 people across the state. The bulk of eliminated bankers and staff will be concentrated in the Metroplex and Houston markets. David...

TWA retirees file lawsuit for free flying benefits.
October 5, 2001... Suit says American reneged on a promise DOWNTOWN DALLAS -- Retirees of bankrupt TWA Airlines L.L.C. are suing American Airlines Inc. and its parent company AMR Corp., claiming The Fort Worth-based carrier reneged on a promise to maintain...

Homebuilders forge ahead, albeit anxiously.
October 5, 2001... Some cut jobs and costs, others buy land GREATER METROPLEX -- Although area homebuilders just wrapped up a record third quarter for home closings, some are reacting quicker than others to signs of a sluggish housing market. ...

Restrictions zap small airport profits.
October 5, 2001... ADDISON AIRPORT -- Tim Sudderth, president of Classic Aviation Inc. at Addison Airport, has been losing several thousand dollars a day since the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks. The Federal Aviation Administration's decision to reopen much of...

Third company in Iris Group stumbles.
October 5, 2001... Death knell rings for Metera after funding dries up RICHARDSON -- Who's next? That question has circulated in the Telecom Corridor after the latest high-flying member of the telecommunications industry came crashing to Earth last week....

Wal-Mart wins first round in land dispute.
October 5, 2001... Plaintiffs say mammoth retailer is trespassing DENTON -- Two businessmen suing Wal-Mart lost their fight for a temporary injunction barring Wal-Mart from crossing a narrow strip of land along-side the retailer's new distribution center in...

Ionex relocating, plans to hire additional staff.
October 5, 2001... NORTH DALLAS -- Ionex telecommunications inc. is consolidating its operations, though officials say they are continuing to see demand from small and midsized businesses for the phone and data services the company provides. The company...

UNTHSC, Saudi health care company in talks.
October 5, 2001... FORT WORTH -- The University of North Texas Health Science Center is in discussions with a Saudi Arabian company to offer medical consulting and possibly collaborate on establishing a public health school there. The Fort Worth medical...

CentrePort move for growing Snap-on ToolS.
October 5, 2001... Build-to-suit scheduled for Feb. 15 completion FORT WORTH - Kenosha, Wisc.-based Snap-on Tools is expanding its Metroplex presence with a build-to-suit on Diplomacy Drive in CentrePort Business Park. The hand-tool manufacturer and...

Rooftops and retailers heading to Mansfield.
October 5, 2001... MANSFIELD -- John Hodge wanted to take advantage of the retail boom in Mansfield when his company, Arcadia Realty, recently closed on purchasing 269 acres. The Dallas developer now has plans for 690 single-family homes in a city that has...

Synergy plans industrial parks close to Alliance.
October 5, 2001... Sites viewed as economic alternative for companies FORT WORTH -- Synergy Properties Group of Fort Worth plans to develop 345 acres into two industrial parks just south of Alliance. Hap Baggett, president of Synergy, said companies that...

PWI to open four D-FW distribution centers.
October 5, 2001... FORT WORTH -- Parts Warehouse Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Midas, will open four distribution centers in the Metroplex as part of a nationwide expansion. Midas (NYSE: MDS) established PWI last year as a network of small operations...

Denton move, expansion for Alcoa division.
October 5, 2001... DENTON -- A division of Alcoa Inc. that supplies Denton's Peterbilt plant will relocate from ponder Denton and more than triple its size. Jon Koster, a broker with Fischer & Co. in Dallas who represents Alcoa, said the division Alcoa...

Monarch in message posting suit.
October 5, 2001... NORTH DALLAS -- In the midst of restructuring, Dallas-based Monarch Dental Corp. is suing two employees for disclosing confidential information on a Yahoo! message board. The employees -- referred to as John Doe and Jane Doe in Dallas...

Cynthia D. Webb.
October 5, 2001... Cynthia D. Webb Lambert, 58, is president and founder of The Mozzarella Co., a Dallas-based producer of hand-crafted cheeses. The 19-year-old company's mozzarella was honored as the best mozzarella in America in August by the American...

Credit card late-payments are on the rise are on the rise.
October 5, 2001... Delinquency rate reaches a 21-year high GREATER METROPLEX -- Credit card delinquencies are at a two-decade high. In the second quarter, 3.93% of all accounts were not paid on time, the highest rate in 21 years, according to the...

Managed care gets low score from public.
October 5, 2001... The health care industry received mixed reviews in a recent national survey by The M Booth/Harris Trust Monitor, which asked the public how much they trust industries to do the right thing if faced with a serious problem with a product. ...

Looking to expand.
October 5, 2001... As Cumbre Inc. celebrates last month's announcement that it received $26 million in second-round funding, the new biotechnology company has plans to expand its 12-person work force to 30 by the end of 2002. Newly named CEO Bob England said most...

Making the rounds.
October 5, 2001... * Cedar Valley College in Lancaster's distance-education veterinary technology program has become one of only three such programs nationwide to receive accreditation from the American Veterinary Association. Brian Heim, Cedar Valley's...

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
October 5, 2001... North Hills Hospital-has received accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for meeting national standards for health care. The 144-bed hospital was founded in 1961 and is the largest employer in North...

Christus Health.
October 5, 2001... Dallas-based Christus Health recently gave nearly $500,000 in funding to 13 community initiatives for the poor and underserved. Some grants were for those rebuilding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison, including $15,000 to the American...

Transwestern gets Centrum leasing duties.
October 5, 2001... Transwestern Commercial Services is on a roll. The full-service commercial real estate firm has just been given the leasing and management assignment for The Centrum, a 19-story, 450,000-square-foot mixed-use complex in Dallas; At 3102 Oak...

New assignment.
October 5, 2001... Bradford Cos. has snagged another big assignment with ties to the Sunflower State. Wichita, Kan.-based investor George Ablah recently hired Bradford to lease and manage his 410,000-squarefoot DFW Distribution Center. Now Petroleum Inc., also...

Jackson Walker L.L.P.
October 5, 2001... Jackson Walker L.L.P. has extended and renewed its lease for 141,000 square feet in Bank of America Plaza at 901 Main St. William Zei with McLeod-Zei Inc. represented the law firm in the deal. Daryl Mullin, Lawrence Gardner and Jeri Hadsell of...

Consumer Plumbing Recovery.
October 5, 2001... Perez, Christine Consumer Plumbing Recovery center has signed a three-year lease for 17,100 square feet at 500 N. Central Expwy. in the Atrium at Collin Ridge in Piano. Total consideration was $1.233 million. The landlord, The Shidler...

Love Box Co. Inc.
October 5, 2001... Wichita-based Love Box Co. Inc. one of the nation's largest, independently owned corrugated-box manufacturing companies, has extended its lease on 389,684 square feet of warehouse space in the Great Southwest industrial park. Mark Skinner, vice...

Sprint PCS.
October 5, 2001... Sprint PCS has expanded and renewed its lease in Mockingbird Towers at 1341 Mockingbird Lane in Dallas. Tom Freeman of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the tenant in its 17,730-squarefoot lease. Mark Parker of Stream Realty represented the...

Long Beach Mortgage Co.
October 5, 2001... Long Beach Mortgage Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington Mutual, has leased 13,130 square feet at Parkway Centre III, 2745 N. Dallas Pkwy. in Piano. Michael Bowles of The John Bowles Co. represented the tenant in negotiations with Randy...

The Alliance of Dallas Educatols Inc.
October 5, 2001... The Alliance of Dallas Educatols Inc. has purchased a 16,000-square-foot office building in Oak Cliff at 334 Centre St. from a group of local investors. Monte Anderson of Options Real Estate and Gregory Blandford of McCaslin Commercial...

Reunion Title.
October 5, 2001... Reunion Title has opened a new office in the Park Cities. Lisa Harvell will head operations at 6125 Sherry Lane. Beth LaBella is vice president and escrow officer and Courtney Crawford will serve as vice president, business development....

Hank Glasgow.
October 5, 2001... Hank Glasgow has joined The Apartment Group as senior vice president. The 10-year old, Dallas-based company represents owners in the sale of multifamily properties, primarily in the Metroplex, Austin and San Antonio. Glasgow previously worked...

A down market offers some opportunities.
October 5, 2001... The current economic climate might be the perfect time to get into the market, as high-yield companies find their stock prices slipping. Many of the country's largest. companies are finding themselves in distress, as the market continues to...

TXU Electric.
October 5, 2001... TXU Electric has started a tender program for 12 series of outstanding tax-exempt bonds aggregating $682 million. The bonds, issued by the Brazos River Authority and the Sabine River Authority of Texas, funded a portion of "certain...

The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
October 5, 2001... Reservists and members of the National Guard called to active duty will receive a cut in their home loan interest rates for the first time since the Gulf War. Under the 1940 Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, the Department of...

The DBJ venture capital survey.
October 5, 2001... Third-quarter research for the DBJ venture capital survey is gearing up. The survey measures private-equity capital invested in Metroplex companies as well as money funneled by local firms to outside entities. If a company fits the above...

'Let's get back to business,' one flier says.
October 5, 2001... Dallas businessman Gary VonKennel, a frequent flyer on American Airlines, was less than two miles from the World Trade Center when it blew up in smoke Sept. 11. The chairman and CEO of Tracy Locke Partnership, a Dallas-based advertising...

Dynamex delivers.
October 5, 2001... Dallas-based Dynamex Inc., a provider of same-day delivery and logistics services in North America, reports that while its business was hurt Sept. 11 by the terrorism attacks, in the days following it saw some increases in shipping activity,...

Eatery vets unite to create new steakhouse.
October 5, 2001... The busy Dallas North Tollway restaurant corridor gains another steakhouse with the Oct. 9 opening of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. The newest steakhouse to enter the crowded Dallas, restaurant scene, Fleming's joins nearby...

Southwest Center Mall.
October 5, 2001... The mall division of commerical real estate giant Insignia/ESG has been tapped to handle leasing and management for Southwest Center Mall in Dallas and will oversee redevelopment of the property. Bill Morris, Joe Dubuc and James E. Ledbetter of...

North East Mall.
October 5, 2001... Longtime Foley's manager Greg Endsley has been named vice president/store manager of the new store at North East Mall in Hurst: The 240,000-square-foot store opens Oct. 17. Endsley has been with the company since 1981 and most recently was...

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House.
October 5, 2001... Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House has joined the Dine for America program. It will donate all receipts from Oct. 11 sales from its five locations -- including Dallas and Fort Worth -- to the American Red Cross.

Preston Parkway Shopping Center.
October 5, 2001... Mexican restaurant Luna de Noche has opened its third location, this one in Preston Parkway Shopping Center at Preston Road and Plano Parkway. Greg Pierce and David English of Corrigan Real Estate. Services represented the restaurant company,...

Golden Triangle Mall.
October 5, 2001... Golden Triangle Mall is sporting some tenants with new looks. J's Hallmark has remodeled, as has Morrow's Nuthouse. Hair salons Mastercuts and Regis also have remodeled. Zales and El Chico also are slated for new looks.

Hope springs eternal for voice-over DSL.
October 5, 2001... Though there hasn't been much buzz lately about much in technology, one thing that still raises interest is voice-over DSL. DSL, or digital subscriber line technology, is a means of supplying high-speed Internet access over the copper...

It's time for.
October 5, 2001... ... our research to kick off on our survey of third-quarter, private-equity investments in and by Metroplex-based companies. So if your local, privately held company received any equity funding, or if your local firm invested in a private...

Small infractions, big problems.
October 5, 2001... when this small-business owner ran afoul of the U.S. Commerce Department, he learned ignorance of the law is no excuse STEMMONS CORRIDOR -- Furniture exporter George Moussa has two words of advice for any entrepreneur shipping products...

'Another Casualty'.
October 5, 2001... The shocking events of Sept. 11. will have a profound and long-term effect on the airline and the air cargo industries, according to experts quoted here. The world is revisiting aviation-security processes and procedures to prevent such attacks...

'Fast Talk'.
October 5, 2001... A roundtable discussion with executives from Staples.com, Fidelity Investments, Forrester Research Inc., Reebok International, Digitas Inc. and others about the state of the customer economy. Are companies fulfilling the promise of the economy...

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
October 5, 2001... Provides news of U.S. international-trade policy with the latest agreements, reports and details of trade-related matters. www.ustr.gov

'A Basic Guide to Exporting'.
October 5, 2001... By U.S. Department of Commerce A guide designed to help U.S. firms learn the costs and risks associated with exporting and developing a strategy for success. Discusses what decisions need to be made and where to get the knowledge to make them....

'Short Course in International Contracts: Drafting the International Sales Contract -- For Attorneys and Non-Attorneys'.
October 5, 2001... A short course in international trade, this book discusses the key ways in which international contracts differ from domestic ones while also making note of cultural influences on contracting. Emphasizes keeping contracts short and simple while...

Jaws encounter.
October 5, 2001... There are some brave souls who plummet to the depths of the ocean on shark-watching expeditions, but why risk it? Instead, see "Island of the Sharks," a 2-D film that has audiences seemingly immersed underwater with sharks, manta rays and giant...

Pretty horses.
October 5, 2001... The Southfork Ranch, stomping ground for the TV series "Dallas," is presenting a 24-day exhibit at the 2001 State Fair of Texas profiling several American horse breeds, including American Paint Horses, Appaloosas and American Miniature Horses....

Thoughtful food.
October 5, 2001... Rice Boxx Asian Cafe has found a great way to mix philanthropy with not having to do dishes. On Oct. 6, five Metroplex-area Rice Boxx Asian Restaurants will donate 100% of their sales to the 9/11 Fund established by The New York Times to aid...

Audi S8: More horsepower and lots of luxury.
October 5, 2001... It looks like a bullet. And moves about as fast as one, too. "It" is the S8 luxury sedan, Audi's muscular, ultra-high-performance version of its A8 flagship. While it's been around Europe for awhile, the S8 is new to the U.S. market...

Tapatio Springs Resort: Ridge 9.
October 5, 2001... A testy, Hill Country nine Tee Time BOERNE -- As a player, Bill Johnston never really made a big impact on professional golf. The Utah native captured the Texas Open in 1958 and little else. But as a golf course designer, it's a...

People on the move.
October 5, 2001... ADVERTISING & MARKETING Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations added Michelle Clark as public relations account executive and Rebekah LaMontagne as client service associate. ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN John Wilson was promoted to...

EDS signs Australian deal.
October 5, 2001... Piano-based Electronic Data Systems Corp. and Westpac Banking Corp. of Australia have signed a 10-year, $679 million agreement for EDS to manage Westpac's mortgage processing operations. EDS will assume the operations of The Mortgage Centre in...

Fossil cuts earnings forecasts.
October 5, 2001... Watch and accessories maker Fossil Inc. cut its earnings outlook for the rest of the year, citing a weak retail sector further hurt by lower consumer confidence in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Richardson-based company said...

NCH gets buyout offer.
October 5, 2001... Irving-based NCH Corp. has received a buyout offer from President and Chairman Irvin Levy and his brother, Lester, on behalf of Levy family members, who currently own about 57% of the company's stock. Under the proposal, the Levy family would...

AdvancesPCS plans stock split.
October 5, 2001... AdvancePCS, which manages prescription-drug plan benefits, said its board has approved a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a dividend. The Irving-based company said this marks the second stock split since its initial public offering in October...

Westin hosts Armey nuptials.
October 5, 2001... The Westin Beechwood Fort Worth kicked off its grand opening with a 400-person wedding reception for Denton County Judge Scott Armey, who wed Carisa Fischer, an employee in the county clerk's office. The 286-room hotel opened officially on Oct....

American begins staff layoffs.
October 5, 2001... About 15,000 American Airlines, 1,700 American Eagle and 3,000 TWA employees will be laid off as part of parent company AMR Corp.'s reduction of about 20,000 jobs. Fort Worth-based American Airlines began the layoffs Sept. 28 and will continue...

Justin signs endorsement deal.
October 5, 2001... Texas singer/songwriter Pat Green has signed a three-year endorsement deal to wear Justin Original Workboots, made by Fort Worth-based Justin Brands. Value of the endorsement was not disclosed. Justin Brands also has former Texas Rangers...

Investor buys R&D Head.
October 5, 2001... Fort Worth entrepreneur John C. Taylor has purchased Fort Worth R&D Head Co., a tank-head manufacturer based in Saginaw. Taylor bought the company from co-founder Quinton Gilliland, who plans to retire. R&D, which started in 1963, plans to add...

If it ain't broke.
October 5, 2001... Metroplex banks see little need to amend the Community Reinvestment Act GREATER METROPLEX -- In 1977 the United States Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act. The legislation mandated that federally insured banks and savings...

MOST ACTIVE METROPLEX SBA LENDERS.
October 5, 2001... MOST ACTIVE METROPLEX SBA LENDERS RANKED BY GROSS AMOUNT OF LOCAL SBA LOANS APPROVED IN 2001 Gross amount of ...

Local banks cautious over online services.
October 5, 2001... Profitability is key factor in decision to implement Internet banking GREATER METROPLEX -- Believing their customers want banking with a personal touch -- not products offered online and answers delivered by e-mail -- many local community...

Customers still looking for personal attention.
October 5, 2001... GREATER METROPLEX--Online banking does not herald the end of cozy relationships with familiar tellers at your neighborhood bank, community bankers say. Personal contact is what most customers still want, many smaller banks believe. Online...

Need to reach out to women entrepreneurs.
October 5, 2001... Community banks can do much to change misconceptions PLANO -- Most people contemplating going to a bank to ask for a loan stop before they even begin, dreading being turned down. For many women entrepreneurs, fear of rejection is more than...

Out sourcing keens small banks competitive.
October 5, 2001... By using outside providers, small banks can provide equivalent services to their larger counterparts GREATER METROPLEX -- Replacing in-house services with outsourcing is becoming a popular way for companies to reduce overhead expenses. ...

Low-key approach to marketing and branding.
October 5, 2001... Branding is less of an issue for smaller banks that rely on local connections GREATER METROPLEX -- When choosing a banking institution, most people first look for a name they recognize and a brand with which they identify. Easily...

LARGEST METROPLEX COMMUNITY BANKS.
October 5, 2001... LARGEST METROPLEX COMMUNITY BANKS RANKED BY TOTAL DEPOSITS of $100 MILLIOIN OR LESS AS OF MARCH 31, 2001 2000 total Name...

LARGEST METROPLEX SBA LOANS.
October 5, 2001... LARGEST METROPLEX SBA LOANS RANKED BY LOAN AMOUNT RECEIVED Total Name Telephone loan Rank Address Fax...

Mary Anne Sammons Cree.
October 5, 2001... Mary Anne Sammons Cree, a Dallas philanthropist, was awarded the 2001 Flora Award. by the Texas Discovery Gardens for her contributions to education, beautification and conservation. North Richland Hills-based Franklin Awards, recognition...