Business First of Buffalo articles from February 2000

Business First of Buffalo archives from February 2000

Voice software works after it learns your voice.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... With 2001 looming, you may be starting to look around for HAL, and wondering why your computer doesn't answer back to you. Actually, it could, thanks to voice recognition software. Voice recognition technology allows a computer to...

Robot seeks competitive edge.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... It weighs less than 130 pounds, purrs when it crawls along the floor, and doesn't have much range with a basketball. But "Hank" -- a robot -- carries on its metallic, mechanical back the collective hopes of a team of Newfane High School...

Rigas sets deadline for downtown deal.(Tim Rigas of Adelphia Communications hopes to complete arrangements for a communications center in Buffalo, New York)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Tim Rigas says a deal can be worked out between his family's company, Adelphia Communications Corp., and state and area officials that could result in the largest private sector-led investment in downtown in decades. But, at the same...

Credit card schemes victimize small business.(small businesses are often the victims of those using stolen credit cards)
February 28, 2000... Bonnie Clewans is a victim of online credit card fraud. No one stole her card or used her identity in any way. Instead, as a small-business owner, she lost both product and payment after an online customer in California used an unreported...

5th Coast.('thumbs-up' and 'thumbs-down' recognitions to Buffalo, New York, area residents)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Thumbs up to Greg Mack, of Manulife Financial Insurance Company, who got Grammy nominee Michael Nowakowski of Buffalo tickets. Nowakowski couldn't afford to go until Mack came forward. Thumbs down to the NFTA for hiring former...

On the Street.(a fired bookkeeper and a suspended newscaster in the Buffalo, New York area)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... On the Street Discipline edition Subject Word on the street Broadway bookkeeper The Broadway Market had trouble paying its bill this past year....

The Iron Quarter.(Editorial)
February 28, 2000... If memory serves me right, Buffalo is in New York state Yet staffers in the Colonial Office in Albany again refuse to admit that life exists west of the Route 81 boundary that runs north-south from about Watertown to Binghamton. The...

Buffalo-made candy wins national taste test.(Day Spring Enterprises Inc.'s Rainbow Pops)
February 28, 2000... And the winner... Rainbow Pops, made here in Buffalo. So said the attendees at the recent American Wholesalers and Manufacturers Association who picked Rainbow Pops as their favorite candy/snack item, declaring the lollipops the Year...

Holding company merges local divisions.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... International Motion Control Inc., a Buffalo-based holding company, has merged its previously owned Hughes Industrial Products of Clarence with HiTech Power and Control of Williamsville, which it acquired last December. The two fluid...

Downtown restaurant changes name, menu.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... A downtown eatery has changed its name and image. Hooligans Restaurant and Bar, located at 268 Main St., has changed its name to City Grill and at the same time, introduced an upscale menu. The new chef is Mark Camalleri, formerly of...

Brief stint at BNE is history for Foels.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 28, 2000... John Foels' tenure with the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise lasted only slightly longer than the average football season. Foels, a former advertising executive and economic development official, joined the BNE staff last summer as director of...

Merger creates 10th largest automobile club.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The merger of the AAA Western and Central New York with the AAA Rochester will produce the nation's 10th largest auto mobile club network. The merger, which takes effect March 1, will see the new organization retain headquarters in...

Name switch is complete at former Lockport Savings.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Lockport Savings Bank checked out as a name Feb. 22. The new name is now First Niagara Bank All signs on buildings have been replaced with temporary signs and they, in turn, will be replaced with permanent new signs with the First...

Sabres suffer season of discontent.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Oh, woe the Sabres. In a mad scramble just to qualify for the playoffs, these are not exactly the best of times for the Buffalo Sabres. Here's why: * The prospective owners of the Buffalo Sabres, the Rigas family, say they are losing...

Defibrillators find homes at WNY businesses.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Western New York employers are ensuring quick response if sudden cardiac arrest strikes workers while on the job. They're buying automated external defibrillators and training staffers to use the units to shock an out-of-rhythm heart back...

Thermal Source bids for venture funding.(WNY Venture Association)
February 28, 2000... Thermal Source Inc. will make its pitch next week to members of the WNY Venture Association for $500,000 to fund marketing, Web site development and operations. The company is an Internet-based information service company focusing on the...

Two Bufffalo CPA firms consolidate operations.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Two Buffalo certified public accounting firms have merged to create a combined firm of 50 employees. The firms, Brock Schechter & Polakoff LLP and Levin & Go. LLP merged effective Jan. 1. Together the firms employ 33 GPAs, which will...

Chicago tour appeals to Wright buffs.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Chicago's present coupled with Buffalo's past may give Buffalo a glimpse into the future. On May 20, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Ill., will be hosting its annual "Wright Plus" tour...

Hospital earns national honors.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Kenmore Mercy Hospital has been named one of the top orthopedic hospitals for knee replacement procedures in a study of best-performing hospitals. The hospital, a member of the Catholic Health System, was one of three hospitals in the...

State, Roswell union trade contract offers.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... There are 4,500 workers in Western New York who are waiting for resolution to the year-long contract negotiations between Albany and the New York State Public Employees Federation. The group of professional, scientific and technical...

Metro Community News dumps mailing plan.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Owners of Metro Community News were considering switching the weekly free-distribution newspaper from home delivery to mail delivery but dropped the plan in January, the company's chief executive said. Because of the newspaper's...

YWCA seeks recruits for advocacy program.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The YWCA is recruiting women who want to learn more about lobbying and advocacy. The nonprofit agency will offer a two-day training workshop designed to prepare women to participate successfully in issue advocacy and to play a stronger...

NCCC medical program receives accreditation.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The medical assistant program at Niagara County Community College has received full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The graduates of the 25-year-old program are now eligible to take...

Amherst officials upbeat in wake of HSBC plans.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... HSBC Bank's decision to invest $353 million in a new Amherst technology campus is being hailed as a positive economic development sign for the region. HSBC, fresh off its late 1999 acquisition of Republic New York Corp., will begin a...

Acquisition boosts ABM revenues.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Advanced Business Machines will exceed $10 million in revenues this year thanks to the acquisition of a Kansas City area firm. ABM closed on the purchase of Avcorp Inc. on Jan.31 for an undisclosed amount. Both companies distribute...

Erie Community College adds baking sequence.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Erie Community College has added a baking sequence to its culinary arts technology program at the City Campus. The new option will allow students to focus on baking rather than hot food preparation and cooking. Four classes have been...

SBA, national foundation boost schools' programs.
February 28, 2000... A new program emphasizing entrepreneurism and small-business skills has been added to work experience options available to area students. Students will be matched with small businesses for internships and jobs through a new partnership...

M&T Foundation grant given to Buffalo Prep.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The M&T Charitable Foundation made a $15,000 grant to support Buffalo Prep's college and Career Adviser Program. Shelley Drake, administrative vice president of M&T Bank and president and chairman of the board, presented the check to...

Naming rights game could include malls.
February 28, 2000... We sell the naming rights to sports arenas, concert amphitheaters and, according to some, maybe even courthouses. What's next? Guess what, Discover Card last week paid $10 million for the 10-year naming rights for a mall in Atlanta....

'A Night on the Town'.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Landlords often do special things to make their tenants feel welcome. It's fairly common for them to host summertime cookouts or a fall fest. Ciminelli Development Co., however, raised the bar for its tenants. The developer took about...

Hello old friend.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Thanks to some recent political appointments, it was like "Old Home Days" at the Feb. 16 Erie County Industrial Development Agency board meeting. Ron Moline, who was recently appointed Town of Tonawanda supervisor after Carl Calabrese...

Bills' ticket price increase in line with other teams.
February 28, 2000... SPORTS BUSINESS NOTES Bills ticket price hike comparable to others. The Bills first ticket price hike in three seasons (face value, not counting the addition of club level seats) is on par with other National Football League teams that...

Kaleida highly ranked in national survey.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Kaleida Health has been ranked among the nation's leading integrated health systems by a Chicago-based health care information and marketing company. Kaleida is 40th among 532 health systems nationally, according to a report prepared by...

Heritage Centers opens Tonawanda residence.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Heritage Centers, one of Western New York's largest nonprofit human service agencies, has opened a community residence in Tonawanda. Located at 86 Ebling Ave., it is the 19th residence Heritage Centers has in Erie County. The house...

Trax Radio Showcase adds Batavia station.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The "Trax Radio Showcase" can again be-heard on Batavia station WBTA 1490 AM. The show, which debuted in 1997 on Niagara Falls, Ont., station 101.7 The River, seeks to raise the profile on recording artists throughout the region. The...

Public sector projects boost WNY contractors.
February 28, 2000... Jim Logan has a concern. As executive director of the Construction Exchange of Buffalo & Western New York, Logan is seeing his membership busier than ever before. Construction billings in 1999, according to statistics compiled by...

Cannon names Freschi principal.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Bruno Freschi, the immediate past dean of the University at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning, has been named a design principal with Cannon, the Grand Island-based architectural and engineering firm. Freschi left the UB...

This Bill served the community.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... It's not always easy tracking sports these days. We're surrounded, reminded and plain inundated with too much of what's wrong. No need to cite examples. There are, though, the professional athletes who somehow manage to live their lives...

General contractors.(Directory)
February 28, 2000... General contractors Ranked by 1999 total gross billings Phone Prior ...

Competion with Pa. ends Chautauqua tax.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... As March 1 arrives and New York state waives its 4 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear costing less than $110 per item, some counties are dropping their tax as well to help keep shoppers from going elsewhere. Among those is...

Local Home Depot open 24 hours.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Home Depot's West Seneca store is going 24/7. The home improvement and building supplies chain has tabbed the West Seneca store as its first Western New York store to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Atlanta-based Home...

House won't aid fight with agencies.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Prospects look bleak for legislation that would reimburse small businesses for their legal costs when they win cases brought against them by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the National Labor Relations Board. The...

Small business optimism soars to two-year high.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Thanks mainly to. expectations of increased sales, small-business, owners are more confident about the future than they were at any time in the past two years. The Small Business Optimism Index. compiled by the NFIB Education Foundation,...

Bush beats McCain in telecom contributions.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. John McCain can make or break telecommunications legislation. So it's no surprise that telecommunications is McCain's "sweetest industry" for campaign contributions, says Larry Makinson,...

Nader: NFIB is 'pushing big business policy line'.(National Federation of Independent Business)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader says the nation's largest small-business advocacy group is "pushing the big business policy line." Nader says the National Federation of Independent Business, which has 600,000 members,...

Small-business group likes Bush's tax plan.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The Small Business Survival Committee gave Texas Gay. George W. Bush's tax plan a B+, praising the Republican presidential candidate's "broad-based" tax cut and elimination of the estate tax. The Texas governor's rival for the GOP...

Bar bans 'ppay-to-pay' for government contracts.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The American Bar Association voted to prohibit lawyers from making campaign contributions to state and local officials in hopes of winning legal work from them. The vote ended three years of debate on "pay-to-play" by the ABA. It...

Delphi Harrison UAW Local 686 votes on tentative contract.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Members of United Auto Workers Local 686 at Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems in Lockport were voting Feb. 23 on a tentative local agreement. The proposed four-year agreement, which would cover 4,500 hourly workers, would run from Sept. 14,...

Pro-business legislation faces veto.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The sun shone on business lobbyists as they stood outside the Capitol to buttonhole House members on their way to consider legislation designed to protect small businesses from frivolous lawsuits. The aggressive lobbying effort worked; by...

Clean up of Town of Tonawanda site completed.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Cleanup work at a Town of Tonawanda hazardous waste site has been completed. The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health began work at the River Road and Cherry Farm sites, 78 combined acres north of...

Perry's Ice Cream introduces product line.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Perry's Ice Cream Go. Inc. of Akron has introduced a half-gallon light ice cream line. "We are very optimistic about the Perry's Light flavors. Each one has that same rich, creamy taste that consumers expect from all Perry's products --...

YWCA child care center opens in Buffalo court.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The YWCA has opened a new child care center at Buffalo City Court. The YWCA Children's Center will provide drop-in child care service for parents and guardians who have official court business. The agency also operates a Children's Center...

Skilled trades take hit as work force shrinks.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... William Bachman Sr. learned metalworking from his father, on the floor of Bachman Machine Co. in St. Louis. "It is a slow and tedious process to train a skilled metalworking craftsman," says Bachman, who retired as president of the...

Heritage Centers opens Tonawanda group home.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Heritage Centers has opened a new community residence in Tonawanda. The residence, on Ebling Avenue, is the agency's 19th group residence in Erie County. The site will house three men and three women with developmental disabilities...

Legislation would increase visas for high-tech workers.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... American technology companies would be able to hire more foreign workers under new legislation that would raise the cap on H-1B visas to 195,000 a year for the next three years. Sen. Spencer Abraharn, R-Mich., says his legislation is...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The Broadway Area Business Association announced its executive officers for 2000: Eileen Nowak of Ladies of Charity, president; Ron Fleming of Fine Print News, vice president; Holly Schukraft of M&T Bank, treasurer; and Patra Mangus of...

What is B/NSME?(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... SMEI's primary objectives are to establish professional standards and certification, continuing sales and marketing education, and assisting youth. Looking for a group of sales and marketing professionals to share ideas and network? Then...

A letter from the President of B/NSME.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Founded in 1942, The Buffalo/Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives, Inc. (B/NSME) has continually provided its members growth opportunities in leadership and training. Our goal as an executive association is to bring together Western New...

A letter from the President of the United States.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Warm greetings to everyone observing February 2000 as National Sales and Marketing Month, sponsored by the members of Sales and Marketing Executives International. The sales and marketing industry employs thousands of Americans,...

BARBARA T. BAKER.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Real Estate Agent Hunt Real Estate Barbara has been a. highly successful real estate sales agent since 1978. She has consistently received die highest level of achievement the Greater Buffalo Association of Realtors recognizes and...

LYNN GELSINGER.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Real Estate Agent Hunt Real Estate The Real Estate. Community is proud to have Lynn Gelsinger represent its profession as the ultimate role model. She is an accomplished real estate broker serving the Western New York area since...

SANDY COHEN.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... BAV Service Sandra Cohen joined BAVServices in October of 1999. In her relatively short tenure with the company she has made a very significant impact. BAYSer vices recently underwent a name change and San dra was instrumental in the...

KATHY GIBBONS.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Senior Account Executive. Business First Business First is again extremely proud to honor Kathy Gibbons for her outstanding achievements this past year. Kathy, a graduate of Canisius College, has been with Business First for...

BECKY FAULKNER.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Director of Recreation and Marketing Peek 'n Peak Becky Faulkner has been a part of the Peek 'n Peak team since 1973. Over the years, her efforts ere rewarded by her advancement into management. As the Director Recreation and...

CINDY GREENFIELD.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Director of Sales Dynamic Hotels As an 18-year veteran of the Hospitality Industry, Cindy has proven her dedication and commitment to the industry making her a perfect candidate for the B/NSME 1999 Distinguished Sales and marketing...

JEFF IANNONE.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Senior Account Executive United Parcel Service Jeff has been a dedicated employee at United Parcel Service for over 10 years. He is currently a Senior Account Executive handling National Accounts. Jeff managed revenue of over...

LOU MORABITO.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Sales Executive IIMAK Tenacious, detailed, aggressive, focused, knowledgeable and compassionate are just a few adjectives used to describe Lou Morabito's efforts by his customers. During his 5 years as part of the IIMAK sales force,...

SAM IUVINO.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Regional Sales Director Broadview Networks Sam Iuvino has contributed significantly to Broadview Networks' sales results since he became the company's first Buffalo sales director in october 1998. Reflecting his achievements,...

BOBBI MATSON.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Customer Service Representative Towne Automotive Group Mrs. Bobbi Matson is our selection for the "Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award." Mrs. Matson's sincere attention to customer service and dedication to the customers...

KAREN KUCIA.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 28, 2000... Account Executives United Parcel Service Karen is a key account executive for United Parcel Service. She has been with United Parcel Service for 21 years and in business development for 11 years. Karen's hard work and...

ERIK ROWE.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Account Executive Adelphia Business Solutions Erik is the consummate Team Player. His ability and willingness to balance his client's needs with the boals of the organization, while at the same time assisting his co-workers, is...

JIM RYBINSKI.
February 28, 2000... Account Executive Adelphia Business Solutions Jim has been with Adelphia business solutions for one year, coming to us from MCI/Worldcom. Before that, Jim held the position of Sales Manager for Ameritech's Cellular Division in...

KIT WELSBY.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Restaurant Manager Brierwood Country Club The multi-talented Mrs. Welsby started with Brierwood Country Club in 1992 as an intern while attending Erie Community College. She quickly secured herself a permanent position as restaurant...

COLLEEN STRUEBING.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 28, 2000... Account Executive IIMAK Colleen's five years with IIMAK have been focused in the fast growth plain paper facsimile market. As a result, IIMAK is now positioned as a major supplier of plain paper thermal transfer facsimile in North...

B/NSME supports Junior Achievement in and out of the classroom.
February 28, 2000... For the past several years, Junior Achievement of Western New York (JA) and the Buffalo/Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives (B/NSME) have had a strong working relationship. Each summer, the two groups collaborate on the popular B/NSME Golf...

JERRE THIEL.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Senior Account Manager Dick Stein Advertising For 12 years Jerre has been a loyal and dedicated sales professional for both Dick Stein Advertising and her clients. Perhaps the best explanation for selecting Jerre for this...

Estate planning options present many challenges.(Statistical Data Included)
February 28, 2000... Today's diverse lifestyles make retirement planning a challenge. A family no longer consists of a husband, wife and 2.5 children. Just look at the most recent U.S. Census statistics: In 1998, 13.6 million people (between ages 25 to 34) had...

People know what to do with tax refund.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 28, 2000... The check may not be in the mail yet, but most Americans who are counting on a tax refund this year know just what they'll do with it and will use the money in less than 30 days. According to a recent Gallup survey commissioned by H&R...

Don't throw that stuff away.
February 28, 2000... The Materials Reuse Project of Buffalo Collects reusuable items for children in the public and private schools in Buffalo. Children learn best by doing and they need materials for projects and hands-on experience to help them learn. ...

Service please.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Vending machine company satisfies the munchies right away * SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE What's going on: Thomas Strauss, the president and founder of the company more commonly known as Crown Vending, sums it up this way: "We feed them, we...

St. Mary's School for the Deaf.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Highlights of the new St. Mary's School for the Deaf Web site include a list of the school's guiding principles and a pictorial walk through the campus. The site also offers information on the school's captioned media program through a...

Tek 21.(contract with Bible.com)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Tek 21, a business incubator for high-tech companies and Web sites, added Bible.com to its network. The Buffalo company will expand the Bible.com Web site and implement an aggressive marketing and public relations campaign. Bible.com was...

Recckio Real Estate & Development Inc.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... Recckio Real Estate & Development Inc. has a new Web site. The company recently relocated its corporate offices to the Transit Lanes Plaza in Williamsville and added a second office in the Broad Street Plaza in Salamanca.

Carr Marketing Communication.(contract with Western New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2000... The Western New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging named Carr Marketing Communication as communications consultant. The marketing firm will assist the association in its mission to help seniors and families make informed...