Business First of Buffalo articles from July 1998

Business First of Buffalo archives from July 1998

CGF unions ratify pact. (CGF Health System labor unions)
July 6, 1998... Organized workers in the CGF Health System have overwhelmingly ratified a plan that spells out how employees will be treated as the health-system merger moves forward. The union vote by the 5,700 employees is considered a crucial link in the...

RCSB parent looks to plant bigger take in WNY. (Rochester Community Savings Bank; Charter One Bank's planned branch openings)
July 6, 1998... Charter One Bank plans to open an undisclosed number of upstate branch offices, including some in the Buffalo market, over the next 18 months, the company's top official in New York state said. "We are going to compete with the bigger banks...

Family-owned pharmacy resist chains' dominance. (Cleve-Hill Pharmacy)
July 6, 1998... In the 50 years that the Cleve-Hill Pharmacy has been in business, one thing has remained constant: home deliveries. It is that kind of old-fashioned service, coupled with attention to current needs, that pharmacist Joseph Voelkl believes makes...

Paxar-Iimak may expand, adding 100 jobs to work force.
July 6, 1998... Paxar-Iimak, formerly International Imaging Materials Inc., one of Amherst's largest manufacturers, may add 100 employees to its work force in an expansion. Though no new space will be added to the plant on Commerce Drive, new equipment will...

New Sportservice head makes concessions on career. (Sportservice Pres Nancy Parker)
July 6, 1998... One year ago, Nancy Parker was on the West Coast worrying about selling coffee and doughnuts. Now Parker is the head of one of Delaware North Cos. Inc. fastest growing divisions, Sportservice Corp. Parker was hired from the Winchell's Donut...

Trico delays decision on future of Buffalo manufacturing plant. (Trico Products Corp; Buffalo, NY)
July 6, 1998... A determination about the future of Trico Products Corp. in Buffalo has been delayed until the middle of August, 30 days later than anticipated, a company official said. "Talks between the union and management and state, county and local...

Draft of state energy plan backs calls for deregulation. (New York)
July 6, 1998... A state draft energy plan solidifies efforts calling for decreased regulation and increased market competition to enhance New York's economy. Compiled under direction of the New York state Energy Planning Board, the 208-page document takes a...

Financial advisor teaches others the joys of investing. (Matt Myers)
July 6, 1998... Matt Myers expects the lure of the Internet will continue to attract small investors. And that concerns him. "Online trading is responsible for about 18 to 19 percent of the total brokerage business and it will increase," he said. "But I...

Picture this: checking ID may get easier. (Moore Business Forms Inc's picture checks system)
July 6, 1998... "To buy booze, you need a photo I.D. So this could become a standard, like a driver's license," reasons Thomas W. Johnson, co-inventor with John L. Muerle of a method and apparatus for printing a person's picture on his or her bank checks....

Change sweeps insurance industry. (Hartford Financial Services Group Inc)
July 13, 1998... Latest strategies build partnerships In the rapidly changing world of insurance, The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is forging its future in partnership arrangements with banks. But unlike Citicorp and Travelers Group, which are...

Nichols board OKs Nottingham. (Nichols School)
July 13, 1998... The Nichols School is going to consolidate onto a single city campus, once the school's Nottingham campus is sold. Nichols' board of trustees unanimously approved a multi-part action that calls for: * Moving the 160 middle school students...

Digitalized video analysis creates market for Canty. (J.M. Canty Inc)
July 13, 1998... What do sugar, drugs, detergent, plastic, metals, cookies and beer have in common? J.M. Canty Inc. The Niagara County company produces specialized equipment to view, record and analyze processes used to make the products. "We manufacture...

Human Service Alliance dissolves, rejoins network.
July 13, 1998... Seventeen months after it formed, the Human Service Alliance is expected to be dissolved and its membership added to a parallel network of human service agencies. Together, the groups would share resources and expertise to improve access to...

Ulrich locked on development in Lockport town and city. (Ulrich Development Co. LLC)
July 13, 1998... Ulrich Development Co. LLC has come into its own. After seven years in business, the firm is the premier commercial developer in Lockport with holdings valued at $6.9 million, or I percent of the total assessed value of the city, according to...

Pa.-based saving and loan tenders bank stock offer. (Northwest Savings Bank)
July 13, 1998... Pennsylvania-based Northwest Savings Bancorp Inc., the majority shareholder of Jamestown Savings Bank, has submitted a tender offer to buy the remaining shares of the bank's common stock. If accepted, the offer to buy 271,816 shares at $16...

Hospice services expand under new partnership. (Pallative Care and Children's Hospital of Buffalo)
July 13, 1998... Services for chronically and terminally ill children are poised for expansion through a partnership between the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. Under terms of the affiliation, Hospice will administer...

Businesses have to adapt to keep workers, survey says. (New York state)
July 13, 1998... As unemployment drops, jobs become hard to fill. Skilled employees (both executives and front-line workers) job shop - and hop - for better pay, benefits and perks. That means companies react with innovative methods of retention. "We all...

Specialty alloy producer adds Niagara County unit.
July 13, 1998... Williams Advanced Materials Inc. is creating a Niagara County division. The specialty alloy producer with operations at 2978 Main St., Buffalo, is negotiating to purchase a 30,000-square-foot building off Lockport Road in Wheatfield....

Coffee Rich blends with Dallas company. (Rich Products Corp; Suiza Foods Corp)
July 20, 1998... A new alliance between Rich Products Corp. and the Dallas-based producer of the International Delights line of coffee creamers could lead to a stronger market share for two of Rich's best-known retail items. Rich Products, the area's second...

Day care centers experience a growth spurt.
July 20, 1998... At a time in their lives when most people are thinking about retirement, the Walbessers were just getting started in a new venture. Mel and Carol Walbesser, now 64 and 65, opened Amherst Baby & Childcare Inc. in 1994. This year, the day care...

Jamestown bankers deposit interest in Buffalo-based bank. (Greater Buffalo Savings Bank)
July 20, 1998... Buffalo's last locally based savings banks disappeared at the start of the 1990s when Goldome and Empire of America bit the dust. But that situation may end soon. Six Western New York businessmen, including three who got the new Jamestown...

Nurse unions stage pickets against health-care facilities.
July 20, 1998... Labor negotiations - most involving wages and workplace safety issues - are intensifying with the summer heat at Western New York health-care facilities. Erie County A fact-finding hearing has been set for July 31 regarding contract...

Children's ICU will add space for nurses and family. (Children's Hospital of Buffalo, New York; intensive care unit)
July 20, 1998... Children's Hospital of Buffalo is embarking on a $4.5 million expansion and renovation project that will triple the size of its intensive care unit for babies born too early, too sick or too small. Special features of the 64-bed unit will be...

Information pros drive demand for employment agencies.
July 20, 1998... Two years ago, when a company was searching for an information technology professional, there were few employment agencies that fit the bill. Lori Shagla's firm enjoyed a reputation as one of those firms that could provide computer...

Say cheese. (David Photo Service Inc./DPS Video)
July 20, 1998... Photo company focuses on pictures and lines up video What's going on: In 1942, Buffalo firefighter Allen David and his wife, Margaret, started a side business of processing black and white film from their house. From that venture came David...

Obstacles didn't stop Krog in building construction firm. (The Krog Corp.)
July 20, 1998... When a reporter arrived at The Krog Corp. in Orchard Park recently to interview President Peter Krog, the receptionist, who lives in the Cayman Islands but was temporarily handling front desk duties - and who happens to be Krog's daughter, Gay -...

Architecture, engineering grads built rosy future.
July 20, 1998... There's a rosy and growing job market for architecture and engineering graduates, both in Western New York and nationally. "I don't think the market has ever been better for them," said Kathleen Cartus, corporate human resources director at...

Vacant plant acquired by Benderson. (Benderson Development Co. acquires vacant steel mill in Tonawanda, NY)
July 27, 1998... A vacant Town of Tonawanda steel processing plant has been acquired by the area's largest development company. Benderson Development Co. Inc. acquired the former Earle M. Jorgensen Steel Co. on Sheridan Drive near Military Road. Jorgensen Steel...

Technology makes the cut at Eastman. (Eastman Machine Co.)
July 27, 1998... Eastman Machine Co. is staying on the cutting edge. The Buffalo producer of fabric cutting machines is pushing growth through development of automated cutting equipment. "l like to think, prototypically, we're the type of company that's...

Sheehan resists merger despite financial setbacks. (Sheehan Memorial Hospital)
July 27, 1998... At Sheehan Memorial Hospital, optimism is the word. Like most hospitals, the facility is finding its niche in the managed care environment by shifting from inpatient to outpatient primary care services and developing its strengths. However,...

TeleTech merger brings new jobs to Tonawanda center. (TeleTech Services Inc. merges with Electronic Direct Marketing Ltd.)
July 27, 1998... A merger between a Toronto-based call center and fulfillment company and TeleTech of Denver will result in new jobs in the Tonawanda area. Electronic Direct Marketing Ltd., with facilities in Tonawanda on Cooper Avenue, expects to add...

West Side treatment center still part of CGF's plans. (CGF Health System to build new hospital in Buffalo, NY)
July 27, 1998... The CGF Health Care System is moving ahead with plans to build a diagnostic and treatment center on the city's West Side - its first construction project as a merged entity. Plans are to raze the former Columbus Hospital at 300 Niagara St. to...

Ivoclar is sinking its teeth into Amherst expansion plan. (Ivoclar North America Inc.)
July 27, 1998... A plan by Ivoclar North America Inc. to expand in Amherst was anything but a Mickey Mouse decision. The dental products manufacturer was seriously considering relocating to Orlando, Fla., taking with it 162 jobs and 3,000 annual business...

Pickup game. (Paradigm Consulting)(Company Profile)
July 27, 1998... Sports consultant took an MBA and contacts to build a business What's going on: If you were a sports marketing consultant it would seem to make sense that Buffalo would not be the most preferable choice to launch such a business when any number...

Absence of ticket vendor not hurting Bill's sales. (Buffalo Bills)
July 27, 1998... The anticipated move by the Bills to add a new player to the ticket selling scheme still has not happened, but sales for individual games are said to be going well. Bills' VP/Administration Jim Miller said the team still hasn't signed any...

Pennsylvania competitor acquires Science Kit and affiliated firms. (VWR Scientific Products Corp.)
July 27, 1998... The Science Kit Group of Cos., a Town of Tonawanda-based educational products manufacturer, has been acquired by an industry competitor. VWR Scientific Products Corp., a publicly traded company in West Chester, Pa., has agreed to buy Science...