Baltimore Business Journal articles from September 1997

Baltimore Business Journal archives from September 1997

Just a few sour grapes: Maryland's winemakers say they need some help.
September 12, 1997... Maryland's winemakers say they need some help As he walks among the grapevines, Robert B. Deford hesitates to use superlatives about how good the year is going to be for Maryland wines. After all, the grapes could still be lost to an early...

Buyers bid on IBM site. (Baltimore, Maryland)
September 12, 1997... The bidding for the prominent IBM building in downtown Baltimore promises to shoot the price of the property to record heights. Two highly acquisitive real estate investors, Boston Properties and the Government of Singapore Investment Corp.,...

DAP in the can? (DAP Products Inc.)
September 12, 1997... Caulk firm eying move DAP Inc., an Ohio-based maker of bathtub caulks, sealants and other home improvement products, is considering a corporate relocation to Baltimore. The move would bring about 150 jobs. The company, which already...

Official admits abusing power. (former Maryland trade official Marie V. Torres)
September 12, 1997... A former Maryland trade official who pleaded guilty to extortion last week could receive a 15-month prison sentence and be deported. Details of the downfall of Marie V. Torres, who until recently was a highly regarded figure in Maryland's...

Sun competitor complains to Justice. (Blatimore's Child; Department of Justice)
September 12, 1997... A competitor of the Baltimore Sun Co. has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming the giant newspaper company meddled in a key business relationship. The complaint comes amidst an antitrust review of the Sun's purchase...

Cosmetic retailer looking good. (Cosmetic Center Inc.)
September 12, 1997... With a rich, new foundation and a headquarters makeover, the rejuvenated Cosmetic Center Inc. is primping for a much prettier bottom line this year. The discount cosmetic chain, which recently struggled through slow sales and stiff...

On-site drug tests being considered. (Maryland)
September 12, 1997... Maryland businesses could give on-site drug tests to workers if the the state legislators pass a controversial bill next year. The bill would allow employers to do an "initial screening test" of an employee's urine to find out whether that...

Fat Tuesday taps Baltimore return.
September 12, 1997... The New Orleans bar famous for its frozen daiquiri and Mardi Gras ambience may be returning to downtown Baltimore. Officials at Fat Tuesday are negotiating the terms of a lease at the Inner Harbor's newly renovated Power Plant, according to Joe...

Too close for comfort? Independent economic development agency officials tread fine line in working with real estate brokers.
September 12, 1997... This summer, the Baltimore Development Corp. competitively bid out the rights to lease some of the city's properties, then gave real estate firm Colliers Pinkard a listing- the most lucrative of all its properties - without a bid process. The...

Baltimore trust plans Bethesda theater project. (Beta Corp.)
September 12, 1997... A Baltimore-based trust wants to restore the Bethesda Theatre and build a $32 million residential complex behind it. Beta Corp. of Baltimore, the longtime owner of the movie house in Bethesda, is seeking approval to build 22 town homes and a 10...

Landlord subsidies drop as HUD contracts expire. (Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Housing and Urban Development)
September 12, 1997... Agency offers voluntary program to restructure mortgages Local landlords are facing tough choices this year as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development restructures a rent subsidy program for low-income residents. Dozens of...

D.C. officials mull over new convention center.
September 12, 1997... The Washington Convention Center Authority is circulating a formal memorandum of understanding for construction of a new facility. The document must be signed by six parties: the National Capital Planning Commission, the D.C. Office of Historic...

Sonex Research Inc. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
September 12, 1997... Corporate Profile Sonex Research Inc. keeps trudging along, hoping for an eventual big payoff from its "ultra clean burn" technology. Founded in 1980, the company has developed a patented piston technology that reduces emissions from diesel...

Buried in piles of debt: lawyers and judges cope with bankruptcy deluge.
September 19, 1997... WASHINGTON - Jeffrey Sternklar walked up the steps of a Massachusetts bankruptcy court recently, and all he could see were scores of people: couples with children, individuals and attorneys, hovering around each other making last-minute changes...

Family holds on to Mars. (Mars Super Markets Inc.)(Company Profile)
September 19, 1997... Company officials say Mars Super Markets Inc. will remain in the hands of the D'Anna family, despite industry speculation that they may be preparing to sell off the 15-store chain. "We're not for sale," said Theodore D'Anna, son of past Mars...

He lives, breathes this stuff. (Joel Sher, head of law firm Shapiro and Olander)
September 19, 1997... You're Ronald Haft, son of retail baron Herbert Haft, and you're in a fierce battle with your father for control of the family's commercial real estate portfolio. Who you gonna call? Ronald Haft hired Joel Sher, head of the bankruptcy...

Hospital rate lawsuit looms. (Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission's plan to regulate hospital rates)
September 19, 1997... Maryland hospital officials are preparing to take the battle over rate regulation to court. A lawsuit challenging whether the state's Health Services Cost Review Commission has the right to cut about $175 million in hospital revenues is being...

Zurich's people need a lot more elbow room. (Zurich Commercial)
September 19, 1997... A Baltimore-based insurance firm is on the hunt for more room for the hundreds of employees it plans to hire. Zurich Commercial formerly Maryland Commercial Insurance Group, plans to increase its Baltimore-area employment by more than 300...

United HealthCare kills off the gatekeeper. (launches a new health maintenance organization)
September 19, 1997... Maryland managed care companies are surrendering to the patient revolt against "gatekeepers." United HealthCare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc. recently introduced a new health maintenance organization that eliminates the referral requirement,...

Homegate hotel finds place to stay in Columbia. (Homegate Hospitality Inc.; Columbia, Maryland)
September 19, 1997... A fast-growing Austin, Texas-based hotel company has settled on its first deal in the Mid-Atlantic region: a 132-suite extended-stay hotel that it will build on State Route 175 in Columbia. Homegate Hospitality Inc. will open a Homegate Studios...

Securing long-term allies: hospitals pair up with nursing homes, hospices to expand services.(Special Report: Health Care)
September 19, 1997... When the Greater Baltimore Medical Center opens a new unit in December, a hospital staffer won't be in charge. The administrator will be Sheila Jones, a nursing home executive with Genesis Eldercare Network, a division of Genesis Health...

Hospitals slice rates on outpatient surgery.(Special Report: Health Care)
September 19, 1997... Northwest Hospital Center officials only could watch the past few years as their patients migrated to the independent outpatient centers cropping up around Baltimore. But in August, the hospital issued a strong response - slashing its...

Firms carve out a health niche. (health care companies contract with health maintenance organizations)(Special Report: Health Care)
September 19, 1997... Leon Kaplan was so confident that he had found a better way to manage the cost of eye care that this summer he left the top job at a local health maintenance organization to follow his instinct. Now, Kaplan, the former chief executive of...

Foundation maneuvers to block Blues merger. (Fair Care Foundation; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area)(Special Report: Health Care)
September 19, 1997... A new Washington, D.C.-based health care foundation is spearheading an effort to block the proposed merger of the Maryland and Washington Blue Cross plans. The opposition has surfaced at a critical time for the deal: Insurance commissioners in...

From ports to airports: obscure company adds to cargo roots. (American Port Services PLC's acquisition of Johnson Controls Inc.'s aviation services division)(Company Profile)
September 26, 1997... Obscure company adds to cargo roots A Baltimore company that's making waves in seaports around the world now is turning some of its attention to airports. American Port Services plc, a little known firm that is publicly traded on the London...

Bagby building bought. (infomercial guru turned real estate developer Michael Lasky's purchase of building)
September 26, 1997... The future of a landmark property near Little Italy - viewed as critical to the redevelopment of downtown's eastern edge - is now in the hands of Pikesville infomercial guru Michael Lasky. A partnership controlled by Lasky bought the Bagby...

State readies HMO grades. (Maryland's evaluation of health maintenance organization)
September 26, 1997... A four-year, $930,000 effort to evaluate Maryland's health maintenance organizations will culminate Oct. 15 with the release of the "HMO report cards." Small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals, choosing a health plan should...

Credit union future tied to court decision. (Supreme Court's decision on the seven-year legal battle waged by the banking industry against credit unions)(Industry Overview)
September 26, 1997... On the first Monday in October - the traditional launch date for the Supreme Court's fall term - Richard T Webb might seem a bit distracted as he pursues the day-to-day affairs of running a credit union. Webb will be eagerly awaiting any news...

MTA seeks property advice. (Mass Transit Administration)
September 26, 1997... After spending roughly $6 million on a building it never used, the state Mass Transit Administration is asking the development community for suggestions on what to do with the site. The property, at 901 N. Howard St. in the city's arts...

Beldevere Square tries comeback. (plans to revitalize a retail and office complex in North Baltimore, Maryland)
September 26, 1997... Belvedere Square, once a jewel of North Baltimore retailing, is trying to shine again. With a national tenant expected to open next week and at least three developers interested in the ailing retail mid office complex, city officials are...

Maryland may update its small business rules.
September 26, 1997... What is a small business? State officials have been wrestling with that question recently in an effort to give more Maryland companies a shot at a special 16-year-old bid preference reserved for official "small businesses." "The original law...

Credit report case goes to appeals court. (APK Development Corp. owner Abraham Paul Korotki's complaint against Attorney Services Corp.)
September 26, 1997... In a case that could have a substantial impact on the privacy of personal credit information, an Owings Mills developer who claims that a process server illegally tapped into his consumer credit report gets his day in federal appeals court next...

University trades hot technique for shares of Octamer Inc. stock. (University of Maryland, Baltimore)
September 26, 1997... The University of Maryland, Baltimore, is rolling the dice on a new technology company. The university's technology development office has received 35,000 shares of Octamer Inc. stock in exchange for allowing the Mill Valley, Calif., company...

A day in the life. (how Blue Cross and Blue Shield president and CEO William L. Jews conducts business)
September 26, 1997... "We all try to keep up with him . . . It's like you're on a treadmill.' William L. Jews' brain had finally shut down for the day. Or so it appeared Monday night when Jews, the man who makes the most important decisions at a 3,300-employee,...

Congress may again fund tech research by small businesses.
September 26, 1997... WASHINGTON - Congress is moving toward reauthorizing federal funds for technology research by small businesses, although lawmakers would like to see increased participation from states such as Maryland. The House Science Committee has approved...

Wireless market waiting for the call from AT&T. (wireless telephone service from AT and T Corp.)
September 26, 1997... AT&T Corp. will launch its long-awaited wireless telephone service in the Washington-Baltimore area by year's end, company officials said. But local competitors, who believe the roll-out may happen in the next few weeks, said they do not...

Roche understands power of language. (James G. Roche, VP and General Manager of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems Division)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... When James Roche arrived at Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors & Systems Division more than a year ago, he encountered a workforce - and a community -that was bit unsure about the firm's future. After all, Westinghouse Electric Corp. had...

Others plant the idea, Newhall helps it grow. (New Enterprise Associates General Partner Charles W. Newhall III)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... For the past 20 years, New Enterprise Associates has had a clear mission: to take companies with new ideas or new technologies and help them grow. Under the leadership of Charles Newhall III, the Baltimore-based venture capital firm has had...

Burns' bet pays off for Osiris. (James G. Burns of Osiris Therapeutics Inc.)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... When James Burns moved his fledgling biotechnology company from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1995, the city and the state rolled out the red carpet - and the dollars. Osiris Therapeutics Inc. was lured to Charm City through a city and state...

Walker secures firm's future with 'firewalls.' (Trusted Information Systems Inc. President Stephen T. Walker)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... If the Internet has become the ruling monarch, then Stephen Walker is the palace guard. A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Department of Defense's research and development labs, Stephen T Walker knew the importance of security when he launched...

Brucker ties his fortunes to Microsoft. (OutReach Technologies president and CEO Steven Brucker)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... Two years ago, Steven Brucker decided to tie his then-fledgling company's future to the fortunes of Microsoft Corp., gambling that Bill Gates would secure his position as standard-bearer for the high-tech industry. So far the bet has paid off....

Muirhead turns wrong into right. (Absolute Quality Inc. president Stephen Muirhead)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)(Directory)
September 26, 1997... When software programmers say how wonderful their products are, Stephen Muirhead shows how they're wrong. Muirhead runs Absolute Quality Inc., which provides testing, quality control and technical support for software developers. Clients...

Bellamy takes on greatest challenge. (Bell Atlantic-Maryland Inc. president and CEO Sherry F. Bellamy)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)(Directory)
September 26, 1997... Bell Atlantic leader faces competition Sherry F. Bellamy has been an attorney 'with Bell Atlantic since 1991, but her greatest professional challenge still may lie ahead. Named president and chief executive.' officer of Bell...

Tech firms get ahead by linking with partners. (consolidation trend)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... How has America Online Inc. become the world's largest online service provider? The answer is easy. The Fairfax, Va., company has more alliances with content providers than any of its competitors. That same philosophy has taken hold with...

Justice department wins round in Inslaw lawsuit. (Department of Justice; Inslaw Inc.)(Special Report: Who's Who in Technology)
September 26, 1997... The Department of Justice has won a round in a case of alleged software piracy that has kept conspiracy buffs around the world busy for more than 10 years. A federal judge said recently that the government never stole anything from the...

Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. (proxy report excerpts)(Company Profile)
September 26, 1997... Corporate Profile So far this year, the biggest news for Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the agreement the Baltimore company struck in August with Amgen Inc., which will pay Guilford up to $465 million for the rights to a family of molecules...

Growing firm calls Baltimore home. (American Port Services PLC)(Company Profile)
September 26, 1997... Baltimore became the headquarters city for an international company last year -and nobody seemed to notice. "We've never really announced ourselves," said Timothy Chadwick, chairman and chief executive officer of American Port Services plc, a...

One credit union decides it would rather switch. (BUCS Federal Credit Union)
September 26, 1997... BUCS Federal Credit Union isn't waiting around for the Supreme Court to decide its fate. BUCS chief executive officer, Herbert J. Moltzan, said the Owings Mills-based credit union is pursuing plans to convert to a mutual savings and loan,...

Meet in the mountains of Western Maryland. (meeting facilities)(Maryland Meetings & Conventions Guide)
September 26, 1997... Western Maryland's scenic beauty provides a relaxing backdrop for large or small meetings. Wisp Ski & Golf Resort, as well as a variety of accommodations and local restaurants with meeting facilities, make this a place of choices. It's also an...

Send them to Central Maryland for excitement.(Maryland Meetings & Conventions Guide)
September 26, 1997... If you're looking for a charming, epic city full of vibrant activity and unmatchable ambiance, then Annapolis is the place to hold your meeting. As the state capital, home to the U.S. Naval Academy, nation's sailing capital and picturesque...

The Capital Region captivates meeting professionals.(Maryland Meetings & Conventions Guide)
September 26, 1997... Imagine a quiet conference room overlooking the Potomac River. Book a large convention in the USAirways Arena in Landover or the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro. There are superior meeting properties located throughout the area in over 60...

The soothing ambiance of Southern Maryland. (setting for corporate meetings and retreats)(Maryland Meetings & Conventions Guide)
September 26, 1997... This region is just south of Washington, D.C., but it seems worlds apart. Here, there is no rush - only a sense of relaxation. Traditional hotel meeting facilities are available, as are retreat and team building opportunities. Loyola Retreat...

Meeting is easy on the Eastern shore. (meeting facilities)(Maryland Meetings & Conventions Guide)
September 26, 1997... The Chesapeake Lodge at Sandy Cove in the town of North East overlooks the Bay and offers a conference center and catering. The Swiss Inn in Elkton, a restaurant with banquet rooms, can accommodate up to 200, while Schaefer's Canal House and...