Business First-Columbus articles from April 2001

Business First-Columbus archives from April 2001

Hotel occupancies decline as supply exceeds demand.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... A analysis of Franklin County's hotel market indicates that a continuing cascade of new lodging rooms will further erode occupancy rates through at least 2002. But the report, compiled by Integra Lorms & Belfrage, also forecasts a slowdown...

Builders, AEP butt heads on fee issue.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Spring marks the time residential developers begin putting in streets and utilities, and Robert Meyer of Dominion Homes Inc. expects his employer to bring at least 2,000 lots on line in Central Ohio this year. But a change in policy at...

Buckingham law firm to bolt downtown for Arena District.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Yet another law firm has plans to call the Arena District home. Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs is scheduled to move Sept. 1 to the new office building at 191 W. Nationwide Blvd. The firm has signed a 15-year lease to take 18,500 square...

SingleSource assets snared.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Optimum has big plans Columbus-based Optimum Technology Inc. has acquired the remaining assets of defunct SingleSourceIT and plans to restart the business as an application services provider. SingleSourceIT, founded in June 1999 by...

Celeste's wife in international scarf incident.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Dick Celeste's tenure as U.S. ambassador to India, unlike his two terms as Ohio governor, had been refreshingly quiet. Until now. United Press International reports that an embarrassing purchase by Jacqueline Lundquist, the departing...

Notable upcoming birthdays of Central Ohio executives.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... * Jerry Joondeph, corporate partner, Squire Sanders & Dempsey: April 7 * Robert A. Landthorn, president and CEO, Dublin Technical Systems Inc.: April 7 * Paul Reiner, president, Oakland Nursery and Acorn Farms: April 7 * Ron...

ON THE MENU.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Columbus State mulls kitchen incubator Carl Hemmeler has seen kitchen incubators do well in other locales. Now he is wondering if the time is right to hatch such a communal cooking facility in Columbus. "We are still in the design,...

HomePlace shuttering its London shipping hub, Pizzuti seeks user.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... A year ago, HomePlace of America Inc. moved into its sprawling London distribution center with a promise to employ 110 workers within three years. Now the South Carolina-based home decor retailer is preparing to consolidate its...

No word on when Mazel will reopen fire-struck store.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Mazel store damaged in a March 26 fire will reopen, but when the discount retailer would return to operation hasn't been determined. Fire broke out at the 30,000-square-foot store in the Town and Country Shopping Center on East Broad...

Edwards ends its ties to ROI Realty Services.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Edwards Cos. and ROI Services Inc. have confirmed a split between the development and construction interests of the Edwards family and principals, and the ROI real estate brokerage business. Edwards Cos. earlier this year sold off its...

OSU considers new center for urban/regional analysis.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Geography professor Morton O'Kelly notes that Ohio State University has long employed a wealth of experts on urban issues. In fact, he's been one of them for the past 20 years. But those experts are scattered across numerous academic...

Buffet fills Hilton's menu; Montana Mills setting up shop.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... * The dining room at the Hilton Columbus at Easton began serving a Friday night seafood buffet in late March. The $26.95 all-you-can-eat smorgasbord features paella with mussels, lobster and shrimp newburg, fillet of sole with crabmeat and...

CompManagement closes $6M buy of Trigon propery/casualty division.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... CompManagement of Dublin will beef up its presence in the Mid-Atlantic states through a $6 million purchase of Virginia-based Trigon Administrators' property and casualty division. Trigon Administrators' offices, in Virginia. Maryland and...

Marathon promoter takes road to race's organizers.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The woman who serviced the Columbus Marathon public relations account for Axis Group for the past two years is leaving the firm to join the company that organizes the race. Sarah Irvin, 30, is joining Westerville-based Promotions One Inc.,...

Columbus gains another agency as Ryan bids for more work.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... A 17-year-old Connecticut-based marketing communications company with 350 employees in eight cities and 2000 capitalized billings of $115 million is looking to increase its trade in Columbus. Ryan Partnership opened a 5,000square-foot...

Triad takes a hot concept to 'Hot-lanta' client.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Triad Inc., which is increasing its advertising and public relations business through contractor and building industry clients, has launched a radio and TV campaign in Atlanta that it hopes will motivate Georgia drivers to demand more Georgia...

City Center, Tuttle malls begin e-marketing efforts.
April 6, 2001... Columbus City Center and the Mall at Tuttle Crossing each are launching Internet-based direct-marketing programs,' beginning May 10. The programs are soliciting shoppers interested in mall advertising to sign up for weekly e-mail messages....

Greencrest lands R.J. Landis as client for marketing help.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Columbus-based Greencrest will help create marketing strategies and build name recognition for R.J. Landis Design Construction Inc., a Columbus design and build remodeler that has been operating in Central Ohio for 18 years.

Banc One investment firm diversifies its fund family.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Columbus-based Banc One Investment Advisors has diversified its One Group mutual fund family with a health sciences fund, rolled out March 26. With an initial offering price of $10 a share, the fund invests in a focused portfolio of about...

Executive shuffle hits Fifth Third, Bank One.
April 6, 2001... Fifth Third Bank of Columbus has named two senior vice presidents for commercial banking. David J. Folkwein comes to Fifth Third from Bank One in Columbus, where he was first vice president and group manager for middle-market commercial...

State Farm insurance agents to become bankers, too.
April 6, 2001... Later this year, State Farm insurance agents in Ohio will add banking to their job duties. State Farm Bank, a year old and based in the insurer's hometown of Bloomington, Ill., has rolled out its banking business in Arizona and Missouri....

Schoedinger network extends reach to Circleville with funeral home buy.
April 6, 2001... Schoedinger Funeral Service, which expanded outside of Franklin County 12 months ago when it purchased a Newark funeral home, has expanded into Pickaway County through another purchase. Schoedinger acquired Circleville-based Defenbaugh-Wise...

Authority should be used for service, not for tyranny.(Editorial)
April 6, 2001... "Authority is good." For the boomer generation in particular these are fighting words. Add an adjective, "Good authority is good," and our conscience is comforted - a little. America doesn't have an authority problem; it has a "bad...

State claims to be 'on top' of viatical broker practices.
April 6, 2001... At the end of 1998, the Ohio Division of Securities announced its position on viatical settlements: They were securities as defined under state law. That meant viatical settlements sold to investors had to be registered with the division....

Restructuring calls for PolyOne to target plants for closure.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Less than a year ago M.A. Hanna Co. and Geon Co. merged to create PolyOne Corp. Now the Cleveland-based conglomerate says it expects to cut by a third its network of 34 plants that produce plastics and pigments over the next two years. ...

Indiana couple donates $1 million to Dayton seminary.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... An Indiana couple has donated $1 million to the United Theological Seminary, giving the Dayton institution another early boost to its upcoming capital campaign. Craig Fulmer, owner and chairman of Heritage Financial Group, and his wife,...

Cleveland, Brook Park clear way for airport expansion.
April 6, 2001... The city of Cleveland and suburban Brook Park have completed an agreement to clear the way for an expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Among changes from the initial agreement proposed in February Cleveland will purchase...

Findlay integrated circuits plant may close or be sold by Intersil.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Intersil Corp. says it will begin a phased 12- to 18-month closing of its factory in Findlay or find a buyer in the interim. The plant makes automotive integrated circuits for automobile power windows and airbags, in addition to producing...

Sonoco to close paper mill; Thor gets funds for new bus.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... * Sonoco Products Co. plans to close its paper mill in Munroc Falls, a move that eliminates 46 jobs. The plant, which makes boxes for food and consumer products, has been closed since January because of slowing demand. The Hartsville,...

Ergonomic injuries decline, study shows.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a decline in the number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders -- the soft-tissue injuries targeted by the recently repealed ergonomics regulation. Employers reported 582,300 cases...

Estate tax foes use ads to target key senators.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Senators will hear a lot about the estate tax when they go home for spring break. The Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, a group of 100 business organizations, will run $200,000 worth of ads in family-owned newspapers this month urging...

DIVINE INSPIRATION.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Employees who must follow religious customs in the workplace can stay productive, with a few accommodations The busy Christmas season every year creates a scramble among some employers to find dependable workers, and nowhere is that more...

Poor personal money habits have ghastly effect on firm.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... As a small-business owner or entrepreneur your personality and habits will be reflected in the way you choose to run your business. If you are a person who likes to spend money, then it is important to establish controls to manage cash. ...

Time management essential to balancing business, life.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Business owners often need help handling the "too much to do, too little time" dilemma. Here are a few time management suggestions to help you get the most out of your busy days so you can enjoy the down time needed to keep you and your...

For computers, portable doesn't always have to mean vulnerable.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Probably the best thing about having a notebook computer is its portability. But with that portability comes the threat of theft. How do you keep your notebook from becoming mobile with someone other than yourself? One way to deter thieves...

Rohn's morsels of wisdom stand up to the test of time.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part column. Part one appeared in the March 30 edition. Sales sick? Take two Jim Rohn tapes and call me in the morning. One of my most respected influencers is Jim Rohn, who is considered...

One-third of OSU medical students to stay in Columbus.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Students discover where they will be doing their residencies Fourth-year medical students at The Ohio State University had a reason to celebrate two weeks ago when they unsealed envelopes revealing the location of where they will spend the...

Will your company hold any meetings outside as the weather warms?
April 6, 2001... MARCY DESIGN GROUP Yuko Kelly Creative Director "We never really hold meetings outside. It may be hard to concentrate' KELLEY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP Orby Kelley President "We've held meetings outside in the past....

Sullivan Bruck Architects.(Company Profile)
April 6, 2001... URL: www.sbarch.com Company: Sullivan Bruck Architects Contact: Christopher Hoyt, Sullivan Bruck Architects, technology manager, 614-4649800 or info@sbarch.com. Site design: Christopher Hoyt Launch Date: November1998 ...

PRODUCT LAUNCH.
April 6, 2001... Inventor must await market's response to his software Entrepreneur Mark Stienecker is about to blast off. Time will be the judge of whether he hits the heights or can't get off the launch pad, but for now, he's counting down in preparation...

Newly formed alliance to serve needs of firms searching for technology help.
April 6, 2001... Five companies have formed an alliance they say will create a one-stop shop for technology services in the greater Dayton region. The businesses, which will remain independent of each other, will team to provide the various marketing,...

Become a power e-mailer to boost work productivity.(Tutorial)
April 6, 2001... Everybody knows how to use e-mail. It's simple, right? Click the "New Message" icon, type a few sentences, then click the "Send" icon. What could be easier? Sure, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to use e-mail, but are your really...

Scott Spears.(Cinematographer, Lightspeed Productions)(Brief Article)(Interview)
April 6, 2001... Name: Scott Spears Title: Cinematographer Company: Lightspeed Productions Time in current position? Seven years Where did you begin your tech career? Mills/James Productions as a freelance editor. How do you stay...

Huntington goes live with e-Bank platform.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Huntington National Bank has completed the conversion of its back-office systems to its e-Bank platform, giving customers real-time access to their account information. Huntington signed on last year to become the first customer of e-Bank,...

Sarcom to consolidate operations in Delaware Co.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Sarcom has announced it will consolidate employees from three Central Ohio offices at its Polaris headquarters and operations center. The computer consulting and technology management company also says it will move its product fulfillment...

Rickenbacker takes 1st step toward passenger terminal.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Rickenbacker Port Authority approved April 4 design work for a new passenger terminal at Rickenbacker International Airport. The Port Authority approved $2 million out of its capital budget for a Chicago architectural firm to lead the...

Cardinal tops local firms on Fortune 500 list.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Five of the 29 Ohio-based companies named to this year's Fortune magazine list of the 500 largest publicly traded corporations in America call the Columbus area their home. The magazine, which bases its list on revenue for 2000, reported...

Mount Carmel East begins emergency room expansion.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Mount Carmel East began construction April 3 on an expansion of its emergency room and a connected observation unit. The expansion of the emergency room at the east-side hospital to 50 treatment bays will allow it to serve up to 100,000...

GREATER COLUMBUS STOCKS.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... GREATER COLUMBUS STOCKS FROM PRICE PREVIOUS 52-WEEK COMPANY SYMBOL 4/4 WEEK ...

Central Ohio's public companies.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Many of Central Ohio's public companies began the second quarter with their stocks in much the same position as the rest of the market trying to overcome a rough first quarter. But gainers actually outnumbered losers among the stocks in 52...

Wendy's International Inc.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Sales at Wendy's International Inc. were op in March. The Dublin based fast-food chain said same-store sales at company-owned restaurants in the U.S. were up 2.6 percent in the month, compared to the same period last year. Wendy's also said...

Bob Evans Farms Inc.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Bob Evans Farms Inc. said its same-store sales in restaurants open for the past two fiscal years were up 1.7 percent in March over the same month in 2000. The Columbus-based restaurant chain said menu prices in March were op about 2.8 percent....

Bigmar Inc.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Losses at Bigmar Inc. narrowed last year from 1999 levels but still reached $4.88 million. The Johnstown-based generic drug manufacturer last year reported losses of $4.88 million, or 50 cents per share, compared with a loss of $6.32 million,...

Food industry has tasty menu of growth stocks.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
April 6, 2001... Dear Mr. Berko: I've been teaching school for 21 years and my wife works at a law firm. We've put three children through college and now have money to invest for the first tune. Last year, we saved $27,000 from my wife's income and would like...

Lowest exec pay in state in Columbus.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... America's biggest urban region offers America's biggest paychecks, according to a new Demo graphics Daily analysis of executive salaries. New York City casts a broad shadow over the list of metropolitan areas where managers and...

Enforcing Ohio's lemon law-the NHL way.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Considering the plaintiff's reputation, General Motors should probably be happy this lemon law complaint was made in the courts. Former Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa recently went to Franklin County Common Pleas Court with...

Business checking interest bill makes quick progress through Congress.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Depression-era ban on banks offering interest on business checking accounts could soon be history. Legislation to repeal the prohibition cleared the House Financial Services Committee in late March and was expected to be passed by the...

OSU taps Frankie Coleman to be new community affairs director.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Frankie Coleman, wife of Columbus' Mayor Michael Coleman, has been named director of community affairs at Ohio State University to help carry out university initiatives as they relate to Central Ohio and the state. Coleman will report to...

States, localities upgrade incentives for tech firms.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Attracting high-tech companies continues to be a top priority for states and cities despite the dotcom crash, says a KPMG survey of economic development officials. Most states and municipalities also are enhancing their incentive packages...

Business organizations applaud decision to begin 'blacklisting' repeal.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Bush administration began the process to repeal regulations issued by the Clinton administration that require federal procurement officers to consider a company's record of compliance with labor, environmental and consumer laws before...

Lengthy Seneca dispute should come to a close.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... We applaud Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael H. Watson's decision to order mediation to resolve the 4-year-old dispute over control of the Seneca hotel property, downtown. Recently, Watson appointed former Common Pleas Court...

Failed tech finns deserve more credit.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Working at a technology company these days must be as appealing as used Kleenex. Intel. Cisco. Dell. Motorola. Red ink, cutbacks, layoffs - tough times, indeed. But here's the weird thing: Instead of sympathy, all I'm hearing from workers...

Campaign finance reforms should not cut out parties.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... As the debate in Congress over campaign finance reform continues, it is disturbing to note how many observers are buying into the notion that money can be legislated out of the political process. It is important to understand this: There...

5 years later, still no clear telecom choices.
April 6, 2001... Anniversary of deregulation spurs debate about benefits of new options It's a classic case of he said, she said. The fifth anniversary of passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has prompted parties on both sides of the issue to...

Local firms use Webcasts to release financial results.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Tom Katzenmeyer remembers the way things used to be five or 10 years ago, before Limited Inc. began Webcasting its quarterly and monthly earnings announcements. The company previously made live conference calls for the earnings reports,...

Greater Columbus long-distance carriers & resellers & dial-tone (local) providers.(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... Greater Columbus long-distance carriers & resellers RANKED BY NUMBER OF GREATER COLUMBUS EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES SERVICE COMPANY NAME IN ...

Cell systems keep truckers on right road, trucks filled.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Central Ohio trucking companies are making a move toward the ultimate in technology as they try to boost efficiency. "We're one of the original people in satellite tracking, and we're also getting involved with cell phones," said Bill...

Constant, quality service drives call center strategy.
April 6, 2001... At 2 a.m. there's always chance a cell phone user is trying to figure out how to activate voice mail or report a stolen phone. So round-the-clock customer service is the primary objective of today's call center. At Verizon Wireless and...

Learn about the firm before choosing telecom provider.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... Since the passing of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, hundreds of new telecom competitors have flooded the local and long-distance market, each hoping to become the next best thing since the Internet. Business models have abounded almost as...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
April 6, 2001... ADVERTISING, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Gerbig Snell/Weisheimer & Associates Inc. hired Heather Bookwalter as public relations account coordinator, Amy Bush as marketing coordinator, Amanda Linscott as traffic manager, Devin Meister as...

Terry Logan.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Center for New Directions named Terry Logan as its Woman of Promise for 2001. The award is given to a woman who has used the center's New Directions program to achieve personal and professional growth, Logan, 50, teachers art at Fair Avenue...

Geographic Information System.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The city of Dublin received the Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program Best Practices award, recognizing its ability to demonstrate and successfully implement a Geographic Information System.

Association for Women in Science of Central Ohio.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Ohio Women's Policy and Research Commission named the Association for Women in Science of Central Ohio the Making a Difference award winner in the government/education institution category. The award was presented for the association's...

Roush Honda.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Roush Honda received a President's Award from American Honda. The award recognizes the dealership's excellent performance in sales and service customer satisfaction as well as its overall business performance.

Complete General Construction.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The American Concrete Pavement Association Ohio/Kentucky chapter presented 2000 Excellence in Paving awards to Complete General Construction in the municipal streets and intersections category; to Ridcenbacker Port Authority in the reliever and...

Gail Kelley.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Gail Kelley and the Columbus franchise of Two Men and A Truck International Inc. earned a Market Share Award for attaining market share greater than 6 percent, the Top Packing Sales Award, the Leaders in Excellence award and a $2 Million Club...

10TV Eyewitness News.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The 10TV Eyewitness News team of WBNS-TV received the 2001 Edward R. Murrow award for overall excellence in news from the Radio-Television News Directors Association. The team was chosen from among all television stations in Ohio, Indiana,...

Pharmacist mixes old and new to keep up with competition.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... GRANVILLE - Taylor's Drugs owner Greg Ream has to concede that bigger is better in some respects in the pharmacy business. At the same time, however, he stills believes customers like the friendly atmosphere of a small-town drugstore like...

Strength in numbers.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... ServAll offers independent pharmacists a way to compete against national chains As American as baseball and apple pie, the independent pharmacy has always been a Main Street mainstay. Like most mom-and-pop businesses, however,...

Stark II regs offer docs new joint venture opportunities.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Due to consumer demand for access to high-quality health care in more convenient, accessible and comfortable settings, health care providers are opting to provide services in nontraditional settings through joint ventures involving hospitals...

Seasoned long-term care executive expanding reach.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... After 21 years serving one long-term care community, Harry Hobson is now looking to help other such organizations. Hobson, 51, stepped down in December as president and CEO of First Community Village in Upper Arlington -- a position he had...

Poll says prescription drug benefit key to productivity.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Prescription drugs are becoming the employee benefit of choice. What's more, employers who help cover their costs as part of the health insurance plans they offer employees will make workers not only happier but more productive. That's...

Out-of-state doctors face new licensing regs in Ohio.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... A new law going into effect April 10 will require out-of-state physicians who practice on Ohio patients to obtain a telemedicine license from the Ohio Medical Board. "Ohio wants to see if (out-of-state) doctors practicing on Ohioans meet...

JCAHO issues new telemedicine rules.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... In addition to the state law relating to out-of-state doctors practicing in Ohiothe Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations also has issued new standards for hospitals and physicians involved in telemedicine. The new...