Business First-Columbus articles from February 2001

Business First-Columbus archives from February 2001

A vision: convention hotel.
February 23, 2001... COTA puts twist on planned transit center The Central Ohio Transit Authority has developed conceptual plans for a downtown bus-and-rail terminal that could accommodate a convention center hotel with up to 1,000 rooms. COTA boss Ron...

Drury Inn will build hotel sans incentives.
February 23, 2001... Drury Inn will build a 186-room hotel on Nationwide Boulevard downtown, but without the city tax breaks it sought for the project. Drury Inn President Chuck Drury, in an abrupt reversal, ended the St. Louis lodging chain's twoyear battle...

OhioHealth to shed HMO.
February 23, 2001... Money-losing plans put on seller's block OhioHealth Group has slapped a "for sale" sign on its money-losing HMO and point-of-service health insurance plans. The Columbus health insurer has hired Salomon Smith Barney to find a buyer...

In chase for deposits, small banks gaining.
February 23, 2001... Bank One remains king of deposits in Central Ohio, but its title carries less weight since its 1998 merger with First Chicago NBD. In June 1998, two months after Bank One Corp. of Columbus disclosed the merger plans, Bank One held a third...

Soup company in hot water over canning.
February 23, 2001... When is an isolated comment not an isolated comment? For purposes of disability discrimination in Ohio, it's when that isolated comment is written in the margins of an internal company memo -- and not purged before a lawsuit is filed. ...

Notable upcoming birthdays of Central Ohio executives.
February 23, 2001... * Ken Heater, vice president, METSS Corp.: Feb.24 * Michael Schoedinger, executive vice president, Schoedinger Funeral Service and Crematory: Feb.24 * Carla Wilke Jones, vice president, Ohio Packing Co.: Feb.25 * Chris Modarelli,...

There's a good reason why that Geiger speaks so well.
February 23, 2001... Ohio State Athletics Director Andy Geiger was a self-described model train "nut" growing up in the 1940s in Syracuse, N.Y., he recently told Business First. But it wasn't all fun and trains growing up not with a mother who was a stickler for...

Lenders at odds following shutdown of SingleSource IT.
February 23, 2001... SingleSourceIT's sudden closure last December has led to a dispute between lenders. RFC Capital Corp. of Columbus and Comdisco Inc. of Illinois are in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to settle which has rights to $400,000 in...

Nationwide wins injunction against Tri-Continental.
February 23, 2001... Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. has won a preliminary injunction against a group allegedly selling counterfeit Nationwide insurance policies. A U.S. District Court judge in Los Angeles ruled in a trademark infringement case brought by...

Exel names new president for its home delivery unit.
February 23, 2001... Westerville-based Exel has appointed Daniel W. Avramovich president of Exel Direct, the supply chain management company's provider of home delivery services. Avramovich is responsible for home delivery services for retailers and...

World Cup windfall.
February 23, 2001... Match against Mexico seen as economic boon The United States vs. Mexico, Feb. 28, 2001: Call it pro soccer's Cold War. Or, as the Mexican press has dubbed it, La Guerra Fria. While the weather likely will pose a stiff challenge for a...

CCAD draws up future plan with strong ties to downtown.
February 23, 2001... The Columbus College of Art & Design is unveiling a preliminary master plan that is central to the college's hope of being a player in downtown redevelopment. "We see ourselves as a vital organization in the life of downtown Columbus,"...

Bill would force gas sellers to prove financial strength.
February 23, 2001... A utility provider struggling to stay afloat amid soaring energy prices has become a common sight in California, but state Rep. Lynn Olman says it's become all too common as well among natural gas suppliers in Ohio's customer choice programs....

CORRECTION.
February 23, 2001... A column in the Feb. 16 Commercial Developers' Resource supplement regarding wetlands permits should have stated developers may fill wetlands of half an acre or less through a nationwide permit process administered by the Army Corps of...

Privacy wins in lemon law arbitration.
February 23, 2001... Consumers who use state-certified arbitration panels to settle lemon law claims against car manufacturers will be able to keep their names private, a local judge has ruled. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Dale Crawford heard...

East Coast VC firm could launch fund in Columbus.(venture capital)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... A young East Coast venture capital firm is expanding into the Midwest and has Columbus on a shaft list of cities where it wants to launch funds. Village Ventures Inc. of Williamstown, Mass., has hired a 30-year veteran of the investment...

Northwest destined to get outpatient surgery center.
February 23, 2001... Dr. Herbert Riemenschneider is bullish about the outpatient surgery center he and more than 20 other physicians will launch in northwest Columbus this summer. But he doesn't want to burn any bridges at Riverside Methodist Hospital, where...

Consolidated plans to refocus on closeout operations.(Consolidated Stores Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... When 70 Wall Street analysts arrive in Columbus next week, they'll hear how new management at a pared down Consolidated Stores Corp. plans to refocus on the retailer's core business and capitalize on opportunities created as other retailers...

Three-C repair hub gears up for $1.7M expansion.(Three-C Body Shops Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Bob Juniper, perhaps best known for his 6-year-long radio advertising campaign criticizing insurers for the way they pay for car repairs, is preparing his Three-C Body Shops Inc. for a growth spurt. Juniper will break ground in early...

Greater Columbus boat dealers.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 23, 2001... Greater Columbus boat dealers RANKED BY NUMBER OF NEW RETAIL BOATS SOLD IN 2000 NEW PRE-OWNED 2000 DEALERSHIP NAME RETAIL BOATS SOLD REVENUE/...

E-insurance safeguards digital assets.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... No matter what the pundits may claim, the Internet is not going away. Opportunities to use the Internet to help grow your business continue to abound. A word of warning, though: these new business opportunities do come with their own set...

JACK OF ALL E-TRADES.(the (CTO) chief technology officers)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... CTO a key strategic player in e-commerce operations Help wanted: Local e-business company seeks jack of all trades. Must have experience in computer networking, systems analysis, Internet technologies, strategic business planning and data...

Ohioans face paying first taxes for Internet purchase.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Beginning this tax season, Ohioans will notice a new line on their state income tax return requiring them to report and pay sales tax for items bought over the Internet last year Ohio is one of only nine states exempted from the federal Tax...

Company aims to send its scents over Internet.(DigiScents)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... DigiScents has yet to make any cents - let alone dollars. However the Oakland, Calif.-based startup, which is developing technology to send smells over the Internet, has managed to keep itself busy. The company has secured The support of...

Give and Take: optimizing your advisory board.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Linking Emerging Businesses With Experienced Advisers Advisory boards, while not elected by nor representing public shareholders, can still be a valuable adjunct to ownership and management who can take advantage of the diversity,...

Measuring e-business still depends on bottom line.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... With the aftershocks of the Nasdaq's crash still reverberating throughout the new e-business economy, investors and businesses alike remain puzzled over which pieces to glue back together and which to simply throw away. It comes as no...

Greater Columbus-based venture capitalrecipients.
February 23, 2001... Greater Columbus-based venture capitalrecipients RANKED BY VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS RECEIVED IN 2000 COMPANY NAME VENTURE VENTURE ADDRESS CAPITAL ...

Technology changing face of media relations practices.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Technology is changing the face of media communication and forcing companies to look at their public relations programs. By leveraging the Internet and using the Web as a tool for working with editors, companies are improving awareness,...

Firms of all shapes seeing legal changes of technology.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Technological changes and the widespread use of the Internet have brought profound changes in several areas of the law. The application of existing trademark, copyright and unfair competition laws have fundamentally changed as a result of...

MBA class project sows seeds for tech-savvy business.(Ashland University)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... A recent class project in Ashland University's MBA program has inspired the spirit of entrepreneurism. Business plans developed by graduate students in a course exploring the role of strategic innovation in an e-commerce world are getting...

Creating online sales tools requires different strategy.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Virtually every business today is dealing with new rules: new competition, new cost pressures, new communications channels -- and audiences that are more demanding and harder to reach. However, many business leaders still apply old rules when...

Antitrust conerns join list of growing pains for B2B.(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Internet business portals maybe the wave of the future, but they're not without their problems. "The legal threats have only existed on one side really," said Les McNeil, the vice president of marketing for New Albany-based Fourthchannel...

Companies going global online need cultural training.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The global economy is affecting the products and services of local firms from the earliest stages of development, creating a need for more international awareness among employees than ever before, say area managers. "When we develop...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
February 23, 2001... ACCOUNT Arthur Andersen promoted Eric M. Johnson, Jarrick A. McClure, Elisabeth A. Pierson and Rodrick L. Synder to seniors in the audit practice. ADVERTISING, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Conrad Phillips & Vutech hired Cathy...

Mark L. Shy.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Mark L. Shy of Renovators Inc. received a Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America, Simon Kenton Council. The award recognizes volunteers who have exhibited extraordinary service to scouting, to youth outside of scouting and to the...

Rev. Leon L. Troy Sr.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The Rev. Leon L. Troy Sr. will receive the American Red Cross Greater Columbus Humanitarian of the Year award at a Mardi 27 luncheon.

Scott P. Rider.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Scott P. Rider of the Rider Financial Group qualified for the National Quality Award and the National Sales Achievement Award.

Richard Flanagan and Shah Hasan.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Richard Flanagan and Shah Hasan received the undergraduate and graduate, respectively, Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award at Franklin University. Graduating students identify the faculty member who has had the most significant influence on them...

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 189.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 189 Joint Apprenticeship and Journeymen Training Committee received the Apprenticeship Sponsor 2000 award from the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council. The award is given annually to an entrant that has...

Jones Day Reavis & Pogue.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence presented its President's Award to Jones Day Reavis & Pogue.

Sharon M. Romano-Petrelli.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Sharon M. Romano-Petrelli of Demotech Inc. received the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation from the American Institute for CPCU and an Award for Academic Excellence in the Associate in Regulation and Compliance program from...

Marvin A. Flegle.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Marvin A. Flegle of SS&G Financial Services was given honorary member status in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The status recognizes CPAs who have been members of the association for 40 years.

Chris Callen, Terry May, Freddi Poorman, Mike Beausay, Jeff Roediger, Rich Schlaack, Todd Sunday and Allan Lust.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Guardian Life Insurance named the following Columbus financial group members to its National Leaders' Club: Chris Callen, Terry May, Freddi Poorman, Mike Beausay, Jeff Roediger, Rich Schlaack, Todd Sunday and Allan Lust.

Rickenbacker project taps freight forwarder anchor.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... A Columbus developer has plans to build a 42,000-square-foot office/warehouse project at Rickenbacker International Airport with a freight forwarder as an anchor tenant. Simon Group LP plans to construct the $2.1 million project on 3.7...

Microsoft considers amnesty for firms involved locally in software selling suit.(Microsoft Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Columbus businesses using unlicensed software likely will be able to legally acquire the licenses without facing fines of up to $150,000 per copyright infringement under a program being considered for later this year, a Microsoft official...

Market Exchange District secures more restaurants.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Office dwellers in downtown's southeastern corridor soon will be within walking distance of freshly made pecan waffles and Indian-style lamb kababs. The Market Exchange District is getting its first restaurants as Bread & Better prepares...

Montana Mining Co. opening at former Gottlieb's Gahanna spot.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The shadow the former 55 Restaurant Group left on the Columbus restaurant scene when it shuttered operations last year continues to fade. The company's former Gottlieb's restaurant in Gahanna will open as the Montana Mining Co....

Soft Serve and Pizza Show cooking for convention center.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The Ohio Restaurant Association will host the Mid-America Restaurant, Soft Serve & Pizza Show Feb. 25-26 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The event is open to members of the restaurant trade and registration at the event is $15. ...

Smith Barney: M&A team in place at Wendy's International.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... New-York based research firm Salomon Smith Barney came away from an analysts meeting held by Wendy's International Inc. executives this month with the impression the Dublin fast-food giant was "on the prowl for acquisitions." While...

Cardinal Health zeroing in on identity-builder agency.(Cardinal Health Inc.)
February 23, 2001... Cardinal Health Inc. is looking for a regional ad agency to help it establish a corporate identity. James M. Simon, named senior vice president and chief communications officer at Dublin based Cardinal last August, says the company has...

Big Bear sees marketing lift as balloon festival title sponsor.(Big Bear Stores Co.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Syracuse, N.Y.-based Penn Traffic Co. apparently is pleased with the exposure its Big Bear supermarket chain received at last summer's balloon festival in Grove City. Columbus-based Big Bear has signed on to be the annual festival's...

Flynn Sabatino's L.A. connection aimed at sports entertainment.(Flynn Sabatino and Day Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Dayton-based Flynn Sabatino & Day Inc. has formed a joint sports entertainment venture, named Mandalay Advertising, with Los Angeles-based Mandalay Sports Entertainment. Mandalay owns the Dayton Dragons minor league baseball team and...

New work for Baird; new name at LSYdigital.(Baird Communications)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... * Baird Communications in Columbus will provide Urbana-based CT Communications Inc. with marketing communications consulting services. Baird continues to handle publicity for Disney on Ice's "Beauty and the Beast" presentation. *...

Insurers get some support in prompt-payment debate.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 23, 2001... A new study by the Ohio Department of Insurance has added fuel to the fire in the debate between physicians and health insurers over so-called prompt payments. Findings from the study were made public Feb. 14 by state Insurance Director...

DPL pulls itself off sales block amid power industry change.(DPL Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Dayton-based DPL Inc. won't look for a buyer and instead will remain independent, hoping to make deeper inroads into a volatile electric market with new emphasis on capacity and reliability. DPL, parent of Dayton Power & Light Co., in...

Software firms, Microsoft settle dispute over counterfeit sales.(Microsoft Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Eight Cleveland-area companies accused of selling counterfeit Microsoft software will pay $2.7 million to settle piracy lawsuits. Microsoft sued in federal court, claiming the companies sold imitation versions of its software, including...

Fraser Papers wrapping up operations at Ohio mill.(Fraser Papers Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Fraser Papers Inc. plans to close its paper mill in West Carrollton on March 9, putting 305 employees out of work. Spokesman Rich Chapel blamed increasing competition and rising energy costs for the decision. the factory produces paper...

Toledo area in for first new shopping mall in 20 years.(General Growth Properties Inc. plans mall)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... General Growth Properties Inc., the nation's second-largest mall developer, wants to build a two-story shopping mall in suburban Toledo. The mall would include an ice-skating rink and four anchor department stores. Chicago-based...

Ford layoffs, Isotec sale mark news elsewhere in Ohio.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... * Ford Motor Co. will indefinitely furlough up to 500 workers at its Avon Lake assembly plant March 26 as it trims inventories of Mercury Villager and Nissan Quest minivans. Work at the 2,500-worker Avon Lake Ford complex will be reduced...

Take a SWOT at navigating the firm's strategic direction.(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... "If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there." I use this famous quote often because it epitomizes so many companies that I encounter in my business. Most are fine businesses with great products or services...

Foundations, mayor kick-off Access HealthColumbus.(Access HealthColumbus)
February 23, 2001... At a February 6 news conference, Mayor Michael Coleman challenged the community to unite behind Access HealthColumbus, a community-wide initiative to assure access to health care. The event marked the public kick-off of Access HealthColumbus,...

What it's all about.(Department of Labor web site)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... This section of the labor department's Web site helps small-business owners and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws and regulations.

Small Business Retirement Savings Advisor.(service of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The Small Business Retirement Savings Advisor provides answers to a variety of questions about retirement savings options for smaller employers and determines which program is most appropriate for a business. This Advisor, which was developed...

"Wage, Hour and Other Workplace Standards Advisors".(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Click on "Wage, Hour and Other Workplace Standards Advisors" and find a list of Advisors that can help employers with such topics as maintaining a drug-free workplace or the Family and Medical Leave Act. In the Fair Labor Standards Act...

Visitors also can do searches by agency.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Visitors also can do searches by agency, such as the Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration or the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

Keep your business separate from your personal world.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... As a small-business owner, you must learn to keep your business separate from your personal world. The business must have a separate checking account, and only business expenses should be paid out of this account. Business income must be...

Take monthly draws to cover your personal expenses.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... If you are a limited liability company (LLC), partnership or sole proprietor, take monthly draws to cover your personal expenses. Deposit the draws into your personal account and write your personal expenses out of this account. Do not...

Be sure to properly allocate funds for paying taxes.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... In addition, be sure to properly allocate funds for paying taxes, as you are no longer an employee with withholdings. Some people take a percentage of their profits out as a draw and deposit the money into a separate savings account to be...

Customer's POINT OF VIEW.(Barbara Spangler cites her customer relations techniques)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Proper handling of client feedback can build loyalty among the contented, win back the disgruntled and increase sales Rookie entrepreneur Barbara Spangler is facing a problem even the most seasoned business owner would envy: Calls and...

Beck/Durell Creative.(contract with Mettler-Toledo Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Beck/Durell Creative will be responsible for public relations programs for the industrial, retail, strategic accounts and laboratory divisions of Mettler-Toledo Inc. Beck/Durell also provides design services for print material.

Allied Employer Resources Inc.(becomes member of Employer Services Assurance Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Allied Employer Resources Inc. was approved for membership in the Employer Services Assurance Corp. Membership will allow the company to provide assurance through ESAC's client assurance program, which monitors members for adherence to...

Joe Ashley.(writes song for NASCAR)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Joe Ashley of Mills/James Productions wrote the lyrics for a song commissioned by NASCAR to salute Bobby Labonte, winner of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup. The song, "All the Way to the Winston Cup," was the soundtrack for a video of scenes from...

Fiber Network Solutions.(utilizes Akamai Technologies content delivery servers)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Cambridge, Mass.-based Akamai Technologies Inc. deployed its content delivery servers in Fiber Network Solutions Inc.'s server collocation data centers. As an Akamai Accelerated Network, FNSI will provide end users with faster downloads and...

Ashland Specialty Chemical Co.(Drew Industrial Division acquires Engineered Products Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... The Canadian operations of Ashland Specialty Chemical Co.'s Drew Industrial Division completed a cash-for-assets purchase of Finnan Engineered Products Ltd., a water treatment services company based in Toronto, for an undisclosed price....

CMHC Systems.(second issue of national corporate magazine)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... CMHC Systems released the second issue of its national corporate magazioe, One -- The Integration of Healthcare & Technology. For information, call Ones editorial and marketing departmental 888-848-Rilt.

GreenScapes Landscape Co.(on cover of Pro Magazine)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... GreenScapes Landscape Co. is featured on the November/December cover of Pro Magazine for completing the 2000 Pro Training Challenge. GreenScapes competed with 14 landscape companies nationwide to conduct weekly employee training programs for...

American Electric Power.(Ohio Power Co., Columbus Southern Power Co. to provide increased billing information)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Customers of Ohio Power and Columbus Southern Power, operating companies of American Electric Power, will see their February bills broken into distribution, transmission and generation charges as well as a transition charge and customer...

Clinton-Carvell Inc.(Avalon Consulting Group selected to manage outside sales team)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Clinton-Carvell Inc. selected Avalon Consulting Group's market representation service to recruit, hire and manage an outside sales team to build Clinton-Carvell's commercial deaning business. Reach Avalon at 614-252-6097.

Aelita Software.(Vic McKay to head new California office)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Powell-based Aelita Software opened an office in Simi Valley, Calif. The office will be led by Vic McKay, regional sales manager. Reach Aelita at 800-263-0036, or visit www.aelita.com.

Jeff Chilcoat.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... LPGA Tour players Jamie Hullet, Pamela Kerrigan and Patricia Baxter-Johnson selected attorney Jeff Chilcoat of Campbell Hornbeck Chicoat & Veatch LLC as their agent of record. He will represent the players in most of their career management...

Growing firm into successful venture takes three keys.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... If you are dreaming about launching a new business and your primary efforts are focused on marketing, cash flow and management, your odds for success should be much greater. Many entrepreneurs worry about success or failure while the company...

Edward Howard & Co.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Edward Howard & Co. added to its client list Invacare Corp., Elyria; Sealy, High Point, NC.; American Greetings, Cleveland; CSC Ltd., Warren; Metachem Products, New Castle, Del.; Cryoma Labs, Cleveland; Downtown Cleveland Partnership; Signal...

Apex/M&P Construction LLP.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Apex/M&P Construction LLP received a $939,805 contract from the Gahanna-Jefferson Local School District for the Gahanna Lincoln High School stadium entrance, a $2.64 million contract from the New Albany-Plain Local School District for work at...

Quickness key in building rapport with prospective clients.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2001... Getting to know and like prospects, and getting them to know and like you is what makes sales easier to achieve. If you find common subjects or interests with a prospect, you can establish a business friendship, and people are more likely...