Business First-Columbus articles from June 2001

Business First-Columbus archives from June 2001

Cha-ching: Alum makes $30M gift to OSU law school.(Ohio State University College of Law to receive $30 million from alumni Michael Moritz)
June 29, 2001... Nancy Hardin Rogers will receive one heck of a welcoming present when she is appointed dean of the Ohio State University College of Law June 29. The college will receive a $30 million donation from Columbus attorney Michael Moritz. It is...

Wage dispute brings halt to Drury Inn construction.(Drury Inns Inc. in labor dispute)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Drury Inns Inc. has shut down construction of its downtown Columbus hotel as the St. Louis-based chain attempts to resolve a labor dispute with construction trades unions and the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority. Site...

Honda parking R&D lab at OSU.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... SciTech campus draws firm The research-and-development arm of Honda Motor Co. has established a research laboratory at the Science and Technology Campus at Ohio State University. It marks the first Honda operation in Columbus as the...

Daimler, Moody/Nolan eye office project along I-670.(Daimler Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... The Moody/Nolan Ltd. architectural firm has joined with developer Daimler Group Inc. in tentative plans for a 62,500-square-foot office building off Neil Avenue at Interstate 670. The joint venture, MND LLC, plans to lease about 37,500...

Ethics ruling: No gifts for public officials.(Ohio Ethics Commission)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Two recent state ethics rulings are changing the way some companies do business with public officials. Until now, businesses assumed treating a public official, such as a schools treasurer in charge of choosing a bond underwriter, to a...

Historians look forward.(Ohio Historical Society considers expanding or relocating operations)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Center mulls need for Ohio artifacts museum An increasingly cramped neighborhood near the Ohio Historical Center and a lack of space for the center's growing collection of artifacts have the Ohio Historical Society considering the need...

Ohio Health fills area compass with Grove City satellite office.(opens new outpatient care center)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... OhioHealth is opening another of its outpatient care hubs in the suburbs. The Southwest Health Center in Grove City will debut within the next month and serve as OhioHealth's anchor in southwest Franklin County. The area's largest...

ONN parent, Charter still talking over carriage accord.(Ohio News Network, Charter Communications)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Dispatch Broadcast Group again has extended the deadline for Charter Communications to add Ohio News Network to its cable systems in Bellefontaine and in the Marietta-Parkersburg area. Charter was asked to make a decision about adding CNN...

Agencies get grants to aid access to health care.(United Way of Central Ohio and FirstLink)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... FirstLink and United Way of Central Ohio have landed grants to establish programs aimed at improving services for residents who lack access to health care. The agencies will receive $124,685 and $45,162, respectively, from Access...

Age discrimination lawsuit settled by bank, former exec.(Huntington Bancshares Inc., Doug Spence)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... A former Huntington Bancshares Inc. executive has settled an age discrimination lawsuit filed last year against the Columbus bank. Doug Spence, 56, sued Huntington for $7.05 million last July, alleging the bank forced him to resign...

Texans' No. 1 cheerleader: Jamey Rootes.(senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer for new National Football League team, Houston Texans)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Remember Jamey Rootes? The former president and general manager of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew reports that he couldn't be happier at his job as senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer for the Houston Texans, the...

Notable upcoming birthdays of Central Ohio executives.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... * Stephanie Meisberger, reigning Miss Ohio, and director of development. Annual Giving & Alumni Relations, Franklin University: June 30 * Kathleen C. Rayder, executive director, Seal of Ohio Girl Scout Council Inc.: June 30 * Ed...

Harvard honor makes Fox a Columbus first.(Kathleen Fox named Loeb Fellow)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Kathleen M. Fox-has become the first person from Columbus and the first in state government to become a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University's Design School. Fox is executive director of the Ohio Arts & Sports Facilities Commission, a state...

Steak Escape sees sizzle in stand-alone stores plan.(Escape Enterprises Inc. strategy)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Even though roughly 25 of the 40 restaurants Escape Enterprises Ltd. plans to open this year would operate from shopping malls, the restaurant chain is pushing forward with a commitment to transform itself into a freestanding restaurant...

OSU Med Center, YMCA collaborating at 4 centers.(Ohio State University Medical Center announces wellness program partnership)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Ohio State University Medical Center hopes to boost the health of its wellness programs through a new partnership with the YMCA of Central Ohio. The hospital system will operate wellness centers at each of the four YMCAs that will be...

Limited to keep its hand in Galyan's following IPO.(Limited Inc., Galyan's Trading Company Inc., initial public offering)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Outdoor sportswear and equipment retailer Galyan's Trading Co. Inc. began its public company status June 27 with significant influence from Limited Inc. Galyan's, based in Plainfield, Inc., began trading on the Nasdaq National Market...

AK Steel buying Alpha Tube in bankruptcy auction.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... AK Steel is purchasing Alpha Tube Corp.' for $30 million in cash. Walbridge-based Alpha Tube and its parent, Acme Metals, Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 1998. Middletown-based AK Steel acquired Alpha Tube...

Italian Village design vote postpones redevelopment.(Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority development plans)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... The schedule for redeveloping the former Taylor Terrace site in Columbus' Italian Village hit a bump when design elements in some of the residential buildings failed to pass muster. The Italian Village Commission, in a 2-1 vote, decided...

Diamond Hill firing up a new fund with focus on large-cap companies.(Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. is starting a third mutual fund, this time for stocks with larger market capitalization. But with Diamond Hill's affinity toward smaller companies, some investors may view the new fund as more oriented...

More money considered for small-biz tech transfer.(National Institutes of Health, Small Business Technology Transfer grants)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Six years ago, Idaho Technology Inc. was a six-person company that occupied the corner of an Idaho Falls potato equipment plant owned by CEO Kirk Ririe's family. Nowadays, the biotechnology business employs 65 scientists and engineers...

Trade report: Ricart Ford no longer biggest in U.S.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Fred and Rhett Bicart, owners of Columbus-based Ricart Automotive Group, can still claim to operate the largest Ford dealership in the nation, but one industry chronicler says Ricart Ford no longer is the largest U.S. dealership. Ward's...

Kroger rethinking videos in supermarkets.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Nicholas Rees, manager of consumer affairs for the Columbus division of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., says the company is reviewing the space some of its area supermarkets are devoting to video rentals. "We've taken video out of a few...

Nordstrom tapping locals for its first broadcast ads.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc., which develops its own ad campaigns, spent a week in Columbus filming "recognizable" individuals for its first series of broadcast ads. Amy Jones, Nordstrom's fashion media director for full line stores, and...

Jacob Neal moving, expanding his salon to Hartman Building.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Entrepreneur Jacob Neal, who opened Jacob Neal Salon on East Whittier Street nine years ago, is moving the business to 6,000 square feet of space in the 103-year-old Hartman Building, 275 S. Fourth St. The location, designed by Columbus'...

Fashion Place to host United Way fall gala.
June 29, 2001... Some of the first people to get a glimpse of the 1.5 million-square-foot Polaris Fashion Place will be big donors to the United Way of Central Ohio. Dan Miller, vice president of marketing for United Way of Franklin County, says this...

Greater Columbus residential developments.(ranked by price of lots sold)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Greater Columbus residential developments RANKED BY AVERAGE PRICE OF LOTS SOLD LOTS: NAME OF DEVELOPMENT AVERAGE AVAILABLE/ LOCATION ...

Greater Columbus condos.(ranked by average price of units sold)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Greater Columbus Condos RANKED BY AVERAGE PRICE OF HOMES SOLD UNTS NAME OF DEVELOPMENT AVERAGE AVAILABLE/ LOCATION UNIT SOLD/...

Mitchell aiming for top shelf with new M restaurant.(Cameron Mitchell`)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Cameron Mitchell says M will be his mast elaborate and extravagant restaurant. And if the lighting system is any indication of the approach Mitchell took to developing M, it's clear the Columbus restaurateur has spared no expense. "We...

Brickyard expansion nearing completion.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... David Ruma expects the outdoor expansion of his Brickyard bar and restaurant on West Vine Street to be complete July 3. A new 24,000-square-foot patio will include amphitheater-style seating overlooking a stage for musical bands. ...

Bob Evans buys former Knapp's site for new unit.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Bob Evans Restaurants has bought the former Bill Knapp's restaurant at 2199 Riverside Drive for $75,000 with plans to demolish the structure and build a company restaurant, says Dax Hudson, vice president of Ruscilli Real Estate Services Inc....

Massey plans expansion outside of Central Ohio.(Masseys Pizza)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Masseys Pizza plans to expand beyond Central Ohio this fall with a store in Hillsboro. Other franchising opportunities are available in Lancaster, Grove City, Dublin and Upper Arlington/Grandview. Massey's operates eight units in the area....

Pittsburgh chef takes lead at Morton's.(Richard H. Goepfert Jr., Morton's of Chicago in Columbus)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Richard H. Goepfert Jr. has joined Columbus' Morton's of Chicago location, 2 Nationwide Plaza, as the new executive chef. With more than 16 years of restaurant experience, Goepfert comes to Morton's from the company's Pittsburgh restaurant...

Area growers making do in wake of spring's rains.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... The rain that deluged Central Ohio farmland last month has receded, but farmers are still cleaning up the damage left behind by the water. The state has no crop damage report yet, but Jim Ramey, a statistician with the Ohio Department of...

Penney, Exel Direct expand business relationship.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has expanded its relationship with Columbus-based Exel Direct, headquarters for the North American division of United Kingdom-based Exel Plc. Exel Direct is now managing J.C. Penney's home furniture deliveries from...

LexisNexis wins first phase of legal battle with competitor.(TheLaw.net)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... LexisNexis has been handed an early victory in a legal battle with an online rival. In a lawsuit filed March 16, Miamisburg-based LexisNexis and its parent, ReedElsevier, sued 3-year-old competitor TheLaw.net, alleging trademark...

Company, government reach deal on workers' severance package.(U.S. Enrichment; Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Laid-off workers at a uranium enrichment plant in Piketon will be eligible for severance pay, health care coverage and retraining benefits under a deal signed June 21. The plan for now will cover only salaried workers at the Portsmouth...

Diebold deal jump-starts its voting tech venture.(Global Election Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Diebold Inc., which makes automated teller machines, has agreed to acquire Global Electronic Systems Inc., a voting technology business; in a stock swap valued at $31.5 million. The deal is expected to be completed during the third...

PolyOne to close plants; Kroger to buy Atlanta stores.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... * Plastics maker PolyOne Corp. of Cleveland is set to shut down three plants and expand production at four sites to offset the closings. About 200 workers will lose their jobs in Houston; Bethlehem, Pa.; and Corona, Calif. About 65 new...

Looking for a new career? Beware of human nature.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Last January I received an invitation from the Professional. Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches to visit Philadelphia in June to secure the designation of certified employment interview professional. Were they serious? ...

For every season.(finding and hiring qualified seasonal personnel)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Employers need workers to get through busy times, but it's not always easy finding temporary help Russ Eickstadt, owner of Gahanna-based Turf Club Inc., needs just one employee to help him get the all the work done during his lawn...

Make work less painful with simple equipment.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Do you or your staff spend much time in front of the computer? Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) affect the arms, wrists and hands of those of us who are always tapping away at our keyboards, and are the nation's most common occupational...

Five low-cost ways to find that next great employee.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Good people -- our businesses do not exist without them. Often, the difference between winning lifetime customers and losing them after one visit can be the people we hire. And yet finding hourly employees can be a tough and frustrating...

Community leaders work to Improve access to health care.(Access HealthColumbus)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... A model health care system for Franklin County residents is emerging through the work of the Access HealthColumbus Council - the leadership of Access HealthColumbus - which met last night to further iron out details. The group recently held a...

Letter from the President: Commitment to the community.(Columbus Medical Association)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... While many organizations might be taking advantage of summer as a slow time, the Columbus Medical Association (CMA) is forging forward on new exciting initiatives and services. CMA recently partnered with the Capital Club, located in the...

Top 10 rules for effective marketing.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Marketers today have access to more customer information than ever. The following recommendations will help you develop effective direct customer communication - whether it is through traditional mail, e-mail or another medium. *...

BIG BROTHER BOSS.(businesses monitor Internet and email usage of employees)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Security software becomes super sleuth of the workplace At Schneider Downs & Co. Inc., a regional accounting firm with offices in Columbus, employees are required to sign an e-mail and Internet usage policy. By doing so, they verify...

Q & A.
June 29, 2001... Has your company met its goals for the first half of this year? EWORLD DEVELOPERS Jeff Barnes CFO "Yes, we have.". ARDIT CO. Norma Martina Treasurer "No, probably not. The sales are probably not as high as we'd...

WEB inSITE.(Franklin Computer Services Group)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... URL:www.fcsg.com Company or group: Franklin Computer Services Group, Columbus Contact: Steve Williford, president, at 614-431-3327 or swilliford@fcsg.com Site design: Franklin Computer Services Group Launch date: September...

LabBook releases portable gene reader.(called Genomic XML Viewer)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... LabBook Inc. has released an updated version of its Genomic XML Viewer, a software application for converting documents in bioinformatic sequence markup language documents into those using the Web language XML, LabBook,s portable gene...

Victoria's Secret speeds up Web site.(allows customers to purchase more quickly)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Intimate Brands Inc. is hoping online shoppers will be able to buy products more quickly at the Victoria's Secret Web site after it began using software to speed up pages. The Columbus-based retailer is using a product called Netflame at...

Get ready for new Windows XPerience.(Microsoft to launch WindowsXP in October 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Windows 98. Windows 98 Second Edition. Windows ME. Windows 2000. Windows NT. Windows CE. Windows 95. And there are still a few stragglers using the old Windows 3.1. Come this October, there'll be another version of Microsoft Windows that...

Robert Williams.(interview with sales executive of Astute Solutions)(Brief Article)(Interview)
June 29, 2001... Name: Robert Williams Title: Sales executive Company: Astute Solutions, Columbus Time in current position? One year, three months Where did you begin your career? My career began as an owner of a private company that focused...

Foresight customizes software for compliance.(Foresight Corp)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Foresight Corp. is expanding its focus to the health care industry by customizing its business-to-business transaction software to help health care organizations comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. ...

Court strikes down workers' comp statute.(Ohio Supreme Court)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... The Ohio Supreme Court ruled June 27 an Ohio law aimed at stopping injured-workers from collecting double benefits is unconstitutional. The state's "subrogation statute" prohibits workers who receive compensation for their injuries in...

Port Columbus traffic rises 3 percent in May.(Port Columbus International Airport)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... The number of passengers passing through Port Columbus International Airport in May was up for the third month in a row. According to new statistics released by the Columbus Airport Authority, traffic was up 3.0 percent in the month to...

Traffic study slated for I-70/I-71 corridors.(by Ohio Department of Transportation and Columbus Public Service Department)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... The low tolerance of high-strung commuters to traffic on Interstates 70 and 71 has led the Ohio Department of Transportation to seek approval for a study of the corridor where the highways meet south of downtown Columbus. ODOT and the...

Spanish language broadcast stocks offer big growth.
June 29, 2001... Dear Mr. Berko: I have been watching three Spanish-language broadcasting companies. Hispanic Broadcasting, Univision and Spanish Broadcasting Systems are down a lot from the higher share prices of the past year. It seems to me these issues...

GREATER COLUMBUS STOCKS.(Columbus, Ohio company securities prices)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... GREATER COLUMBUS STOCKS FROM PRICE PREVIOUS COMPANY SYMBOL 6/27 WEEK Abercrombie & Fitch ...

Dayton most able to field baseball team.(Dayton, Ohio)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Montreal and Tampa Bay top baseball's hit list Time might be running out for the Montreal Expos and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Rumors are swirling that Major League Baseball will soon opt to relocate or eliminate a few troubled...

INDICATORS.(economic indicators for Major League Baseball franchise relocation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... INDICATORS Out of the park DETERMINING THE RANKINGS: For which markets were likely to see their Major League Baseball franchise flee or fold, Demographics Daily considered each team's estimated value, years in business, average annual...

BANK RATES.(mortgage rates for Columbus, Ohio banks)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... BANK RATES Mortgage rates 30-YR FIXED 15-YR. FIXED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION % RATE POINTS % RATE Affinity Group Mortgage 6.875 1 6.625...

Small-business group, GOP demanding action on energy.(Small Business Survival Committe rallies in Washington, D.C.)
June 29, 2001... The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) joined Senate Republicans at a rally outside the Capitol demanding immediate action on energy legislation. Small businesses "are extremely concerned about high energy costs, and the potential...

Baucus: Not much money left for business tax cuts.(Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committe chaiman)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... There will be no major cuts in business taxes this year, says Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. The $1.35 trillion tax cut passed by Congress a month ago "puts a lot of strain on the budget," Baucus says, and now...

Big steel suffers from failure to give and take.(LTV Corp. sad example of labor union/industry impasse)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... An irony of the U.S. steel industry's dilemma is sadly at play in northern Ohio. There, Cleveland-based LTV Corp. is struggling to get its finances in order under the protection of Chapter 11. It is financial troubles like those...

Work of A-R-T inspires call for more.(editorial on public art in Columbus, Ohio)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 29, 2001... When it comes to art - the fine variety or otherwise - I am a self-professed moron. While that noun and my name have found themselves together in plenty of other sentences, I admit I'd be hopeless in engaging in some meaningful dialogue...

GREENS YIELD LEADS.(golf's role in business deals)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Golfers seek networking time, cut deals after the round It's been said that Dwight Eisenhower was persuaded to begin his run for the presidency during a round of golf. That's just one notable example of how the golf course has become...

Deer Creek upgrades key to projected sales increase.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Businesses hoping to ditch ties and pantyhose for bug spray and hiking boots have no further to look than Ohio's state park resorts as a alternative getaway for corporate retreats. Not just ideal vacation spots, the privately managed...

Greater Columbus banquet facilities.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Greater Columbus banquet facilities RANKED BY LARGEST ROOM SEATING CAPACITY LARGEST LARGEST FACILITY NAME ROOM ROOM ADDRESS ...

Feedback programs assess how perceptions fit reality.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Making a 360-degree turnaround in an individual's image is possible with a little colleague feedback. "A lot of executives and leaders think they are certain about how they come across to people, but if you check with their peers and...

Fitness strategies make a trade show easier to stand.(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Booth, up. Product, out. Brochures, stacked. Time to sit down and have a doughnut, you figure. Not a good idea. Not if you want to be alert during the trade show. To stand out at trade shows, exhibitors must exude energy and enthusiasm...

First-time conventioneers can learn needed skills from trade show vets.(tips on how to actively participate at a convention)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... Cattle calls. That's how Amy Arnett got noticed at a conference a few years back. At 34, the brokerage director of the Nowacki Agency in Louisville, Ky., is now an experienced professional who has been attending trade shows and conventions...

Pyrotechnics fire up crowds at corporate meetings.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... Fireworks are not just for outdoor celebrations. Indoor pyrotechnics are firing up corporate meetings and conventions, luncheons, employee, motivation and employee appreciation events. Although the use of indoor pyrotechnics has been...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(multiple Ohio business and industry appointment briefs)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... ACCOUNTING Deloitte & Touche LLP hired Fred B. Miller II as director of its newly established business development center. Plante & Moran LLP named Robert E. Shenton managing partner of the Central Ohio practice. ADVERTISING,...

Fitch.
June 29, 2001... Fitch received two Bronze Industrial Design Excellence Awards at the annual IDEA competition, sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America and Business Week. The awards were for the Razer Boomslang 1000 and 200 and the Jeep...

C. Ray Noecker.(wins award from Ohio Pork Producers Council)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... C. Ray Noecker received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Ohio Pork Producers Council. The award recognized tire exemplary conservation and resource stewardship management practices that are used on the Noecker family livestock...

Contract Sweepers & Equipment.
June 29, 2001... Contract Sweepers & Equipment was named Outstanding Vendor of the Year for the state of Ohio by the Street Maintenance and Sanitation Officials of Ohio.

Lord Sullivan & Yoder Inc.(LSY Direct receives Southern Ohio Direct Marketing Association awards)(Brief Article)
June 29, 2001... LSY Direct, a business of Lord Sullivan & Yoder Inc., received two Awards of Excellence and an Award of Achievement at the Southern Ohio Direct Marketing Association's 2001 Apex Awards Ceremony. The awards were given to the most effective...

Joe Hart.
June 29, 2001... Joe Hart of Coldwell Banker Grand Traditions Realtors received a Friend of Education Award from the Worthington Education Association for exceptional service and dedication to the students and staff of Jerry Middle School.

INSIDER TRADING.(Ohio-based companies' insider securities trades)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 29, 2001... James J. O'Neill, director of Park National Corp., bought 2,500 shares May 22 at $80 a share. He now has 144,652 shares. C. Daniel DeLawder, president of Park National Corp., bought 3,000 shares May 3-24 at $76.31 to $79 a share. He now...

Discounter to make its debut with 3 locations.(TJX Companies opens new A.J. Wright locations)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2001... High-end retailers, such as Nordstrom and Marshall Field's, aren't the only merchants expanding in Columbus. TJX Cos. Inc., the Massachusetts-based off-price retailer, that operates Marshalls and T.J. Maxx. discount stores, will by...

Debt-hurt Cooker seeks new future.(Cooker Restaurant Corp.)(Statistical Data Included)
June 22, 2001... After the most financially difficult year in its history, a debt-saddled Cooker Restaurant Corp. has begun the first steps toward what its top executives hope is a turn around of the dining chain. Even as company executives acknowledged...

Grant to topple Baldwin tower.(Grant Medical Center)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2001... $17M medical office planned Two new buildings will go up and an old one will come down at the Grant Medical Center campus on the east side of downtown. Grant's parent; Ohio Health, plans to erect a 108,000-square-foot medical office...

MAG to add BMW Mini to growing fold of lines.(Midwestern Auto Group)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2001... Four years ago Dublin automobile seller Mark Brentlinger built a $5.5 million, 80,000-square-foot new-car showroom on Perimeter Loop Road. for his Midwestern Auto Group import dealership. But Brentlinger this month returns to the...

Fiorile to replace McConnell as chamber chairman.(Michael J. Fiorile, John P. McConnell)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2001... Business and work/life balance issues have prompted a leadership change at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Instead of rising to chairman of the chamber board next February, john P. McConnell, chairman and CEO of Worthington...