The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun articles from April 2001

The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun archives from April 2001

What is a good corporate citizen?(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Valley businesses rise to the occasion in a variety of ways There may be as many theories on what makes a good corporate citizen as there are businesses. While certain components are universal -- cash gifts, sponsorships, volunteerism...

Giving back.(corporate philanthropy in the Phoenix, Arizona area)
April 6, 2001... A look at how some Valley companies and organizations join forces to serve the community. Molina Fine Jewelers Last year the Phoenix jewelry store donated $2.2 million in cash and jewelry to 146 charities, according to president and...

Small businesses getting help with giving programs.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Where can small businesses turn when they want to give to the community in which they thrive? Small to mid-sized companies often do not have the same resources as big corporations for setting up a giving program or locating the best...

United Way statistics.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... United Way statistics CAMPAIGN GROWTH Valley of the Sun United Way 1997 $32 1998 $37 1999 $42 2000 $47 Note: Table made from bar graph ...

Two Valley corporations that make giving a big part of their business.(Salt River Project)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... * SPONSOR COLUMN: SALT RIVER PROJECT Sandy Schimmel could tell the dog days of summer had set in at St. Mary's Food Bank by looking at its half-empty shelves. She was not surprised. Typically, the plight of the Valley's hungry and...

Two Valley corporations that make giving a big part of their business.(Wells Fargo)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... * SPONSOR COLUMN: WELLS FARGO BANK Since 1852, when the Wells Fargo stagecoach helped settle the American West, the people of Wells Fargo have taken an active role in building strong communities. For nearly 150 years we have been a...

A strong foundation.(charitable foundations in the Phoenix, Arizona industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... Growth of foundations takes giant leap in the Valley over past five years The upsurge of charitable foundations and trusts in the Valley has opened possibilities for more grant dollars and increased cooperation among nonprofit...

Leave a Legacy wants people to give to charity rather than IRS.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... As the World War II generation fades away in the next 20 years, they will leave behind more money than ever before. A national group called "Leave a Legacy" is encouraging them to give that money to charity instead of the federal...

Celebrity chefs are hot dish at Valley fund-raisers.(Phoenix, Arizona area)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Valley chefs are such a popular draw at black-tie charity events that many are overwhelmed with requests for donations and appearances. The union of chefs and fund-raisers isn't difficult to understand. People are in a giving spirit when...

Soft economy means charities work harder for donations.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Just because charities are called "nonprofits" does not mean they do not care about making money. They do. That is, nonprofits keep a close eye on whether the corporations they count on for support are doing well. With a softening economy,...

Brand new game.(connecting nonprofit organizations with new technology companies)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Charities must learn new ways to connect with tech companies The boom and bust among tech startups not only has muddied the industry's economic prospects, but also seems to have given techies a mixed image in the nonprofit world. On...

Insight delivers on promises.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Being tech savvy is not just important for the nonprofits facing growing competition, but also for the people they serve. Tech businesses, such as Tempe-based Insight Enterprises Inc., recognize that as well. That recognition, and the...

Geeks gives in creative, techie way.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The way techies give reflects the way they work, said Chad Little, "chief geek" at Scottsdale's myGeek.com. "Internet people like to put forward their causes and apply their efforts to them the same way they put energy into their...

Companies increase brand awareness through giving programs.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Branding is a trend in corporate giving that is visible everywhere. You can find the logos of corporate givers next to those of the charities they support on banners, brochures, cups, T-shirts, advertisements and products of all kinds. ...

Bashas' helps children, schools register results.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... In a business with razor-thin margins and competition from national giants, Bashas' has used its local roots to differentiate itself. The Chandler-based grocery chain applies that to its charitable giving as well. It can be seen in its...

A new kind of venture funding.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Social Venture Partners gives in unique ways Social Venture Partners Arizona has nearly 100 individuals donating funds and human resources to help burgeoning nonprofits grow. The group takes a venture-capital approach to philanthropy....

Getting noticed.(Mesa Air Group)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Mesa Air Group flight plan has lofty targets Mesa Air Group is one of the biggest public companies with headquarters in Arizona, yet its significant turnaround hasn't appeared on the radar screen. Chief executive Jonathan Ornstein...

Ornstein has hands firmly on controls.(Jonathan Ornstein of Mesa Air Group)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Mesa Air Group's Phoenix headquarters are a flat, gray sea of cubicles that seem in line with chief executive Jonathan Ornstein's no-nonsense business sense -- but contradictory to his dynamic presence. "He's the vice pres... he's the vice...

Small business sees big problems in bankruptcy bill.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Bankruptcy legislation recently passed by Congress could have a devastating effect on small businesses at a time when they can least afford it, according to local leaders. Stricter rules may force more small businesses -- defined by the...

MARKET FACTS.(Power shortage fears)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... Power shortage fears Arizona companies were asked which concerned them more, blackouts or electric rate hikes Rate hikes 37% Blackouts 58% Unsure 5% Source: Behavior Research Center RockyMountain Poll Note: Table made...

Off and running to Saudi Arabia.(starting gates for horse races )(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... A company that manufactures starting gates for horse races is shipping its largest order ever to a new track in Saudi Arabia. True Center Gate, off of Bell and Cave Creek roads in north Phoenix, is shipping eight starting gates to the $200...

Tech companies partner with ASU.(Arizona State University )(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Intel Corp., Motorola Computer Group and Arizona State University are uniting to better educate and train tomorrow's engineers and raise the state's profile as a national technology leader. The companies and the university's College of...

It's good to see volunteer spirit works in Valley.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... It's inspiring to see the power of volunteerism and what people can do when they come together. Let these numbers tell it. * 1 effort; 1 weekend. * 4,000 volunteers. * 70 Valley agencies. * 110 community service projects....

'Business Journal' staffer picks up national award.(reporter Stephanie Balzer)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Society of American Business Editors and Writers has named the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the winners in its annual contest recognizing the best reporting in business journalism across the country. The Business Journal was one...

Bankruptcy court to rule on PMH April 12.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The District of Arizona U.S. Bankruptcy Court will rule on April 12 whether it approves the proposed sale of PMH Health Resources Inc. to Vanguard Health Systems Inc. There were no other bidders at the April 4 sales hearing, which combined...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
April 6, 2001... * An incorrect annual revenue figure was reported in the March 30 edition for e-dentist.com. The company collected $12.5 million in sales last year. * The e-mail address for Andrew Ortiz, featured in the "Forty under 40" section March 30,...

Southwest Autism Center takes lead on screening.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... As the number of children with autism is on the rise, the Southwest Autism Research Center is developing a physician outreach program to help doctors routinely screen toddlers for the disorder. Autism is a neurological disorder occurring in...

Doctors Healthcare deal in flux.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... As the financial control board and Scottsdale-based Doctors Community Healthcare Corp. negotiate a deal for D.C. General Hospital, the D.C. Hospital Association wants to ensure its members have enough time to prepare for the hospital's closure....

Drugstores filling corners to grab prescription market.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Drugstores in the Valley are stepping up efforts to build freestanding pharmacies to capture a share of the rapidly increasing baby boomer business. Osco Drug is planning 17 freestanding stores on corners throughout the Valley this year....

Valley auto repair chain launches Internet stock sale.(Mr. Clutch USA Inc. )(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Mr. Clutch wants to raise capital the "do-it yourself" way. Mr. Clutch USA Inc. of Scottsdale, a nationwide licensor of auto clutch repair services, is conducting a direct public offering to raise $5 million. That means the offering...

Summit points executives to Internet collaboration.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The next wave of online collaboration will involve making all business processes accessible for the customer and others. That's what 700 executives learned this week at Forrester Research's summit in Phoenix. The two-day conference...

Tech community loses a friend and colleague.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 6, 2001... The Valley's technology community suffered a loss when Art Ranney Jr., director of the Government Information Technology Association, passed away March 30. Ranney, 60, died of natural causes at a hospice in Phoenix. "I found him to be...

New PR partners promise better ties with Mexico.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Jason Rose of Rose & Co. in Phoenix has teamed with Dallas political consultant Rob Allyn to form a Valley venture, Rose & Allyn. Allyn served as the American media advisor to Mexican President Vicente Fox during his campaign and recently...

Outside agencies brought in to aid clean elections commission.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Three Phoenix marketing firms have banded together to scoop up the $600,000 Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission account. L3 Creative; CPR, also known as Critical Public Relations; and 3 Flaggs Media will partner to generate...

Magazine drives up car dealer's Web hits.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Once Larry Cuneo had his automotive e-commerce site CarSoup.com up and running in three markets, he was looking for innovative new ways to connect with his consumers. So he started a magazine in Phoenix, Minneapolis and Portland, Ore. ...

Saia expands west through consolidation.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Southern regional trucking company Saia has expanded into Arizona and eight other western states with the integration earlier this month of sister carriers WestEx and Action Express. All three companies were separate units of Yellow Corp....

GE Capital buys Franchise Finance for $2.1 billion.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... GE Capital Commercial Equipment Financing of Danbury Conn., agreed to buy Scottsdale's Franchise Finance Corp. of America for more than $2.1 billion. Under the agreement, common shareholders of FFCA will receive $25 in cash for each share...

Finova loss put at $940M.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Scottsdale-based commercial lender The Finova Group Inc., which already agreed to a takeover and filed for Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, reported a net loss of $939.8 million for the year ended Dec. 31. In...

FiberCom to report loss.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... International FiberCom Inc., a Phoenix-based telecommunications network specialist, said it expects to report a loss from operations in the first quarter of from 6 cents to 7 cents per share, on revenue of between million and $80 million. ...

Phelps Dodge, TEP sign pact.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Tucson Electric Power Co. signed a five-year wholesale contract to supply 60 megawatts of electricity to Phelps Dodge Energy Services. The contract calls for TEP to supply the power at all times, except during the company's peak customer...

Sheraton unveils resort.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Plans have been unveiled for the $125 million, 500-room Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa on the Gila River Indian Community, south of Phoenix. The resort, to be completed in 2002, will be situated on the banks of a river as the...

ASU makes list.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Arizona State University remains on the U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of graduate business schools. New York University topped the list in the part-time MBA program ranking. ASU tied for 12th with Duke University, Fordham...

Mobile Mini adds markets.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Tempe-based Mobile Mini Inc. made two acquisitions to establish its presence in Milwaukee and Charlotte, N.C. According to the firm, which provides portable storage units, the total purchase price for the acquired assets is about $4.4...

Vcommerce names King CIO.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Vcommerce Corp., a Scottsdale-based provider of a variety of commerce integration services, hired technology strategist Craig King as chief information officer. King will manage and set the direction for Vcommerce's technology...

Vodavi predicts loss.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Vodavi Technology Inc., a Scottsdale-based business telecommunications specialist, reported its net sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2001 will fall significantly below first-quarter 2000 results. Vodavi estimated a 35 percent...

Offer made for Web Theatre.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Nashville, Tenn.-based ELine Music.com Inc. made an offer to buy WEBPayPerView.com and its assets, including the Web Theatre in Phoenix. Responding to the offer, WEBPayPerView chief executive and Web Theatre director Derreck Manteau said,...

Aviall, Honeywell sign deal.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Aviall Inc., Dallas, was awarded 10-year worldwide aftermarket parts distribution rights for Honeywell International Inc. engine systems and accessories and environmental control systems products, company officials said. Honeywell's...

IIS lowers revenue estimate.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Integrated Information Systems Inc., a Tempe-based technology and business consulting firm, said revenue for the first quarter ended March 31 would be $10 million to $10.5 million, below previously stated expectations of approximately $12...

Hypercom given $6M deal.(Vital Merchant Services)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Vital Merchant Services has awarded Phoenix-based Hypercom Corp. a contract valued at more than $6 million for Hypercom's card-payment terminals. Under the terms of the agreement, Vital Merchant Services will deploy Hypercom terminals to...

Trucking firm expands facilities.(Consolidated Freightways)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Consolidated Freightways, a less-than-truckload transportation provider, will open new terminals this month in Phoenix and Laredo, Texas. According to the company, the terminal openings are part of a $17 million construction and upgrade...

Retail sales rise.(Arizona, March 2001)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Same-store retail sales for March rose a modest 2.9 percent over the same period last year, according to data compiled by TeleCheck Services Inc., a check acceptance company. Sales in the West rose 3.2 percent, and 2.7 percent in Arizona....

SkyMall Inc. reports earnings.(fourth quarter and year 2000)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, SkyMall Inc., a Phoenix-based multichannel specialty retailer, reported net income of $1.1 million on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $2.4 million. For the...

Hotels slow Internet growth.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... A drastic tightening of capital markets is forcing a slowdown in the deployment of broadband Internet connectivity in hotels for guests and a shakeup in the market, according to Scottsdale-based Cahners In-Stat Group. Despite this, the...

VITRIX completes acquisition.(of Time America Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Tempe-based VITRIX Inc., a work-force management solutions developer, finalized its acquisition of Time America Inc. of Phoenix, a private time-and-attendance software development company. The acquisition agreement was originally announced...

TDI reports big start in Korea.
April 6, 2001... Scottsdale-based Tru Dynamics International Inc. said that its South Korean subsidiary, Tru Wellness Korea, drew nearly 1,000 people to enroll as distributors for its line of nutraceutical products. According to TDI, it was the largest...

Law conference to focus on international business.
April 6, 2001... An international law conference will be held on May 3 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. The conference, co-sponsored by the National Law Center in Tucson and Broder Szerer Silber law firm of Brussels, Belgium, is...

Motorola Credit goes wireless.(Motorola Employees Credit Union West)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Motorola Employees Credit Union-West has partnered with e-finance company Digital Insight to offer a wireless banking program called "Data Link." The credit union's 55,000 members can access their account balances and retrieve their last...

Tax time tension relievers.(Henry & Home PLC)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Accountants in grass skirts? Play-Doh sculpturing? The Phoenix accounting firm Henry & Home PLC has come up with a unique way for its CPAs to get a break from the long hours and high stress levels of tax season. Its Second annual Tax...

Morris named president-elect.(Roger Morris; American Society of Pharmacy Law)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Roger Morris, a partner in the Quarles & Brady Streich Lang's health care practice group and a registered pharmacist, has been chosen as president-elect of the American Society of Pharmacy Law. He will serve a one-year term and become...

U.S. Bancorp recognized.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffrey was named M&A Middle Market Bank of the Year for 2000 by Mergers & Acquisitions magazine, a trade publication that primarily targets private equity groups, corporate development executives and investment bankers. ...

Nominees picked for trial court.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments has recommended seven candidates to Gov. Jane Hull for two vacancies on the Maricopa County Superior Court. The two chosen will replace judges Bernard Dougherty and Cheryl Hendrix,...

Phillips gets new post.(Mary Beth Phillips; Business Volunteers for the Arts)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Mary Beth Phillips, a Shareholder and director at the Phoenix law offices of Fennemore Craig, has been appointed to the board of directors for Business Volunteers for the Arts. The organization provides business expertise through volunteers...

M&I acquires branch.(M and I Thunderbird Bank)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... M&I Thunderbird Bank has agreed to acquire The Harris' branch at 19828 N. 27th Avenue in Deer Valley. The Deer Valley branch has five full-time employees and serves about 900 customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The...

Mayo plan stays healthy despite woes in Florida.(Mayo Health Plan Arizona)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Although Mayo Health Plan is getting out of the health insurance business in Florida, its sister Mayo Health Plan Arizona is forging full steam ahead in the Valley. While the Florida health maintenance organization had more than a $7...

Physicians Formulary sold.(Priority Healthcare Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Physicians Formulary International Inc., a Phoenix-based national distributor of biopharmaceuticals, has been acquired by Priority Healthcare Corp. The Phoenix company specializes in sales to outpatient surgery centers and has been named...

Device firm on cutting edge.(Instrumentation Metrics Inc.,)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Instrumentation Metrics Inc., a Chandler medical device company, is nearing the end of a study of its non-invasive blood glucose monitor. Company officials say it is the first device of its kind to accurately and precisely measure blood...

Nearly $1 million awarded.(St. Luke's Health Initiatives)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... St. Luke's Health Initiatives has awarded nearly $1 million to 18 Arizona groups to help children and those with disabilities. Alice's Wonderland got the biggest chunk, receiving $124,000 for one year to develop alternative sources of...

Summit on fast track.(Summit Builders)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Summit Builders has completed the fast-track construction of a 48-bed senior living addition to Freedom Plaza at the southwest corner of 93rd Avenue and Thunderbird in Peoria on the Plaza Del Rio Campus. The two-story, 27,000-square-foot...

Patient records get rescued.(Maricopa County Medical Society)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Maricopa County Medical Society employees helped physicians and their patients get access to their medical records with the now defunct Casa Blanca Clinic. When Casa Blanca closed in January, more than 300,000 patient charts needed to be...

Oncology program accredited.(Phoenix Memorial Hospital)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Phoenix Memorial Hospital's oncology program was awarded accreditation from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer as a result of its recent survey, which happens every three years. Last August, the hospital opened the Del...

Is it really so?(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Leonard Kirschner, 65, is retiring. For the fourth time. Recruiters still are calling on the national authority on Medicaid managed care programs, but this time, Kirschner thinks his retirement will stick. He retired for the first time...

Hair cut time.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Midwestern University students will host the second annual Cuts for Kids April 17. The charity event raises hair donations for wigs for children with long-term hair loss. It is set from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in front of Sahuaro Hall at...

Cities West Publishing grabs front-line exposure.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Check out the new spots inhabited by Phoenix Magazine and Phoenix Home & Garden at Fry's grocery stores throughout the Valley. An agreement between Cities West Publishing and Fry's Food and Drug has placed the Phoenix publishing company's...

Green Rabbit hops back.(Green Rabbit Design Studio)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Green Rabbit Design Studio, an animation facility in Old Town Scottsdale, has risen from the flames that destroyed it a year ago. The studio features new equipment and expanded capabilities. "We are anxious to continue to provide art...

L.A. agency in Valley.(Susan Roth Public Relations,)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Susan Roth Public Relations, which specializes in strategic marketing, crisis communications and media relations, has relocated to Phoenix. Roth has worked with such heavy-hitter clients as The Walt Disney Co., Universal Studios and...

HMA wins 3 projects.(HMA Public Relations,)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... HMA Public Relations, Phoenix, has added three new businesses to its client list, including USA Funds of Chandler; and the Children's Action Alliance of Phoenix. HMA also will take on a new venture started by its existing client, Arizona Bridge...

Martz adds two.(British Airways and Elements Restaurant.)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Martz Public Relations has been awarded assignments by both British Airways and Elements Restaurant. The agency is working with British Airways for the launch of its daily, nonstop service from Phoenix to London featuring the Boeing...

McMurry named to Folio 40.(McMurry Family of Cos.)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Chris McMurry, chief executive of the McMurry Family of Cos., was named to this year's "Folio 40," a group of people selected by the magazine industry's national magazine Folio. The honorees were chosen as "people in publishing who...

Local club in limelight.(Axis/Radius)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Axis/Radius, a popular Scottsdale night club, will bask in some national exposure next month. The club will serve as the backdrop for a live, upcoming Bud Light commercial airing during the May 17 episode of "Friends." Anheuser-Busch, the...

Ads take bottom-line approach.(restroom ads)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 6, 2001... Here's a little something for advertisers seeking new forms of exposure to consider: restroom ads. Don't laugh -- a recent study by Arizona State University, Rice University and Barbour and Monroe Marketing found that the ads make an...

America West launches campaign to improve image.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... America West Airlines is waging a new advertising campaign touting its strengths as an airline. The first commercials aired on April 2, the same day a University of Nebraska yearly report on airline customer service hit the national news....

Rural visitation researched.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... The Arizona Tourism Alliance is undertaking a comprehensive research program to analyze visitation in Arizona's rural communities. The first study of its kind is offering non-urban communities a chance to collect demographic and...

Survey: Phoenix a hot spot.(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Greater Phoenix was named a top spring destination for U.S. travelers in a survey conducted by the American Society of Travel Agents. Phoenix shared eighth place with San Diego. Topping the list was Orlando, Fla., followed by Las Vegas and...

Kelly named cultural chair.(Michael Kelly)(Brief Article)
April 6, 2001... Michael Kelly, long-time assistant to Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza, has been named chairman of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau's Multi-Cultural Advisory Council. The council helps attract and service ethnic group business....