The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun articles from December 2000

The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun archives from December 2000

ER trauma.(Emergency rooms may close down)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Closures giving execs headaches Imagine all of the Valley's 28 hospitals temporarily shutting down their emergency rooms because they can't handle another patient. Many Phoenix area hospital executives are worried that's exactly what...

ER trauma.(emergency room management)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Internet system provides relief A new Internet-based system that alerts rescuers and hospitals when an emergency room can't handle any more patients may help officials deal with closures this year. Phoenix was the first major...

Group plans telecom link.(Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Arizona businesses and residents soon will have access to a free online database of telecommunications services offered in their area. The Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council is undertaking a project to create a comprehensive...

Capitol Mall area getting big boost.(from Legacy Partners)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A plan for new apartments in the Capitol Mall District of Phoenix is being hailed as a major jump-start to redevelopment in an area blighted by deteriorating buildings and populated by the homeless. Legacy Partners plans to start...

An angel's open house.(Christmas Angels)
December 1, 2000... Since 1985, when Linda Booker became an angel, she has touched the lives of thousands of Valley children. That was the year she started a program that today is called Christmas Angels. Every year, in August or September, the Valley Realtor...

More coverage, better packaging are goals of new tech section.
December 1, 2000... Starting this week, we're creating a new section and increasing our coverage of the Valley's technology community because: * Entrepreneurs in our market are building momentum, attracting national attention and drawing others to consider...

IS GLASS HALF EMPTY?
December 1, 2000... Allow me a moment, if you will, to get a pet peeve off my mind. It's two words, and I keep running into them talking to exec after exec and reading them in story after story. They are: "cautiously optimistic." As in I'm cautiously...

ALL IN THE FAMILY.(Jon Campbell leaves Wells Fargo Arizona)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Jon Campbell is about to enjoy a family reunion. As you know, he's leaving his post as Wells Fargo's big cheese in Arizona (sorry to see him go, too). He's bound for Minneapolis to replace Patrick Donovan as the bank's regional president...

THROWN FOR A LOSS.(LogoAthletic Inc. files for bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Most often when you read how Cards quarterback Jake Plummer wound up flat on his back it's because some 300-pound enemy put him there. He can get sacked off the field, too. LogoAthietic Inc., an Indianapolis sportswear maker, filed for...

Garfield still focusing on community banking.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Although the last time Ernest Garfield started a community bank in the Valley was 1990, the state treasurer turned consultant is again shifting his sights here to capitalize on an opportune market. Not only is the Arizona economy good, but...

'Next Step' halts retiring execs' tumble into rocking-chair routine.(training program)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Money. Power. Influence. Retirement. For some high-powered executives who aren't fantasizing about getting any tee time they want, leaving the trappings of the corporate world is akin to bungee jumping without a net. A new program set...

Accounting firm leaders give nod to new SEC regs.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Auditing committees of major corporations will have to be on their toes regarding potential conflicts of interests when working with the Big Five accounting firms, according to a new ruling by the Securities Exchange Commission. But local...

CORRECTIONS.
December 1, 2000... * Marriott's Desert Ridge Resort will begin taking group business in January 2003. The incorrect date was published in an article in the Nov. 24 issue. * In an article on KY-KO Roofing published Nov. 24, the name of owner Monte Stoller was...

Managed care has new way to take financial temp.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Risk-based capitalization. That's the new way managed-care plans will be measured for their financial stability, thanks to a new Arizona law that goes into effect Jan. 1. Cigna Healthcare of Arizona Inc. already has felt the sting of...

Vanguard Health dumps Cigna after reimbursement stalemate.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Vanguard Health Systems Inc. has terminated its contract with Cigna HealthCare of Arizona Inc. Vanguard represented 4.1 percent of all member hospital stays for Cigna, which has more than 500,000 enrollees in Arizona, said Tania Graves,...

Retail shops hope Biltmore keeps high-end image.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Bowing to the changing winds of retail while preserving the select flavor that has defined. Biltmore Fashion Park -- it's a balance some say has challenged the high-end shopping and restaurant center this season. One tenant, John Coumbe,...

Albertson's to run Gamut.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A new handheld electronic device called the Gamut will be available free to shoppers this weekend at three Albertson stores in the Valley. Gamut gurus on Dec. 1 will be demonstrating how the device can save consumers money at the North...

D'backs and Suns team to put tax funds into play.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Diamondbacks Charities and Phoenix Suns Charities may be leveraging their giving dollars with money raised to build the Arizona Cardinals football stadium. A portion of the hotel and rental car tax approved by voters last month to...

Valley economy boosted by new construction projects.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Sales have started at Solana Bella by Avignon, a 12-unit luxury townhome development at 3417 N. 28th St., Phoenix. Prices start in the mid $ 170,000s. The major component fueling a healthy economy is construction, and several examples of...

Haskell makes an educated expansion move.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Jacksonville, Fla.-based Haskell Co. plans to expand its Haskell Educational Services subsidiary throughout a handful of states, including Arizona -- but there are two schools of thought on when that might happen. The initiative will...

MicroAge puts tech services subsidiary up for sale.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... MicroAge Inc., Tempe, said that although it has a buyer in the works, the company will file a motion proposing to sell the assets of its MicroAge Technology Services LLC subsidiary through competitive bidding procedures outlined under...

Firms settle litigation.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Chandler-based Microchip Technology Inc. and Scenix Semiconductor Inc. have resolved all outstanding litigation between the two companies, according to a Microchip Technology statement. The statement said the two parties have settled on...

Announcement delayed.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... On the day the company said it would have a definitive announcement on its ongoing bankruptcy case, Employee Solutions Inc. instead said that restructuring negotiations with bondholders had unexpectedly continued. Quentin P. Smith Jr.,...

Avnet Hall-Mark inks deal.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Avnet Computer Marketing, Hall-Mark Division, an operating unit of Tempe-based computer and electronic components distributor Avnet Inc., will be representing Sun Microsystems in Hungary. According to the two firms, Avnet Hall-Mark will...

Company offers 'VoteTrax'.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... As debate over counting and certification of the Florida election continues, a Valley company has what it thinks will prevent that from ever happening again. Phoenix-based nFocus.com has developed the VoteTrax electronic voting system....

Grinch Browser debuts.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... While the movie Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is on movie screens around the country, a Tempe-based company is helping the Grinch himself tear things up on the PC desktop. NeoPlanet Inc. of Tempe provided the software as...

Holiday totals rise.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2000... Good economic conditions and good weather helped fuel retailers' good cheer over the holiday weekend's traditional kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. Same-store sales rose 3.8 percent from the same-three-day period last year. ...

Tennessee to call Tempe.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Excell Agent Services, a Tempe-based Excell Global Services company, has finalized a contract with Cricket Communications to provide directory assistance to Cricket customers in two Tennessee markets. Cricket's services allow customers in...

Immelt to succeed Welch.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... General Electric Co. has named Jeffrey Immelt to succeed John "Jack" Welch as president and chairman-elect, when Welch retires at the end of 2001. Immelt, 44, most recently has served as president and chief executive of GE Medical Systems....

Auction picks up steam.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The 30th-anniversary of the Barrett-Jackson Auction, to be held Jan. 17-23 in Scottsdale, already has a sharp increase in interest. October figures reflect a significant rise in bidders and consignors, up 159 percent from the same point...

Royal Precision halts bid.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Scottsdale-based golf club shaft manufacturer Royal Precision Inc. has terminated its nonbinding letter of intent and discontinued-negotiations regarding its potential purchase of PH Group Inc. Royal Precision's option to acquire up to...

Mast to head citrus group.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Arizona citrus grower James H. Mast has been named acting president of Sunkist Growers following the departure of president and chief executive Vincent J. Lupinacci. Mast has been on the Sunkist board of directors for 11 years. "He brings...

Barclay signs clients.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Phoenix-based public relations and advertising agency Barclay Communications has added two new "high-speed" accounts with the signing of Firebird Raceway and Gateway Country Stores as new clients. Barclay will handle all publicity for...

Credit union's new program takes stock in children.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Arizona Federal Credit Union has come up with an innovative gift for its members' children -- stock through Netstock's ShareBuilder program. The stock can be given in any dollar amount. As additional incentive, Netstock will add $20 to...

Churchill arranges loan.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Churchill Mortgage of Arizona has arranged a three-year, $24.75 million loan for Biltmore Holdings. It is being used to finance the acquisition of the 310,823-square-foot Financial Plaza Office Tower in Mesa. Cynthia Hammond, president...

Johnson steps down.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Sam Johnson, principal owner of Johnson International, parent company to Johnson Bank in Arizona and chair of S.C. Johnson & Son, is stepping down. After 40 years, he is becoming chairman emeritus and has named his son, H. Fisk Johnson, as...

Mesa Bank names VP.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Gretchen Rittman is the new assistant vice president for Mesa Bank, responsible for sales and business development. Rittman most recently served as a consumer loan and business development officer with Rocky Mountain Bank. She also has...

Sunrise VP appointed.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... William Hinz, president of Sunrise Bank of Arizona, has named Tyrone Couch vice president and personal banking officer. Couch will be responsible for deposit business development. Before joining Sunrise, Couch was assistant vice...

Compass to the rescue.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Compass Bank came to the aid of Phoenix Rescue Mission when. the facility came up 450 turkeys short for Thanksgiving food boxes to be distributed to unemployed and working-poor families. Rich Vogel, Compass president, saw the mission's...

National helps Pappas.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... National Bank of Arizona raised $26,000 for the Thomas J. Pappas School Foundation at its fourth annual charity golf tournament. In addition to helping provide academic instruction for the school, which educates homeless children, the funds...

Western International program aimed at managers.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Western International University in Phoenix is putting together an executive health care, management program to be launched this spring. The four-course certificate program, which will take about eight months to complete, will be targeted...

New surgeon on board.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Martin Bell, who is licensed to practice medicine and law in Arizona, has joined North Valley Plastic Surgery on the campus of Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix. His area of expertise includes facelift and eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty,...

Seniors back to work.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Sun Health has teamed with Plus 50 Placement Center Inc., a nonprofit job-placement service for those age 50 and older. The organizations will work together to attract mature workers to all areas of Sun Health. The new Sun City branch of...

Study: Patients like Mayo.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Mayo Clinic Hospital has been named the No. 1 choice of consumers in the Phoenix metropolitan area by the National Research Corp. for the second year in a row. Nationally, 2,500 hospitals were rated by consumers in the study. In the...

Lights for the holidays.
December 1, 2000... John C. Lincoln Hospital-North Mountain is conducting its annual tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4. The Crystal Princess, dressed in glittering gown and sparkling crown, will use her star wand to light Lincoln's three holiday...

Ageless heroes.
December 1, 2000... Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona recognized six outstanding seniors at its third annual Ageless Heroes Awards. * The Vigor and Vitality Award went to Rose Steward, 82, of Scottsdale, America's oldest female triathlete who competed in a...

Brothers team to create custom-made radio spots.(Brad and Jay Burnham)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... It's a formula that local radio producer Brad Burnham and his brother, Jay, hope will take off -- custom-made commercials that masquerade as music on the radio. Burnham, a news producer for KTARAM 620, said the pair have launched a...

Merger creates agency.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Trendlinz Inc. has joined forces with New City Promotions to form a specialty ad agency, under the New City name. Trendlinz is a buyer of promotional products and speciality items. New City is a business-to-business e-commerce company. The...

Aloha, Hawaii.(Symbolic Productions office in Hawaii)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Symbolic Productions, a Phoenix operation offering film and video production, Web site design and promotion, graphic design, animation, script writing and more, has opened an office in the Waikiki/Honolulu area of Hawaii. Michael Hibdon,...

Telemundo 48 moves.(Telemundo KDRX-TV 48)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Telemundo KDRX-TV 48 has moved to 4625 S. 33rd Place in Phoenix, a 15,000-square-foot space featuring a 2,500-square-foot studio along with two floors of news, production, master control, engineering and offices. The studio provides the station...

Kid's festival slated in Tempe.(Total Experience Productions fundraiser)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Total Experience Productions, producers of the Children's Festival of Fun 2000, will raise funds for three children's charities at the upcoming interactive, entertainment and educational event. The festival, scheduled for Dec. 9 and 10 at....

New faces everywhere.(Mark Motta joins Mullen Advertising and Public)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... * Mark Motta has joined Mullen Advertising & Public Relations as creative director, responsible for overseeing all the agency's creative ad work, including print, broadcast and collateral. Motta, who has 30 years of industry experience,...

William Krumwiede.(to Moses Anshell)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... * William Krumwiede has been named creative director for Moses Anshell, replacing former director Elaine Vallario. Krumwiede has been with the agency more than two years, having arrived from Tokyo, where he worked on a variety of accounts such...

America West commissions economic impact study.(America West Airlines Inc.; Arizona State University)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... America West Airlines has commissioned Arizona State University to conduct a study on the carrier's local economic impact -- measuring stats such as jobs and direct and indirect spending. ASU conducted a study similar to this once before,...

Super-Shuttle.(America West Airlines Inc.; Super Shuttle International)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... America West also has partnered with Super-Shuttle to tie ground transportation with flights. When booking a flight on www.americawest.com, travelers now may link to the SuperShuttle Web site, www.supershuttle.com, to book transportation to or...

Snow inducted.(Judy Snow member of International Spa Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Scottsdale spa consultant Judy Snow has been accepted as a member of the International Spa Association. The organization has about 1,200 members worldwide. Its goal is to educate the public about the value of the spa experience. Snow...

Duck gets Web feet wet.(The Duck and Decanter web site)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Duck and Decanter sandwich and catering operation, a Valley mainstay since 1972, now has a Web site, www.duckanddecanter.com. You can't order online but it does list the menu, catering options and prices, for those busy days when you...

The outside online.(National parks)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... National Parks of the Southwest also launched a new Web site. The site features pictures, maps, hiking trails and more for National Parks and many other outdoor attractions in the Southwest. Other site sections cover Canada, England and...

Headed to New York.(Jon Hill of Wigwam Resort)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Wigwam Resort's executive chef, Jon Hill, will be cooking a dinner Dec. 14 at the James Beard House in New York. Hill, who has been with the resort since 1992, was the White House chef during the Reagan administration and received his...

House of sugar.(John Kottman gets award)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Chef John Kottman of Chaparral Suites Hotel Scottsdale created the winning gingerbread house in the annual Prescott Resort contest. The competition drew 105 entries. Kottman won the chef's category. His house included a Swiss chalet, a...

Loco partners a done deal.(Loco Hospitality Group buys The Hatch Valley Chile Co.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Hatch Valley Chile Co. restaurant, 13637 N Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, has been sold to Loco Hospitality Group, a newly formed Arizona corporation that intends to own and operate other restaurants in metro Phoenix. Principals of Loco...

New golf school.(J.D. Turner Golf School)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Los Caballeros golf course at Rancho de los Caballeros, a historic ranch in Wickenburg, has been chosen to house the J.D. Turner Golf School. The school provides custom-tailored corporate and private group programs. and courses...

Rising above it.(Bill Scott)
December 1, 2000... Tragedy affords opportunity of greater value It started out as a cozy Thanksgiving dinner with his girlfriend's family in 1975 and ended in a shooting spree that left Bill Scott paralyzed from the chest down. It would be an...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Essentia Water Inc. CEO James Tonkin)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Advertising Kelly Mixer joined Lavidge & Baumayr Advertising and Public Relations, Scottsdale, as senior account executive in the public relations division. Architecture Neil Davidson was hired as director of operations at Deutsch...

Buyout opens firm's campus horizons.(AT&T Campus Wide Access Solutions bought by Blackboard Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... On the heels of AT&T Corp.'s four-way split, the company is selling off its Phoenix-based AT&T Campus Wide Access Solutions to Blackboard Inc., a technology provider for academic markets. CampusWide, a 130-employee company that designs...

Visitalk.com staff down to 12, capital wanted.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Visitalk.com laid off all but 12 employees the day before Thanksgiving --months after. company officials conducted a staff "retrimming" and began tackling a new revenue model. Company officials hope to keep going with a bare-bones staff and...

Aperian Inc. opens Phoenix data center.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Aperian Inc., an Internet infrastructure provider offering Web hosting and co-location services, opened its first Phoenix data center downtown this week, marking the company's fifth such operation nationwide. Aperian employs about 10...

EBIZ Enterprises inks deal to acquire Jones Systems.(EBIZ Enterprises Inc.; Jones Business Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Scottsdale-based EBIZ Enterprises Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire UNIX-reseller Jones Business Systems Inc. of Houston. When the deal closes, EBIZ will be one of the largest companies in the Linux products industry with...

New in town.(international Web development agency, Bitr8)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... An international Web development agency, Bitr8, opened its first U.S. office in Scottsdale last week at 5705 E. Main St. The 2-year-old firm handles database integration and Web applications for projects ranging from $10,000 to more than...

Emphasis on 'e'.(e-commerce certificate program)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Keller Graduate School in Mesa has been chosen as one of four Keller campuses nationwide to launch a comprehensive e-commerce certificate program. The program is not a master's degree in business, but a series of eight 10-week courses open...

Done deal.(Osage Systems Group)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Osage Systems Group completed a $2.25 million financing agreement with private investors. The agreement called for $1.5 million of 8 percent convertible debentures that were funded in late September. The remaining balance was funded in...

Get a date.(MatchUp Singles.com)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The holiday season means a busy social calendar for most, putting pressure on the unattached to find cordial dates. Those tired of recycling the same black book may want to try MatchUp Singles.com. The local Web site for anonymously pairing...

Among the 'top'.(top 100 business intelligence vendors)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... JDA Software was named among the "top 100 business intelligence vendors" by DM Review magazine. Readers chose JDA's Retail IDEAS for inclusion in the December edition. Readers were asked to choose among 453 products which they found most...

Arizona's tech innovators honored for achievements.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Six Arizona individuals and businesses were expecting honors Nov. 30 at the 11th Annual Innovator of the Year awards dinner at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. The event, sponsored by the Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic...

Computer clubhouse.(computer education and training opportunities to children )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Some of the biggest names in computer technology today have stepped up to help bring computer education and training opportunities to children in underserved communities. Intel Corp. hosted the official grand opening ceremony for the first...

Switched on.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2000... Mesa-based Duraswitch Industries Inc. has licensed its thiNcoder switch technology to GM Nameplate and will receive royalties on each switch used by the company, said Terry Dunlap, chief executive and co-founder of Duraswitch. GM Nameplate...

Interactive Web response.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Vodavi-CT has implemented several Internet-based interactive Web response applications via its new PathFinder IWR, the newest capability added to the company's NT-based family of voice processing products. Pathfinder IWR technology allows...

Speakers sought.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Arizona Software Association's Workforce Development Committee is exploring different ways to help Arizona produce better information technology employees. The committee is seeking volunteer speakers who, are willing to address groups about...

New leadership.(Cablesoft Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Cablesoft Technologies Inc., a Tempe-based company that just received $11.5 million in venture capital, has appointed Robert Vanecko as vice president of corporate development and Kevin Considine as vice president of sales. Previously with...

Renaissance Networking Inc.(CEO Jeff Clark)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... President, CEO: Jeff Clark City: Tempe E-mail: sales@rni.net Web site: www.rni.net Employees: 8 full-time Year started: 1997 Revenue: Would not disclose Q: What does your company do? Clark: We are a wireless...

Investors question move to leash Petsmart.com.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Petsmart Inc.'s announcement that it would assume control of the e-tailer bearing its name raised questions from investors during this week's conference call on quarterly earnings. Several asked why the move was made to put $20 million in...

Advantiv lands big-name partner to create decision-making software.(International Data Corp. )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... An emerging 14-person company in Phoenix just landed a partnership that will initiate as many as 15 new products next year for worldwide sale. Advantiv and Massachusetts-based International Data Corp. have partnered to combine expertise...

TECH PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... At iBIZ Technology, Phoenix, David Kiepke was named director of sales, Kurt Stewart was hired as director of value-added resale channel sales, and Jeff Calleja, Keith Conley, Giuseppe De Rose, Tone Sharfner and Jeremy Christenson were brought...

Technology incubator set to open eight new sites.(Arizona Technology Incubator)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Arizona Technology Incubator is ready to open eight new branches. ATI, created eight years ago as part of a state economic development program, has, been approached by several communities and groups wishing to start duplicates of the...