The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun articles from February 1995

The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun archives from February 1995

Lottery jackpot: E.B. Lane just made the cut. (E.B. Lane Inc.)
February 24, 1995... Even though E.B. Lane came out the clear winner in the race for the Arizona Lottery advertising account, the Phoenix firm was not an automatic shoo-in for the $60 million contract. In fact, the agency barely squeezed in to qualify for the...

Mayo plans hospital, second satellite. (Mayo Clinic)
February 24, 1995... Hold the "Mayo way." Mayo Clinic Scottsdale is bucking the way its Rochester, Minn.-based parent Mayo Foundation does business: it is building its own hospital. The two other Mayo Clinics - one in Rochester and another in Jacksonville,...

High-tech makes color an option.
February 24, 1995... A new technology is making color printing an affordable option for more businesses than ever before. Two weeks ago Sequel, a division of Heritage Graphics, a Phoenix printing company, began running the only digital offset color printing...

Gallagher and Kennedy merges with Kimball. (Kimball and Curry; Gallagher and Kennedy P.A.)
February 24, 1995... The practice of environmental law is past the bloom and into the boom and two Phoenix firms have merged to further advance their reputation as being on the cutting edge. Gallagher & Kennedy, a full-service business law firm and in 1994 the...

Intel chips out 724 acres for new plant. (Intel Inc.)
February 24, 1995... The Arizona's largest land sale of 1994 paved the way for one of the biggest projects in Arizona and the nation. Intel Corp. purchased 724 acres from Bogle Farms in Chandler for $20.26 million in cash and is moving quickly on construction of...

Law firm makes early decision on move. (Fennemore Craig)
February 24, 1995... A pending move by the Valley's fourth-largest law firm has resulted in the Valley's largest office lease of 1994. The 108-lawyer firm of Fennemore Craig signed a 10-year lease on Jan. 24, 1994, to take a minimum of 96,657 square feet on the...

Sheraton snaps up 2 Keating hotels. (ITT Sheraton Corp.; Charles Keating Jr.'s two hotels)
February 24, 1995... Two hotels built almost a decade ago by Charles Keating Jr. made up the largest Done Deal of 1994 with a price tag of $273.5 million. Boston-based ITT Sheraton, a subsidiary of ITT Corp., purchased both the Phoenician resort and the Crescent...

America West trims cost with new leases. (America West Airlines Inc.)
February 24, 1995... America West Airlines Inc.'s reorganization prompted the largest broker represented lease among 1994's Dozen Done Deals. The Phoenix-based airline, at that time still in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, leased...

Walgreens leads activity with 7 stores. (Walgreen Co.)
February 24, 1995... Walgreen Co. led the pack in the Valley's expanding retail market last year as it opened seven new drugstores in Maricopa county, making it the most active major retailer on the Coopers & Lybrand LLP/The Business Journal's Dozen Done Deals of...

Protest delays airport gates. (protest by losing contractor Johnson Carlier Inc.; Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
February 17, 1995... A losing contractor has protested the award of the $31 million expansion contract for Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, causing a delay that could jeopardize completion of the project in time for the 1996 Super Bowl....

Critics: gov's environment policy threat to business. (Arizona Governor Fife Symington)
February 17, 1995... Critics see some of Gov. Fife Symington's policies as a threat to Arizona's environment that could endanger economic development in the state. Legislators and political and economic leaders say environmental quality is vital to Arizona's...

Mayo deals for 130 acres in Scottsdale. (Mayo Clinic Scottsdale; Tom Chauncey Desert Arabians horse ranch; Scottsdale, Arizona)
February 17, 1995... Tom Chauncey Desert Arabians horse ranch in north Scottsdale is on the selling block, and Mayo Clinic Scottsdale appears to be a likely candidate to buy the acreage. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale's master site plan calls for the development of a...

Wall Street analysts high on Lehmann promotion. (appointment of Richard Lehmann as president of Banc One Corp.)
February 17, 1995... Wall Street analysts applaud Richard Lehmann's move to the presidency of Banc One Corp. because of his turnaround success at the bank's Arizona subsidiary. Lehmann, the current chairman and CEO of Bank One Arizona, was named earlier this...

Family to develop 147 acres in Glendale. (Sands family; Glendale, Arizona)
February 17, 1995... One of the Valley's oldest families is in development on 147 acres in the heart of Glendale that will transform an in-fill parcel into a master-planned community with more than 400 single-family homes and 240 apartment units. The Sands...

Norwest ups price for Caliber Bank. (Norwest Corp.)
February 17, 1995... Norwest Corp. boosted its offering price by more than $1 million closing its purchase of Caliber Bank this week for $159.7 million in cash. The bank agreed to acquire Caliber for $158.6 million last September, but the purchase price went up...

Cellular firm marketing prepaid phone service. (Cellexis)
February 17, 1995... A Phoenix-based cellular phone company is marketing a prepaid cellular phone service. Cellexis, part of Cellular Express, has customers pay in advance for the time they want to use, and when that time is up they lose their service even if...

Phoenix firm breaking gender barriers. (Phoenix, Arizona; McGladrey and Pullen L.P.)(includes related article on women in accounting profession)
February 17, 1995... Women are beginning to break into the partner and director level of the nation's larger accounting/consulting firms, a recent study shows. The Phoenix office of one of those large firms, McGladrey & Pullen, is being pointed to as taking a...

Phoenix police fight crime with high tech. (Phoenix, Arizona)
February 17, 1995... Phoenix police are using high technology to save taxpayers money and put the bad guys behind bars, says assistant police chief Tim Black. Phoenix police are using technology to gather and analyze evidence and track criminals and cases, he...

New CD-Rom lists all Arizona businesses.
February 17, 1995... A Tempe company is offering detailed listings of 130,000 Arizona businesses on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM version of the lists created by LeadSource Inc. came out just four months ago and the company has already sold around 100 of them, says Paul...

Building starts on Valley's nearest casino. (Sun Valley, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community begins construction of casino)
February 10, 1995... The Gila River Indian Community has begun construction on a $14 million interim casino with plans to build a $25 million to $40 million casino as the centerpiece to a resort development that will put a major gambling center closer to the Valley...

Retail electric marketing sparks debate in Arizona. (Arizona Corporation Commission, legislators to allow retail wheeling to enhance competition in retail electricity market)
February 10, 1995... The Arizona Corporation Commission is developing a plan to bring competition to the state in the retail electricity market, but legislators are ready to step in if the commission does not move quickly. In the meantime, the issue of "retail...

Simula to expand, files $35M offering. (Simula Inc. mulls stock offering to fund manufacturing expansion)
February 10, 1995... Simula Inc. has filed to sell 1.65 million shares of common stock, which could raise an estimated $35 million, part of which would be used for manufacturing expansion and to pay off debt. The Tempe-based manufacturer of crash-safety and...

U.S. program to aid start-up firms faces ax. (U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Investment Co. program to be affected by Congress-mandated spending cuts)
February 10, 1995... A U.S. Small Business Administration program that helps start-up companies obtain venture capital could be on the chopping block as Congress looks for ways to cut spending. "It's going to get whacked," says John Holliman, general partner for...

U-Haul group blasts judge's ruling. (U-Haul International Inc.; faction criticizes Maricopa County Superior Court's decision to cut jury verdict by $1 billion)
February 10, 1995... Shoen family members, whose $1.48 billion jury verdict was slashed by more than $1 billion last week, dispute the judge's ruling, but have not decided whether they will appeal thus continuing a nine-year U-Haul International family feud....

PCH growing with satellite centers. (Phoenix Children's Hospital opens outpatient satellite facilities throughout Sun Valley, Arizona)
February 10, 1995... Phoenix Children's Hospital is opening outpatient satellite facilities across the Valley to position itself for future growth in the suburbs. The children's specialty hospital - the only one of its kind in the state - is negotiating with...

Reprieve for homebuilders, roofers. (Arizona Industrial Commission grants 30-day delay in implementation of new Occupational Safety and Health Commission saguidelines)
February 10, 1995... Compliance with new federal safety guidelines extended Local homebuilders and roofers have received a 30-day reprieve from new federal safety guidelines that some housing experts say could add 20 percent to the cost of a home. The Arizona...

Wal-Mart helps in fight against lead poisoning. (Wal-Mart Foundation gives $5,000 to Arizona Department of Health Services' childhood lead-prevention program)
February 10, 1995... The Arizona Department of Health Services has been awarded $5,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation for the department's childhood lead-prevention program. Wal-Mart store No. 1240 in Sierra Vista initiated the grant. Jim Royal, manager of the...

Construction is planned for new Phoenix libraries. (Phoenix Public Library to build new branches and expand existing buildings)
February 10, 1995... The Phoenix Public Library has slated construction of two new branches and the expansion of an existing branch between now and 1997. The first branch to receive a new home will be Juniper, now located in a storefront at 19th Avenue and Union...

Arizona's future tied to clean air. (businesses rank air quality as critical site-selection factor) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... Arizona's economic future depends on the ability to recruit and expand business. When questioned, businesses almost universally rank quality of life - which includes the quality of the air - as a critical site-selection factor. So, without...

Hi-tech device seeks out polluting cars. (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality begins deployment of remote emissions testing devices) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... Missile-guidance technology comes down to earth as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality begins deploying defense-industry equipment adapted to environmental uses. In this latest twist in the war for cleaner air throughout Maricopa...

Schools must use alternative fuels. (Arizona law requires conversion of school district vehicle fleets to alternative fuels) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... Grants totaling $2.9 million have been awarded by the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office to 17 Maricopa County school districts to help offset the cost of converting fleet vehicles to alternative fuels. School districts with more...

New group trying to improve indoor air quality. (Arizona Indoor Air Quality Council) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... When talking about polluted air, most people immediately think of something akin to the dirty haze that hangs over the Phoenix skyline. But health officials say people should start looking a little closer to home. "Studies show that indoor...

Environmental technology industry on fast pace. (industry maintains impressive growth) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... The environmental technology industry in Arizona is growing, and 1995 looks good - tentatively. "We are entering an era where we are able to mine our trash," says Greg Fisher, recycling market development coordinator at the Arizona...

New partner to help Allied Waste expand. (Allied Waste Industries Inc.; new major owner TPG Partners to support expansion plans) (Focus: Environment)
February 10, 1995... Phoenix-based Allied Waste Industries Inc. has completed a $50 million equity deal giving it a new major owner to back expansion plans. The solid waste management firm sold 11.7 million common shares to TPG Partners for $50 million. TPG, an...

Study finds Arizona lagging in telecommunication. (Commission for the Study of the Telecommunications and Information Industry in Arizona)
February 10, 1995... Arizona is behind the telecommunications curve but that soon may change. The governor's Commission for the Study of the Telecommunications and Information Industry in Arizona released its findings and recommendations Feb. 9. If adopted, they...

Dentists pick at Delta plan. (Delta Dental Plan of Arizona)
February 3, 1995... Dentists who have contracts with Delta Dental Plan of Arizona Inc. are banding together to oppose Delta Dental's entry into the managed care market. Delta Dental, the largest dental indemnity insurance company in the state, has been looking...

All-Star game tips off boom. (NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona)
February 3, 1995... The NBA All-Star Weekend tips off a "Golden Era" for Valley marketing and tourism officials. Within a 12-month period, the Valley will host the 1995 National Basketball Association All-Star Game, and in January 1996, both the Fiesta Bowl...

Midwestern U. eyes first Valley medical school. (Midwestern University)
February 3, 1995... Midwestern University plans to invest $15 million to open the Valley's first medical school in either Glendale or Peoria that would have an enrollment of more than 750 students in five years. The Illinois-based, private nonprofit university...

Downtown visitors pay record sales tax in '94. (Phoenix, Arizona)
February 3, 1995... A resurgence of visitors and conventions to downtown Phoenix is credited with bringing the city a record $2 million in trackable sales tax revenues in 1994. The Phoenix Finance Department's Tax Division has released a report showing a solid...

Service to London sought by Phoenix. (Continental Airlines Inc. service from Arizona's Sky Harbor International Airport to Gatwick Airport)
February 3, 1995... The Phoenix area is one step closer to having its first non-stop connection to Europe, which local officials say could add $100 million to the Valley economy in the first year. A delegation of nine Valley officials, including Phoenix Mayor...

Arizona looking good for real estate growth. (Industry Overview)
February 3, 1995... Arizona is well positioned for growth in the real estate market during the next 25 years as population increases fuel development and advancements in technology allow more companies to move to areas with low costs and high quality of life, says...

20 years between All-Star games - it's a whole new atmosphere. (1995 National Basketball Association All-Star Games in Phoenix, Arizona)
February 3, 1995... Need a ticket to the 1995 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 12 in Phoenix? For only $375 a person, Reed Simon of Team One Tickets in Tempe can get you in the upper deck at America West Arena. Want to be closer? A seat in the first five rows between...

Government mandates cost business $1 trillion per year. (Regulations: Bearing the Burden)
February 3, 1995... From Main Street to Wall Street, from board rooms to back rooms, the runaway growth of government regulation is trampling free enterprise and crushing America's entrepreneurial spirit. Increasingly, employers attempting to cope with the...

Tax rules frustrate local firms. (Regulations: Bearing the Burden)
February 3, 1995... While most Arizona business owners see a need for some sort of ground rules, they say the current system of government regulation is enough to strangle some small companies. "Statistics show that 9 out of 10 small businesses fail within the...

Senate bill aims at limiting regulation. (Regulations: Bearing the Burden)
February 3, 1995... Plagued for years by what they call inefficient, ineffective and unfair government regulation, Arizona businesses have high hopes as the state senate majority makes limiting government its top priority. Much of the optimism centers on a bill...

Westcor executive: from law to malls. (Westcor Partners Vice President Wally Chester) (Profile)
February 3, 1995... Persistence is something Wally Chester knows a lot about, something he feels is central to his success. "It has been a trait I have had to perfect in my life." And entering the real estate development business in 1974, during a time when...

Many law firms chip off old 'parents.' (Phoenix, Arizona) (Focus: Law)
February 3, 1995... When people speak of the "big daddies of Phoenix law firms" they are talking about what today is Snell & Wilmer. Or it could be Jennings, Strouss & Salmon. A case also can be made for Gust Rosenfeld, and others. The history is a bit fuzzy,...

A lesson from Mars on running a business. (Mars Inc.)
February 3, 1995... This week I came across an article that Craig Cantoni, a vice president of human resources for a large local computer company, wrote a few years ago. I think its message is poignant today. In the words of Mr. Cantoni, let me share with you what...

Companies don't need cause to fire employees.
February 3, 1995... "Total Quality Management," or TQM, is a fashionable corporate buzzword these days. But what happens if an employer carelessly implements a TQM reorganization plan in a way unfair to a competent and longtime employee? Is the employer liable to...

Key to business success: keep it simple.
February 3, 1995... "What is your idea of perfect happiness?" Ask me, and I'd ramble for 10 minutes. Ask author Fran Lebowitz, and she'll answer: "Silence." I was taken by Lebowitz's responses to a Vanity Fair questionnaire. For example: What is your most...