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

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

Coyotes not legally bound to Los Arcos.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The redevelopment of LOS Arcos Mall is skating on thin ice: stakeholders cannot agree on terms of the deal, anchor tenant Phoenix Coyotes have no legal obligation to move into the arena and potential buyers of the team have gone away. The...

Solid State.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Arizona hot center for analog industry Forget about the so-called Digital Desert. The Valley is quickly becoming the country's leading center for analog semiconductors, which feed an ever-hungrier digital world. Three recent...

Aetna regional HQ could mean 200 jobs.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Aetna U.S. Healthcare has chosen Phoenix as headquarters for a new region, which could create at least 200 jobs in the Valley. The availability of talent, here as well as an easily accessible airport clinched the deal for Phoenix, said...

Dodge gets naming rights to downtown theater.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... LOOK for the Dodge name to be coming soon to a theater near you. That's Dodge, as in the Valley's nine Dodge car dealerships. And theater, as in the $30 million performing arts center planned in downtown Phoenix by sports magnate Jerry...

Phoenix Union sale sought.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... A Phoenix landowner plans to knock down four historic buildings at the former Phoenix Union High School campus unless a deal can be reached to sell the property. Jim Kaufman said he will clear the two prime city blocks -- between Fifth and...

Pair develop fast photo fix.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2000... Who's home enough these days to talk with family and friends, let alone look at pictures of them? And carrying stacks of three-by-fives in a wallet just adds to the bulk of credit, debit and grocery store "thank you" cards. So what's a...

ONLINE ACTIVITIES.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2000... ONLINE ACTIVITES Ranking [*] 1999 1997 E-mail 1 1 Search for news/info. 2 2 Read online pubs. 3 3...

New angles give voters ways to mull transit, stadium funding issues.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Here's a new slant on two hot-potato political items. * First, the city transit election in March. Should voters approve it? Consider, this week Phoenix is recognized again as the nation's best-run city, which means there is a good...

A mulligan for Woods?
February 4, 2000... Among the golf headlines last week was one about Tiger Woods pulling his Williams World Challenge out of Scottsdale. It left the impression Woods was not happy at Grayhawk Golf Club. Not the case. The Tribune reported that Grayhawk and The...

Food for thought.
February 4, 2000... * Feb. 10, for lunch: Solomon Trujillo, US West chairman and CEO. At the Economic Club of Phoenix. * Feb. 10, for dinner: Roger Penske, a leading player in the nation's transportation industry who has had a hand in 10 Indianapolis 500...

No, I mean thank you!(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... I love it when lawyers live down to their reputations. We just received an e-mail from an attorney. A nice note, personal, for a task well-done. Really a kind gesture. It ended with this paragraph: "The information contained in this...

Air Jamaica plans direct service to/from Phoenix.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Grab your scuba gear, beach towel and suntan lotion and hop on a direct flight from Phoenix to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Starting June 15, Air Jamaica will offer two direct flights per week from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. ...

State Tourism Department gains support for stadium tax money.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2000... The Arizona tourism community did an about face this week, changing its position on legislation that would raise hotel and car rental taxes to pay for a new Cardinals stadium. Members of the Valley and state lodging associations now say...

Charter Behavioral Health closes Arizona hospitals.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Charter Behavioral Health Systems is pulling out of Arizona, closing the last of its psychiatric hospitals in the state. The Glendale facility is one of 33 Charter hospitals to be closing nationwide this week, leaving 222 full-time local...

Two new maid franchisors plan to clean out Valley competition.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Two maid services in the Valley are trying to make a clean sweep of the competition. The pair of national franchise services are expanding into the local market -- one of which has aggressive acquisition goals. Maid to Perfection...

Tempe 'infotech' center proposal moves forward.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Tempe officials are moving forward with plans to turn a downtown plot into the city's first "infotech" center. The city of Tempe, Arizona State University and the Mormon church approved a request for proposal to redevelop "Block 12,"...

Arthur Andersen managing partner opts for early retirement package.(Jack Henry)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Considering the civic and community roles Jack Henry plays in the Valley, the managing partner of Arthur Andersen LLP's Arizona practice is going to have a lot of time on his hands when he retires in August. Henry, who earlier this week...

Australian tennis group targets local web site.(Lawn Tennis Association, Sportwave Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... While Andre Agassi was cooking on the court at the Australian Open, the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia was steaming in the courtroom. Represented by Phoenix law firm The Weinberg Legal Group, the LTAA is pushing for Sportwave Inc.,...

New superstore joins beauty, technology for one-stop shop.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Beauty merchandising meets the millennium as ULTA, a personal-care superstore, unveils its new concept in the Valley. Better known in Phoenix as Ulta3, the Illinois-based beauty store and salon is elevating the one-stop shopping concept to...

Valley eye surgeon creates tool to mark eye for cuts.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... A Phoenix eye surgeon has created a tool to ensure that proper cuts are made during LASIK and cataract surgery. Robert Brems, MD, created an astigmatism marker with a level to mark certain parts of the eye before performing surgery. Rhein...

Valley attorney plans development of office, retail building in Tempe.(Grady Gammage Jr.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Grady Gammage Jr., a Valley attorney who for years has defended developers' zoning rights, is about to begin his own development. Gammage plans to start work in May on an 18,000-square-foot Tempe office and retail building on the southwest...

'Food & Lifestyles' magazine set to debut in March.(local Phoenix, Arizona magazine)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The recipe for a new magazine aimed at the amateur chef: one part food, one part lifestyles and a dash of industry experience. "Food is such an important part of our lifestyle, and everyone loves to eat and loves to cook and we felt there's...

Web Emporium snags top IBM business award.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The founders of Web Emporium, site developers in Phoenix, were pleased to win IBM Corp.'s Beacon Award for "Greatest Business Impact," given in January at the IBM Partner Conference in San Diego. The company was recognized for the...

Retail help online.(Merchantchecks.com)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... A new Scottsdale company is offering credit-card processing for local retailers who want to sell online but don't have a full-fledged e-commerce site. Merchantchecks.com services help brick-and-mortar retailers process sales when their...

CD-ROMs left in the dust.(Corporate Training Technologies utilizes the web)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Mesa-based Corpedia Training Technologies LLC has moved many of its CD-ROM corporate education programs to the Internet using the standard multimedia format Macromedia Flash 4.0 software. The web-based courses feature streaming audio and...

Bricks and clicks.(Maintenance Warehouse opens Phoenix location)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Maintenance Warehouse, a Home Depot company, opened in Phoenix to supply building materials and replacement parts in bulk. The warehouse, 1710 E. Grant St., will offer overnight and same-day delivery service of more than 12,000 products...

Learn about e-commerce.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Websitepros.com will host a business seminar in Phoenix on Feb. 22, to help business owners learn about Internet opportunities and decide if they should sell online. Agenda topics include understanding revenue opportunities, how to improve...

www help.(Small Business Administration puts Answer Desk online)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The U.S. Small Business Administration now can answer questions online from business owners and entrepreneurs. The SBA expanded its Answer Desk, a toll-free phone service, to the Internet at www.sba.gov. Ten telephone representatives,...

Online just in time.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Low-cost 401(k) plans are popping up online through sites such as Fidelity e40lk plan. Principal Financial Group reportedly is soon to follow. Business owners can design plans and enroll employees online.

Credit union members get loan interest refund.(Arizona Federal Credit Union)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Arizona Federal Credit Union members are seeing a few extra dollars in their pockets thanks to a million-dollar interest rebate. Credit union president and chief executive Ronald Westad announced that 3.25 percent of loan interest paid by...

New search firm.(Thompson Group, Colorado, opens Arizona office)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Finance and accounting executives wanting a search firm to help them look for candidates soon will have a new name to add to the mix. The Thompson Group, a Colorado Springs, Colo., privately held executive search firm, is opening a Valley...

Cornelius promoted.(Scott Cornelius of Johnson Bank Arizona)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... After five years with Johnson Bank Arizona, Scott Cornelius has been promoted to president of the bank. Cornelius has almost 25 years of experience in the banking industry and most recently served as senior vice president, commercial...

Skalicky moving West.(Norman C. Skalicky of Stearns Bank)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... In an effort to make his bank a household name, Norman C. Skalicky, chief executive and major owner of Minnesota-based Stearns Bank is moving to the Valley. His intention is to commit himself full-time to Stearns Bank Arizona. Last year...

New Scottsdale attorney.(David Pennartz appointed city attorney)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The Scottsdale City Council recently appointed David Pennartz as city attorney effective Jan. 24. His base salary is $112,000 per year. Pennartz served as Glendale's deputy city attorney since 1990. He went to Glendale in 1987 after...

Bickley on the rise.(Steven Bickley of US West's Consumer Services Group)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Steven Bickley recently was promoted to executive director of finance for the Consumer Services Group at US West Inc. The group represents the company s largest revenue business unit. Bickley has been with US West for 12 years and has...

Feedback on work plan.(Phoenix solicits comments on workforce act)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Interested in telling the city of Phoenix exactly what you think about its plan to help job seekers? Get in line. The city is looking for public comment on its five-year plan describing its efforts to start the Federal Workforce Investment...

Law firm renamed.(Julie LaForge PLLC)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The Tempe office of law firm Kahn, Freeman & LaForge has been renamed Julie LaForge PLLC. Attorney Julie LaForge will head the office, which will continue to focus on collections work on behalf of creditors. LaForge graduated with...

Temporary positions.
February 4, 2000... If you haven't already received word in the mail, the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to fill thousands of short-term employment slots for Census 2000. To staff the temporary local census offices in each state, about 3 million applicants are...

Children's bone marrow transplant unit a reality.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... City of Hope Cancer Center and Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center have teamed to launch a bone marrow transplant program for children. Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation supplied a grant to underwrite the salary costs for a...

Heart tests at Baptist.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... During American Heart Month in February, Baptist Hospitals & Health Systems is highlighting cardiac screenings at its two Valley hospitals. Phoenix Baptist Hospital is offering gift certificates for cardiac screenings. Information is...

OrthoLogic on new track.(OrthoLogic Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... OrthoLogic Corp. of Tempe has pulled itself out of the red as part of its strategic turnaround efforts. For the year ended Dec. 31, OrthoLogic reported a net income of $238,000 on net revenue of $83.2 million. That compares with a loss of...

Mayo in spotlight.(Mayo Clinic Hospital)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Mayo Clinic Hospital won the 1999 Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corp. Each year, NRC honors the most preferred hospitals for overall health care services in metropolitan areas based on its nationally syndicated study of...

Earnings report delayed.(Rural/Metro Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Rural/Metro Corp. has postponed the release of its second-quarter results until mid-February pending a final analysis of anticipated $60 million to $75 million of charges. A portion of the health care reimbursement charges are expected to...

Grant given to institute.(Arizona Institute for Breast Health)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Arizona Institute for Breast Health has received a grant from the Susan B. Komen Foundation to provide followup medical care for uninsured breast cancer survivors. The Scottsdale organization has been granted its not-for-profit status from...

Olsten, CIGNA renew deal.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Olsten Health Services has renewed its nationwide agreement to provide CIGNA Healthcare with home-health services. This is the fifth year that Olsten and CIGNA have worked together.

E.B. Lane wins state lottery account by 118 points.(E.B. Lane & Associates Inc)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... When the scores were added up for the Arizona Lottery advertising account finalists, E.B. Lane & Associates Inc. beat its closest competitor by 118 points. The Phoenix advertising agency's oral presentation earned 1,342 points out of a...

Speaking of the lottery.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The Arizona Lottery will issue a request for proposals in the next few months for its Hispanic marketing contract. In the past, the lottery's Hispanic advertising needs have been handled on a subcontracting basis. Most recently, E.B. Lane...

Lyon adds Oregon office.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Phoenix-based Noble Lyon Marketing Inc. is expanding into Portland on Feb. 1. Lori Cekoric will move to Portland to oversee the office, while Jalene Lyon, Noble Lyon's president, remains in the Valley. Noble Lyon is an advertising...

Happy 75th.(Arizona Highways magazine anniversary)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2000... Arizona Highways magazine will celebrate its 75th anniversary in April with a 64-page collector's issue. The magazine is one of the state's long-running publications. Its first issue debuted April 15, 1925, and included a "travelog" about...

Creative keeps busy.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Creative Dept., a Scottsdale firm that provides, creative resources to advertisers and ad agencies, has been working on several projects, including a TV, radio and print campaign for downtown Scottsdale. The campaign uses the slogan,...

Riester ad scores.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Riester[tilde]Robb's ads for the Arizona Department of Health Services Tobacco Education and Prevention Program continue to attract attention. AdWeek magazine has named the Phoenix ad agency's "Doesn't Kill" commercial as one of The Best...

Jasso to judge awards.
February 4, 2000... Lupe-Marie Jasso, owner, president and chief executive of Accents Marketing Group Inc. in Phoenix, has been chosen to judge the national American Women in Radio and Television Inc.'s 25th Annual Gracie Allen Awards. The show honors TV...

One final note.(vice president of the Downtown Retail Council named)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Todd Cooley, president and chief executive of Cooley Advertising & Public Relations in Phoenix, has been named vice president of the Downtown Retail Council. The council promotes retailers in downtown Phoenix.

Arizona Angels Network director ventures elsewhere.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Chris Augur is leaving his post as executive director of the Arizona Angels Network. Augur, of Legacy Capital Partners Inc., Scottsdale, founded the Arizona Angels with business partner Rick Marshall in January 1999. The network's goal...

Texas on hold.(Intel Corp. plans to build factory in Chandler)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Now that Intel Corp. plans to build a $2 billion chip-making factory in Chandler, the company has decided to indefinitely put on hold completion of another plant in Fort Worth, Texas. Instead of finishing the Fort Worth project, the company...

Orbital's rocket.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The United States has an all-new rocket to launch government satellites into space, thanks to the work that Orbital Sciences Corp. performed at its Chandler rocket assembly and testing facility. Under a $200 million contract with the Air...

KnowledgeNet nets $15M.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2000... KnowledgeNet, Scottsdale, which teaches Microsoft and Cisco certification courses to IT professionals over the Internet, has received $15 million in financing, bringing the total amount invested in the company to $33.9 million. The...

Vitrix not for kids.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... One local software firm is trying to make a name for itself by tackling the difficult task of work force management. The name of the game for Vitrix Inc., Tempe, is creating software that improves productivity by identifying how employees...

Greater loss.1.(MicroAge fourth-quarter 1999 earnings statement revision)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Tempe computer seller MicroAge Inc. revised its fourth-quarter 1999 earnings statement, upping the company's reported loss to $20.6 million, or $0.99 per share. On Dec. 14, MicroAge reported an after-tax loss of $12.4 million, or $0.59 per...

Hoteliers spicing up Valentine's Day with romance.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Valley resorts are rolling out the red carpet for the week of Valentine's Day, and here's a roundup of what's being offered: * "A Bed of Roses" is The Ritz-Carlton's package for lovers. For $410 per couple per night, the couple gets wined...

A toast to Friday night.
February 4, 2000... Axis/Radius, the trendy dance club in Scottsdale is beginning a happy hour on Friday nights with a free food buffet and $2 drinks from 5 to 8 p.m. Owner and spokesman Les Corieri said the happy hour deal, which will continue indefinitely,...

Hungry flyers alert.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The first permanent restaurants have opened in the new concourse in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor international Airport. Blue Burrito Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Jose Cuervo's Tequillaria, Burger King and TCBY will be opening Feb. 5....

New Scottsdale gallery.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The latest addition to Scottsdale's art scene is Peterson-Hall Gallery, now open in the northern part of the city at 13845 N. Scottsdale Road. The gallery is 5,200 square feet and offers an international collection of contemporary art,...

Discover's got deals.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Attention ski buffs: Discover Resorts Inc. of Scottsdale has announced flexible lodging deals for the Summit County, Colo., area. The package is a spin-off of ticket deals the Colorado ski resorts offer. Four people can go into a deal...

A blessing.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Il Fornaio in Scottsdale is bringing age-old Italian traditions into modern times. Father Richard Felt, of St. Dominic Parish, blessed the new oven at the restaurant this week in an old Italian tradition -- a priest is invited to bless the...

Indian School, Central Avenue get fresh look.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... If I could choose our new offices, I'd move into the north side of the top floor at 4041 Central Plaza. Already well-situated and fresh from a $5.5 million renovation, the 20-story office tower at the southeast corner of Indian School Road...

Southbound choppers.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Those helicopters headed south from metro Phoenix and buzzing around Casa Grande are not television news crews or the National Guard. They're carrying Phoenix-based homebuilders scouting the area for future developments, said Joseph...

Registrar's new offices.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The Arizona Registrar of Contractors has opened new or expanded offices in Glendale and Mesa. From the northwest office at 17235 N. 75th Ave., Glendale, and the expanded southeast office at 2222 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, investigators will...

Sterling Cos.' CEO named to replace Samoth's chairman.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The founder and chairman of Samoth Capital Corp., who, played a key role in construction of the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, has named his own replacement. A. David Kosoy, president and chief executive of the Sterling Cos. in Palm...

WHO'S WHO.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... David Thikoll Vice president, national sales, The Meyers Group 1710 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix Years with company: 4 Newest work: Increasing our market share in all of our new markets nationwide. We're also moving a...

Hot Deals.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... COMMERCIAL * $43.3 million Type: Galleria Palms Apartments (568 units) Address: 1600 W. La Jolla Drive, Tempe Buyer: Heitman Capital Management, a Chicago-based pension fund Seller: Magellan Real Estate Investments LLC,...

Gilbert's growth means new city hall.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Gilbert officials are targeting Gilbert and Warner roads as their community's new cross hairs. This year, the Town Council is expected to begin considering a funding mechanism to pay for a $40 million municipal complex on 25 acres at the...

Kaufman and Broad expanding across Valley.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Kaufman and Broad is expanding work started by Forecast Homes in new communities in Phoenix, Peoria and Gilbert. The sales of the Forecast Homes properties closed Sept. 10, 1999, but officials at Kaufman and Broad declined to release...

Residential developments on the horizon.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... More new residential communities are planned or opening at opposite ends of the metro region. In the East Valley, Cachet Homes recently announced plans for a 165-unit condominium and townhome development within Las Sendas, an 1,800-acre...

Service helps NFIB members compare rates.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... The National Federation of Independent Business named Simplexity.com its official telecommunications e-marketplace. Telecommunications providers give information to Simplexity.com so it can offer unbiased, side-by-side comparisons of...

Line debuts in Valley.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... A Kansas company has targeted the Phoenix market for its specialty paper and software line, which is designed to help small businesses with their marketing needs. Adams Business Forms Inc. will send selected Valley businesses and...

Web scores.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... According to the Service Corps of Retired Executives' fiscal year 1999 annual report, the organization's web site is a valuable resource for small-business owners. During fiscal 1999, the site had a monthly average of 26,000 visitors and...

Focus: Robinson.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Martin Baird hasn't confined his business expertise to his full-service marketing management firm in Phoenix. He's also parlayed it into a book that's in its second printing. Guaranteed Results, which retails for $13.95, is available at...

Valley building permits.
February 4, 2000... Valley building permits City Value Sq. ft. Address COMMERCIAL Scottsdale $4,098,675 102,590 14321 N. Northsight Blvd. Phoenix 1,846,375 73,414 4645 E. Cotton...

On the menu.(Desert Island Restaurants)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... Friendly service is key to Desert Island's success Desert Island Restaurants: Restaurant management company that shares expenses and professional personnel -- including finance, operations, marketing, public relations and...

TIP.
February 4, 2000... A very high percentage of salespeople talk too much. They forget most people have an attention span of only three sentences and have pretty much heard all that "great service" blah-blah before. Great selling consists of very little talking....

READERS RESPOND.
February 4, 2000... What's the most rewarding part of having your own business? Barry Kluger Managing partner, Kluger Media Group LLC, Scottsdale "Being able to manage my time and not rush the creative process. I have understanding clients who have...

Designing presentations backward makes good sense.
February 4, 2000... Just because a presentation has a beginning, middle and an end; that does not necessarily mean you should start your presentation design at the beginning. A strong design begins at the end and works backward. Here are seven tips for...

Legitimacy issue for home-based firms.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2000... How do I convince people that a home-based business is just as legitimate as other businesses? This is an issue that all home-based business owners have to contend with. Even with the huge growth and proliferation of home-based...