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

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

Some lessons from the Bay.(Southwest Airlines Co.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Southwest Airlines' impending take-off from San Francisco should rattle politicians and business leaders across the Bay Area. SFO urgently needs to expand its runway capacity, but its plans to do so are so far proceeding on the usual...

State needs to turn its minnows into whales.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Arizona tech oasis needs a whale -- one of those killer technology companies headquartered in a region that transforms its economy into a major player. IBM did it for Stanford, Conn. Novell did it for Salt Lake City. Seattle has...

With President Bush, Gates may get the last laugh.(Bill Gates)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The best and brightest in America do not pursue political careers. I do not question the nobility of public service, just the lack of intelligence and dearth of morality that ride beside that nobility like Curly and Moe stick to Larry. ...

COMPANY OF THE WEEK.(NextHealth Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... NEXTHEALTH NextHealth Inc. 16600 N. Lago Del Oro Pkwy. Tucson 85739 520-792-5884 www.nexthealth.com Employees: 333 Nasdaq: NEXT Revenue for quarter ended Sept. '00: $9.4 million Revenue for quarter...

Northern Trust Bank.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Northern Trust Bank gave $25,000 to Sun Health Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital's expansion project.

Alzheimer's Association.(grant)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Alzheimer's Association has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Arizona Chapter to create a rural summit in a newly realigned statewide chapter.

Singer shares Alzheimer's song.(Tim Rushlow)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... There wasn't a dry eye at the Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City when recording artist Tim Rushlow performed his current country hit, "She Misses Him." The song is about a devoted wife taking care of her husband, who has been...

Innovative spirit can inspire us all.(eStreetCapital.com)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... You gotta love the can-do attitude of the private sector. Here are two good recent examples. First, local venture firm eStreetCapital teamed with Arizona State University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to promote...

Chill out dudes, like, California will survive.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... "California's dim bulbs," says a caustic headline over a Wall Street Journal editorial that points out, in meticulous and painful detail, how the state mishandled energy deregulation from square one. This unflattering chronicle is among a...

Panic adds fuel to fire.(Multilayer Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Apply brakes cautiously. But don't hit them hard just yet. The drums are beating. Dot-coms become dot-bombs. Venture capitalists stop, venturing into risky business. Recruiting woes turn into layoffs. Expansion plans contract....

TechTV offers unique Vaudeville-cyberspace mix.(techtv)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... My new favorite TV station has low production values, hosts chosen for expertise, not looks, and it relies heavily on talking heads for visuals. It's called TechTV. Think of it as unsupervised nerds with cameras. When I first started...

Stocks.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... Stocks ARIZONA PERFORMANCE HIGH LOW Arizona Index 996.00 779.58 (8/25/00) (4/14/00) Arizona Tech Index 2,250.75...

TDK establishes Valley subsidiary.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Tokyo-based TDK Corp. has established TDK R&D Corp. as a research and development subsidiary in Phoenix. TDK R&D is a subsidiary of TDK USA Corp., the holding company for TDK's operations in the United States. Initially, the new Valley...

Greater Phoenix Chamber becomes first chamber in nation to provide private Internet service.(The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has added Internet Service Provider (ISP) and free e-mail services to its offering of business tools. Located at www.phoenixchamber.net, the ISP allows members and nonmembers alike unlimited...

Public policy positions solidified.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Greater Phoenix Chamber recently released its annual 2001 Public Policy Agenda, which identifies the positions the organization will take during the coming year when lobbying on behalf of business at the city, county, state and federal...

Taking the pulse of the community.(optlNsurvey)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A new online polling and surveying site, optlNsurvey, will debut in the coming weeks to the Greater Phoenix business community on various business issues. Results will be used by both the Greater Phoenix Chamber in planning policy and...

Networking is powerful business.(Go Media Cos.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... "I've been a Greater Phoenix Chamber member for several years, but until recently did not participate in any functions, events or committees. "After some prodding, I got involved by hosting a 'Donuts & Dialogue' event at the Hard Rock...

PLANNED COMMUNITIES.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... PLANNED COMMUNITIES Ranking: 2000 closings Community name (geographic area) Closings/ Rank location 2000 2001 city ...

Southwest Human Development's Good Fit Center.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Southwest Human Development's Good Fit Center received a $100,000 grant from St. Luke's Board of Visitors. The center provides mental health services to very young children and their families.

Prudential.(Prudential Insurance Company of America grants)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Prudential is providing volunteer emergency squads with matching grants of up to $1,000 to help pay for new defibrillators. Information: 602-952-5116.

Glencroft.(renovation)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Glencroft, a senior-housing facility, used $15,875 to renovate its Care Center Alzheimer's Unit and purchase a platform for the center's grand piano. The money was raised by the Glencroft volunteer organization.

The Heard Museum.(gift)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Heard Museum was given one of the largest private collections of Northern Native art in the U.S. by Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Albrecht of Paradise Valley.

Finding workers still tough challenge for employers.(Shamrock Foods Co.)
February 2, 2001... Name: Ann Ocana Title: Vice president Company: Shamrock Foods Co. Type of business: Food manufacturer and distributor What challenges do you see for workforce recruitment/retention? Whereas Baby Boomers traditionally...

Economic future depends on educational options.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... If change is inevitable in life, it is especially difficult to predict when it comes to addressing Arizona's economic future. In recent-years, a significant number of companies have been attracted to our state, and it's estimated that more...

Casual attire less appealing for some.(General Electric Co.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A new study says the "dress-down" look is starting to fade among those who exhibit at trade shows. The trend, according to the Incomm Center for Research & Sales Training, reflects a national reversal from the "casualization" that took...

TEMPORARY-HELP SERVICES.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... the List TEMPORARY-HELP SERVICES Ranking: Temporaries on weekly payroll Rank 2001 Company name 2000 address 1 ADECCO + ADECCO TAD Technical 1 1204...

Chamber honors chapel and the city of Glendale.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Chapel of the Chimes received the "Golden Business Award" and the city of Glendale was honored with the "50 Year Business Partner Award" at the Glendale Chamber of Commerce annual appreciation luncheon, held Jan. 30 at the Glendale Civic...

Sweeping up.(The Maids)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Three former corporate executives are hoping to sweep up business in the cleaning market with their purchase of The Maids franchises in Arizona. David Jacobson has purchased the franchise for the territory covering Phoenix and Glendale....

Yoga studio opens.(The Chi Yoga Institute)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Chi Yoga Institute opened its first studio at 15410 South Mountain Parkway in Phoenix earlier this month. Tom Patrick, president and founder, said the studio will be offering classes at all levels. It also has a class for golfers, Chi...

Maps on demand.(Wide World of Maps)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Wide World of Maps has installed MapMachine kiosks in its two locations, 2626 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix, and 1444 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. By using a touch-screen interface, users can select a map that covers an area of choice. The map...

Mover and shaker.(Daniel's Moving & Storage Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Daniel's relies on key people to keep on trucking Daniel's Moving & Storage Inc. provides office and residential moving on an executive level, as well as local, nationwide and around-the-world moving services. The company offers modular...

TIP.(online prices)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... If you are selling products and services on the Web, take a good look at your pricing. A recent survey suggests that the majority of Internet users expect the cost of a product to be less expensive online than in a retail shop. Source:...

Tech use translates into productivity.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Increased use of technology has resulted in higher productivity and sales growth among small businesses. That's according to a study by The Network of City Business Journals and American City Business Journals, parent company of The...

More clients.(Mammothmedia)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Mammothmedia, an incubated company in Tempe, is broadening its out-of-state client base. The law firm of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Orange County, Calif., has hired Mammoth to create a new interactive Web site and national ad...

Access rising.(Decision Analyst Inc. internet report)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... More than 64 percent of Americans now have access to the Internet, an 11 percent increase from 12 months prior, according to Decision Analyst Inc. The research firm in Texas reports that home connections are leading the recent increase,...

New research.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A new report shows that manufacturing businesses still are in the early stages of adopting Internet practices and most have yet to realize savings from wading online. Only 26 percent of companies completing the survey report cost benefit...

Lucent's layoffs may play role in Arizona operations.(AG Communication Systems Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Lucent Technologies Inc.'s decision to lay off 10,000 employees nationally will be felt in Arizona. The company plans to eliminate about 100 positions statewide as part of a major restructuring, said Lucent spokeswoman Mary Ward. New...

ATIC chair.(Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council; Linda Meissner)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Linda Meissner, government relations manager for Systems Technology Group Inc., has been named the next chairwoman of the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council. Meissner, formerly a telecommunications policy analyst for the...

Revenue management.(KhiMetrics sales)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... KhiMetrics Inc., a Scottsdale-based software maker that launched its product last fall, has sold its retail revenue management application suite to two large national clients. H.E. Butt Grocery Co. and Osco Drug have purchased the software,...

A new board.(The Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership ; The Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership has appointed five professionals to serve on its board of directors. The board represents the Arizona manufacturing community and meets three times a year to provide a vision for participating...

McMagination.(Compaq Computer. Corp. and McDonald's Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Lookout, Happy Meals. Compaq Computer. Corp. and McDonald's Corp. have teamed to make visits to McDonald's restaurants more entertaining for children. They have created McMagination, an interactive kiosk powered by Compaq technology that...

Bill consolidation.(QuantumShift Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... QuantumShift, a Novato, Calif.-based communications management outsourcer, has announced the opening of its Phoenix office at 2201 E. Camelback Road. The company will arrange for high-speed Internet, telephone, mobile phone and pager...

New frontiers.(Mission Facilitators International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Local firm sends Valley workers into 'outerspace' The object: land safely on the moon, then colonize the planet. That's what Mission Facilitators International uses as its team-building strategy -- asking its clients to become rocket...

Job seekers will find Valley an 'employee's market'.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Despite a downturn in the economy, the Valley's labor pool is as tight as ever. Experts say this is not the time to cut costs in labor. "All the talk about a possible recession may lead employers to adopt strategies that could be...

BellSouth gets $1B boost with sale of Qwest shares.(Qwest Communications International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Small telecom companies had better start looking over their shoulders, because BellSouth sold more than 22 million shares of Qwest Communications International Inc. stock for $1 billion in cash. Company officials say the...

Hopkins scientists funded.(Fasgen)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... BALTIMORE -- Four Johns Hopkins scientists have secured $500,000 from the state of Maryland to help grow their young biotechnology company, which experts say may hold the key to effective obesity treatment. The Maryland Department of...

Victoria's Secret Web woe.(Victoria's Secret Stores Div. lawsuit)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ask an Internet search engine to find "Victoria's Secret" for you and the first site listed likely will be the Web page for the Columbus-based lingerie retailer. But the list may also include "Victoria's Secret Desires," a...

Compaq, Yahoo cut deal.(Compaq Computer Corp. and Internet giant Yahoo Inc. have signed a multiyear agreement)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... HOUSTON -- Compaq Computer Corp. and Internet giant Yahoo Inc. have signed a multiyear agreement worth an estimated $100 million. Yahoo is making Compaq its preferred Internet infrastructure provider. Compaq has agreed to advertise its...

Emageon breaks mold.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Year-old e-solutions company Emageon Inc. far exceeded the Alabama norm by raising $14.5 million in its first two rounds of financing last year. Led by the Huntsville-based South-eastern Technology Fund, the...

Web presence widens.(Children's Hospital Philadelphia)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... PHILADELPHIA -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will spend $16 million on its Web site over the next three years in an overhaul and expansion aimed at making the pediatric-care facility a national leader in e-medicine.

Building owners fear power crisis.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... EAST BAY -- The energy crisis has real estate brokers scrambling to answer a question from clients they haven't heard before: "What grid are we on?" It's a reference to electric power. Businesses lucky enough to exist on the same grid as...

PeopleSoft rockets back.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- Eighteen months ago, new PeopleSoft Inc. "CEO Craig Conway bet the flagging software company's future on the Internet, canceling two of three new products in development and pouring resources into an entirely Web-based...

Apple's turnaround plan.(Apple Computer Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... SAN JOSE -- For years, Apple Computer Inc. has emphasized its ethereal qualities, casting itself as a deus ex machina for the creatively inclined, a tool for '60s-style revolutionaries and a stylized declaration of nonconformity. Reversing...

Netopia merger fallout.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... EAST BAY -- Despite getting a 30 percent premium, some in the investment community are wondering about the $223 million acquisition of Netopia Inc., an Alameda, Calif.; firm that builds routers and other equipment for high-speed Internet...

'Plug n' play' tool puts news on computer desktops.(QuoteMedia.com Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 2, 2001... A recently funded tech business in Scottsdale, QuoteMedia.com Inc., has announced the release of "Kool Tools," an application for delivering financial and news information. The new line of Web modules delivers. customizable stock quotes,...

New to town.(InsureHiTech.com)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... New Jersey-based insurance firm, Insure-HiTech, has opened a local office due to the growing technology market here. InsureHiTech sells business insurance -- commercial property and casualty plans -- to technology, biotech, venture capital...

Marketing partners.(MSS Technologies in Phoenix will now promote the services of Scottsdale-based Internet Crossing Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... MSS Technologies in Phoenix will now promote the services of Scottsdale-based Internet Crossing Inc. to its clients. Internet Crossing, changing its name to International Crossing, provides search-engine ranking and language translation...

Connecting neighbors.(Neighborhood Link)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A Denver-based company has found new support in Arizona thanks to Arizona Public Service Co. Neighborhood Link, an Internet community for neighborhood associations, announced that APS is a sponsor. The group also has arranged...

National think tank.(Marcus and Millichap Co.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Marcus & Millichap is opening a "think tank" in Phoenix. The real estate investment company's research analysis group will operate independently from the local Marcus & Millichap office. It will be operated by Mark Fast, Krista Goyarts,...

Luxury condos for sale in central Phoenix area.(Equus Development Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... One of the golden rules in luxury residential construction is, follow the money. Which is what Equus Development Corp. has in mind with its two new luxury condominium projects in central Phoenix. The targeted buyers for the condos are...

Hot Deals.(Ellman Cos.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... COMMERCIAL $24 million Project: Talley Towers Plaza, 2828 N. 44th. St., Phoenix Buyer: Tri-Yar Capital, Los Angeles Seller: Ellman Corp., Phoenix Buyer's broker: Madison Capital Group Seller's broker: Mark Mangianti,...

Demand bumps Hines into second phase.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Since their first phase attracted more interest than expected, Hines officials have started marketing the second phase of their office development in the Camelback Corridor. The first phase, an eight-story building called 24th At Camelback,...

WHO'S WHO.(Joseph M. Salvatore; Architekton)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Name: Joseph M. Salvatore Job title: Principal and owner Company: Architekton Age: 46 Years with company: 11 Company's current major projects in metro Phoenix: Tempe Westside Multi-Generational Center; Chandler-Gilbert...

Driving force.(Universal Technical Institute)
February 2, 2001... Woman climbs ladder to key tech school post Kim Riordan's life story is the stuff that comes straight from the movies -- a melodrama about lost dreams, unlikely beginnings and storybook success. All of this packed into 36 years of...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
February 2, 2001... Accounting Mary Jane Chittenden joined Abalos & Associates PC, Phoenix, as a senior accountant. Advertising Alex Horwitz joined-E.B. Lane Marketing Communications, Phoenix, as account supervisor. Jay Taylor was named senior...

Freeway fiber.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Phoenix lays out plan to make city tech center The Phoenix City Council this week unanimously approved two plans that could increase the Valley's status as a national technology center. The first enables the city's Community and...

Internet 'radio' plugs into Cyber marketing.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... The former lead crooner tar the 1960s band "Jay and the Americans" has plans to provide high-tech musical and other creative services in the Valley. Phoenix businessman Jay Scowden has purchased the license to the first Cyber Center, an...

1 Question.(How many e-mails do you receive each day?)
February 2, 2001... How many e-mails do you receive each day? "Which e-mail account? From the most-used one, I get about 100 emails but 85 are junk. Literally junk. A few years ago, I posted my e-mail on the Web when I was looking for a job. Don't ever do...

Ephibian.(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 2, 2001... Type of business: E-business integration firm Principals: Teri Spencer and Henry Guy City: Tucson-based, with offices in Phoenix, San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles Website: www.ephibian.com Employees: 60 ...

Consumers spending more online.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Although many dot-coms reported losses during 2000, a new survey shows more shoppers are buying online and spending less in physical stores. Ernst & Young's fourth annual Global Online Retailing report, revealed that a whopping 76 percent...

Smith firm's new board chairman.(Quentin Smith, International Crossing Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Winding down the operations of Employee Solutions Inc., president and chief executive Quentin Smith Jr. has landed as board chairman at International Crossing Inc. The Scottsdale company changed its name this week from Internet Crossing...

New Web site provides updated rental market data.(Pierce-Eislen )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A startup business providing apartment market research, Pierce-Eislen in Scottsdale, this week launched operations with daily data for commercial real estate professionals. The firm's subscription-based Web site lets professionals query...

Helping cardiac victims.(The Central Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Central Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering training on the usage of an automatic external defibrillator. An estimated nine out of 10 cardiac arrest victims will die without CPR and the electric shock treatment from...

Doubling space.(Dependable Nurses of Phoenix)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Dependable Nurses of Phoenix has moved to 2601 E. Thomas Road, Suite 230, more than doubling its office space. The Tucson-based nurses registry opened in 1992. The Phoenix office opened in 1996 and has experienced a business increase of 100...

Cancer expo coming.(Cancer Wellness Expo 2001)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Wellness Community of Central Arizona is planning its Cancer Wellness Expo 2001 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza on March 24-25. It is being presented in conjunction with Amgen Pharmaceuticals and KPNX-Channel 12. The expo is designed to...

BioPartnering Expo.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Arizona Bioindustry Cluster is accepting registration for participants, presenters and exhibitors for the Regional BioPartnering Expo April 20. The event will be at Motorola University Conference Center in the Arizona State University...

Pulling out a loss.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... E-dentist.com Inc., a Phoenix-based provider of e-learning and business solutions to the health care industry, reported a loss of $25.2 million for the nine months ended Dec. 31. That compares with $1.2 million in net income during the same...

Hi-Tops on tap at former Leinenkugel's brewery.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Hi-Tops, a restaurant and bar next to Wrigley Field in Chicago, soon will be making a name for itself in Phoenix near Bank One Ballpark, at the former Leinenkugel's Ballyard Brewery. Benchwarmers Management Group has assumed management of...

Prediction: looking good.(Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels of Los Angeles recently issued a greater Phoenix lodging report that finds the market is showing signs of a strong recovery. According to the report, full-service hotels fared well overall. Many have begun to...

Coming in droves.(Grand Canyon State Winter Games)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Hotel rooms likely will be filled with participants of the February-March Grand Canyon State Winter Games, which has recorded a 660 percent increase in registration this year over last. In total, the games are, expected to draw more than...

Returning to roots.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Standard Register PING Tournament, on the Ladies PGA tour, is returning this year to the Moon Valley Country Club near Seventh Avenue and Thunderbird Road in Phoenix on March 11-18. The tournament, took a one-year hiatus and was played...

Eli's heading further north.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In other culinary news, say goodbye to Eli's, a mainstay for more than 30 years on the corner of Camelback and Scottsdale roads. A "grand closing" party will be held on Feb. 10. However, soon afterward the restaurant will reopen as Eli's...

Eatery swaps owners.(Focaccia Fiorentina)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Focaccia Fiorentina, one of the most popular downtown lunch spots, has new owners. HHYE LLC, owned by Dave and Margie Soltys of Mesa, has purchased the restaurant and intends to continue the concept and menu as it is now. Plans also...

Canyon Ranch's leader.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Jerry Cohen has been promoted to chief executive of Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson. Cohen has been associated with the property since its planning and inception in 1978. He's previously been its president, chief operating officer and...