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

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

Split decision.(the breakup of Greyhound Corp)
June 2, 2000... How 3 Arizona giants evolved since spinoff The financial troubles plaguing The Finova Group Inc., one of Arizona's billion-dollar babies, have been well-chronicled over the past few months. But not too long ago, it was a member of one...

AZ tourism records big gains in '99.(Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Arizona's tourism sector counted a record number of visitors staying longer and spending more in 1999, despite widespread concern that the state is losing its grip on one of its cornerstone industries. Tourism brought in nearly $11.5...

Chandler lures upscale retail.(Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... It's the second-fastest growing city in the United States and it boasts the second-highest income in the Valley. Chandler has been second in a lot of ways for a long time, but that's beginning to change. This weekend marks the official...

Phantom of the shopper.(customer service consultant)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Ethan Dean is a spy -- not the kind that lurks in a dark corner wearing a trench coat and a tipped hat, but the kind that simply makes quiet observations and uses wit to unsuspectingly extract the truth. Dean's business is to give his...

FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.(Arizona)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... FEDERAL EXPENDITURES Fiscal year 1999, Arizona Millions Per State of dollars capita rank...

Even summer heat won't stop Brits from AZ invasion.
June 2, 2000... Here are some cool things to keep your mind off the summer blast furnace, which someone has turned on just a bit too early this year for my taste: * Wayne Gretzky. * Heat, what heat? Never underestimate the power of sunshine, and...

Inc. Eagles CEOs convene, learn soaring techniques.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A flock of Eagles meets regularly in Phoenix to share tips on how to fly high and stay there. They are corporate captains from diverse companies -- all doing well, but hoping to improve profits, cut costs, or launch new products. Some...

Roundtable on Internet crime set.
June 2, 2000... The Internet is changing the face of a lot of things -- including crime. On June 9 Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano and the Better Business Bureau will host a roundtable at Ottawa University to discuss technology-aided crimes and...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
June 2, 2000... The web-site address for P.F. Chang's China Bistro was inadvertently left out of the Corporate AZ magazine May 19. The address is www.pfchangs.com. The stock activity for Three-Five Systems Inc. was reported incorrectly May 19. The company...

Expansion plans in air, 'Business Blitz' shows.(Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Despite concerns about the tight labor market, Valley businesses are looking to expand, according to a recent survey by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the city of Phoenix. Representatives from the two groups recently conducted...

Poore Bros., T.G.I. Fridays partner.(snack food marketing)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Poore Bros. International the Goodyear-based snack manufacturer, cooked up a deal with T.G.I. Friday's to make snack foods out of three of the restaurant's appetizers. The two publicly traded companies will launch new chip aisle treats --...

Valley fashion designers stepping out in New York.(national exposure for designs by Khoa Nguyen and Stefano Di Cicco)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Fall and winter fashions call for asymmetrical hems, belts of twine and paper-like fabrics. The season also calls for a move to New York City for two Phoenix fashion designers. Khoa Nguyen and Stefano Di Cicco are preparing to expand...

Greenbelt plan sprouts.(greenbelt area for Phoenix, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A greenbelt plan that Phoenix leaders and city planners started trumpeting about 30 years ago is off and running. Congressman Ed Pastor, Mayor Skip Rimsza and engineers from the Maricopa County Flood Control District were scheduled to meet...

Tempe to mirror upscale Camelback development.(anticipated real estate development in Tempe, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A new commercial development in Tempe is seen as the successor to Phoenix's desirable Camelback Corridor, which developers and brokers say is approaching build-out. They say developers will run out of land between 20th and 32nd streets on...

hot Deals.(commercial property: Phoeniz, Arizona area)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... COMMERCIAL $3.1 million Type: Industrial Address: 16212 N. 28th Drive, Buyer: Telecom Center, Cupertino, Phoenix Seller: Wells Fargo Bank Arizona, Calif. $2.54 million Type: Office building Phoenix...

Arizona remains field of dreams for home buyers.(real estate development: Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Despite the gradual rise in mortgage interest rates, Arizona still is a field of dreams for residential and commercial developers. For example, representatives of FireRock Country Club in Fountain Hills recently discovered it was easier...

WHO'S WHO.(Phoenix, Arizona business world)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 2, 2000... * William "Bill" Pope * President, CEO * SunChase Holdings Inc. Years with the organization: 10 Company's current major projects: * Estrella Mountain Ranch, a 20,000-acre master-planned community in Goodyear. *...

Businesswoman earns national Blue Chip award.(Rose Doyle of RCD Cleaning Service)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Rose Doyle, chief executive of RCD Cleaning Service in Glendale, is one of six national winners of The Blue Chip Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The MassMutual Financial Group. The award recognizes small-business...

Inspiring change.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Glenna Salsbury, author of inspirational book The Art of the Fresh Start, will speak at the June 14 meeting of the Phoenix chapter of the. National Association of Women Business Owners. Salsbury promises her audience a renewed enthusiasm...

Focus: Magazine for birds soars.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A fledgling magazine that has yet to take off already has gathered 500 subscribers. Phoenix residents Elizabeth and Steve Gurklys have created a bimonthly publication, Original Flying Machine, for bird enthusiasts. The first issue is...

First-place trophy.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Lane Award Manufacturing forges products, destiny Lane Award Manufacturing: Manufactures corporate awards, recognition products, promotional products and corporate and executive gifts. Chat with Mack Gleekel, general manager ...

TIP.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Handle each piece of paper that crosses your desk just once. Respond, refer, file or throw it out. If you have to save it, mark it with the name of the file folder in which it belongs. Source: Working Woman

Know when to move your business outside of home.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... How would I know when my home-based business is ready to move into an office? There are several major differences between working from your home and working from an office outside your home. Many home-based business owners choose to...

Organizing your office with 'feng shui'.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Donald Trump does it. So does Oprah. In fact, countless numbers of successful business people are using the ancient Chinese art of placement, feng shui, to create balance, success and prosperity in their offices. It's difficult for...

Small-business group applauds new China pact.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Among those celebrating the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of a trading pact with China was the Small Business Survival Committee in Washington. The group's president, Christopher Wysocki, deemed it a major victory for economic...

The Callaghan Team.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Web Site Review: The purpose of this column is to rate the technical aspects of a web site, not the content. All of the comments in this review are specifically focusing on the fundamentals of web-site design. Site summary: The...

Establishing confidence key to making sales.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... The prospect said no? Rats. Did you lose the sale or just fail to make it? You're sure that prospect should have bought what you were selling. As you head back to the car, licking your wounds, you try to justify or figure out why the...

Generation Y turning out to be big spenders.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... We've analyzed and dissected the boomers ad nauseum. The sudden takeoff of the Internet has forced us to address the growing importance of Generation X But little attention has been paid to the tidal wave forming on the horizon, Generation...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Accounting Charles Wold of Wold Consulting Group Inc., Phoenix, was selected chairman of the financial planning committee of the Arizona Society of CPAs. Advertising At E.B. Lane & Associates, Phoenix, D.D. Kullman joined as a...

Phoenix Home & Garden.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... Phoenix Home & Garden magazine's February edition was its best-selling issue in history, with more than 12,000 copies sold on the newsstand.

A fond farewell.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... This is my last marketing/media column, as I've accepted a job at Moses Anshell, a marketing communications firm in Phoenix. I've spent three great years here, and I have really enjoyed getting to know the marketing community. I hope you...

Palm-size media player could be the latest rave.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... Sensory Science Corp. of Scottsdale has released one of the smallest portable digital media players on the market. It's called "The Rave." Available for $279 at local electronic retailers, this hot little gadget sports an FM radio, USB...

Employee of the Year.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Jeffrey McNany, electronic data-processing administrator for the Corporations Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission, has been named State Employee of the Year. He was chosen from among 79 nominees, to receive the highest award for...

Microchip workshop.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Microchip Technology Inc., Chandler, is hosting its 2000 University Workshop Technical Training series for educators across the country in June and July. The intensive two-day workshops will provide comprehensive hands-on experience with...

DuraSwitch tour on tap.(DuraSwitch Industries holds public tour)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... DuraSwitch Industries is hosting a tour of its Mesa facility June 8, beginning at 7:30 a.m. DuraSwitch engineers, distributes and licenses electronic switch technology used to operate or control products in a wide variety of commercial and...

Inter-Tel recognition.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... Inter-Tel inc., Phoenix, has been recognized as one of the top 100 companies on Network World magazine's list of top 200 U.S.-based public networking-companies. The magazine's annual list is based on revenue for 1999. Inter-Tel also was...

Newbie in town.(NetEXE Inc. offices in Tempe, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... NetEXE Inc. has opened an office in Tempe's Tech Oasis at 51 W. Third St. The company is a developer of solutions for handheld, cellular and mini-computing devices for the business-to-business solutions market. "We create solutions for...

EasiDock upgrade.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Mobility Electronics, Scottsdale, now offers drivers that allow the EasiDock. USB 200 and 200e docking stations to be fully compatible with the Windows 2000 platform. The drivers are free and available for download on the company's web...

Chicago restaurant stakes claim to Camelback site.(Chart House Enterprises Inc. plans location in Phoenix, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Another steak house along the Camelback Corridor? Looks like it. Chart House Enterprises Inc., Chicago, has announced plans to bring its new concept, Angelo and Maxie's Steakhouse, to Phoenix. The company has signed a lease for...

Here comes the sun.(hotels receive umbrellas from Phoenix, Arizona Visitors Bureau to protect visitors from the sun)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Look for plenty of umbrellas to start appearing in downtown Phoenix. But don't expect lots of rain. The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Phoenix Civic Plaza partnered to buy 250 umbrellas to pass out to guests of five...

Better to watch out.(travel planning tips)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... The Better Business Bureau is warning summer travelers to be cautious when booking reservations through a travel agent or at a hotel. Bureaus nationwide help thousands of customers who report vacation and travel-related complaints, said...

Tourism for credit.(George Washington University online courses in travel industry)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... George Washington University is offering graduate-level distance education courses that count toward a master's degree in tourism administration. The courses, offered this summer, include economic, cultural and environmental aspects of...

Cargo building dedicated.(Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Phoenix Mayor Skip Rinisza, the city of Phoenix Aviation Department and representatives from Federal Express and Lockwood Greene officially dedicated the new South Air Cargo Facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport last week. The...

Agency books its move.(Travel Services LLC moves to Mesa, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Travel Services LLC, which handles corporate travel for General Motors, is moving into 5,000 square feet in the Greenfield Business Center in Mesa, which is owned by GLMD Properties LLC. Jeffrey Hartland of Grubb & Ellis represented both...

Personal touch.(of banking official Leonard Huck)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Retired banker continues to dole out kindness Walking off the elevator. on the 35th floor of the Bank One building in downtown Phoenix, receptionist Kathy Page is the first person one encounters. Having been tipped off that Leonard...

Katherine Christensen & Associates Inc.(named Regina Monaco public relations manager)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Katherine Christensen & Associates Inc. has named Regina Monaco public relations manager. Monaco's experience includes a stint as communications assistant of the Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau.

New Economy change.(PKS Information Services Inc. changed its name to (i)Structure Inc.)
June 2, 2000... PKS Information Services Inc. changed its name to (i)Structure Inc. The company supplies infrastructure to small and mid-sized e-businesses. The company provides network management services, computing operations, storage, database and...

Ernst & Young unveils people-friendly office model.
June 2, 2000... In trying to better serve clients and keep talented people on staff, Ernst & Young LLP adopted a people-friendly "workplace of the future" model for its new downtown office at One Renaissance Square tower. Highlights of the new space...

Pinnacle West rates 'AAA'.(Pinnacle West Capital Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Pinnacle West Capital Corp. was given a triple-A rating and was ranked third of 30 electric companies listed on the Standard & Poor's 500 for environmental performance by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors Inc. of New York. Frank Dixon,...

Imperial grows tech loans.(Robert Gramhill named VP Imperial Bank Emerging Growth Division)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Imperial Bank recently added Robert Gramhill as vice president/venture loan officer to its provides Emerging Growth Division, which provides loans and banking services exclusively to early-stage, high-growth companies. Chris Woolley,...

BofA plans web portal.(Bank of America to produce intranet web portal technology with BroadVision)
June 2, 2000... Bank of America Corp. will team up with BroadVision Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., to produce business-to-employee Internet web portal technology for corporate intranets. The new products will give employees access to workplace communications...

National's new office.(land purchased for new National Bank branch in Sedona, Arizona)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... National Bank of Arizona recently announced the bank's purchase of land in Old Marketplace Development for the construction of a new, full-service bank office in Sedona. The new bank will replace the leased facilities in the town's city...

United Way honors bank.(Fifth Third Bank)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Valley of the Sun United Way has recognized Fifth Third Bank with a Commitment to Caring Award, given to organizations with the highest overall campaign results in three separate categories: major firms, middle market and small business. ...

Three-Five selling shares.(Three-Five Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Three-Five Systems Inc. is having a public offering of 2.2 million shares of common stock at $55 per share. Net proceeds of the sale will go toward increasing the company's manufacturing capacity through the expansion of facilities and the...

New names at the ABA.(Deana Peck elected co-chair of the Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee of the American Bar Association)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Deana Peck, a director in the litigation practice group at Phoneix ix law firm Streich Lang, has been elected co-chair of the Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee of the American Bar Association litigation section. In addition, Tim...

Weekly gay, lesbian newspaper hits streets June 8.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A new weekly newspaper targeting the Valley's gay and lesbian community is about to hit the streets. Spectrum Weekly, based in Phoenix, debuts June 8. The free publication will have a weekly circulation of 10,000 at more than 120...

Holsum hires Sylma.(Holsum Bakery has hired Sylma Hispanic Advertising)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Holsum Bakery, Phoenix, has hired Sylma Hispanic Advertising as its Hispanic agency of record. The Tempe advertising firm will help the bakery promote new and existing products. Holsum is launching an advertising, marketing and special...

Morgan lands 2.(Morgan and Co. contracts)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Phoenix design communications firm Morgan and Co. has added Habitat for Humanity's Phoenix affiliate and Showcase Concerts to its client roster. For Habitat, Morgan and Co. will redesign the nonprofit's web site in order to improve...

In-flight Internet.(being marketed for Boeing by SHR Perceptual Management)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... SHR Perceptual Management, a brand development firm in Scottsdale, has been busy helping The Boeing Co., Seattle, promote a new service. Connexion by Boeing is an in-flight service that provides live television, email and high-speed...

Getting ON the wall.(Studio 522 Productions and Corporate Arts help produce On Semiconductor promotional piece)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... ON Semiconductor's recent initial public offering announcement was aided by two local production companies. A 90-second promotional animation piece was designed by Studio 522 Productions and Corporate Arts, both of Scottsdale, in...

Tiekens in print.(Fred and Gail Tieken, principals of Tieken Design & Creative Services, were featured in the April issue of Graphic Design:usa magazine)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Fred and Gail Tieken, principals of Tieken Design & Creative Services, were featured in the April issue of Graphic Design:usa magazine. The two were in a special report titled "People to Watch," which honored graphic-design professionals...

North American Broadcasting Co.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... North American Broadcasting Co., which owns KFNX-AM 1100, relocated to Palm Lane Professional Plaza at 2001 N. Third St., Phoenix. The company occupies 6,273 square feet.

Spreading clean air.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... A local company is helping spread the word about new alternative fuel incentives. After the state Legislature sighed Arizona's 2000 Clean Air Act, creating better incentives to use alternative fuel vehicles, AZStar Alternative Fuels...

China trade will boost state's high-tech exports.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Arizona's high-tech industry would be one of the big winners if the United States normalizes trade relations with China this summer, officials say. The agreement was passed May 24 by the U.S. House. It goes to the Senate later in June,...

Pool cleaner is out of this world.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Entrepreneurs Raj Kapur and Todd Carney hope Valley residents will allow NASA to clean their swimming pools. Their company, the Mesa-based GoodByeChlorine.com, offers Valley swimming pool owners a new method of water purification by tapping...

Firm matches employers, workers for a natural fit.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Fewer than five years in business and Phoenix-based Natural Data has set its goal at $20 million for 2000. Similar to matching mates for a date, Natural Data matches information technology and engineering professionals with the companies...

Entrepreneur finalists announced.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Ernst & Young LLP named the Arizona finalists for the 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year awards. The winner will be announced June 27 at The Phoenician resort in Phoenix. Of the 25 finalists, all but two are from the Valley. * Ronald Alred,...

Phoenix among 11 cities gaining bandwidth firm.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Vitesse Networks is launching a nationwide expansion that will give it a presence in more than 50 cities within a year. The Minneapolis-based bandwidth provider, formerly called Jaffray Communications, has targeted Phoenix and 10 other...

Software Plus opens Valley office.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Software Plus of St. Louis, a large supplier of computer software and accessories in the Midwest, has opened an office at 6320 E. Thomas Road, Ste. 303, in Scottsdale. Software Plus has grown each year since 1983 when it was founded. The...

Prosecutors get wake-up call on corporate crime.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Several Valley attorneys who specialize in white-collar criminal defense are watching the fruits of a June 1999 U.S. Department of Justice memo ripen, and it could mean mounting problems for corporations that aren't prepared to deal with the...

Sponsor wanted by state for lottery's Pick 3 game.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... The Arizona Lottery wants to cash in on a trend made popular by sports teams and find a title sponsor of its Pick 3 game. The multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal would attach the company's name to the Pick 3 game, a twice-weekly drawing...

Poll reveals 80 percent in county are on the financial precipice.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Anyone worried about their financial standing can rest assured that misery loves company. Of about 639 Maricopa County respondents to a January study by Consumer Credit Counseling Services Southwest and conducted by Behavior Research...

Tech firms seek to modify H-1B visa bill as too strict.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... The House Judiciary Committee passed legislation to allow an unlimited number of H-1B visas to be issued to foreign professionals but the bill includes several eligibility requirements opposed by the high-tech industry. The Technology...

City of Phoenix 'Opportunity Day' for area small businesses is June 14.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Small-business owners can explore business opportunities with city of Phoenix purchasing personnel during a June 14 Small Business Celebration and Opportunity Day. The free event is from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Phoenix City Hall...

ServiceMagic.com brings home repair to the 'Net.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... ServiceMagic.com has launched in Phoenix, giving Valley residents access to a database of prescreened home repair help. Visitors to the site, www.servicemagic.com, complete a service request form, such as help with kitchen plumbing, and...

Under construction.(Hard Dollar Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Hard Dollar Corp., Tempe, is developing a "virtual office" web site for contractors that will let them bid on construction projects worldwide. Integrated Information Systems, Tempe, received the $5.35 million contract to develop the site,...

Avnet's assessment.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Compaq recently unveiled a new series of AlphaServers, and Compaq partner Avnet Computer in Tempe unwrapped an assessment program for businesses considering those servers. The AlphaServers are designed to support e-commerce sites. Avnet's...

Developing students.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... Neobrand Inc., a Phoenix web site developer and advisor, won a contract with United States Open University to plan and design its site, www.usou.edu. Neobrand will identify the proper target market and redesign the site in order to attract...

Name hunting.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... If you're still hunting for a domain name, a Chandler company called Global Basics may be able to help. Its site, www.enam ewiz.com, features a domain name generator that offers as many as 170 suggestions given a few key words. Users can...

Orpheum Theatre Foundation tries hand at producing live stage shows.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... The Orpheum Theatre Foundation, established just more than 10 years ago to help restore the namesake venue in downtown Phoenix, is getting involved with the theatre's programming for the first time. Since the Orpheum opened in 1997, the...

ARIZONA PERFORMANCE.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... ARIZONA PERFORMANCE HIGH LOW Arizona Index 1,066.15 779.58 (7/16/99) (4/14/00) Arizona Tech Index 2,058.37 920.11 (4/7/00) (5/24/99)...

INDEX COMPARISON.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2000... INDEX COMPARISON May 26 May 19 Percent close close change Arizona Index 821.51 856.95 -4.14% Arizona Tech Index ...

ARIZONA PUBLIC COMPANIES.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... ARIZONA PUBLIC COMPANIES May 26 May 19 Percent close close change TOP 10 Allied Waste Industries Inc (AW) $9.56 $7.75...

COMPANIES WITH A STRONG ARIZONA PRESENCE.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 2, 2000... COMPANIES WITH A STRONG ARIZONA PRESENCE May 26 May 19 Percent close close change TOP 5 Radio Unica Corp. (UNCA) $5.50 $4.56 20.55% Bank of America (BAC) 55.31...