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

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

A 'Devil' of a deal.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Valley exec, ASU booster to keep Goldwater spirit alive It can be hard to decipher where the line is drawn between Bob Hobbs the businessman and Bob Hobbs the Sun Devils booster. Doesn't matter. Either way, he's a big bitter,...

SRP unveils, 'smart cards' as new option.(Salt River Project)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Paying the monthly electric bill can be seen in a whole new light with the launch of a prepaid "smart-card" system by Salt River Project. Starting next month, SRP customers will be able to use a smart card to pay for electricity. ...

Local businesses vie for networking techies.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Networking techies are becoming a hot commodity as local bar owners and other business types compete for those who meet regularly to schmooze. The fury of networking groups popping up around town reflects Valley entrepreneurs' hunger to...

Snoop doggy dog.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Phoenix police officer Rick Ramos refers to his partner as an "impatient female." "She's a vocal little thing," he adds. His partner, Brittany, is an 8-year old black Labrador retriever and one of three dogs employed by the Federal...

First Tuesday puts Valley techie scene on world map.
May 26, 2000... You know you've really arrived when: * In technology: First Tuesday starts a chapter in your town. This is one of the top techie networking groups in the country, and its supporters say it "will propel Phoenix into the international...

Arizona Bar approves one-stop legal services.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The legal community in Arizona has been given the green light to expand services and create one-stop shopping for clients. The State Bar of Arizona has approved the operation of multidisciplinary practices -- the partnering of lawyers and...

Allied Waste defines purchase and sale agreements in five other states.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Allied Waste Industries Inc. and Superior Services Inc. agreed to terms involving the purchase and sale of solid-waste service assets in five states. Allied Waste, an Arizona-based collection, recycling and waste service, agreed to sell...

CORRECTIONS.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... It was reported incorrectly May 19 that Amerco, the holding company for U-Haul, moved its headquarters to Nevada last year. It has been based there since 1969. A wrong name was listed for the International Cruise and Excursion Gallery in...

Surprise gains 640 acres for city center in swap.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Rick West and his developer associates are ready to build the heart of a city. The city is Surprise and the heart is a 640-acre parcel in the middle that, until several days ago, was owned by Phoenix. In a trade May 16, Phoenix...

MedAire stretches its wings, lands deal with Japanese airline.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... MedAire Inc. has won a contract to provide emergency medical services to one of Japan's largest airlines, a move the company hopes will open doors to other Asian-based air carriers. MedAire Inc. has sealed a deal with All Nippon Airways...

Millennium bug leaves financial paper trail.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... So you thought you've read all there is to read on Y2K -- think again. While the millennium bug has faded into obscurity, some Arizona businesses still are trying to squash the financial burden they faced in an effort to become compliant...

Fresh Start executive director steps down after 6-month stint.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Fresh Start Women's Foundation is losing its executive director after six months. Margaretta Br[acute{e}]d[acute{e}] Mathis who became the foundation's first executive director in December, has stepped down to work for an international...

E-commerce firms merge, take aim at Nasdaq status.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Scottsdale-based EBIZ Enterprises Inc. announced plans to merge with LinuxMall.com of Denver to create a more comprehensive "vendor neutral" Linux shopping site online. The two companies now will operate as LinuxMall.com. EBIZ...

Hotel management company eyes Pointe Hilton at South Mountain.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Destination Hotels & Resorts reportedly will take over management of the Pointe Hilton South Mountain Resort from Hilton Hotels Corp. Denver-based Destination Hotels manages the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and the Royal Palms Hotel &...

Microchip company drops Chandler expansion plans.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Microchip Technology Inc. announced May 24 that instead of building a $1 billion plant and employing up to 1,000 in Chandler, it will buy the former Matsushita Semiconductor Corp. of America chip plant in Puyallup, Wash. Terms of the...

Sunterra won't speculate on how financial troubles affect Arizona.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Sunterra Corp. is keeping quiet about how its current financial troubles will affect its six Arizona properties. The Orlando, Fla.-based owner and operator of timeshare resorts issued a press release May 22 stating the company was laying...

Technology center opens lines in Phoenix market.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Level 3 Communications Inc. of Broomfield, Colo., has entered the metro Phoenix market to provide Internet and communications services. The company opened a 49,000-square-foot advanced technical facility at 811 S. 16th St., Phoenix....

New keyboard promises power of a PC in pocket-size device.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Phoenix-based iBIZ Technology Corp. has introduced a new keyboard for handheld computing devices. Called KeySync and powered by the new Microsoft Pocket PC software, the charcoal-gray keyboard is about the size of a laptop keyboard -- 10...

Business leaders join to promote family museum.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Phoenix Family Museum has selected a group of advisory board members to help develop a children's museum in Phoenix. Although the Phoenix Family Museum was founded in 1998, it has operated as a museum without walls, offering traveling...

AT&T creates one-stop shop for business services.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... AT&T Corp. has developed an all-in-one account for businesses that don't want to juggle separate carriers and bills for telephone, wireless and Internet service. Called AT&T Business Network or e-ABN, the accounts can be managed online...

Mining online?(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Phelps Dodge Corp. and 13 other mining and metal companies have united to create an online marketplace for metal buyers and suppliers from more than 100 countries. The goal of the site, still under development, is to help lower...

Dentists cyberunite.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Dentists are taking a bite out of the web with a specialized site designed just for the profession. Integrated Information Systems has developed an online portal called DentalTown.com. Created for Phoenix dentist Howard Farran, the site...

Photo op.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... AmazingMail.com and talent promoters ProScout have partnered so aspiring talent can send photos of themselves to casting directors using AmazingMail's postcard service. From personalized pages that ProScout will create for each...

Customers categorized.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Online shoppers seem to be outpacing lab mice as the favorite research subject of late. Another study of online buying habits was released by San Francisco-based ebates.com -- this one revealing six distinct shopping types. *...

Quayle links with banking firm to tap Valley market.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Filling a void in an underserved middle market is what JD Ford's chief executive Joseph Durnford and former Vice President Dan Quayle hope to accomplish in the Denver company's new Phoenix market. Founded in 1996, JD Ford and Co. is an...

Elections, highlights.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Seven directors were named at the annual shareholders meeting of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. on May 17. Newly elected members were Robert Matlock, 66, an independent managment consultant; Kathryn Munro 51, chairman of Bridget West LLC, an...

New company in town.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Las Vegas-based Security Asset Capital Corp. (OTCBB:SCYA), a company started in 1993 to deal in asset liquidation and technology industries, is opening an office at 8655 Via De Ventura, Ste. G-200, Scottsdale, effective May 31. The...

DSFCU donates $34,000.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Desert Schools Federal Credit Union has donated $34,000 to Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation as part of its annual participation in the Children's Miracle Network Credit Unions for Kids program. Money was raised through a variety of...

Officers named.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Burch & Cracchiolo PA named Ed Bull as its president, Andy Abraham as vice president and Ed Fleming as operations partner. These titles were effective at the beginning of April. Andrea Healey covers banking, finance and professional...

Bar posts filled.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The State Bar of Arizona appointed Allen Shayo to serve as its chief bar counsel and assistant executive director -- legal. He will manage the discipline, lobbying, ethics and general counsel functions of the bar. The Bar also recently...

Phoenix Children's Hospital renovations begin June 1.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Huber, Hunt & Nichols Inc. has been selected as program manager and general contractor for the construction of the new Phoenix Children's Hospital. Renovation and new construction of the former Phoenix Regional Medical Center at 20th...

Cigna saves members.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Cigna HealthCare of Arizona has begun offering health insurance to nearly 1,100 employees who had lost coverage as a result of Premier Healthcare of Arizona's financial insolvency last year. Cigna, which has more than 500,000 members in...

Cancer screenings.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Phoenix Memorial Hospital is offering prostate cancer screenings June 24. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death among them. The American Cancer Society estimates nearly...

MedAire trains TAG.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... TAG Aviation operating more than 145 corporate aircraft at more than 50 locations around the world, is partnering with MedAire Inc. to standardize training for its pilots. This special program designed by MedAire will integrate training...

Dignita Hospice Care.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Dignita Hospice Care of Phoenix, which was acquired by Dallas-based Odyssey HealthCare Inc. in November, now is taking the Odyssey name. In November, Odyssey acquired Dignita's operations in Phoenix, Tucson and San Diego, as well as two...

Roy's Restaurant puts informational ads on menu.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Roy's Restaurant has launched a television advertising campaign that goes beyond showing off its two Valley locations. The 60-second spots, produced in conjunction with KNXV-TV 15, are informational vignettes about dining and...

Tieken adds 3.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Tieken Design & Creative Services has added three dot-com clients to its account roster: uGive.com, orderresource.com and Evolution.com. The Phoenix graphic-design finn will provide a comprehensive brand image package for uGive.com,...

APA names new exec.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Park&Co.'s Ed Tankersley has been named president-elect of the Arizona Production Association in Phoenix. Tankersley will serve as vice president in 2000 and as president in 2001. Tankersley, 38, is creative director of Park&Co., a...

Art In Motion Inc.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Art In Motion Inc. and independent producer Jackie Lo are producing 30-second public service announcements that promote a health program for babies. The PSAs are for the Arizona Department of Health Services' Arizona Newborn Screening...

Pioneer targets Hispanics.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... One-third of Pioneer Ford's advertising budget for its new service facility has been designated for Hispanic media. The Ford dealership in Phoenix, owned by UnitedAuto Group, is promoting its 10-bay Quick Lane facility to Hispanics though...

Magazine is co-sponsor.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Arizona's Women's News and the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring The Culture of Women in Business conference. The Aug. 16 conference will be co-chaired by Margot Dorman, publisher of Arizona Women's News, and...

Bose's Boccelli honored.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Ted Boccelli, a Phoenix resident and creative director of Bose Corp., Mass., won three awards from the New England Direct Marketing Association. In the Image/Brand category, he won a gold, or first-place, award for an image campaign for...

Durel Corp. awarded $13M in interest on judgment.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Chandler-based Durel Corp. recently was awarded $13 million in interest on $49 million awarded in damages earlier this year in a patent infringement case against OSRAM Sylvania. The new judgment brings the total awarded to Durel to $62...

OpNIX finds a home.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... OpNIX, a startup Internet infrastructure company has signed a five-year lease on its first facility -- a 13,341-square-foot building at 2220W. 14th St. in the Airway Corporate Center in Tempe. The Center is within Tempe's Tech Oasis,...

Harris inks deal.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Harris Technologies Inc., a Gilbert-based business software manufacturer has signed an agreement to distribute NetSupport Inc.'s products. Atlanta-based NetSupport's remote control software product, NetSupport Manager (similar to...

Applause!(several articles)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... US West Inc. was one of five corporations honored this month by President Clinton, the U.S. Secretaries of Commerce and Labor and the Conference Board for outstanding achievement in employee and community relations. Solomon Trujillo,...

Allied Waste Industries Inc.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Allied Waste Industries Inc., Scottsdale, has named Peter Hathaway , 44, as the company's interim chief financial officer. Hathaway has worked for Allied since 1995, and is replacing Henry Hirvela, who left the company on April 28 to...

Homebid.com.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Homebid.com, Scottsdale, brought on Mark Armstrong as the company's chief technology officer, and Michael Vicari, as the vice president of sales. Armstrong will be responsible for strengthening the company's business strategy and leading...

Inter-Tel.net.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Inter-Tel.net has named Dave Challis the company's chief financial officer. He will be responsible for all the finance and accounting functions of the company. Kerry Duff is a freelance writer living in Glendale.

Arizona restaurants, bars above norm in April hires.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Restaurants and bars in Arizona hired about 1,500 workers in April, according to the monthly labor report published by the Arizona Department of Economic Security. That's well above average for the season, and much of the increase is...

What a shelf life.(sales of Robert McGrath cookbook)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... After just two weeks in stores, chef Robert McGrath of The Roaring Fork has sold 4,200 copies of his first cookbook -- American Western Cooking from the Roaring Fork. The initial print run was 5,000 copies. A second run, again 5,000...

Never looked better.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... McCarthy, Phoenix, has completed a $2.2 million refurbishment of casita accommodations at The Ranch on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, formerly John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch. The property, on the north slope of Camelback Mountain,...

Suite now complete.(Ramada Valley Ho Resort finishes renovation)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Ramada Valley Ho Resort in downtown Scottsdale has completed a $40,000 renovation of its Presidential Suite. "Everything is new, from floor to ceiling," said general manager Michael Doherty. The wedding reception of actors Robert...

In celebration of love.(Royal Palms Hotel and Casita contest)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Lovers have a chance to cash in on their passion at the Royal Palms Hotel and Casita -- if they don't mind revealing their intimate communications, that is. The Phoenix property is offering couples a change to Win a five-night stay in...

E-bookings to Canada.(America West expands electronic ticketing service)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... America West Airlines expanded its electronic ticketing to itineraries to and from Canada. Electronic tickets now are available through the Tempe airline's reservation center, the airport, city ticket offices and travel agents. This is...

AWA adds more flights.(America West Airlines)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... In other America west news, me airline has announced plans to initiate service between Chicago and its Columbus, Ohio, hub and increase service between Chicago and its Las Vegas hub. The new service is the result of the Tempe carrier's...

Vision by design.(R. Nicholas Loope of Durrant Group)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Architect finds energy source in passion for work Ryc Loope is riding a magic carpet. It's woven from his achievements while he was chief executive of Taliesin Associated Architects from 1991 to 1997 and since his arrival as president and...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(appointments and selections in Arizona business)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Awards The Phoenix Youth and Education Commission named Seddrick Freeney, a South Mountain High School senior, outstanding young man of the year and Elizabeth Cudilo, a North Canyon High School senior, outstanding young woman of the...

Wells Fargo broadens its online options.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Wells Fargo & Co. added a new feature to its web site to help small-business owners bank online and link to services such as media lists. The Resource Center for Small Business Owners provides Internet banking and bill payment, research...

U.S. Chamber of Commerce.(lobbies congress for normal trade relations with China)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pressuring Congress on behalf of small-business owners to pass permanent normal trade relations with China. The chamber released new radio ads in certain congressional districts and in Washington, D.C. ...

Focus: Traditions Ltd.(Tommy Bahama products selling well)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Jim and Linda Pelock made a smart business move when they chose to carry the Tommy Bahama sportswear line at their new Chandler store, Traditions Ltd. The breezy, resort-wear clothing has been "flying off the racks" and putting Jim on...

Life of luxury.(Discover Resorts)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Discover Resorts markets its way to the top Discover Resorts: Manages and rents to travelers private, $1 million homes and high-end condominiums in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Breckenridge, Colo. Markets independently operated four- and...

TIP.(managing phone calls)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... To manage phone interruptions, have a scheduled "do not disturb" time each week. This could be a block of one to two hours, once or twice weekly, when you will not take calls. Record an announcement on your voice mail message announcing when...

READERS RESPOND.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... What's the most frequently asked question you receive from small-business owners? * Tom Gunn * Executive director * Arizona Small Business Association, Phoenix How do I grow my business? I tell them to go to every...

Learn employee motivation tricks to reach group goals.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... How do I keep people motivated? The challenge here is that different people are motivated by various things. For instance, that employee-of-the-month parking space probably means little to someone who walks to work. Essentially,...

Good design crucial to web site success.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The following is the fifth in a series of five articles by the Arizona Society of CPAs dealing with how businesses can make the most of technology. A well-designed, focused web site can help build your company's reputation and business...

Chambers pair Athena events.(Arizona and Phoenix Chambers of Commerce)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce are combining their Athena awards programs, which honor women in business. Traditionally, each organization has an annual Athena event. The Arizona chamber's...

Web Site Review.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 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: ...

How small businesses continue when owners die.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... When tragedy strikes a family, it can be devastating. Often, the pain of missing a loved one can be a wedge that pries open the crack in a family's foundation. The family can either grow closer together or be torn apart. Companies...

Seven simple tips to help salespeople seal the deal.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Let me give you the sharpest angles to making a sale I know. They are all simple, and they are all "right." But be forewarned, simple is not easy. They are simple to grasp, but difficult to put into practice, and even more difficult...

Navigating technology slopes takes some thought.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... I love to ski. I love technology. Just recently, I realized these two loves might be related. Some explanation is due. Growing up in Michigan in the '60s and '70s, I used to ski 100 times a year. I was good enough to be...

Collecting facts can get you where you need to be.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... We were sitting on a Boeing 767 at Sky Harbor International Airport around 4 p.m., waiting for a United Airlines flight to leave for Chicago, when a flight attendant told us our weather-delayed 2:31 p.m. flight would experience even more...

Interest rate hikes' effect on market still uncertain.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Six times since June 1999, the Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds interest rate, which is the interest banks charge each other. The last increase was a half point on May 16. The total ripple effect has boosted rates for 30-year...

Parks expanding.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Maricopa County hopes to expand its McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the Cave Creek Recreation Area with state land that could be leased or bought with money from Arizona's Growing Smarter proposal. The, land became eligible for...

New hotel.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Look for news this summer about a new hotel and golf course in the Valley. It likely will have a feature unavailable today at any other hotel in Arizona. The owners are not yet ready to go public about their ongoing talks with architects,...

Putting around the green.(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... In the business world today, the formula for winning high-stakes negotiations lasting weeks or months often includes several games of golf. In Tom Harris' case, the golf course is the deal. Since 1989, Harris has headed the Golf...

Hot Deals.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... COMMERCIAL $23.3 million Type: Office building Address: 2211 S. 47th St., Phoenix Buyer: Lexington Sky Harbor, New York Seller: Laufred Partners, Paradise Valley $18.6 million Type: Apartments Address:...

WHO'S WHO.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... John Foltz President and designated broker Realty Executives Years with organization: 22 Company's current major projects: Elevating the level of professional service to every home buyer and home seller through the use of...

John Wyss.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... Managing principal The Staubach Co., Phoenix office 2398 E. Camelback Road, Ste. 230 Phoenix 85016 480-609-9527 www.staubach.com John Wyss has been in commercial real estate in the Valley for nearly three decades. He...

Mesa working to shake bedroom community image.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... City of Mesa officials, frustrated by years of failed efforts to jump-start their still aspiring downtown, are hoping that nearly $125 million in public dollars finally will be the answer to attract people and private investment to the area....

What factor was most important in choosing a site for your business?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... Rodney Joffe * Chairman * American Computer Group, Tempe We chose Tempe as our business headquarters based on the progressiveness of the city council. The location is excellent for airport convenience, as well as traveling...

Grocery store chains shopping Phoenix market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... The Valley's grocery store market is fiercely competitive, with major chains eagerly opening new locations, sometimes across the street or around the corner from each other. And more competition is on the way with the emergence of...

Scottsdale's Green Building Program.(Arizona)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2000... www.ci.scottsdale.az.us/greenbuilding Homebuilders and prospective home buyers in Scottsdale interested in environmentally compatible homes now have access to a comprehensive building initiative called the Green Building Program. The...

Bricsnet.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 26, 2000... www.bricsnet.com/industry_resources/construction/companies/const_gen. html Bricsnet.com, the e-marketplace for the global building industry, is an integrated work-centric environment where building professionals access industry...