The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun articles from November 1999

The Business Journal - Serving Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun archives from November 1999

Dealer daze.
November 5, 1999... Consolidation revs up Valley car market When Valley automobile dealerships enter the next millennium, they will encounter more of what's driven their industry throughout the '90s -- consolidation and expansion. Consolidation because...

Hip nightclub's remodeling targets VIPs.
November 5, 1999... Radius, a popular Scottsdale nightclub known for attracting celebrities and professional athletes, is undergoing a $500,000 renovation project to create an exclusive VIP lounge. It is being built upstairs at Radius and will be called The...

Arizona tech stocks rise to new high.
November 5, 1999... Arizona technology stocks are riding a new high, thanks to a resurgence in the semiconductor industry and an explosion in demand for cellular phones. The market could get even more bullish as local companies that supply equipment to these...

PCS adds 250 to call center in Scottsdale.(PCS Health Systems Inc.)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Although the cards haven't revealed a new owner for PCS Health Systems Inc., the Scottsdale company is predicting huge growth in its future. PCS, one of Scottsdale's largest employers, will hire up to 250 more workers for its call center...

Playing roulette with the tax code.
November 5, 1999... You probably didn't know it, but the Internal Revenue Service has a soft spot for gamblers. Whether they're playing the ponies at Churchill Downs or three-card Monty on the corner, taxpayers may deduct losses incurred from legal gambling,...

Booking big events getting a lot tougher for Valley planners.
November 5, 1999... If you want a king-size headache try swapping jobs with a corporate event planner. The shortage of conference rooms equipped to seat several hundred people for lunch or breakfast events is creating lots of grief. A case in point was...

STOCK MARKET CONFIDENCE.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... STOCK MARKET CONFIDENCE Percent of U.S. adults who think the stock market will increase in value over the next six months Percent Jan. 55.7% Feb. 52.0% Mar. 56.9% Apr. 55.7%...

Standard & Poor's lowers Styling Technology rating.(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Styling Technology Corp. is having a bad hair day. Standard & Poor's has downgraded the Scottsdale beauty supply company's credit and debt ratings and a local analyst has pulled its "strong buy" recommendation on company bonds. On Oct....

CORRECTIONS.
November 5, 1999... * Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce official Terree Wasley's name was misspelled in a story Oct. 29. * More than 5,100 surgeries were performed during Mayo Clinic Hospital's first year in Arizona. An incorrect number was reported Oct....

Survey ranks Phoenix as 3rd healthiest job market in U.S.
November 5, 1999... A recent study ranks Phoenix third among the nation's healthiest job markets. Conducted by American City Business Journals and supported by Arizona State University, the research puts Phoenix just behind Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Austin,...

Scottsdale courier service is 1 of 8 finalists in world leadership award.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... SonicAir Inc., a Scottsdale-based air courier service, is among eight global finalists in Arthur Andersen's 1999 Best Practices Awards. After winning an Arizona Best Practices Award in Strategic Leadership in September, the company now...

Starwood diving into Scottsdale Waterfront project.
November 5, 1999... If all goes according to Hoyle, the $140 million Scottsdale Waterfront will be one of the first major commercial projects to break ground in the new year in Scottsdale. A new construction schedule is in the works because the legal dispute...

Zila zeros in on growth plans after selling 2 units.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Zila Inc. has $8.7 million to focus on its core business now that it has sold off two divisions. "Our real core business is the pharmaceutical side of the business as well as the dental supply business, and now the nutraceutical business,"...

Campaign to increase Phoenix popu1arity, downtown visitors ongoing.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... America West Arena and Bank One Ballpark are adding more sparkle to downtown Phoenix but officials say the sports altars are only part of the picture. And that's why downtown businesses and organizations are launching a $400,000 campaign...

Cooper'stown files breach of contract suit against Habitat.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Alice Cooper'stown owners have unleashed their attorneys on the design team they claim is responsible for the downtown Phoenix restaurant's grand opening delay. A complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court lists the Tempe interior...

Trio name firm LeapSource, finalize $65 million venture deal.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Six weeks after announcing their new business, three former Arthur Andersen partners have finalized a deal for $65 million in venture capital. The three are still involved in a legal dispute with Andersen about their departure from the...

Online service lets car buyers seal deals without salesman.
November 5, 1999... Thanks to a new local Internet service, Valley car buyers can log on, type in and drive off without ever talking to a sales person. DriveOff.com Inc., of Englewood, Colo., has just added Phoenix as its fourth market for a completely...

Traffic information service enables users to research routes beforehand.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... While the Valley waits for better solutions to road congestion, a Los Angeles company is honking its horn about a traffic information service coming to town. Traffic Station Inc. provides personalized traffic updates to drivers via...

Collection of telephones rings bell of this retiree.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... For someone who boasts of 150 phones in his house -- not including the wireless unit that hangs beside the pager on his belt -- Stan Bartles is awfully hard to reach sometimes. The 55-year-old US West retiree operates the Arizona Telephone...

Vietnam Memorial replica on display.
November 5, 1999... In honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Habitat Inc. of Tempe has created a 240-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for Valley residents. To be displayed Nov. 11 through 14 at Mesa's Mariposa Gardens, the wall features a simulated...

NASCAR puts skids on 2nd Winston Cup in Phoenix.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... NASCAR officials confirmed this week that Phoenix International Raceway won't be getting a second Winston Cup race any time soon. At a Nov. 3 Aetna US Healthcare Power Breakfast, NASCAR senior vice president and chief operating officer Mike...

Furniture dealer's novel fund-raiser proves successful.
November 5, 1999... Forget the golf tournament -- US Business Interiors of Arizona proved there's more creative ways to raise money for charity. The company recently celebrated its move to midtown Phoenix and hosted a fund-raiser for the city of Phoenix Family...

City of Scottsdale's credit rating is bumped to AAA.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Fitch ICBA has given a AAA credit rating to $59.6 million in general obligation bonds to be issued by the city of Scottsdale, making the city one of only 12 in the nation enjoying Fitch's highest rating. "We're a blue chip city," said Dick...

Expanded loan portfolio.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... New Mexico and Arizona Land Co., Phoenix, has provided $3.1 million in short-term financing for two commercial real estate developments in Arizona. Operating under the name NZ/Bridge Financial, the company provided a $1.9 million loan to...

Challenge grant.(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Community Housing Resources of Arizona has received a $100,000 challenge grant from Norwest Mortgage and Norwest/Wells Fargo Bank, through the Norwest Housing Foundation. Community Housing will use the money to help finance affordable...

Wal-Mart goes banking.
November 5, 1999... Rocky Mountain Bank has opened a full-service banking facility inside the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 1955 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa. This is the bank's third location inside a Wal-Mart store. Michele Brochard has been promoted from a customer...

FFCA sells securities.
November 5, 1999... Franchise Finance Corp. of America, based in Scottsdale, priced and sold about $607 million of secured franchise loan asset-backed securities. Proceeds, from the sale of securities, net of expenses, were about $651 million. The...

Fifth Third buys CNB.
November 5, 1999... Fifth Third Bankcorp has completed its purchase of CNB Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary, Civitas Bank in Indiana. CNB has $7.9 billion in assets, 145 banking offices, and operates more than 200 ATMs, predominantly in Indiana, with a...

More Fifth Third news.
November 5, 1999... Fifth Third Bank is launching a $9 billion community development initiative over the next three years in states it serves, including Arizona. The bank will provide funding for community development building projects, loans, investments and...

SBA disaster loans.
November 5, 1999... The U.S. Small Business Administration has presented the first Federal disaster loan checks to help repair damages caused by September's monsoon storms. The low-interest loans will provide families with money to rebuild, said Fulton Brock,...

Delta Dental admits late payment, disputes penalty.
November 5, 1999... Delta Dental Plan of Arizona Inc. is fighting a $3,904 late fee and interest penalty being charged by the Arizona Department of Insurance. The insurance department had assessed late fee and interest penalties for failing to pay, a $55,776...

Former columnist named 'Robb Report' publisher.
November 5, 1999... A Phoenix journalist has snagged publishing duties for three magazines including the Robb Report, a well-known luxury lifestyle publication. Paul Dean, once a columnist at The Arizona Republic, also will oversee Showcase and Luxury Golf...

Toback CPAs discussing its possible acquisition.
November 5, 1999... Toback CPAs, Phoenix, may be the next acquisition you read about. The nine directors of the accounting firm are in discussion with an unnamed group, confirmed Toback partner Ira Feldman. "There's a lot of interest in professional...

Urban League elects board members.
November 5, 1999... Walter Wells, president of Paradise Valley-based PCI Capital, was elected chairman of the Greater Phoenix Urban League's board of directors. Wells succeeds Russell Smoldon, manager of state government relations for Salt River Project. ...

Philadelphia firm to acquire Tempe's Axxess Technologies.
November 5, 1999... The Valley's fastest-growing privately owned tech company has agreed to merge with a Philadelphia parts supplier. Axxess Technologies Inc., Tempe, which makes precision key-duplication and personal-identification machines, would be...

New concourse gives Sky Harbor Airport fresh look.
November 5, 1999... Here are some facts about the new concourse that opened this week at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: * The $54 million addition to Terminal 4, the America West Airlines' principal hub, added 12 gates bringing the total to 112....

How to transform prospective buyers into customers.
November 5, 1999... Today's economy is different. To succeed and thrive requires embracing the best of the past and keeping an eye on the future. One company that is doing this well is a new net-based company called Net Exchange, www.nx.com. The company...

FOX to air high school football championship.
November 5, 1999... FOX Sports Net Arizona will televise the high school football state championships live Dec. 10. The event allows the state's two largest divisions, the 4A and 5A categories, to be aired live and for the first time to a statewide audience....

Junior basketball camps on a roll.
November 5, 1999... The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury are trying to do for basketball what Pop Warner did for football and what Little League did for baseball. The professional teams are sponsoring their own official Junior Suns and Junior Mercury Youth...

NBA makes push to put finesse back on the court.
November 5, 1999... It turns out John MacLeod had it right all along. During his 13-plus years as coach of the Suns, MacLeod preached the gospel of finesse, arguing that there was no place in the NBA for the forearm shiver. Basketball, he argued, should be...

RACING BY THE NUMBERS.
November 5, 1999... RACING BY THE NUMBERS Comparison of revenue and profitability for motorsports events Winston Cup CART Busch/IRL Attendance 100,000 70,000 ...

Try to settle down your overswing.
November 5, 1999... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Who hasn't heard that growing up? Unfortunately, appreciating such parental wisdom usually means learning it the hard way. For rookie sales people; overselling a client is a common introduction...

Market study: Hispanic tastes are varied, strong.
November 5, 1999... Sports properties that ignore the Hispanic market are missing out on one of their most fervent audiences, according to a comprehensive study of the lifestyle and recreational activities of Hispanics in the United States. The biannual U.S....

Big dreams.
November 5, 1999... Urban League chief executive leads by example Don't call George Dean a social worker. He never has been one nor will he be despite heading one of the most respected social service and civil rights groups in the state. That's just not...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
November 5, 1999... Accounting At McGladrey & Pullen LLP, Phoenix, Stuart Wiemers was promoted to tax manager, Kari Kidd to tax supervisor, and Aaron "Brice" Deer, Jamie Lidel and Seth Marty to general services supervisors. Advertising Added at...

Small firms find Internet a big boost.
November 5, 1999... It's no surprise that small businesses are embracing the Internet. It's a valuable tool for finding information, buying products and selling goods. Supporting the notion that small companies are fast-becoming Internet savvy is a...

BBB efforts honored.
November 5, 1999... The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Arizona has been recognized for its efforts toward resolving auto-repair conflicts. The Council of Better Business Bureaus awarded the local group with an Outstanding Bureau Award for its...

Prescription for success.
November 5, 1999... Those needing good marketing and sales plans might want to check out Profit RX. The book by John Haskell and Rick Rhoads offers practical information and a related web site, www.profitrx.com, that features sample plans and work sheets. The...

Focus: SEI.(opens another office)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... In need of more presentation space, SEI Motion Picture Productions has opened another office. The Phoenix film and video production company's 1,300-square-foot digs features a bi-level movie theater that converts to a shooting studio and a...

Growth patrol.
November 5, 1999... Phoenix company stays ahead of information curve Information Network Corp.: Chat with Dick Voth, president Provides administrative services, information systems, medical management software and plan management services to Medicaid...

TIP.
November 5, 1999... Seek out public speaking opportunities. Try local organizations and chambers of commerce, or offer to speak to students in your field. The benefits: increased confidence, better interaction with clients and the aura of prestige that can attract...

Tucson's Siddco ventures out with 'old new technology'.
November 5, 1999... Breaking into the market is tough business for new biotech companies, mainly because most of the competition has been around for years. Those in the business of creating new pharmaceuticals must first create thousands of molecular...

Nexus strives for patient care while managing increased costs.
November 5, 1999... It's not easy managing health care in a managed-care environment. Yet that's exactly what health care providers must do on many fronts, every day. For providers, the struggle comes from balancing patient care with managing costs -- because...

Question: Where do you like to go for business lunches?
November 5, 1999... Barbara Ralston President, Camelback Community Bank, Phoenix "Harris, and Barmouche. They're convenient and the food is always consistent. Both are places where you can have a reasonable conversation with a client. The noise level is...

Health insurance bills have mixed consequences.
November 5, 1999... What small-business Issues at the federal level concern you the most right now? In spite of the fact that there are more than 44 million Americans without health insurance (a whopping three out of five of whom own or work for a small...

Smart traveling tips for no-hassle airline flights.
November 5, 1999... Becky Cherney didn't care if the man who sat next to her on the airplane was Newt Gingrich. She wasn't going to talk to him. She never talks to anyone when she travels. "That saves a lot of grief," says Cherney, president and chief...

The best, the worst and more in Valley architecture.
November 5, 1999... The annual Orchids & Onions Owards gives the public a unique opportunity to express their views on the best and worst in Valley architecture. The names of the Oward recipients were announced at a Nov. 5 breakfast at the Pointe Hilton...

The jury's still out on Tempe Town Lake.
November 5, 1999... Owards judges couldn't quite make up their minds about Tempe Town Lake, the first step in the long-awaited Rio Salado Project to redevelop the Salt River bed from Phoenix to Tempe. "It's too little too late," they said in bestowing the...

Owards reflect conununities' architectural choices.
November 5, 1999... In a community as large and diverse as the Valley, it is critical that, each of us has the opportunity to be part of creating a place of pride. Very few, will have the chance to plan, design or build an actual structure, but participation in...

Path cleared of Mesa icons to build new arts center.
November 5, 1999... Part of Mesa's past is coming down this month to make room for the future. Darby's Restaurant, a favorite hangout at the southeast corner of Main and Center streets since 1964, has a date with the demolition crew the middle of this month....

Andover Park.
November 5, 1999... Andover Park, opened in early 1999, was one of the first new luxury apartments built in central Phoenix in several years. The 155-unit project is southeast of Third and Clarendon avenues. The builder is Gray Development, which now is working on...

Jefferson Commons.
November 5, 1999... "Big, pink, and sunburned." That's what judges said in giving Jefferson Commons an Onion. The 288-apartment development at the southwest corner of University and McClintock drives in Tempe is one of the newest apartment, communities built by...

Veterans facility proves feds can deliver quality design.
November 5, 1999... "Smart thinking out of Washington D.C." That's what Owards judges said about the new Ambulatory Care Clinic at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Third Street and Indian School Road, Phoenix. And they gave the federal...

Glendale Foothills Branch Library.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "New approach to regional architecture." "Beautiful building design, soothing color scheme, very well lit, comfortable, good signage, wonderful artwork, nice details." "Modern Southwestern architecture -- great addition...

Loloma Transit Center.
November 5, 1999... The clock tower at Loloma Transit Center in Scottsdale looks like it's falling over, judges said. "An ugly structure. All function, no form." The bus station at Marshall Way between First and Second streets earned an Onion. Comments: ...

Scottsdale Contemporary Museum.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Open entry, large flexible galleries, easy orientation to Scottsdale Center for the Arts." "The gallery spaces are grand, well lit and a perfect backdrop for art." "Signage and materials are fresh but not intrusive."

4041 Central Plaza.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Bad building, worse color." "Generic Band-Aid approach." "Cheap and ugly."

Arizona School of Real Estate.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Subdued design and colors making an old feel fitting the Marshall and Main Street area." "Nice outdoor space on corner." The Arizona School of Real Estate, 7142 E. First St., Scottsdale, "just feels good," judges said....

Gainey Ranch Village.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Exterior color is horrible." "Calamine lotion." "Pepto Bismol." That's what judges said people need when they see Gainey Ranch Village at Scottsdale and Doubletree roads in Scottsdale.

Capital Title Building.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Extremely ugly for Camelback location." Judges dubbed the Capital Title Building at 3Oth Street and Camelback in Phoenix a "birdcage."

Heard Museum expansion receives raves from judges.
November 5, 1999... The Heard Museum gains new exhibit space and better exposure in central Phoenix as a result of its recent $18.1 million renovation. And it seems the public has noticed, nominating the new Heard for Orchids in every category of this year's...

Summit mural inspires.
November 5, 1999... A bare wall near Seventh Street and McDowell Road in Phoenix became the masterpiece for Valley muralist Angela Cazel Jahn in the fall of 1997. This year it gets recognition with an Orchid. Cazel Jahn, a muralist for six years,...

Irish Memorial.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "A fitting tribute to the Irish." "It makes me proud of my Irish heritage." "A good reminder of our past and links to other countries." "Beautifully done and unassuming at the same time. Impact without shouting for...

Largest architectural firms in the Valley.(Phoenix, Arizona area)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Largest architectural firms in the Valley Judy Trunelle Leah Bonn Telephone Rank Company Name...

Cancer Survivors Park.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "A wonderful idea that draws you in and has layers of messages." "A different idea of a park. It's a nice drive, a good walk and fits its meditative purpose." "This street was previously one of the ugliest in the area...

Scottsdale Civic Center renovation.
November 5, 1999... Onion comments: "Worse than before it was redone." "Plop art." "What's with those light fixtures?" "Totally inappropriate." "Waste of public money." "Used to be simple and wonderful. Now a chaos of different things." ...

WHO'S WHO.(profiles of presidents/chief executive officers, Arizona architectural firms)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Architectural Firms Michael Medici Company name: SHG/SmithGroup Title: President Age: 42 Years with firm: 19 Education: Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Lawrence Institute of Technology Hobbies: Hiking,...

Habitat for Humanity homes recognized for quality, value.(Phoenix development near completion)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Over the past five years, Habitat for Humanity has been working to create a new vision for neighborhood development. The group's labor is becoming reality in the community of South Ranch, which when completed in 2001 will have 195 homes at...

Noise abatement wall proves one can swim against current.(Scottsdale, Arizona)(Brief Article)
November 5, 1999... Tired of the thick gray walls, overgrown eucalyptus trees, dying shrubs and ground cover, area residents called for something aesthetically pleasing that also would buffer noise along Goldwater Boulevard in downtown Scottsdale. "It started...

Largest commercial office buildings in the Scottsdale area.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Largest commercial office buildings in the Scottsdale area Judy Trunelle Leah Bonn Total rentable Rank ...

Packard Place.
November 5, 1999... Comments: "Creative and cost-effective recycle of old Phoenix landmark building." "Great architectural expression of existing components blended with new, but highly compatible materials of the '90s."

Match your building needs to the architect's style.(choosing an architect)
November 5, 1999... No matter what the scope or nature of a building project, an architect can help you complete it in a cost-effective and timely manner. But every architect has a different style, approach to design and work method. The challenge often is...

Audi breaks new ground with design of TT coupe.(features of automobile)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Lu: The Audi TT is unlike any car you've seen. And with only 10,000 vehicles for sale in the United States, this stunning little coupe will turn heads for quite a while. Major kudos to Audi for taking its 1995 concept-car to production...

Wells Fargo starting to show progress in recovery.(Wells Fargo Bank)(Statistical Data Included)
November 5, 1999... Wells Fargo & Co. is boosting advertising and reopening stand-alone branches in areas hit hard by customer defections of three years ago. The moves signal that even a year into its successful marriage with Norwest Inc., Wells remains...