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

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

Health care costs take a toll.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Scottsdale Healthcare plans major cutbacks Scottsdale Healthcare, which has a $200 million annual payroll for its 4,000 employees, is expected to lose $1.5 million on operations when it closes its fiscal year this week. Chief,...

Health care costs take a toll.
September 29, 2000... State of Arizona faces skyrocketing premiums Arizona's largest employer -- the state government -- may be hit with huge rate hikes when it goes out to bid on health insurance for its 53,000 employees. At least one health plan has...

Show of hands.(education is most important political issue impacting business)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Support strong for education proposition Next to the growth initiative facing voters in November, the single most-important issue impacting business is education. So, it's no mystery why virtually all of Arizona's businesses are...

1 of Scottsdale's last land tracts sold for $62M.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... One of north Scottsdale's last large tracts of land has been sold by a prominent developer to a national residential and commercial land company. Desert SD Owners LP, a partnership between Jerry Nelson and New York-based Lehman Brothers...

Sisters of the world, unite!(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... There's a group of women out there on the World Wide Web with an eye for proper punctuation, an ear for syntax and a sixth sense for idiomatic language. Together, they are a five-headed monster conquering poor grammar on Web sites around...

Time's right for recruiters to find gold in that silicon.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... As of this writing, I'm back in the Phoenix office full time and my summer commute to fulfill a corporate assignment in San Jose has expired. I return with a new respect for those of you who are away from home more often than not. Life...

Devry Institute pairs with Mesa technology school.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... DeVry Institute of Technology, which was looking for a place to establish a satellite campus in the East Valley, has found a new home in Mesa. DeVry will partner with the East Valley Institute of Technology and start with a program...

Henry & Home acquires Valley accounting, consulting company.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Henry & Horne PLC, the largest locally owned full-service CPA firm, has announced the acquisition of the accounting and consulting practice of Murray & Murray PC for an undisclosed sum. The six employees, from Murray & Murray will be...

Buyout brings California Internet firm to Phoenix.(Digital Bridge Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... A California company, Digital Bridge Inc., has swept up two local Internet businesses and made Phoenix its new home. Formerly based in Burlingame, Calif., Digital Bridge acquired n2plus.com, a developer of software for creating e-commerce...

Arizona Chamber of Commerce names Apperson chief executive.(James Apperson)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... James Apperson has been named president and chief executive of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, effective Oct. 23. Apperson replaces Tim Lawless, who stepped down in July after a three-year tenure. Currently, Apperson works for the...

Cave Creek dude ranch gaining sales momentum.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The old-timers who used to vacation at Rancho Manana might be surprised by the opulence of the dude ranch property today. Rancho Manana in Cave Creek now is home to an upscale timeshare development, a growing trend in the lodging...

Classes to prep real estate agents on the basics of loan processing.(L&G Mortgagebanc)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... A Valley mortgage lender is offering a shortcut for prospective home buyers looking for a loan. L&G Mortgagebanc is organizing classes to teach real estate agents how to process loans. Generally, mortgage applications are processed by...

Business groups keep watch on legislative races.(Arizona Legislature)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Business lobbyists are keeping a close watch on how leadership shakes down for the Arizona Legislature, scenarios that could mean smooth sailing or rough waters as the 2001 session kicks off in January. Last year, House Speaker Jeff...

Streich Lang, Quarles & Brady prepare to combine.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The merger of Streich Lang PA and Quarles & Brady LLP on Oct. 1 doesn't just make the new entity Phoenix's second-largest law firm. It also may provide a blueprint for other Phoenix firms thinking about joining what could be the next wave of...

Bizjournals.com adds resources for subscribers.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Bizjournals.com, has launched a host of new services designed to help business owners. The site pulls together information and resources gathered from all 41. business journal newspapers across the country, including Phoenix. ...

Cities mount campaign to emphasize services need.(League of Arizona Cities and Towns )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... A new ad campaign by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns wants Valley residents to know how local services impact their lives. More improtantly, the campaign targets what's at stake when funds to support those services are slashed. ...

Law firm revamps state tax practice.(Fennemore Craig)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... To more fully address client needs for tax know-how, Phoenix law firm Fennemore Craig has restructured its state and local tax practice. The firm has put together a new state and local tax practice group of 12 attorneys and several...

Andersen Consulting quickens its track to partner.(Phoenix office )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The naming of nine new partners in Andersen Consulting's Phoenix office earlier this month not only was an attempt to recognize past performance, but hopefully to assure future allegiance. The promotions were part of a company wide...

Settlement OK'd in Touche, Ross case with state.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Arizona Attorney General's Office, representing the State Board of Accountancy, has settled allegations of unprofessional conduct within the firm of Deloitte & Touche and its predecessor, Touche, Ross & Co. The allegations date back...

Traveling author will address world-wide alliances.(Susan Butler)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Looking for tips on building Web alliances? Susan Butler, lawyer, author and legal columnist for ZDNet's small-business channel, will speak Oct. 4 at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Issues Forum. Butler will...

Avnet ranks high.
September 29, 2000... Avnet Inc. has been honored for its innovative operations by Information-Week magazine. The publication about using technology for innovative business practices ranked Avnet as the fourth most innovative company out of 500. The company,...

Sales help.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Coriolis Group LLC, a Scottsdale-based e-learning company, has partnered with click2learn.com Click2learn, formerly known as Asymetrix Learning Systems Inc., has licensed and will resell Coriolis' Exam-Cram brand of online...

Local pact.(e-business firm selected to provide Web site development)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Ephibian, a local e-business integration firm, was selected by Home bid.com in Scottsdale to provide custom development of its Web site. Ephibian, headquartered in Tucson with offices in Phoenix, will act as an extension of Homebid's...

Making a match.(Interactive Digital Corp. proprietary system pairs compatible people)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... If you enjoy playing the matchmaker, or want to be part of a match yourself, there's a new Web application to help people find the ideal mate. Ed White, chief executive of Phoenix-based Interactive Digital Corp., has created a...

Members online.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Having up-to-date directory information is critical for any organization. Having that information on the Web makes it easier than ever to keep that info current. But it's still a job someone has to do. Ann Zumwalt, owner of Webscape...

Celebration marks 50th year for Lewis and Roca.
September 29, 2000... The Heard Museum was the location for the Sept. 23 kick-off event for Phoenix law firm Lewis and Roca LLP's year-long 50th anniversary celebration. About 350 people, including current and former Lewis and Roca attorneys, attended the...

Greenberg Traurig moving.
September 29, 2000... The law firm of Greenberg Traurig has signed a lease to move into the Hines Building at 24th Street and Camelback Road. It will have 55,000 square feet of space and will occupy the building when its current lease is up for renewal in...

Zero percent loans.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... For the second year, Tempe Schools Credit Union is offering no-interest loans to encourage taxpayers to donate $200 to public schools and earn a tax credit. The tax credit, which is a dollar-for-dollar credit off state tax liability, is...

Wells Fargo plaudits.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Wells Fargo has been named the nation's largest agricultural bank lender for the second straight year. The results, published by Ag Lender magazine, were compiled by the Federal Reserve call and income reports for the year ending Dec. 31,...

Bank directors named.(Arrowhead Community Bank)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Arrowhead community Bank, which opened in the West Valley last week, has announced its board of directors. Arrowhead is the eighth bank in Arizona for the holding company, Sun Community Bancorp Ltd. The board of directors includes Carol...

Cigna offers work/life program for smaller firms.(Cigna Behavioral Health)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Cigna Behavioral Health is offering a work/life and employee-assistance program to employers with fewer than 200 workers. The services help employees manage a wide range of issues, such as child and elder care, personal and legal problems...

Data storage deal struck.(Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association strategic alliance with InSiteOne)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association has formed a strategic alliance with InSiteOne, a provider of digital imaging storage and archiving services. Under the agreement, AzHHA will become one of InSiteOne's primary image...

Disc implanted.(artificial disc implant for back pain )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Dr. James H. Maxwell has completed the first surgery in the western United States using a new artificial disc implant for back pain that restores normal function and range of motion in patients up to 60 years of age. Maxwell of...

Ambrose honored.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Phoenix Memorial Hospital Foundation has selected Tom Ambrose as the winner of its second Jesse Owens Hall of Fame Award. Ambrose, senior vice president of public affairs for the Phoenix Suns, was chosen for his work with underserved...

Xpect van delivery.(Cintas Corp. creates Xpect First Aid & Safety services)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Cintas Corp. of Cincinnati is expanding into the Phoenix and Tucson markets with its van-delivered first-aid services. After acquiring several first-aid companies in the country, Cintas has created Xpect First Aid & Safety services. Xpect...

Free flu shots.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Muscular Dystrophy Association is offering free flu shots in the Valley for those affected by any of the neuromuscular disorders covered by MDA programs. Influenza is hazardous for people with muscle-wasting diseases, including...

Art Museum picks agency for exhibit promotions.(Phoenix Art Museum hires Lavidge & Baumayr)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Lavidge & Baumayr has an art project to get done. The agency has been hired by the Phoenix Art Museum to oversee marketing efforts on behalf of its two upcoming exhibitions that showcase cowboy artwork and Norman Rockwell paintings. ...

RV client hires Cooley.(Cooley Advertising & Public Relations hired by 10,000 RV)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Cooley Advertising & Public Relations has added 10,000 RV to its client list. Phoenix-based Cooley will oversee the San Diego-based recreational vehicle company's advertising and public relations needs, and will launch a campaign to position...

Assadi lands Ensynch.(Assadi Associates been hired by Ensynch)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Assadi Associates has been hired by Ensynch, a technology solution provider, to create a public relations campaign introducing its "one-stop outsourcing technology solutions." Ensynch, based in Phoenix, offers start-ups, and small to...

KGME makes a move.(KGME-AM become "Xtra Sports 910")(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... KGME-AM's newly titled "Xtra Sports 910" begins this week, having relocated from 550 on the AM dial, a spot now inhabited by KFYI-AM. Both stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications. Laurie Cantillo starts as the KGME's new...

Campaigns hire out-of-state.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Backers of three propositions on the November Arizona ballot hired an out-of state agency to produce their advertising: Smith & Harroff Inc. of Alexandria, Va. The D.C.-area firm was retained by Education 2000, Prop. 301; Arizona Wins,...

Martz marks 20 years.(Martz Agency,)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Martz Agency, an advertising and public relations firm founded in 1980 by Carrie Martz, president and chief executive, commemorates its 20-year anniversary this month. The agency said it has planned a large-scale event later this...

Resnik relocates.(Denise Resnik & Associates)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Denise Resnik & Associates has moved from the Biltmore area to new digs at 5045 N. 12th Street, Suite 110, in Phoenix. The agency's telephone and fax numbers did not change. Resnik's major clients include DMB, SunCor Development Co.,...

ABC and KEZ double up.(Read & Ride Program )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... KNXV-TV 15 and KESZ-FM 99.9 have teamed with the Arizona State Fair to encourage Valley kids to just say yes to reading. The ABC 15 and KEZ Read & Ride Program rewards children who read books by giving them free carnival rides at this...

FiberCom lays foundation for telco competition.(International FiberCom Inc)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Tremendous growth and competition among telecommunications companies in the broadband market has been good for International FiberCom Inc.'s business. The Phoenix-based company's infrastructure development and services group recently...

Speaking to the blind.(TALKS Internet Audio System)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... A new Scottsdale company called TALKS Audio has released an audio system that provides automatic streaming audio- and voice-prompted keyboard menu navigation for the Internet that will be especially useful to blind and visually impaired...

ON names new CTO.(ON Semiconductor)(Peter Zdebel)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... On the heels of announcing a major growth initiative to triple research and development spending, ON Semiconductor, Phoenix, has named Peter Zdebel as vice president and chief technology officer. Zdebel will lead the company's world-wide...

Chandler firm acquired.(Unique Equipment Co., )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Unique Equipment Co., a privately held company based in Chandler, has been acquired by publicly traded Newport Corp. of Irvine, Calif. Under the acquisition, the local company's name will change to Newport Advanced Automation Systems...

Celebrating technology.(Cesar Chavez High School)(Phoenix )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Learning at Cesar Chavez High School literally will go through the roof thanks to some cutting-edge technology in electricity generation. Chavez high officials are celebrating the technology, a roof-mounted 1.2 kWac photovoltaic...

Minorities' enterprises recognized.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Five local companies and two minority business advocates were honored this week for their success and ability to Overcome obstacles. Recipients recognized Sept. 28 as part of the seventh annual Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards...

Youthbuild honored for training program.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Youthbuild Phoenix was recognized by U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex M. Herman and the National Youth Employment Coalition chair Joan Wills. The program was selected as an innovative and successful youth employment and training program at...

Healthy challenge.(Catholic Healthcare West-Arizona chief)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... St. Joe's chief is just what the doctors ordered His father was a surgeon, his mother, a nurse. It was inevitable that William Foley would find himself in health care. Instead of providing medical treatment, Foley was more interested in...

Economic Forecast 2001 a great success.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Economic Forecast 2000 helped more than 700 "business leaders put their fingers on the Valley's economic pulse. The program featured James T. Nathan, founder and president of Nathan & Associates; Pete Bolton, senior managing director of...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
September 29, 2000... Associations Mike Hosking, Canyon Telecom Inc., was elected president of The Arizona Business Alliance, Phoenix. Teresa Ornelas, Great Gifts and Promotions, Tempe, was elected to the National Association of Women Business Owners...

The Princess getting new 30,000-square-foot spa.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Sundt Construction Inc. has been selected to build The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort Spa, a 30,000-square-foot facility that will replace the spa currently in use. Construction is scheduled to begin this month with a completion...

Getting faster.(America West Airlines lets passengers get boarding passes from skycaps)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... America West Airlines has begun a new service allowing ticketed passengers with seat assignments to get their boarding passes from the skycaps at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The service began last week at both the north and...

Tempe CVB wins award.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau is racking up credit for its marketing campaign, "Paint Our Town." The latest accolade is from the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, which awarded Tempe's concept "Best of...

New faces.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... * The Spa at Gainey Village has appointed Kelly Richie as executive director. Richie most recently served as regional manager for Joico, a manufacturer of hair care arid beauty products, overseeing sales in seven states throughout the...

Winter named to board.(Joanne Winter named to board of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Joanne Winter, executive director of the Greater Phoenix chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, has been appointed to the organization's international board of directors. Her first board meeting will be...

Being good on the road.(most business travelers stay in chain hotels and stay within travel budgets)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)
September 29, 2000... When traveling on business, nearly 85 percent of travelers chose to stay in a chain over an independent hotel, according to a study done by Yesawich Pepperdine & Brown/Yankelovich Partners. Most travelers are also trying to stay well...

Cruise with Dixon.(KTAR-AM radio host Michael Dixon and his wife, Gaile, hosting cruise to Polynesia)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... KTAR-AM radio host Michael Dixon and his wife, Gaile, will host an eight-day cruise aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin in the waters of French Polynesia. The cruise begins March 31 and will travel to Tahiti, Raiatea, Tahaa, Moorea and Bora Bora. ...

Preventing online fraud.(Worldwide E-Commerce Fraud Prevention Network)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is one of a handful of e-commerce merchants and financial companies to form the Worldwide E-Commerce Fraud Prevention Network, www.merchantfraudsquad.com, an industry coalition aimed at reducing...

Zero-based budgets put accountability behind bucks.(public school budgeting)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... According to Public Agenda in 1999, only 36 percent of U.S. adults had a great deal of confidence in America's public schools and 26 percent had very little confidence or none at all. Some of that lack of confidence stems from a belief...

Safety concerns prompt NEIB to pay dividends.(National Federation of Independent Business )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Now there's profit in safety perseverance. The Arizona chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business has developed a program to pay small organizations bonus dividends out of the state workers' compensation fund if they...

Value-added PR.(OASIS Gift Show )(Feb. 2-4)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The next OASIS Gift Show will give exhibitors more than just booth space. Without charge, the show's coordinators will help exhibitors broadcast press releases, create contact lists and press kits, market on the OASIS Web site and...

Focus: Barrier's corporate gifts.(Barrier's Fine Jewelry )(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... All the way from Wichita, Kan., comes Barrier's Fine Jewelry to open a corporate gifts division in Scottsdale. In the family for three generations, the company has been selling to the corporate market since 1975 and serving businesses...

Rising to the occasion.(Table 12 Restaurant Group)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Table 12 says success lies with quality, skilled staff Table 12 Restaurant Group operates Country Glazed Ham Co., Tomatoes and Wheatman's Production Bakery. Wheatman's is a wholesale bakery where bread and rolls are baked and sold to...

READERS RESPOND.(best career move?)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... What has been your best career move? Name: Craig H. Heiser Title: Vice president Company: Wolfe Consulting Group "Locating the right person as a partner in an entrepreneurial business after a career as an employee in large...

Making accountability work.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... What is the best way to hold employees accountable? Many have limited success in holding people accountable, but by following a few basic ideas you can help others achieve the results needed. The powerful thing in holding someone...

Professional organizers get organized.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Professional organizer -- a job title and function that could be construed as "obsessive-compulsive." These people come into your home, office or home-office to de-clutter your surroundings. Their joy is the very thing driving you mad:...

Male wages tops in females' firms.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... A recent poll revealed that half of all small-business owners are women, but men are still the top pay-earners in their companies. The Rocky Mountain area poll by the Behavior Research Center found that two-thirds of the women-owned firms...

Unified messaging puts all your eggs in one basket.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Voice mail is just one of the many ways small businesses can seem bigger to the outside world. If your company's recent growth has spurred you to consider voice mail, there's an emerging option on the horizon worth considering: unified...

Best way to stay wired? Get on the wireless Web.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 29, 2000... Today, I replied to three e-mails waiting for lunch, checked stocks in a customer's parking lot and perused some of my favorite Internet sites lying in bed. I did these things using my Palm Pilot V and a new wireless service from OmniSky. ...

Phoenix mayor holds online chats.(Skip Rimsza)(AccessArizona.com)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Phoenix residents who have questions concerning public policy or want to discuss a burning issue can log Onto www.accessarizona.com/news/mayor_chat.html, Oct. 2, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and chat with Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza. The online...

Assisted living.(need to improve inspection of Arizona assisted living facilities)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... State struggles to keep pace with home inspections Cindy Lawson knows first-hand what it's like to need a little help around the house when someone is sick. She went through it with her father before he succumbed to prostate cancer...

Hospital gift shoos becoming a viable fund source.
September 29, 2000... Most hospitals have fewer dollars to work with these days and the dollars they have usually go toward patient care Gift shop proceeds, however, can provide money for extras. Hospital gift shops offer everything from jewelry to...

Doctors, dying patients come together in new ways.(palliative care medicine)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... Doctors are finding more resources today as they help more patients who are facing death. The aging population and life-threatening diseases have given rise to organizations such as hospice, Phoenix Body Positive and newer programs such...

The future for health care industry is on the Web.(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... The Internet is the future of the health-care industry, according to Walt Cherniak of Aetna U.S., Healthcare. "It's the future of our business;" Cherniak said. "The main reason Aetna has a Web site is that more and more people are...

Health care measure battle lines drawn in Boston.(universal health care ballot initiative in Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... BOSTON - As a November vote on the universal health care ballot initiative approaches, the Bay State's largest health insurance providers have begun pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into defeating the measure, which they fear would be...

Image scanners debut.(positron emission tomography scanners)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... DENVER -- University of Colorado Hospital has one and so does Porter Adventist Hospital. Exempla Healthcare doctors are crossing their fingers, and HealthOne is taking a wait-and-see approach. They all are- keeping an eye on who has...

Blue Cross woes.(Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin's surplus falls too low)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... MILWAUKEE -- Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin's surplus has fallen below the minimum security surplus level the state has set for the company. The health plan reported a budget surplus of $60.1 million. That's lower than the...

Millions at stake.(Pennsylvania may lose some federal health funding)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in annual federal funding if regulators close an unintentional loophole used by some states to pay for expenditures unrelated to the cost of caring for the poor.

Battle over cancer care.(Kansas City area)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... KANSAS CITY -- A battle is raging over who will set the agenda for how cancer care is provided in the Kansas City area. The dispute pits the traditional arena for cancer treatment -- hospitals - against free-standing clinics controlled by...

Contracts get the ax.(Lexington Memorial Hospital to end agreements with UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina and Cigna Healthcare of North Carolina)(Brief Article)
September 29, 2000... GREENSBORO/WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Lexington Memorial Hospital does not plan to renew agreements in January with UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina and Cigna Healthcare of North Carolina, the latest in a string of hospital and physician...