Denver Business Journal articles from February 2001

Denver Business Journal archives from February 2001

Lowry wants Air Force to leave.(Lowry Air Force Base pollution clean up)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Redevelopment agency pushes for privatization of cleanup The Lowry Redevelopment Authority wants to take over environmental cleanup at Lowry from the U.S. Air Force in hopes of speeding up the build-out of the new Denver neighborhood. ...

Denver's downtown market hot.(Integra Realty Resources Inc. report ranks Denver real estate market)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Rankings in report put Mile High No. 1 The downtown Denver office market is the best in the nation for investors, according to a report released Feb. 2 by Integra Realty Resources Inc. The commercial real estate appraisal company's...

A chilling idea? Technology finally reaches ice cube tray.(Mile High Equipment Co. signs X-traWeb Inc. contract to allow online ice machine monitoring)
February 2, 2001... Two Denver-based companies are boldly taking ice machines where few thought these low-tech but vital devices could -- or perhaps should -- go: into the Internet age. Mile High Equipment Co., maker of the Ice-O-Matic brand of ice machines,...

Sweeping telecom act turns 5.(Telecommunications Act of 1996)
February 2, 2001... Sue Ashdown remembers what life was like before the Telecommunications Act. In 1994, Ashdown was harassed by "shady" characters trying to sell her access to an Internet network, but no proven way to connect her. The Internet. was so new...

Business bartering is bigger than ever.
February 2, 2001... One of the oldest ways of procuring goods has gotten new life, and respectability, in the business world. Commercial barter, or exchanging goods and services without money, is expected to quadruple in the next decade. More than 1 million...

Let's send Mile High sky-high.(Mile High Stadium, demolition possibility)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 2, 2001... Now that the dust has settled over what to name the new Denver Broncos stadium, what to do with the old one? Yes, we know it's scheduled for demolition once "Invesco Field at Mile High" is completed, but we say let's send Mile High Stadium...

The real sports page.
February 2, 2001... It's interesting what you can find out about professional athletes from reading the fine print in The Denver Business Journal. In the "Leads!" section that begins on page 36 this week, you'll discover that: * Former Nugget Bryant Stith...

Cutting-edge technology.(Trakus Inc. tests tracking chip at NHL All-Star Game)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... How fast can Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque skate? The world will soon find out. A cellular chip will be inserted into Bourque's helmet for the All-Star Game Sunday. Antennae stationed around the rink retrieve information...

Going to the extreme.(PROXY, sports agency for extreme sports athletes)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Denver agent represents action-sports figures You'll never catch John Greenwood shouting "Show me the money!" because, until this year, there was no money worth shouting about. But as president and CEO of the sports and entertainment...

Still got it?(knowing target audience helps make advertising more successful)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Staying young essential for advertising people When you hear the word "Eminem" and think of the candy that melts in your mouth and not the rapper, you're obviously not *N Sync with the younger generation. For baby boomers in the...

Murphy's high road.(Bill Murphy of Peter Kiewit and Sons' Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Kiewit manager familiar with ambitious projects Bill Murphy captained the nation's two largest design-build highway projects and, if Kiewit Construction Co. lands Denver's $1.7 billion, I-25 widening and light-rail project this spring, he...

Location, location, location.(developing public transportation)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Mass-transit ridership big in residential areas Marrying mass transit with development involves a complicated courtship that, when it works, is profitable for both the developer and the transportation agency, according to the Regional...

Coalition vows to find insurance cure in 2001.(The Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... "This is the year, this is the crucial year," said Dr. Gary VanderArk, chairman of The Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved. "This is the year we will come out with our plan." The coalition -- comprised of 150 insurers,...

Indian Chamber selects leaders for coming year.(Victoria Quintana)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Victoria Quintana succeeds Joe Serna The Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce has picked its leaders for 2001. The chamber's new president is Victoria Quintana, an owner of Denver-based TeamExcel. The information technology...

MBIA Municipal Investors Service Corp.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... MBIA Municipal Investors Service Corp. was misspelled in the list of the largest Denver-area investment managers published in the Jan. 12-18 issue.

HB 1084 reacts to gaps in 911 locator system.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Tragedies last year became a poignant reminder that when you call 911 from an apartment complex or a high-rise office building, don't assume the dispatcher knows where the call is coming from. While many phone systems in high-rise buildings,...

Driver's licenses.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Colorado residents could renew their driver's licenses in the comfort of their own homes -- or offices -- under a bill introduced in the Legislature. Rep. Timothy Fritz, R-Loveland, and Senate co-sponsor Ron May, R-Colorado Springs, are...

Housing.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... House Bill 1202, sponsored by Fritz, would set up a state tax credit for individuals who contribute to nonprofit organizations, including those that provide affordable housing to low-income individuals or families. Rep. Bryan Jameson,...

Water resources.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Senate Bill 161, sponsored by Sen. John Evans, R-Parker, and Rep. Brad Young, R-Lamar, tackles the problem of water supplies around the state. The bill was introduced Jan. 29 and assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources...

Health care.(The Mental Health Association of Colorado)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Mental Health Association of Colorado hosted a legislative event Jan. 31 to discuss bills the group is monitoring. Among them are: * Senate Bill 30, sponsored by Sen. Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, which would modify small-group...

Global Healthcare picks Westminster for HQ site.(Colorado)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Global Healthcare Exchange LLC has established its headquarters in Westminster and plans to employ more than 250 people in the Denver area. Global Healthcare was launched in March by Johnson & Johnson, GE Medical Systems, Baxter...

Gillett buys the Canadiens.(George Gillett Jr. purchases hockey franchise)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... George Gillett Jr. of Colorado is now the proud owner of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. The team will remain in Montreal. Gillett, who previously tried to buy the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers hockey teams, previously owned...

Broncos stadium named.(Invesco Field at Mile High)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The winner is... Invesco Field at Mile High. That's the new name of the Denver Broncos stadium, now under construction adjacent to the old Mile High Stadium. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District accepted the proposal for naming...

Janus boss sells stock.(Tom Bailey, Janus Capital Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Tom Bailey, chairman and CEO of Denver-based Janus Capital Corp., will sell half of his shares of stock, pocketing an estimated $500 million to $600 million from the deal. Boston-based Stillwell Financial Inc., the majority owner of Janus,...

Convergent cuts jobs.(Convergent Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Engelwood-based Convergent Communications Inc. fired about 22 percent of its work force, or 160 people, and closed five offices. The move comes after Convergent sold its telephone unit to Phoenix-based InterTel Inc. for an undisclosed...

Anschutz wants chain.(Philip Anschutz is in talks to buy the bankrupt Edwards Theaters Circuit Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz is in talks to buy the bankrupt Edwards Theaters Circuit Inc. chain of movie theaters, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Edwards owns 70 theaters. The company filed for bankruptcy protection last...

Gale Norton confirmed.(Department of the Interior.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The U.S. Senate has confirmed Gale Norton as secretary of the Department of the Interior. The vote was 75-24 in favor of Norton, the former attorney general of Colorado.

Hockey retailer scores with players of all ages.(The Hockey Store )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Since opening the aptly titled The Hockey Store three years ago, it's been anything but h-e-double-hockey-sticks for owners Charlene and Chuck Dickinson. In fact, the original incarnation of The Hockey Store, located at 16314 E. Quincy...

Temporary truce called in software piracy war.(grace period to register company software)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... This month, the Business Software Alliance is temporarily hoisting the proverbial white flag to stall its war on piracy in five U.S. cities, including Denver. The strong arm of the software industry which is funded by companies such as...

Asset-based lending, factoring worth a look.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Venture capital has been the hot method for new and growing companies to get working capital during the last few years, but as venture capitalists cool toward some types of companies, other options are getting more attention. Two are...

Birthing is big business for hospitals.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Building brand loyalty through babies Billboards picturing cuddly bundles have been seen around Denver and the rest of the country. They aren't there to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling; they are a deliberate attempt by hospitals to...

Some companies make it easier for new moms.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Private rooms for breast feeding well received They say it is one of the most natural and fulfilling experiences a woman can have, but finding a way to keep breast-feeding after returning to work can be far from natural. Few women have...

Denver hospital marketing efforts change course.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Image advertising is out; recruitment ads are in Marketing a hospital just isn't what it used to be. Hospital marketing in the Denver area has slowed down considerably but it hasn't completely disappeared. Instead, marketing efforts...

New hospital regulation aims to protect privacy.(health plans are required to give individuals a clearly written explanation of how they can use, keep and disclose their health information)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... While our Founding Fathers covered the bases on our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they didn't foresee how important our right to privacy would become in this uneasy era of electronic transfer of information. Every...

Medical savings accounts might gain in popularity.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... With health-care costs soaring, employers are looking for innovative ways to provide employees with comprehensive, affordable health insurance without breaking the corporate coffers -- so medical savings accounts (MSAs) are getting a closer...

Businesses profit by offering alternative benefits.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... They may seem trite, but they tend to ring true time and time again -- those age-old sayings like "good help is hard to find" and "your biggest assets go up and down in the elevator each day." These sayings seem more appropriate than ever...

Reducing 'labor pains' for pregnant workers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In the past few decades, the face of the American work force has changed. Now, more women than ever are working in careers outside the home. But when many of these women become pregnant, they experience "labor pains" long before they reach the...

Largest Colorado Preferred-Provider Organizations.(Brief Article)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Largest Colorado Preferred-Provider Organizations (Ranked by number of enrollees statewide) Rank - No. of ...

High-tech system better than reading docs' writing.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... If you have trouble remembering your Social Security number, imagine what it's like for doctors who must remember hundreds of codes assigned to various medical procedures. A chest X-ray is a 71020. A runny nose is a 477.9. Influenza is a 62524....

Largest Colorado Health-Maintenance Organizations.(Brief Article)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Largest Colorado Health-Maintenance Organizations (Ranked by number of enrollees statewide) Rank No. -...

Employers look to shift costly prescriptions' tab.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... One solution for employer health insurance plans getting hammered by the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs would be to require employees to pick up the tab on a percentage of a prescription's cost. But few companies thus far are making...

Surviving failure: The secret to success?(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Corporate castaways thrown overboard by the winds of economic change should take heart: Failure doesn't carry the stigma it used to. Survivors of crash-and-bum companies wear failure like a badge of honor, recounting their woes at...

Wiring your home-based business.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Home pros talk about computers, Internet connections and office equipment They're out there. Some in their underwear, a few didn't shower today and still others are having a bad hair day, and what's more, they don't care. Thanks to...

Small-biz tax cuts 'complement' Bush package.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Small businesses hope the fact that they create most of America's new jobs will carry some weight when Congress decides what will be included in a tax-cut package this year. While they expect to benefit from President Bush's proposed...

Author gives marketing advice for 'hussies'.('Shameless Marketing for Brazen Hussies' by Marilyn Ross)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Marketing yourself and your business requires tune-ups throughout the year. It's a crucial ingredient for surviving and thriving in today's workplace. A new book is the perfect addition to your bookshelf. "Shameless Marketing for...

Assess your marketing strategies and tactics.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Since the new year is still relatively new, now is an opportune time to take stock of the success -- or failures -- of last year's marketing strategies and tactics. In marketing terms, this means understanding the alignment, or links...

NEWSMAKERS.
February 2, 2001... Banking and finance Citywide Banks of Lakewood promoted Randall L. Hoffman to assistant vice president. Hoffman is responsible for overseeing business-lending activities in central and southern Jefferson County. Building and...

What a star wants, what a star needs.(TheSmokingGun.com exhibits highlights of pop star contracts)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Rock stars are modern pharaohs, Rock worshipped and catered to as their images are preserved in gold and platinum. Money, the song says, changes everything, and that maxim goes, double for some of the pop scene's biggest stars. The...

Mercedes-Benz provides an off-road ride in style.(M-Class line of sport-utility vehicles)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... When Mercedes-Benz set out to create a sport utility vehicle in the mid-1990s, when every automaker was jumping on the SUV bandwagon, it could have plopped an SUV body on one of the firm's all-wheel-drive car platforms and sold a bunch, just...

Stellar turn by actress keens 'Amy' alive.(Denver Center Theatre Company performance)(Brief Article)(Review)
February 2, 2001... Sometimes acting can overcome the limits of the play itself. There is no better illustration of that than the Denver Center Theatre Company's current production of "Amy's View." The compelling talent of Gordana Rashovich overwhelms a script...

DBJ STOCK REPORT.
February 2, 2001... DBJ STOCK REPORT DBJ Index -2.05% 2053.67 NASDAQ 0.39% 2781.30 S&P 500 -0.92% 1354.94 Dow Jones Industrial 0.68% 10659.98 Top 10 Weekly...

DBJ FUNDWATCH.
February 2, 2001... DBJ FUNDWATCH Our exclusive weekly report ranks the top Denver-managed mutual funds, ranked by year-to-date total return. The...

Denver gets partial payment, changes policy.(Denver, Colorado's tax investments)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Denver has stopped investing taxpayers' money in companies placed on "credit watch with negative implications" in the wake of a $l9.1 million default on commercial paper last week by struggling utility Southern California Edison. Denver...

State to drop PacifiCare as health plan option.(Colorado)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The state of Colorado says it intends to end a nine-year relationship with PacifiCare of Colorado to provide, health insurance for state government workers, citing the health plan's decision to pull out of 15 Colorado counties this year. ...

Naming rights issue was badly handled.(INVESCO Funds Group Inc.'s naming rights to Denver Broncos football stadium)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The decision by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District to put Invesco's logo on the new Broncos stadium should become a classic in the study of marketing, public opinion and grass roots vs. big-money politics. After all, it has all the...

Having an inaugural ball.
February 2, 2001... Most weeks, it's easy to come up with an idea to fill this space. I just call upon the most significant experience of the week and write it down. Some would say it's the easy way out and I don't dispute that. But it works for me, so I'll stick...

Leave community college alone.(Colorado system of community colleges)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The state of Colorado is blessed with a system of outstanding community colleges, In fact, the Colorado community colleges have been national leaders in documenting their ability to meet local business and industry training needs, as well as to...

LETTERS.
February 2, 2001... Avoid rudeness when telemarketers call I always read with great interest your [Neil Westergaard's] articles in the DBJ. More often than not, they are enjoyable, and I agree with them. This recent article was out of line ("Foiling those...

Schools in a bind over TABOR.(Taxpayers Bill of Rights)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... Colorado school districts are sitting on roughly $120 million in reserves they probably will never get to use because of the TABOR Amendment. Many educators are afraid to even try to tap those funds. Four Denver-area districts' reserves...

A tasty proposal for seeds.(Erker Grain Company Inc. tests chocolate covered sunflower seeds)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Could this be next big thing? Mike and Rhonda Erker think they may be onto the next kind of M&M's. But instead of chocolate-covered peanuts, almonds or rice crisps, the Erkers think chocolate-covered sunflower seeds are the wave of the...

Tech workers express interest in unions.(TechRepublic.com survey of information technology professionals)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... A recent online poll that indicates information technology workers are flirting with the prospect of organized labor is mystifying industry insiders. The poll was conducted by TechRepublic.com, a Web-based community designed for and by IT...

Fraud helper targeted.(American Corrective Counseling Services Inc)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... D.A. contractor hit with lawsuits A California company employed by several Denver-area district attorney's offices to help them make good on bad checks is under fire in other states. American Corrective, Counseling Services Inc. is...

Owens asks to cut gas bills for poor.(Bill Owens)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Instead of taking money for royalties on natural gas produced on federal lands with-in Colorado, Gov. Bill Owens is proposing to take the actual natural gas and divert it to low-income families hurt by spiraling heating prices this winter. ...

Two papers, one big bill.(Denver Newspaper Agency)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... The Denver Newspaper Agency, publisher of The Denver Post and The Rocky Mountain News is off and running. Even the telephone operators say "Denver Newspaper Agency" instead of "Denver Post" or "Rocky Mountain News." If advertisers needed...

Interpreting the want ads.
February 9, 2001... Circulating on Denver area fax machines and e-mail is this handy guide to corporate classified ad lingo: "Competitive salary" really means "We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors." "Join our fast-paced company" means...

Have a cigar...
February 9, 2001... It's going to be eclectic if nothing else. Artopia 2001 brings together "artisans, performance artists, epicurians and entertainers..." An evening of "fine food, wine, spirits and cigars." Maybe it's just us, but we can't remember an...

We're all adults here.(Pandora's Toy Box)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Retailers put new twist on erotic merchandise Kevin Larson remembers a time when he had to dash into an adult book store while his girl-friend waited in the car because she didn't feel comfortable going inside. Larson said the store's...

Are travel agents making a comeback?(many online travel sites filing bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Making travel plans on the Internet may be falling out of favor with the traveling public because of the number of sites that have been stopped in their tracks by the dot-com shake-out. With so many companies like Bid4Vacations.com and...

Nonprofits waiting for Qwest.(Quest Communications International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Foundation's identity may reflect its corporate arm Denver charities are in limbo waiting for the donating arm of Qwest Communications International Inc. to determine its new identity. After the merger with U S West Communications last...

Mezzanine financing: It's not for everybody.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... The real estate market has been healthy -- and lucrative -- for the past several years. Mezzanine financing is one way that many people, including those with limited cash resources, have been able to get some action. While mezzanine...

Corrections and amplifications.
February 9, 2001... * The Officer's Row project under development by National Properties at Lowry is not affected by any of the environmental issues described in a Denver Business Journal story last week. A photograph of the Officer's Row project, which is under...

Falling interest rate triggers mixed reactions.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Real estate agents debate Fed's action on Denver home sales Two January interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Bank have boosted Denver's softening single-family real estate market; but haven't resulted in an across-the-board...

Exabyte may be up for sale after losses.(Exabyte Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Boulder-based Exabyte Corp. is considering selling the company. That's among the strategic alternatives the tape storage company is looking at in the wake of the company's increased losses for the fourth quarter. Exabyte lost $43.4...

Janus cuts 468 jobs.(Janus Capital Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Denver-based mutual funds giant Janus Capital Corp. has cut 468 jobs, or about 16 percent of its work force. The cuts were made in Denver and in Austin, Texas, in the operations units that handle investor telephone calls. The cuts were...

Cell phone costs decline.(in Denver, Colorado, in January 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... A survey by Econ One, an economic research and consulting firm, shows the cost of cellular-phone service in Denver dropped 1.7 percent in January, bringing average monthly costs to $37.50. Denver ranked No. 15 in terms of average monthly...

Jobless rate fell in Dec.(December 2001 in Colorado)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... Even though the country's economy slowed in late 2000, employment in Colorado ended the year on a relatively positive note. The state's unemployment rate dipped three-tenths of a percentage in December 2000 from the previous month to 2.4...

L.A. firm buying centers.(Westwood Financial Corp., commercial real estate investment firm based in Los Angeles, buys shopping center)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Westwood Financial Corp., a commercial real estate investment firm based in Los Angeles, has purchased a King Soopers-anchored shopping center in Highlands Ranch for $9.35 million. The center, which was recently built, is the third center in...

Qwest to buy back bonds.(Qwest Communications International Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... Denver-based Qwest Communications International Inc. will buy back about $1.1 billion in bonds in an effort to reduce its spending on interest rates. The telecommunications company also plans to sell $3 billion of bonds. The Federal...

DIA gets another accolade.(Denver International Airport)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Denver International Airport is cheering once again, this time about being singled out as one of the best airports in the world. DIA was named one of five finalists for "Best Airport" in OAG (Official Airline Guides) Worldwide's Airline of...

EchoStar plans launches.(EchoStar Communications Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Littleton-based EchoStar Communications Corp. will launch two more satellites, increasing the number of channels available to its direct-broadcast satellite service DISH Network. EchoStar has signed an agreement with International Launch...

ICN reaches 10M mark.(International Channel Networks has 10 million subscribers)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Littleton-based International Channel Networks has reached the 10 million subscriber mark for its basic offering, the International Channel. The privately held company specializes in cable programming in 20 different languages. The company...

Qwest lands contract.(Qwest Communications International Inc. gets $100 million contract to install and operate broadband networks)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Qwest Communications International Inc. was awarded a $100 million contract to build and support high-speed local area broadband networks that will provide Internet access to all of Arizona's 228 public school districts. The system which...

Qwest wins IP suit, but message debatable.(Qwest Communications International Inc. wins suit against competitor IP Services Inc., but gets just $1 in damages)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Qwest Communications International Inc. won a lawsuit against Denver-based competitor IP Services Inc., but not a lot of money. A judge last week awarded Qwest $1 in damages. Qwest sued the voice-over Internet company, claiming that IP...

Signing your rights away to see a doctor?(discussion of financial relase forms at doctors' offices)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... It's kind of scary picking a bone with your doctor. But when it comes to the forms doctors' offices and hospitals ask you to sign before receiving treatment, it's best to be on your guard. If you aren't, you could be letting yourself...