Fairfield County Business Journal articles from August 2001

Fairfield County Business Journal archives from August 2001

Entrepreneur finds success in adopted land.(Howard Layton)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Howard Layton traveled many roads before getting to where he is today. The small-business owner was born and raised in England and studied as an engineer before enlisting in the Royal Air Force at the beginning of World War II. When the...

Cost-cutting handcuffs post-recession growth.(Poole Resources Inc.study)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Look at the business pages these days and you are bound to read about some company giving its right-arm in the form of layoffs and cutbacks to find security in our suddenly uncertain economy. The problem is, limbs are tough to grow back....

Danbury finds buyer for ice rink.(ARC IceSports Danbury Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... Former Kmart chief executive officer Floyd Hall didn't bid on Danbury's troubled ice-rink project when the city put it on the market for $5.5 million last December. His wait-and-see approach turned out to be the right move as city...

BPAI relocating operations to Shelton.(BPA International)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... By January, BPAI Inc. plans to move its headquarters from New York City to Shelton, where it expects to employ some 80 people, a company official said. Edward L. Macrini, senior vice president finance and administration, said BPAI will...

Approvals sought for $200 million Stamford project.(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... As early as next spring, three developers expect to start work on a $200 million mixed-use waterfront project on a 39-acre parcel in Stamford -- if the economy turns around by then. "We will be building in a good market," said Arthur...

IntelliClaim helps insurers avoid billing errors.
August 6, 2001... It takes weeks or months to process routine medical claims -- and then the results are often riddled with errors. The accuracy problem is so acute that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191),...

Distribution of wealth perilously skewed.
August 6, 2001... If the labor movement gains momentum again, U.S. corporations and their allies on Wall Street will have no one to blame but themselves. By and large, the world's major industrial nations are getting more similar, but in one area, they...

Orbitz website is as good as its hype.(www.orbitz.com)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Scavenger hunting for the lowest air fares is over, vow America's five biggest air lines that put their blood rivalries aside in June to jointly launch Orbitz. This website: claims to scan 2 billion flight itineraries in a split second to find...

Program specializes in smaller small-business loans.(Community Economic Development Fund)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... In an attempt to make more growth capital available to smaller companies, a statewide non-profit group has launched a low-interest loan program for existing businesses. Under the "Grow Your Business" program, entrepreneurs may borrow as...

Rude awakening.(research suggests bad manners and uncivil behavior effecting performance of employees)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Rudeness and bad manners are increasingly common in American workplaces, according to a researcher at the University of Michigan. Psychologist Lilia Cortina said 71 percent of workers surveyed have been insulted, demeaned, ignored or...

Time to consider your exit plans.(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... When the economy is in question, Americans naturally get worried about job security, and if there's one lesson learned from the last recession in the early 1990s, it's that almost anyone can get laid off. If the economy takes a nosedive...

Tips on creating effective retail advertising.(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... I'm going to give you a piece of advice that no ad agency or rep would ever dispense: You should advertise in things that you like. Sure, it's important to identify your best customers, ask what they read, and plan accordingly. But this is...

Developinq your Employees.(Deb Ziegler of CORE Partners L.L.C. speaks on employee training)(Brief Article)(Interview)
August 6, 2001... Deb Ziegler, Ed.D., Founder of Stamford-based, CORE Partners, LLC provides organization development, consulting and training to corporations. With expertise in performance management Deb talks today with WBDC on the issues all businesses face...

Human resources: What you need to know and do to be competitive.(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Most businesses with fewer than 75 employees rarely have a full-time dedicated member of their staff handling the human resources function. As a result, they find themselves out of compliance with federal and state laws, highly vulnerable to...

Social Security debate.
August 6, 2001... Commission's first 'draft' report sets stage for major battle on privatization Area employers and employees who have been anxiously awaiting release of the first draft of the presidential commission studying changes in Social Security are...

Calculating the costs of employee turnover.(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... The following is a comprehensive checklist of items to include when calculating the cost of turnover in any organization. To determine the costs, have the hourly and weekly cost of fully loaded payroll costs (i.e., salary plus benefits) of the...

Software Companies.
August 6, 2001... Software Companies Name, address, phone number Owner and website Area code: 203 Year established (unless otherwise noted) E-mail address Arbor Computer Systems Peter J. Hannan 117 Weston Road, ...

Westchester County.
August 6, 2001... U.S. Census data shows Westchester County's population is at its highest level Newly-released U.S. Census figures show that Westchester County's population is at its highest level ever, and that Hispanics and other immigrants account for...

Westchester posts all-time high job level.
August 6, 2001... Westchester's latest employment figures for June show the county setting another all-time high in wage and salary jobs -- reaching 428,300 and surpassing the previous record set in December 2000. According to New York State Department of...

Fairfield County.(Demographics)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... Fairfield County Demographics Population 836,207 Age distribution 0-4 54,813 5-17 139,006 18-24 64,748 25-49 322,604 50-64 137,401 65+ ...

Credits, Clients and Awards.
August 6, 2001... Susan Duarte of Stamford, vice president of global securitization in the Harrison, N.Y., office of Citicorp, received the Junior Achievement. ImpACT Award from Junior Achievement of Southwestern Connecticut, Stamford, a non-profit economic...

Newsmakers.(appointments)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... Katherine Schwerdtle Saint of Southbury was promoted to president and chief executive officer of Schwerdtle Stamp Co., Bridgeport, a manufacturer of hot stamping dies, steel stamps and embossing tools. Saint represents the fourth generation of...

Many local hands help turtle transfer.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Faced with a possible delay in the opening its new sea turtle exhibit, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk enlisted the help of several local companies to get the project out of its shell on time. A state-of-the-art life support system, two...

1-95 Inc.? It could happen.
August 13, 2001... For TSB, privatization is one of many avenues How much would road-raging commuters pay to ensure their weekdays didn't include bumper-to-bumper traffic? Could a private enterprise successfully operate a highway as a going business? ...

ELR takes radical approach to special ed.
August 13, 2001... The task of ensuring that children receive the education and attention they need to excel academically is a daunting one. It is an uphill climb for parents who have kids without learning barriers. For those whose children require special...

Online shopping growing, but not as expected.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 13, 2001... In November 1998, at the height of the dot-com revolution, a Forrester Research study predicted online sales would surge at an annual compounded rate of 69 percent through 2003. The survey by the Cambridge, Mass., technology research...

WWFE tries to pin bankrupt rival in court.
August 13, 2001... Five months after sharpshooting one arch-rival into submission, Stamford based World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. is pursuing the assets of another former competitor -- the one that helped spark the wrestling giant's successful...

Price/earnings mischief-makers hang on.
August 13, 2001... Down and Out in Beverly Hills. It was once a movie. Now, it personifies the stock market. Stocks are down, but still living in the extremely high-rent district. The NASDAQ composite once sold at 200 times earnings. NASDAQ stocks went into...

Commercial offices vacancies due to rise in office subleases.
August 13, 2001... The vacancy rate for Fairfield County class A commercial offices rose more than 2 percentage points in the second quarter of 2001, according to the Quarterly Market Report of Albert B. Ashforth Inc. "The increase is directly related to the...

Valois of America heads to New York state.
August 13, 2001... Valois of America Inc. will relocate its spray device manufacturing operations from Greenwich to Congers, N.Y., taking 75 employees with it. According to New York Gov. George Pataki's office, Valois will invest $10 million in a...

Housing developer mines 'empty nester' market.
August 13, 2001... Ginsburg Development Corp. plans to build 84 houses in Newtown for 55-to 65-year-old homeowners to meet the growing demand created by aging baby boomers. "We're proposing an active-adult community," said Thomas Gissen, executive vice...

SCIENTECH-NES moving 80 from Danbury.
August 13, 2001... SCIENTECH-NES plans to relocate into a 27,000-square-foot office in the Bleachery Building in New Milford, a move the new landlord describes as the beginning of a corporate exodus from Danbury. "It's the start of a movement out of Danbury...

Accounting Firms.
August 13, 2001... Accounting Firms Ranked by number of CPAscountywide Rank Name, address, phone number and website Area Code: 203 1 Leask & Leask P.C. CPAs 1100 Kings Highway East, P.O. Box 320235,...

Economy not hurting school enrollments.
August 13, 2001... While the downturn in the economy has caused growing unemployment to worry economists and financial forecasters, it is having a positive effect on college enrollment. Institutions in Fairfield County and Westchester County, N.Y., report...

You ought to be in pictures.
August 13, 2001... Teens take part in Summer Film Academy to prepare for entertainment industry A lean, young man in shirtsleeves and a necktie strides into the office of another man, who is seated behind his desk speaking in low, muffled tones to somebody...

Choosing the right architect for your style.
August 13, 2001... You're planning to build a new home -- the biggest investment of your lifetime -- and you're not sure where to begin. Uncertainty is undermining your self-confidence. Relax, help is available to ease and calm your nerves. Architects...

Dunlavey and Associates Architecture.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... James P. Dunlavey AIA, formerly an executive principal with one of the nation's largest architectural and engineering firms, founded the firm of Dunlavey and Associates Architecture in 1999, offering architecture and commercial interior design...

Why should you hire an architect?(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... * Architects solve problems. Architects can assist you through the maze of design options, building codes, zoning laws, contractors and permitting requirements. The architect is the one professional who has the education, training, experience...

Molinelli Architects: A tradition of innovating.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... When your clients include a university computer science department and one of the world's oldest religions, you need to be architecturally agile. "One moment you're discussing bandwidth for teledata functions and the next you're placing...

Charisse Wilson.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Charisse Wilson of Shelton received the Award for Outstanding Human Resources Effort from New Castle Hotels, Shelton, an owner and manager of resort and hotel properties. Wilson is the company's first regional human resources manager,...

Brett A. Sherman.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Brett A. Sherman of Fairfield, senior vice president at Choyce Peterson Inc., Stamford, a corporate real estate brokerage firm specializing in tenant services, received the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation from the...

Fairfield University.(Russian-U.S. Young Leadership Fellows for Public Service Program)(Centre International D'Etudes Pedagodiques)(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Fairfield University, Fairfield, announced that two 2001 graduates of the university have been chosen for programs in Russia and France. Cristen Lee Duncan of Westford, Mass., was selected for the Russian-U.S. Young Leadership Fellows for...

AlphaGraphics Inc.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... AlphaGraphics Inc., Westport, a provider of design, copy, print and digital publishing services, was awarded ISO 9002 certification by the International Organization for Standardization. The designation signifies that the rigid quality...

The New Covenant House of Hospitality.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... The New Covenant House of Hospitality, Stamford, a soup kitchen, announced that it raised $45,000 at its recent wine-tasting event.

The Bank of New York.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... The Bank of New York, New York City, announced it has acquired Greenwich Advisory Associates Inc., Greenwich, an investment advisory firm. Putnam Trust Co., Greenwich, a division of The Bank of New York, will service the accounts of Greenwich...

Newsmakers.
August 13, 2001... Michael R. Thiessen of Norwalk was promoted to a partner in the Stamford office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP., a professional services firm. Since 1998, Thiessen was a senior manager in the office. Prior to that, he was a manager in the...

Men's store owner suits these women just fine.(Fairfield Men's Store)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... The Fairfield Men's Store has done such a good job for its male clientele that clients' wives -- impressed with the quality and workmanship of the custom-made garments -- are availing themselves of what used to be strictly a men's domain:...

Consumers often irrational on finances.(behavioral economics, new branch of study examines how people manage their finances)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... More than one financial adviser has lamented that people seem to spend more time planning their two-week vacations than their 20 years or more of retirement If people did the opposite, they would be acting rationally. But, of course, we...

Developer reduces rail station build out.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Officials from the town of Fairfield and the state Department of Transportation (DOT) signed agreements this month that solidify plans to build a third railroad station in conjunction with a massive $250 million office-retail development. ...

Park City Plaza renovation sweetens city's image.(Trefz Corp. property in Bridgeport promises to bring employment opportunities to city)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Visitors entering Park City Plaza can be forgiven if they forget for a moment that they're in the middle of Bridgeport. Passing through glass doors, they encounter a Japanese garden complete with a fish-filled pond, stepping stones, waterfall...

Ryan Partnership leases space with room to grow.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Ryan Partnership, a leading promotional and direct-marketing company, will combine its three Westport offices into its new headquarters in Wilton in April. Liz Hallinan, vice president for human resources and administration at Ryan...

Jobs hazardous to kids' health.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... According to a report issued by the National Consumers League (NCL), 200,000 workers under the age of 18 are injured in the United States every year. In 1999, 18 died from work-related injuries. Many work in unsafe conditions or don't...

Amplifications and corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 27, 2001... On the cover of the Aug 6, 2001, issue, the photographer of the picture of Howard Layton of Interlab in Danbury, Conn., was misidentified. The photograph was taken by Emily Bierman.

College-bound teens vow to be budget-minded.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 27, 2001... As nearly 1.8 million students head off to college for the first time this fall, they say they'll miss many things about home... but money is last on the list. According to the First USA Financial Index, loved ones will be missed most,...

Survey finds many leaders landing 'in the rough'.(executive skills)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Labor Day may be a golfer's last chance to work on a faulty golf swing -- and many top executives may be facing their last chance to correct the flaws in their leadership styles. A new survey concludes that many of today's leaders have...

Web takes courtesy out of recruiting process.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Most people now realize that the Internet will not be the immediate cure-all for every challenge facing today's businesses, but the medium was supposed to be a can't-miss recruiting tool, right? Not so, according to a pair of local...

Commercial Real Estate Firms.(Statistical Data Included)
August 27, 2001... Commercial Real Estate Firms Ranked by number of closed transactions countywide in 2000; alphabetically in event of tie Fairfield County Rank Name, address, Phone number and website Area code: 203 (unless ...

Lower-priced hotels often have hidden frills.(Best Western International Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Belt-tightening travelers don't always forgo frills and service by switching to lower-cost lodging. At the Best Western Inn at Tempe, Ariz., checking out was surprisingly as pleasant as any Four Seasons or Park Hyatt getaway. Even more so. The...

Renewing or relocating?(choosing the right real estate broker when making a move)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... A tenant's representative can help ease the pain When it's time to renew a lease or relocate, having the right broker can make all the difference. If you're like most business people, chances are pretty good that you'll find your...

Still on the move.(moving companies and real estate industry weathering economic slowdown)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Drop in economy not hurting movinq firms, residential real estate Despite corporate cutbacks and layoffs by major Fairfield County employers, surprisingly, some in the relocation industry are doing very well, and others are awaiting a full...

Transit-oriented development caters to the 'village people'.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Transit-oriented development (TOD) is being revived as a key part of a push to create more "villages" offering tightly clustered, mixed-use projects that are easily walkable and connected to other areas by public transportation, according to...

Green light, go.(high-tech manufacturing)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Danbury's high-tech sector continues healthy growth Tucked away in a small portion of a building on the city of Danbury's east side is the world's second-largest manufacturer of silicon carbide (SiC) wafers. Sterling Semiconductor Inc. is...

The Business Helper makes computing easier.(Business Helper Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... FileMaker Pro 5 Unlimited is an off-the-shelf software application designed for use by small- and mid-sized companies and work groups to manage, organize and share information. The Business Helper Inc. is headed by the Danbury-based husband...

Townhome community coming to Danbury.(GDC developers)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... State and local dignitaries and members of Danbury's civic and business communities joined principals of developer GDC recently to officially break ground for Woodland Hills. The ceremonies celebrated the commencement of construction of the...

Survivors.(Union Savings Bank; Savings Bank of Danbury)
August 27, 2001... Danbury's two remaining community banks prosper Earlier this year, New Milford's NewMil Bank swallowed up Danbury's Nutmeg Federal Savings & Loan, leaving the city with only two locally owned and operated community banks -- Union Savings...

Urban revival: Turning a donut into a Danish.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Municipal governments must "think outside the box" and work collaboratively with each other and the private sector to build the momentum of current urban revitalization efforts, according to participants in a recent Mayors Panel hosted by the...

Study finds ton relocation packages go to top execs.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... A Towers Perrin analysis of 363 proxy statements between 1998 and 2000 found more than half of the top 50 corporate relocation packages -- constituting expense amounts of $250,000 or more -- went to senior executives inside organizations as...

SilverSpur Creative Group.(receives American Graphic Design Award)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... SilverSpur Creative Group, Norwalk, a graphic design and advertising company, received a 2001 American Graphic Design Award in a competition sponsored by Graphic Design: usa a commercial arts publication. SilverSpur was honored for its work on...

Health Net of the Northeast Inc.(award from Bridgeport Regional Business Council)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Health Net of the Northeast Inc., Shelton, a health plan formerly called PHS Health Plans, received an Impact Award from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Bridgeport, for its record of community involvement and record as a regional...

The Women's Business Development Center.(receives grant from Connecticut)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... The Women's Business Development Center, Stamford, a non-profit organization that offers business education to women entrepreneurs, received a $100,000 grant from the state of Connecticut to enhance its existing operation and expand its service...

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center.(get theme park tickets from Verizon Wireless)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... The Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk, a provider of services to women and children who are victims of domestic violence, received 30 tickets for admission to the Six Flags theme park in Agawam, Mass., from Verizon Wireless, Wallingford,...

Jantris Marketing Services.(certified a minority business enterprise)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Jantris Marketing Services, Newtown, a market research and marketing consulting company, received certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) from the Connecticut Minority Supplier Development Council, Hamden. The council provides...

Mott's Inc.(acquires ReaLemon and ReaLime brands fromEagle Family Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Mott's Inc., Stamford, a food and beverage producer, announced it has agreed to acquire the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands and related assets from Eagle Family Foods Inc., Gahanna, Ohio, for $128 million.

Newsmakers.(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Peoples Bank, Bridgeport, announced the following appointments. Donald T. Heroman joined People's as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Since 1988, Heroman worked at SunTrust Banks Inc., Atlanta, Ga., most recently as...

Affinity scams target religious, ethnic investors.(securities fraud)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... While the 1990s stock market boom made many people rich, it also produced scores of securities scams, especially those in which swindlers investors from their own ethnic and religious groups. In fact, "this kind of scam has become so...

Employee's option swells number of donors and gifts.(Connecticut Health Charities seminars)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... Many corporations now empower their employees to decide whether to contribute money to a charity. This ability to choose has resulted in an increase in both the number of employees giving and the size of their contributions. "The national...

Malloy prods state to do more.(Connecticut economic aspects)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... The robust economy of the late 1990s helped cities in southern Fairfield County advance, but Stamford's mayor is worried that unchecked problems in transportation and housing will make it all for naught. Mayor Dannel P. Malloy appeared...

Connecticut ranks lowly 33 on business survival index.(small business analysis information)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... Connecticut and New York still have a way to go before the Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) considers them truly business-friendly. The two states finished 33rd and 43rd, respectively, in the SBSC's sixth annual rankings of the...

Priceline.com profitability hinges on creativity, savvy.(company financial reporting information)(Company Financial Information)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... After three turbulent years which saw Priceline.com go from the top of the dot-com heap to exhibit A in the industry's freefall, the name-your-own-price gang has posted its first quarterly profit. Priceline.com earned $2.8 million, or a...

CEOs tightening their corporate belts.(Connecticut economic research)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... Opinion When the market and the economy are riding high, companies in Connecticut and other locations make more and spend more. But the current market sluggishness has senior executives focusing on minding the purse strings to help produce...

HMOs back in the black, but outlook is uncertain.(health maintenance organizations )(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... After bleeding for three years, health maintenance organizations returned to profitability last year -- and while they are expected to do well again this year, their long-term prospects are uncertain at best, analysts say. "The industry...

Panelists conclude some sectors are doing better than others in hot and cold economy.(economic analysis)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... With the national economy sputtering along like a forklift on the Interstate, the Business Journal gathered a group of economists for the daunting task of identifying the remaining hot spots in our regional economy. The panel concluded...

Biotechnology one bright spot in a turbulent economy.(industry financial information)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2001... Experts agree that the technology industry is at least partly responsible for the shift in the economy, and it's hard not to notice that many of the dot-coms are dot-gone, so what will the future hold for this shaky sector? A panel of...

Roofing Contractors.(industry company information)
August 30, 2001... Roofing Contractors Listed alphabetically Fairfield County and Westchester County, N.Y. Name, address, phone number and website Top local executive(s) E-mail address ...