Fairfield County Business Journal articles from July 2001

Fairfield County Business Journal archives from July 2001

Bridgeport artists have lofty ideal.
July 2, 2001... Bridgeport officials and reporters gathered recently at the vacant Read's Department Store building to celebrate the future home of 63 lofts for artists. Children and local artists painted original murals on the boarded windows of the store to...

Bridgeport revival stumbles amid scandal.
July 2, 2001... While a federal investigation of alleged corruption casts a shadow over City Hall, Bridgeport's business community is searching for ways to put the Park City's development efforts back into overdrive. "We are meeting on a regular basis to...

Xerox HQ sale hits snag.
July 2, 2001... The possible sale of Xerox Corp.'s Stamford headquarters to a local real estate investment bank may have hit a snag, but neither the buyer nor the seller is divulging any details. Stanley V. Cheslock, president of Cheslock, Bakker &...

Founder buys back Mentor from ailing giant.
July 2, 2001... Dan Gallo believes in his product. That is why last month he acquired Mentor Communications Group, which he founded in 1985, from bankrupt PSINet Group for an unspecified amount. The company's successful flagship product is a line of...

Where have all the people gone?
July 2, 2001... Opinion How many times have you telephoned someone, anxious to conclude a business deal or get a quick answer to an important question? As the phone rings, you rehearse your message to a sales prospect, or to conclude a transaction. ...

Former Oxford Health directors settle lawsuit.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Several former Oxford Health Plans Inc. directors, including founder and former chairman Stephen W. Wiggins, have agreed to pay $13.7 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from a financial meltdown of the Trumbull health insurer four years ago....

Eye on Danbury.
July 2, 2001... Regional economy is one of the state's strongest Shortly after the turn of the last century a handful of visionary Danbury businessmen peered into the future and saw problems. The city was dependent on a single, seasonal industry --...

Mortgage Companies.(tabular information only)(Directory)
July 2, 2001... Mortgage Companies Name, address, phone Top local executive(s) number and website E-mail address Area code: 203 Year company established Arader & O'Rourke Inc. Alexander J....

PR firms unaffected by downturn.
July 2, 2001... Despite dire warnings of cutbacks and slowdowns in sales, Fairfield County public relations agencies have prospered and are optimistic about revenues for the rest of the year. In some cases, concern over a downturn actually encouraged...

Vogt/Wein.
July 2, 2001... At this creative Westport agency it's the thought that counts Sitting around the blond wood conference table, surrounded by posters and samples of ad campaigns past and present, they could easily have been batting ideas around in a...

Using public relations strategies to build a brand.
July 2, 2001... Most marketers consider advertising the primary brand building communications strategy. But increasingly, marketers are looking beyond advertising to public relations as an important and powerful brand-building tool. How are they applying...

Taxing the Internet.
July 2, 2001... U.S. Senate appears ready to embrace controversial sales tax The road to collecting taxes on electronic commerce may have been paved in recent weeks, thanks to the efforts of a bipartisan committee of U.S. Senators. The committee last...

Employers face shortfall of 600,000.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Even as both technology and traditional employers feel the effects of a cooling economy, an annual survey of 500 large American corporations finds businesses struggling to fill some 600,000 information technology (IT) positions. According...

To dream the American dream.(small business )(Brief Article)(Critical Essay)
July 2, 2001... Starting and managing a business takes motivation, desire and talent. It also takes research and planning. Like a chess game, success in small business starts with decisive and correct opening moves. And, although initial mistakes are not...

Do you have the right stuff?(small business)
July 2, 2001... There is no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business. However, you can improve your chances of success with planning and preparation. A good starning place is to evaluate strengths and weaknesses. There are...

Which organizational structure is right for you?(business management information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... A business may be conducted through a variety of organizational structures. A specific business structure is generally chosen for liability and/or tax reasons. The three most common types of business organizations are sole proprietorships,...

Get your hand in the pocket of a venture capitalist.(management techniques)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Capital-starved entrepreneurs who go hat in hand to venture capitalists (VCs) repeatedly make the same "fatal errors" in their written proposals and oral presentations. "It amazes me how many people we meet today who have not thought...

Arm yourself for the job hunt with a degree.(analysis of higher education)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... In recent years, with the growth of high-tech industries, there are few jobs available that do not require a college diploma or a graduate degree in a specialty area Yet there are still many who, for one reason or another -- mainly financial...

Get your company to foot the bill for your self-improvement.(employee and management training)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Corporate employees who are looking to gain some knowledge, work their way up that corporate ladder or just become a whiz contestant on "Jeopardy" have several avenues when deciding to go back to school. There are many corporate employers...

Make choosing a school your business.(techniques for choosing an MBA program)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Harry S. Truman once said he wanted to appoint a one-handed Secretary of State. When someone asked what he meant by this, he said something along the lines of, "I don't want to hear we could this, and on the other hand we could do that" If...

Getting help with the fund-amentals.(mutual fund management techniques)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... THE KEY TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT What makes a successful investor? Is it access to information? Is it an ability to stay ahead in an ever-changing market place? Or is it the assurance of working with a trusted advisor, to help develop a...

Leave it to the professionals.(foreclosure sales information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Get help with the purchasing process Is it possible to purchase a home through a fore closure sale? It is, although the process is not for amateurs. If you are an amateur, you need to work with professionals who know the process. In many...

Company seeks top-notch HR partner.(management techniques and information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... The right partner will manage your human resources professionally and with maximum efficiency. Smart companies understand that in today's competitive business environment, keeping employment costs -- which can represent 65 percent of a...

When an apple a day isn't enough.(information on choosing hospitals)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... When you need to choose a hospital, Arthur E. Weintraub, president of the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, has some sage advice. "There is a wide choice of specialists with sub-specialties, and increasingly even smaller hospitals...

Variety is the spice for your 401(k).(employee benefit management)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... No question about it -- a 401(k) plan is the most important benefit you can offer your employees. But there's at least one thing you can do to make it even better include a variety of index funds. Prompted by the resounding success of S&P...

Protect your money in insurance policies.(executive benefit management)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Many executives in small- to mid-sized companies have yet to catch on to something big companies have been doing for decades: keeping more of what they earn. The way to do it, believe it or not, is with a life insurance policy. According...

Don't go postal over rising mail rates.(management techniques and information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... To learn how to save on mailing as the rates have been escalating, we went right to the source -- Tony Muso, a communications specialist, and Maria Allen, a customer service representative for the U.S. Postal Service. While there may not...

Turning on the tap.(small business management information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... A small-business customer is typically defined as someone who has up to $10 million in revenue a year and up to $2 million in credit needs. Ever wonder about the technicalities of obtaining a small-business loan or dealing with the Small...

Conversation pieces.(wireless communications services analysis and information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... There is no one single wireless carrier that is best for everybody That is the most important point to remember when looking for a wireless phone company. Don't just pick the first wireless carrier You hear about; pick the one that can best...

Stay cool in coversation.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... E-mail instant message, cell phones. The evolution of communication has given today's business people more methods for their madness. One form of communication that seems to get lost in the shuffle is the plain old art of conversation. Here are...

'Best-in-Breed': An uncluttered news release.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Many companies put out at least two public releases a week -- regardless of the amount of news they have to report. What is a best-of-breed, end-to-end solutions provider? Nothing really. These jargons fill every press release for products...

'Disaster-proof your business operations.(management theory and techniques)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... All of us hate those annoying computer error messages, system failure symbols and other computer jargon that basically tell us: "This computer will not allow you to complete your work today." We then resort to help-desk support -- if your...

A primer for the aspiring tech geek.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... In today's fast-paced world, it is nearly impossible to remain in step with every tenet of technology. Whether it's graphic design, computer science, networking project management or word processing everyone at some point finds himself or...

Make the world clean.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Area companies looking to help the environment have many options and resources available to them. Small and large businesses alike can participate in these simple earth-friendly practices. Most efforts require little money and are easy to...

The art of finding office space.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... (or why all brokers are NOT created equal) When I interviewed Michael H. Siegel a few weeks back, I asked the lnsignia/ESG executive managing director how he helped pull off last year's largest lease deal in Westchester -- the signing of...

Traveling to and fro on not-so-much dough.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... If you're computer savvy with a lot of experience, buying tickets on the internet is as easy as pie. But if you don't have computer skills or a lot of patience, you won't find any bargains, according to Stan Morse, president of the Hudson...

Thinking out of the box.(office design information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Don't be afraid to go out on a limb... that's where e-fruit is As I sat down to write this article, I found a morsel in an e-mail from my good friend, Stanley, who often sends me bits of wisdom. It was a timely beginning for a thesis on...

Sticks and stones.(litigation management information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Maintaining your business reputation during and after litigation Any business that has been involved in litigation knows the pressure to maintain respect among current and potential clients. Large corporations have spokespeople who handle...

'You can't fire me...I QUIT!'.(techniques for landing a job)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Gotten that dreaded pink slip? You're not alone. Even Clippy has been fired. Yes, Microsoft has decided that the cheery, helpful -- yet annoying -- little paper clip is, as the British so delicately put it, "redundant." Gone. And if you,...

If you want it done right ... plan your own funeral.(funeral planning information)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... On July 4, 1939, baseball great Lou Gehrig faced a capacity crowd at Yankee Stadium knowing his body was quickly deteriorating from a rare disease that now bears his name. Fighting back tears, he told the throng that he considered himself "the...

WBDC Interview.(Interview)
July 2, 2001... In the Journal's June 4 issue, WBDC presented Part 1 of an interview with Catherine Candland, president and CEO of Advantage Human Resourcing, headquartered in Stamford and one of the Northeast's largest and most successful staffing services...

Bridgeport Hospital.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, presented honors to the following staff employees.

Guenther Zvaigzne.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Guenther Zvaigzne of Millford, support services supervisor in the hospital's laboratory department, was named Employee of the Year for the 2000-2001 year for his outstanding performance and attitude. Zvaigzne has worked at Bridgeport Hospital...

Linda Mennillo.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Linda Mennillo of Bridgeport, a nurse in the orthopedics-neurosurgery urology unit of the hospital, received the 2001 George B. and Agnes P. Longstreth Humanness Award for her attention to the needs of patients and colleagues. Mennillo has...

Blansfield Builders.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Blansfield Builders, Danbury, a construction/remodeling company, won a top prize in the 2001 Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence competition, sponsored by Professional Remodeler magazine, Chicago, III. Blansfield Builders was named the...

Dr. David J. Martin.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Dr. David J. Martin of Shelton, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, Trumbull and Fairfield, was named a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, Chicago, Ill., a professional medical association.

Promotion Sales Ltd.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Promotion Sales Ltd., Stamford, an advertising specialty, manufacturer representative organization, was chosen to produce, fulfill and distribute web-based merchandise for Highwaystar.com, Bath, England, the official Deep Purple website.

Jacobs & Prosek Public Relations.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Jacobs & Prosek Public Relations, Stratford, was named to create and promote a nationwide clothing drive for GAIN Laundry Detergent, a brand of The Proctor & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. The drive is part of a national community improvement...

Outlook Soft Corp.(signs contract with Wyndham International Inc)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Outlook Soft Corp., Stamford, provider of enterprise planning and performance management software, announced that Wyndham International Inc., Dallas, Texas, an operator of hotels and resorts, has signed a three-year contract for OutlookSoft's...

Etoile, Fine lingerie & Swimwear.(company product introduction)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Etoile, Fine lingerie & Swimwear; Westport, an intimate apparel shop, announced its new name, Soleil Toile, reflecting its expanded inventory.

Newsmakers.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2001... Fairfield University, Fairfield, announced the following appointments. Dr. Timothy L. Snyder joined the university as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Since 1987, Snyder was a faculty member of Georgetown University, Washington,...

FedEx sets up boxes outside post offices.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... A landmark agreement has allowed FedEx Express to expand its network of self-service drop boxes to the last place you'd expect to see them -- in front of your local post office. The subsidiary of the Memphis, Tenn. based FedEx Corp. signed...

Tele-charge suits target local firms.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... A mounting consumer backlash against hard-sell telemarketing practices has landed two Stamford firms in court defending claims that they illegally obtained information through a marketing partnership and billed people without their consent. ...

What's next for the local economy?(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... Is the local economy doing better or worse 3 than the rest of the country? The answer is yes! Fairfield County's unemployment rate is well below the national average, but job growth has slowed more than for the nation as a whole. Looking...

Suit targets OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma.(Purdue Pharma L.P., Abbott Laboratories)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... On June 11, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw Jr. filed a lawsuit against Stamford-based Purdue Pharma L.P. of Stamford, manufacturer of the prescription pain medication OxyContin. In the suit, McGraw claims the defendants,...

China and the World Trade Organization.
July 9, 2001... (This is the third of a series on doing business with China. The next article will discuss the different methods of doing business in China) The recent explosion of trade between China and the United States is primarily due to the...

U.S. vacationers addicted to e-mail.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... Forty-two percent of users check their business e-mail while on vacation, while 23 percent check e-mail on weekends, according to a survey by Gartner Inc. of Stamford. On workdays, 53 percent of business users check e-mail six or more...

Steady retail sales in Fairfield County mirror national reports.(Statistical Data Included)
July 9, 2001... Retail sales rose nationally last month after going up more in April than earlier reported, showing that consumers are ready to spend and keep the economy out of a recession. Many retailers in Fairfield County report sales as steady during...

Fashion statement.(International Menswear Group meeting)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... International Menswear Group hosts annual meeting in Fairfield Birds of a feather flock together -- thus the existence of trade associations in all kinds of industries. One such group, the International Menswear Group (IMG), has been...

Finding comfortable lodging at a reasonable price.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... Expense-account travelers and budget vacationers are getting a jolt of reality thanks to the plunging stock market and corporate cutbacks. The boss -- or common sense -- is saying, "Spend less or stay home." The second option isn't much...

Take Fido, leave baby brother at home: Traveling from a kid's perspective.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... According to the Portrait of Family Travel, a proprietary study by Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown that surveys and incorporates the, opinions of children as well as adults, here's who kids say they want to vacation with, in order of importance:...

E-tail threat to retail business may be a thing of the past.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... A few years ago, everyone was talking about e-tail outfits doing away with traditional retail outlets with their methods of shopping for merchandise on the Internet. And when dot-coms featured huge, expensive, commercials during the Super Bowl...

Environmental Firms.
July 9, 2001... Environmental Firms Ranked by number of environmental staff within county Fairfield County Rank Name, address, phone number and website Area code: 203 (unless otherwise noted) 1 The Tyree...

Wyant Simboli Group.(got Gold Award in sales promotion)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... Wyant Simboli Group, Norwalk, a strategic communications agency, received three awards in 2001 awards show of the Connecticut Art Director's Club, Niantic. Wyant Simboli won the Gold Award in the sales promotion category for its own "We Go...

Newsmakers.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2001... Thomas L. Bartram of Bethel was promoted to president and chief operating officer at First County Bank, Stamford, a mutual savings bank, and appointed a member of the bank's board of directors. Since 1989, Bartram was executive vice president....

Surf's up for Rowayton entrepreneur.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Area water sport lovers needn't look any further to buy their favorite gear and supplies. This Memorial Day, surf shop Below Deck opened in Rowayton. The 500-square-foot store is located on the lower of the two outdoor decks behind The...

Bridgeport picks RCI to develop Steel Point.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Bigger is better in Bridgeport -- at least in the eyes of officials who confirmed just before the July 4 holiday that' they will endorse RCI Marine Inc.'s $860 million proposal as the preferred plan for the city's waterfront. "The city is...

Cheslock lowers bid for Xerox site.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Stamford real estate investment bank Cheslock, Bakker & Associates Inc. said last week that it won't buy Xerox Corp.'s headquarters unless the copier maker accepts a lower price. "We reduced our price," said Stanley V. Cheslock, president...

Maura Carley helps patients secure benefits.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... In November 1999, after 20 years of working for the health care industry. Maura Carley decided to switch sides. "I spent many years in health care. It became increasingly obvious that when thing aren't working the patient is in the...

NU lines up support for Norwalk power play.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Northeast Utilities System's plan to build new transmission lines to Norwalk received a warm reception from public officials and business advocates who consider the step critical to ensuring a long-term power supply. "I think it makes a...

Gartner one of best places to work.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Gartner Inc. of Stamford has been selected as one of the best places to work in information technology (IT) by International Data Group's Computerworld, a newspaper for IT readers. The recognition comes as part of the newspaper's ninth...

OMI acquires chemical tanker.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... OMI Corp. of Stamford said it has agreed to acquire from another owner one 35,000 dwt product-chemical tanker under construction at Daedong Shipbuilding Company Ltd. in South Korea. The vessel is scheduled to be delivered in September when...

Economic recovery in Japan: figure the odds.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Those who are waiting for a sustainable economic recovery in Japan to help the global economy, should not hold their breath. Japanese leaders have been notoriously unwilling to take the bold, courageous steps needed to save their sinking...

Adult Day Health Care / Social Day Care Centers.(Bibliography)
July 16, 2001... Adult Day Health Care / Social Day Care Centers Ranked by adult capacity; alphabetically in event of tie Rank Name, address, phone number and website Area code: 203 1 Park City Adult Day Center 55 Chapel St.,...

Legislature funds Transportation Strategy Board.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... In this Year's legislative session, where the states budget for the next two years was set at $26.4 billion, $50 million was allotted for use by the newly created Transportation Strategy Board (TSB). House Bill 6985 that was passed in the...

Bills that failed to pass muster.(employment related laws)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Among the proposals that failed to pass the General Assembly were: * Senate Bill 1273 which would have repealed the cap on workers' compensation benefits, expanding the already generous plan. * Senate Bill 1197 which would have...

FASB proposes accounting change.(Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects and Interim Financial Reporting amendments)(Financial Accounting Standards Board)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) of Norwalk proposes to amend Statement No. 67, Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects, to exclude from its scope the accounting for acquisition, development...

BHC, UMass complete water purification study.(dissolved air flotation water clarification technology)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... A team of BHC engineers and scientists and University of Massachusetts educators have completed research which confirms that dissolved air flotation (DAF) water clarification technology protects drinking water from waterborne disease-causing...

Norwalk gives mega-project a green light.(French Norwalk L.L.C. signs Reed Putnam redevelopment agreement)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 16, 2001... If everything goes as planned, Norwalk's Reed Putnam Redevelopment Project will get off the ground next year, according to Edward J. Musante Jr., the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency's executive director. "On May 7, we signed an agreement with...

Staying put.(Prime Resources Corp. to develop new Bridgeport manufacturing facility)(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... Prime Resources recommits to Bridgeport with new $16 million Diant In the wake of Bridgeport planning and zoning approvals, Prime Resources Corp. is gearing up to develop a brand new 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in...

Development team builds affordable housing in Milford.(Fieber Group, The Spinnaker Cos., The Hoffman Group and Pinnacle Communities Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 16, 2001... A development team that includes Fairfield County-based companies, The Fieber Group, The Spinnaker Cos. and The Hoffman Group, as well as regional builder Pinnacle Communities, has collaborated on a 155-home golf course community in the town of...

Pure water.(Brief Article)
July 16, 2001... SoundWaters focuses on education to keep Long Island Sound clean SoundWaters is dedicated to protecting Long Island Sound through education, according to spokesman Chris Hadin. "We are best known for our 80-foot, three-masted schooner...

Mix at Berkshire Corporate Park reflects Danbury's diversity.
July 16, 2001... The Danbury region's diverse business and industrial base is reflected in the 325-acre Berkshire Corporate Park, which straddles the three communities of Bethel, Brookfield and Danbury. "We're a direct product of what goes on in the Danbury...

Case offers tax savings opportunity for real estate owners.
July 16, 2001... If you are still depreciating your commercial or residential property over 27.5 or 39 years, I have some good news for you. How would you like to be able to depreciate certain parts of your properties over a much shorter period of time than the...