Fairfield County Business Journal articles from March 2006

Fairfield County Business Journal archives from March 2006

Satisfying a knead.(Russian lady who owns a salon in Florida)(Column)
March 6, 2006... "When I came here, my English was absolutely zero," said Ella Samsonova, her sentence structure and cadence decorated with a Ukrainian accent. "It was, 'How do you do?' and 'My name is Ella.' Step, by step I started picking up American." ...

Health care at root of two strikes.
March 6, 2006... Two labor strikes in Fairfield County illustrate how the rising costs of health insurance can create friction between management and workers. Health insurance was the chief factor sparking both a three-day walkout--Feb. 22 to Feb. 25--by...

Business workshops have Spanish accent.
March 6, 2006... Danbury's Hispanic business community his about to get some help in nailing down a few basics of the American flee enterprise system--and the laws and regulations that have become part and parcel of the system. Beginning later this month...

Brookfield revives its dormant chamber of commerce.
March 6, 2006... Brookfield's business community has resuscitated its chamber of commerce after about a decade, and organizers have been surprised by the response--"more than we anticipated," said Linda McCaffrey, president of the new Brookfield Chamber of...

State considers incentives to lure film industry.(Connecticut)
March 6, 2006... The Nutmeg State is not normally associated with movie magic, but legislators want to change that. In her State of the State speech last month, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she wants to "spur the lucrative economic opportunities associated with...

Allied Property Group announces leases.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... Allied Property Group in Greenwich recently announced the following commercial leases in Fairfield County: * Halo Technology Corp., 1,800 square feet at 200 Railroad Ave., Greenwich, for a regional headquarters. Ron O'Brien, a vice...

Bank of Ireland unit moves to Stamford.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... The Bank of Ireland wholesale financial services group has entered a lease through 2017 for 20,359 square feet of class A office space at 300 First Stamford Place. The financial services group is now at 75 Holly Hill Road in Greenwich ...

Mason Capital Management comes to Stamford.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... Mason Capital Management, a hedge-fund manager, signed a seven-year, 3,577-square-foot lease on the second floor of 100 First Stamford Place. The new offices supplement the company's office at 110 E. 59th St. in Manhattan. Greg Taubin and...

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation moves to Norwalk.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... AT&T has left some of its space at MerrittView office building in Norwalk, and Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation of New Canaan will be moving into the 4,303-square-foot space on the buildings fifth floor. "Our business is growing at such...

Saugatuck Commercial Real Estate announces leases.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... Saugatuck Commercial Real Estate L.L.C. in Westport recently announced that it has negotiated leases over the past six months for Cold Stone Creamery Inc. throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Among the store's 10 new locations in...

Information Resources renews MerrittView lease.(Real estate leases)
March 6, 2006... Information Resources Inc., a 10-year tenant at MerrittView in Norwalk, has renewed its lease for 25,130 square feet of office space for another six years. John Ryan, executive vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle, and Douglas R. Neye, a...

Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk.(Real estate leases)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... These eight leases were recently signed at Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk, according to the managing and leasing agent for the property, Albert D. Phelps Inc.: * CF Global Trading L.L.C., 2,000 square feet at 101 Merritt 7 for a...

I hate you, I'm leaving--customers in jeopardy.(Ask Andi?)
March 6, 2006... QUESTION: As a business owner, I buy lots of products and services to help my company do its job. And this evening, I'm sitting here so furious that there's steam coming out of my ears. We had a deadline, which we are going to miss, because one...

Home builders.(THE LIST)(Directory)
March 6, 2006... Listed alphabetically Fairfield County and region Name, address, phone number Top local executive(s) Area code: 203 Contact (in bold) (unless otherwise noted) E-mail...

MeadWestvaco's headquarters moving to Virginia: finance operations to stay somewhere in area.
March 6, 2006... The decision by MeadWestvaco to move its corporate headquarters from Stamford to the Richmond, Va., area will result in the New York metropolitan area losing most of the company's nearly 100 headquarters employees--about 40 in corporate...

Business web directory.(Directory)
March 6, 2006... ACCOUNTING Eisman, Zucker, Klein & Ruttenberg www.ezkrcpa.com 914-428-7733 ACCOUNTING & BOOKEEPING SERVICES Turnkey Bookkeeping & Computer Training www.TurnkeyFMS.com www.TurnkeyComputerTraining.com ...

Podcasting for profits.(Techcetera)
March 6, 2006... Podcasting--a way of presenting sound and even video over the Internet for public consumption--can be a new tool for small businesses to present themselves and their products and services to customers. A combination of the words "iPod" and...

Eyeing the east: U.S. businesses look to capitalize on China's rapid economic growth.(FOCUS: Business relocation)
March 6, 2006... China's rapidly expanding economy is changing the way global companies are doing business there, making them scramble to develop enough senior executives and skilled managers to assign to China, and helping build that country's management...

RBS releases few details on its big building.(Royal Bank of Scotland)
March 6, 2006... The Royal Bank of Scotland, which is moving the headquarters for much of its U.S. operations to Washington Boulevard in Stamford, wants to be a "good neighbor" in the words of architect Roger Ferris of Westport of the future building. For now,...

Know before they go: companies need employee relocation knowledge in mobile marketplace.(FOCUS: Business relocation)
March 6, 2006... To compete in today's climate of corporate consolidations, mergers and acquisitions, businesses often face the challenge of relocating their most valuable resource--their people. Advances in technology have made it easier for employees to work...

Tazewell Thompson, artistic director at the Westport Country Playhouse. Westport, a not-for-profit theater, was honored by NAACP, Baltimore.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Tazewell Thompson, artistic director at the Westport Country Playhouse. Westport, a not-for-profit theater, was honored by NAACP, Baltimore. "Constant Star," a play written and directed by Thompson, won five Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP...

The United Illuminating Co., New Haven, a utility engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to customers in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas, and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund awarded $135,462 to the town of Fairfield.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... The United Illuminating Co., New Haven, a utility engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to customers in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas, and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency...

Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, received a $25,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, received a $25,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation to support the Norwalk After School Achievement Program, formed to provide school-based after-school programming for Norwalk...

Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, received a $10,000 gift from the Wachovia Foundation.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport. received a $10,000 gift from the Wachovia Foundation, a private foundation that is funded by Charlotte N.C.-Wachovia Corp., to support student scholarships.

Triple Point Technology Inc., Westport, a supplier of cross-industry software platforms for the supply, trading, marketing and movement of commodities, announced that Coal and Oil Company L.L.C.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Triple Point Technology Inc., Westport, a supplier of cross-industry software platforms for the supply, trading, marketing and movement of commodities, announced that Coal and Oil Company L.L.C., Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a provider of coal...

Michael J. London & Associates, Trumbull, a public relations firm, announced the addition of three new clients.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Michael J. London & Associates, Trumbull, a public relations firm, announced the addition of three new clients: Toad's Place, New Haven, a music hall; Whitcraft L.L.C., Eastford, an aerospace sheet metal fabrication and precision machining...

Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut Inc., Bridgeport, a nonprofit agency that provides employment and support services to people with disabilities, received a three-year accreditation.(Credits, Clients and Awards)
March 6, 2006... Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut Inc., Bridgeport, a nonprofit agency that provides employment and support services to people with disabilities, received a three-year accreditation for its organizational employment services and...

Attachments.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... Jones, April and Charles Jones, Danbury. $8,900 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury. Property: 108 Forty Acre Mountain Road, Danbury. Filed Feb. 6.

Bankruptcies.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... The following petitions were filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Bridgeport. Chapter 11 indicates the filer intends to submit a plan of reorganization to the court. Chapter 7 indicates a liquidation of assets. Northeast Mechanical Services...

Building permits.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... Commercial Benderson Development, contractor for Randall Benderson Jr. et al. Install an in-ground pool and enclosure and construct a portico at Industrial Plaza Road Danbury. Estimated cost: $532,232. Filed Jan. 13. Claris...

United Rentals Inc.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... United Rentals Inc. Greenwich, an equipment rental company, announced the following appointments. James Milde of Somers. N.Y., joined the company as senior vice president and chief information officer. Most recently, Milde was senior...

Citizens Communications Co.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... Cecilia K. McKenney of Mount Kisco, N.Y., was appointed senior vice president, human resources at Citizens Communications Co., Stamford, a provider of communications services: Since 1995. McKenney worked at Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.. Somers,...

Cummings & Lockwood L.L.C.(Carolyn DeVore and Janice H. Eiseman appointed)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... Cummings & Lockwood L.L.C., a law firm. announced the following promotions in its Stamford office. Carolyn DeVore of Fairfield was promoted to a principal. Since 2003, DeVore was a counsel. She joined the firm in 2001 as an associate....

Leggette, Brashears & Graham Inc.(Thomas P. Cusack appointed)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... Thomas P. Cusack of New Milford was promoted to a vice president and principal at Leggette, Brashears & Graham Inc. (LBG), Shelton, a groundwater and environmental engineering services firm. Since 2002, Cusack was a senior associate. Prior to...

Peter Gray & Associates.(Sandra Wendler appointed)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... Sandra Wendler of Westport was appointed vice president, client relations at Peter Gray & Associates, Stamford, a recruiting firm. Wendler has 12 years of experience in the employment recruitment industry, most recently as an assistant vice...

Stamford Hospital.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... Dr. Donald Lombino of Red Hook, N.Y., was appointed chair of the department of emergency medicine at Stamford Hospital, Stamford. From 2002 to 2005, Lombino was director of emergency medicine at Benedictine Hospital, Kingston, N.Y. Prior to...

St. Vincent's Medical Center.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... Dr. James Appiah-Pippim of Trumbull was appointed medical director of the intensive-care units and chief of critical-care medicine at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport. Since 1999, Appiah-Pippim worked at the Hospital of St. Raphael. New...

Housatonic Community College.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... Dr. Soohong Kim of Middletown was appointed director of institutional research at Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport. Most recently, Kim was director of data analysis at a company in Connecticut; Prior to that, he was assistant research...

First Reserve Corp.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... First Reserve Corp., Greenwich, a private equity firm that specializes in the energy industry, announced the following appointments. Jeffrey Quake of Greenwich joined the firm as an assistant vice president. Most recently, Quake was a...

InsightExpress.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... InsightExpress, Stamford, an online market research company, announced the following appointments. Niki Tyson of Bridgeport joined the company as a senior account executive in the technology sector. Most recently, Tyson was an account...

Union State Bank.(Newsmakers)
March 6, 2006... Michael Mahoney of Ridgefield was promoted to an assistant vice president at Union State Bank, Orangeburg, N.Y. Mahoney has been mortgage sales manager at the bank since May 2005. Prior to that, he was manager of the bank's Stamford branch....

Court cases.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... Bridgeport Superior Court A. W. Chesterton Co. et al., Stoneham, Mass. et al. Filed by the Estate of Romeo Cote. et al., Auburn, Maine. Plaintiff's attorney: Early Ludwick & Sweeney L.L.C., New Haven. Action: the plaintiff alleges that the...

Deeds.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... Commercial 15 Prospect Road L.L.C., Westport. Seller: Catherine Gallagher and Steven Glovinsky, Westport. Property: 15 Prospect Road, Westport. Amount: $1.2 million. Filed Jan. 27. 222 Riverside Avenue L.L.C., Westport. Seller: DIV...

Leases.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... Advanced Dermatology & Laser Center L.L.C. by Tanya Futoryan. Landlord: United Way of Westport-Weston Inc. Property: 489 Post Road East, Westport. Term: five and one-eighth years, beginning Nov. 17, 2005. Filed Jan. 26. AvalonBay...

Liens.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... Federal Tax Liens--filed Elisabeth F. S. Solomon, 47 Long Lots Road, Westport. $18,685, responsible corporate officer. Filed Jan. 30. Elisabeth F. S. Solomon, 47 Long Lots Road, Westport. $22,100, responsible corporate officer. Filed...

Lis pendens.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... The following filings indicate a legal action has been initiated, the outcome of which may affect the title to the property listed. Brunale, Dorinda et al. Filed by Hunt Leibert Jacobson P.C., Hartford, by Long Beach Mortgage Co., Stockton,...

Mortgages.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... 1625 Realty Corp. et al., Stamford by Dimitrios Kitsios. Lender: First County Bank, Stamford. Property: 1625 Summer St., Stamford. Amount: $5.6 million. Filed Feb. 8. 222 Riverside Avenue L.L.C., Westport by Louise McGlynn and Nancy...

New business names.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... The Business Journal is not responsible for typographical errors contained in the original filings. Acehelp L.L.C., 15 Mariners Lane, Stamford, 06902, c/o Michael Maguire. Filed Jan. 11. AJW Financial, 10 Wright St., Suite 200....

On the agenda.(ON THE RECORD)
March 6, 2006... Thursday, March 9 SCORE small-business workshop, on creative techniques in marketing, with Jane Pollak, 6 to 9 p.m., University of Connecticut Stamford campus Washington Boulevard and Broad Street, Stamford. $20. For reservations, call...

Public notices.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)(Calendar)
March 6, 2006... Thursday, March 9 A.G. Edwards investment seminar, on four steps to a stronger portfolio, with Judith Pennington, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., A.G. Edwards. 35 Danbury Road, Ridgefield. For reservations, call Margaret at 438-2223. "On the Verge"...

Patents.(ON THE RECORD)(Public notice)
March 6, 2006... Adhesive patch. Patent no. D515, 701 issued to Stephen Horhota, 13 Prospect Drive, Brookfield 06804; Said Saim, 5 Nature View Lane, New Milford 06776; Leigh Ann Rondano, 75 Plumtrees Road, Bethel 06801; and Michael Hardy, 177 Russian Village...

Prudential Connecticut Realty.(Real Estate Update)
March 6, 2006... Prudential Connecticut Realty announced the following appointments in its Wilton office. Annalisa Stravato of Wilton joined the office as a sales executive. Stravato formerly worked in the financial services industry at J.P. Morgan and...

Country Living Associates.(Leslie Gainer Boris and Thomas Hanson appointed)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... Country Living Associates announced the following appointments in its Darien office. Leslie Gainer Boris of Darien joined the office as a sales associate. Boris has worked in the real estate field for 30 years, most recently at William...

Antares Investment Partners.(Real Estate Update)
March 6, 2006... Antares Investment Partners, Greenwich, purchased two residential Greenwich properties from an affiliate of Mill Management Group for $223 million: the 266-unit Putnam Green I-III, located at the juncture of Post Road and Western Junior...

Applied Psychological Techniques Inc.(Real Estate Update)
March 6, 2006... Applied Psychological Techniques Inc. (APT), a human resource consulting firm, signed a lease for 14.250 square feet of space at 1 Thorndal Circle. Darien. APT will relocate to the building from another site in Darien. Choyce Peterson Inc.,...

Windhover Information Inc.(Real Estate Update)
March 6, 2006... Windhover Information Inc., a provider of analysis and commentary on the health-care industry, renewed its lease for 9,025 square feet of space at 10 Hoyt St., Norwalk. Choyce Peterson Inc., Stamford, represented the tenant.

HK Group.(contracts)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... HK Group, Westport, announced the following transactions in Westport. Great States Inc., doing business as Gia & Co., a women's fashion boutique, leased 2,100 square feet of space at 141 Post Road East. The company relocated its Westport...

Resource directory.(Directory)
March 6, 2006... Advertising_Agencies * WRIGHTWAY CREATIVE GROUP 203-354-3650 A full-service advertising agency providing award winning creative and marketing services. Advertising/Graphic...

Jeremy Schulz: gentleman farmer.(PROFITS & PASSIONS: Successful business people have many dimensions, they even manage to have some fun)
March 6, 2006... Summer jobs are a staple in most college student's lives. Some flip burgers in the sizzling kitchens of fast-food restaurants and some opt for the air-conditioned comfort of the retail store to make some extra bucks for school. Jeremy...

Good news for local businesses.(Our view)
March 6, 2006... We're always in favor of initiatives to bolster the local economy, especially when they involve opportunities for small businesses. So we were pleased this week to learn about two local efforts--a revived chamber of commerce in Brookfield and...

Norwalk supports cancer society's awareness campaign.(VIEWPOINT)
March 6, 2006... To the editor: It starts with you. I am writing to enlist your support in a unique effort to reduce or eliminate colon cancer in our community. As the nation marks the seventh annual National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the city...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
March 6, 2006... David Lott, editor and publisher of GolfCourseHome Network, worked for the New York Times Co. An article in last weeks' edition contained incorrect information on his previous position. Also, the following paragraph should have read: ...

Hollywood on the sound.(the grapevine)
March 6, 2006... A new film company is about to start shooting a 28-minute movie at Norwalk's Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum. Colleen Murphy of Westport and James Noble of Norwalk, both actors, co-founded Open the Gate Pictures L.L.C. last December. Noble...

Agency a boost to startups.
March 13, 2006... Leslie Arcesi of Fairfield put together her business plan for Budding Gourmet Ltd., a catering service and party store, in January 2005 and had it approved by a bank in her town the following month. "When he (loan officer) told me I got the...

Danbury Hospital plans outpatient expansion.
March 13, 2006... Danbury Hospital will construct a $44.5 million outpatient facility to free up space in the hospital's main buildings for projected growth in inpatient admissions from an aging baby boomer population. The new building will consolidate and...

Worth quoting.
March 13, 2006... "We're not dismissive... We don't say that that is an idea (for a business) that is not going to net you a living... We're not going to turn you away. We are not raining on people's parades." --Fran Pastore, president, Women's Business...

Outsourcing to China? Know thy corporate strategy, consultant says.
March 13, 2006... Outsourcing to China can save companies money, but if they don't take advantage of the lower costs by changing their business model, businesses can still lose competitive advantage, a consultant with experience in the country told executives in...

NewAlliance Bank expands into county with a bang.
March 13, 2006... Completing its acquisition of Cornerstone Bank, New Haven-based NewAlliance Bank has taken down the old signs and replaced them with its own as it enters Fairfield County with a publicity bang. Peyton R. Patterson, chief executive officer...

Norwalk office building sold.(Real estate transactions)
March 13, 2006... A 19,900-square-foot office building at 161 East Ave. in Norwalk has been sold for $2.3 million to a New Canaan partnership. The building, which houses professional and medical offices and sits on three-quarters of an acre about a half block...

Norwalk retail strip sold for $11.4 million.(Real estate transactions)(Brief article)
March 13, 2006... A retail strip now leased to Pier One, Fedex Kinko's and Cingular at 777 Connecticut Ave. has been sold for $11.4 million to First Sterling Corp., based in Branford. The building, which sits on a bit more than 1.5 acres, is located at the...

Darien office building sold for $6.4 million.(Real estate transactions)
March 13, 2006... The former headquarters of Air Express International at 120 Tokeneke Road has been sold for $6.4 million to a joint venture owned by the Nielsen Co. and RJC Management L.L.C. Originally constructed as a warehouse in 1968, the building was...

Greenwich company leases Stratford space.(Real estate transactions)
March 13, 2006... Jackpot Entertainment, based in Greenwich, has leased 11,840 square feet at 1895 Stratford Ave. in Stratford. The space will be used for training purposes, sales and service operations for lighting and audio gear and preparing items for...

What it means to be financially literate.(Money $ense)
March 13, 2006... Quality information about consumer finance makes it possible to navigate more effectively through the complex world of debt and credit and emerge largely (though not totally) unscathed. My recent columns have suggested how important it is for...

Ask Andi.(business management and management team development)
March 13, 2006... QUESTION: What do I need to learn in order to grow and manage my business? This question comes from the owner of two businesses, one distribution, one manufacturing. The businesses are up and running, have been for some years and both are...

Granite countertop company leases Monroe space.(Real estate transactions)
March 13, 2006... Ontra Stone Concepts L.L.C., which makes granite countertops for kitchens and bathrooms, has leased about 3,800 square feet of space for a five-year term in the Mikron Building at 600 Pepper St. in Monroe. Although Ontra Stone Concepts is a...

Stamford company signs new headquarters lease.(Real estate transactions)
March 13, 2006... Telekurs (USA) Inc. has renewed the lease for its U.S. headquarters at the River Bend Executive Center at 1 Omega Drive, Stamford. Telekurs reviewed its location options and decided it wanted easy access to New York City financial customers...

Business Web directory.(Directory)
March 13, 2006... ACCOUNTING Eisman, Zucker, Klein & Ruttenberg www.ezkrcpa.com 914-428-7733 ACCOUNTING & BOOKKEEPING SERVICES Turnkey Bookkeeping & Computer Training www.TurnkeyFMS.com www.TurnkeyComputerTraining.com ...

Architectural firms.(THE LIST)(Industry ranking)(List)
March 13, 2006... Architectural firms Ranked by the number of licensed architects in county. Listed alphabetically in event of tie. Name, address, phone number Area code: 203 Managing principal(s) ...

Dollars and endowments: fewer alumni donating to alma maters.(FOCUS: Education)
March 13, 2006... There may be extra zeros at the end of some donations to colleges and universities, but more and more alumni are choosing to spend their money elsewhere, rather than give back to their alma mater. While the total amount of alumni donations...

529 plans: save for college, save on taxes.(FOCUS: Education)
March 13, 2006... Section 529 plans seem almost too good to be true. They offer a tax-advantaged savings program to pay for higher education combined with estate-planning and gift-tax benefits. This combination has made them attractive to parents, grandparents...

Study: grads more career ready.(FOCUS: Education)
March 13, 2006... Colleges and universities are working hard to prepare future professionals for corporate America, a new study shows. The study, Ready for the Real World, found that 71 percent of chief financial officers said today's accounting graduates...

Students consolidating loans to avoid higher interest rates.(FOCUS: Education)
March 13, 2006... If you are a student--or the parent of one--and are considering consolidating your loans you better act quickly. In December, the Senate voted on a $40 billion budget cut that will affect the interest rates on student loans as of July 2006....

ClassesUSA joins Salary.com as provider of college information.(FOCUS: Education)
March 13, 2006... ClassesUSA, a leading online education portal, last week joined Salary.com as an exclusive provider of information and resources about online higher-education opportunities. Approximately 1 million adults are expected to enroll in a fully...

Growth is locked in Lock City'.(DOING BUSINESS IN OPEN STAMFORD)
March 13, 2006... In Stamford, economic growth is not so much a dream as a set of blueprints. In the next several years, this city's downtown skyline should be higher, its traffic more congested, its work force better paid and more geared toward financial...