Austin Business Journal articles from February 2001

Austin Business Journal archives from February 2001

Applied supplier seeks room.(Mayville Metal Products)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Mayville Metal Products wants 80,000 s.f. for center to serve key customer Applied Materials Mayville Metal Products, a supplier to Applied Materials Inc., is closing its logistics center in Austin and seeking space here for an...

Vieo snags $20M in VC.(funding from TL Ventures to Vieo Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... After six years in business, Austin's Vieo Inc., a high-end computing company, has secured its first round of funding -- a $20 million infusion led by TL Ventures. The round also includes One Liberty Ventures of Cambridge, Mass., Audax...

New CEO flies to tech firm.(John Stockton leads Wavefly Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Austin company formerly known as enfiNet Media Corp. not only has assumed a new name, Wavefly Corp., but has a new CEO and a new corporate partner, RealNetworks Inc. John Stockton, formerly an adviser to Wavefly, has replaced founder...

Making waves at Lake Travis.(Sumerset Custom Houseboats)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Just buy a house on Lake Travis. A houseboat, that is. Sumerset Custom Houseboats is opening a sales center in the new NorthShore on Lake Travis Marina to serve the Southwest. NorthShore is a 1,000-acre residential community and...

No dot-coms this year.(SuperBowl marketing research)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Baltimore Ravens made their presence known on Super Bowl Sunday when they stomped the New York Giants--but they weren't alone. Austin-based Clickin Research Inc., an online market research company, surveyed more than 500 viewers before...

Hold that note.(Pete's Dueling Piano Bar lawsuit)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A dissonant chord has been struck on Sixth Street at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar. The music industry is trying to draw the curtain on the unauthorized public performance of copyrighted songs. New York City-based Broadcast Music Inc. has filed...

Making waves.(Waveset Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Austin startup Waveset Technologies Inc. is seeking 5,000 to 10,000 square feet to expand its 26-employee operation in the next six weeks or so. The company is in 3,000 square feet at 6838 Austin Center Blvd. It expects to have 35 to 40...

Heart of-Texas.(MedBiquitous Services Inc. gets financing)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... An Austin entrepreneur got $6.5 million from Medtronic Inc. and another corporate investor to ramp up a startup aimed at heart surgeons. Jerry Scott, chairman and CEO of MedBiquitous Services Inc., is moving the company to Baltimore this...

Chads can't cling to Austin!(local election event)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area plans to make sure Florida's hanging chad issue gets hung up once and for all, on a local level. The group is sponsoring an event that will feature a talk by Travis County Clerk Dana...

Promoting jobs.(Norwood Promotional Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Austin's Norwood Promotional Products Inc. is consolidating its five sales offices, obtained through acquisitions, and expanding its Austin operations. Norwood, which employs 50 in Austin, is in 5,000 square feet at 106 E. Sixth St. The...

Bowling for dollars.(charity event in Austin, Texas)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In the name of charity, techies will dust off their bowling balls at the Austin Cup '01. Five-member teams will gather from 1-5 p.m. Feb. 3 at AMF Showplace Lanes. The winner will take home the Austin Cup. Other trophies include the...

Businesses give bucks.(United Way fundraising statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... More than 750 companies helped the United Way/Capital Area shatter national fundraising records in 2000. Last year's total reached $20.5 million, a 20 percent increase from the $17.1 million raised in 1999. The organization's top five...

Legend Airlines owes $18.7M.(to creditors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... DALLAS -- Startup carrier Legend Airlines Inc owes at least $18.7 million to hundreds of so-called unsecured creditors. But if the Dallas-based airline is forced to liquidate, it's unlikely that any of those creditors will recover more than 10...

Clear Channel seeks major space.(Clear Channel Communications Inc. )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... SAN ANTONIO -- Just eight months after moving into its new digs on Basse Road, Clear Channel Communications Inc. is on the lookout for more space. Chad Dan, vice president of real estate for Clear Channel, says the publicly traded company...

Medical complex proposed.(for downtown Austin, Texas)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Project would bring more than 82,000 s.f. of medical space to area near Seton Medical Center More than 82,000 square feet of medical office space may be coming to West 38th Street between Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street. Plans for...

Endeavor project rolls.(Endeavor Real Estate Group LLC)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... The City of Rollingwood has agreed to allow as much as 325,000 square feet of office construction near Zilker Park. A Planned Unit Development agreement with Austin's Endeavor Real Estate Group LLC outlines guidelines and limitations for...

MQ&C gains big account.(MQ&C Advertising and Marketing, Palm Harbor Homes)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Advertising agency picks up media-buying business form Fort Worth's Palm Harbor Homes Fort Worth-based Palm Harbor Homes Inc. has hired Austin's MQ&C Advertising and Marketing to buy about $6.5 million worth of advertising and media...

Firm draws $7.5M.(Thinkwell Inc. funding gain)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... As online reference material publisher ibooks.com Inc. laid off 83 people Jan. 25, another Austin company in a similar. business - Web-based textbooks -- closed on its third round of funding. Thinkwell Inc., a 3-year-old company known for...

Law firm seeks to claim assets in embezzlement.(Ikard & Golden PC )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In a move to reclaim more than $250,000 in allegedly embezzled funds, Austin law firm Ikard & Golden PC has served Bank of Texas NA with a writ of garnishment aimed at freezing assets. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 19 in Travis County District...

Building permit values surpass $3B in Austin area.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The dollar value of building permits issued in 2000 in the Greater Austin area increased 22 percent from the previous year. A report by the F.W. Dodge Division of the McGraw-Hill Cos. for Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson...

Web games developer draws major investors.(MarketEcho Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A relatively unknown Austin startup has received funding from well-known investors such as Dell Computer Corp. executive Mort Topfer, America Online Inc. co-founder Marc Seriff and Vignette Corp. co-founder Neil Webber. MarketEcho Inc., a...

Hardware startup surges with 50,000 s.f. sublease.(Surgient Networks Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... An Austin Internet hardware developer with $57 million in second-round funding under its belt is more than tripling its headquarters with a move to North MoPac Expressway. Surgient Networks Inc. has subleased about 50,000 square feet at...

Compaq Computer Corp.(signs deal with Yahoo! Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... * Houston Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp. and Internet giant Yahoo! Inc. have signed a multiyear agreement worth an estimated $100 million. Yahoo!, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based Internet commerce, communications and media company, is...

Digital Media On Demand Inc.(gets $12.5 million in funding)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... * Boston With a financial boost, a Boston startup is preparing to play its hand in the highs-takes baffle over distribution of music online. Digital Media On Demand Inc., which is developing technology to allow the downloading of music...

Apple Computer Inc.(financial strategy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... * San Jose For years, Apple Computer Inc. has emphasized its ethereal qualities, casting itself as the machine for the creatively inclined, a tool for 1960s-style revolutionaries and a stylized declaration of nonconformity. Time to...

CheckFree Corp.(has competition in Spectrum EBP LLC)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... * Atlanta One of Georgia's most successful technology companies now has one of its biggest competitors moving into its own back yard. During the early days of the Internet, Norcross-based CheckFree Corp. dominated the market for...

Office Depot Inc.(may acquire shares in iReturns)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... * Baltimore Office supply giant Office Depot Inc. is negotiating to buy a minority stake in Owings Mills, Md.-based iReturns, a 1year-old firm that plans to support the online sales industry. Jonathan Whitman, founder and president of...

Drug research company expands into Austin.(INC Research )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Raleigh, N.C.-based INC Research has expanded into Austin. The contract research company says its new Austin location will give it a base in the central United States. INC Research recently appointed a new vice president of business...

Houston company chooses StorageProvider's services.(Tradewell Systems Inc. picks StorageProvider Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Houston-based Tradewell Systems Inc. has chosen StorageProvider Inc., an Austin-based data storage management company, to provide backup and recovery services for files, databases and operating systems. Tradewell's customers are Fortune 100...

Hawaiian real estate group buys four Austin buildings.(The Shidler Group)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A real estate group based in Hawaii has closed on the purchase of four Austin office buildings for a total of $56.5 million. The Shidler Group says it has completed the portfolio purchase from Southfield Realty LP. The buildings are:...

Marching to her own tune.(the personal and business life of Susan Dawson of Athens Group Inc.)
February 2, 2001... Susan Dawson conducts her personal and business lives with a constant eye on her unwavering vision of right and wrong When Adriene Mannas came into the world last Jan. 15, she arrived six weeks ahead of schedule. She weighed a mere 3...

Telemarketing requires script.(telemarketing recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Don't take telemarketing lightly: Calling without a script is like driving without brakes. If you're determined to take telephone sales in-house, keep in mind these tips, courtesy of The Edward Lowe Report: * Use a one-page customized...

Youths interested in startups.(seven of ten high school students would like to start their own businesses)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Gallup studies show that seven of 10 high school students want to start their own companies, according to the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Following a dream.(Brass Elegante gift shop, Austin, Texas)
February 2, 2001... Austin duo opens store on Congress On the morning of her 50th birthday, Sherry Ransom decided she had squelched her entrepreneurial spirit long enough. She turned to her husband, Alfred, and said: "It's time for us to follow our dream."...

Proper clothing can help button up a sale.(sales people should keep their customers in mind when selecting clothing)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Concerned and frustrated salespeople often ask me: "What is the proper dress code for making a sales call these days?" That's a challenging question. The corporate landscape has changed considerably over the past few years. In the 1980s,...

Avoiding these mistakes can elevate your startup.(recommendations for entrepreneurs)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The "American Dream," as most see it, involves going out on your own, grasping opportunity, getting rich and finding true fulfillment. Many chase after this dream, some of them quite successfully. Others hit the ground running and slam into the...

Off-the-wall ideas can keep marketing on track.(advice from marketing consultant Nancy Michaels)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A dynamic new marketing strategy can help your business thrive rather than just survive. Nancy Michaels, co-author with Debbi Karpowicz of Off the Wall Marketing Ideas, says keeping in touch with clients and customers on a regular basis is...

Shed light on important tasks at your workplace.(the economic importance of finding the right lighting)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In the United States, we spend about one-quarter of our electricity budget on lighting -- that's more than $37 billion annually. In your own office, lighting alone will consume 20 percent to 30 percent of your total energy bill, according to...

NFIB relaunches site as portal for small biz.(National Federation of Independent Business)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The country's leading small business advocacy group is beefing up its Web site in hopes of becoming one of the Internet's leading small business portals. The National Federation of Independent Business will launch its new and improved...

New Markets VC rules delayed, but not deadline.(venture capital)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Acting SBA Administrator Fred Hochberg says the Bush administration's moratorium on new regulations shouldn't have "any material effect" on the New Markets Venture Capital program, even though the program's rules now won't go into effect until...

Ex-Cheney aide to lead business political effort.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Dave Gribbon, former chief aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, will direct the expanded grass-roots activity of the Business Industry Political Action Committee for the 2002 campaign. Gribbon had served as the volunteer chair of Bipac's...

Streamlined merger rules allow bypassing of notice.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Companies involved in mergers valued at less than $50 million no longer must provide advance notice to federal antitrust regulators as of Feb. 1. Congress raised the premerger notification threshold from $15 million to streamline the merger...

Self-employed dominate ranks of businesses.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The U.S. Census Bureau reports 70 percent of the country's 22 million businesses don't have paid employees. These nonemployers posted $586 billion in sales in 1997, 3.3 percent of the nation's total business receipts. Four sectors of the...

Kernel Group establishes European headquarters.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Kernel Group, an Austinbased provider of enterprise systems management software, has opened its European headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. As part of its transatlantic expansion, the company plans to open offices in London, Paris and...

PEOPLE.
February 2, 2001... MATT BELLINGER has joined Fulbright & Jaworski LLP as an associate. He will focus on Intellectual property matters with an emphasis in the chemical and biochemical fields. Bellinger received his bachelor's of art degree from Rice University in...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.(Letter to the Editor)
February 2, 2001... Balance key in education Combination of liberal arts and math and science creates the most rounded person and employee Dear Editor, As CEO of an Austin-based technology startup, I was interested in your comments about the 360...

South MoPac is New Austin.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... South MoPac Expressway used to seem like one of Austin's greenbelts. Today, it feels more like an extended office park in some larger Texas city. That's only going to be intensified with the coming Rollingwood Town Center planned unit...

A safe Sixth takes talent.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... I have a friend who is a police officer here in Austin. For a large part of his career, he's had the duty of patrolling Sixth Street. Because his beat coincides with one of the city's most popular adult playgrounds, I've had a chance to watch...

Hunting for office space for your high tech firm?(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Planning to add locations in the hot retail market? Or looking for a spot in an industrial park for your manufacturing firm? If your answer is yes to any of the above, the following listing of properties for lease could be a lifesaver. The...

Office space absorption tops record set in 1984.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Last year Austin scored the highest office absorption and occupancy rates on record by at least one company's calculations. Space re-entering the market as subleases is giving some, users welcome options, however. The Source, an annual...

McShane moves into Austin's Class A market.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Office and industrial developer McShane Corp. isn't letting the recent reduction in high tech real estate requirements slow its plans for speculative construction in Northwest Austin. In fact, McShane added a new project The company...

Industrial absorption, vacancy rates rise in 2000.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Record-breaking absorption of industrial real estate in 2000 created a market for property owners, but 2001 could offer minor relief for tenants because of some increased availability. Austin's annual absorption for industrial real estate...

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE OFFICE LEASING, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Name of property Total s.f.currently Largest/smallest Physical address available ...

OFFICE LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Riata Crossing 4 & 6 ...

OFFICE LEASING NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Chevy Chase 119,459 ...

OFFICE LEASING, NORTHWEST.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physcial address available space available River Place Pointe ...

OFFICE LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available 118 Alpine Rd. Bldg. ...

OFFICE LEASING, SOUTHEAST.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, SOUTHEAST Name of Property Total s.f. currently Physical address available Met Center 11 75,400 Riverside...

OFFICE LEASING, SOUTHWEST.
February 2, 2001... OFFICE LEASING, SOUTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available The Terrace Bldg. III ...

RETAIL LEASING, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Phillips Building 8,967 ...

RETAIL LEASING, CENTRAL.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available North Loop Plaza 25,743 ...

RETAIL LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available The Railyard ...

RETAIL LEASING, NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available ...

RETAIL LEASING, NORTHWEST.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Braker Lane Crossing 43,000...

RETAIL LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Blackhawk ...

RETAIL LEASING, SOUTHEAST.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, SOUTHEAST Name of property Total s.f.currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Riverside Place Shopping Center 33,558 ...

RETAIL LEASING, SOUTHWEST.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... RETAIL LEASING, SOUTHWEST Name of property Total s.f.currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Randall's Cherry Creek ...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, CENTRAL.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Annual rent range Physical address available space available (lowest-highest) PS Business Park I-35 1,200 ...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, FAR NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Physical address available Tech.Ridge Four.1 290,758 710 W. Howard Land...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Tuscany Center ...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, NORTHWEST.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, NORTHWEST Name of property Total s.f.currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available 2305 Donley Bldg. 300,150 ...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTH CENTRAL Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Former Redipack Bldg. 161,000 ...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTHEAST.(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTHEAST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Southpark Commerce Center II Bldg 4...

INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTHWEST.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 2, 2001... INDUSTRIAL LEASING, SOUTHWEST Name of property Total s.f. currently Largest/smallest Physical address available space available Oak Hill #2 17,508 ...

COLLIERS OXFORD REPORT.
February 2, 2001... THE COLLIERS OXFORD REPORT IS A PUBLICATION OF COLLIERS OXFORD COMMERCIAL, AUSTIN, TEXAS FORD ALEXANDER + VIGNETTE = MANAGING GROWTH AT INTERNET SPEED. Ford Alexander, a 16-year veteran of commercial real estate, merged his firm, The...

Sublease space soars.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... Survey finds more than 1.2M square feet of space available for sublease from Austin tenants Austin companies seeking space are finding their glass half-full of available real estate, thanks to a recent surge in subleasing. "It wasn't...

Startup closes on CEO.(Expeditrix hires Steve Pittman)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Austin real estate technology startup Expeditrix Corp. has tapped its first outside CEO to guide the company into its nationwide expansion. Expeditrix named Steve Pittman, former president and chief operating officer of Austin's...

Environmental feud erupts.(development in Hays County, Texas)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Reminiscent of battles in Austin, letter from SOS touches off war of words in growing Hays County The acrimonious battles between environmentalists and real estate developers that dominated Travis County in the last decade appear to have...

Code of fortune.(affluent zip code areas)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... The Austin neighborhood of Michael Dell and other well-off executives is in good company: It's one of the country's 176 superaffluent ZIP codes. Austin's 78746 ZIP code ranked No. 120 on the new list, compiled by Demographics Daily. The...

Park and fly.(Contoy Corp. develops new parking lot at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's first private parking lot, ABI Park & Ride, has taken flight. The lot opened Jan. 25, nearly three months later than owners initially hoped. Kathleen Meece, president of Austin-based Contoy...

On your marks.(Motorola Marathon)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Set down the boots and lace up the sneakers -- the Motorola Marathon celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with more than 8,000 participants expected. The race, set for Feb. 18, will feature a full marathon and half-marathon relay....

Super-size debate.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Controversy about superhero breast size has erupted because of illustrations appearing on a Georgetown-based superhero illustration Web site, (www.heromachine.com). Visitors to the site can create their own superheroes, starting with a...

High-low art.(Edward Ruscha art exhibit)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... As Andy Warhol added the Campbell's soup can to the canon of American art, so too does contemporary graphic artist Edward Ruscha blur the line between high art and pop culture. Beginning Feb. 17, the Austin Museum of Art presents an exhibit...