Austin Business Journal articles from June 1992

Austin Business Journal archives from June 1992

Battling for bucks. (marketing strategies of financial institutions) (Industry Overview)
June 29, 1992... In Texas, the selling of a financial institution has become so commonplace it's barely news anymore. But who banks and savings and loans are being sold to today is another story. The new target is the millions of individuals and small...

Bond refunds bad news for investors. (municipal bonds)
June 29, 1992... There's a flood predicted to engulf America Wednesday (July 1) that could wash away some investors, particularly retirees. Market analysts are pointing to Wednesday as a watershed day in the history of municipal bonds because $6 billion, the...

Plastic fantastic lover. (Regal Plastics Co.) (Company Profile)
June 29, 1992... When Sam Gonzales wakes to the light of day each morning, he smiles and says, "plastics." For Gonzales, territory manager of Regal Plastics, an Austin distributor, plastics are the wave of the future, the foundation of our past. "What I...

Quick benefits through merger.
June 29, 1992... When Don Quick began rethinking the business goals of his small real estate company, he determined that name recognition was essential in a highly competitive market. Enter Coldwell Banker Richard Smith Realtors, one of Austin's larger real...

Austin firms react to ADA. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) (Focus: Americans with Disabilities Act)
June 29, 1992... While most people agree on the positive intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), analysts said the bill lacks sorely needed definition in both architectural and personnel demands. At the same time, advocates for disabled people...

What the law means to Austin employers. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) (Focus: Americans with Disabilities Act)
June 29, 1992... Some Austin-area employers and attorneys are scrambling to meet the July 26 deadline for personnel policies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Virtually all aspects of employment -- from interviewing to dismissal --...

A Heep of lawsuits. (suits against Austin Trust Co. by family of Herman Heep)
June 22, 1992... In a court case reminiscent of a Texas soap opera, an Austin trust company is being sued for $15 million for allegedly mismanaging a multimillion dollar inheritance and playing favorites with some of its recipients. A series of suits filed...

Cures for sick buildings. (Focus: Business and the Environment)
June 22, 1992... Headaches, sneezing, dizziness and lack of appetite among workers can be indications of sick building syndrome, an affliction that usually can be treated by increasing air flow into an office. "Increasing the air flow will almost always help,...

Environmental firms clean up. (Focus: Business and the Environment) (Industry Overview)
June 22, 1992... Consulting business booms The Austin environmental consulting industry should continue its trend of growth as international demands for U.S. technology escalate. "We in the United States are in a key position to take advantage of the...

EPA piling up data on junkyards. (Focus: Business and the Environment)
June 22, 1992... How much of the oil, gas, antifreeze and other fluids in cars hauled off to the junkyard ends up in the ground, in the water table and in the water? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking for some answers. Some of them...

Getting help with hazardous material. (includes related article) (Focus: Business and the Environment)
June 22, 1992... The recent flurry of activity surrounding hazardous material coincides with society's increased knowledge of and concern over its potential danger. Users are urged strongly to properly handle, store and care for it. Fortunately, proactive...

A taxing situation. (funding proposal for Downtown Management Organization by levying additional taxes on designated properties)
June 15, 1992... Some downtown property owners are organizing a show of force against a proposal to fund a Downtown Management Organization (DMO) by levying additional taxes on designated properties. The funding proposal is just one of several recommendations...

KASE aces radio ratings.
June 15, 1992... Austin's radio market has gained a national reputation that can be explained in four letters -- KASE. Although Austin isn't even one of the top 50 radio markets in terms of size, it is well known by industry analysts because it is an...

Banks: on the merge of success? (bank mergers in Austin) (Industry Overview)
June 15, 1992... There's a time in banking when one and one equals one. But whether such odd addition equates to profits is being questioned by some studies. The last five years have been the setting for a flurry of major bank mergers, with independent...

Seton plans $100 million expansion. (Seton Medical Center)
June 15, 1992... Seton Medical Center has announced a four-year, $100 million expansion and renovation program it hopes will prepare the health-care provider for the demands of the future. Hospital officials announced the move that will completely transform...

TV stations keep ratings war clean. (Austin's television broadcasting industry)
June 15, 1992... When it comes to the battle for the top spot in Austin television, it's sort of Marquess of Queensberry rules -- very gentlemanly. Where some markets resort to a grunting wrestling match of sweaty sex or blood-and-gore stories to draw viewers...

Finding success, breaking barriers. (Austin's minority- and women-owned businesses) (Focus: Minority Business)
June 15, 1992... While minority business owners agree that discrimination exists in the marketplace, they suggest success can be achieved through sound financial practices and trade opportunities. "You know racism exists. You know discrimination exists. What...

Sexism still sours business dealings. (women-owned enterprises) (Focus: Minority Business)
June 15, 1992... While women-owned businesses have the advantage of qualifying for some high-dollar contracts allocated for minorities, leaders can face subtle discrimination. "I believe women are still not taken as seriously as men," said Lark Doley, chief...

Second Wave sails with a state loan. (computer firm gets financing from Texas Product Commercialization Fund)
June 8, 1992... Lark Doley and Roger Storer thought they had a good product, a disk drive with a greatly enhanced memory capability. But when they went asking for money to market the disk, they say they didn't find investors, but "takers," people who wanted to...

Investors put the bite on Schlotzsky's. (Daniel C. Arnold, Robert T. Aspromonte and Ralph S. O'Connor filed suits against Schlotzsky's Restaurants Inc.)
June 8, 1992... The managing partners of Austin-based Schlotzsky's Restaurants Inc. are being sued by three investors who charge the partners are manipulating company subsidiaries to fatten up their personal finances. The investors, all from Houston, have...

Renfro takes on new duties at Bank One. (William Renfro, former chief executive officer and chairman, becomes vice chairman while Charles J. O'Connell takes Renfro's former position)
June 8, 1992... One of Austin's largest and fastest growing banks has changed leadership and in the process moved one of the city's highest profile bankers into a new position. Bank One has named Charles J. O'Connell chairman and chief executive officer for...

Lockheed fights French proposal. (sale of LTV Corp. to Thomson-CSF, a French-government-owned defense electronics company)
June 8, 1992... Defense industry officials are taking the offensive in a campaign to thwart a French company's acquisition of a Dallas-based missile and aircraft company. If the proposed sale is approved, a Lockheed Corp. leader in Austin fears a gradual...

New convention center set to open. (Austin Convention Center)(includes related article on former Austin mayor Lee Cooke's efforts to make center a reality) (Focus: Convention Center)
June 8, 1992... $41 million impact predicted for first year Austin Convention Center officials tout high technology and a large exhibit hall as attractions that helped a California company commit to eight years of conventions. The Government Technology...

Making beds for more conventioneers. (room demand for downtown hotels by customers visiting Austin Convention Center) (Focus: Convention Center)
June 8, 1992... Room demand at downtown hotels is expected to continue its upward trend with the addition of new customers visiting the Austin Convention Center. "You're going to have a shortage of rooms there" in Austin, said Bruce Walker, hotel analyst...

Transporters gear up for more rides. (visitors flocking to Austin Convention Center) (Focus: Convention Center)
June 8, 1992... Airline, bus and taxi cab companies should be fairly hopping with business when visitors begin flocking to the Austin Convention Center. Transportation officials are gearing up for the first large convention in October, when Austin-based...

Austin sings 'Let us entertain you.' (major impact of Austin Convention Center on entertainment and recreation business) (Focus: Convention Center) (Industry Overview)
June 8, 1992... The doors won't open until July, but Austin's entertainment and recreation industries already are feeling the drawing power of the city's newly constructed convention center. Phil Hall, who is in charge of leisure groups and tours for Gray...

Hartland Bank branching out. (Hartland Bank N.A. and Sage Land Inc. buy land for parking garage with bank branch)
June 1, 1992... A local development company plans to show there can be life after the real estate crash beginning July 1, when it breaks ground on a five-story parking garage on West Fifth Street that will be connected by a pedestrian bridge to an existing...

Temple-Inland spreads its name. (Capital Mortgage Bank and Lumbermen's Investment Corp. to be named Temple-Inland Mortgage Corp. to reflect its parent company)
June 1, 1992... Austin's largest mortgage company is about to answer the question "what's in a name" as it changes to reflect its ownership. Capitol Mortgage Bank has in recent months fallen under the acronym CMB/LIC to reflect its cooperative efforts with...

Freon frozen July 1. (ozone-depleting refrigerants to be phased out starting July 1)
June 1, 1992... A city ordinance regulating ozone-depleting refrigerants has local trade associations scrambling to upgrade their training and equipment to comply with the law as it gradually is phased in beginning July 1. And the air-conditioning industry...

Computer trainers risk ire of regulatory agency. (Texas Education Agency) (Focus: Computers and Computer Training)
June 1, 1992... Some Austin computer training centers may be teaching illegally by violating regulations of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Companies offering vocational training must be regulated by the TEA unless they qualify for one of 10 exemptions...

Wary East Austin gets a branch bank. (NationsBank Corp. branch opens in East Austin, Texas)
June 1, 1992... NationsBank is taking the first step in what could be a long walk in East Austin. Monday (June 1), NationsBank opened its East Austin branch at Airport Boulevard and Oak Springs Drive. Ramiro Perez III has been named branch manager. But...

Plan before upgrading your computer system. (MCI Telecommunications Inc.) (Focus: Computers & Computer Training)
June 1, 1992... Beware the knee-jerk system change Upgrading computer systems for a business is a task not to be taken lightly, and most businesses that undertake such a challenge are probably forced into it by a system that is not getting the job done....

Training: key to productivity. (computer training increases productivity) (Focus: Computers & Computer Training)
June 1, 1992... Pat Keyes said computer training gave her and fellow employees an important ability to create graphics at their investment brokerage firm. Keyes, branch administrator at Rauscher Pierce Refsnes Inc., recently joined about 10 employees in...

Computer super stores force other retailers to find niches. (Focus: Computers & Computer Training) (Industry Overview)
June 1, 1992... While the retail computer industry trend of "bigger is better" appears predominant, smaller companies are offering stiff competition in service. Several large super stores entered the Austin market in November 1991, threatening to steal...