Boston Business Journal articles from November 2000, page 6

Boston Business Journal archives from November 2000

Firm's cancer test gets approval after 15 years in lab.(Oncogene Science Diagnostics Incorporated)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... CAMBRIDGE--Chemotherapy doesn't stop all cancers, and until now, doctors had few ways of knowing how well treatments were working, if at all. Oncogene Science Diagnostics Inc. hopes it can now make it easier for doctors. The...

LingoMotors talks it up with $16M in funds.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... CAMBRIDGE--LingoMotors, a maker of web search technology, has raised $16 million in a third round of funding. The investment will support the company's effort to build new Internet search engine technology that allows users to ask...

Corporate execs tired of the 'soft money' shakedown.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... Harry Freeman, a former executive vice president with American Express, says a new pa11 supports what he saw first-hand at the financial services giant: Corporations give campaign contributions because they fear politicians will punish them...

Groups spend big money on small-business vote.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... The National Federation of Independent Business' political action committee raised $8 million for the 2000 election--a small sum compared with the $3 billion that observers estimate will be spent by all the players in this year's political...

Framework Technologies adds $31.25M to war chest.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... Since its inception in '94, Internet software maker has raised $52.25 million BURLINGTON--Framework Technologies Corp. announced the closing of its third round of venture funding, totaling $31.25 million, this past week. The final...

Boston again ranks high in employment trends.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... Columbia, Mo., is entering its second year as the metropolitan area closest to full employment. Meanwhile, the Boston area continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates of major metropolitan areas in the country. The...

Mass. investors take a shine to Nashville's tech market.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Nashville is pumped up about a Massachusetts company pumping money into its economy. Last month, it was announced that venture capitalist Tuff Yen, Robert Frist Jr. and their new East Coast partners want to bring up to $15 million of...

Sen. accuses SBA of election-eve politics.(Small Business Administration)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee is accusing the Small Business Administration of promoting Vice President Al Gore's candidacy for president by conducting a "national public relations blitz" just before the Nov. 7 election....

Home builders criticize 'flawed' smart growth poll.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The real estate industry is fighting back in the public relations war over sprawl. The National Association of Home Builders said a recent poll released by Smart Growth America is "seriously flawed" because it relied on "leading...

Mayors oppose one tax rate.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The nation's mayors have thrown a wrench into the efforts of states to streamline their sales tax systems so they can begin to collect taxes on goods sold over the Internet. The U.S. Conference of Mayors said it opposes a proposal to...

The eyes still have it.(Stephanie Kellar patents the Lashpro eyelash curler)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 3, 2000... Lashpro founder has eyes on prize with eyelash curlers BROOKLINE--On her 38th birthday, Brookline resident Stephanie Kellar treated herself to the present of her dreams. More than 20 years after pinching her face in a college dorm...

TCN to offer roundtable for financing a business.
November 3, 2000... Tuesday, Nov. 14: The Technology Capital Network (TCN) at MIT will present a entrepreneurs financing roundtable at the MIT Faculty Club, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, from 7-9:45 a.m. Ian Carver, executive director of the entrepreneurial...

'Finding Your Funding' to start your business.
November 3, 2000... Thursday, Nov. 16: The Center for Women & Enterprise will present "Finding Your Funding" at the center, Renaissance Park, 1135 Tremont St., Boston, from 5-6:30 p.m. Learn about the types and sources of funding for starting a business. The...

Consultant to speak on leadership, organization.
November 3, 2000... The Entrepreneur's Executive Forum at Boston College will present an event for business owners and executives on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Peter Lynch Executive Conference Center, Fulton Hall, 140 Commonwealth Ave.,...

Web site puts environmental regulations at your fingertips.(United States. Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 3, 2000... Local small-business owners looking to navigate the often Byzantine world of environmental regulations, can check out new web site created by the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The new web page, which can...

The view isn't all that different from 'across the pond'.(genetic screening information to be used by insurance companies)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... There's nothing like a trip abroad to freshen your perspective of home. It was the late U.S. House Speaker Thomas R "Tip" O'Neill Jr. who said, "All politics is local." And, from viewing the Irish and British press in the last few weeks, we...

Negotiating scope changes during the life of a project.
November 3, 2000... Some negotiations take place at the outset of a project, before any work has been done. At that time, people create a contract that specifies the scope of work, the price, and the terms and conditions surrounding the project. What they may...

Design-Build Institute has a bold vision of the future.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The New England chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America is only a few months old, but it has already been tapped to host DBIA's 2001 annual conference in October at the Sheraton Boston. Dorwin Thomas, president of DBIA's New...

Designing seminar.
November 3, 2000... The design-build crowd will also be represented with several seminars at the Boston Society of Architects' upcoming event, the 16th annual Build Boston. The three-day convention, which is being held at the World Trade Center Boston Nov....

Holidays come early.(Diversified Project Management Inc. and Abbey Group's special events raise money for charity)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... It's not quite the holiday season, but there's been a lot of generosity already. Diversified Project Management's seventh Annual Golf Classic last month raised $25,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Boston-based...

Can anybody lay claim to the name 'Cyber District?'.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Shayne Gilbert says she was on a shuttle to New York in 1997 when she coined the name "Cyber District" to describe the neighborhood of computer-related businesses where she worked. She was playing off the name Leather District, the...

Venture funding continues.(Living Systems AG)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... The parent company of living systems Inc. of Newton, living systems AG, raised $10 million in pre-IPO venture capital. The company, which was founded in Germany and also maintains an office there in Donaueschingen, provides software...

The yo-yo market: It goes up, down, sleeps and more.(analysis of financial markets and where they are headed)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... EDWARD "NED" RILEY Pundits and metaphors go together like, er, blue-sky laws and IPOs. Anyway, as I bounced around with the Nasdaq over the past few weeks, I found myself in search of a new metaphor to describe all the wacky stuff going...

CORPORATE ALBUM: J. Baker Inc.(Alan Weinstein, CEO)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... THE BUSINESS J. Baker Inc.'s operating businesses compete in two retail segments: apparel and footwear. The company operates businesses engaged in the retail sale of apparel through its Casual Male Big & Tall and Repp Big & Tall...

Returning to research.(Boston Scientific Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... Boston Scientific aims to regain market share with renewed interest in R&D NATICK--Despite weaker-than-expected third-quarter sales--the fourth straight quarter of flat or declining revenue--Boston Scientific Corp's president and CEO...

Manufacturers find a good match in software firms.(Rohm and Haas Co., Hasbro Inc. purchase manufacturing software)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Rohm and Haas Co., one of the world's largest manufacturers of specialty chemicals, several years ago installed a new software system from Cambridge-based Aspen Technology Inc. The investment of roughly $7 million over the past four years...

'Old-time' industries leap ahead by reinventing themselves.(discussion of how traditional manufacturing industries can remain competitive in market dominated by high tech industry)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... When we think of old-time, "stodgy" industries, certain instant images come to mind: metal, chrome, fabric, wood, for example. These raise a dusty picture of companies that have had their day and that, while still producing needed goods,...

'RTOs' mark next step for electricity generation market.(regional transmission organizations signal final step in deregulation of electric utilities)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The next step toward effective electric industry deregulation has begun--regional transmission organizations (RTOs). RTOs signal the beginning of the end to vertically integrated electric utilities, which, in turn, is expected to signal...

Precision robots a necessity for semiconductor makers.(Brooks Automation, PRI Automation Inc. benefit from increased use of robots in manufacturing of semiconductors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... For the past 50 years, engineers have been building machines with all kinds of fancy motors and levers and gears that can move around, blink and even talk. But the engineers have forgotten one thing. "They've failed to put in a...

PERSONNEL FILE.(appointments, promotions)
November 3, 2000... ADVERTISING/COMMUNICATIONS Target Marketing & Promotions in Boston named Nathan Bell, Meg Bruno and Kelley Curtin account coordinators and Michelle Neveux travel/incentive coordinator. Brodeur Worldwide in Boston named the following:...

Direct Results Group.(launches media campaign for Lighthousebank.com)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Direct Results Group of Boston launched a broad media campaign, consisting of print and radio advertising, direct marketing, events and web banners, for Lighthousebank.com, a Waltham-based online bank.

Boston Scientific Corp.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Boston-based visual communications firm kor group was hired for the following projects: an enrollment package for the human resources division of Natick-based Boston Scientific Corp.; materials for the upcoming leadership conference of...

Thaler/Opper.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Thaler/Opper, a Natick-based marketing and design agency, established a Scottsdale, Ariz., office, to be headed up by the company's co-founder and partner June Opper.

Cambridge College.(Bozell Kamstra )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Danvers-based Bozell Kamstra added Cambridge College to its account roster, looking to raise the college's profile among potential students, the business community and academia through integrated brand advertising (print, TV and radio),...

Process & Industrial Design-Construction LLC.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Process & Industrial Design-Construction LLC of Milford was selected by Associates of Cape Cod Inc. to design, construct and validate a new 79,000-square-foot production facility for diagnostics, located in the Falmouth Technology Park on...

Sasaki Associates Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Watertown-based Sasaki Associates Inc. was selected by Eastern Crete Development of Athens, Greece, as the master planner for a 1,000-acre integrated destination resort on the Greek island of Crete. Upon completion, the resort will feature up...

Arrowstreet Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Arrowstreet Inc. of Somerville designed a new 55,000-square-foot prototype supermarket for Hannaford Bros. Co. in Falmouth, Maine.

Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts Inc., a Wellesley-based professional trade association, was awarded a $29,000 safety-training grant in partnership with Minuteman Regional Technical High School in Lexington. The grant, provided...

Kay Construction Corp.(Raytheon campus in Tewskbury, Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Newton-based Kay Construction Corp. broke ground on a 120,000-square-foot research and development building on the old Raytheon campus in Tewskbury. The steel and masonry building will consist of 90,000 square feet on ground, plus a...

Harpell.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Harpell of Maynard was honored at the Direct Marketing Association's 2000 International Echo Awards competition, receiving a Best of Show Award for its marketing campaign on behalf of client LavaStorm of Waltham.

Six Flags New England.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Six Flags New England, the Agawam-based? amusement park, was a recipient of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gov. Paul Cellucci and The Governor's Commission on Employment of People with Disabilities' Twelfth Annual Exemplary Employer...

Massachusetts Dental Society.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Massachusetts Dental Society of Southborough celebrated two recent honors: It received nine Lamplighter Awards from the New England Society for Healthcare Communications, as well as a Golden Apple Award in the category of "Dental Ethics" from...

RainCastle Communications Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Newton-based RainCastle Communications Inc. received awards in three categories in the prestigious American Graphic Design Awards competition.

ENSR International.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... ENSR International of Acton received a certificate of recognition from the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, in recognition of its donation of extensive wetlands services for the restoration of the 30-acre Rumney Marsh in Saugus.

Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG).(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG), a Boston-based forest and agricultural investment management organization, and Resource Management Service Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., reached an agreement on a new, three-year property management contract...

Fidelity Investments.(and John Hancock Life Insurance)(Abstract)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Fidelity Investments and John Hancock Life Insurance, both of Boston, entered into an alliance to offer long-term care insurance to Fidelity customers nearing retirement, via a specially-developed insurance offering that provides the option...

The Savings Bank.(of Wakefield and Thibodeau Insurance Agency Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The Savings Bank of Wakefield and Thibodeau Insurance Agency Inc., also of Wakefield, entered into an agreement, whereby the bank will purchase the capital stock of the agency for an undisclosed sum. Under the terms of the agreement, the...

State Street Corp.(unveils Global Link developed by Visible Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... State Street Corp. of Boston unveiled new addition to its e-finance platform for institutional investors, Global Link: an advanced electronic fixed income trading system developed by Visible Markets Inc. of Boston. The new system is a...

ArQule Inc.(and Genome Therapeutics)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... ArQule Inc. of Woburn and Medford and Genome Therapeutics of Waltham entered into a drug discovery collaboration designed to unite their strengths in the genomics and chemistry fields. ArQule will use its Parallel Track Drug Discovery program...

Coley Pharmaceutical Group.(research on CpG)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Coley Pharmaceutical Group of Wellesley initiated Phase II clinical trials of a CpG compound for the treatment of allergic asthma, with a study to be conducted at Southampton General Hospital of the United Kingdom. The compound is a novel...

Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Needham-based Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc. was awarded a Phase I small business innovation research grant to support the development of a vaccine for genital herpes. The grant, which was awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and...

Genzyme Molecular Oncology.(licensing agreements)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... Genzyme Molecular Oncology of Framingham and Invitrogen Corp. of San Diego signed a licensing agreement granting Invitrogen exclusive worldwide rights to sell Genzyme Molecular Oncology's patented SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression)...

Aspect Medical Systems.(contract with Consorta Catholic Resource Partners)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Aspect Medical Systems of Newton entered into a five-year purchasing agreement with Consorta Catholic Resource Partners of Chicago for Bispectral Index (BIS) technology, making BIS monitors and disposable sensors available to Consorta members...

Occupational Health + Rehabilitation Inc.(Occupational Health and Rehabilitation Inc. contract with Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Occupational Health + Rehabilitation Inc. of Hingham entered into a long-term contract with Baptist Hospital System Inc. of Nashville to operate the Baptist Care Centers, consisting of seven ambulatory care centers located throughout the...

Boston Medical Center.(receives shuttle vehicle)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Boston Medical Center was the recipient of a wheelchair-accessible shuttle vehicle to support its spinal cord injury program, donated by General Motors of Detroit.

McLean Hospital.(Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont received its 5,000th donated brain specimen this month. Established in 1978, the "Brain Bank" serves as a major resource for the collection and distribution of port-mortem...

TeleKnowledge.(private financing arranged)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 3, 2000... TeleKnowledge, a Framingham-based developer of billing software products aimed at providers of applications, content and services delivered over IP/broadband networks, closed an additional $35 million in private financing, led by venture...

Percussion Software.(joint marketing agreements)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Percussion Software, a Stoneham-based provider of XML content management products, entered into joint marketing agreements with two companies: Bluestone Software Inc., a Philadelphia-based provider of business-to-web wireless technologies;...

Photoelectron Corp.(products)(Product Development)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Photoelectron Corp. of Lexington produced a working prototype of a new miniature x-ray source for x-ray fluorescence measurements, which is designed to be incorporated into equipment used for non-destructive materials testing and to replace...

Signal Technology Corp.(contracts)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Danvers-based Signal Technology Corp. was awarded two new contracts: one was for power supply production for the U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft, to be provided by the company's Fla.-based Keltec Division; the other was a follow-on contract for...

Lightbridge Inc.(to use On Command CCM product)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Lightbridge Inc. of Burlington selected Waltham-based On Technology Corp.'s On Command CCM product to manage mission-critical software for all of its call centers.

eHealthDirect Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... eHealthDirect Inc. of Lexington acquired Metacine, a Malvern, Pa.-based provider of Internet-enabled technology to support the health benefits industry. This is the first acquistion since completion of first-round funding of $32 million for...

Coola Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Coola Inc., a Boston-based developer of a new technology that allows web site owners to Palm-enable their site in five minutes, partnered with LoanBright.com of Dartmouth, in a deal to transfer financial data from the LoanBright's...

Stream International.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Stream International, a Canton-based provider of eCRM outsource services for leading technology companies and e-businesses, opened two new customer interaction centers to serve Spanish-speaking markets in North America and Europe; the new...

Unica.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Unica, a Lincoln-based provider of analytical CRM and marketing automation services, gained a new customer in the Dallas Teachers' Credit Union, which selected Unica's Affinium product to predict member preferences, improve new member...

Provant Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Boston-based Provant Inc. and SmartForce of Redwood City, Calif., entered into an alliance to create an array of e-learning product offerings that feature Provant's content supported by SmartForce's development platform and infrastructure.

Delta Dental Plan.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts, based in Boston, launched a new online service for small businesses in the state that are interested in researching and/or purchasing a dental insurance plan over the Internet. Through the company web site,...

American Biltrite Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... American Biltrite Inc., a Wellesley Hills-based manufacturer of flooring and industrial products, acquired all the outstanding shares of Janus Flooring, a Toronto-based producer of pre-finished solid hardwood flooring, in a cash purchase...

Mestek Inc.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Mestek Inc., a Westfield-based manufacturer of heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment, metal hose and hose products and metal-forming machinery, and Alpha Technologies Group Inc. of South Pasadena, Calif., entered into an...

Reed to acquire Harcourt for $5.65B, sell Thomson part.(Reed Elsevier PLC)(Harcourt General Inc.)(Thoson Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... London-based Reed Elsevier PLC, a publisher of scientific journals, agreed to buy Harcourt General Inc. for $5.65 billion in cash and assumed debt and then sell a big part of the Chestnut Hill-based textbook publisher to Thomson Corp. of...

Raytheon to lay off 226 Mass. workers on Friday.(Raytheon Corp.)(Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Lexington-based Raytheon Corp. said it plans to lay off 226 employees in Massachusetts on Friday, Nov. 3. The laid-off workers are members of the Local 1505 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and are employed throughout...

Boston Scientific accused of flouting consent decree.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Boston Scientific Corp. was accused in a lawsuit of violating a 1995 agreement with U.S. antitrust enforcers that permitted the company to acquire two rival makers of heart disease diagnostic equipment. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on...

Fidelity, UPromise sued over college savings plan.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Savor Inc., a closely held Plymouth, Mich.-based marketing firm, has sued Boston-based Fidelity Investments and Brookline-based UPromise Inc., accusing them of stealing its idea for a college savings plan, sources said. UPromise said in...

Verizon lacks U.S. Justice Dept. support for Mass. bid.(Verizon Communications denied right to provide long-distance phone service)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... New York-based verizon Communications failed to win U.S. Justice Department support to sell long-distance service in Massachusetts, as antitrust officials said the company hasn't provided rivals speedy access to its network. The Justice...

Exact files $69M IPO for trials of colon cancer test.(Exact Corp. initial public offering)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Exact Corp., which announced last week it has developed a novel colon cancer test in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, filed for an initial public stock offering estimated to raise $69 million. The Maynard-based research firm is seeking...

Liberty Financial explores sale.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Shares of Liberty Financial Cos. surged as much as 45 percent Wednesday after the asset management arm of Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. said it hired Credit Suisse First Boston to explore selling the company. Before the day's...

Datek in talks with TA and Bain to sell majority stake.(Datek Online Holdings, TA Associates, Bain Capital)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Iselin, N.J.-based Datek Online Holdings Corp., which owns the sixth-largest Internet brokerage, is in talks to sell a majority stake to private investors for about $700 million, one of the investors said. A group led by Boston-based...

A question of choice.(business aspect of ballot initiatives)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... With Election Day just around the corner, we'd like to take the time to reiterate our stand on a number of ballot questions of importance to the business community in Massachusetts: Question 3: This question would abolish the 65-year-old...

Some parting shots heard 'round the world.(Boston business scene)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The is my last column as editor of the Boston Business Journal. Before I say good-bye and wish you all well, I want to get some things off my chest. After all, I may not have another chance to mouth off on such a grand scale in Boston....

Question 5: Noble goals are no longer enough.(ballot initiative on universal health care)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... The promise of health care coverage for all Massachusetts residents is indeed a popular option. No one disagrees with the desire for more affordable, comprehensive health care. But Question 5 on the November ballot is unworkable and would...

Spaulding & Slye Colliers.(work on SilverStream Software head office)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... Spaulding & Slye Colliers of Boston completed the interior, construction of SilverStream Software's world headquarters--a project consisting of 100,000 square feet of first-class office and laboratory space--in Billerica.

Area's Largest Travel Agencies.
November 3, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

MASSACHUSETTS STOCK INDEX.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]