San Antonio Business Journal articles from April 2001

San Antonio Business Journal archives from April 2001

Cinema Solutions is keeping stock of the movie industry.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Cinema Solutions, a San Antonio-based Internet company, works in the decidedly unattractive part of the movie industry -- in the parts that movie-goers never see. "It's none of the glamorous stuff. It's the seating, the lighting, the...

Final days of local company mark end of stock-yard legacy.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... It was a sad moment for Bubba Kothmann earlier this month watching the last cattle sale at the Union Stock Yards in San Antonio. Kothmann, 77, remembers the first cattle auction held at the stock yards in 1960. It was his family business,...

Mayoral front-runners get down to business.
April 27, 2001... Bannwolf, Garza discuss their agendas With the election of San Antonio's next mayor only a few days away, the San Antonio Business Journal takes a look at a few key issues it has covered over the last several months, and how each of the...

Baptist ends PacifiCare pact.(Baptist Health Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The ongoing attempt to turn around financially troubled Baptist Health System (BHS) has taken another controversial twist. BHS officials have pulled the plug on the hospital system's current contract with PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. ...

Latinas inaction.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Anheuser-Busch Cos. recently under National Women's Conference opening reception in San Antonio A trio of Latinas were honored for their many contributions to the local community. Elaine Ayala, features editor of the San Antonio ExpressNews,...

St. Philip's College.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... St. Philip's College will present its annual spring concert featuring its College Choir and Community Choir in two joint, performances directed by Henry Washington on Thursday, May 3, at noon and at 7 p.m. in the Watson Fine Arts Center...

Honoring heroes.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Child Advocates San Antonio will present its 11th Annual CASA Advocate Appreciation Luncheon on May 5 at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, 205 E. Houston St. The 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. luncheon will honor a host of volunteers who are being recognized...

The Continuing Education Department.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The Continuing Education Department at Palo Alto College is offering a two-day safety and security course on April 28-29. The course, part of the International Executive Housekeeping Program, will meet from 8 am. to 5 p.m. both days....

Methodist Healthcare.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Methodist Healthcare will celebrate Nurses Week 2001 with the Run for the Health of It, a 5K run/walk event on May 12. Anyone wishing to walk or run in celebration of nursing professionals can participate. The event begins with registration...

Lowe's challenges Home Depot as it carves out niche in S.A. area.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... For two years, the dominant player in San Antonio's home-improvement market has been Home Depot. But with the opening of the first Lowe's this past March --and another four planned for the area, including one in Kerrville - competition is...

Linda Pace buys Tobin Building after telecom hotel plans fizzle.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Just over a year after selling to a group of real estate investors, the historic Tobin Building has once again been sold. Chuck R. King, a partner with Travis Commercial Real Estate Services says that his client, Dueler-Tobin Building...

NADBank.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The city of Uvalde has requested funding from the North American Development Bank (NADBank). The request is for funds from the Solid Waste Environmental Program (SWEP) for partial financing for the Municipal Solid Waste Facility...

Dub Doyal launches new firm targeting hotel market.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Local businessman Dub Doyal, who developed the national door-to-door delivery concept behind his company Door Direct Inc., is launching a new company that will deliver marketing materials to guests staying at hotels and motels in San Antonio....

University Health System takes lead in effort to pass state bills.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 27, 2001... University Health System (UHS) is a safety net for many of Bexar County's poorest residents. But its leaders are working overtime 70 miles north to impress upon Texas legislators how dire the hospital system's own financial situation has...

Security Service FCU inks deal for land for 55,000-sf branch.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... One of the city's leading financial institutions is planning to expand its presence on the city's South side. John A Worthington, senior vice president of corporate communications for Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU), says...

Steinway on the way.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The Steinway Piano Gallery is getting set to open late this summer at 202 NE Loop 410, in the building that formerly housed the retail operations for what is now Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp. Steve Bird, owner of the gallery, says that...

Premiering at Primera.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Glenn Snape, formerly of Trammell Crow, recently joined Primera Partners as its newest partner. He will be responsible for marketing, leasing and selling office and industrial projects, as well as land sites. Snape says he was impressed...

Destination: San Antonio.(Navis Logistics Network)(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Denver, Colo.-based Navis Logistics Network has its eyes on expansion; and San Antonio is figuring into those plans. Marvin L. Storm, CEO of the packaging and shipping company, says that San Antonio is one of the major metropolitan areas...

Harte-Hanks.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 27, 2001... Despite the sharp economic slowdown, direct-marketer Harte-Hanks Inc. said it posted positive results in the first quarter but warned of tough times continuing through the end of the year. For the first three months of 2001, the firm...

DoorTek Corp.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... San Antonio-based DoorTek Corp. has become the newest channel partner of Identix Inc., a biometric authentication, security and identifications solutions provider. DoorTek, a manufacturer of access control systems and security systems...

Rush Enterprises.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Rush Enterprises Inc. saw a sharp drop in net income for the first quarter of this year from the same period a year ago. The San Antonio-based company reported a profit of $155,000, or 2 cents per share, for the period that ended March...

Valero Energy.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Valero Energy Corp. posted a whopping $136.1 million in net income -- or $2.13 per share -- in the first three months of this year. That marks a 343 percent increase over its $30.7 million profit in the same period a year ago and its...

PUC.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The Public Utility Commission has formed a coalition with Southwestern Bell and other leading telecommunications firms across the state to provide alternate high-speed Internet access to former customers of NorthPoint Communications Inc. ...

Where would we be now if the South had won the Civil War?
April 27, 2001... April was the most significant month in the short, stormy history of the Confederate States of America. The Civil War began 140 years ago, in April 1861, when Confederate artillery fired on Union troops Fort Sumter, S.C. The war -- and...

EPA ignored small-biz impact of lead rule, suit alleges.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Five years ago, Congress passed the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) to make sure that federal agencies consider the impact of their regulations on small businesses. The effectiveness of the law could be tested...

Tax cuts.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The Senate is expected to add tax cuts for small businesses to legislation raising the minimum wage when that bill reaches the floor, probably next month. Small businesses oppose a minimum wage increase, says Dan Danner, senior vice...

Small biz survey.(National Federation of Independent Business)(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The most recent monthly survey of small-business owners by the NFIB Education Foundation "suggests that there is no recession in the near-term outlook," says William C. Dunkelberg, the foundation's chief economist. But, he adds, the...

Brownfields reform.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The National Association of Home Builders hopes to persuade the House to extend liability protection to petroleum-contaminated sites when it considers brownfields reform legislation. The Senate is expected to pass a brownfields bill...

Orbitz travel service.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) cleared Orbitz for takeoff. The nation's five largest airlines are developing the online travel agency, which is scheduled to begin operations in June. Already 25,000 consumers have booked...

Alamo City showcases hospitality during National Tourism Week.
April 27, 2001... To underscore the impact of San Antonio's $4 billion visitor industry, the Convention and Visitors Commission's Tourism Marketing Committee has planned a series of marketing and PR events as part of National Tourism Week, May 6-13. The...

Gold for Fiesta.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Grande Communications the newest player on the broadband field in Central Texas, bought into Fiesta 2001 in a big way by sponsoring the production of the gold coins El Rey Feo distributes to thousands during Fiesta week. The distinctive...

Webcasting 101.
April 27, 2001... Business Wire recently sponsored an informative session on webcasting for communicators. Here are the highlights for review. Why webcast? * Reach a broader audience encompassing institutions as well as individuals. * Maintain...

Dance and fitness firm toned for success.
April 27, 2001... Business owner using creativity to win clients Sarita Zuniga has loved to dance since she was 5. But in the more than 20 years she has been in business teaching it, she has found that she uses her creativity not just in instruction -- but...

Phone-service competition may not be plentiful, but mistakes are.
April 27, 2001... Need DSL? Our Internet service makes lightning look slow and Wal-Mart look expensive. Looking for local phone service? We have that, too, with prices and service that will shock you. Welcome to BitWits' Cheap Talk'N Data. We've...

Research Dynamics.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Research Dynamics Inc., a San Antoniobased software development firm, was recently chosen for an upcoming U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) trade mission to Italy, SBA officials say. Executive Vice President Frank Kudla Jr. will...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... * ADVERTISING/MARKETING Creative Civilization - An Aguilar Agency announces the promotion of Martha Martinez to senior art director. Martinez has been with the agency for two years and is responsible for the creative development of...

Bargain beer draws bigger crowds to some S.A. sports events.(Column)
April 27, 2001... To Mothers Against Drunk Driving: This column is not an endorsement or condemnation of how local sports operations may use the allure of the ice cold barley pop -- or beer -- to promote their events. To my friends with the local law...

Fruitful engineering.
April 27, 2001... Jim Meng's high-tech solutions help food manufacturers improve production Imagine jalapenos seemingly suspended in air. They move so slowly that the green peppers appear to be floating, even dancing down a conveyor belt right before...

Outsourcing marketing functions may give tech firms needed boost.
April 27, 2001... In high-tech, the rules have changed. To survive -- and thrive -- your company needs "culture." The only culture that will dramatically increase sales and boost profits is a sales culture. Any organization can soar to new heights, or recover...

Is your carrier equipped to survive telecom shakeout?(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... In 1996 Congress, with the backing of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), enacted a law that would begin to transform the monopoly-driven local communications industry into one that ensures customers had choice -- for the first time...

Smart businesses can avoid litigation in recent tech fallout.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," Charles Dickens. mused in the opening of his classic "A Tale of Two Cities." To the high-tech community, especially those heavily involved in the dot-com companies that arose so...

LARGEST SAN ANTONIO FILM & VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANIES.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... LARGEST SAN ANTONIO FILM & VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANIES Ranked by number of local permanent employees Number of Number of Name ...

LARGEST SAN ANTONIO AREA BUSINESS MACHINE COMPANIES.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... LARGEST SAN ANTONIO AREA BUSINESS MACHINE COMPANIES Ranked by number of local employees Published April 27, 2001 2000 ...

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort received three achievement awards from the Hyatt Hotels Corp. in the following categories: Dania Duke, its executive assistant manager of food and beverage, received the "Food and Beverage Director of the...

Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The following high school students were winners of the Hispanic Heritage Youth scholarship from the Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation: Usbaldo Fraire, of Robert E. Lee High School; Laura Saldivar, of Thomas Jefferson High School; Maria...

SAN ANTONIO AREA PUBLIC STOCKS.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... SAN ANTONIO AREA PUBLIC STOCKS FINANCIAL DATA PROVIDED BY US GLOBAL INVESTORS INC. WEEKLY STOCK UPDATE Market Data as of 4/23/01 ...

S.A. MONEY RATES.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... S.A. MONEY RATES Savings Money Market 1 Year 2 Year Financial Institutions $2,500 [1] CD [2] CD [2] Acacia...

Due diligence pays.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Most of the funny money that was used to fuel one of the most speculative spasms in stock market history is now nothing more than worthless paper. The economy that started running out of gas at this time last year is now choking on the...

Smart energy policies are needed now.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Energy price hikes and supply troubles are not confined to California's electricity crisis. Small businesses in the Northwest, Midwest and Northeast are also feeling the pinch of escalating energy bills. Congress is now exploring a variety,...

Stranded-cost rules ain't broke, so don't fix 'em.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... I have learned over the years not to take myself -- or the government -- too seriously. I recognize that no matter how passionate I may be about a public policy issue, things generally work out. As I observe the seemingly interminable process...

XFL fumbles.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... The good news for NBC executives, particularly Sports President Dick Ebersol, is that the XFL season is finally over. The bad news is that the peacock network may not find a way to legally fly the coop and escape the final year of its...

Xtreme intimacy.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... So much for playoff fever. The Orlando Rage played before a football crowd of only 14,849 at the Citrus Bowl April 15 -- against the San Francisco Demons. It was the smallest crowd to see a Rage home game all season. The league's other...

Xtremely profound.(Brief Article)
April 27, 2001... Basil DeVito, president of the XFL, commenting on possibly adding teams in year three: "We are looking at expansion from a standpoint of growing."

Estate-tax repeal could be a budget-buster for nonprofits.(could hurt charitable giving)
April 20, 2001... Charitable donations have a time-honored role in this country of helping the less fortunate in society while also allowing those who give to keep the taxman at bay. A bill winding its way through Congress promises to shake up that tradition,...

East Coast Hockey League eyeing S.A.(San Antonio being considered for a team)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... League confirms meetings held with Spurs San Antonio and the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)? It sounds peculiar, but it could happen as soon as the SBC Center opens in the Fall of 2002. The Business Journal recently received a copy...

Office market is on solid ground.
April 20, 2001... While the numbers are not as stellar as last year's figures, the city's office market remains strong, according to a first-quarter office-market analysis by Koontz McCombs Realty Services Inc. Unlike the handful of large leases and...

This duo has real 'Worth'.(Bob L. Worth and John R. Hurd, partners in the local real estate firm R.L. Worth & Associates)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Bob L. Worth and John R. Hurd, partners in the local real estate firm R.L. Worth & Associates, describe their relationship as being marked by "creative tensions." While Worth has been the one willing to launch new projects once the...

Symphony, VISA form duet.(San Antonio Symphony)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The San Antonio Symphony has created a sponsorship program with a major credit it card company and is now offering a Platinum VISA card to its supporters. In addition to offering the special cardholder discounts, each time the San...

Builders show on the Web.(Sunbelt Builders Show)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The Texas Association of Builders and VNU Expositions' Building Group has launched its a Web. site (www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com) in anticipation of The Sunbelt Builders Show to be held in San Antonio in July. "We're constantly evaluating...

Ride on the wildflower side.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... San Antonians can again pedal past some of the area's most beautiful stretches of wildflowers when the 23rd Annual Wildflower Bicycle Tour rolls into town on Saturday, May 12 at 8 a.m. Sponsored by the Baptist Health System, the event...

Whataburger Inc.(recognized as a Texas Treasure by the Texas Legislature)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Whataburger Inc. has been recognized as a Texas Treasure by the 77th Texas Legislature. In a resolution by Rep. Jaime Capelo (D-Corpus Christi), the restaurant chain was recognized for serving high-quality food at a fair price since 1950....

Don Strange Ranch in Welfare.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... "Roots and Wings," the Fifteenth Annual Winston School San Antonio Auction, will be held on Saturday, April 21 at the Don Strange Ranch in Welfare.

KLRN-TV.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... KLRN-TV invites area businesses and individuals to donate items to be auctioned during the upcoming 35th Annual Blazing Gavels TV auction. The event will air on KLRN June 8-16. The auction is the oldest and best-established of KLRN's...

All-sports radio pioneer to depart Clear Channel.(San Antonio marketing manager Bob Cohen)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Bob Cohen is leaving the San Antonio marketing manager post he has held at Clear Channel Communications since 1994. One of the leading pioneers of all-sports radio in San Antonio, Cohen ends his 15-year career with the San Antonio-based...

RivalsNetwork Inc.'s demise is curve ball for Spurshoops.com.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Call it a turnover. A shot clock violation. Seattle-based RivalsNetwork Inc., an Internet company built around Rivals.com and its hundreds of team and sports Web sites, simply ran out of time. They also apparently ran out of money. Fallout...

South Texas Drilling.(South Texas Drilling & Exploration Inc. acquires Mustang Drilling Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... South Texas Drilling & Exploration Inc. has finalized its acquisition of privately held Mustang Drilling Ltd. of Henderson, Texas. The purchase includes four mechanical drilling rigs, a partially completed rig and rolling stock. The San...

Alamo Travel Group lands $7 million Air Force contract.(travel services contract)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... San Antonio businesswoman Patricia Stout can add landing an Air Force account to her list of accomplishments for her local travel agency. That's because her company, Alamo Travel Group Inc., has been awarded a $7 million contract to...

Fort Sam Houston.(plans reduction in energy costs)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Fort Sam Houston is planning to slash energy costs through a 24-year, $16 million plan. Officials at the Army installation are attempting to exceed federally mandated goals of 30 percent energy cost savings per square foot by 2005,...

SFX.(Tweeter acquires naming rights for New Jersey E-Centre)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Specialty consumer electronics retailer Tweeter has acquired the name-in-title rights to the E-Centre in New Jersey from SEX, a subsidiary of locally based Clear Channel Communications. The name changes to the Tweeter Center on the...

S.A.'s New Century ups its stake in Princeton eCom.(New Century Equity Holdings Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... San Antonio-based New Century Equity Holdings Corp. recently added heavily to its wager on Princeton eCom, an online billing and bill-payment firm. New Century -- formerly Billing Concepts Corp. -- kicked in $15 million of the $20...

Play-By-Play.(Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties Inc. has received an extension on the standstill period from the holders of its convertible debentures)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties Inc. has received an extension on the standstill period from the holders of its convertible debentures. The period has been extended to April 30 in order for Play-By-Play to secure the senior lender's consent...

Affordable housing project is nixed by Boerne City Council.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Two developments aimed at bringing more affordable housing to Boerne have reached a stumbling block. Last week, a proposal to rezone a 45-acre tract of land at the southeast corner of Johns Road and Interstate 10 was turned down by the...

CPS is powering up programs designed to conserve energy.(City Public Service)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... City Public Service (CPS) is developing a series of new energy conservation programs designed to make the utility more "customer focused" if faced with a deregulated environment. The centerpiece of this strategy is a blueprint for CPS to...

Discovery.(Discovery Integrative Healthcare Centers opens new office)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Discovery Integrative Healthcare Centers has opened a new office in the Alamo City. The new office is located on the city's Northwest side at 7300 Blanco Road. The location will offer a variety of services, including gynecology, medical...

NADBank.(appoints Jorge Garces)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The North American Development Bank (NAD Bank) has appointed Jorge Garces, an advisor and border liaison to former Gov. George W. Bush, as the lender's new deputy managing director. Garces has more than 20 years of experience in...

Helping Hands.(Helping Hands LifeLine Foundation's new lease)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The Greater Kelly Development Authority (GKDA) board of directors has passed a resolution allowing Helping Hands LifeLine Foundation to stay at East Kelly. The resolution calls for giving Helping Hands an 18-month lease at a larger...

Abraxas Petroleum.(makes offer to acquire remaining shares in Grey Wolf Exploration Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... Abraxas Petroleum Corp. will make an exchange tender offer to acquire any or all remaining shares of Grey Wolf Exploration Inc. Presently, San Antonio-based Abraxas owns about 49 percent of Grey Wolf's outstanding common stock. Abraxas...

SAI Plus.(to halt its unlicensed sales of health insurance in Texas and pay restitution)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... SAI Plus LLC, a Rockville, MD.-based insurance business, has agreed to halt its unlicensed sales of health insurance in Texas and pay restitution. The company signed a consent order with Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) officials...

ATSI.(ATSI Communications Inc. signs an interconnection agreement with Telscape International Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... ATSI Communications Inc. has signed an interconnection agreement with Telscape International Inc. The agreement calls for ATSI to interconnect to Telscape's telecom network, which extends into the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico. Further,...

Unemployment decrease.(in San Antonio area)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 20, 2001... More people were on the job during February 2001, according to numbers released by Alamo Workforce Development (AWD). The statistics, which represent totals from several counties including Bexar, Comal, Atascosa, Bandera, Guadalupe and...

Local high-tech firm gets a boost from analysts' report.(Trinity Millennium Group Inc.)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
April 20, 2001... Trinity Millennium Group Inc. (TMGI), a San Antonio software developer, is benefiting mightily from recent attention from one of the country's leading group of information technology analysts, says founder and Chief Executive Officer David M....

Chase to add 400 jobs in S.A.(credit-card arm of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. expects to add 400 jobs in San Antonio)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The credit-card arm of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. expects to add 400 jobs to its San Antonio call-center operation by early 2002, after it finishes work on a new facility, according to company officials. The unit currently employs 500 full-...

Lenders taking a softer line on homeowner fiscal woes.(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The sobering fact about the softening American economy is that it's beginning to spit out real, live victims -- many of them homeowners. Last month alone, American businesses cut more jobs than in any one-month period since the recession...

U.S. Senate rejects Bush's planned SBA budget cuts.(President Bush's $539 million budget request for the Small Business Administration)(Brief Article)
April 20, 2001... The Senate added $264 million to President Bush's $539 million budget request for the Small Business Administration (SBA), restoring money that Bush proposed to cut for core programs such as the agency's flagship 7(a) guaranteed loans and...