Inside Business articles from February 2009

Inside Business archives from February 2009

Talk piece.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Thank you for saying publicly hat many of us in the business community have been saying privately for years: The Plain Dealer contributes greatly to reinforcing a climate of negativity in this region with its self-fulfilling prophecies of doom....

Broad view.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Your editorial hit the nail on the head. We are often our own worst critics, and The Plain Dealer leads the pack. Thank you for continuing to have a positive view of Cleveland (the broad area, that is--not just the city). Stephen P....

On the mark.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I very rarely read an article and stand up and say, "Yeah! Right on!" We really have to start thinking of our [entire] area as "Cleveland." The core of the city gives the region its identity, so we must revitalize the center. But any time a...

Crew cuts: there's no easy way to break the news when employees must be let go. Just make sure you're not alienating everyone who's still onboard.(EMPLOYMENT)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Back in the late '90s, when it was clear BP America was leaving Cleveland but had yet to actually go, Paul Meshanko would stop in for an occasional beer at a bar in Independence. He didn't work for BP, but many...

ToadHammer.(WHAT'S IN A NAME)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... CAMI NOCE, 42, & TIM NOCE, 39 SOFTWARE DEVELOPER FOUNDED JUNE 2008 NEWBURY, OHIO Kind of like a '70s metal band, right? When Tim Noce plays Rock Band with his 14-year-old daughter, Molly, they think of silly names for their groups, such as...

You 'tude: is your web site SO 1999? More businesses are embracing Web video for online promotion.(WEB)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... Remember when "plastics" was the buzzword? A decade ago, that wave-of-the-future awe was transferred to the Web. Nothing is going to trump the Internet anytime soon, but the wonderment once associated with it has since given way to an...

Reality check, please! Cleveland's independent restaurateurs take issue with financial planner's advice to put the menu down for a month.(RESTAURANTS)
February 1, 2009... Douglas Katz used to love Suze Orman. Her weekend CNBC show was on late--just about the time Katz, owner of Fire Food & Drink, got home from his restaurant in Cleveland's Shaker Square--and he thought she gave solid advice on managing...

The Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation's 28th Anniversary Scholarship and Awards Dinner.(WORKING THE ROOM)
February 1, 2009... On Dec. 10, the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation presented Fred Nance, regional managing partner for Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP, with its Black Professional of the Year for his professional achievements, civic...

Public Relations Society of America Cleveland Rocks Awards.
February 1, 2009... The Greater Cleveland chapter of e Public Relations Society of America hosted the PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards on Dec. 5, a luncheon that recognizes outstanding public relations programs incorporating sound research, planning, execution and...

What's up? Docs! Let's expand the Cleveland Clinic's successful economic model to the entire region.(E-INDUSTRY)(Column)
February 1, 2009... Tough I pretend to be a doctor at parties (you'll have to see last month's column for more on this), my medical knowledge is scant. But that didn't stop me from attending the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit in November. ...

Action heroes: you don't need to be Superman to make a difference. The market looks bleak these days, but there's opportunity in reorgrnization--if you'll only take action.(HUMAN RESOURCES)
February 1, 2009... As our economy entered its meteoric downturn last fall, financial experts and media pundits wasted no time identifying symptoms and offering solutions. But all they were doing was applying tiny bandages to a huge wound. [ILLUSTRATION...

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP.(LAW)
February 1, 2009... Marc R. Hertrick has joined Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP as an associate in its construction and litigation practice groups. Prior to joining Benesch, Hertrick was an associate at a Washington, D.C.-area firm specializing in...

Timothy J. Pillari.(LAW)
February 1, 2009... Timothy J. Pillari has joined Frantz Ward LLP as an associate. He will handle both litigation and transactional matters as he develops his practice. Pillari received his bachelor's degree and law degree at the University of Notre Dame Law...

Cleveland Foundation: Terri Eason.(FOUNDATIONS/NONPROFIT)
February 1, 2009... Terri Eason has been appointed director of gift planning at the Cleveland Foundation. Eason has two decades of experience in financial services. She launched her career at National City Corp., where she held a variety of positions, most...

Cleveland Foundation: Paul Putman.(FOUNDATIONS/NONPROFIT)(appointment of )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Paul Putman has joined the Cleveland Foundation as a program officer. He has more than 15 years of experience in development and implementation of student leadership programs at the college level, including time as manager of the Center for...

Opera Cleveland.(FOUNDATIONS/NONPROFIT)(appointment of Steven R. Borstein)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Opera Cleveland appointed Steven R. Borstein as director of development, effective Jan. 1. Borstein s responsible for growing annual fundraising and cultivating the company's funding from corporations, foundations and individuals. Most...

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.(HEALTH CARE)
February 1, 2009... Dr. Richard D. Parker has been named chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Parker joined the Cleveland Clinic staff in 1993 and has held many leadership roles in both the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery...

Invacare Corp.(MANUFACTURING)
February 1, 2009... Invacare Corp. named Anthony C. LaPlaca its senior vice president and general counsel, replacing Dale C. LaPorte, who retired in December. LaPlaca will be responsible for all legal affairs, risk management and intellectual property matters at...

Eliokem International.(MANUFACTURING)(appointment of Philippe Carabin )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Philippe Carabin has been named CEO of Eliokem International, replacing Jacques Collonge, who recently retired after 35 years of service with the company. Carabin was appointed CFO of Eliokem in 2001 and since 2005, he has been responsible for...

Nicole Nashar Andrews.(MARKETING)
February 1, 2009... Nicole Nashar Andrews has launched Market Speak Inc., a marketing strategy and brand management firm specializing in professional service and technology companies. Market Speak helps businesses attract clients and increase profitability through...

Character building: inspired by a video game, three Oberlin College students have developed a better way to learn how to write Chinese.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was 3 a.m. in Beijing, and Nicholas Winter was entranced by a video game. He was supposed to be sleeping. He had an early flight back to the United States after months of traveling and studying in China. ...

Road map.(Directory)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Ohio Entrepreneur is a partnership of companies, universities and economic development organizations dedicated to providing access to the information and services entrepreneurs need to start or expand their businesses in Northeast Ohio. We...

Diverse by design: for many Northeast Ohio companies, work force diversity is a core business strategy that allows them to stay competitive and break into new markets.(Guide to: Business Diversity)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At a recent meeting on diversity issues, Michael Haught, vice president of human resources for the Northeast Ohio division of Time Warner Cable, struck up a conversation with a Case Western Reserve University...

Stocked market: HGR Industrial Surplus scours plants, factories and other facilities in search of castoffs to turn into cash.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Walking the floor at HGR Industrial Surplus is like taking the first step on a sci-fi landscape: It's huge, foreign and more than a bit intimidating. Hulking, mint green industrial lathes are plastered with...

Change your business life: spark your creativity, grow your sales, make the most of your workday and much more--here's how to be better in '09.(Cover story)(Company overview)
February 1, 2009... Polish your skills Even the best silver needs the occasional polish. Why should your career be any different? Take a class, join an industry group or just get out there and meet new people. Here are strategies for honing your business...

The show must go on: have this year's budget cuts caused you to reconsider the future of your company's events? Whether it's an employee luncheon or an industry convention, there are plenty of ways to cut costs and still make an impact.(Guide to: Meetings and Events)(Conference news)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For many business professionals, the reflex reaction to budget cuts is to hack away at the travel-and-entertainment line. In tight times, it is better to leave I conferences, awards ceremonies, executive retreats and...

The upside of downsizing: many Northeast Ohio companies are taking advantage of competitors' layoffs and implementing a flexible work force to get through tough times and prepare for future growth.(Guide to: Staffing and Recruiting)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently, Mike Cantor was working late into the evening doing something many employers haven't been table to do in months: The COO and general counsel of Allegro Realty Advisors was interviewing a candidate for one...

Ask the experts.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Bobette Poussart Director of human resources The Reserves Network 22021 Brookpark Road Fairview Park, OH 44126 (440) 779-6604 thereservesnetwork.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: WHEN I CALL TO CHECK REFERENCES,...

Family ties.(ONE 2 WATCH)(dialogue with Kim Rathbone)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... "IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND NOT PRETEND LIKE YOU'RE SOMEONE OTHER THAN WHO YOU ARE." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? It's very high-volume, fast-paced work. The day flies by. I...