Inside Business articles from January 2008

Inside Business archives from January 2008

Correction.(Correction notice)
January 1, 2008... In the December Leading Lawyers article, "The Big Picture," Patricia Gadja was incorrectly identified and Linda Bluso, chair of In Counsel With Women, was misrepresented.

Whine into water.(ABSOLUTELY)(Freshwater Coasts)(Column)
January 1, 2008... This column has a purpose: to persuade. If I can't convince you that you live in the most abundant land of opportunity in the world, I will have failed. This land of opportunity is called the Freshwater Coast. You may know it as the North...

The next course: Iron Chef Michael Symon takes one thing at a time.(ACCOLADES)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The list of impressive accolades Michael Symon has garnered throughout his career is long: He was honored as one of Food & Wine magazine's Ten Best New Chefs in America in 1998; he was nominated for a James Beard...

Page turners.(BOOKS)
January 1, 2008... Here are Amazon.com's top five best-selling Business/Finance books in Northeast Ohio for the month of November. (1) "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable" By Patrick M. Lencioni [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (2) "The Dip:...

By the numbers.
January 1, 2008... Points out of a possible 100 that Great Lakes Brewing Co. earned for its Eliot Ness lager at the World Beer Championships in November, taking home a gold medal in the "Vienna Marzen, Lager" category. The brewer's Dortmunder Gold scored 91...

Taking a stand: local businesses urged to join U.N. Global Compact.(ETHICS)
January 1, 2008... In an attempt to encourage regional companies to think globally, last month Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management's Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit (BAWB) pitched local businesses an offer it hopes...

On target: Lockheed Martin's Akron office lands $2 million sniper system contract.(INNOVATION)
January 1, 2008... A wind-sensitive rifle? Believe it. Lockheed Martin's Akron facility received a $2 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the One Shot system, which will enhance the ability of snipers to hit...

My generation: Diebold studies the banking habits of the young and old.(CONSUMER RESEARCH)
January 1, 2008... When it comes to what customers want at their retail bank, the answer is as widespread as the generation gap. But research released in November by the Canton-based ATM maker Diebold Inc. has attempted to pull generation demographic groups...

Show them the money: life is good, but access to capital is a challenge for neo startups.(ATTITUDES)
January 1, 2008... Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs love the region's quality of life but aren't so hot about the access to investment capital and the economy, according to a study by Cleveland State University and economic development group JumpStart Inc. In...

As seen on TV: Streetsboro car dealership lands screen time in national ad.(ADVERTISING)
January 1, 2008... If you blinked you might've missed the familiar exterior and interior scenes of Classic Buick-Pontiac-GMC auto dealership in Streetsboro, which were featured in two nationally televised advertisements from the country's largest automaker,...

Bulking up the business: Cleveland-native Mike Greeves adapts his fitness Web site to an in-gym model for success.(FITNESS)(Website overview)
January 1, 2008... One Cleveland native is revamping his successful fitness company in 2008, offering new opportunities both inside and outside the gym. Mike Greeves' Web site, HyperStrike.com, offers its members fitness tips, exercise plans and nutritional...

Stevens Baron Communications.(ADVERTISING)
January 1, 2008... Stevens Baron Communications named Paul Codispoti as director of creative and production services. Most recently, Codispoti was the Art Department manager at Cedar Fair LID, where he served for 19 years. Codispoti studied at the Art Institute...

Greenleaf Investment Management & Counsel.(BANKING & FINANCE)
January 1, 2008... Greenleaf Investment Management & Counsel promoted James A. Blue to vice president of research. Blue joined Greenleaf in 1999 and has 15 years' experience in investment management and finance. He holds a bachelor's degree in business...

Fifth Third Bank.(BANKING & FINANCE)
January 1, 2008... Fifth Third Bank, Northeastern Ohio, promoted Kurt A. Raicevich to senior vice president and manager of the Retail Banking division. Raicevich joined the bank in 1993 as a retail associate in Cincinnati and arrived in Northeast Ohio in 2000 as...

Cleveland Clinic.(HEALTH CARE)(Cynthia Deyling )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Cleveland Clinic promoted Cynthia Deyling to chairman of regional operations. In this newly created role, Dr. Deyling will be responsible for integrating the Cleveland Clinic's family health centers with all Cleveland Clinic health-system...

University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University named Anthony J. Furlan as chairman of its Department of Neurology.(HEALTH CARE)
January 1, 2008... University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University named Anthony J. Furlan as chairman of its Department of Neurology. He joins University Hospitals from the Cleveland Clinic, where I he was the associate director of...

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart PC.(LAW)
January 1, 2008... Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart PC named Thomas H. Barnard as shareholder in the firm's Cleveland office. Most recently, Barnard was a partner at Ulmer & Berne LLP. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound and...

Community Solutions Association.(LAW)
January 1, 2008... Michael J. McGee, a partner with Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd., was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Community Solutions Association. He has been a member of the board since 2006. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Community...

Swagelok Co.(MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2008... Swagelok Co. promoted Peter Ehlers to the newly created position of technical sales manager for its recently formed Swagelok Technology Services Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swagelok. Ehlers joined Swagelok in 2003 as the alternative...

RPM International Inc.(MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2008... RPM International Inc. named Shelly K. Hillyer as associate general counsel. Previously, Hillyer was a partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. Hillyer holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from The Ohio State University and earned her law...

Ferro Corp.(MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2008... Ferro Corp. named Todd Nelson as its chief information officer. Nelson has more than 22 years of information technology and management experience, most recently as vice president of information systems for the Noveon business unit of Lubrizol...

Akron Polymer Systems Inc. (APS).(POLYMERS)
January 1, 2008... Akron Polymer Systems Inc. (APS) named William Fuller to the newly created position of vice president of business development. "Bill has a strong background in developing and executing commercial strategies, as well as experience in the optical...

Silicon Chef: because many end users aren't striving to be the best of the best, products that make routine tasks easier to complete are in high demand.(E-INDUSTRY)
January 1, 2008... "Live from Network Stadium, the next Silicon Chef is... Dan Hanson from Cleveland!" "Thank you very much. I'd like to thank the judges for their votes, and all the buggy software and hardware products that provided me with a huge menu...

Onward through the fog: tear down the Cleveland Play House for a Medical Mart? Our enlightened elected officials hit a new low note.(AT LARGE)
January 1, 2008... It is a strange time here in Cleveland as we begin a new year marked by a sense of desperation, for we are about to witness yet more bizarre folly by those agents of the apocryphal--Cuyahoga County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Timothy F. Hagan...

Ahead of the curve: dramatic revisions recently made to section 409A are catching the attention of many business organizations today.(MY SAY)(section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code )
January 1, 2008... With the new year upon us, many businesses are well aware of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the need for urgent action. Three years have passed since Congress dramatically revamped the world of deferred compensation. Virtually no...

Three degrees of success: Cleveland-based Within3 is a social networking Web site similar to MySpace or Facebook created strictly for physicians and researchers to share expertise and improve care.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shortly before Web-based social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook took the Internet by storm, an online community for physicians and researchers was born. Created by three friends with overlapping...

Curing from the outside in: for 24 years, Dee Wolk has taught her weight-loss solution to help her more than 30,000 customers fight bulging waistlines with a healthy dose of self-love.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
January 1, 2008... As that New Year's resolution to drop those holiday pounds turns from a promise into a daily practice, Dee Wolk only has one question for you: "If the diet industry is $93 billion, why do we have an obesity epidemic? If diets worked, you'd only...

Road map.(Ohio Entrepreneur)(List)
January 1, 2008... 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, locate and expand their businesses in Northeast...

Best of Business.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After hundreds of nominations and hours of exhaustive research, Inside Business offers you the Best of Business in Northeast Ohio. In the next five pages, we chronicle the region's best business personalities,...

Extinguishing the health-care crisis: the Cleveland Clinic expects its recent anti-smoking hiring policy to inspire companies across The country to take an active role in employee health.(HEALTH CARE)(Cover story)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The workday is ending at Cleveland's largest employer. Employees, nurses and doctors file in and out of the Cleveland Clinic's buildings along Carnegie Avenue, drift to parking lots scattered around the 140-acre...

On the move: in 50 years, Sedlak Management Consultants Inc. has helped improve a half-trillion square feet of distribution operations.(IB BIRTHDAY CLUB)(Company overview)
January 1, 2008... Most entrepreneurs don't start a company in the hopes of working fewer hours, but that's exactly what Joseph Sedlak wanted when he founded his consulting firm in 1958. An engineer for former women's apparel maker Bobbie Brooks, Sedlak had...

Political pundit.(ONE 2 WATCH)(Liz Powell, founder and principal, G2G Consulting LLC.)(Interview)
January 1, 2008... Liz Powell, 35 founder and principal, G2G consulting llc lpowell@g2gconsulting.com CAMPUS CRUSADER: During her years at Colgate University, Liz Powell raised awareness about several hot-button issues. She started an AIDS Task...

At the top of their game: five Northeast Ohio investment advisers share their secrets to success and their investment strategies for 2008.(INVESTING)(Joe Kraft, Jan Litterst and Eric Nilson)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Need a stock tip? How about some advice on where to invest your annual company bonus or your retirement savings for the next 30, 40 or 50 years? You might want to ask one of these five Northeast Ohio investment...

Save it for later: maximize retirement contributions to save on taxes today.(MONEY MAKERS)
January 1, 2008... Ben Franklin once said, "Nothing is certain but death and taxes." While many of us dread doing our taxes, there are some time-honored strategies that have endured over the years that may make the 2008 tax season seem, well, less taxing. ...

Navigating rough waters: experts recommend diversifying to combat market turbulence.(MONEY MAKERS)
January 1, 2008... Investors who feel a little queasy from being buffeted by the choppy investment atmosphere these days have good reason. A number of powerful elements--the foreclosure crisis, a housing slump, rising energy prices and a weak dollar--have...

Investing resource directory.(MONEY MAKERS)(Directory)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Home Savings Bank Pete Collins Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending 275 W. Federal St. Youngstown, Ohio 44503 P: (330) 742-3001 F: (330) 742-0499 pcollins@homesavings.com www.homesavings.com Home...

Creating a land of opportunity: Northeast Ohio universities say student involvement in business and the community many help stem the tide of young people leaving the region.(Special Section: Plugging the Brain Drain)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Students attending colleges and universities across Northeast Ohio are aware of the so-called brain drain problem, a widely reported trend of young, educated people leaving the region. So how do you convince students...

Staying power: several recent graduates explain why they chose to remain in Northeast Ohio to live and work.(Special Section: Plugging the Brain Drain)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cleveland boasts several of the country's most prestigious colleges and, in fact, celebrates more than 27,000 college graduates annually. But buzzwords like "brain drain" and "the quiet crisis" suggest graduates are...

A good investment: companies that invest in training and education will have more loyal employees--and help counteract Northeast Ohio's brain drain.(Special Section: Plugging the Brain Drain)
January 1, 2008... Many Northeast Ohio companies feeling the direct effects of the brain drain are investing in continued education and training for their young employees. The mindset is if employers invest in their employees' career development, those employees...

Ask the experts.(Plugging the Brain Drain)
January 1, 2008... Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO HELP GRADUATES FIND JOBS IN NORTHEAST OHIO? A: "One of the most important ways to keep our talented graduates in Northeast Ohio is to make sure they are aware of the professional opportunities...

Committed to the community: since 2005, the Top 25 Under 35 movers and shakers awards have showcased young professionals who've become leaders in the region.(TOP 25 UNDER 35 MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club)(Kimberly Rathbone)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For creditor's rights attorney Kimberly Rathbone, 2007 was a banner year. It kicked off when she was tapped for the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club's second annual Top 25 Under 35 Movers & Shakers Award. The...

The 2008 finalists.(TOP 25 UNDER 35 MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(Awards list)
January 1, 2008... The finalists of the 2008 Movers & Shakers Awards were selected based upon their scores tallied from a detailed application covering professional accomplishments, charitable activities, involvement in the community and their efforts to keep...

Eighth Annual Commercial Real Estate Deal Maker Forum.(WORKING THE ROOM)
January 1, 2008... This year, the Eighth Annual Commercial Real Estate Deal Maker Forum focused on regional economic development and dove into Cleveland's role in revitalizing the Great Lakes Region. On the morning of Nov. 20, many gathered at the Renaissance...

Highlands Financial Group's holiday bash.(WORKING THE ROOM)(Cleveland Foodbank)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... This year, the Highlands Financial Group's annual holiday party benefited the Cleveland Foodbank. On Dec. 1, clients, friends and family munched on appetizers and sipped cocktails at the Chagrin Valley Little Theater while watching a...

The Weatherhead 100.(WORKING THE ROOM)(event to honor the fastest-growing companies)(Turning Technologies )(MemberHealth Inc.)(Produce Distribution Inc. )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... There's no better time to celebrate growth in Northeast Ohio than at the Weatherhead 100. On the evening of Dec. 4, nearly 1,000 business professionals gathered at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven to honor the fastest-growing companies in the...