Inside Business articles from June 2006

Inside Business archives from June 2006

Gerald H. Gordon: publisher and character.(ABSOLUTELY)
June 1, 2006... Cleveland has lost in Jerry Gordon a great publisher and an even greater character. It would be more flattering, perhaps, to call him a great publisher and be done with it. But anyone who knew him would tell you he was a character first, and a...

My five cents.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I loved your article ("How I Got Rich in Northeast Ohio," March issue). I am a true to the core Ohioan that spent many years away in San Diego--nice place, but not home. I love my home, Toledo, and quietly maybe I am accumulating some nickels...

Hidden treasures.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... The article, "How I Got Rich in Northeast Ohio" (March issue), is like in the book, "The Millionaire Next Door," where peoples' perception of being successful is the opposite of the reality. And since Northeast Ohio and Cleveland are not flashy...

Insightful perspective.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I have recently read my first copy of Inside Business magazine and just wanted to take a moment to tell you I thoroughly enjoyed the forward-looking, affirming approach the magazine takes with just the right mix of serious business, human...

Brains over beaches.(ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
June 1, 2006... More bachelor's degrees instead of beaches. Immigration instead of public transportation. Minority business owners instead of art museum visitors. Those were just a few of the findings of a yearlong, $270,000 study of economic drivers in...

Freeloaders.(PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION)
June 1, 2006... Just when you thought you had a free ride, it slaps you in the face: After Labor Day, E-Line Euclid Trolley riders may be faced with a fee. "Under the current scenario, we would charge the rider 75 cents, but it could go to $1," says...

Home is where the money is.(home-based businesses, market size, COSE)
June 1, 2006... Home-based businesses in the United States generate roughly $427 billion a year, according to Entrepreneur magazine. That's no small potatoes. Thousands of those businesses are located in Northeast Ohio. COSE, the small-business arm of the...

Take a stand.(VICES)(smoke free bars and restaurants)
June 1, 2006... Northeast Ohio bars and restaurants are jumping on the bandwagon for smoke-free establishments--and are seeing positive economic impacts. Gary Richmond, owner of Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar, took his business smoke-free in 2004 and saw...

A wing and a prayer.(DIVERSIFICATION)
June 1, 2006... Eaton Corp. Chairman and CEO Alexander "Sandy" Cutler invited about 30 financial analysts from around the country, plus trade and consumer journalists, for a rare briefing in May about its growing aerospace division as the 95-year-old Cleveland...

Fat-burning beer (truck).(GAS PRICES)
June 1, 2006... One company not suffering from the nearly $3 a gallon at the gas pump is Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC), which since November last year has been using a delivery truck in Northeast Ohio modified to run on straight vegetable oil (SVO). The...

Under the radar.(BANKING)(Ohio Commerce Bank)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... For the first time in 15 years, a new bank is planning to open in Cuyahoga County. Ohio Commerce Bank received conditional approval of its application for an Ohio banking charter, with plans to begin operations later this summer, pending...

Ten Under 10 Awards 2006: saluting small business.
June 1, 2006... Welcome to the second annual COSE Ten Under 10 Awards! As the small business arm of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, COSE understands the importance of honoring a group of individuals that are making such a difference in our region's...

Leading the charge: www.inside-business.com/ izwoman.(ATHENA Awards)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Inside Business magazine is recognizing outstanding leaders who have achieved professional excellence, given back to their communities and created leadership opportunities for women, and wants you to be present at this year's ATHENA Awards. ...

All Fool's Day Fete.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Foundation for Community Betterment, Cleveland Chapter, held an All Fool's Day Fete on April 1 at Murray Hill Galleries in Little Italy. The black-and-white affair, which inspired interesting outfits, featured a silent auction. All proceeds...

Research showCASE.(WORKING THE ROOM)
June 1, 2006... On April 5, at the opening reception of Case Western Reserve University's fourth-annual Research ShowCASE, the business community had a firsthand look at the research coming out of the university and its collaborating institutions, including...

ERC luncheon.(Employers Resource Council, speech by Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation administrator, Bill Mabe)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... On April 26, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Administrator/CEO Bill Mabe spoke at a luncheon co-hosted by Employers Resource Council (ERC) and Inside Business. Held at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, the event gave attendees a...

CREW Midwest Regional Conference Luncheon.(WORKING THE ROOM)
June 1, 2006... As part of the CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Midwest Regional Conference, held in Cleveland in May, a luncheon was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland on May 5. Albert Rather, co-chairman of Forest City Enterprises Inc., served...

Take the plunge.(let's do lunch: this month's local lunch scene pick)(Restaurant review)
June 1, 2006... WATERS RESTAURANT, HUDSON ADDRESS: 5416 Darrow Road LUNCH HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CUISINE: American CREDIT CARDS: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover RESERVATIONS: Not necessary CONTACT: (330)...

Geekonomics: musings on a lifetime worth of observational data and common sense.(a critical evaluation of Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner)
June 1, 2006... While reading best-selling "Freakonomics" (William Morrow, 2005) by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, I thought of the old joke about the various Arabica coffeehouses in town. The one by Coventry became AraFreak-a. The one by Case was...

Biz links: Northeast Ohio's business resource guide.(Directory)
June 1, 2006... Biz Links Northeast Ohio's business resource guide BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ASSISTANCE GLIDE (440) 366-4310 www.glideit.org Northeast Ohio Trade & (330) 672-4080 www.neotec.org Economic...

Bleeding red ink: with declining revenues and readership, newspapers' demise is more complex than we like to believe.
June 1, 2006... This is an awkward time in the newspaper business. It's difficult to write about your own demise and put a good face on it. Newspapers--as we have known them--are dying. They are going the way of the railroad, the telegraph, videotape and...

Smooth sailing: to steer the ship in the right direction, your crew must coordinate their efforts as a team.(tips for improving teamwork, importance of organizational communication)
June 1, 2006... There is a cartoon depicting two Vikings at the stern of their boat looking out to sea. Behind them are their oarsmen paddling in opposite directions from one another (and the boat is going in circles). The caption under the cartoon reads, "We...

Clothes that are smarter than you: Northeast Ohio has the ability to become a center for smart materials and textiles that are truly smart.(TECH ECONOMY)
June 1, 2006... Remember the heady days of the dot-com era when the next wave of technology was going to bring us "smart" refrigerators that would notify us when we were about to run out of milk? I can usually tell by the weight of the container (and the smell...

SME 2005-2006.
June 1, 2006... How many companies or associations can boast more than 80 years of success? Founded in 1925, SME Cleveland continues to be a growing and vibrant force in the Greater Cleveland Business Community. What is the secret to our success? Why of...

SME Cleveland unveils its "wow" factor: sales and marketing execs rock the House of Blues.
June 1, 2006... Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) Cleveland and House of Blues are lending new meaning to the phrase Cleveland Rocks. SME Cleveland's annual Business to Business trade show is attracting some of Northeast Ohio's most prominent sales and...

The best networking tool in town: the oldest SME chapter in the country continues to thrive.(Company overview)
June 1, 2006... Although Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) Cleveland launches its Business to Business Show this year with a decidedly modern twist, the organization is actually the oldest chapter of SME in the country, boasts SME President Robert Freed....

Reinventing the daily grind: Van Ropy Coffee Co. is brewing new business thanks to a comprehensive turn-around strategy.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
June 1, 2006... Van Roy Coffee Co.'s operation always contained the main ingredients for longevity: loyal employees, a respected brand and a valued customer list. "Van Roy used to be the premier coffee company in Cleveland," says Jeff Miller, president...

Moral Dilemma: president Chris Kiec of it services company adventures in automation understands ethical practices bring happy endings.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)
June 1, 2006... These days, Chris Kiec's challenge is balancing her 60-hour-work weeks and keeping her technical skills up-to-date. "When I was working 36 to 40 hours a week, I had the time to develop my technical skills," says Kiec, president of...

Road map.(professional services, accessible to the Ohio entrepreneurs)(Directory)
June 1, 2006... 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 Ohio. We...

A satisfying journey: with the blue cross blue shield public relations debacle a decade behind him, the once unassuming Kent Clapp leads medical mutual toward a strong future.(Cover story)
June 1, 2006... Ten years ago, the only thing the future seemed to hold for Medical Mutual of Ohio was the announcement of its demise. One of Cleveland's largest employers and civic contributors, the health insurance provider has quietly navigated its way...

Staying afloat: soaking up dollars in Sandusky, a trio of indoor water parks compete for swimsuits and business suits.(ATTRACTIONS)
June 1, 2006... Of all the motels lining state Route 250 in Sandusky, Great Wolf Lodge manages to stand out on a cold March afternoon. It's more than the hostelry's large size and rustic wooden facade that sets it apart from the rest, it's the activity that...

Through the roof: in less than a decade, Beachwood construction materials manufacturer Tremco Inc. has grown from $250 million to more than $1 billion investing in itself and its people.(MANUFACTURING)(Company overview)
June 1, 2006... Don't tell Jeff Korach the Northeast Ohio manufacturing industry is struggling. He's heard it and read it more times than he can count. Korach, 64, president and CEO of Beachwood-based Tremco Inc., is too busy growing his company by more...

Bang for his buck: as president and CEO of one of the largest fireworks distributors in the country, Bruce Zoldan knows a thing or two about explosive growth.(CONSUMER PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Bruce Zoldan began his multimillion-dollar business selling fireworks out of the trunk of his car. In 1970, the Youngstown native drove to Toledo, one of the few areas in the state that allowed the sale of fireworks at that time, and...

Rocket man: new team NEO CEO Thomas Waltermire hopes to propel the regional economic development organization to the next stage.
June 1, 2006... Thomas Waltermire, the new CEO of Team NEO, the economic development organization designed to bolster the entire Northeast Ohio region, doesn't want to be spread too thin. "We've got to resist the temptation to slide across the top of a...

Building hope: Kati Maloney LoPresti founded Kati's hope foundation to build awareness and raise money to defeat cancer caused by asbestos exposure.(GIVING BACK)
June 1, 2006... The face of Kati's Hope Foundation knows firsthand the devastating effects of Mesothelioma. Not only has the cancer caused by asbestos exposure taken the life of her father and uncle, Kati Maloney LoPresti was diagnosed with this deadly...

Getting the word out: after 70 years, McKinney Advertising & Public Relations won't stray from its business-to-business roots or Cleveland address.(IB'S BIRTHDAY CLUB)(Company overview)
June 1, 2006... Judy Cerne imitates the sound effect of a win for McKinney Advertising & Public Relations. It goes something like this: "Wall Street Journal? That's ggrrreat!" Cerne, president and CEO of the downtown Cleveland firm, can hear an...

Eminent domain: small businesses vs. revitalization: the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision, and any future court decisions, may impact your business. Are you taking steps to protect yourself?(Guide to: Law)
June 1, 2006... Warning: Using the power of eminent domain, the government may take your land in the name of economic development even if your property is not blighted. That was the decision handed down last summer by the U.S. Supreme Court, which shocked many...

The retail race: healthy retail development in Northeast Ohio fuels competition among developers.
June 1, 2006... Build it and they will come. That adage rings true for developers and retailers who are finding that when they build new retail centers with the right mix of big-name national retailers and other small merchants, consumers will come, and many...

Understanding metada: know the legal implications of the information hidden within your electronic documents.
June 1, 2006... In today's electronic age, virtually all written business is done over the Internet. The instantaneous transactions of documents, as well as the ease of collaboration, have changed the way we communicate. But with technology comes hidden...

Patent challenges impact businesses.
June 1, 2006... This term, the Supreme Court will decide two patent challenges that could have a profound impact on patent law and on business owners. KSR International v. Teleflex challenges the standard used by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal...

Steps to take within the first 48 hours of a supplier filing bankruptcy.
June 1, 2006... When buying your company's supplies on a just-in-time basis, unforeseen breaks in the supply chain can shut down production triggering a catastrophic ripple of customer contract breaches. So what can you do to hedge against the risk of a...

Making business succession a little a little less complicated.
June 1, 2006... Although 90 percent of U.S. businesses are family owned, only 30 percent are handed down to a son or daughter. Business succession is a complicated matter. But with the right advice and guidance it can work to help everyone involved, says...

Ohio task force makes recommendations.(Guide to: Law)
June 1, 2006... Because of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows governments to take private land for economic development, the state appointed a task force made up of members from various levels of state government officials, organizations and business...

Good counsel: your legal questions answered.(ASK THE EXPERTS)
June 1, 2006... Q: HOW CAN BUSINESSES PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EMINENT DOMAIN ISSUES? A. "To protect their right to receive just compensation, business owners should maintain property in good condition to avoid a 'blight' finding," says Steven Kaufman,...

Weighing the cost: many small and mid-sized businesses see outsourcing human resources as an invaluable service, bringing an objective eye to the table.(Guide to: Human Resources)
June 1, 2006... There was a period when Russell Lamb spent more time managing the details of his company than focusing on the big picture. As a principal of Allegro Realty Advisors in Independence, Lamb found his days were spent more on administering human...

Experts resources. our HR experts answer your questions.(human resource management)
June 1, 2006... Q: SHOULD HR SERVICES BE OUTSOURCED? A: "It depends on your organization's circumstances," says Pat Perry, president, Employers Resource Council, (ERC). "In some circumstances, services such as payroll administration and background...

Style Maven.(Kristen Kaleal of Fusion Image Group)(Interview)
June 1, 2006... Kristen Kaleal, 31 president, Fusion Image Group Kristen@fusionimagegroup.com COLORFUL BEGINNINGS: While living in Las Vegas and working in the insurance industry, Kaleal was introduced to a Hollywood wardrobe consultant. "I never thought...