Inside Business articles from March 2006

Inside Business archives from March 2006

Corrections.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... In the February issue in "The Power 100" feature, Jamie Ireland should be listed as the former chairman of the Great Lakes Science Center, president of the Musical Arts Association (The Cleveland Orchestra), and deputy chairman of University...

How I got rich in Northeast Ohio--and so can you.
March 1, 2006... Adapted from a speech given to the Sales and Marketing Executives of Cleveland (SME), February 13, 2006, and dedicated to all the no-shows. When this talk was promoted through ads in Ohio's largest newspaper, I was overwhelmed with calls...

Toot your horn.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I just finished reading your article, "If You Got It, Flaunt It" ("Absolutely," January). Definitely an attention getter and a great story! I totally agree with you that the need to toot our own horns about success right here in NEO should be...

A few additions.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I enjoyed your column ("If You Got It, Flaunt It," January), and I hope you keep on pounding away at that message. We do tend to focus on the negatives, of which there are unfortunately a good number. That said, the psychological importance of...

Grounded.(ORGANIZED LABOR)(Flight Options LLC thinks over labor contract)
March 1, 2006... The management at Richmond Heights' fractional jet-ownership company Flight Options LLC may soon have fewer options when it comes to its pilots. In January, the company's 830 aviators filed for representation by the International...

Sleepy headphones.(INNOVATIONS)
March 1, 2006... Bill Ryan wasn't a fan of naps; he always awoke from them with a splitting headache. So when Ryan, president of Warrensville Heights' employee benefits firm Master Consulting Group, received a compact disc from a business colleague...

Boca bound.(Agilysys Inc. plans to relocate)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In today's global economy, high-tech companies have access to every corner of the globe, which allow them to operate in remote locations. Mayfield Heights' Agilysys Inc. is not exactly following suit. A provider of enterprise computer...

Weaver the new top hat.(EDUCATION)(Akron's White Hat Ventures LLC president Mark Thimmig resigns, Keith Weaver appointed )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... As quickly as the old CEO and president of Akron's White Hat Ventures LLC resigned, a new chief executive was set in place. The for-profit charter school operation, founded by manufacturing tycoon David Brennan, reported in late December...

Jackson shares his vision ... again.(CLEVELAND FORECAST)(Frank Jackson )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson was pushed to reveal some of his specific plans on issues such as regionalism, education and job growth during his late January address--and first public talk since becoming mayor--to the Press Club of Cleveland....

Girl power.(MENTORING)
March 1, 2006... This month is the last chance this year for female business owners to take their companies to the next level. The ATHENA PowerLink is a national mentoring program that selects women business owners and connects them with a skilled advisory...

Red sneakers.(ENDORSEMENTS)
March 1, 2006... Leave it to Damon Jones, the outspoken point guard of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to become the first American NBA player to endorse a Chinese-branded sneaker and apparel by Beijing-based Li-Ning Sports Goods Co. Jones, who on his arrival to...

Universal appeal.(GLOBAL MARKETS)
March 1, 2006... What Solon-based Stopol Inc. sells are machines that make everything plastic--from casino chips to car bumpers. Not too glamorous. Their new spokesperson, however, is very glamorous. Cynthia Olavarria, 23, is Miss Puerto Rico 2005, the...

Team NEO and IB to honor award recipients: register at www.inside-business.com/neosuccess.(The Web)
March 1, 2006... Inside Business magazine and Team NEO, a nonprofit designed to strengthen and build business in Northeast Ohio, are putting their hands together for the winners of this year's Team NEO Success Awards and the H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award...

Cleveland.com Brain Gain party.(WORKING THE ROOM)
March 1, 2006... Hundreds took part in the recent Brain Gain event hosted by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Jan. 25 at the Cleveland Play House. Young professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s filled the theater for a chance to "Roam the House," as the...

Breakfast with champions.(WORKING THE ROOM)
March 1, 2006... Champion Staffing hosted its second in a series of Breakfast With Champions seminars on Jan. 24 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence. The event was sponsored by Inside Business and KKSG & Assoc. Inc. Helen Tauscher of Viking Forge...

A festive feast.(let's do lunch: This month's local lunch scene pick)(Restaurant review)
March 1, 2006... A FESTIVE FEAST TAZA, WOODHERE ADDRESS: 28601 Chagrin Blvd. LUNCH HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. CUISINE: Lebanese/Middle Eastern CREDIT CARDS: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover RESERVATIONS: Not accepted CONTACT: (216)...

A Vista on windows: start planning now for the latest windows upgrade. It's a big one.(E-INDUSTRY)
March 1, 2006... You finally did it. You upgraded all of your PCs to Windows XP. Your server is running Windows Server 2003, or so your IT people tell you. Time to sit back and relax. Not so fast bucko. There's a new Windows on the horizon. And it is a...

Biz links: Northeastern Ohio's business resource guide.(Directory)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2006... Biz Links Northeast Ohio's business resource guide ARCHITECTURE KA Inc. (216) 781-9144 www.kainc.com AUDIO/VISUAL PRODUCTION Colortone Staging & (440) 914-9500 www.colortone.com Rentals...

The rise of the praetorian guard: how IB's power 100 reflects the changing business find political dynamics of the region.(POLITICS)
March 1, 2006... Identifying prominent people in a community and the degree of power they possess is a complex and interesting exercise. It can reveal a dimension about the nature of a place that goes beyond a census survey or economic impact study. Take...

Do we have the drive it takes to compete? The TechFutures project strives to remove the jams blocking the region from fulfilling its potential.
March 1, 2006... Everyone knows the term "New York minute"--that infinitesimally tiny interval between the time the light turns green and the driver behind you begins beeping his horn. And as anyone who has spent time in New York will tell you, it is a fairly...

Corporate challenge.(About the BENDIX * CLEVELAND)
March 1, 2006... PURPOSE: The Bendix Cleveland Corporate Challenge is a team-building initiative promoting camaraderie, pride and fitness among employees. All activity levels are encouraged to participate. COMPANY SIZE: All companies will compete within...

Event schedule.
March 1, 2006... June For More Information Go to www.hermesdeveland.com/corp_challenge KICKOFF PARTY Thursday, June 15 Let the Games begin! The 2006 Bendix Cleveland Corporate Challenge Opening Party will be from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. at the Blind...

Work together, challenge together: the Bendix Cleveland Corporate Challenge is the glue that helps employees stick together; new events on tap this year.
March 1, 2006... Rick Horsfall began working at Ben Venue Laboratories Inc. in Bedford 19 years ago when the contract pharmaceutical manufacturer had only 150 employees. "When we were small everybody knew everybody," says Horsfall, Ben Venue's manager of...

Serious healthy: for Bendix, happy, fit employees are key.
March 1, 2006... Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC of Elyria is serious about the health and wellness of its employees. The company runs a wellness and fitness center at its corporate headquarters, sponsors health fairs, as well as dieting and mental...

Hit your boss with the ball? With corporate challenge, childhood games are all the rage.
March 1, 2006... From time to time employees at Hyland Software Inc. in Westlake gather in the company's atrium to play a few rounds of dodgeball. Erin Murphy, who works in the company's marketing division, says playing dodgeball has become a practical...

Chambers of commerce event.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
March 1, 2006... Chambers of Commerce Event Chamber Event March/April BREAKFAST Beachwood Business Breakfast Series 3/9/2006 Cuyahoga Valley Health & Wellness Networking...

Fruit of the vine: with the help of business advisers of Cleveland, David Jilbert turned a sweet hobby into a booming business.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
March 1, 2006... When David Jilbert was in the seventh grade, he never would have guessed that a school project would later turn into a successful career in winemaking. And it all started with bees. "My father got me a beehive [for the project] and ever since...

Making connections: Betty Jo Licata, dean of Youngstown state university's business college, is bringing students, faculty and the local business community together.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)
March 1, 2006... Dr. Betty Jo Licata is on a mission. Since becoming the dean of Youngstown State University's Williamson College of Business Administration (WCBA) in 1995, she's worked to bridge the university with the local business community. "This...

Road map.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)(Directory)
March 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...

Filmic feat: independent filmmaker authentic films LLC is striving for excellence in its commercial path.(GUIDE TO CREATIVITY)
March 1, 2006... For all the Hollywood stories about revered filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, there are hundreds more untold tales of lesser-known independent filmmakers. Husband-and-wife team Kevin Kerwin and Kate O'Neil are two such filmmakers. ...

Designing woman: Stephanie Fralick helps fashionable women find an outlet for expression.(GUIDE TO CREATIVITY)
March 1, 2006... As a child, Stephanie Fralick used to make puppets and dress them up as "Little House on the Prairie" characters. Today, the West Side native makes a living designing modern clothing for spirited girls--as she likes to describe her clientele....

History makers: North Star Films Ltd., a growing documentary film studio in Cleveland, has its cameras trained on history, but is looking toward the future.(GUIDE TO CREATIVITY)
March 1, 2006... Though Cleveland's Michael Kirk has met Ken Burns and admires his skill, he isn't trying to be the next Burns." Kirk met the filmmaker responsible for the celebrated PBS miniseries documentaries, "Baseball," "Jazz" and "The Civil War," on...

On Point: Point to Point Communications' dedication to top-notch work fuels success.(GUIDE TO CREATIVITY)
March 1, 2006... "8:34 a.m.: Hurricane Marge changes course. Again." That's the lead to one of eight advertisements created by Point to Point Communications (P2P) for Simonton Windows, headquartered in Parkersburg, W Va., about hurricane-proof windows. The...

A talented pool: a network of professionals helps Toomey & friends advertising provide big agency results.(GUIDE TO CREATIVITY)
March 1, 2006... "Cleveland State is right in the hub of everything," says an enthusiastic student during a 60-second television commercial for the university. Rapid-fire images depict the campus and other local sites while students extol the benefits of a...

ADDY showcase: here's the best work from Northeast Ohio's creative community.(ADDY Gold)
March 1, 2006... It's time for the Cleveland Advertising Association to honor its members with its annual ADDY Awards ceremony. The following pages contain the Gold Award winners from this year's ADDY competition. Inside Business would like to salute these...

The outsider comes home: developer John Ferchill had to build a name for himself in Cleveland by building out of state. But this $1-billion real estate magnate has returned to the city he loves with projects downtown and in the reviving flats.(DEVELOPMENT)
March 1, 2006... John Ferchill is one of the few people in Cleveland who can work an arena. At a November Cleveland Cavaliers game, Nancy Lesic, his public relations adviser, remarked on how many people stopped the 63-year-old affable developer to shake...

The hand that holds the golden key: driven by the arts, Susan Stevens Jaros holds a critical position in raising funds for the Cleveland Museum of Art's expansion and renovation project.(FUNDRAISING)
March 1, 2006... Talking with Susan Stevens Jaros is like talking with an art connoisseur. Sitting in a window-enclosed, intimidating office downtown in the Penton Media building--the offices of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) are closed due to...

Experience adds up: Willoughby-based accounting firm Martinet, Martinet & Recchia counts up 50 years in business and three generations of family ownership.(IB's birthday club)
March 1, 2006... Keith Martinet grew up in the accounting business. When he was just eight years old, he helped his father at home with administrative odds and ends. "I always remember my dad having an accounting firm--it was his life," says Martinet, who...

Larger than life: in so many ways, Michael V. Kelley lived life to the fullest.(MICHAEL V. KELLEY, 1951-2006)(trial lawyers )(Obituary)
March 1, 2006... Trial lawyers tend to be larger than life. That is the way movies, television and novels portray them. The drumbeat of media coverage also encourages the stereotype that they are masters of the universe, hell-bent on avenging the world's...

Welcome to Research ShowCASE 2006.(Case Western Reserve University)
March 1, 2006... Greetings-- I'm pleased to invite you to Case Western Reserve University's fourth annual Research ShowCASE, being held April 5 and 6, 2006, at our Veale Convocation Center. Our two-day program includes an array of activities, providing you...

Why are we so fat? Experts to address the causes of the obesity epidemic in adults and children, its related health issues and what might be done to stem this troubling, national trend.(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2006)
March 1, 2006... It's everywhere. The headlines in newspapers, magazines, Web sites, television and radio remind us almost daily that the U.S. is the fattest country on earth. How and why did this happen in a span of about 40 years? What are the health care...

'Preparing for terror: is Northeast Ohio prepared for an attack?(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2006)
March 1, 2006... Imagine this scenario: It's a beautiful spring morning in Northeast Ohio. Thousands of people are driving to work or school Suddenly, a 727 jet is deliberately crashed in to the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in North Perry Village, Ohio. The...

Creating innovation: innovation lights the way to inventions.(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2006)
March 1, 2006... In 1929, a German journalist asked Albert Einstein if he made his discoveries through intuition or inspiration. "I'm enough of an artist to draw freely on my imagination which I think is more important that knowledge," Einstein responded....

Misunderstanding science? Panel to discuss media's role in public's perception.(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2006)
March 1, 2006... Every day a story on evolution versus intelligent design appears in the press. And while political leaders of the past boldly predicted scientific research would find a cure for cancer by the end of the 20th century, it never came to pass...

Schedule of events: Research ShowCASE 2006.(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... SYMPOSIA Wednesday, April 5th 3-6 P.M. FAT FOOD NATION HORSBURGH GYM Americans are losing the battle over diabetes and cholesterol. We have become the most obese nation in the world. How do we attack this problem? ENERGY IN...

Event highlights: here are some of the must-see panels, workshops and sessions.
March 1, 2006... FAT FOOD NATION--DIABETES AND CHOLESTEROL IN THE USA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 3-6 P.M. HORSBURGH GYM SYMPOSIUM * Speaker: Morgan Spurlock, director of the documentary, "Super Size Me" * Moderator: Joseph White, PhD, Case Professor and Chair...

2006 CREW Midwest Regional conference.
March 1, 2006... Dear Colleagues: On behalf of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Inc. of Cleveland, I am excited to announce the 2006 CREW Midwest Regional Conference, "Rock Your Network", to be held in Cleveland on May 4th--6th at the Hyatt Regency at...

Professional Real Estate: women make powerful crew.(2006 CREW Midwest Regional Conference)
March 1, 2006... Finding a creative and expressive acronym for a professional organization can be a difficult undertaking. But the Commercial Real Estate Women succeed nicely, since CREW tells you everything you need to know about the mission of the group and...

Featured panel: Port Authorities Finance Economic Development.
March 1, 2006... University Heights is not particularly close to Lake Erie. But the East Side suburb sure is glad to have access to the Port Authority of Cleveland's reservoir of economic development instruments. The city recently received one of the first...

Event schedule.(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... THURSDAY, MAY 4th, 2006 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Cruisin' the City: Off-site Tours Crocker Park This $480 million project encompasses 12 city blocks and features a mixture of internationally known retail stores, spacious office...

Most valuable players: the Team NEO Success Awards celebrate companies that impact the region, while the H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award recognizes an individual going above and beyond the call of duty.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... Every year, a professional sports league recognizes its most valuable players. These athletes excel in their field of play, driving their team to win more games and overcome challenges during the season. For us, the Team NEO Success Awards...

The Engine that could: Lakewood-based design firm idea Engine Inc. is equipped with an eager leader and an aggressive growth plan.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... Within a week after Christopher Peer quit his well-paying corporate job to start his own design firm, he found out his wife was pregnant with their first child. "The added pressure of 'Boom, we've got to make this work,' was there," says...

A new beginning: Fairlawn's Infocision Management Corp. battled government regulation that nearly crippled its business, but has emerged larger and stronger than ever.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... It is not everyday your company's entire business model is turned on its head. But that's what happened to Carl Albright, president and CEO of Fairlawn-based telemarketing firm InfoCision Management Corp. In the late 1990's, a very small...

A balancing act: Traveline concentrates on the growth of its corporate travel division, while understanding the changing needs of its consumer division.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... Traveline Hospitality Collection is flying high in today s Internee "Our complete e-commerce division is growing because it balances the need for person-to-person service, along with a 24-hour technology service that our customers demand,"...

Hungry like the wolf: the creative, passionate culture at Cleveland-based tech firm Tenth Floor LLC fosters big-time growth.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... With an office space in the midst of the burgeoning East 4th Street neighborhood, across the street from Flannery's Pub and House of Blues, Tenth Floor's young workforce (the oldest employee is 37) has quite the playground at its fingertips....

Making an impact: the Northeast Ohio office of Atwell-Hicks has reaped the benefits of the company's unique strategy for growth, and helps propel its passion for success.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... Atwell-Hicks is passionate about growth. On average the company has grown at a rate of 25 percent for the last 15 years and anticipates growing at least that much next year in terms of both revenue and employees. "We are passionate about...

Magnet for success: the Timken Co. president and CEO James W. Griffith is working to make Northeast Ohio a global manufacturing hub.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS * 2006 H. PETER BURG REGIONAL VISION AWARD)
March 1, 2006... Last year, James W. Griffith and his wife, Pam, descended into the Akron-Canton Airport on a return flight from Houston. Gazing out at the sea of lights, Pam remarked that it resembled a big city. "It is a big city," Griffith remembers saying....

Team NEO success award winners.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS * 2006 H. PETER BURG REGIONAL VISION AWARD)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARD WINNERS COMPANY INDUSTRY CITY EST. Anthem Blue Cross Insurance Cleveland 1944 and Blue Shield STERIS Corp. Health Care/Biotech...

By the numbers.(TEAM NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(market sales of business enterprises)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... YEAR ESTABLISHED 2000 or later: 15 percent 1951-1999:76 percent 1901-1950:5 percent Before 1900:4 percent INDUSTRY Business services: 45 percent Manufacturing: 12 percent Technology/IT: 13 percent Retail: 4 percent...

Skillful planning: following the seven steps of event planning will ensure a smooth and successful event.(Special Section: Guide to: Meetings & Events)
March 1, 2006... As an event planner, Heather McNally Milko remembers day the unthinkable happened. Milko, president and owner of HMP Special Events in Cleveland, had thought of everything for the outdoor corporate event she was planning. Tents were...

Resource directory.(Special Section: Guide to: Meetings & Events)(Directory)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... COLORTONE STAGING & RENTALS (440) 914-9500 WWW.COLORTONE.COM CONTACT: BOB LEON Colortone Staging & Rentals (CSR) is a full-service audiovisual and staging services company. CSR stages events ranging from corporate...

Annual guide to meeting and event.(Special Section: Guide to: Meetings & Events)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2006... Annual Guide to Meeting and Event Sites Hotels Largest Number of Number of Meeting Rooms/ Meeting...

Candid leader.(ONE 2 WATCH)(Brian Deagan, chief executive officer of Knotice Ltd.)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Brian Deagan, 31 co-founder and CEO, Knotice bdeagan@knotice.com SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR: Deagan has been starting businesses for as long as he can remember. From the bait shop he started in third grade to the successful Lynk Media,...