Inside Business articles from March 2008

Inside Business archives from March 2008

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2008... The John S. Knight Center, located in Akron, was erroneously categorized in the February Great Meetings and Events guide. Lee Friedman, president and CEO of Cleveland Leadership Center, was incorrectly identified in last month's feature, "The...

Change a charter, change a life.(ABSOLUTELY)
March 1, 2008... It's hard to believe a year has gone by since Sam Miller gave his call-to-arms speech to a room full of NEO Success Award winners. The Forest City Enterprises co-chairman's message--there is only one governmental body that can fix Cleveland's...

Employees make it possible.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2008... At the 20th anniversary of the Weatherhead 100, Hudson & Keyse was honored for climbing into third place overall for this prestigious award. From 2002 through 2006, Hudson & Keyse boasted a 1,727 percent increase in sales growth and just over...

On the Web.(the web)
March 1, 2008... IBmag.com features original Web content and follow-up material to our magazine features, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the stories and people changing the face of business in Northeast Ohio. Log on today and get an in-depth look at...

Time is running out.(IBmag.com)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... It's time to nominate your organizations, as deadlines are drawing near for the Team NEO Economic Development Impact Awards and the 2008 Manny Awards. In May, Inside Business will celebrate the manufacturing excellence in Northeast Ohio and,...

Out of the park: banks balk on deals to obtain Indians' ballpark naming rights.(MARKETING)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In September 2006, Inside Business reported, based on information from knowledgeable sources, the parent companies of National City Bank and KeyBank were negotiating with the Cleveland Indians to obtain the naming...

Towering achievement: the K&D Group acquires Ameritrust property with $200 million project in the works.(DEVELOPMENT)
March 1, 2008... Apartments are the K&D Group s forte. In a matter of two decades, the Willoughby-based development firm has succeeded in purchasing and managing six major properties, as well as run more than 10,000 suites in the Cleveland area. And in a matter...

Slowing the runaway train: China wants more NEO imports to cool its economy.(GLOBALIZATION)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, wants his country's economic engine to slow down before it careens out of control. To do that, companies there must do one thing, which might be music to the...

Don't worry. The Duck stays: Arizona firm buys Henkel Corp.'s Avon facility and its line of office and houseware products.(ACQUISITIONS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... From Manco to Henkel, and now to Najafi. In January, Phoenix-based Innovative Brands Holdings LLC acquired Henkel Corp.'s Do-It-Yourself (DIY) line of office and houseware products, as well as the 350-employee Avon facility where the line is...

Making the move: Datacore's move to downtown Cleveland boosted profits.(RELOCATION)(Datacore Consulting)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Jim Conley Sr. noticed a trend in recent years: companies moving back to the urban core. "I've seen a few areas that were deserted several years ago go through a lot of renovations to accommodate for these tech companies moving to...

Germ warfare: Lake Hospital System first to fight infection with room sterilizer.(HEALTH CARE)
March 1, 2008... Lake Hospital System has a new weapon to wage war against the invisible, but insidious, spread of infection. Now equipped with the VaproSure Sterilizer, Lake Hospital System is the first community hospital in the nation--and the only...

Myth buster: Case Western Reserve professor debunks entrepreneurship beliefs.(BOOKS)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Thanks to the best-selling book "Freakonomics," co-written by a University of Chicago economics professor, debunking conventional wisdom about society and the economy is a hot publishing topic today. Now we...

Daniel R. Riemenschneider.(ACCOUNTING)
March 1, 2008... Daniel R. Riemenschneider has joined Bruner-Cox LLP as tax partner in the Akron office. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a minor in data processing from The University of Akron. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Arras Group.(ADVERTISING/PR)
March 1, 2008... Arras Group has appointed Robert Jewett to the position of senior integration manager for the agency's Automotive Group. Prior to joining the Arras Group, Jewett was an account supervisor for Campbell-Ewald Advertising. [ILLUSTRATION...

Szarka Financial Management.(BANKING/FINANCE)
March 1, 2008... Szarka Financial Management named Kelley Keane as its marketing director. With more than 10 years of marketing experience, Keane has held positions at Vita-Mix Corp. and American Greetings Corp. She holds bachelor's degree in communication from...

Gates Group LLC.(BANKING/FINANCE)
March 1, 2008... The Gates Group LLC, announces the appointment of James Redd Jr. to managing director. Redd joins the company from his role as managing director for Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. Previously, he was managing director and manager in the public finance...

University Hospitals Case Medical Center.(HEALTH CARE)
March 1, 2008... University Hospitals Case Medical Center named Dr. Michael A. De Georgia as director of the Reinberger Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and the Maxeen Stone and John A. Flower Professor of Neurology. He is also the director of the Center for...

Cleveland Clinic.(HEALTH CARE)
March 1, 2008... Cleveland Clinic promoted Dr. Ganes C. Sen, as chair of Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute's Department of Molecular Genetics. Dr. Sen received his doctorate from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and was a Medical Research...

Hylant Group.(INSURANCE)(appointment of John W. Chaney)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Hylant Group has named John W. Chaney as president of the Cleveland office, as well as regional vice president. Prior to joining Hylant three years ago as vice president of Business Development and member of the Office of the Chairman, Chaney...

Westfield Group.(INSURANCE)
March 1, 2008... Roger McManus has advanced to the newly created position of chief operating officer for Westfield Group. McManus has led Westfield's property and casualty insurance operations for more than 10 years. He most recently served as senior executive...

Ulmer & Berne LLP.(LAW)(appointment of Ronald H. Isroff and Mark Katz)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Ulmer & Berne LLP, named Ronald H. Isroff as the chair of the firm's Employment & Labor Group and Mark Katz as the vice chair. Isroff previously served as chair of the firm's Business Litigation Group and also was on its management committee....

RPM International Inc.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2008... RPM International Inc. announced it has expanded its board to 13 directors with the appointment of retired U.S. Army General John P. Abizaid. Abizaid retired from the U.S. Army in 2007 after 34 years of service, during which he rose from an...

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2008... Thomas G. Kinisky has been appointed president of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. Until his new appointment, Kinisky was president of Saint Gobain Crystals. Kinisky holds a bachelor degree in chemistry from Pace University and a master...

The Lincoln Electric Co.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2008... Michael S. Mintun has been elected vice president, sales, North America, for The Lincoln Electric Co. In 2002, Mintun was named national sales manager for the U.S., and in 2006, was promoted to his current position as sales manager for North...

Positively Cleveland.(NONPROFIT)
March 1, 2008... Positively Cleveland announces Kim McCarty as the new vice president of Business Development. McCarty began her career in marketing in 1991 working in Corporate Services for the Cavaliers and Gund Arena. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Real Living Realty One.(REAL ESTATE)
March 1, 2008... Real Living Realty One has announced Scott Carman as its network administrator of the Information Services Department, which serves 38 locations in Northeast Ohio. Carman earned his degree in computer information systems from Marietta College....

Content over device: it was more than just cool gadgets at this year's consumer electronics show in Vegas.(E-INDUSTRY)
March 1, 2008... It may have been bitter cold with snow squalls that day, but the Cleveland Browns had a highly anticipated game to tackle. The team was playing against the Buffalo Bills--a must win that was not to be missed. But even if you're halfway...

Unspoken words: the widening indifference among the races here is due to a lack of dialogue.(AT LARGE)(Column)
March 1, 2008... In this town you write about race the way you would dismantle a bomb--gingerly. The exchange earlier this year between Plain Dealer columnists Dick Feagler, a white man, and Phillip Morris, a black man, was a perfect example. ...

On the fast track: entrepreneurs Rick Maicki and Jack Prause gear up to change the retail landscape.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last fall, a car racer climbed the winner's stand and stood smiling among his family for photos. But he wasn't at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the Daytona International Speedway. And he hadn't put the pedal to...

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

No mistake on the lake: port authority head Adam Wasserman believes the road to the region's success is already paved. Northeast Ohio just needs to realize it.(DEVELOPMENT)(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Without ceremony or notice, last month a 400-foot barge charged through the February-chilled waters of Lake Erie. Its destination? The Port of Cleveland. On board were 240 hulking steel coils, massive objects that,...

Raising the roof: the home foreclosure and subprime mortgage crisis is in full swing, but not everyone is suffering.(HOUSING CRASH)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Foreclosure. Mortgage Crisis. Recession. The headlines for the first quarter of 2008 kept getting bleaker. It seemed every day another study or government report would reveal how much farther the housing and...

Out of the storm: led by Chicagoan Paul Greig, FirstMerit emerged triumphantly from Northeast Ohio's mortgage crisis, thanks to adhering to its core commercial lending niche and its refusal to participate in the subprime market.(HOUSING CRASH)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When the dust settled on Jan. 22, Northeast Ohio's financial institutions looked bruised and beaten. After years of record earnings due to aggressive mortgage lending, a wave of home foreclosures--mostly among...

On the market: times are tough in Northeast Ohio's residential real estate market, but some area brokers who saw signs of life last year are confident of a rebound.(HOUSING CRASH)
March 1, 2008... Howard Hanna--you've seen his name on the green and yellow signs outside many single-family homes in Northeast Ohio--admits 2007 was a tough year for anyone trying to sell a house, especially if your address is in South Florida, Arizona or...

Metal of honor: Charles Clark of North Canton's defense metals technology center is doing his part to position Northeast Ohio on the next wave of the global metal business.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2008... Charles Clark is on a for mission the U.S. military, but its no cloak-and-dagger affair. He s out spreading a message to Northeast Ohio metal companies--one word he feels is the future of the industry: titanium. As the executive director...

One 2 watch: children's champion.(dialogue with Rebecca Kodysh)(Interview)
March 1, 2008... "TALK TO KIDS AND LET THEM KNOW THEY MATTER. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN CLEVELAND--AND NATIONWIDE--IS A LOT OF YOUTH DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE EVEN SEE THEM." WHY DID YOU RETURN TO YOUR HOMETOWN? I came across the master's program at Case...

Practice makes perfect: in 100 years, Ulmer & Berne LLP grew from two lawyers sharing the same office to 180 business and real estate attorneys in four offices in two states.(IB BIRTHDAY CLUB)
March 1, 2008... In 1908, Jacob "Yank" Ulmer and Joe Berne, two ambitious recent graduates from Western Reserve University Law School, pulled together what money they had to rent out a small office in downtown Cleveland to launch a business and real estate law...

Continuous achievement.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... This year's staggering number of NEO Success winners reflects Cleveland's determination to expand and revitalize its economic status. And Inside Business, for the second consecutive year, is doing its part to showcase and honor these companies'...

Shearer success: Bob Shearer, president and CEO of Shearer's Foods Inc., is this year's NEO Success Awards keynote speaker.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2008... Bob Shearer is happy to report last years company loss--in weight, that is. In 2007, thanks to its wellness program, Shearer's Foods Inc. employees lost more than 600 pounds. "Our motto is snacking in moderation and [getting] physical...

Making the connection: Intuit Real Estate Solutions is the fastest-growing business in the venerable Intuit corporate portfolio.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: PUBLIC COMPANIES)
March 1, 2008... What many people don't know about Intuit Real Estate Solutions of Highland Hills is sometimes frustrating for the company's president, Jeff Thompson. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Intuit Real Estate Solutions is part of Intuit Inc., well...

Sticking to the plan: Westlake's Nordson Corp. has rolled through economic changes thanks to its ability to adapt its precision dispensing equipment to numerous markets.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: PUBLIC COMPANIES)
March 1, 2008... Remember when everyone you knew didn't have a cell phone? Edward Campbell does. The chairman and CEO of Westlake-based Nordson Corp. recalls when his manufacturing company, which designs and produces precision dispensing equipment, first...

Stewards of sand: in the mining industry, Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals constantly looks for ways to grow in an eco-friendly capacity.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: PRIVATE COMPANIES)
March 1, 2008... Did you enjoy a refreshing glass of water today? Or did you get to work safely in a car manufactured in an American plant? If so, you have Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals to thank for making it all possible. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Finding a niche: Roscoe Medical experienced double-digit growth by offering better prices and services.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: PRIVATE COMPANIES)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... Determined to carve out his own career path in his early 20s, Jessie Keirn had no interest in joining the family business: Strongsville-based Roscoe Medical Inc. "I wanted to make my own claim, plus I knew the family dynamics would be very...

Changing of the times: CrimCheck founder Ted Moss had kept his company growing by adjusting his business strategy to coincide with industry changes.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: EMERGING COMPANIES)
March 1, 2008... For CrimCheck's Ted Moss, it was the leap onto the Internet that revolutionized his business plan, and he hasn't looked back since. "Almost all of our growth has been from Internet growth," says Moss, the company's founder and president....

A group effort: Chris Carmon credits the Carmon Group's success to his team of dedicated individuals.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS: EMERGING COMPANIES)(Carmon Group Inc.)
March 1, 2008... Chris Cartoon sets high expectations. When he founded Independence-based Carmon Group Inc. in 2002, he purchased a 10,000-square-foot facility. He bought it with the intention of cultivating and growing his firm large enough to fill the...

Public companies.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2008... PUBLIC COMPANIES 2007 Net Company Name Top Executive County Revenue in $ The Goodyear Tire Robert Keegan Summit 5 Billion + & Rubber Co. ...

Private companies.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2008... PRIVATE COMPANIES Company Name Top Executive County 2007 Net Revenue in $ Aleris International Steven J. Demetriou Cuyahoga 5 Billion + Bendix...

Emerging companies.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2008... EMERGING COMPANIES Company Name Top Executive County 2007 Net Revenue in $ PartsSource LLC A. Ray Dalton Portage 50-99 Million ...

Community Impact Awards.(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year, Dominion East Ohio and Inside Business are proud to recognize nonprofits that have worked hard to make Northeast Ohio communities better places to live, work and play. From entrepreneurial initiatives to...

E prep puts inner-city students on fast track college.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... Every student who graduates from Entrepreneurship Preparatory School (E Prep) will go to college. John Zitzner, school co-founder, simply won't take "no" for an answer. Neither will Marshall Emerson III, co-founder and the head of the school,...

Nursing program creates much-needed jobs for graduates and Northeast Ohio.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... When asked about the value of the American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter's Northeast Ohio Nurse Assistant Training Program (NEO-NAT), participants are enthusiastic. "I have just now found my purpose in my life with this new and...

International Film Fest draws thousands of movie buffs annually.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everyone enjoys a good movie now and then. Thanks to the Cleveland International Film Society, movie buffs across Northeast Ohio are treated to more than 240 films and movie shorts from close to 60 countries every...

Ingenuity Festival breathes life back into downtown Cleveland.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ingenuity, the Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology, has changed venues since its 2005 launch, but never its purpose: To showcase cultural arts and technology and to reposition Cleveland as a vibrant city to...

Women build brings diversity to construction sites in Northeast Ohio.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... When it comes to residential construction, many people still believe it to be a "man's job," despite the strong force of female construction workers in Northeast Ohio. The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity chapter wants to bring even more...

Morgana trail gets Slavic Village residents moving.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... Residents in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood are getting to know their neighbors and getting around town more easily thanks to the Morgana Run Trail. Like many inner-city communities, the neighborhood suffered from a lack of...

Presidents' Council Foundation strengthens economy through entrepreneurial development.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In today's economy, the future of any major city relies heavily on the creation of new business. While many new businesses may be small, entrepreneurs bring new vibrancy to Northeast Ohio. That's the vision of the...

Downtown Cleveland Alliance Ambassadors restore pride in the city's core.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A group of more than 60 ambassadors are making downtown Cleveland a more attractive and safer place to live, work and play. Since May 2006, members of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance's Downtown Ambassador Program have done everything from clean...

CitiRama sparks Buckeye-Woodland neighborhood renaissance.(Community Impact Awards: dominion east ohio)
March 1, 2008... For 38 years, the nonprofit Buckeye Area Development Corporation (BADC) has provided community development services for the Buckeye-Woodland neighborhoods. Much of that work has been centered on helping companies and individuals acquire and...

NEO Top 25 under 35: movers and shakers.(WORKING THE ROOM)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... On Jan. 31, The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, together with Inside Business, hosted its annual NEO Top 25 Under 35 Movers and Shakers Awards--honoring young professionals who have accomplished a great deal in their careers and communities....

Team Lorain County's economic forecast breakfast.(WORKING THE ROOM)
March 1, 2008... While Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, Team Lorain Country provided its own forecast. The economic development group hosted its second annual Groundhog Day Economic Forecast Breakfast on Feb. 1 at the Johnson Controls...

HRCC's 60th anniversary gala.(WORKING THE ROOM)(Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 60th year of supporting business professionals and strengthening commerce on Jan. 19 at the Oakwood Club in Cleveland Heights. The evening kicked off at 6 p.m. and provided guests with...

Welcome to Research ShowCASE 2008.
March 1, 2008... Dear Friends, I am pleased to invite you to an event that celebrates the ways intellect and ingenuity come together to change lives. I often say the role of the modern research university is to find solutions for society's greatest...

The aging revolution: Northeast Ohio researchers and scientists take a close look at how the growing ranks of the National Elderly Population will change everything.(REACH SHOWCASE 2008)
March 1, 2008... A man who lived to be 100 years old once said: "Had I known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." The ranks of older people will keep growing for years as the huge baby boomer generation draws closer to...

Powerful winds: is the answer to our future energy sources blowing in the wind?(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2008)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The world is addicted to electrical power, and as true addicts, we only want more. According to Energy Information Administration statistics, annual global generation of electricity was 16,424 billion kilowatt hours...

Giving new hope: Cleveland Center helps paralyzed individuals reclaim their lives.(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2008)(Functional Electrical Stimulation Center)
March 1, 2008... Every year about 10,000 people in the United States injure their spinal cord. Some of them severely injure their spinal cord, which leads to partial or full paralysis of the legs, arms and other body functions. Daily activities like personal...

The body-mouth connection: the eyes might be considered the window to the soul, but your mouth is the window to your body's overall health.(RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2008)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For centuries, humans have considered the mouth the gateway to the body. Only recently, however, have we realized that our oral cavity also serves as a gateway to the overall health of the entire body. Many...

Schedule of events.(Research ShowCASE 2008)(ShowCASE 2008 )(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... Research ShowCASE APRIL 16 and 17, 2008 Case Western Reserve University Veale Convocation Center 2128 Adelbert Road Cleveland, Ohio 44106 The sixth annual Research ShowCASE is a free public event held in Veale Convocation Center on the...

About corporate challenge.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)(ERC Health Cleveland Corporate Challenge )
March 1, 2008... PURPOSE: The ERC Health 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 participants will compete...

Mixing business with pleasure: this summer, fun will be the business at hand for many Northeast Ohio organizations.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you ask Deidre Wilson, there's no better way to level the playing field than to pitch the PDAs and lace up the running shoes for some summertime sports as part of the Cleveland Corporate Challenge. Wilson,...

Fasten your sandals: Hermes Sports & Events is gearing up for a summer sports and social odyssey for gods and goddesses of all ages.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Just as the name it shares with the Greek god of athletics suggests, Hermes Sports & Events in Cleveland has been at the forefront of local athletic competitions since its creation more than 25 years ago. The...

Brains and brawn: research suggests exercise boosts brain power.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Imagine if pumping iron, training for that 5K and taking a spinning class could boost your metabolism, trim your waistline and make you smarter. Well, sit down on that stability ball because recent research...

No excuses! Pat Perry wants you to be a part of this year's Corporate Challenge.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)(Employers Resource Council)
March 1, 2008... A healthy employee is a productive employee. This is the mantra repeated by organizations across the country that have implemented health and wellness programs to cut down on the everrising health insurance expenses. The focus of most...

Event schedule.(2008 Corporate Challenge: ERC HEALTH)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... For More Information. Go to www.hermescleveland.com JUNE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KICKOFF PARTY Thursday, June 12 Let the games begin! The 2008 ERC Health Cleveland Corporate Challenge Opening Party will be herd from 5:30 p.m....