Inside Business articles from March 2009

Inside Business archives from March 2009

Two-stepping our way to recovery.(ABSOLUTELY)(Column)
March 1, 2009... I have never met an entrepreneur who was a crook. My observation of entrepreneurs is that they are too scared to be crooks. They are afraid a competitor will catch them, a new idea will flop or the money will run dry. They care too much about...

Design of the times: a basketball star plus a funky pattern equals big business for major league barber shop.(SERVICE)(Major League Barber Shop)
March 1, 2009... One bad haircut was all it took. As a student at Maple Heights High School, Thad Franklin was more interested in clothes than hair. He was taking a fashion design class and stitching his own clothes, then selling them to his classmates....

Bailout plan: how PNC can retain customers despite the disappearing national city brand.(FINANCE)
March 1, 2009... Customers have threatened it, and some have done it. The remaining hometown banks can't quantify it. A PNC Bank spokesman in, ahem, Pittsburgh, says it is nothing on which his company will comment. "Well, that's something that we typically...

Sold? Here's one way to sell a home--if you dare.(REAL ESTATE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Remember when customers would drop $25 for next-day shipping, a nonchalant wave of the debit card paid for a daily dose of Starbucks with nary a thought to the tab, and properties stayed on the market for days, not...

Grade points: the BBB tells you how to keep your permanent business record clean.(CUSTOMER SERVICE)(Better Business Bureau)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Just when you thought business school was done, the Greater Cleveland Better Business Bureau starts handing out report cards, complete with letter grades. Gone are the days of satisfactory/unsatisfactory (the BBB's version of pass/fail)....

Crab Media Group.(WHAT'S IN A NAME)
March 1, 2009... TOM MEGALIS, 45 PRESIDENT OF CRAB MEDIA GROUP OPENED JANUARY 2009 CLEVELAND Why so crabby? Megalis created Crab, a red claymation crustacean with oversize claws and a gap-toothed scowl, for the pilot of a 1990s MTV show...

Convention light: a sagging economy is crushing trade shows and conventions such as the international consumer electronics show find brainshare. What lessons are there for Cleveland as it embarks on a new medical mart project?(E-INDUSTRY)
March 1, 2009... There's nothing like watching concrete dry. At least that's what my volleyball teammate, Frank, told me after returning from the annual World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I prefer tech shows, but I...

NEO top 25 under 35 movers shakers awards.(WORKING THE ROOM)(Busha-Okeson Insurance Agency)(Virginia Marti College of Art and Design)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club held the NEO Top 25 Under 35 Movers & Shakers Awards Jan. 29 at the Great Lakes Science Center. Now in its fourth year, the award honors young professionals who are making an impact on Northeast Ohio both...

Corporate Club at Landerhaven economic forecast.(WORKING THE ROOM)
March 1, 2009... Corporate Club at Landerhaven kicked off its 20th year Jan. 15 with its annual economic forecast luncheon. The event was moderated by Michael Settonni, president and CEO of Broadcast Media Ideas and featured commentary by Paul Clark, regional...

Akron Children's Hospital Women's Board 106th Charity Ball.(WORKING THE ROOM)
March 1, 2009... The Women's Board of Akron Children's Hospital honored 44 area debutantes at its 106th Charity Ball, held Dec. 27 at Goodyear Hall, part of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. headquarters in Akron. The event, attended by more than 900 guests,...

University of Akron College of Education: Mark O. Shermis.(EDUCATION)
March 1, 2009... Mark O. Shermis has been named dean of the University of Akron College of Education. He will succeed Dr. Cynthia Flynn Capers, who currently serves as interim dean. Shermis comes to UA after serving as chair of the department of educational...

University of Akron School of Law: William S. Jordan III.(EDUCATION)
March 1, 2009... William S. Jordan III, C. Blake McDowell Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Akron School of Law, has been appointed associate dean. Jordan joined UA's School of Law in 1985 and JORDRN currently teaches administrative law and property....

Wachovia Securities.(FINANCE)
March 1, 2009... Wachovia Securities has named Mike Powers managing director for the Northeast Ohio region. He previously served as senior vice president and complex manager of Wachovia Securities' Illiana Complex in Orland Park, III. Prior to joining Wachovia...

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP.(LAW)(appointments of Aaron S. Berke and Bryan J. Farkas)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP named Aaron S. Berke a partner in the firm's Akron office and Bryan J. Farkas a partner in its Cleveland office. Berke is a member of the corporate and finance practice group. He received his bachelor's degree...

Kastner Westman & Wilkins LLC.(LAW)(Thomas Evan Green)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Thomas Evan Green has been named a shareholder in Kastner Westman & Wilkins LLC. Green, who joined the firm in 2002, has been practicing labor GREEN and employment law with Kastner Westman & Wilkins for his entire legal career. He received his...

Javitch, Block & Rathbone.(LAW)
March 1, 2009... Brian C. Block and Melissa Hager have been named partners in the creditor rights law firm of Javitch, Block & Rathbone. Block is attorney manager of the firm's retail client relationship management department. Block earned bachelor's degrees in...

Eaton Corp.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2009... Eaton Corp. appointed James Even vice president and assistant controller--the Americas. Even is responsible for leading the accounting and financial shared services activities for the Americas and EVEN the internal financial analysis and...

VitaMix Corp.(MANUFACTURING)
March 1, 2009... Blending equipment manufacturer VitaMix Corp. appointed Jodi L. Berg president. Former president John K. Barnard now serves as executive chairman and CEO. Representing the fourth generation to run the family business, Berg previously led the...

LifeBanc.(NONPROFIT)
March 1, 2009... Organ- and tissue-recovery agency LifeBanc has promoted Amber McAfee to manager of preservation services, which performs on-site organ recovery and preservation support for local abdominal organ donors. McAfee will be responsible for managing...

Resume booster: instead of cramming a career onto one page, Zolio allows job seekers to create dynamic profiles to showcase professional experience and their personalities.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Julie Fink knew she wanted to go to art school. When the graphic design major was a junior at Ohio University, she applied to schools in Chicago, Atlanta and New York. But the competition was stiff. "I knew what...

Sales for dummies: with a lineup of items that ranges from gag gifts to ventriloquist dummies, Marc Resnik's throwthings.com has found a simple formula for satisfying a diverse customer base.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)
March 1, 2009... Marc Resnik may be the ultimate throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks entrepreneur. In fact, it's practically his business model. Resnik's virtual boutique of oddities, ThrowThings.com, sells everything from personalized baseballs...

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

Judges.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... 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 assistance initiatives to vocational...

Renewed rubble: one building's trash turned into many treasures.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... During summer 2008, the dilapidated Stanard School near East 55th Street and St. Clair Avenue was deconstructed, an environmentally friendly alternative to demolition. The massive complex was built in the 1880s and in recent years had begun...

On the right path: Ohio & Erie Canalway coalition paves the way for economic growth.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... In the 19th century, the Ohio & Erie Canal was a key water route for transporting raw materials and products from Lake Erie to the Ohio River and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. Today, the adjacent towpath, now a 78-mile multiuse trail, is a...

Youngstown 2.0: the Taft Technology Center is playing a huge part in Youngstown's revitalization.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There is a shift occurring in the Mahoning Valley, and the Youngstown Business Incubator's Taft Technology Center is playing a large part in reshaping the Rust Belt into a modern, thriving Tech Belt. The $6...

Enriching the community: a retail center provides an economically distressed neighborhood with new opportunities.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... Cleveland's Ward 5 may be one of the poorest neighborhoods in one of the nation's poorest cities, but residents were introduced to a wealth of opportunity when Bridgeport Place opened in April 2008. The $2.3 million, 13,200-square-foot...

Well prepared: vocational guidance services cooks up meals and jobs for Northeast Ohio.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... Here's food for thought: Imagine nourishing thousands of underprivileged children while training individuals with barriers to employment. That's exactly what the Vocational Guidance Services' Food Processing, Packaging and Delivery...

Home improvement: a Youngstown neighborhood cleans up its act.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... When James London moved to Youngstown three years ago, he bought an affordable home in the Idora neighborhood located on the city's southwest side. But he didn't bargain for the crime, the drug dealers or the dearth of full-service grocery...

College-bound: Stark County maps a route to higher education for students.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... How much does it cost a community to send its children to college? What personal, institutional and civic resources are available? Are they enough? The Stark Education Partnership sought to answer these questions by creating the Stark...

Fresh success: local food and residents come together at Kamm's Corners Farmers Market.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... More than just a spot to buy fresh, local food, the Kamm's Corners Farmers Market has become a seasonal Sunday tradition for residents of the Cleveland neighborhood, as well as a critical contributor to the community's renaissance. The market...

Matchmakers: IdeaCrossing connects entrepreneurs with the right resources to launch new ventures.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Entrepreneurs need the right connections to launch a new business venture--investors and venture capitalists to finance them, mentors to help prepare their business plans and offer advice, service providers to help...

Home sweet home: Habitat for Humanity, Lima, has a big impact on a small town.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... Although Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976, it didn't hit home in the small Northwest Ohio town of Lima until 1991, when a group of local church and community activists formed the Lima affiliate. By 2006, this Habitat affiliate was...

Fair winds: a network initiative aims to make northeast Ohio a leader in wind turbine manufacturing.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... A network of more than 400 wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers from 10 Midwestern states and Canada has blown across the region, thanks to a Cleveland-based initiative. WIRE-Net's Great Lakes Wind Network provides precision components...

Strength in numbers: Wadsworth residents breathe life back into their downtown.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... Like many small towns, Wadsworth grew slowly but steadily from the mid-1800s through the 1980s. Then it experienced rapid development over the next decade, becoming the fastest-growing city in Medina County. But that growth came at a price. In...

Rebuilding the neighborhood: a new center in Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood is improving the lives of its residents and spurring development.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although rich with culture and home to the world-famous Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood has many challenges. Approximately one-third of Fairfax residents live below the poverty line, and...

A glass act.(dominion east ohio: Community Impact Awards)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For the second year, glass art studio Streets of Manhattan designed the awards that will be given to Dominion Community Impact winners. Launched in 2001 by Skip Streeter and Kathleen Manhattan, the studio creates...

Motormouth: Mike D'Amato has Nissan of North Olmsted revved up with his loud, catchprase-filled pitches and 'are you kidding me?' tagline.
March 1, 2009... Blame Bob Serpentini, if you like. His booming "American, and proud of it" tagline and half-cocked rants created our modern version of the car salesman celebrity. But the mellowing of his buy-American angst has left a void the size of a...

Quick change: how one man saw green in a vat of black.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Tom Morley)(Cover story)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The changes were little rumblings at first handed down from the home office and just enough to knock employees out of the normal routine. Before they locked up their Lube Stop shops for the night, could they...

County Fire Protection.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JOHN W. LUBINSKI, FOUNDER John Lubinski never dreamed of being a fireman like other kids. He wanted his own business. And after the fire-protection company he worked for in the Carolinas was sold, Lubinski got...

Amotec.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Carmine Izzo)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STEVE MELFI, VICE PRESIDENT Carmine Izzo is always three steps ahead--a perfect trait when you're the vision guy. But you'd better have someone who can get everyone else to follow the trail. "I need to be pulled...

Lazorpoint.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DAVID LAZOR, MANAGING PARTNER David Lazor started Lazorpoint, a technology consulting firm, a decade ago with a basic growth strategy: pound the pavement. He networked, searched out clients and maintained them by...

SecureState.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KEN STASIAK, PRESIDENT AND CEO Ken Stasiak has hacked into more phone lines and computers than most movie villains. But the North Royalton native gets paid to do it legally by companies who want to find...

The Garland Co.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICHARD J. DEBACCO, VICE PRESIDENT & CEO EMPIRITUS Richard J. DeBacco sees a future where trees commonly grow high above busy downtown streets and vegetation thrives in lush rooftop gardens throughout the city....

By the numbers.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2009... What defines success? "When you are continuing to grow and identifying new challenges and overcoming those challenges and providing security for the employees and stockholders," argues Richard J. DeBacco, CE0 emeritus of Garland Co. That's...

The winners.(NEO SUCCESS AWARDS)
March 1, 2009... * THE WINNERS NEO SUCCESS AWARDS Company Year Business Type City Est. 1-888-OhioComp Cleveland 1997 Managed care organization Accellis...

Drawn to design.(ONE2WATCH)(dialogue with Mike Molinski manager at Vocon)(Interview)
March 1, 2009... "PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE WHAT THEY HAVE AND BE MORE POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT'S HERE [IN CLEVELAND]. THERE'S NO SHAME IN BEING SMALLER, BUT WE CAN STILL BE BETTER IN A LOT OF WAYS." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT LED YOU TO ARCHITECTURE? It...

Are you ready? Five reasons to get fired up for corporate challenge!
March 1, 2009... On the fence about whether to participate in Corporate Challenge? Having trouble assembling a team? We asked some Challenge veterans what motivates them to take part in the summerlong event. Here are the top five reasons to join hundreds of...

Join the team: competition and fun come together at Hermes Sport and Social.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tired of after-work happy hours that leave you bloated from too many 22-ounce beers and greasy bar food? Why not socialize with your co-workers and relieve some workday stress by playing in one of Hermes Sport and...

Wellness works: for many area employers, wellness programs produce a healthy return on investment.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Health insurance expenses are the fastest-growing cost component for employers in the U.S., prompting many companies to implement wellness programs to create healthier employees and bottom lines. "From a...

Event schedule.(Calendar)
March 1, 2009... JUNE KICKOFF PARTY THURSDAY, JUNE 11 Let the games begin! The 2009 Cleveland Corporate Challenge Opening Party will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Blind Pig Speakeasy. The tournament brackets will be displayed. Great...

Report to the business community.(Employers Resource Council)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We are pleased to provide you this update of ERC's service offerings and 2008 accomplishments. Since 1920, ERC has provided exceptional human resources information and resources. Over the past decade, ERC has...

HR consulting.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From employee handbooks to compensation systems to employee engagement surveys, ERC continued to deliver top-notch HR assistance and support in 2008. Our clients know that we are truly different from other local and...

Training and special events.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... ERC continues to be the leading resource for workplace training in Northeast Ohio. Along with our core training programs in areas including HR best practices, supervisory and management skills, customer service and effective sales techniques,...

Coaching and assessments.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)(Employers Resource Council)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ERC's coaching and assessment services are directed by Don Kitson, Ph.D., one of the most respected management psychologists in the region. ERC assists organizations in professional, management and executive-level assessment; leadership...

HR and workplace resources.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)(human resource)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... In 2008, ERC continued its position as the leading resource for workplace information by introducing the ERC Member Center. The new Center provides ERC members with access to a wealth of online HR and workplace information including: *...

Customized training.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... ERC's Capstone Group is the customized training and development arm of ERC that specializes in providing employees at all levels with skills and strategies that enable organizations to meet their challenges and accomplish objectives well into...

e-Learning.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2008, ERC announced a partnership with Business Training Library, a leading provider of e-learning and blended learning solutions for organizations with fewer than 2.500 employees, to offer an e-learning solution...

ERC in the community.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)(Employers Resource Council)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ERC has a strong commitment to serving the Northeast Ohio community. In 2008, we enjoyed supporting the following activities and organizations: * Junior Achievement * The Make-A-Wish Foundation[R] "Walk for Wishes" event and...

ERC Health.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2008, ERC Health continued its leadership amongst area health care plans. The program offers small and midsized organizations exceptional rates and innovative approaches to controlling health care costs. ERC...

Cost savings through group purchasing.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)(Employers Resource Council)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... By serving the employers of more than 300,000 people throughout Northeast Ohio, ERC offers incredible cost savings through some of the top HR and business outsourcing firms in our region, as well as a number of innovative employee benefits...

NorthCoast 99.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2008, ERC hosted the 10th annual NorthCoast 99 awards program recognizing great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio. The theme of the event was "Revolutionize the Workplace," and it certainly was a...

Awards/honors.(REPORT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY)(Employers Resource Council)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ERC takes pride in its accomplishments. In 2008, ERC was honored to receive two special awards. In February, ERC was recognized as a NEO Success Award winner by Inside Business magazine. Since 1995, the NEO Success Awards have recognized...