Inside Business articles from May 2005

Inside Business archives from May 2005

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2005... The March issue profiled several winners of the Team NEO Success Award, honoring top-performing companies in Northeast Ohio. In the article on Profile Imaging LLC ("Copy Cats"), co-CEO Kevin O'Donnell was misidentified as co-CEO Chris Haag and...

Casino gambling: it's the saint vs. the sinners.(ABSOLUTELY)
May 1, 2005... It has always bothered me that sinners have never been given the credit they deserve for the contributions they make to our state's economy. Where would Ohio be if we pulled the plug on the dollars sinners contribute from indulging their...

Go fish.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2005... I recently read your article on Terry Barbu ("King of Clubs," April). As one of the majority owners of Sushi Rock, Terry Barbu has never been a partner, investor or had anything to do with the concept or development of Sushi Rock. Sushi Rock...

Keep on rockin'.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2005... I just read your article on the Beachland Ballroom ("Rock Solid," March) and found it very interesting, especially since I attend about a dozen shows there a year. I suspect that I skew the age bracket when I go (I'm 52), but there are few...

Vision thing.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2005... It should come as no surprise that not one hand went up during your poll of attendees ("When Does A Cucumber Become A Pickle?" March). The reason Cleveland is a flop is because of the lack of leadership from the mayor on down to council...

Apples and pickles.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2005... I sincerely hope you have not figured out a new ending to your rousing speeches about how Northeast Ohio's and Cleveland's success are related ("When Does A Cucumber Become A Pickle?" March). Cleveland and the region need more outspoken people...

Rolling the dice.(CASINO GAMBLING)
May 1, 2005... Casinos destroy marriages, increase bankruptcies, and lead to widespread chronic gambling, right? Well, maybe not, according to Professor Robin Boyle of Wayne State University in Detroit. Boyle, whose hometown is home to three casinos,...

Power player.(NATIONAL RECOGNITION)(Black Enterprise Magazine selects Lee Reed )(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Cleveland State University Vikings basketball didn't make it to the Final Four this year, but the school's Director of Athletics Lee Reed made it to the top 50. Black Enterprise Magazine named Reed one of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in...

Let's make a deal.(NEGOTIATION)(Get What You Want!! A Fun, Upbeat and Fresh Approach to Negotiating!!)
May 1, 2005... Hal Becker's inspiration for his new book, Get What You Want!! A Fun, Upbeat and Fresh Approach to Negotiating!! (Oakhill Press, 2005) came during a photo safari in the jungles of Tanzania. On the trip, the chief of a Masai tribe wanted...

Giuliani on leadership.(NEWSMAKERS)
May 1, 2005... Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Rudy Giuliani's legacy will be forever linked to the leadership he showed after the attacks on his city's World Trade Center on 9/11. But Giuliani's book, Leadership (Hyperion, 2002), wasn't inspired by...

Down the drain.(THE OFFICE)
May 1, 2005... Leave it to Microsoft to point out the obvious. The software giant has discovered office workers find many of their meetings a waste of time, according to survey results released in March. The Microsoft Office Personal Productivity...

Waist not.(HEALTH & FITNESS)(HealthSpace Cleveland develops Healthy 50: Northern award)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... If your midday snack is jelly-filled, and your weekly workout is refilling the office water cooler, HealthSpace Cleveland wants you to change your ways. The former health museum, which was the first health and science museum established in...

Wisdom of the crowds.(REGIONALISM)(The Fund hires AmericaSpeaks)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Can we get 4 million people to agree on anything? The Fund for Our Economic Future seems to think so. The Fund, a collaboration of 65 philanthropic organizations in Northeast Ohio, hired Washington D.C. nonprofit AmericaSpeaks to develop a...

Reinventing the Mannys: we've beefed up the awards this year.(The Web)
May 1, 2005... Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio is on the upswing. [The 2005 Manny Award winners are evidence of that. This year, Inside Business, in partnership with CAMP, is honoring more companies than ever before--there were just too many success stories...

Get your feet wet: with new technology for your business wading in beats a cannonball every time.(E-INDUSTRY)(Voice over Internet Protocol)
May 1, 2005... Ah, springtime in Cleveland. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and a geek's thoughts turn to... technology. But if you don't aspire to be the alpha geek in your company, you may not want to dive into new technology implementations....

Biz Links: Northeast Ohio's business resource guide.(Directory)(Table)
May 1, 2005... Biz Links Northeast Ohio's business resource guide ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL PLANNING Zinner & Co., LLP (216) 831-0733 AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION Hughie's Audiovisual Service, Inc. (216) 361-4600 RCS Corp....

Old school: everything you wanted to know about leadership but were too young to ask.(THE BOTTOM LINE)
May 1, 2005... It's commencement season, which means that at campuses across the nation blowhard entrepreneurs and CEOs will soon be dispensing the principles and wisdom they've earned through hard work, bitter experience, blah-blah-stinking-blah....

Lawful Leader.(ONE 2 WATCH)(Melanie Shakarian)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... Lawful Leader Melanie Shakarian, 27 attorney, director of development, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland mashakar@LASClev.org FIRST LADY | Shakarian is the first director of development in the Legal Aid's 100-year...

Connecting the County: Lorain brothers Ed and Mike Skimin landed city and county organizations as clients to help grow their Web development company.(REGIONAL FOCUS: LORAIN COUNTY)
May 1, 2005... Back in the summer of 1996, brothers Ed and Mike Skimin scraped together $100 to reserve the domain name www.LorainCounty.com then tucked it away for a while to simmer. They say they did it on a lark, but it might have been instinct. It...

The futurist: president and CEO Les C. Vinney looks to the new generation of Steris Corp.(Cover story)(Company overview)
May 1, 2005... Les C. Vinney isn't one to mull over past accomplishments. In fact, the president and CEO of Steris Corp. hasn't dwelt much on the milestone his company hit in 2004 when it reached a billion dollars in revenue. "I'm not sure I've hit...

On the waterfront: Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp protects commerce and our country on the Great Lakes.(INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE)
May 1, 2005... When you're out on the lake this summer, consider that the unguarded maritime border between Canada and the United States on the Great Lakes is more than 1,500 miles--that's the distance from Boston to Miami. Yet there are only 2,200...

Golf for dummies: your boss asks you to hit the links, but you've never played. Here's how to stay out of the rough.(Guide to: Executive Golf)
May 1, 2005... Warm weather in Northeast Ohio means it's golf season. The region's avid golfers relish any opportunity to duck out of the office and hit the links. Corporate golf outings are rampant. Come summertime, more business is conducted on the ninth...

Eyes of the world: a small army of tireless organizers, staffers and volunteers will work thousands of hours to present Northeast Ohio's two pro to a global audience.(Guide to: Executive Golf)(World Golf Championships, Firestone Country Club)(Nationwide Tour Cleveland Open, StoneWater Golf Club)
May 1, 2005... When the World Golf Championships NEC Invitational rolls into Akron from Aug. 16 to 21, Paul Brady will be paying more attention to what spectators are throwing away than how the players are doing on the course. The event, held at Firestone...

Executive leader board.(Guide to: Executive Golf)
May 1, 2005... Executive Leader Board LAST NAME FIRST NAME COMPANY Kain Bob International Management Group Misheff Donald Ernst & Young LLP Heisler Jr. Robert B. KeyBank NA Lundin Michael ...

Wanted: young entrepreneur: Tri-C's Corporate College, with support from the Key Foundation, is giving young people a chance to make it in Northeast Ohio.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
May 1, 2005... It's been said countless times before that entrepreneurs are the future of Northeast Ohio's economy. Cuyahoga Community College and the Key Foundation have joined forces to help fulfill this prophecy. Together they are working to keep talented...

Take it slow: a well-thought-out transition is a better business move than taking a drastic leap.(My Toughest Decision)
May 1, 2005... Jeff Viscomi, M.D. Docere Physicians Jeff Viscomi, M.D., 39, a family physician employed at Southwest General Health Center in Strongsville for five years, was used to seeing six to nine patients in ah hour. He longed for his own...

Road map.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)(Directory)
May 1, 2005... 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...

On the upswing: the 2005 Manny award winners are evidence that manufacturing is alive and well in Northeast Ohio.(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... From jams and jellies to nanopolymers, this year's Manny Award winners manufacture a diverse number of products. But the common thread running through all of them is their positive contribution to the economy in Northeast Ohio. This year,...

The wheels keep turning: demand for wheelchair-accessible vehicles keeps MobilityWorks' manufacturing lines moving.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Job Creation)
May 1, 2005... When Bill Koeblitz purchased MobilityWorks in 1997, a three-man crew managed the manufacturing division, which pulled in a modest $500,000 in revenue. Since then, the demand for vehicles outfitted for people in wheelchairs has caused Mobility...

Spaces for new faces: Aleris International's new Beachwood headquarters brings new jobs and inspiration to the greater Cleveland community.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Job Creation)
May 1, 2005... Aleris International Inc. made headlines in late 2004 when it announced its plans to set up shop in Beachwood, bringing some 100 high-paying jobs to the region. The aluminum fabricator and recycler is the product of a merger between...

Irreplaceable parts: the most valuable asset of PartsSource is its people.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Job Creation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Ray Dalton views all of his 80 employees as his partners. My assets drive home at night, and I have to create an environment to motivate them to come back the next day," says Dalton, president of Twinsburg-based PartsSource. "I want them to...

One-track mind: Lauren Manufacturing Co. is reaping the benefits of single-piece-flow manufacturing.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Top Growth)
May 1, 2005... As more and more equipment manufacturers switch to overseas suppliers, it's up to American companies like New Philadelphia-based Lauren Manufacturing Co. to transform their businesses to stay competitive. The 35-year-old maker of molded...

Forward thinking: Kinetic Technologies Inc. takes the forklift out of the picture.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Top Growth)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... If Larry Tyler fulfills his company's mission, the forklift will become a thing of the past. Tyler's company, Willoughby Hills-based Kinetic Technologies Inc., or K-Tec, designs and installs custom manufacturing systems that eliminate the...

Bake sale: J.M. Smucker Co. boosts profits by focusing on its core market.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Top Growth)
May 1, 2005... When Orville-based J.M. Smucker Co., owner of Smucker's jams, jellies and preserves and Jif peanut butter bought a company that sold bakery products, it sounded like a natural move. In March 2004, Smucker acquired International Multifoods...

Who's the boss? At Fastener Industries Inc., employees have a say in how the business is run.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Best Place to Work)
May 1, 2005... At Fastener Industries Inc., an employee-owned business since 1980, employees get what they give. Roughly 15 percent of each employee's pay is contributed to the stock each year. "We make the ownership real for the employees," says Pat...

Smart moves: Hyson Products knows how to keep its employees happy.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Best Place to Work)
May 1, 2005... About five years ago, Brecksville-based Hyson Products began giving employees a yearly stipend of $150 as part of an anti-smoking drive. The money was to be used to buy nicotine gum, patches or other methods that would help its employees quit...

R-e-s-p-e-c-t: find out what it means to workers at Sherwin-Williams.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Best Place to Work)
May 1, 2005... Every year The Sherwin-Williams Co. hosts a dinner where employees with 25 or more years of service are honored. It's an elegant event that brings together several hundred of the Cleveland-based paint manufacturer's longstanding employees and...

Writing the book: Lorain Pipe Mills forges a new way of processing steel.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Product Development/Innovation)
May 1, 2005... What began as an equipment upgrade turned into the discovery of a break-through process at Lorain Pipe Mills. In 2004, the company undertook a $90 million dollar capital project to construct a quench-temper furnace and upgrade equipment...

Rain, rain, go away: Acorn Technologies Corp. makes sure right ideas don't have a stormy future.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Product Development/Innovation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... At Acorn Technologies Corp., it's tough making things easy. "I think Albert Einstein said it best: 'Keep things as simple as possible, but no simpler.' It's true," says Bob Green, president of the Cleveland-based systems integration...

Breaking the mold: PolyOne Corp. of Avon Lake creates better, stronger polymers.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: New Product Development/Innovation)
May 1, 2005... George Zollos knows not everyone gets as excited about nanotechnology and its effects on polymers as he does. "I have to be careful not to get into too technical an aspect with some people," says the nanocomposites market development manager at...

Inverse operation: refocusing its business and adding value to its products helped industrial mold & machine win new accounts.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Biggest Breakthrough)(Industrial Mold Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Tom Nahodil remembers when the phone just didn't ring. "In 2001, it just seemed like work dried up," says the president of Twinsburg-based Industrial Mold & Machine. "A lot of [customers] were tightening their belts." Then, 9/11...

Rewriting the script: Oglebay Norton survived bankruptcy with a precision focus and lots of communication.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Biggest Breakthrough)
May 1, 2005... Building a capital structure doesn't happen overnight. In Oglebay Norton's case, its managerial and financial infrastructure overhaul began in late 2002. At the time, the company held an interest rate it could not sustain given the economic...

Building trust: Ring Masters has proven to its customers that it's here to stay.(2005 MANNY AWARDS: Biggest Breakthrough)
May 1, 2005... Mergers make customers nervous. Uncertainty is unsettling, buyouts a gamble. But Cleveland-based Ring Masters managed to keep its automotive and heavy-equipment clients on board during a time when the forecast for automotive parts manufacturers...

Resource directory.(Manny Awards)(Directory)
May 1, 2005... KEYBANK CATEGORY: BANK (800) 600-2680 WWW.KEY.COM/COMMERCIALBANKING Key has worked as the primary financial provider for manufacturing businesses for nearly a century, establishing strong client relationships with advisors...

Downtown bound: the eastern suburbs are still the place to be, but downtown Cleveland is coming back.(Guide to: Commercial Real Estate)
May 1, 2005... Ask Barbara Reynolds if she prefers working in an urban environment or in the suburbs and she'll give you a quick response--she prefers the city. A few years ago, as general sales manager of Realty One Real Living, Reynolds opened a small...

Real guidance: your commercial real estate questions answered.(ASK THE EXPERTS)
May 1, 2005... Q: HOW DO YOU NEGOTIATE THE BEST DEAL ON A COMMERCIAL LEASE? A: "There are some lease provisions to which a tenant should pay particular attention," says Jay P. Porter, a lawyer who works out of the Akron and Cleveland offices of Vorys,...

Letter from the president.
May 1, 2005... Dear Readers, We've all experienced the moment: that instant when you walk into a place of business and everything--the colors, the sounds, the accessories, everything--just seems perfect. No matter the exact setting, odds are that an...

Commercial breaks: a sleek and stylish facility, a soothing hospital lab and a restaurant adorned with antiques. Style and function dictate a perfect plan for three commercial facilities.(Business Owner Testimonials)
May 1, 2005... Family focus Anyone who attended the YMCA as a child can remember the days when all you needed were a couple of basketball hoops, a racquetball court and the company of a few friends for an entertaining time at the recreation center. ...

Getting down to business: a commercial design expert and several manufacturers explain why recognizing the importance of a good interior design makes great business sense for every company owner.(Educating the Consumer)
May 1, 2005... Ask any business owner and they'll tell Running a company is no easy job. What with worrying about balance sheets, bottom lines, payroll and profitability, owners can find themselves struggling to manage everything from corporate reports to the...

IT to the rescue: companies turn to information technology to cure what ails them.(Guide to: Information Technology)
May 1, 2005... Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! OK, maybe its not as dramatic as President Reagan's 1987 speech but when you're a construction company and have to make changes to a project--like tearing down a wall you just built--it can be expensive. ...

A day at Glenmoor: IB learns the ins and outs of life at Glenmoor Country Club from Diebold exec Frank Alexander.(IB life)
May 1, 2005... Frank Alexander doesn't really consider his job to be work. As the director of executive briefing programs at Diebold's Global Solutions Center, Alexander is in charge of welcoming potential clients and familiarizing them with Diebold and its...

Budget gourmet.(Let's do lunch: this month's local lunch scene pick)(Oscar's Bar and Grille)(Restaurant review)
May 1, 2005... OSCAR'S BAR AND GRILLE, BOARDMAN ADDRESS: 1315 Boardman-Canfield Rd. LUNCH HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CUISINE: American CREDIT CARDS: Fill major cards accepted RESERVATIONS: Recommended for parties of four or...

Talk to me.(IB LIFE: DRIVEN)
May 1, 2005... Acura RL I love a good conversation, but I didn't expect to have one with a 2005 Acura RL. Oh, of course, I've mumbled to a car when a warning light comes on, and I've uttered more than a few choice words when one wouldn't start. But...

2005 team NEO success awards.(WORKING THE ROOM)
May 1, 2005... Northeast Ohio business enthusiasts filled Executive Caterers at Landerhaven's ballroom on March 24, 2005, to honor the recipients of the 2005 Team NEO Success Awards. Dr. Delos M. 'Toby" Cosgrove, chairman and CEO of The Cleveland Clinic,...