Inside Business articles from September 2007

Inside Business archives from September 2007

Miller challenge update: no margin, no mission.(ABSOLUTELY)(Sam Miller)
September 1, 2007... A fellow walked up to me at a party recently and said, "I'm really disappointed in you." Instead of making a snappy comeback, I took the high road and asked who he was and why he felt let down. "You promised some action on regionalism." he...

A different take.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... While I understand Inside Business is a business magazine, the recent article, "God Inc." (August issue), exposes your lack of understanding of the subject you are writing about. I am the administrator of a large, 2,000-member multi-campus...

Political play.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I was glad to see Inside Business' position on the problems facing The Sherwin-Williams Co. in the August article, "Disorder in the Court." I don't believe Gov. Strickland or Atty Gen. Mark Dann thought through the process of a sweeping veto on...

Hard facts.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... The fact is that Original Mattress Factory ("Dream Come True," August issue) is an insult to most people's intelligence. To call what it does a "factory" is stretching the truth by a lot. The amount it spends on its corny ads must far exceed...

Inquiring mind.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I recently read your article, "Cellular Sensor" (August issue), about Highway Safety and Technology's automated system designed to identify drivers using their cell phones while driving. According to the story, "The system is designed to...

Put your hands together.(IBmag.com)
September 1, 2007... Don't miss this year's ATHENA Awards on Sept. 27 at the Executive Caterers at Landerhaven. Inside Business invites you to celebrate the leading ladies of Northeast Ohio who have achieved professional excellence, given back to the community and...

Get real.
September 1, 2007... This space is usually reserved for a list of Amazon.com's best-selling books in Northeast Ohio. But since the list we received didn't vary much from the previous month's best sellers, we decided to tell you about a unique book, and most likely...

EntrePretender: Akron rocker Chrissie Hynde opens veggie restaurant in hometown.(RESTAURANTS)
September 1, 2007... "The cure for suburbia." When Chrissie Hynde, Akron native and front woman of rock group The Pretenders, saw that slogan on a billboard for the Northside Lofts, a mixed-use development in downtown Akron, she knew that's where she wanted to...

A cure for what ails us: city leaders promote Medical Mart a City Club luncheon.(ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Although some eager sign wavers might have been disappointed with August's City Club of Cleveland presentation on the proposed Medical Mart, the rest of the meeting's 200 guests seemed satisfied with what Fred Nance, Dennis Roche and Baiju Shah...

Hitting the Hy road: Hyland Software buyout could mean sale or IPO in the future.(TECHNOLOGY)
September 1, 2007... The $265 million acquisition of Westlake's Hyland Software in July will provide the software maker with the capital it needs to grow, but at least one industry analyst expects Hyland will eventually be sold to a larger company or be taken...

Hail to the Chief: president chats with clinic CEO during rare visit.(SPOTLIGHT)
September 1, 2007... The national spotlight settled on Cleveland last month as President George W. Bush arrived in town for a rare, lengthy non-campaign visit in July. The president spent the majority of the afternoon at Cleveland Clinic, where he met with...

Leading by example: engineer hopes career inspires others.(MILESTONE)
September 1, 2007... A As the first African-American woman to hold the title of director of civil engineering at Richard L. Bowen + Associates, Halle Jones Capers sees her career as not only a way to earn a living, but hopefully as an inspiration for others. ...

Kicking the habit: Cleveland Clinic is not alone in banning employees who smoke.(HEALTH CARE)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Cleveland Clinic caused a stir recently when it announced it would no longer hire smokers effective this month. As the largest employer in the region with more than 36,000 employees, the Clinic is enforcing this ban by testing applicants for...

Economic jumpstart.(BY THE NUMBERS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Chagrin Valley years ago was the livery of Cleveland so it was built this way with plenty of land... and supports equestrian sports well," says Betty Weibel, spokesperson for the Wachovia Securities American Gold Cup, held Sept. 19-23 at the...

Roetzel & Andress.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)(appointment of Helen S. Carroll and G. Frederick Compton Jr. )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Roetzel & Andress named Helen S. Carroll and G. Frederick Compton Jr. as partners. Carroll, who received her bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Akron, previously worked as an assistant attorney general in Ohio and also as legal...

Northern Trust.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... Northern Trust appointed Gerald T. Elliot as vice president and wealth strategist for the company's Ohio operations. Elliot's previous position was with Huntington Bank, where he served as vice president in the company's wealth management...

Kinetico Inc.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... Kinetico Inc. appointed Shamus M, Hurley as its president and CEO. Hurley was formerly president of Bosch Security Systems Inc., and prior to that he spent 14 years at Honeywell International Inc. Hurley earned a bachelor's degree in...

Lake Ridge Academy.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... Carol L. Klimas has been named president of Lake Ridge Academy. Klimas most recently served as executive vice president and head of KeyCorp's wealth management segment. Klimas received a bachelor's degree in finance and banking from Alvernia...

Millisor & Nobil Co.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)(appointment of James D. Kurek)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Millisor & Nobil Co. LPA has named James D. Kurek as a partner. Prior to joining Millisor & Nobil, Kurek was a partner at Roetzel & Andress LPA and an attorney and shareholder for 18 years at Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs LPA in Akron,...

InfoCision Management Corp.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... InfoCision Management Corp. promoted Mike Langenfeld to executive vice president and Brad White to senior vice president of valued accounts. Langenfeld joined InfoCision as an assistant supervisor in 1989, and White joined the company as vice...

National City Corp.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... National City Corp. promoted Peter E. Raskind to CEO, succeeding David A. Daberko. Daberko will remain chairman until his retirement at the end of the year. Raskind joined National City in September 2000 as the head of consumer finance. He was...

Senior Care Network.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network promoted Kathleen Shields to vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Shields, who joined the company in 2004, most recently served as director of finance. Shields holds a bachelor's degree in...

EMH Regional Healthcare System.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... EMH Regional Healthcare System has named Jim Simone as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Simone most recently served at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond, Texas, as chief financial officer. Prior to that, he was with...

Baldwin-Wallace College.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)(appointment of William J. Spiker)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Baldwin-Wallace College named William J. Spiker as vice president for advancement. Most recently, Spiker served as vice president for university advancement at Cleveland State University and executive director of CSU Foundation Inc. Spiker...

The Fund for Our Economic Future.(PLAYERS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF NORTHEAST OHIO)
September 1, 2007... The Fund for Our Economic Future promoted Brad Whitehead to full-time president. Whitehead has been serving as president of the fund since 2006, while also serving as program director for economic development at The Cleveland Foundation....

Great meetings: great places for meetings and events.(Directory)
September 1, 2007... The Bertram Inn and Conference Center 600 N. Aurora Road Aurora, OH 44202 P: (330) 995-0200 F: (330) 562-9163 www.thebertraminn.com The Bertram Inn and Conference Center offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space...

Blogging in Ernest: print publications are finding their audiences demand more: online supplements.(E-INDUSTRY)
September 1, 2007... There just aren't enough hours a day. It seems as if everyone is vying for more time at the office. But contrary to beliefs, we have a lot of discretionary time at our disposal. According to a 2006 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the...

Northeast Ohio's business resource guide.(Biz Links)
September 1, 2007... ACCOUNTING FINANCIAL PLANNING Barnes Wendling www.barneswendling.com Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co. www.bcgcompany.com Howard, Wershbale & Co. www.hwco.com Zinner & Co. LLP www.zinnerco.com ADVERTISING...

The Art of deception: as the media chase after Paris Hilton and the next glamorous celeb, politicians are left with plenty of room for sleight of hand.(AT LARGE)
September 1, 2007... Overwhelming technological advances have cast the media into such a state of bewildering transition that the reading and viewing public are more confused and less informed than ever before. Nowhere is this more evident than in the lack of...

We're better than we think: a closer look at Northeast Ohio's economy shows employment, output and payroll numbers are proving the naysayers wrong.(ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
September 1, 2007... What if I said Northeast Ohio's economy has grown every year for the last five years? What if I told you employment in Northeast Ohio is at its highest level in five years? What if I said manufacturing output in our region is actually...

Opportunity knocks: President Joel Domino of Kent Displays Inc. predicts a future in flexible, plastic LCDs, thanks to a State of Ohio Third Frontier Grant.(Ohio Entrepreneur)
September 1, 2007... Joel Domino's first day on the job was nothing short of unusual. It was August 1993, a day that began with a trip to OfficeMax to buy himself a desk, which took him the rest of the afternoon to put together. His first order of business?...

Smooth move: local Robeks franchise owner, Jerry Luce, has hit it big with the chain's healthy food options.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)
September 1, 2007... It was a cold, snowy day in February when Jerry Luce discovered smoothie-chain Robeks at the regional director's store in Akron. For the past 18 years, Luce had worked in corporate America in marketing and advertising, heading departments...

Road map.(OHIO ENTREPRENEUR)
September 1, 2007... 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...

Vision driven: CEO Thomas Zenty knows few organizations have strategic plans that are literally matters of life or death. University hospitals does with its vision 2010, and it's reshaping health care here at home.(HEALTH CARE)
September 1, 2007... As a 15 year old in rural eastern Pennsylvania, Thomas F. Zenty Jill knew he would spend much of his adult life in hospitals. It wasn't that he had a chronic disease of any sort, but in his hometown of Jermyn (population: 2,200) Zenty says...

Centre of attention: Westlake's LaCentre Conference and Banquet Facility is thriving despite negative press and a challenging market.(MANAGEMENT)
September 1, 2007... Imagine waking up one morning only to see on page one of the newspaper that the landlord of your company's building is putting it up for sale. What's more, it's not just your landlord's name in the article, your company is being tied to the...

The next top model: retailer Robert Glick's entrepreneurial spirit shines in every aspect of his business, especially in the recent opening of the Dots location at Steelyard Commons, which represents a $1 million investment in a larger, more upscale prototype.(RETAIL)
September 1, 2007... Robert Glick isn't the kind of guy you'd expect to find in the women's retail fashion business. In fact, he looks downright out of place in the back room f the recently opened Dots store at Steelyard Commons in Cleveland, a 60-year-old man...

Morale matters: employee happiness has been top priority for 45 years at Epstein Design Partners.(IB birthday club)
September 1, 2007... In the early 1970s, business at Mort Epstein's graphic design firm was in a slump and money was running out. Epstein and his partner, John Szilagyi, had a decision to make: Get a loan from the bank or cut costs. They chose the latter, which...

Paul Gabrail, 26.(ONE 2 WATCH: INNOVATIVE INVENTOR)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... Paul Gabrail, 26 founder, Select Investment Group paul@selectJnvestmentgroup.com EARLY EXPERT: Handling investments for his family as early as high school gave Paul Gabrail a head start on understanding the business. After...

Time for a tune-up? Scheduling regular doctor visits can prevent breakdowns.(Medical Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Think of your body as a car. You fill it up with the right fuel, wash it as necessary, make repairs when it breaks down and, if you're lucky, you only need to head to the auto-repair shop for regular maintenance. So, when's the last time...

Through the eyes of his patients: for Cole Eye Institute's Dr. Allen Roth, the biggest reward of his job is seeing the smile on a satisfied patient.(Medical Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... For the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute's Dr. Allen Roth, Ophthalmology offers a physician the rare opportunity to improve a patient's quality of life. "We're specifically fixing problems in ophthalmology," Roth says. "In other areas of...

Treating the whole person: for community health partner's Dr. P. Lal Arora, geriatic medicine means treating the body and the mind of his patients.(Medical Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... After decades of practicing medicine, Dr. P. Lal Arora still isn't sure how he decided to become a physician, but he does know how his desire to work with the elderly blossomed. Arora, who is the first physician in his family, remembers...

The beacon of hope: the Sisters of Charity Health System believes quality health care should be available to everyone.(Medical Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... For more than 156 years, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have shown their true devotion to healing, by serving the unmet needs of children and families in Northeast Ohio and South Carolina. They continue their tradition of healing the...

Leading medical experts.(Medical Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Emmanuel Essel, MD OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY 224 W. Lorain St., Suite J Oberlin, Ohio 44074 P: (440) 776-7081 F: (440) 776-7055 Dr. Essel is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. He has experience with high-risk...

A need for speed: from racing dragsters to building street rods, "Fast Eddie" Schartman lives for cars.(Off The Clock: Passions & Pursuits)
September 1, 2007... On a sunny weekend in midI July, thousands of vintage-car enthusiasts convened in Columbus at the Goodguys Nationals car show. They admired more than 6,700 cars, from a 1940s black Chrysler sedan to a Creamsicle-cool 1956 Buick and a 1970 green...

Open Doors Happy Hour.(WORKING THE ROOM)
September 1, 2007... Twenty- and 30-somethings in the siness community munched on appetizers and sipped cocktails while networking at Anatomy Night Club & Ultralounge on July 26 for a monthly Open Doors Happy Hour for Young Professionals. Michael Cardamone, co-host...

City Club of Cleveland forum: the next generation of civic leaders.(WORKING THE ROOM)
September 1, 2007... Three of Cleveland's top board members gathered at The City Club of Cleveland on Aug. 7 to discuss vital elements that make up a successful board member. Joanne Clark, senior vice president of corporate public affairs at National City; Randell...

All applicants are winners!(You Hold the Cards)
September 1, 2007... Now that doesn't sound like much of a competition, in fact, it almost seems downright un-American! It's true that for the past nine years hundreds of organizations have competed to attain NorthCoast 99 status, perhaps the most prestigious...

Dealer's choice: you can't bluff a great workplace. Play your cards right and you'll attract great players.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... There are many accolades Northeast Ohio business owners strive to achieve throughout their careers: Entrepreneur of the Year, Weatherhead 100, NEO Success Award, Business Hall of Fame, for example. Most awards applaud a company's growth in...

Does your company attract top performers? The 2007 NorthCoast 99 job attributes survey reveals what Northeast Ohio's top employees like most about their jobs.(You Hold The Cards)(Survey)
September 1, 2007... Top performance means many things in different industries. A top-performance car has higher engine output, enhanced braking and suspension systems. An actor who gives a top performance has a talent for entertaining his audience. For ERC, a...

Staying power: for longtime North Coast 99 winners, the secret of their success isn't in their business plans; it's in the employees who help bring those plans to fruition every day.(You Hold The Cards)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... Bob Shearer loves a good party. In fact, he throws one every month. "We have a birthday party for all our associates whose birthdays fall within that month," says Shearer, CEO of Brewster-based Shearer's Foods, Inc. But cake and candies...

Open lines of communication: TREK Diagnostic Systems shows that candid communications grow business.(Communications Winner: TREK Diagnostic System)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... "Candor is very efficient." Legendary General Electrical CEO Jack Welch once uttered those words, words that TREK Diagnostic Systems CEO Mike Burke lives by. He uses them to create a culture of candor that has fueled the company's success...

Communication finalists: MHW and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... A MHW engineer working on a project in Cleveland realizes he may need some specialized expertise. But that doesn't always mean he'll have to hire an expensive consultant. Thanks to MHW's intranet, engineer expertise could be just a few clicks...

A helping hand: WorkPlace Media believes charitable employees are better performers both inside and outside the office.(Community Service Winner: WorkPlace Media)
September 1, 2007... While volunteering often begins at home, WorkPlace Media has found a way to incorporate charitable giving as a way of life inside the office. Its corporate philosophy on community service believes charitable employees are better performers...

Community service finalists: Shearer's Foods and UPS.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... Finalists for the Community Service Special Category Award have several things in common: They all sponsor a community-service activity, recognize or reward employees for volunteering in the community and have the support of top management. In...

Don't worry, be happy: because Akron-based InfoCision Management Corp.'s philosophy is-happy employees mean happy customers," its compensation and benefits programs are top priority.(Compensation & Benefits Winner: InfoCision Management Corp.)
September 1, 2007... Carl Albright believes the day will come when potential customers at the other end of the phone line will think of telemarketers as polite, courteous professionals, rather than the stereotypical rude and pushy callers interrupting the dinner...

Compensation & benefits finalists: Malone Advertising and FedEx Custom Critical.(You Hold The Cards)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... There's no law that states going to work each day can't be fun. At least that's the philosophy at Malone Advertising in Akron. "Everyone is a very hard worker here," says Christy Glemming, public relations manager. "We get the job done,...

Getting good referrals: AmTrust has raised the bar on employee-referral programs by using some unconventional methods.(Recruitment & Selection Winner: AmTrust)(AmTrust Bank)
September 1, 2007... So where's Dave? That is the question many AmTrust employees look forward to asking every month: Dave Clifford, manager of the Cleveland bank's employee-referral program, announces a new prize winner on employees' desktop computer screens. ...

Recruitment & selection finalists: Sterling Jewelers and Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... It's not unusual for Sterling jewelers to hire as many as 50 new employees after an oncampus recruiting event. But what the Akron-based company does when employees leave the company is quite unusual. "We mail former employees who left in...

Teaching success: Eaton Corporation's educational programs ensure employees consistently follow the best industry practices and services.(Training & Development Winner: Eaton Corporation)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... When you're a global corporation with more than 61,000 employees and $12.4 billion in annual sales, there's a lot to track. And nobody understands this better than Eaton Corporation. The Eaton empire, headquartered in Cleveland, is a...

Training & development finalists: Summa Health System and FedEx Custom Critical.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... Superior health care is the No. 1 priority of the staff at Summa Health System in Akron. "We are here to provide care from start to finish," says J.C. Fischer, employee-relations coordinator. Due to affiliations with Akron City...

Caught in the act: Ben Venue Laboratories encourages staff to "snitch".(Workplace Health & Safety: Ben Venue Laboratories)
September 1, 2007... Whether they're sitting in a business meeting, measuring chemicals in a laboratory beaker or answering the phone, Ben Venue Laboratories employees know that 1,200 sets of eyes are always watching. The Bedford-based pharmaceutical...

Workplace health & safety finalists: Whole Health Management Inc. and Southwest General Health Center.(You Hold The Cards)
September 1, 2007... It makes sense that a company whose expertise is "shaping the health and productivity movement with some of the nation's leading organizations" would also take an active interest in the well-being of its more than 600 full- and part-time...

2007 NorthCoast 99 winners: by the number.(You Hold The Cards)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... 2007 NorthCoast 99 Winners By The Numbers NorthCoast 99 Companies By Industry Manufacturing 21% Other--For-Profit 16% Hospitals 13% Health/Human Services ...

Winners.(You Hold The Cards)(Table)
September 1, 2007... WINNERS TOTAL NC 99 WINNER COMPANY NAME WINS WEB SITE Barnes Wendling CPAs 1 www.barneswendling.com The Carmon Group 1 ...