Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky articles from February 2001

Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky archives from February 2001

Sabin Center boss on hot seat.
February 2, 2001... Decline in bookings could force change Slammed by a delayed convention center expansion, declining hotel room sales and an outdated facility, Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau President Mike Wilson might be on his way out,...

FRESHCASH.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... A newly minted local seed fund has become an instant player. Virgin Ventures Fund is on the verge of closing a $180 million pool to pour into thirsty startup technology companies close to home and across the country. The downtown firm...

The venture capital boom may be over, but now is a great time for risk-takers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Last year's tech stock drubbing has worked its way through the financing food chain and reached the venture capital market. And that's not a bad thing, say local financiers. "For folks who want to take risks, this is a very good time to...

Bengals chair faces huge fine in land deal.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Cincinnati Bengals chairman and cofounder Austin "Dutch" Knowlton has been ordered to pay $3.5 million to Columbus-based Planned Communities Inc. over a disputed land deal for his picturesque Delaware County farm. The award to Planned...

Blue Chip may put brakes on acquisition plans.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Radio station chain cites slower economy A slowing economy might put a chill on acquisitions at Blue Chip Broadcasting Ltd., the nation's second-largest black-owned radio chain with 19 stations in Ohio and Kentucky. "My guess is we...

Big industrial park planned.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Boone County site just west of airport A joint venture featuring one of the Tri-State's biggest developers plans to build on a prominent Boone County site along Interstate 275, where an industrial park as big as 5 million square feet is in...

Have advertising space ... will travel.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... INSTANT REPLAY'S MOMMIE TRUCK helped mobilize Todd Portune's campaign message. Now the firm is looking to put together a fleet. Now that Todd Portune has taken office as a Hamilton County commissioner, there's a truck with video space...

UC's new patent chief sees major possibilities.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Discoveries by researchers could spur economic growth The University of Cincinnati has filled a six-month vacancy to head its technology-transfer division, reviving hopes that the college's biotechnology, medical and engineering brain trust...

Rowe named Atlas chairman.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Brian Rowe, former chairman of GE Aircraft Engines, has been named chairman of Purchase, N.Y.-based Atlas Air Inc. The 69-year-old Rowe, who retired from GEAE in 1995, takes over the chairman's seat from Michael Chowdry, who died in a plane...

P&G job cuts stand at 3,600.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The corporatewide restructuring program announced last year by Procter & Gamble Co. projected 15,000 job cuts, of which 3,600 already have taken place, a spokeswoman said. "Study teams" are continuing to review systems at P&G to further cut...

Bank predicts slow growth in 2001.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Cincinnati economy will grow in 2001, but much more slowly than in the past two years, according to economists at PNC Bank. Positive factors, like a forecasted 1.4 percent rise in employment and an expected 2.8 increase in total income,...

Chamber announces legislative goals.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... The Tristate Chamber Collaborative, a group of seven local chambers of commerce, established its legislative priorities for 2001. The issues important to the groups range from urging Ohio to institute more aggressive tax incentives for research...

Area tourism awaits hoped-for make over.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... New Convention/Visitors chair ready to build As the top local, executive for Delta Air Lines, David Anderson helped persuade the airline to pledge $30 million for naming rights to an expanded downtown convention, center. Anderson...

McCabe lumber unit moving to Loveland.
February 2, 2001... Firm bought former Bell Furniture warehouse Robert McCabe Co. has paid $5.6 million for the former Bell Furniture warehouse in Loveland, with plans to transform the cavernous facility into a headquarters for its fast-growing McCabe Lumber...

DigitalBANG still booming with new strategy, Web site.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Growing firm snaps up laid-off tech workers Other technology companies might be losing momentum, but at Over-the-Rhine-based digitalBANG, it's full steam ahead. The information technology consulting and software development firm...

Provident gaining in local deposit race.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Fifth Third's acquisitions in Indiana and Michigan have made it far and away the largest bank based in the region, but Provident Financial Group Inc. might have already stolen the title of the Tri-State's largest bank by deposits. ...

First Financial moves to branding strategy.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Reorganization to create lour regional banks First Financial Bancorp CEO Stanley Pontius' radical plan to realign the company's 14 community banks along four brand identities will set the stage for both product and geographical expansion....

Tax-break bill aimed at small companies.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Business 'wish list' focused on deductions Small businesses hope the fact that they create most of America's new jobs will carry some weight when Congress decides what will be included in a tax-cut package this year. While they expect...

Outgoing tourism chief saw N. Ky. come to life.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Nick Ellison is still catching his breath. The Fort Thomas property developer and manager ended his two-year term as chairman of the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau in December. And an awful lot happened in Northern Kentucky...

Hempel gets nod to serve on high-tech commission.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Northern Kentucky's high-tech business community can stop feeling slighted. Gov. Paul Patton, after initially appointing a Kentucky Innovation Commission that lacked any Northern Kentucky representation, this month named A.F. Kelly &...

Here's how to get in touch with NKU's training unit.(Northern Kentucky University)
February 2, 2001... Readers of the Courier will remember a story last month about the Metropolitan Education and Training Services unit of Northern Kentucky University. The unit, known as METS, provides assessments and matchmaking for Tri-State companies that...

Michel Sheer.(Kings Island Resort and Conference Center)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... The Kings Island Resort and Conference Center will get a $2 million face-lift, as its new owners reposition the 289-room hotel for the corporate meetings market "It's a great opportunity for us," said Michel Sheer, general manager of the...

Randy Sandler.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Fifty-one years as a tenant has proven enough for the Cincinnati Bar Association, which plans to invest $2 million for a home of its own. The nonprofit trade group for local lawyers plans to leave its rented space in the seventh and eighth...

Baldwin to close plant in Miss.(Baldwin Piano & Organ Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... As part of a continuing effort to stream-line the company, Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. is closing a plant in Greenwood, Miss. The Cincinnati-based company plans to outsource the piano components that were made at the plant, eliminating about 275...

Delta opens talks with airlines.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Delta Air Lines is testing the water to see if a merger with Continental Airlines or Northwest Airlines would fly. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the air carriers are holding broad preliminary talks to discuss if Northwest...

Intrenet shareholders file suit.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Law firm Berman DeValerio & Pease LLP filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Intrenet Inc. shareholders. The suit seeks unspecified damages for alleged violations of federal securities laws for investors. who bought Intrenet...

Kroger to add self-checkouts.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Kroger Co. ordered 500 additional units of self-checkout equipment from Canada's Optimal Robotic Corp. The equipment already is installed at more than 400 Kroger stores, and company officials said customer response to the self-checkout line...

Chiquita secures financing.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Chiquita Brands International obtained a three-year, $120 million loan from Foothill Capital Corp. and Ableco Finance LLC. The new loan replaces an. earlier credit facility for $85 million that was announced Jan. 16. According to documents...

Smoothsailing.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Ashley Development made changes, and added products, to maintain its course John Yeager started Ashley Development in 1976 after noticing there weren't many builders going after the custom-home market in Northern Kentucky. It was a...

Strategic planning gives insurance agency a lift.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Schiff Kreidler-Shell expecting record 2001 How do you give a 125-year-old company a new bounce in its step? In the case of insurance brokerage Schiff, Kreidler-Shell Inc., you put it through a rigorous strategic-planning process. ...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Harrell Group Inc. has hired Marlene Porterfield as project planner/designer. CDS Associates Inc. has named the following as associates: Steven Dragon, Timothy Greene, Thomas Kamphake, Michael Lange, Dan Snyder...

COURIER RATE BAROMETER.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... COURIER RATE BAROMETER Latest Year ago Two Three week week wks. ago wks. ago AVERAGE INTEREST RATES 30-yr. mortgage ...

Darwinism for investors: Adapt, or become extinct.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Change will be 'sweeping, not incremental' in next 20 years Consider this: More than 99 percent of the species to have ever roamed the earth are extinct Does this imply that life forms on this planet haven't been very successful if only 1...

Greenspan now seems to see value of tax cut.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... In new testimony before Congress last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan seemed to provide the necessary assurances that he will not only reduce interest rates as necessary, but he indicated that he would now favor an...

MONEY MARKET.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... MONEY MARKET Fund 7-day average yield Fifth Third Govt. Money Market Fund 5.33 Fifth Third Prime Money Market Fund 5.52 Fifth Third Tax Exempt ...

INSIDER TRADING RECAP.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... INSIDER TRADING RECAP (Number of insider transactions in past six months) Company Buy Sell AK Steel 0 3 American Financial 1 1 Ashland 4 2 Baldwin...

STOCK STATS.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... STOCK STATS Exchange/ Year- Week- 52- 52- Ticker Close to-date ago net P/E week week Name of Security symbol...

Top 20 GREATER CINCINNATI FUNDS.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Top 20 GREATER CINCINNATI FUNDS Fund Star Net asset Yr. to-date 3-Yr. Rank Fund name Category rating value return return 1 Summit Apex Nasdaq 100...

EARNINGS.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... EARNINGS (Dollars in millions except share data; revenues for financial institutions are net interest income plus other...

DIVIDENDS.(table lists various statistics)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... DIVIDENDS Increase Company Amount Period (from) AK Steel Holding Corp. 6.25 cents...

INSIDER TRADING.(number of insider transactions in past six months)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... INSIDER TRADING (Number of insider transactions in past six months) Company/Officer Transaction Broadwing Inc. Kevin...

Winton couples cost-cutting, tempered growth.(Winton Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Inconsistent earnings have hurt stock price Rising interest rates and a slowing economy spurred Winton Financial Corp. CEO Robert Bollin to look inside the savings and loan holding for operating improvements during much of 2000. We...

When it comes to salary, equal not always fair.(family-run businesses)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 2, 2001... Sometimes parents lie awake in the night; struggling to decide how to be "fair" to all their children. They understand the differences in their sons' and daughters' contributions to the family business all too well; the eldest; responsible son,...

INK INC.: DRAWING ON EXPERIENCE.(Designs by Dana family business)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... For a local tattoo studio, core values indelibly etched on family business. When Dana Brunson decided to start tattooing in 1971, it was his art and not a business that he was interested in developing. But when he looked up from his...

Little things, like ice cream, help keep peace.(North Country Academy LLC child-care business)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Families need to leave criticism at the office North Country Academy LLC -- a family-owned child-care business with centers in Colonie, Clifton Park and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. -- seems to run like a well-oiled machine. Family members say it...

Clear boundaries, roles stop spouses' bickering.(marriages in business)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 2, 2001... Marriage, business can suffer without them "What is it that you don't understand? Are you stupid?" An interchange like this in the workplace is unacceptable. When it takes place between spouses before a room full of employees, the...

Farmers not sure future will be bountiful.(farming in Ohio)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 2, 2001... Families worry about passing on legacies Rick Black, who is in his early 40s, is a fifth-generation farmer. His family can trace its farm roots back to land grants issued by the federal government in 1812. Black's 350 acre farm...

Fifth generation keeps stone company solid.(Lang Stone)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Family follows same principles since 1856 Like the carefully crafted stone it produces, Lang Stone has an enduring quality to it Since 1856, the Lang family has been supplying stone for projects as massive as the Ohio Statehouse or as...

Take measures to keep job site violence-free.(workplace violence)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... On December 26, 2000, seven people who worked at Edgewater Technology Inc. in Massachusetts died when their coworker came to work and started shooting. They are the most recent additions to the long and continuously growing list of people who...

RESOLUTIONS THAT WORK.(wellness programs)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... On-site wellness programs help employees achieve health goals. It's been a little over a month since millions of people made personal vows to stick to their New Year's resolutions to lose weight, get in shape or quit smoking. But after just...

Fitness, nutrition ease woes of desk-bound.(Jeff Dingwall, Function Dynamics Inc.)(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 2, 2001... Weight gain, back pain plague office workers Jeff Dingwall, head trainer at Beaverton, Ore.-based Function Dynamics Inc., recently spoke to the The Business Journal, a Courier sister paper in Portland, Ore., about staying fit in an era when...

Job stress takes toll on people, firms.(Brief Article)(Column)
February 2, 2001... Unhappy employees are tardy, sick more often Imagine what it would be like to live in Paleolithic times. At first it sounds nice -- no morning commute, no deadlines, no boss. Life is peaceful. Then the hunter becomes the hunted and a...

Slow, steady wins the race to good health.(making resolutions)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 2, 2001... Unrealistic goals lead to broken resolutions If you're one of the millions of Americans who made a New Year's resolution to lose weight or get in shape, the next few weeks will be pivotal in determining whether or not you meet your goal....

FillTek opens with $6M World Park lease in Butler.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Dave Eckley's startup firm plans to do a whole lot of little things at one big warehouse in Butler County. Eckley is a Vandalia, Ohio, native and 15-year veteran of the fulfillment industry, a business that caters to other businesses by...

Cole+Russell will design Delhi, Monroe firehouses.(Cole and Russell Architects Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Cole+Russell Architects Inc. has been. selected by the powers that be in Delhi Township and the village of Monroe to design new firehouse facilities for the respective Tri-State communities. The new Delhi Main Fire Headquarters is a...

Dan Neyer.(Neyer Properties Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... * Dan Neyer, owner of Neyer Properties Inc. in Evendale, is marketing a three-acre site between Allen and Crescentville roads in West Chester Township as a 20,000-square-foot development opportunity. The property off Charter Park Drive is ideal...

DEAL OF THE WEEK.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... THIS WEEK'S DEAL: Pitstick from CCR ushers Central Warehouse into first Tri-State facility Buyer: Central Property Development Inc., Saginaw, Mich. Seller: Nash Finch Co., Blue Ash Property: 42,000-square-foot warehouse, 6200 Creek...

Dave Howicz.(Christopher Canarie, Warren County Board of Realtors)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Dave Howicz and Christopher Canarie of Henkle Schueler & Associates have received the Warren County Board of Realtors 2000 Top Producer Awards.

Michael Barnes.(Noel Thesing, Certified Trust and Financial Advisors)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Michael Barnes and Noel Thesing of Johnson Trust Co. have been awarded the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, a nonprofit organization sponsored by the American Bankers Association.

Robert Bartholomew.(Sam Nelson, Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors has named Robert Bartholomew of Hoeting Realtors, 2001 Realtor of the Year and Sam Nelson of Coldwell Banker West Shell was named Realtor/Salesperson of the Year.

Cole + Russell Architects Inc.(will design Harlan Township fire headquarters)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Cole + Russell Architects Inc. was commissioned by Harlan Township, Warren County, to design the Harlan Township fire headquarters in Pleasant Plain, Ohio.

Largest Tri-State Telecommunication Equipment Suppliers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Largest Tri-State Telecommunication Equipment Suppliers (Ranked by number of total local employees) Name ...

Largest Tri-State Apartment Communities.
February 2, 2001... Largest Tri-State Apartment Communities (Ranked by total units) Floor plans: Name studio/ ...

ASK THE CEO.
February 2, 2001... THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do you think a federal tax cut is a good idea? Rob Snyder METS I tend to be very conservative on fiscal issues. So, ordinarily, when a choice is to be made between paying down the national debt and reducing...

All nurses ought to be 'Health Care Heroes'.
February 2, 2001... Editor: Re the Health Care Heroes awards (sponsored by the Courier): I know many very hardworking, gentle and caring nurses and work with them on a daily basis. To single out one or even two from this mix would a challenge. Perhaps you...

Telecom firms blocking local competition.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Remember that great question from the hamburger commercial a few years ago -- "So where's the beef?" Ohio's local telephone customers could be asking a variation of that question as we approach the fifth anniversary of the Telecommunications...

Health benefits cost hikes hurt.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2001... Here we go again. Another year, another round of health insurance premium increases. This year, the spike will average around 13 to 15 percent for many companies. Some smaller firms can expect increases up to three times that amount,...

Advice for oil addicts: chill, don't drill.(Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 2, 2001... Do we really need to eat an entire gallon of ice cream to be happy? Couldn't we get by on a pint and some sprinkles? Here's the scoop: The nominations, of Gail Norton for Secretary of the Interior, and Spencer Abraham for Secretary of...

Message from the Director.
February 2, 2001... On behalf of CB Richard Ellis, Inc., we are pleased to present this annual publication which provides our perspective, analysis, and insight into the current trends in the Cincinnati commercial real estate marketplace and their anticipated...

Market Outlook 2001: Multi-Family Housing.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
February 2, 2001... Market Outlook 2001 The coming year should present a number of interesting dynamics in the Cincinnati multi-housing market. The most important indicator to follow in the next twelve months will be the absorption of new units, particularly...

Market Outlook 2001: Industrial Properties.(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
February 2, 2001... Amidst the many economic events and issues that occurred in the Year 2000, including Greenspan's numerous Federal rate increases, the plunge of the technology sector on the NASDAQ, and the disappearance of many .com startups, the Greater...

Market Outlook 2001: Retail Properties.(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
February 2, 2001... Overall Market During the Year 2000, Cincinnati experienced the following trends in the retail market: * Reduction in the number of new big box users entering the market. * Arrival of the lifestyle center shopping concept with the...

Market Outlook 2001: Office Properties.(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
February 2, 2001... Introduction The overall Greater Cincinnati office market continued the strong growth that it has shown in recent years as both gross leasing and absorption increased over 1999 and new construction in the multi-tenant office market fared...

Market Outlook 2001: Investment Properties.(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
February 2, 2001... Introduction Through the Year 2000, the seven county Greater Cincinnati market area performed reasonably well in the investment real estate sector. Following 1999's record performance in the number of recorded transfers over $1 million,...

Luken pledges mild approach.(Charlie Luken)
February 9, 2001... Likely 'stronger mayor' unveils 2002 strategy Charlie Luken recently accepted a gift on behalf of the city, a 180-year-old cane owned by Cincinnati's first elected mayor. The stick is dark and heavy, with an ivory handle that would make a...

$200M to be spent in Bond Hill.
February 9, 2001... THE BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOOD'S greatest asset -- location -- has sparked big development plans. A healthy dose of government intervention has the struggling Bond Hill/Roselawn area on the rebound. Only time will tell whether the medicine is...

Plus-size dreams coming true for local duo.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 9, 2001... Accidental entrepreneurs score with new Web site Jeff Recker and Charlie Mason were little more than modern-day prospectors, staking claim to hundreds of Internet domain names, when they unearthed a site that could be a gold mine:...

Aquarium to give visitors shark-eye view.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... People asked to see more sharks, and they'll soon get the chance. No, we're not talking about tours of the Hamilton County Courthouse, rather, a new shark exhibit opening in May at the Newport Aquarium. It's one of several marketing...

Mike Kitei.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... From sharks to 'gators, now, and an update on Mike Kitei, the former president of the Sive/Young & Rubicam advertising agency. After selling the agency to Powers & Associates last year, Kitei moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he's now a...

Kevin Gross.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Chalk this up as one enthusiastic vote of support for the new regional "Let the Spirit Move You" logo and tag line. Kevin Gross, a broker and property manager with Trammell Crow Co., is planning to have the logo landscaped into a hillside...

Klinedinst buys interest in Delhi insurance firm.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Retired USI Midwest chair back in saddle Tom Klinedinst Jr., former CEO of Thomas E. Wood Inc., is back on the TriState insurance stage. Klinedinst, 58, a 35-year insurance veteran, has purchased a controlling interest in the Louis A....

Rulings drive up auto rates.
February 9, 2001... Travelers opts to stop writing Ohio policies Ohio business owners, already facing rising premiums on almost every kind of insurance they buy, could be forced to pay even more because of several Ohio Supreme Court decisions that expand the...

Museum gets retail advice from a master.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... THE CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM TAPPED Federated Department Stores for help in revamping its retail shop, with the aim of boosting sales. The venerable Cincinnati Art Museum will soon introduce a touch of Madison Avenue at its expanded and...

Dot-com planting new roots in the Tri-State.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2001... Ontario firm cited airport, business ties as motivators A dot-com that preserves family memories on the Internet will move its headquarters to Greater Cincinnati and hire as many as 100 workers. Rootscentral.com is moving from Ontario...