Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky articles from March 2001

Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky archives from March 2001

Freedom Center hikes goal.(National Underground Railroad Freedom Center)
March 2, 2001... Riverfront museum needs extra $20M The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center raised its fund-raising goal to $110 million to cover increased exhibit costs, refined construction estimates and other costs incurred because of a delayed...

Reds ballpark finally on firm fiscal footing.(construction estimates reduced)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... They still haven't tamed the beast, but those in charge of building the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park can at least point to signs of progress. New cost estimates, obtained by the Courier, show a decision to break construction...

$ 100M project planned in Clifton Heights.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Housing, retail could help renew Calhoun corridor An old plan for a new parking garage at the University of Cincinnati may blossom this year into a $100 million retail and housing project in the Calhoun Street corridor. Backers of the...

New chief exec shakes things up at Ohio Casualty.(Dan Carmichael)
March 2, 2001... QUICK-ACTING DAN CARMICHAEL HAS SHED unprofitable units and even the once-sacred dividend. More tough decisions lie ahead Dan Carmichael has a mandate, and he's not afraid to use it. "Change will be universal," said Carmichael, who...

Quick Pak moving to new digs in Sharonville.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Office/production facility to triple space Eight consecutive years of 25 percent sales growth has prompted a Sharonville packaging firm to more than triple its size at a new $5 million office/production facility. Quick Pak Inc., a...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
March 2, 2001... A news story in the Feb. 23 issue misspelled the name of Jay Shatz, who produces the television show "Around the House" through his company, JayTV. The Courier corrects all errors. Call Editor Rob Daumeyer, 621-6665.

Alliance board to refocus.(Kenneth Hanover to be president and CEO of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... New CEO to have more operational control When Kenneth Hanover replaces Jack Cook on May 1 as president and CEO of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, the board of the area's largest hospital system also will take on a new role. ...

Domain-It! launches wireless e-mail service.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... MYCELL.COM IS JUST THE LATEST innovation for the 5-year-old firm, which began as an online registry for Internet domain names. Paul Goldstone, founder of Internet registry Domain-It!, knows there are as many methods for using the Web as...

Virtual HR department spells out benefits online.(4myBenefits Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... 4myBenefits lets employees see value of their total plan Small-business owners who've struggled with questions about insurance and 401(k) plans can take their hats off to Jerry Peter, founder of 4myBenefits Inc. He and his son, Jason,...

Local manufacturing outlook still shaky.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... According to a monthly survey conducted by the National Association of Purchasing Management Cincinnati, none of the companies surveyed increased new orders in February, while just 6 percent said their order backlogs increased. Also, a third of...

Anthem adds University Hospital.(to managed care networks)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield is adding University Hospital to most of its managed care networks in the Tri-State, with the exception of its health maintenance plan. That means at least 300,000 people in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will...

EQM stays in Forest Park.(Environmental Quality Management Inc. )(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Environmental Quality Management Inc. of Forest Park will be the first tenant at Carillon Business Park in Forest Park. By September, the 10-year-old company plans to move into a new 37,500-square-foot headquarters to be designed and developed...

N. Ky. chamber taking nominations.
March 2, 2001... The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its AD. Albright Award. The award recognizes people who demonstrate exceptional commitment to promoting educational excellence. Deadline for nominations is March 30.

Taylor: PNC to focus on retail, asset areas.(John Taylor's management strategy at PNC Financial Services Group)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... New regional head stresses reliance on data John Taylor, the new Ohio/Northern Kentucky president for PNC Financial Services Group, has an unusual goal. He wants to make PNC the strange bird of Cincinnati banking. "We want to further...

Krienik nabs $4M account to market Lasik eye surgery.(Krienik and Associates awarded Experts on Sight L.L.C. contract)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Contract is largest ever for advertising agency Krienik Advertising Inc. has landed the biggest account in its 20-year history, helping a national chain of optometry centers roll out a new Lasik surgery service. Experts on Sight LLC, a...

No city view for boss at new Delta facility.(Delta Air Lines Inc. designing new call center office with employees in mind)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Workers at call center will get window seats When employees start work at Delta Air Lines' new reservations call center downtown, they'll get a perk that often is reserved for a company's bosses -- window seats. The new call center,...

Board member tries again to overhaul Norwood thrift.(John Lame of Lenox Bancorp Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Purchase of 6,480 shares gives Lame more clout A dissident board member of Lenox Bancorp Inc. is renewing his efforts to overhaul, and possibly sell, the Norwood thrift. John Lame -- whose previous attempts to sell Lenox included an...

Tech/marketing firm seeks local foothold.(Expidant hopes to open office in Cincinnati)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Expidant impressed by area tech initiative Kendrick Largent, CEO of Indianapolis-based Expidant, said he searched the Midwest for a tech-savvy city where he could set up shop -- and was most impressed by Cincinnati. So he will open a...

Hemmer plans Crestview Hills office project.(Paul Hemmer Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... A string of successes with medium-sized medical/professional office facilities built near Thomas More College has paved the way for a new $5 million facility from Paul Hemmer Cos. One of the biggest developers in the Tri-State, Hemmer plans...

Women to get break on federal contracts.(General Accounting Office report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Legislation puts restrictions on competition Women own nearly 40 percent of America's businesses, but they received only 2.5 percent of the federal government's contract dollars in fiscal 1999 -- only half of the 5 percent goal for women...

Bill to help small firms with e-commerce.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Manufacturers lag in purchasing via Net Congress wants to help small manufacturers keep up with their larger counterparts as more business transactions are conducted over the Internet. The House, by a 409-6 vote, passed legislation...

Privacy wins in lemon law arbitration.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Consumers who use state-certified arbitration panels to settle lemon law claims against car manufacturers will be able to keep their names private, a Columbus judge has ruled. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Dale Crawford heard...

Black lung bill could boost workers' comp costs.(workers' compensation bill)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... It's not too often that you hear people talking about black lung and Northern Kentucky in the same breath. But that's just what's happening as the region's legislators and business leaders talk about House Bill 132, the latest workers'...

Survey tracked benefits, wages in Northern Ky.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Last year was a good year to be a management information systems manager or safety or environmental manager in Northern Kentucky. But it wasn't such a good year to be a controller or a maintenance manager. The 2000 Northern Kentucky Wage,...

Opening Day ticket prices not for faint of heart.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... This year's historic Opening Day on April 2 will undoubtedly take a sizable bite out of many wallets. Besides being the first game to be played on grass at Cinergy Field, the 2001 season opener sold out faster than any other game in the...

Maier takes director's job for Flying Pig Marathon.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... The new executive director of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon has a name that's familiar to many in the Tri-State business community. Scott Maier recently retired from a 20-year career with Frisch's Restaurants Inc., a public company...

FREEDOM CENTER MISSION.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... The museum planned for Cincinnati's riverfront has an ambitious vision and mission adopted in 1999: VISION In the 21st Century the United States shall overcome the legacy of slavery. We will create a society where shame gives way to...

RIGAUD FILE.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Name: Ed Rigaud Age: 57 Education: Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana; master's degree in biochemistry, University of Cincinnati. Job: President and CEO, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center...

Paul Brown Stadium.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Those unhappy with the county's performance at attracting minority- and women-owned companies to build Paul Brown Stadium won't be encouraged by figures on the Reds project. Documents compiled by the project's construction manager, Hunt...

Speaking of Women's Health.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Dianne Dunkelman, founder of Speaking of Women's Health and an expert at convincing companies and celebrities to donate their time, money and services, has done it again. First, she convinced producer and song writer Albert "Woo" Wilkerson...

Baldwin's Hendricks to resign.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Karen Hendricks plans to leave her positions as CEO of Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. in November. She has led Baldwin since 1994 and saw the Cincinnati-based company through a complete restructuring of its piano operations and the divestiture of...

Sara Lee moving to Cincinnati.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Sara Lee Foods U.S. is moving its headquarters to the Hawthorne Center in Blue Ash. The company will bring 125 jobs to the area and add jobs to an existing facility on Spring Grove Avenue. Sara Lee was awarded a 10-year tax credit for the...

Federated posts $184M loss.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Restructuring at Fingerhut and the closing of its Stern's division caused Federated. Department Stores Inc. to record a $184 million loss for fiscal 2000. This is compared to earnings of $795 million a year ago. The loss reflects one-time...

Unemployment on the rise.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Local and statewide unemployment figures rose in January, according to figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The unemployment rate in Hamilton County rose to 3.5 percent from 2.9 percent in December. Butler and Warren...

Deadline nears for Intrenet suit.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... The deadline to become a plaintiff in one class-action suit against Intrenet Inc. is approaching. New York law firm Pomerantz Haudek Block Grossman & Gross announced that shareholders who bought Intrenet stock between Feb. 19, 1999, and Oct....

Focusing ON THE FUTURE.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Computers provide the backdrop for digital product photography at Austin Bewsey Studios. Oliver Bewsey may long for the heyday of Cincinnati retail, when models strutted between sets and fashion reigned, but he built his thriving...

Multi-Craft Litho put brakes on rapid growth.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Printing firm focused on internal controls After charging through three years of 20 percent annual growth, the siblings who own Newport-based Multi-Craft Litho Inc. decided to spend 2000 working on internal policies and controls. ...

Don't let the 'joyful' parts of your job slip away.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Entrepreneurs often let duties take over How much time are you spending doing what you enjoy? I was rushing through my to-do list on Friday when this question hit me like a ton of bricks. How much time do I spend doing what I enjoy?...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... ACCOUNTING Jonathan Bybee has joined Cooney, Faulkner and Stevens as an accountant. ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Steed Hammond Paul has hired Aaron Phillips as technical document specialist and Richard Schoeff as architect. ...

COURIER RATE BAROMETER.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... COURIER RATE BAROMETER Latest Year ago Two Three week week wks. ago wks. ago AVERAGE INTEREST RATES 30-yr. mortgage 7.17%...

Small-cap stocks' prospects make for good investment.(small-capitalization stocks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Growth in earnings to be faster in next three to live years The 1990s were clearly dominated by large-capitalization stocks. The S&P 500 Index was up 18.2 percent annually for the 10 years ending Dec. 31, 1999. This easily outpaced the...

Market-outlook clouds still have silver lining.(Alan Greenspan expects economic growth in 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Column)
March 2, 2001... Gloom and doom hang like a heavy pall over Wall Street, and it is hard to find any positive slant on business news coverage to give the investor on Main Street any reason for optimism. Worries about the earnings outlook are keeping many...

MONEY MARKET.(7-day average yield)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... MONEY MARKET Fund 7-day average yield Fifth Third Govt. Money Market Fund 5.04 Fifth Third Prime Money Market Fund 5.16 Fifth Third Tax Exempt ...

INSIDER TRADING RECAP.(insider transactions, last six months)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... INSIDER TRADING RECAP (Number of insider transactions in past six months) Company Buy Sell AK Steel 0 7 American Financial 1 0 Ashland 3 1 Baldwin...

STOCK STATS.(includes, year-to-date February 26, 2001)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... STOCK STATS Exchange/ Year- Week- 52- 52- Ticker Close to-date ago net P/E week week Name of security symbol 2/26/01...

MORNINGSTAR MUTUAL FUNDS.(Morningstar Inc., report)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... MORNINGSTAR MUTUAL FUNDS TOP 20 GREATER CINCINNATI FUNDS Fund Star Net Asset Yr.-to-date 3-Yr. Rank Fund name category rating value ...

EARNINGS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... EARNINGS (Dollars in millions except per share data; revenues for financial institutions are net interest income plus other income) ...

DIVIDENDS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... DIVIDENDS Increase Company Amount Period (from) Payable AK Steel Holding Corp. 90.625 cents quarterly ...

INSIDER TRADING.(insider transactions in past 6 months)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... INSIDER TRADING (Number of insider transactions in past six months) Company/Officer Transaction Amount American Financial Group Inc. Fred Runk, ...

Hillenbrand streamlines Hill-Rom operating unit.(Hillenbrand Industries Inc. deals with financial problems)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Move meant to offset uncertain receivables Hillenbrand Industries Inc. is realigning its mix of health care products to cope with financial problems in the home care and long-term care industries. The Batesville, Ind.-based company,...

Equity's alliance targets medical, office buildings.(Feinknopf Macioce Schappa Architects Inc., joint venture announced)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... A recent alliance struck by a Columbus-based developer with a growing stake in the Tri-State development community is expected to deliver new jobs and projects for Columbus-based Equity's Mason office. Equity recently inked a joint venture...

KEVIN SCHUTTE STEPS UP.(Officespace.com offers commercial space database)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Leasing, vacancy, market-related info available at Officespace.com A Seattle-based company that first broke into the Greater Cincinnati market less than one year ago has made considerable strides towards its ultimate goal of becoming the...

Builders, feds engaged in wetlands war.(National Association of Home Builders does not like wetlands regulation)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... 'Legal loophole' closes, industry mulls litigation You don't have to be a big-time real estate developer to run afoul of federal wetlands regulations. Building a driveway was enough to get Walter Wright of Ketchum, Idaho, and his...

Sometimes, the streets just can't handle it.(old pipelines make water transport a problem)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Growth can be stymied by what's underneath When a fire damaged the Great Valley auto dealership on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento, Calif., last fall, firefighters said their response was stunted because they couldn't get enough water from the...

DEAL OF THE WEEK.(includes, Pharmacia Corp. leasing agreement)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... THIS WEEK'S DEAL: Roberts from Capital Partners, Calamari put HSR in Summit Woods Tenant: HSR Business-to-Business Marketing Inc., Sharonville Landlord: Equity Group III, 300 E-Business Way, Sharonville Lease: 38,000 square feet...

Realtor of the Year.(Woody Mace receives Hamilton-Fairfield-Oxford Board of Realtors award)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Woody Mace of Star One Realtors has been named Realtor of the Year for the Hamilton-Fairfield-Oxford Board of Realtors.

2001 Meritorious Service Award.(Dr. Stewart Dunsker recipient of American Association of Neurological Surgeons award)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Dr. Stewart Dunsker, a spine neuro-surgical specialist at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, has received the 2001 Meritorious Service Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on...

2001 Meritorious Service Award.(Todd Bailey)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Todd Bailey of Frost Brown Todd LLC was named a 2000 Spirit of Cincinnati Achievement Award winner from the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Cole+Russell Architects.(finishing construction in Washington D.C.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Cole+Russell Architects and its design build company, Tetra Group, are finishing the construction of the new 175-unit Homewood Suites in Washington, D.C.

Bridge Healthcare.(contract with Cardinal Distribution Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Bridge Healthcare, Cincinnati, a full-service provider of integrated health care communications, has announced that it has been named agency of record for Cardinal Distribution. This assignment covers strategic marketing consulting as well as...

Smith Beers Yunker & Co.(retained by Student Press Law Center)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Smith Beers Yunker & Co., Cincinnati, has been retained as management and fund-raising counsel by the Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Va.

Sharkbytes Inc.(web site design for Delta Sigma Pi)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Sharkbytes Inc., Cincinnati, has created a new Web site for Delta Sigma Pi located at www.dspnet.org.

Largest Tri-State Accounting Firms.(ranked by number of local professionals)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Largest Tri-State Accounting Firms (Ranked by number of local professionals) Name address Total Total phone ...

ASK THE CEO.
March 2, 2001... THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Would you favor amnesty for Latino workers withoutvisas? R.J. Finn Finn Graphics Inc. I would say yes. I see nothing wrong with it. Our work force is depleted to the point where finding people willing to work is...

Kids in rural county steered toward college.
March 2, 2001... Editor: I wish to thank Harold Brown of the Knowledge Works Foundation for his letter to the Courier on Feb. 16, which discusses the ways in which Ohio is addressing its below-average college enrollment rates. As Mr. Brown stated, many...

States could be flexible on minimum wage.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... During her Senate confirmation heatings, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao took fire on only one issue: the national minimum wage. It wasn't her opposition to a wage hike that sparked the attack. She and President George W. Bush are willing to accept...

Area no friend of bike routes.(Cincinnati City Council pushes for bike paths)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... Cincinnati City Council seems content to float placidly toward next November's election, when it will become the junior partner to whoever is elected as the first "strong mayor." Two exceptions are Alicia Reece and Pat DeWine, who, despite...

All dressed up and no place to work.(business attire, analysis)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 2, 2001... How does the old saying go? Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I guess everyone wants to be a gym teacher or a septic tank installer. When did our wardrobes become so casual? Actually, "wardrobe" sounds a little...

Local caddies win scholarships.(Evans Scholars Foundation awards scholarships)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... The Evans Scholars Foundation has awarded $6,000 tuition and housing scholarships to 20 caddies from the local area for the 2001-2002 academic year. The scholars are golf caddies who earned scholarships based on four criteria: caddie record,...

Easy Aces -- 2000.(poll on number of holes in ones in Cincinnati, Ohio area golf courses)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Easy Aces -- 2000 Want to score a hole-in-one? Based on our informal poll, it would probably happen at: Course Hole Holes-in-one Sharon Woods 8 ...

Caddie Classic fund-raiser set for July at Maketewah.(golf tournament to raise money for the Evans Scholars Foundation)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2001... One of the largest golf tournaments in the city, if not the biggest event of its kind in Greater Cincinnati, is actually organized to help the little guy. The Caddie Classic slated for July 30 at Maketewah Country Club in Bond Hill has...

Most-Difficult Tri-State Public Golf Courses.(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 2, 2001... Most-Difficult Tri-State Public Golf Courses (Ranked by USGA slope rating) Golf course USGA USGA address slope course ...

Most-Difficult Tri-State Private Golf Courses.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)(Directory)
March 2, 2001... Most-Difficult Tri-State Private Golf Courses (Ranked by USGA slope rating) Golf course USGA USGA address slope course Women's...

Sabin expansion plan hits wall.(convention center plans delayed)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... I-75 bridge redesign forces multiyear delay The long-delayed expansion of Cincinnati's downtown convention center could be delayed again -- by as many as eight more years -- to accommodate planning for the Brent Spence Bridge. For...

PERPETUAL MOTION.(Cooper and Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... A relentless pursuit of ideas fuels watch retailer's growth. David and Martin Cooper are about to execute the biggest product launch in the history of their 56-year-old company. But don't expect them to get nervous about it. They've...

Analysts: Cinergy well-positioned for merger.
March 9, 2001... Newark, N.J.-based PSEG said to be leading suitor Cinergy Corp. analysts and observers turned up the power this week on perennial rumors that the energy company is primed for a merger. "We've heard that there could be an announcement...

A reluctant Tarbell to sell Grammer's.(Cincinnati Councilman Jim Tarbell, Grammar's Restaurant)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... Cincinnati Councilman Jim Tarbell has put Grammer's restaurant on the market. Veteran Over-the-Rhine activists are applauding the move as a way to revive the famed German restaurant. Tarbell is seeking $799,000 and a buyer willing to...

Firstar trying to pin down WWF's 'Raw is War'.(Firstar Center bidding for wrestling event)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... Event may move from Cincinnati Gardens "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, "The Rock," Vince McMahon and the rest of the wacky crew from the World Wrestling Federation are closing in on a major deal to bring the raucous "Raw is War" extravaganza to...

Partners to build in Monroe.(Paul Hemmer Cos., ProLogis Trust Inc. joint venture to build distribution/manufacturing complex)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... Hemmer, ProLogis plan distribution complex Two of the Tri-State's heavy hitters in the industrial real estate business are combining forces for a massive $45 million distribution/manufacturing complex in Butler County. For Paul Hemmer...

Home-goods store gives business a jolt.(Voltage Furniture Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... VOLTAGE FURNITURE, WHICH SELLS high-end European items, will open a $1.5 million space in Oakley with six times its current square footage. A Hyde Park dealer of high-end European home goods plans to open a $1.5 million, loft-style...

Tax hike slated for downtown property owners.(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... Assessment funds operations for Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Downtown's largest property owners are likely to support a 30 percent hike to a special tax that funds the ongoing operations of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Combined, the owners --...

N. Ky. hotel room sales up in 2000.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 9, 2001... The Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau increased its hotel room night sales by 15 percent last year, topping the $100 million mark for the first time. But the region's hotel occupancy rate was down 2 percent from the year before...

MCSi moves N. Ky. jobs to Memphis.(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... MCSi Inc. is moving at least 20 jobs from its Erlanger operation to a facility it is opening in Memphis, Tenn. The Kettering-based distributor of computer and office automation supplies is leasing 193,000 square feet of space in Memphis to...

Fifth Third fattening insurance subsidiary.(acquires Old Kent Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 9, 2001... Old Kent acquisition fuels market expansion Fifth Third Bancorp's budding insurance subsidiary will blossom into the nation's 30th-largest agency later this year, when Cincinnati's largest bank completes its integration of Old Kent...