Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky articles from May 2000

Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky archives from May 2000

Stadium estimates skyrocket.(Bengals' operating costs up $52 million)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Bengals' operating costs up $52 million Construction costs aren't the only thing rising at Paul Brown Stadium. Hamilton County has dramatically increased its estimate for what it will cost taxpayers to operate the Bengals' new home. An...

Investors take aim at Baldwin CEO.(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... KAREN HENDRICKS HAS HAD A rocky tenure with the piano maker and is feeling the heat. Baldwin Piano & Organ CEO Karen Hendricks moved into the company's new Mason corporate headquarters almost two years ago, but her office remains sparse. A...

Cook's departure no remedy for Alliance.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Bigger changes needed to reverse losses, experts say The resignations of CEO Jack Cook and CFO Phil Tempel don't eliminate the need for bold organizational changes to remedy the struggling Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, local health...

Luken: We've come toofar to scrap store.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati's city council will recover from its recent bout of sticker shock and pay what it takes to put a Nordstrom store downtown. Why? Because the city can't walk away from the Nordstrom deal without paying at least $27 million. ...

Ohio Casualty lags industry in premium hikes.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Fairfield insurer had $75M first-quarter loss Embattled Ohio Casualty Corp. faces an even cloudier profit picture for the rest of 2000 after reporting first-quarter losses of $75 million and possibly missing the start of a long-awaited...

Riverfront access charted.(Project plan deals with traffic routes, parking)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Project plan deals with traffic routes, parking The consulting team that planned the city's Fort Washington Way construction project has come up with a new plan, coordinating the myriad construction projects on Cincinnati's riverfront over...

Physician group mulling surgery center.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... As PART OF ITS EXPANSION PLANS, the Plastic Surgery Group may add an outpatient surgery facility to its new offices on Red Bank Road. One of the Tri-State's largest plastic surgery groups is expanding its facilities and may build an...

Hotel discounts drawing convention bookings.(Events to draw at least 18,400 to downtown through 2004)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Events to draw at least 18,400 to downtown through 2004 Cincinnati's convention market is showing signs of new life, thanks in part to vigorous discounting by downtown hotels. The Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau has...

Doctor group to cut jobs, close offices.(Alliance Primary Care )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Alliance Primary Care is cutting 70 positions and closing nine of its 40 practice locations in its most recent effort to stem operational losses. The cuts are expected to save $1 million annually for the group, which is the area's largest....

County agency plans $4 million facility.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency will launch construction late this summer on a new $4 million classroom facility in the West End, at the site of the old F.B. Dyer School on West Court Street. The new 35,000-square-foot...

Optimum Group wins beer contract.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Lincoln Heights-based Optimum Group, a integrated marketing firm, has garnered a contract from the Gambrianus Co., the importer and distributor of the imported Mexican beer Corona, to handle all the product's marketing promotions east of the...

N. Ky. cosmetic laser firm makes big plans.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... LightTouch acquiring practices nationwide Gregory Martini is combining an aggressive acquisition strategy with the vanity of the Baby Boom generation to form a business plan for his newly public company. After closing purchases of...

ONN seeks place on cable lineups in Ohio.(Ohio News Network)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Talks could affect network's local presence Time Warner Communications and the Columbus Dispatch Broadcast Group have missed their self-imposed deadline for reaching an agreement that would put the Ohio News Network on the cable provider's...

Insurers making moves to cut drug, clinical expenses.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... United, Humana, Cigna sign new supplier deals Three of the nation's largest health insurers, all of which have Tri-State operations, are making major moves to take a bite out of rising drug costs and other clinical services. The action may...

Microenterprise program offers tools, follow-up.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Microentrepreneurs can be a fairly invisible bunch, but they're not going unnoticed in Cincinnati. The Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative graduated its fourth class in April, the biggest so far, with 20 participants. The program...

Federal agency mailing affirmative action survey.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Federal contractors and subcontractors will be seeing a "mandatory" survey arrive in the mail from the Office of Federal Control Compliance Programs, which enforces the federal government's affirmative action programs. The Labor and Employment...

Cincom planning satellite office in 'Digital Rhine'.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Cincom Systems Inc. is moving in on Main Street, joining the "Digital Rhine" and doling out advice to small start-ups. A handful of Cincom execs recently met with real estate agents in Over-the-Rhine and eyed spaces for a small satellite...

Public radio station uses Web site for fund raising.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... E-commerce is not just for businesses anymore. It's increasingly being used by nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funds. WGUC-FM classical public radio, for example, used its Web site (www.wguc.org) to raise money during its...

Giage's new marketing VP keeps ties to San Francisco.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Clare Price is bringing a little bit of Silicon Valley to Cincinnati -- and vice versa. The new vice president of marketing for Cincinnati's Giage Inc. is maintaining her San Francisco Bay home as well as her high-tech contacts on the West...

Immigration group lobbies for more green cards.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... "The New Economy needs new Americans," members of the Immigration Reform Coalition contend in a letter to Congress that advocates a "green cards, not guest workers" approach to solving the high-tech labor shortage. The technology industry...

Tech associations ask for Internet taxation review.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The presidents of 11 technology trade associations sent a joint letter to members of Congress asking them to address Internet taxation in a "systematic and comprehensive manner." The associations, which range from the American Electronics...

OSHA allows workers to file complaints online.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is making it easier for workers to file complaints about workplace hazards by setting up a "Workers' Page" on its Web site. The site providers workers with an electronic option for turning...

U.S. Chamber launches humanitarian foundation.(U.S. Chamber of Commerce)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is forming a new humanitarian aid foundation to channel corporate donations to disaster victims. The Center for Corporate Citizenship Foundation, which will be a separate affiliate of the chamber, will pool...

American Financial earnings down.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati-based American Financial Group Inc. reported net earnings of $45 million, on revenues of $880 million in the first quarter. Profitability was down from the first quarter last year, when AFG saw earnings of $55 million, due to...

Economy sees expansion in April.
May 5, 2000... The economy in Greater Cincinnati continued its moderate expansion in April, according to a report by the National Association of Purchasing Management. Price increases continue to be a concern, with 61 percent of survey respondents reporting...

New riverfront monument planned.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati Tall Stacks Commission Inc. will unveil new designs and break ground May 5 on the National Steamboat Monument, a giant paddlewheel that is planned for the Cincinnati riverfront The event will coincide with the Delta Queen steamboat's...

Digital Rhine snags tech firm.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Market Intelligence Group LLC is moving from Anderson Township to 111 E. 13th Street, joining a growing number of tech firms setting up shop in Over-the-Rhine. Market Intelligence is a two-year-old company that helps businesses sort through...

Roberds shuts seven Ohio sites.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Dayton-based Roberds Inc. said it will close operations in Ohio and Georgia, and has hired a liquidator to handle going-out-of-business liquidation sales in both markets. There are seven Roberds locations in Ohio that will be closed.

Convergys gets Turkish contract.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Convergys Corp., the third-party billing and marketing company based in Norwood, said it has signed a multi-year contract with the Turkish satellite TV provider DigiTurk. The deal involves Convergys licensing its billing and subscriber...

Bell unveils e-mail service.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati Bell is offering a new product that enables its phone service customers to see the subject lines of incoming e-mail messages on their telephones without going online. The new service, called eMail View, can check up to three e-mail...

Beauty BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Makeovers have niche at UC Medical Center It is certainly not your average salon. Tucked away inside the monolith that is the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, with not much more than a slim brochure to broadcast its services, a...

Owners transform old-fashioned lumberyard.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Erlanger Lumber now manufactures, installs There was nothing wrong with Erlanger Lumber Co. when Steve Steinman and his family bought it in 1989. The company had been in business 100 years, after all, and annual sales were holding steady at...

Sometimes, we just have too many opportunities.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Don't feel guilty when good things happen There are just too many opportunities in our world these days. Lately I've been having many conversations with my clients on how to handle hypergrowth in their businesses or careers. Phones are...

State SBA winners tell how to build businesses.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Small Business Week takes place May 21-27 Small business owners across America will be standing a little taller this month when the U.S. Small Business Administration kicks off the 37th annual celebration of National Small Business Week on...

Confessions, and recovery, of a micromanager.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Nitpicking is one way to duck leader's role I'd like to share a personal transformation of one of my clients -- we'll call him Jim. This success story has helped Jim better manage his company's growth by transforming him from a...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... ACCOUNTING Olive LLP has named Craig Lynam financial services regional team leader. ADVERTISING/MARKETING Strata-G Communications Inc. has promoted the following: Tom Crusham to creative director; Marc Phelps to senior design...

COURIER RATE BAROMETER.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... COURIER RATE BAROMETER Latest Year ago Two Three week week wks. ago wks. ago AVERAGE INTEREST RATES 30-yr. mortgage ...

As stocks struggled to find feet, bond funds briefly stood tallest.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Following the jarring ride of the markets in the past few weeks, it was to be expected. By the fourth week of April, bond funds had popped up all over the list of the Tri-State's best-performing mutual funds year-to-date. Most have since...

Chalk 401(k) Advisory president spreads retirement word in Turkey.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Doing his part in building the global economy, Steff Chalk, president of Chalk 401(k) Advisory Board Inc., recently traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, to address a seminar on the future of that country's retirement system. Chalk was invited by...

Cincinnati Asset picks up account from national Jewish women's group.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Cincinnati Asset Management Inc. has been hired by the National Council of Jewish Women to manage part of the group's endowment fund. Cincinnati Asset will invest roughly $6.5 million in its investment grade and government bond programs. The...

Pros and amateurs alike learn from Nasdaq's fall.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... It was well known that the recent Nasdaq mania had shattered the hierarchy of Wall Street, with the professionals forced to abdicate authority to the amateurs. The great unwashed masses of day traders had wrestled control over valuation from...

INSIDER TRADING RECAP.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... INSIDER TRADING RECAP (Number of insider transactions in past six months) Company Buy Option Sell Am. Annuity 4 4 1 Am. Financial 2 4 0 AK Steel 7 3 3...

MONEY MARKETS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... MONEY MARKETS Fund 7-day average yield Countrywide Institutional Government 5.64 Countrywide Ohio Tax-Free Money 3.63...

EARNINGS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... EARNINGS (Dollars in millions except per share data; revenues for financial institutions are net interest income plus other income) ...

DIVIDENDS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... DIVIDENDS Increase Company Amount Period (from) Payable Chiquita Brands International Inc. 71.88 cents...

INSIDER TRADING.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... INSIDER TRADING (Shares indicate common shares except as noted) Company/Officer Transaction Amount Price Date Intrenet Inc. Bruce Waterfall, Purchased 500,000 $2...

STOCK STATS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... STOCK STATS Exchange/ Year- Week- 52- 52- Ticker Close to-date ago net P/E week week Name of security symbol 5/1/00 ...

MORNINGSTAR MUTUAL FUNDS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... MORNINGSTAR MUTUAL FUNDS TOP 20 GREATER CINCINNATI FUNDS Fund Star Net asset Yr.-to-date 3-Yr. Rank Fund name category rating value ...

Provident stock suffers despite good growth.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Acquisitions fuel rise in revenues It's hard to blame Robert Hoverson for being a little frustrated. Two years after taking over as CEO of Provident Financial Group Inc., the Tri-State's second-largest bank holding company, Hoverson...

THE NUMBERS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... THE NUMBERS VITAL STATISTICS (Dollars in millions except per share data and ratio figures) Net Earnings Book...

CINCINNATI FLYING PIG MARATHON Course 2000.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The 2nd Annual Flying Pig Marathon is the first road race course in the world to have been measured and certified in the current millennium. This year's course has changed from the inaugural running, allowing the participants to get the most...

Pigging Out with a Purpose.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon course may be 26.2 miles, but its impact is far greater in depth and purpose. Many runners, walkers, spectators, volunteers and other parties are involved with the marathon for more than the obvious health...

Ernst & Young Relay Information.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The following information applies to all Open and Corporate Relay Teams. Please review this information with each member of your team. The Team Relay packet, distributed at the Kroger Health & Fitness Expo, will contain all materials and...

Speakers at the Runner's World Clinics at the Kroger Health & Fitness Expo.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Khalid Khannouchi is the marathon world record holder and one of the most respected international track and field athletes in the world. Current Moroccan resident based in Ossining, New York, Khannouchi has earned his title as the Fastest...

Race Day Coverage.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... If you can't be there along the course to cheer on a family member or friend, or check out the start or finish line in person to be a part of the excitement and spectator crowd, there are plenty of options to see what's happening. WCPO-TV...

Volunteers Make the Marathon Work.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The Inaugural running of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon was the second largest first time marathon in the country. With 6200 runners last year, it took 3000 volunteers to create a smooth and successful event for these participants and the...

Corporate Health Benefits.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Employers who want to keep their employees out of sick beds should encourage them to get off the couch. Healthy lifestyles make healthy employees, which can lower health care costs, increase productivity and reduce absenteeism. It's much...

Are we in the information age or the data age?(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... There's a vast chasm between data and information. Data is essentially useless, redundant and meaningless facts. On the other hand, information is data made useful. By filtering out and rearranging the useless and meaningless bits, we transform...

WEB CLASSROOM FOR PARALEGALS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Mount St. Joseph is first to offer certified program online In July, a group of students in a new program at the College of Mount St. Joseph will meet each other for the first time. They will spend a week together learning the ins and outs...

Overseas hiring can be harder than you think.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... H-1B visas won't be available until October You want to join the ranks of the "dot.comers." You have an idea and a business plan. You know a lot of creative, entrepreneurial types. One of your key players will be the techie who will be...

Mobile commerce is next 'e-revolution'.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Purchases may soon be made over cell phone With e-commerce in full swing, tech companies and analysts who follow them are getting ready for the next wave: m-commerce. The number of cell phones and Palm Pilots in use is paving the way...

'Coolidea' draws investment for Austin's ibooks.com Inc.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Company sells full text of IT books from Web Due diligence on Austin's ibooks.com Inc. is pretty easy to do, said Chris Pacitti of Austin Ventures. "I just call engineers at any company and ask if they think what ibooks is doing is a...

For e-biz consultants, positioning is the key.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Field is wide open, but competition is fierce Remember the old locker-room saying, "There's no 'I' in team?" These days, there's a corollary in the information technology field: "There's a big 'E' in computer consultant" "You...

Profitable e-commerce depends on the 'Big Es'.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Effective execution of details critical to success Many companies want to get into e-commerce these days. Few really know how. Many of those who have jumped in, unprepared, are foundering. Those that are excelling at e-commerce...

Computers level the playing field in design.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Field now accessible to skilled, unskilled alike One of the reasons Glen Hawkins became a graphic designer 12 years ago was because he liked "putting hand to paper." "I liked being on the board, close to the artwork," said Hawkins,...

Cleanups give new life to area brownfields.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Port Authority, EPA help facilitate projects Don't be surprised if next year's Cincinnati City-Rama rises out of a brownfield. Cities across the country, including Cincinnati, are cleaning and redeveloping their urban core, shining light...

Implementing an EMS could be best defense.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Environmental accident sent supervisor to jail There are many reasons for companies to implement proactive environmental management systems (EMS), which help them prevent, or detect and promptly correct, environmental law violations, avoid...

Honda's new hybrid keeps prospective buyers waiting.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Company didn't forsee demand for electric car If only Honda Motor Co. had the intuitiveness and wisdom to make more of its unsuitably named Honda Insight in 2000. Demand for the first hybrid gasoline-electric powered vehicle to be sold...

Neyer Properties starts $1 M Fairfield retail redo.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Neyer Properties Inc. of Evendale is continuing a strong run in the local construction industry with a $1 million renovation of Fair Plaza Shopping Center in Fairfield, while adding to an impressive lineup of properties in Evendale. Dan...

Creekwood Construction nabs three new projects.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Fast-growing Creekwood Construction Inc., fresh off of last year's move into its own facility on Kemper Road in Loveland, recently secured three new local jobs across the Tri-State. Creekwood President Doug Kendle said his general...

DEAL OF THE WEEK.(lease of commercial property)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... THIS WEEK'S DEAL: Duke's Irmscher, GB's Eckert land Lasik with $1.9M lease in Kenwood DEAL OF THE WEEK examines a recent noteworthy lease or sale of local commercial property and/or a residential sale; the transaction must exceed $1...

Stephanie Dietz.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Stephanie Dietz of Summe & Summe, Fort Wright, was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Northern Kentucky Volunteer Lawyers Inc., and Dallas, Neace & Koenig of Boone County was the recipient of the Outstanding Firm Award.

Elizabeth Bookser Barkley.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... The following individuals and organizations will be honored at the Cincinnati Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) 37th Annual Matrix Awards dinner on May. 19: Elizabeth Bookser Barkley, Sister Mary Stanton, Brook Gumm,...

Coldwell Banker West Shell.(award)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Coldwell Banker West Shell has received the Five Star Circle of Excellence Award from the 15th Annual Cendant Mobility Broker International Conference.

Ron Grout.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Ron Grout, Huff Realty, has earned the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation from the Council of Residential Specialists.

Largest Tri-State Public Companies.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Largest Tri-State Public Companies (Ranked by 1999 revenue) Name address 1999 phone 1999 net income 1999...

ASK THE CEO.(stock market volatility)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Does stock market volatility affect your business? Gregory Martini LightTouch Vein and Laser Inc. Currently, no. Stock market volatility does not impact our stock price because we are a new, growth-oriented...

Money overshadowed managed care's Promise.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2000... Managed care was supposed to bring order to the delivery of health care services, offer providers selected according to sophisticated criteria and provide reports to help the consumer and employer select efficient medical practitioners. ...

High time to end outdated Cuban policy.(US embargo of Cuba)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 5, 2000... While the American news media focus their attention on the plight of Elian Gonzalez, a more important aspect of U.S. relations with Cuba deserves our attention. A growing U.S. public sentiment suggests it is time to rethink the U.S. embargo of...

Car-loving era coming to end?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... Gas stations have become safe for SUYs and minivans again, with the price for a gallon of regular hovering in the $1.30s. Just in time for summer -- whew! -- we can get on with our road-happy, internal combustion lives. But wait, wait. ...

Millennium a major bore -- so far.(Brief Article)(Column)
May 5, 2000... Before I fall asleep, a quick question: Anything interesting going on? Anything at all? Pardon my ennui, but has there ever been a lime in American history as boring as right now? The opening days of the 21st century are so humdrum I'm...

TRACKING LOCAL STOCKS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 5, 2000... TRACKING LOCAL STOCKS Gradison-Courier Cincinnati Stock Index Year-to-date 1.57% Feb. 14 122.7 May 1 131.5 The index measures local stock performance by...

STOCK STATS.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 12, 2000... STOCK STATS Exchange/ Year- Week- 52- 52- Ticker Close to-date ago net P/E week week Name of security symbol 5/8/00...

Mall battle brewing in suburbs.(Statistical Data Included)
May 12, 2000... Competing developers have faced off before Two high-profile mall developers could wage a familiar war in the Tri-State suburbs, vying to bring a regional mall to the booming northern Cincinnati market Columbia, Md.-based Rouse Co. and...