Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky articles from September 2000

Business Courier Serving Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky archives from September 2000

Stadium misses minority goal.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... County falls short of 15 percent target Cost overruns at Paul Brown Stadium have greatly reduced the participation rate for minority- and women-owned businesses on the project, according to a Courier analysis of Hamilton County records. ...

Ballpark chief knows the score.(John Palmer)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... JOHN PALMER, THE NEW PROJECT manager for the Reds ballpark, vows to avoid Seattle's mistakes. John Palmer III knows where to find the traps that could push the Reds' new Great American Ball Park project over its $322 million budget and...

Loveland furniture distributor files bankruptcy.(Bell Furniture Industries Inc. )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Tornado shares blame for Bell's Chapter 11 move A Loveland-based national furniture distributor has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming competition, shrinking profit margins and the April 1999 tornado that tore through its...

Old nuclear sub could become local museum.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... If this is all just a pipe dream, well, at least it's a really big pipe. Speaking here of the USS Cincinnati, a 360-foot, decommissioned submarine that local Navy veterans are trying to bring to town so it can become a floating museum on...

Panera will sandwich more stores into Tri-State.(Panera Bread)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Bread/pastry shop scouting the suburbs Cincinnati is becoming a hot market for Panera Bread. In addition to the three outlets it now operates in Kenwood, Anderson Township and Fairfield, Breads, of the World LLC plans to open two more...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... No brokers were involved in the $1.2 million sale of 5955 Drake Road in Indian Hill, featured in the Aug. 25 "Deal of the Week" section. The sellers, Joseph and Elaine Shea, never listed the home.

UC takes first virtual steps.
September 1, 2000... Center could provide 3-D product imaging A new virtual reality project could bring the University of Cincinnati to the cuffing edge of higher education and transform the Tri-State into a leader in urban design and product development. ...

Riverbend turns out the lights on biggest month in its history.(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... AUGUST WAS SHOWTIME FOR RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER, which hosted 17 pop concerts with top acts, and drew 200,000 patrons, almost half of the annual attendance. Twenty years ago, a youthful Mike Smith got his start in the concert business....

Money manager performances return to earth.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Outsized gains on technology stocks seem like distant past After spending most of the late 1990s riding the booming technology investing wave, local money managers returned to a more measured form of investing during the first half of 2000....

Klinedinst retiring from USI Midwest.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Local insurance veteran Thomas Klinedinst Jr. is retiring Sept. 1 after more than 30 years at Thomas E. Wood and its successor, USI Midwest. "I don't plan to retire and go to Florida," said Klinedinst, who will spend more time on several...

Court reaffirms set-aside ruling.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has reaffirmed a June ruling that Ohio's minority set-aside program for construction contracts is unconstitutional. The Aug. 24 ruling rejects the state of Ohio's request for reconsideration and gives...

Procter reported as bidder for Keebler.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Procter & Gamble Co. was reported by Reuters Securities to be among the first round of bidders for cookie and cracker maker Keebler Co., which put itself up for sale in July. The Cincinnati consumer goods giant; whose main food brand is...

High-end apartments planned for Oakley.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... 'The Drexel' to be across from Hyde Park Plaza A Dallas developer has closed a deal to buy 5.3 acres in Oakley that will clear the way for a large upscale apartment complex across the street from the Hyde Park Plaza. When completed,...

Venture group turns focus to tech firms.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Association wants to broker seed capital funds For years, the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association was at the core of the clubby venture capital crowd centered on Third Street. Now it is shifting its focus, with the aim of becoming...

Vein/laser group to purchase N.C. firm.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... LightTouch expanding cosmetic treatments LightTouch Vein & Laser Inc. plans to acquire a North Carolina cosmetic treatment company, Vanishing Point Inc. The deal brings six new centers, located in New York, San Francisco and Florida,...

Internet-based fulfillment hit for Eastgate company.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... MSS finds Net services provide half of revenue When Greg Fischer looks back at the history of his Eastgate-based fulfillment firm, he sees two eras: pre- and post-Internet As CEO of Marketing Support Services Inc., Fischer decided a...

Fifth Third combining two mutual funds.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cardinal, Quality had similar investments The investment management unit at Fifth Third Bank is merging two of its mutual funds that invest in many of the same stocks. Shareholders of the Fifth Third Cardinal Fund will vote Oct. 17 on...

Ad agency new division for MarchFirst.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cincinnati has a new player in the advertising agency community, but it's not an agency in the traditional sense. Instead, it's a department where there once were only eight Web designers, within the local office of an international...

Machine tool slump may be over, local firms hope.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... At the end of 1998, the market for machine tools went down and stayed down. The slump affected Cincinnati machine tool manufacturers Makino Inc. and Cincinnati Machine. Both slashed jobs and watched helplessly as sales dropped. But as the...

Maker of chemistry kits looking to retail markets.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... For the last 35 years, the West Chester-based Kemtec Science Inc. has manufactured chemistry science kits for the classroom, employing trained chemists to mix formulas and develop innovative new lab experiments with the help of local teachers....

Property/casualty insurers get lift from rate hikes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Tri-State properly and casually insurers are enjoying a rate reprieve in 2000, after competing in an extremely price-conscious market for years. According to a recent survey by Washington, D.C.-based Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers,...

Provident transfers some credit risk to third parties.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Provident Financial Group Inc., already considered a sophisticated player in financial derivatives, will break new ground later this year when it transfers some of its credit risk to third-party investors. Cincinnati's second-largest bank...

Banks backers urge plan approval.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Backers of The Banks development project told city and county leaders that river-front revitalization will stall if a new development authority isn't created by Sept. 18. "We simply must move forward," said Jack Rouse, chairman of the...

Dinsmore announces merger.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cincinnati-based Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is merging with Nashville, Tenn.-based law firm Yopp & Sweeney. The firm will retain the Dinsmore & Shohl name. Yopp & Sweeney will bring 18 attorneys to the firm. Dinsmore & Shohl has more than 200...

County backs off single insurer.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Hamilton County commissioners have decided not to proceed with their plans for using a single insurance company on the Great American Ball Park construction project. Earlier, the county said the structure would save money. But after local...

Lottery.com and MDI end merger.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... After seven months, Media Drop In Entertainment has decided to terminate its agreement to merge with The Lottery Channel and its principal subsidiary, Lottery.com. Many of Lottery.com's shareholders are sorry that MDI was not prepared to...

Westwood Homestead CEO retires.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Michael Brennan, the longtime CEO of Westwood Homestead Savings Bank, will retire Sept. 5 as head of the West Side savings and loan. Brennan, who oversaw the company's expansion into Mount Adams and Western Hills, will make way for David...

D.A.G. Construction wins award.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded D.A.G. Construction Co. Inc. its Regional Minority Construction Firm of the Year Award. The award recognizes a company's performance record for quality and timely completion of construction projects for...

Images OF SUCCESS.(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2000... A fascinating new technology led a local physician, and his wife, to found a successful business. When ProScan Imaging Group opens a magnetic resonance imaging center in Paul Brown Stadium this fall, the company will be breaking new...

How to keep your sanity in a technocrazy world.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... People still want to talk to other people Our world has gone technocrazy. Everywhere I look, it's World Wide Web this. E-commerce that. Voice mails. Hundreds of e-mails. Pagers going off. Cell phones ringing. Our desks are covered with...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... ACCOUNTING Kamphaus, Henning & Hood has promoted Linda Pilon to partner in training. Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. has promoted the following: Martz Howard, Jodi Clever, Mary Overberg and Melissa Linneman to managers; Brian Todd,...

Full-disclosure rule may change firms' communication attitudes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Individual investors, small institutions likely to be winners Regulation Fair Disclosure, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission Aug. 10, is the SEC's first stab at regulating the informal communication process between public...

Today's market moves require more diversity.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Investors always are urged to diversify by owning more than one or two stocks in a few sectors of the market. Doing so reduces the risk of being overly exposed to a stock or sector that has fallen out of investor favor. This recommendation...

Milacron expanding new product development.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... But analysts remain ambivalent on stock Two years after selling off its 100-year-old machine tool business, analysts are still waiting to see if Milacron Inc.'s stock price will reflect the company's new focus on plastic technologies and...

Union Centre continues to see strong demand.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The summer construction season brought extensive activity to the Union Centre Boulevard area of West Chester. Union Centre Boulevard's location in the heart of the Cincinnati-Dayton Metroplex continues to drive significant development...

RETAIL PLANNED FOR SPRINGBORO.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Coffman Development Co. wants to create a 'place for families' Ron Coffman has been accused of building another Oakwood. Frankly, for this successful Springboro developer, he hopes he is guilty as charged. Coffman has plans to...

Tennis tourney could move out of Warren.(Great American Insurance ATP Championship)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Butler County, N. Ky possible alternative sites With a new name for the tournament this year, officials with the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati say they're still considering a new location for what was formerly known as the Great American...

HeartLand Airlines faces legal action from investor.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Suit filed in W. Va court seeks undisclosed damages HeartLand Airlines is being sued by one of its original investors. Lewis Whaley, owner of venture capital firm Paxton Equities LLC, has filed a lawsuit in Kanawha County Circuit Court...

Cincy/Dayton division only a matter of asphalt.(employment prospects)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cities are 'clasps' of an economic necklace Fifty years ago Americans began moving from their cities into the suburbs. Five years ago my family, like many others before us, joined this outward moving tide. But we are not a statistic of...

Airport expansion crucial, says chief.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Plan calls for more than $20M in improvements The Dayton International Airport is taking off with the help of a man who is using his success in three other markets to create an entirely new vision for Dayton's future. Airport director...

Entreprenuer wants to give Dayton 'net-savvy' hangout.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cybercafe to offer free high-tech toys to public Bryan Fite wants downtown Dayton to have what lots of Net-savvy downtowns have -- a cybercafe. Fite envisions a downtown hangout, anchored by a major restaurant chain, that would offer...

Officials concerned about 'super region'.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Some Dayton leaders fear loss of city identity After the last census statistic on every woman, man and child in Southwest Ohio is tabulated in 2002, the cities of Cincinnati and Dayton possibly could be merged into one giant metropolitan...

New transit option under discussion.(Warren to Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio)(North South Transportation Initiative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Warren to Dayton route part of new study Warren County commuters have a mass transit ride to Cincinnati, but what about one for Dayton? The North South Transportation Initiative, a partnership study by the Miami Valley Regional...

Springboro-based e-tailer reeling in new customers.(247Showroom.com )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... 247Showroom.com connects stores and clients Springboro start-up 247Showroom.com -- an e-commerce company that connects retailers to customers -- has landed two more clients. The business --started by two former Roberds executives -- is...

Mayor extols virtues of growing 'hamlet'.(Waynesville, Ohio)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Waynesville boasts of small-town charms One should be forewarned that as Waynesville's top elected official, my opinions and comparisons may differ substantially from other disinterested observers because of my proximity to the subject to...

Bank plans two buildings at Madisonville campus.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... There won't be any ceremonial silver shovels flying, but construction will start in late October for the second phase of Fifth Third's three-building office campus in Madisonville, home of the former U.S. Shoe. Bill Moran, senior vice...

BHDP designs synagogue being built by Creekwood.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A groundbreaking was held earlier this summer for the new B'nai Tzedek Synagogue in Sycamore Township, a $1.8 million facility designed by BHDP Architecture of Fairfax and being built by Creekwood Construction Inc. of Loveland. ...

DEAL OF THE WEEK.(CBLD Center renamed URS Building lease)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... CBLD Center renamed URS Building with $3.3M McGlinchey deal 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 million Tenant: URS Greiner...

Viox Services Inc.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... University of Cincinnati's Goering Center has named Reading-based Viox Services Inc. as its first recipient of the Tri-State Family Business Award in the category of innovation.

Donnie Riggins.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Donnie Riggins of Safeco Insurance Co., Cincinnati, was honored with the Rookie of the Year Award at the Ohio Insurance Institute's awards banquet.

Gregory Rouan.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Gregory Rouan, associate director for educational affairs in the department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, has been awarded the 2000 American College of Physicians Master Teacher Award.

LifeCenter.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... LifeCenter transplant coordinators won Cryolife's Gil Gilliam Award at the North American Transplant Coordinator. Organization's 25th Anniversary meeting. This award is given annually for the development and implementation of an innovative...

Ashley Ward Inc.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cincinnati-based Ashley Ward Inc. and its staff have been honored by the Whirlpool Corp. with its manufacturer's Quality Performance Award for 1999.

American Modern Insurance Group.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... American Modern Insurance Group, a wholly owned specialty insurance subsidiary of the Midland Co., was recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the nation's "Top 50" property and casualty insurers by Ward Financial Group.

Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC was honored at the annual convention of the American Bar Association in New York City with a Special Recognition Award for outstanding leadership in the American Bar Association's...

Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau has won two Idea Fair Awards at the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau annual convention. These awards are judged by peers in the industry and are given to convention and...

Gerri Jones.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Gerri Jones of Sibcy Cline Realtors has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation (ABR) designation by the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council Inc. of the National Association of Realtors.

OstermanCron.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... OstermanCron is expanding its "working" showroom by 30 percent to accommodate the company's significant growth. Located at 11745 Chesterdale Road in the Tri-County area, OstermanCron's office doubles as a showroom and an energetic office...

National Underwriter Co.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... National Underwriter Co., Cincinnati, has entered into an agreement with agentLIFE.com providing subscribers with access to Tax Facts 1 via the agentLlFE.com Web site. Published by the National Underwriter Co., Tax Facts 1 is the financial...

Health Alliance.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Health Alliance has selected US Surgical for as its new vendor for endo-mechanical instruments.

Triplefin Inc.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Triplefin Inc. was awarded a contract with Prestige Brands International of Bonita Springs, Fla., to provide distribution and sales support for two of the company's well-known products.

Chemed Corp.(acquires Roto-Rooter franchise in Temple, Texas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Chemed Corp. has announced that its Roto-Rooter Services Co. subsidiary has acquired the assets of the Roto-Rooter Franchise in Temple, Texas. The franchise, which serves a population of 365,000 in Bell, Lampasas, Corell, Milam and Falls...

SS&G Financial Services.(acquires Greene and Wallace Inc)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... SS&G Financial Services has announced that it is merging with Greene & Wallace Inc. of Central Ohio. The combined entity will become the largest privately held accounting and financial services firm in the state, and rank among the 50 largest...

LightTouch Vein and Laser Inc.(acquires Vanishing Point Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... LightTouch Vein and Laser Inc. has announced that it has signed a merger agreement with Vanishing Point Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation.

Telxon Corp.(introduces PTC-8901M mobile computer)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Telxon Corp., Cincinnati, has announced its PTC-8901M, the next generation in industrial-mount mobile computers designed specifically for today's harsh and exacting industrial environments. The PTC-8901M combines a 166 MHz Pentium processor,...

ASK THE CEO.(quotes from local business leaders)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Should stadium costs be an issue in the county commissioners' race? ASK THE CEO is a continuing series in which we ask important-to-the-region questions of corporate leaders. Chris Frutkin City Center Properties Absolutely. When...

Bush must prove 'compassion' on human issues.(opinion of George W. Bush political issues)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A near-universal reaction to George W. Bush's speech accepting the GOP nomination for president is that this is going to be one tough candidate for the Democrats to beat Yet, his ability to win may hinge on Bush's ability to make "compassionate...

Corridor plan will preserve quality of life.(Eastern Corridor Plan for Cincinnati, Ohio)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Greater Cincinnati business community doesn't have to look far to find public projects worthy of support. But perhaps, the project with the most potential to provide economic opportunities is one of the region's best-kept secrets: the...

Whistling past the graveyard.(Tax policy resulting from Stadium expenditure)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The economy hasn't produced anything beyond a spring shower in years, so the Hamilton County commissioners' proposal for a "rainy day fund" to back up stadium sales tax receipts probably won't generate much discussion. But we should...

Region must seek to balance growth.(Cincinnati, Ohio)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... One of the most talked-about topics today is sprawl, both urban and suburban. It is a political issue for cities, states and the country. Those who are looking for solutions to combat sprawl have coined the name "Smart Growth," which is defined...

DEAR READERS.(community service publication)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2000... Giving used to be something that employees did on their own, maybe with employers handling out United Way forms, or inviting the bloodmobile to make a visit. But corporations have seen that charitable giving is an essential part of their...

Alliance targets locales.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A FUNDERS' COLLABORATIVE IS helping to revitalize three urban neighborhoods in Cincinnati. Some promising changes are unfolding in three area neighborhoods, thanks to the helping hand from Community Investment Partners (CIP). Formed in...

Giving makes sense in booming economy.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The booming U.S. economy has reaped real rewards for charitable organizations. America's corporations have become the "sugar daddies" of the philanthropic world. Companies of all sizes realize that charitable giving not only results in...

Feeding those in need.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... THE KROGER Co., THROUGH ITS foundations, has invested $51 million across the country. There are companies that are generous in their charitable donations, and then there are the companies that take generosity to another level, giving huge...

Make a giving plan -- and make an impact.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Has your business been approached for gift certificates to benefit a nonprofit organization? Are your charitable gifts tied to your clients' causes rather than to establishing your business as a corporate citizen in its own right? Do...

Stonebraker says job 'not a one-man show'.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... United Way expecting to top $58M this year Barbara Stonebraker is the first woman to chair the United Way's annual Greater Cincinnati Area Campaign, but her selection was no surprise. The senior vice president for Cincinnati Bell has been...

'Regionalism' focus for funding groups.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, corporate, community and government conversation has increasingly focused on the topic of regional cooperation. The dialogue emphasizes a new paradigm shaped by new and evolving patterns of...

Empower debuts service initiative.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Empower MediaMarketing has announced the Community Investment Program, whereby it will donate funds and marketing assistance to one nonprofit human services organization every year. For 2000, Empower chose Teen Response, a Cincinnati program...

Aft writes book on history of local United Way from 1915 to present.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Richard Aft, president of the United Way & Community Chest, has authored "Painful Decision, Positive Results," a history of the organization. The book covers the United Way from its founding in 1915 to the present day. Publication costs were...

Sprint, police partner on safety call-in program in N. Ky.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Sprint PCS, in collaboration with the Erlanger and Independence police departments, has inaugurated the Sprint PCS Phone Call for Safety program. The program allows children to call two "school resource" police officers to privately report drug...

SmartMoney receives award for community development.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... SmartMoney Community Services and the city of Cincinnati received the President's Award for community development services, awarded by the 2000 Ohio Conference for Community Development. SmartMoney, based in Over-the-Rhine, works in partnership...

Union Institute establishes project to build nonprofit leaders.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Cincinnati-based Union Institute has established the "Changing Charity Project," an 18-month fellowship with the goal of infusing new leadership into the nonprofit sector. The program, which examines a variety of concerns faced by the...

Beech Acres to hold conference on parenting in November.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Beech Acres will host the second annual "For the Love of Kids," a conference on parenting, Nov. 4-5, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The first conference, held last year, drew more than 1,000 parents. The conference is being...

Local woman, nonprofit finalists for President's Service Awards.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A Cincinnati educator and a local nonprofit group were among the finalists for the President's Service Awards, the nation's highest honor for volunteer service. The local finalists were: Cleaster WhitehurstMims, who founded the Marva Collins...