Providence Business News articles from November 2000

Providence Business News archives from November 2000

Green traffic could double.(smaller airports will get busier, according to report)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... An anticipated increase in air travel will have a significant impact on the nation's secondary airports, T.F. Green included, according to a specialist in airport finance. "Air travel is expected to double in the next 15 years," said...

Alternative school offers hope.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Nakia, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, sits quietly talking about her dream that someday she will have a career as a cosmetologist. It's a dream, she says she's had for a long time, but only now does it appear that there's even a glimmer...

'Tis the season -- to shoplift!
November 27, 2000... This may be the best of times to be a thief. More specifically, a shop lifter. Retailers receive the largest shipments of their year between Nov. 15 and Dec. 1, and overstocked stores are often easy targets, said John Gounaris,...

Speaker releases audit of state retirement system.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... A report containing the audited financial statements of the State of Rhode Island Employees' Retirement System was released last week by Speaker of the House John B. Harwood, chairman of the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Legislative...

Verizon Corp. awarded as 'good corporate citizen'.(Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... The Verizon Corporation has received the Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation Award for 2000 in recognition of its commitment to improving quality of life in Rhode Island communities and for the universal spirit of giving and volunteerism...

New Senate leader Irons sets priorities.
November 27, 2000... Promising to work on several fronts to promote economic development initiatives, newly elected Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons outlined his priorities to business leaders and state officials at a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce...

Window displays still luring the customers.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... In an age when consumers might assume "window shopping" to mean looking for a new desktop pattern for their PC computers, bricks and mortar shop owners know a more traditional meaning. It's not flashing advertisements, or Web site...

EXECUTIVE POLL.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... The Providence Business News/Johnson & Wales executive poll is a weekly survey of 70 top business leaders throughout the state, representing small and large companies in a variety of industries and businesses. The state Economic...

Hiring people of color: good business and morality.(Interview)
November 27, 2000... Name: James Vincent Age: 49 Position: President of the Urban League and Manager of Constituent Advocacy at Rhode Island Housing. Background: Vincent has recently been elected to his second term at the Urban League and has been...

EPA offers new index of environmental awareness.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Energy efficiency is, good for the environment and with costs higher and more volatile than ever, it also saves businesses money -- still, these factors don't always do enough to entice companies to take energy management seriously. But...

Real estate agents striving for standards.(trying to get an industry to the next level)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... There are many hours of study behind the various combinations of letters that often follow a worthy Realtor's name. Sharon Steele, ABR CRS, GRI, REEA, is immediate past president of the Providence Board of Realtors, president elect of the...

Barry Manilow hit finds its way to PPAC stage.(composer's work turns into a theater piece)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... It's not often ten that a song takes control of its composers, wending its' way through the musical charts, to television, Las Vegas, London and finally a nationwide Technicolor tour of the continent. But that's just what happened with...

Novare sustains its reputation while remaking itself.(profile of an architectural company)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Company: Novare Engineers Inc. Location: 39 Pike Street, Providence Owner: William J. Schlageter Type of Business: Engineering firm Employees: 24 Year founded: 1992 Annual revenues: Between $2.5 million and $3...

Neuroscan Medical Systems, Unetixs sign agreement.(medical equipment and supplies companies)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Neuroscan Medical Systems, a division of Neuroscoft Inc. and Unetixs, Inc. of North Kingstown have agreed to distribute products via a shared sales representative network and jointly market their respective products through direct mail,...

Atmosphere changing for professional women.(many are leaving corporate America to start ventures on their own)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Members of the Boston Club, an organization of 500 senior professional and executive women is seeing a trend in their organization that mirrors what's happening around the country. According to the organization, women who have crashed through...

For Ed, Valley School was his chance to live.
November 27, 2000... For Ed Lewis life didn't hold out very much hope. He spent most of his childhood in a series of group homes, separated at nine from his brother and sister. At 16 he was expelled from Hope High School over an incident he said began with a...

Progress and technology not necessarily consistent.(decline of customer service and business communication levels due to technology dependency)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... I was on a conference call this morning with a Fortune 25 high tech company... and the call was abruptly terminated at three different times, forcing people from both coasts of the U.S. and Italy to call back again and again. A week ago, a...

Polaroid selling Waltham property.(camera manufacturer)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... CAMBRIDGE -- Polaroid Corp. is putting 56-acre property in Waltham up for sale in an effort to improve its financial position. A company spokesman said the company had decided to sell the distinctive property designed by LM. Pei over-looking...

SmarterKids.com to merge with Earlychildhood.com.(web sites unite)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... NEEDHAM -- SmarterKids.com, online seller of educational toys, announced it would merge with Earlychildhood.com LLC, a private manufacturer and direct marketer. Terms of the merger were not disclosed. The Boston Globe reported SmarterKids'...

Global telecommunications station set in Lynn.(360 Networks sets up shop in Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... LYNN -- A British Columbia telecommunications company; 36O Networks has opened its trans-Atlantic cable landing station in this city. The station, which will begin service this winter, will link Boston directly with Halifax, Nova Scotia,...

B.F.Goodrich buying Raytheon's electro-optical unit.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... LEXINGTON -- B.F.Goodrich Co. announced that it was acquiring the electro-optical systems unit of the Raytheon Co. Terms, of the acquisition were not disclosed. Goodrich, a Charlotte, N.C.- based supplier of aerospace supplies and services...

Raytheon's new business jet's debut delayed.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... LEXINGTON -- The debut of Raytheon Co.'s new Premier I business jet has been delayed, the company announced, without disclosing the reason for the de lay, although a company spokesman said it was convinced Federal Aviation Administration...

Gillette announces cost cutting.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... EAST BOSTON -- Gillette Co. announced that it was stepping up its cost cutting of its manufacturing processes next year in an effort to boost its earnings ratio. The manufacturer of razors, toiletries and batteries said it was aiming at a 6...

Boston University receives $5 million grant.(from Lucent Technologies Incorporated)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... BOSTON -- Lucent Technologies has awarded Boston University School of Management $5 million as part of its new $10 million global research program. The program will examine the ways advanced mobile communications networks can change the lives...

Agreement signed for redevelopment of Assembly Square.(redevelopment of shopping centre in Somerville, Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... SOMERVILLE -- After a year and a half of wrangling over proposals to redevelop the Assembly Square Mall, the city's mayor and the site's owners have agreed to a mixed-use plan that will combine an office building, a 125-room hotel, a...

J. Baker getting out of shoe business.
November 27, 2000... CANTON -- J. Baker, Inc, has agreed to sell its ailing shoe business to Footstar, Inc, of New Jersey for $58 million, the company announced. The Boston Globe reported that most of J. Baker's 3,000 employees in the footwear division will be...

State budget surplus projected.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE -- The State Budget Office is predicting a first quarter surplus of $41.1 million, Gov. Lincoln Almond announced. Additional revenues of $100.2 million are predicted, led by additional tax returns, sales and income, offset by $53.5...

Blackstone, Newport caterers merge.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE -- Blackstone Caterers and Gatehouse Catering Company have merged, although each of the companies will retain its own identity. Blackstone Caterers, located at 43 Memorial Boulevard in Newport, was founded in 1945 and is known...

Investor, advisor indicted on 51 counts.(Todd J. LaScola accused of embezzlement)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE - Todd J. LaScola, an investment advisor associated with two firms, CPI Investment Management, Inc. and CPA Advisors Network, has been indicted by a federal and jury on 55 counts alleging embezzlement, taking illegal commissions,...

URI closing in on goal for Ballentine Hall.(The University of Rhode Island fund raising almost done)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... KINGSTON -- The University of Rhode Island announced that its College of Business Administration was within $50,000 of reaching its fund-raising goal of $5.6 million in private contributions for the reconstruction of Ballentine Hall. The...

Brown & Sharpe agrees to sell assets to Swedish company.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... NORTH KINOSTOWN - Brown & Sharpe, with its roots deeply imbedded in Rhode Island's industrial history, has agreed to sell its assets to Hexagon AB of Sweden. Among the assets included in the sale is the company's name, which will endure under...

AG opens consumer satellite office in Woonsocket.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE - The Consumer Protection Unit of the Rhode Island Attorney General's office has opened a satellite office, its first such office, in Woonsocket. Located in the Senior Citizens Center in that city, the office is staffed by CPU...

EDC Board of Directors approves Qnonset/Davisville proposal.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE - The Economic Development Corporation's Board of Directors last week endorsed its consultants' vision statement for Quonset Point/ Davisville, including building a container port at Quonset. A subcommittee, in a close vote, had...

Dallas firm to buy restaurants, sites from NE Restaurant Co.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... DALLAS. Tex. -- Brinkers International, Inc., owners of the Chili's Grill and Bar chain announced that it will buy all of NE Restaurant Co.'s 47 restaurants plus development rights for $93 million. The purchase involves 40 Chili's and seven...

Yes, Virginia, Santa might bring Mutual Funds -- too.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... NEW YORK -- Dear Santa Claus: My name is Virginia, and I am eight years old. Some of my friends say you are going to give us mutual fund shares this year instead of toys. Papa says, "If you see it on Bloomberg News, it is so."...

Raytheon.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Raytheon Company Raytheon Company, which is among Rhode Island's largest employers. (about 1,500) at its plant in Portsmouth, provides products and services in the areas of defense and commercial electronics and special mission aircraft....

Rhode Island to join California, others to cut diesel pollution.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Thirteen states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, plan to follow California's lead and require new diesel truck and bus engines to meet strict pollution controls by 2005, two years before federal...

A cooperative approach.(Senate seantor William V. Irons works the crowds)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... We hope that small business owners will take newly elected Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons up on his challenge -- and invite members of the General Assembly to visit their places of business. In a recent speech to the Greater...

We're #1, but we still have much to do.(Providence, Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... The number one city on the East Coast in which to live -- Providence, selected by Money Magazine after a bit of a lobbying by the city's number one cheerleader, Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. At a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce...

Make your mark memorable with a touch of creativity.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... A couple of years ago, I was sitting at the Hospitality Convention in Chicago waiting for a crowded session to start. Suddenly, I heard something whiz over my head. Seconds later, I heard it whistling back in the other direction. Wait a...

Correspondence/Darlene Trew Crist.(getting feedback about building a port at Quonset Point, Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Responsible development at Quonset Point Contrary to a commonly held perception, residents of North Kingstown are not unilaterally opposed to all development at Quonset Point. We only ask that development that occurs there makes sense, is...

Boston official questions R.I. port prospects.(Rhode Island might find it difficult to build new facilities)
November 27, 2000... Only days after a major international shipper told the Massachusetts Port Authority that its vessels will no longer call on the Port of Boston, the port director questioned the viability of a container port at Quonset Point/Davisville. ...

Riding on the railroad is the way to go to Boston.(it would help commuters avoid daily gridlock)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... State officials say the best way to avoid what can be best termed as gridlock - that commute from Providence to Boston each morning - is to take the train. In July the Rhode Island Department of Transportation instituted three more trips...

Close, small-town atmosphere in R.I. attracts Boston transfers.
November 27, 2000... Andy Hodgkin, a partner at the international law firm Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer, has an analogy to describe the difference between working in Providence and Boston. "Down here is like driving a sports car," Hodgkin said, while...

Business Notes.(promotions and hirings)
November 27, 2000... ACCOUNTING Kevin Higgins has been promoted to senior manager in the audit department of Ernst & Young LLP. He joined the audit department as an intern in 1990 and on a full-time basis in 1992. Higgins is a graduate of Providence...

Fidelity supports URI's Fine Arts galleries.(financial services company)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Fidelity Investments might know the value of stocks and bonds, but it seems they also know a thing or two about the value of art. The company has 200 contemporary works of original art by Rhode Island artists at its Smithfield offices....

Teens spend less time online than adults.(advertisers must struggle harder to get the attention of prospective shoppers)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Online advertisers must work extra hard to get their attention Contrary to the common belief that teenagers control use of the home computer, a major online research firm has found they actually spend far less time online than adults do....

Gadgets as gifts for a high tech holiday.(robot from Sony)
November 27, 2000... A few high tech gift ideas just in time for the upcoming holiday season. Sony AIBO ERS-210 Robot $1,590 AIBO Entertainment Robot is a totally new kind of robot. Autonomous and sensitive to its environment, it's able to learn and...

Firewalls not enough.(deficiencies in administration of firewalls and computer crime prevention)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Mention the words network security and most people will immediately respond, "I have a firewall." But according to some industry experts that's just not enough. A firewall system can be a router, a personal computer or a host, set up...

A gathering of experience makes a company work.(Merill Clark)
November 27, 2000... Merrill Clark offers varied skills to its many clients Company: Merrill Clark Location: Chapman Street, Providence Owners: Bob Clark and Dave Merrill; the balance is owned by employees and outside investors Employees: 50 ...

Domain name disputes in the land of cybersquatting, cyberpiracy.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... The advent of the Internet created new possibilities for business owners. Small and large business owners alike now realize the importance of building a Web site at a domain address that reflects their well-known name or brand. However, many...

Web site design, building can sorely test companies.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Web designers may face the greatest challenge when designing their own Web site. And some of these companies even decide that it makes more sense to have somebody else do it. A few months ago Providence advertising agency and interactive,...

Cox brings fiber optic technology to Quonset Point.(Cox Communications)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... CRANSTON -- Cox Business Services, a division of Cox Communications, plans to be the first telecommunications provider to deploy state-of-the-art broadband capabilities to the Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park. The company plans...

ICSL completes second phase of drug therapy.(Evaluation)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE -- ICSL Clinical Studies, a division of Innovative Clinical Solutions, Ltd., has completed a Phase II clinical trial for Symbollon Corporation's patented drug, IoGen. According to a company press release, "...this multi-center...

Technical education focus of task force.(better preparation for students is recommended)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... NEWPORT -- At a recent state Department of Education "High School Summit" held in the City by the Sea, Gov. Lincoln Almond highlighted a report produced by his Career and Technical Education Task Force. The recommendations of the task...

SEA CORP receives Tibbets Award.(for achievements in the Small Business Research program)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... MIDDLETOWN -- SEA CORP was among sixty-three small business winners from 47 states and the District of Columbia receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Tibbetts Award for their achievements in the Small Business Innovation...

Log On America losses.(retail company on the red)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... PROVIDENCE -- Log on America reported a net loss for its third quarter of $7.03 million, compared with $1.56 million for the same period a year ago. The loss per share was 89 cents for the quarter, compared with a net loss of 18 cents per...

APC at home with Microsoft.(American Power Conversion products to be included in model house)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... WEST KINGSTON -- American Power Conversion said last week that Microsoft has included APC's award-winning products as part of the Microsoft Home in New York City. The home, an 8,000 square-foot loft located in New York City's Tribeca...

Political chaos takes back seat to Christmas.
November 27, 2000... WALTHAM, Mass.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)-- It appears Web users left the jeers of Indecision 2000 briefly this week, in search of holiday cheer, pushing Christmas to number one on the list, bumping Election 2000 to number two. While Christmas...

West Warwick company gets award in San Diego.(FreeRide Voice awarded for quality products)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... West Warwick-based e-tel corporation's FreeRide Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone was chosen as best of show at the recent Internet Telephony Conference & Expo in San Diego. Award winners were chosen by a panel of judges...

Infinite group signs private equity agreement.(contract with Cookfield Holdings, Ltd, investment fund company)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Warwick-based Infinite Group, Inc., has entered into a three-year private equity agreement with Cookfield Holdings, Ltd., a private investment fund -- pursuant to which CHF is obligated to purchase, subject to the fulfillment of specified...

Nestor product unveiled in Australia, New Zealand.(software used to monitor banking operations)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... The National Australia Bank is using PRISM Credit, developed by Providence-based Nestor, Inc., to monitor ATM and POS transactions for credit card fraud at its operations in Australia and New Zealand. According to George Beatty, general...

UNICOM publishes research on IT managers in R.I., Mass.(they get blamed for almost everything that goes wrong in a company system)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... UNICOM, a Woonsocket-based computer technology company, used the Nov. 14 ITEC show at the Rhode Island Convention Center as a backdrop to release the results of an independent study it commissioned of IT managers in Rhode Island and...

Thomson Learning unit donates sum to URI for business Web studies.(University of Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... South-Western, a Cincinnati-based division of Thomson Learning and leading publisher of business materials for higher education, has donated an undisclosed sum to the University of Rhode Island's College of Business Administration -- so the...

SEC sues four over illegal sale of systems of excellence stock.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Federal authorities accused four Massachusetts residents of reaping more than $7.5 million as beneficiaries of "a massive fraud" involving Internet stock touting and sale of unregistered securities. The...

As our digital future looms, our knowledge is elusive.(difficult things to forecast)
November 27, 2000... Anticipating the future on any sizable scale usually starts with the present. What are the major trends right now? How did they evolve, and where do they seem to be heading? What patterns do they form? These questions outline a sensible...

HIGH TECH NOTES.(promotions and hirings)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2000... Mark Scott has been appointed vice president, general manager at Cox Business Services, New England. His responsibilities will include the sales, support, service delivery, service assurance and overall customer satisfaction for Cox Business...

Rhode Island Stock Watch.
November 27, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Directors' Fees For Area Public Companies.
November 27, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Area's Fastest Growing High Technology Companies.
November 27, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

City core bids for tax incentives.(to encourage urban development in Providence, Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... Aspecial tax incentive proposal designed to encourage the rehabilitation of vacant downtown buildings - and increase the number of people living downtown -- appears to be moving closer to a Providence City Council vote. And if city...

Christmas Carol has a generous Scrooge.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... This is the kind of Christmas story that even Ebenezer Scrooge- the before transformation Scrooge - would smile at. Bah Humbug? Not at all. After all, when someone can generate more than a million dollars in revenue over a few week period...

Pawtucket joins revival mode.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... Visitors -- even longtime Rhode Islanders -- are often shocked to find that there's a lot more to Pawtucket than old, vacant mill buildings, or even the historic Slater Mill. "That's one of the problems we have in Pawtucket," is the...

EDC, Quonset Management Corp. to vote on vision statement.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... Members of the boards of the joint subcommittees of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and the Quonset Davisville Corporation have reviewed Public comment gathered thus far concerning the draft vision statement prepared for the...

Landlord faces penalties related to lead paint.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... A Kent County Superior Court justice has ruled a Warwick landlord in contempt of court for failing to comply with a July 21,2000 order directing him to abate lead hazards from his rental property at 72 Blackburn Street, Warwick. Justice...

Hispanic Americans are chamber's focus.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... The idea of starting a Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce in Rhode Island isn't a new one, but for some in the state's business community there is no better lime than now to make it a success. Raymond Guzman, executive director of the...

Traffic still rising at Green.(T. F. Green Airport)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... According to statistics released last week by the R.I. Airport Corporation, traffic at T.F. Green Airport was up last month from a year ago. In total, 258,307 passengers boarded flights at T.F. Green last month, compared to 242,573...

Slater Centers finance growth, inspire hope for biotech.
November 20, 2000... Name: David J. Livingston Position: Executive director, Slater Center for Biomedical Technology Background: Appointed executive director of the Slater Center in April 2000. Previously he was president and CEO of Praelux, a...

Recruiting, retaining a high tech priority.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... "Today's Technology Issues: What Keeps You Up at Night?," Itec's third annual CIO Roundtable, attempted to address the topics weighing most heavily on the minds of area computer. information officers, CIOs. Session participants took...

Agency predicts slightly more jobs for Providence in next quarter.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... Manpower Temporary Services is predicting modest job gains for the Providence market in the first quarter of 2001. "In our survey of hiring intentions for the January, February, March period, 20 percent of firms queried plan staffing...

Simple tasks can bolster your bottom line.(energy conservation)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... How many watts do the computers in your office use when your company's shut down for the day? Should you know? Should you care? As higher energy rates take precedence in the minds of consumers, Steven Rosenstock, manager of electric...

Programmable thermostats should save you money.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2000... The Alliance to Save Energy offers these basic tips for both homes and businesses to cut energy bills this winter: * Since heating accounts for the biggest chunk of winter energy bills, make sure your furnace receives a professional...

Despite fewer accidents, damage claims increase.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 20, 2000... The number of auto accidents in the United States has decreased significantly since 1980 -- falling by 17 percent when measured by property-damage claims. But during that same period, according to a recent study by the Pennsylvania-based...

Small-business optimism slips as prices rise.(effects of economic slow-down on small businesses)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 20, 2000... The economy is beginning to slow, according to a new report released by the National Federation of Independent Business's Education Foundation. The latest Small Business Economic Report released by the NFIB's Education Foundation shows...