Indianapolis Business Journal articles from October 2005

Indianapolis Business Journal archives from October 2005

Hip-deep in endorsements: Sony, Kraft deals help Manning reign as NFL advertising king.(National Football League, Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning )
October 3, 2005... With three newly inked endorsement deals, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is scoring faster and more often with corporate America than any other National Football League player, according to his handlers at Cleveland-based IMG...

M-Plan might be ready to deal: state's No. 2 health insurer talks merger with Ohio firm.(Medical Mutual of Ohio)
October 3, 2005... M-Plan Inc., Indiana's second-largest health insurer, has entered preliminary talks that could lead to a merger with Ohio's oldest medical insurer. A source familiar with the discussions said they have centered on merging M-Plan's...

New Citizens chief faces tough crowd: high gas prices, cranky industrial customers await Lykins.(Citizens Gas and Coke Utility)
October 3, 2005... For seven days each July, Carey Lykins hikes a leg over his Trek touring bike in hopes of conquering Iowa. The [Des Moines] Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is a grueling 471 miles between the Missouri and the Mississippi...

Insurer may be low on targets: WellPoint's latest megadeal could be last for a while.(WellPoint Inc. acquires WellChoice Inc. )
October 3, 2005... A lack of available targets may steer WellPoint Inc. away from its diet of multibillion-dollar acquisitions after it digests the latest purchase, New York-based Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurer WellChoice Inc. That, in turn, might slow the...

Texas group roaring for Indians stock: Lion Fund dangles 40-percent premium for ballclub's shares.
October 3, 2005... A San Antonio-based hedge fund's public solicitation of Indianapolis Indians stock is akin to a hostile takeover attempt, industry observers said. It also brings into question the succession plan of the Indians' 72-year-old chairman, Max...

Is exec a fraud or just bad at business? A jury will decide.(James T. O'Neal Jr. accused of money laundering, and mail fraud)
October 3, 2005... Forget Disneyworld. The real excitement in Orlando, Fla., this fall likely will be in a federal courtroom, where Carmel native James T. O'Neal Jr. is scheduled to stand trial on charges he swindled millions of dollars from the rich and famous,...

WellPoint company slapped over Medicare: AdminaStar Federal agrees to pay $6 million to resolve old fraud allegations.
October 3, 2005... A WellPoint Inc. subsidiary has agreed to pay $6 million to the federal government to resolve whistleblower accusations of rampant Medicare fraud over a seven-year span in the 1990s. AdminaStar Federal altered claims information,...

Utility fund-raising effort takes heat for opt-out strategy: critics say customers should be asked if they want to contribute to Operation Round Up--or any charity.(electric utilities round ups bills to contribute for a charity)
October 3, 2005... The concept is a noble one: By rounding their bills up to the nearest dollar, utility customers can turn pennies into a philanthropic windfall for a worthy cause. Indeed, Operation Round Up programs at nearly 250 electric cooperatives...

Builders finding ways to go condo under $200K: there's a ready market for entry-level housing downtown.
October 3, 2005... Building bargain housing downtown isn't easy. Ask Doug Jones, a principal in JLM Development, which is wrapping up its first downtown condominium project, a 26-unit community called Penn Square. Because they were working with multiple...

Power brings responsibility: acquisition spree gives WellPoint muscle to help fix broken system.(WellPoint Inc. to acquire WellChoice Inc.)
October 3, 2005... Indianapolis has been on the losing end of so many corporate mergers in recent years that it's great to see WellPoint Inc. snap up health insurer after health insurer and become a powerhouse in its industry. Under the latest deal,...

Health care close to implosion?(health care policy)
October 3, 2005... The rash of specialty-hospital construction in the suburbs is a gold rush, driven more by greed than the desire to satisfy an unmet need. The fact that 45 million people in America are without health insurance is a deplorable national...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
October 3, 2005... * The date of a tornado referenced in a page 3A story last week was incorrect. The correct date was Sept. 20, 2002. * Gene Tempel's name was misspelled on page 24A of last week's Focus section and the name of the organization he works for...

Is our child care 'industry' up to snuff?.(Column)
October 3, 2005... Recently, I have been part of a study for the Indiana Child Care Fund. It has been a learning experience. The first thing I learned is that virtually nothing is known about child care. We do not really know how many child care facilities...

Listen to a tale of two Indys.(stadium-convention center's economic impact analysis)
October 3, 2005... "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." That is the opening sentence in the Charles Dickens novel, "A Tale of Two Cities." The book is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, a revolution where the poor and...

Indy attitude needs to be 'we,' not 'me'.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... As a land-use planning consultant, I want to applaud [Chris Katterjohn's Sept. 19 column] for bringing important issues of land-use planning to the table. This issue threatens the pride in the land which all Hoosiers hold dear and our...

Wanted: skilled U.S. technology workers.(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... In the 1990s, training in computer science was seen as a sure-fire route to success. Tales of dot-com wealth gave the industry an aura of glamour, while the more pragmatic student recognized that well-paying technical positions in the field...

Puzzles are no way to find good workers.(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... Great job on [Tim Altom's Sept. 19 column]. After my honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy about 15 years ago, I'm thankful for my first job interview for an electrician position. Rather than ask for my union card or make me take a logic test,...

Thanks to Hetrick for sharing his life.(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... As a faithful longtime reader of IBJ, I look forward each week to [Bruce Hettick's] column. As your column is always near the back page, to me, it's sort of like the fruit filling in the middle of a breakfast danish--eat around the perimeter,...

Smulyan adds to his bull pen.(Emmis Communications Corp.'s Jeff Smulyan appoints Charles Mann and Calvin Hill )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Two days after a Washington Post columnist called him a shallow-pocketed carpetbagger, Emmis Communications Corp. Chairman Jeff Smulyan brought more firepower to his effort to buy Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals. Smulyan...

Employers expect to hire less.(Indianapolis-area employers )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Indianapolis-area employers still expect to hire during the fourth quarter, although at a less robust rate than the previous quarter. Twenty-three percent of area companies interviewed for the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey said they...

Public invited to join debate over proposed police merger.(Indianapolis Police Department merger with Marion County Sheriff's Department)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Members of the public who want to participate in the debate over whether to merge the Indianapolis Police Department with the Marion County Sheriff's Department have three opportunities left. Mayor Bart Peterson, a Democrat, proposed the...

Web site provides new guide for health resources in Indiana.(INHealthConnect website)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... A new Internet database that offers county listings of medical resources debuted last month, thanks to librarians at the IU School of Medicine's Ruth Lilly Medical Library. INHealthConnect provides information on local medical specialists,...

Standard Life can sell again in the Sunshine State.(Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana, Indiana)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Florida regulators gave Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana permission to resume selling new business in their state last month, ending a two-year lapse caused by concerns about the insurer's capital and surplus levels. Regulators...

Three firms rank among best.(Barnes and Thornburg, Ice Miller Donadio and Ryan and Baker and Daniels)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The three largest law firms in the city made The American Lawyer's annual list of the nation's top 200 practices. Barnes & Thornburg LLP ranked 167th, followed by Ice Miller at 187th and Baker & Daniels at 192nd. New York City's Debevoise...

Market Square sales center reopens with new name, designs.(One Market Square)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... A life-size condo unit is among changes made to the sales center for One Market Square, the tower planned for the former site of Market Square Arena. The center at 251 E. Ohio St. was to open Oct. 1 with an invitation-only preview from 9...

New bookstore to have Hoosier focus on books, music.(Indiana Authors Bookstore)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Locally based New Century Publishing is putting finishing touches on the Indiana Authors Bookstore at 36 E. Maryland St. for an opening later this month. The store will sell works by Indiana authors and musicians past and present, said...

Marsh Supermarkets.(smoking ban)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Marsh Supermarkets plans to ban smoking in the non-public areas of its 69 stores in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio as of Oct. 15. A leading anti-smoking advocate applauds the ban, saying she hopes Marsh's leadership will embolden other grocers...

Patrick gets P&G deal.(SPORTS)(Procter and Gamble Co.)(Danica Patrick)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick recently signed an endorsement deal with Procter & Gamble to endorse the company's Secret deodorant and body spray. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but racing industry insiders placed it in...

Katz Sapper & Miller LLP.(ACCOUNTING)(appointed Donna Niesen as manager)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Donna Niesen has been named manager, state and local tax services group, at Katz Sapper & Miller LLP.

BKD LLP.(ACCOUNTING)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... BKD LLP, Indianapolis office, has added the following accountants: audit: Ashley B. Buening, Candy P. Cheung, Christine R. Dickinson, Matthew J. Gootee, Christopher M. Kauffman, Bradley A. Wood, BKD Not-for-Profit & Government Group, and Ashley...

EchoPoint Media.(ADVERTISING/MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS)(promoted Erin Ballinger to media buyer)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Erin Ballinger has been promoted to media buyer at EchoPoint Media. David Sikma has been promoted to assistant media buyer.

Schmidt Associates.(ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN/ENGINEERING)(appointed Thomas G. Neff)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Thomas G. Neff has been named principal at Schmidt Associates. William J. Carnes has joined as an educational consultant.

Superior Environmental Corp.(ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN/ENGINEERING)(appointed Larry Scusa as senior project manager)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Larry Scusa has joined Superior Environmental Corp. as a senior project manager.

M. D. Wessler & Associates Inc.(ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN/ENGINEERING)(appointed Ryan Brauen as civil engineer and Samuel McGuire and Dean Zook as resident project representatives)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Ryan Brauen has joined M. D. Wessler & Associates Inc. as a civil engineer. Samuel McGuire and Dean Zook have joined as resident project representatives.

Goodwill Industries Foundation of Central Indiana Inc.(CIVIC/NOT-FOR-PROFITS)(appointed Linda Brimmer as first vice president and chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Linda Brimmer has been named first vice president and chief operating officer of the Goodwill Industries Foundation of Central Indiana Inc.

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation.(CIVIC/NOT-FOR-PROFITS)(appointed Dr. Shashank J. Dave as medical director )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Dr. Shashank J. Dave has joined the Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation as the medical director for the adult clinic.

National FFA Organization.(CIVIC/NOT-FOR-PROFITS)(appointed Ernie Gill)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Ernie Gill has been named the local program success team leader for the National FFA Organization.

AYS.(CIVIC/NOT-FOR-PROFITS)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... AYS has added the following new board members: Melanie Albright, Lee Hecht Harrison; Kenneth Hull, Speedway Schools; Cecelia Johnson-Powell, Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives; Kathleen Levine, Wyandotte Early Childhood Center;...

Geupel DeMars Hagerman.(CONSTRUCTION)(appointed Jeff Hagerman as president)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Jeff Hagerman has been promoted to president of Geupel DeMars Hagerman.

Woodley Farra Manion Portfolio Management.(FINANCE)(appointed Kyle M. Harlemert as associate portfolio manager )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Kyle M. Harlemert has joined Woodley Farra Manion Portfolio Management as associate portfolio manager and research analyst.

Principal Financial Group, Indiana Business Center.(FINANCE)(appointed John Blackman as regional managing director )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... John Blackman has been named regional managing director at the Principal Financial Group, Indiana Business Center.

State Stadium & Convention Building Authority.(GOVERNMENT)(appointed John Thompson)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... John Thompson, Thompson Distribution Co., has been named to the State Stadium & Convention Building Authority.

Bose McKinney & Evans LLP.(LAW)(appointed Dennis H. Otten)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Dennis H. Otten has joined the public finance and utility law groups as a partner at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP.

Ruppert & Schaefer PC.(LAW)(appointed Lainie A. Hurwitz )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Lainie A. Hurwitz has joined Ruppert & Schaefer PC.

LewisWagner.(LAW)(appointed Robert R. Foos Jr. and Shannon L. Logsdon)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Robert R. Foos Jr. has been named partner at LewisWagner, and Shannon L. Logsdon has been named an associate.

The Indiana Kidney Stone Institute.(PROFESSIONAL/TRADE)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The Indiana Kidney Stone Institute has named the following new directors: Julia Lacy, community volunteer; David Mann, Spring Mill Venture Partners; Ronald L. Meeuson, Bio-Crossroads; Mark C. Sherman, Benefit Consultants Indy; and Scott Willis,...

The Linder Co.(REAL ESTATE)(appointed Michael Cranfill as retail leasing associate )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Michael Cranfill has been named retail leasing associate at the The Linder Co.

Marcus & Millichap.(REAL ESTATE)(appointed Kahlil Kenneth Barnard as senior investment associate )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Kahlil Kenneth Barnard has been named senior investment associate at Marcus & Millichap.

Lauth Property Group.(REAL ESTATE)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Lauth Property Group has added the following: Corey A. Williams, manager, site engineering; Christine R. Kindred, Allison Lanier and Felicia Mathis, accountants; Missy Callis, administrative assistant, accounting; Natalie Nunn, administrative...

Century 21 Realty Group 1.(REAL ESTATE)(appointed Harry R. "Mac" McLaughlin Jr. as associate broker)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Harry R. "Mac" McLaughlin Jr. has joined Century 21 Realty Group 1 as an associate broker/realtor.

ProClad, Indianapolis office.(SERVICES)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... ProClad, Indianapolis office, has added the following: Steve Miller, director of construction; Phil Caito, estimator; David Smith, CAD designer; Brandi Greenwood, office administrator; and Bea White, controller.

Star Key Personnel Inc.(SERVICES)(appointed Richard G. Mullen as branch manager )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Richard G. Mullen has been named branch manager for Star Key Personnel Inc., Park 100 office.

Relocation Strategies Inc.(SERVICES)(appointed Hannah Huffman as project manager)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Hannah Huffman has joined Relocation Strategies Inc. as a project manager.

G & S Research.(SERVICES)(appointed Ryan Foxworthy as project manager)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Ryan Foxworthy has joined G & S Research as project manager, operations management department.

ICS Advantage, LLC.(TECHNOLOGY/TELECOMMUNICATIONS)(appointed Jay Cutler)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Jay Cutler has joined the ICS Advantage, LLC, Indianapolis office, networking services.

Old Dominion Freight Line Inc.'s 72 door Indianapolis, Indiana Service Center.(Gary W. Gullic promoted)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Gary W. Gullic has been promoted to city sales manager at Old Dominion Freight Line Inc.'s 72 door Indianapolis, Indiana Service Center.

Wheaton World Wide Moving.(Chuck Gillespie appointed)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Chuck Gillespie has been named head of the human resources department at Wheaton World Wide Moving.

Speaking of health care: local experts weigh in on rising costs, the uninsured and whether our current system needs an overhaul.(Panel Discussion)
October 3, 2005... Public health priorities, executive salaries and the "gold rush" of health care construction were among the topics tackled Sept. 21 in the latest installment of Indianapolis Business Journal's Power Breakfast Series. IBJ reporter Tom Murphy...

Coalition targets disparities in minority health care: group enlists CEOs to help it develop plan of action.(Indiana Minority Health Coalition)
October 3, 2005... Black people are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes than white people, less likely to engage in leisure activity and, on average, die five years earlier. Those statistics from the Centers for Disease Control provide motivation for a...

Expanding adult market might boost Strattera sales: Eli Lilly looks for rebound of struggling ADHD drug.(Eli Lilly and Co., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )
October 3, 2005... Sagging sales of Eli Lilly and Co.'s Strattera drug could get a lift from research that found prescriptions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are growing at a faster rate among adults than children. From 2000 to 2004, use of...

Parents banking on storage of umbilical cord blood: founder keeps research alive through Genesis Bank.(storing umbilical cord blood for the treatment of cancer)
October 3, 2005... Blood from the umbilical cord of a baby expected to be born in Indianapolis later this month will be collected after her birth and saved for her 5-year-old sister, who has been diagnosed with cancer. The stem cells extracted from the baby's...

Indianapolis-area hospitals (1).(Directory)
October 3, 2005... Indianapolis-Area Hospitals (1) (Ranked by 2004 avearge staffed beds) 2004 AVG.: STAFFED BEDS RANK HOSPITAL ...

Largest Indianapolis-area physician group practices.(Directory)
October 3, 2005... Largest Indianapolis-Area Physician Group Practices (Ranked by number of local physicians) LOCAL RANK PRACTICE PHYSICIANS...

Even after public dissing, analysts still too upbeat.(BULLS & GEARS)
October 3, 2005... Where can a retail investor go to get accurate recommendations and opinions on a stock? Back in the old, old days, an investor would call a stockbroker, also called a "customer's man," and get a copy of a research report. Only good clients...

How to make money in the bear-market minefield.(investing in stocks)
October 3, 2005... All year, you've been reading my description of what the end of a bull market looks like. Major indexes move higher but fewer and fewer stocks participate in the rally. A case in point: On Sept. 9, the S&P 500 came within two points of its...

Lack of fiscal discipline casts cloud over future.(ECONOMIC ANALYSIS)(Column)
October 3, 2005... There's been a resurgence of interest in the founding fathers of our country, judging from the best-seller lists. As some have written, not all those men we idolize today as founders of our great democracy were equally excited about the...

Biomet Inc.(PROXY CORNER)
October 3, 2005... Biomet Inc., 56 E. Bell Drive, Warsaw, 46582 (www.biomet.com) and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market products used primarily by orthopedic medical specialists in both surgical and non-surgical therapy. For the quarter ended Aug....

Don't let unclear language doom your next project.(RETURN ON TECHNOLOGY)(Webinar)
October 3, 2005... At a meeting the other day, an acquaintance shared a story about getting a "Webinar" together for his organization. A Webinar is like a seminar, only performed entirely online. The presenter is usually seen in a small, jerky video, but often...

Pilots OK 3-year ATA Airlines contract.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... ATA Airlines Inc. said Sept. 28 that its pilots approved a three-year labor agreement, boosting the company's chances of securing the $100 million it needs from outside investors to emerge from bankruptcy court. The approval averts the...

WellPoint to buy WellChoice for $6.5B.(IBJ daily)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Locally based WellPoint Inc. announced Sept. 27 it has agreed to acquire WellChoice Inc., the largest health insurer in New York, for $6.5 billion in cash and stock. WellPoint, the nation's largest health insurer, expects to save at least...

Melina Kennedy leaves mayor's office.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Democrat Melina Kennedy has stepped down as deputy mayor of Indianapolis, a move that may signal she's moving ahead with plans to run for Marion County prosecutor in 2006. Kennedy, who couldn't be reached for comment, has been widely...

Conseco cuts 100 full-timers.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Carmel-based Conseco Inc. eliminated about 100 full-time jobs Sept. 20 in an effort to control costs, according to spokesman Jim Rosensteele. An undisclosed number of contract positions were also eliminated. The jobs were spread across...

Speedway executive resigns.(Indy Racing League's Ken Ungar resigned)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The Indy Racing League announced Sept. 27 that Ken Ungar has decided to leave the League's front office after this year's IRL IndyCar season in October. It wasn't immediately clear why Ungar is leaving. Ungar, senior vice president of business...

Anthem Mortgage Corp.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Anthem Mortgage Corp. has opened at 8450 Westfield Blvd., Suite 200. Phone: 337-0900; fax: 339-1900; www.anthemmortgagecorp.com.

Schakolad Chocolate Factory Store.(Daniel Hersey )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Daniel Hersey has opened Schakolad Chocolate Factory Store at Trader's Point Center at 6010 W. 86th St., # 136. Store hours are Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, contact www.schakolad.com.

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 3, 2005... Business-related calendar items should be submitted two weeks before event date. Contact bmaurer@ibj.com. Oct. 3, 7-8:30 a.m.: Business & Professional Exchange, Career Networking, North chapter, St. Luke's United Methodist Church,...

Company hammered through tough years: packing firm laid foundation for future growth.(Express Packing Inc. )(Company Profile)
October 3, 2005... Starting your own business isn't all it's cracked up to be--at least at first. "It sounds exciting, but the challenges were almost more than we could fathom," said John Owens, co-founder of Indianapolis-based Express Packing Inc. "You end...

Fund raising.(events)
October 3, 2005... Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana is selling various nuts through Oct. 8 for a pre-Thanksgiving delivery. Contact 769-6386 or spayneuterservices.org. Crisis Pregnancy Center to benefit from its Walk for Life on Oct. 8 beginning at 8 a.m....

Grants.(grants for charitable organizations, Efroymson Fund Awards)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Logical Semantics Inc. will receive two National Institutes of Health grants totaling $200,000 for research in advanced speech recognition and data mining technologies. 24 charitable organizations are to receive $541,249 from Efroymson...

In recognition.(Bands of America receives awards)(WIBC-AM 1070 receives Marconi Awards)(Ron D. Carpenter receives Robert E. Pollitt Memorial Award)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Ron D. Carpenter received the Robert E. Pollitt Memorial Award in recognition of his commitment to excellence in care and treatment of children in a residential setting. Indianapolis was named one of the 100 best communities for young...

Patents.(RECORDS)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... From the Aug. 2, 2005, Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Virgil E. Stanley, Indianapolis Costume No. 6,922,848 From the Aug. 9, 2005, Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ...

Planning and zoning.(building and construction permits)
October 3, 2005... Planning and zoning petitions approved by the Indianapolis-Marion County Metropolitan Development Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals Request: Clarian Health Partners, by Roger Kilmer, for University Quarter-One Approval at 550...

How big-ticket amenities deliver long-term ROI.(NOTIONS)(Column)
October 3, 2005... Fourteen years ago this month, my new bride and I loaded our belongings onto a moving van in Bloomfield, Conn. We packed our cats, suitcases and a few heirlooms into our cars, and pulled away from our little apartment bound for a place called...

Serving others through missionary work is family affair.(Panama Christian Evangelism)
October 3, 2005... Terrorism expert Peter Beefing, 45, is used to spreading the word about emergency preparedness in his many consulting duties with business and government. But away from the job, he, his wife, Shokrina, and daughter Amanda spread God's word...