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In the First Quarter Banking Profilee issued bythe , the 199 financial institutions basedx in Kentucky posted a returh on average of 0.9 percent in first quarter of 2009. Only seven states had bankx that weremore profitable, according the KDFI release: North at 1.48 percent; Colorado at 1.44 Hawaii at 1.38 percent; Montans at 1.25 percent: Oklahoma at 1.17 West Virginia at 1.02 percent and New York at 0.99 Historically, a return on average assets of 1 percent is consideree a benchmark for a profitable bank. Below one percentg usually means the bank posted a The average return nationally on average assets for the firsty quarterwas 0.
22 including banks in the Districg of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with some states postingg low or negative returns.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - The Business Review (Albany):
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is packing up this summer at thediscount retailer’se headquarters and four other distribution facilitiese after the merchant opted to not renews a logistics contract that expires in July. The Reading, Pa.-based Penske said 186 including 53in Columbus, could be affected when its contrac t with Columbus-based Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) expires July 31. Penskes spokesman Randy Ryerson said the company has workerd with the retailersince 1991. The 1,300-storse Big Lots has chosen a new third-party logistics provider to continur the warehousing and distributiomn work that Penske performed atthe retailer’e Phillipi Road headquarters and its distribution centersd in Tremont, Pa; Ala.
; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Okla. Timothy Big Lots’ vice president of strategic planninyg andinvestor relations, said more than a dozeh carriers bid for the He declined to disclose the companh Big Lots selected to succeed Penske. Big Lots and Pensk e representativessaid they’re working with truck drivers lookingf to continue work undefr the new logistics provider. Johnson said the compant met with workers over the weekend to introduces thenew contractor. In the event that some workersware cut, Ryerson said privately held Penskw will work with the state “tk make sure employees are aware of differeng services.
” Penske employs about 20,0090 workers worldwide. Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractoe after thelatest five-year contract with Johnson said, “a lot has changex in transportation in the past five years. We owed it to our associates and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handlewoutbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contractt comes less than a year afte Penske was replaced at a warehouss in Lockbourne. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the facility, wherd Penske had employed 146 Penske has 400 logisticscenters worldwide. Its Central Ohio operation s include a number of distribution and warehousingv facilities inthe region.
is packing up this summer at thediscount retailer’se headquarters and four other distribution facilitiese after the merchant opted to not renews a logistics contract that expires in July. The Reading, Pa.-based Penske said 186 including 53in Columbus, could be affected when its contrac t with Columbus-based Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) expires July 31. Penskes spokesman Randy Ryerson said the company has workerd with the retailersince 1991. The 1,300-storse Big Lots has chosen a new third-party logistics provider to continur the warehousing and distributiomn work that Penske performed atthe retailer’e Phillipi Road headquarters and its distribution centersd in Tremont, Pa; Ala.
; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Okla. Timothy Big Lots’ vice president of strategic planninyg andinvestor relations, said more than a dozeh carriers bid for the He declined to disclose the companh Big Lots selected to succeed Penske. Big Lots and Pensk e representativessaid they’re working with truck drivers lookingf to continue work undefr the new logistics provider. Johnson said the compant met with workers over the weekend to introduces thenew contractor. In the event that some workersware cut, Ryerson said privately held Penskw will work with the state “tk make sure employees are aware of differeng services.
” Penske employs about 20,0090 workers worldwide. Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractoe after thelatest five-year contract with Johnson said, “a lot has changex in transportation in the past five years. We owed it to our associates and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handlewoutbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contractt comes less than a year afte Penske was replaced at a warehouss in Lockbourne. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the facility, wherd Penske had employed 146 Penske has 400 logisticscenters worldwide. Its Central Ohio operation s include a number of distribution and warehousingv facilities inthe region.
Monday, May 28, 2012
St. Louis men admit to mortgage fraud scheme - Kansas City Business Journal:
authors-morphology.blogspot.com
Russell Todd McBride, of Creve and Robert Wrolstad, of O’Fallon, were charged in a 34-count Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Reap said McBride was an operatorof , which had offices locatef in Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis Countyt and elsewhere. Wrolstad worked with McBridw and for Century Mortgage and helpeds close real estate transactions and work with title companies. The scheme, which occurred from at leastg July 2005 and continued throughNovember 2006, involved investor s recruited by McBride and Wrolstad purchasinhg real estate primarily located in Sikeston.
The ownersa of the real estat would sell the propertiews at or near fair market value to investors recruited by and known to McBride and Wrolstad but the investorsz paid prices significantly greater than the actual selling price received by the sellersx forthe properties, according to the The investors would purchase the property at a fraudulenft and overvalued price by obtaining loans to purchasr the property. McBride and Wrolstad obtainee appraisals, which significantly overvaluedthe properties, which enabled them to receiver inflated loan proceeds despite having no interest in the conveyedr real estate, the indictment alleges.
In one case a purchaser paid $66,00 0 for a property that the seller sold for andin another, the purchaser paid $54,000 for propertg that the seller sold for $15,000, accordint to the indictment. McBride and Wrolstads pleaded guilty to one countr of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail 12 counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of mail In addition, McBride pleaded guilty to six count of money laundering, and Wrolstad pled guilty to three countxs of money laundering. Each coun of wire fraud and mail fraud carries a maximumm sentence of 20 years imprisonment anda $250,0000 fine; each count of money launderinvg carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,00o0 fine.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum punishmentf of 20 years imprisonment anda $250,000 Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17 for Wrolstaed and Aug.18 for McBride.
Russell Todd McBride, of Creve and Robert Wrolstad, of O’Fallon, were charged in a 34-count Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Reap said McBride was an operatorof , which had offices locatef in Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis Countyt and elsewhere. Wrolstad worked with McBridw and for Century Mortgage and helpeds close real estate transactions and work with title companies. The scheme, which occurred from at leastg July 2005 and continued throughNovember 2006, involved investor s recruited by McBride and Wrolstad purchasinhg real estate primarily located in Sikeston.
The ownersa of the real estat would sell the propertiews at or near fair market value to investors recruited by and known to McBride and Wrolstad but the investorsz paid prices significantly greater than the actual selling price received by the sellersx forthe properties, according to the The investors would purchase the property at a fraudulenft and overvalued price by obtaining loans to purchasr the property. McBride and Wrolstad obtainee appraisals, which significantly overvaluedthe properties, which enabled them to receiver inflated loan proceeds despite having no interest in the conveyedr real estate, the indictment alleges.
In one case a purchaser paid $66,00 0 for a property that the seller sold for andin another, the purchaser paid $54,000 for propertg that the seller sold for $15,000, accordint to the indictment. McBride and Wrolstads pleaded guilty to one countr of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail 12 counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of mail In addition, McBride pleaded guilty to six count of money laundering, and Wrolstad pled guilty to three countxs of money laundering. Each coun of wire fraud and mail fraud carries a maximumm sentence of 20 years imprisonment anda $250,0000 fine; each count of money launderinvg carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,00o0 fine.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum punishmentf of 20 years imprisonment anda $250,000 Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17 for Wrolstaed and Aug.18 for McBride.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A Power Vacuum Is Killing the Euro Zone - New York Times
meaning-sarajevo.blogspot.com
A Power Vacuum Is Killing the Euro Zone New York Times AS problems mount in the euro zone, it's increasingly evident that we've been witnessing an institutional failure of monumental proportions. What is to be done about Greece? Simply keeping it in the euro zone won't help much, even if it's possible. Spain region, Greek exit warnings rattle euro zone Euro-zone countries appear far from compromise More Economists React: What if Greece Exits Euro Zone? |
Friday, May 25, 2012
Boeing to acquire eXMeritus - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
karnergetajequ1416.blogspot.com
which sells secure hardware and software to the governmentg and lawenforcement organizations, for an undiscloseds sum. Executives at Boeing (NYSE: BA) say the purchasde will help extend its abilityu to serve the federal cyber security andintelligence “The addition of eXMeritus to our team is a stronh enhancement to the Boeing capabilitiess developed through years of experience on secure networks for some of the most comple x systems in national security today,” said Boeingb Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh. Fairfax-basedr eXMeritus is the fourth companuy that Boeing will add to its securityand intelligence-related lines of business since 2008.
Last year Boeingh acquired Germantown, Md.-based Digital Receiveer Technology, Herndon, Va.-based Ravenwing and D.C.-basedf . eXMeritus, founded in 2000, will add fewer than 30 employeesto Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems’ Network and Spacee Systems unit. The company’s products are certifiedx and accredited bythe U.S. governmenr to operate on the government’s trusterd systems. Boeing said the transaction, expectex to close by the end of June, won’t affecgt Boeing’s financial guidance. Boeing’s Integrated Defensd Systems unit, headquartered in St. is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
which sells secure hardware and software to the governmentg and lawenforcement organizations, for an undiscloseds sum. Executives at Boeing (NYSE: BA) say the purchasde will help extend its abilityu to serve the federal cyber security andintelligence “The addition of eXMeritus to our team is a stronh enhancement to the Boeing capabilitiess developed through years of experience on secure networks for some of the most comple x systems in national security today,” said Boeingb Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh. Fairfax-basedr eXMeritus is the fourth companuy that Boeing will add to its securityand intelligence-related lines of business since 2008.
Last year Boeingh acquired Germantown, Md.-based Digital Receiveer Technology, Herndon, Va.-based Ravenwing and D.C.-basedf . eXMeritus, founded in 2000, will add fewer than 30 employeesto Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems’ Network and Spacee Systems unit. The company’s products are certifiedx and accredited bythe U.S. governmenr to operate on the government’s trusterd systems. Boeing said the transaction, expectex to close by the end of June, won’t affecgt Boeing’s financial guidance. Boeing’s Integrated Defensd Systems unit, headquartered in St. is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Region lands two companies on top Hispanic businesses list - Sacramento Business Journal:
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Accounting firm Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP of Sacramento, with $16. 5 million in revenue last year, improvexd to No. 289 from No. 302 in 2006. Kennety Macias is chief executive officer ofthe 137-employew firm. Landscape and maintenance busines TheGrowing Co. of Sacramento reported $6.25t million in revenue, up from $5.7 million in moving up 11 spotsto No. 476. Chief executived officer Bruno Sandoval overseesthe 98-employee company. Two companies that made the list lastyear -- of West Sacramentoi and of Folsom -- were absent from the just-releasexd report. Ramos Oil and Visionary Integrationwere No. 20 and No. 69, based on 2005 revenue.
they didn't fall off the list for dramaticallyudeclining revenue; the two companies simply didn't complete the which requires participants to provide detailed financial information, according to Hispanicf Business, a Santa Barbara-based magazine. In an obvioue sign of the economic times, the companies on the Hispaniv Business 500 reported total 2006 revenuewof $36.3 billion, up 4.2 percent from 2005 -- much less than the 15.2 percent gain from 2005. , a Miami-based compang that serves the wireless industry, topped the list with revenue of $3.6 billiob in 2006. A new insuranc brokerage that's buying San Mateo-based Calcoi Insurance Brokers & Agents Inc.
says it will keep Calco'se small Sacramento office and look for a capital region brokerageto acquire. , a property-casualty and benefitsd insurance brokerage, will expand the three-persojn satellite office in Sacramento, Edgewood co-foundefr John Hahn says. Sacramento "is an area of growtuh and opportunity," he says, and that's why Edgewood is lookiny to add to its holdings Hahn founded, led and sold in San He's leaving his job as president of , which bought His partner in Edgewood is Dan who until recently was presidenft and chief executive officer of and Financial Calco president Dan Ryan will join the new Founded 70 years ago, Calco is one of the oldest brokerages in It has annual revenue of abourt $13 million and 68 employees.
The deal is expected to be completecdby mid-July. Hahn and Francias formed Edgewood this monthwith $100 millionn in capital from a privated equity fund managed by . They plan to creatde a statewideinsurance brokerage. Edgewood also will keep Calco'ss San Mateo and Orange Count offices, and expects to open new offices in the Bay Area andSouthernh California. Row, row, row your housew Signature Properties is the latest infillp developer to propose rowhouses for urban redevelopment in theSacramentoo area, winning preliminary approval from West Sacramento's planningf commission for 134 townhomes near Raleyg Field. The City Councill will review the company's design likely next month.
The developmentr would be the first phase of several forthe developer'ws plot of land in the Raley's Landingv redevelopment area. Signature joins other developers, such as Loftworks LLC, in buildinvg rowhouses, sometimes referred to as "brownstones" afte r the reddish-brown sandstone used in 19th centuryh housing in New YorkCity -- although it's unlikeluy that any of Sacramento's brownstones will be similarly clad. Signature expects prices to be inthe mid-$300,000zs for the units, ranging from 1,18 7 to 1,500 square feet, a price the developer expectzs will attract attention because it's lowetr than some other rowhouse projects in the area.
Accounting firm Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP of Sacramento, with $16. 5 million in revenue last year, improvexd to No. 289 from No. 302 in 2006. Kennety Macias is chief executive officer ofthe 137-employew firm. Landscape and maintenance busines TheGrowing Co. of Sacramento reported $6.25t million in revenue, up from $5.7 million in moving up 11 spotsto No. 476. Chief executived officer Bruno Sandoval overseesthe 98-employee company. Two companies that made the list lastyear -- of West Sacramentoi and of Folsom -- were absent from the just-releasexd report. Ramos Oil and Visionary Integrationwere No. 20 and No. 69, based on 2005 revenue.
they didn't fall off the list for dramaticallyudeclining revenue; the two companies simply didn't complete the which requires participants to provide detailed financial information, according to Hispanicf Business, a Santa Barbara-based magazine. In an obvioue sign of the economic times, the companies on the Hispaniv Business 500 reported total 2006 revenuewof $36.3 billion, up 4.2 percent from 2005 -- much less than the 15.2 percent gain from 2005. , a Miami-based compang that serves the wireless industry, topped the list with revenue of $3.6 billiob in 2006. A new insuranc brokerage that's buying San Mateo-based Calcoi Insurance Brokers & Agents Inc.
says it will keep Calco'se small Sacramento office and look for a capital region brokerageto acquire. , a property-casualty and benefitsd insurance brokerage, will expand the three-persojn satellite office in Sacramento, Edgewood co-foundefr John Hahn says. Sacramento "is an area of growtuh and opportunity," he says, and that's why Edgewood is lookiny to add to its holdings Hahn founded, led and sold in San He's leaving his job as president of , which bought His partner in Edgewood is Dan who until recently was presidenft and chief executive officer of and Financial Calco president Dan Ryan will join the new Founded 70 years ago, Calco is one of the oldest brokerages in It has annual revenue of abourt $13 million and 68 employees.
The deal is expected to be completecdby mid-July. Hahn and Francias formed Edgewood this monthwith $100 millionn in capital from a privated equity fund managed by . They plan to creatde a statewideinsurance brokerage. Edgewood also will keep Calco'ss San Mateo and Orange Count offices, and expects to open new offices in the Bay Area andSouthernh California. Row, row, row your housew Signature Properties is the latest infillp developer to propose rowhouses for urban redevelopment in theSacramentoo area, winning preliminary approval from West Sacramento's planningf commission for 134 townhomes near Raleyg Field. The City Councill will review the company's design likely next month.
The developmentr would be the first phase of several forthe developer'ws plot of land in the Raley's Landingv redevelopment area. Signature joins other developers, such as Loftworks LLC, in buildinvg rowhouses, sometimes referred to as "brownstones" afte r the reddish-brown sandstone used in 19th centuryh housing in New YorkCity -- although it's unlikeluy that any of Sacramento's brownstones will be similarly clad. Signature expects prices to be inthe mid-$300,000zs for the units, ranging from 1,18 7 to 1,500 square feet, a price the developer expectzs will attract attention because it's lowetr than some other rowhouse projects in the area.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Wanted: ecotourism operator for state - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
callahamirykaan1884.blogspot.com
The Legislature approved a special $250,000 appropriation to fund the ecotourism project in fiscalyear 2010. The work will includew creating an inventory of ecotourism assets in the stats and vetting these assets to be certified as part of theecotourismm program. It would also involve teachingh ecotourism marketing skills and working with other stats agencies and public and private entities to administer the The contract is scheduled tobegin Aug. 20, or when all stater approvals arereceived — whichever is latet — and will last a year. The contract may be extended for up to threewadditional one-year periods.
Tourism Secretary Michael Cerlett i said the ecotourism initiative will bring new and sustainable businesseas and economic opportunities to communitiesx aroundthe state. Richard Eeds, the department’s advertisiny director, is the procurement managefr forthe RFP. He can be reached at 827-6557 or richard.eeds@state.nm.us. The RFP is at the department’sx Web site.
The Legislature approved a special $250,000 appropriation to fund the ecotourism project in fiscalyear 2010. The work will includew creating an inventory of ecotourism assets in the stats and vetting these assets to be certified as part of theecotourismm program. It would also involve teachingh ecotourism marketing skills and working with other stats agencies and public and private entities to administer the The contract is scheduled tobegin Aug. 20, or when all stater approvals arereceived — whichever is latet — and will last a year. The contract may be extended for up to threewadditional one-year periods.
Tourism Secretary Michael Cerlett i said the ecotourism initiative will bring new and sustainable businesseas and economic opportunities to communitiesx aroundthe state. Richard Eeds, the department’s advertisiny director, is the procurement managefr forthe RFP. He can be reached at 827-6557 or richard.eeds@state.nm.us. The RFP is at the department’sx Web site.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
N.Y attorney general ends BofA probe - San Francisco Business Times:
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Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to provide liquidithto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billionj in auction-rate securities it sold to about 5,500 investors, small businesses and small charitiesw before the market collapsed inFebruary 2008. According to the Securities andExchange Commission, the settlement also required BofA to “use its best to provide up to $5 billiomn in liquidity to businesses and institutional investors with accountws valued at $15 million or more, and charities with accountds valued at $25 millionh or more.
The agreement resolved allegations that securities dealer s made misrepresentations to customers during salesdof auction-rate securities about their safetu and liquidity. Auction-rate securities have interes t rates that are reset at weekly or monthly auctiond run by investment The $330 billion market collapsed last when investors became alarmed at the prospectxs of the ability of corporated borrowers covering debt service on the securities. Many were left with securitied they could not sell intothe market.
BofA neither admitted nor denied The SEC also has finalized a settlement with BofA overthe
Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to provide liquidithto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billionj in auction-rate securities it sold to about 5,500 investors, small businesses and small charitiesw before the market collapsed inFebruary 2008. According to the Securities andExchange Commission, the settlement also required BofA to “use its best to provide up to $5 billiomn in liquidity to businesses and institutional investors with accountws valued at $15 million or more, and charities with accountds valued at $25 millionh or more.
The agreement resolved allegations that securities dealer s made misrepresentations to customers during salesdof auction-rate securities about their safetu and liquidity. Auction-rate securities have interes t rates that are reset at weekly or monthly auctiond run by investment The $330 billion market collapsed last when investors became alarmed at the prospectxs of the ability of corporated borrowers covering debt service on the securities. Many were left with securitied they could not sell intothe market.
BofA neither admitted nor denied The SEC also has finalized a settlement with BofA overthe
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Raytheon wins $15M add-on to Army deal - Boston Business Journal:
shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
million contract for maintenancew on its Patriot Air and MissileDefensd System. The Waltham, Mass., defense contractor RTN) said the funding is a follow-oj award to a contract previously earned inJune 2006, bringinb the total value of the contractg to $51.9 million. Raytheon will provide maintenance, repairs and other technicakl assistance for the system to address issues too complez formilitary personnel. “This contract provides for third-echelon maintenance performed by Raytheonm field engineers at locations in the Uniter States andoverseas — wherever U.S.
Army Patrio systems are deployed,” said Joseph “Skip” Garrett, vice presidenft and deputy for Patriot programs at Raytheonh IntegratedDefense Systems, in a statement. “These servicesw are necessary to ensure the high reliability and readinese that theArmy requires.” The company’s Tewksbury, Mass.-based IDS unit is the prime contractor for the Patriogt missile system.
million contract for maintenancew on its Patriot Air and MissileDefensd System. The Waltham, Mass., defense contractor RTN) said the funding is a follow-oj award to a contract previously earned inJune 2006, bringinb the total value of the contractg to $51.9 million. Raytheon will provide maintenance, repairs and other technicakl assistance for the system to address issues too complez formilitary personnel. “This contract provides for third-echelon maintenance performed by Raytheonm field engineers at locations in the Uniter States andoverseas — wherever U.S.
Army Patrio systems are deployed,” said Joseph “Skip” Garrett, vice presidenft and deputy for Patriot programs at Raytheonh IntegratedDefense Systems, in a statement. “These servicesw are necessary to ensure the high reliability and readinese that theArmy requires.” The company’s Tewksbury, Mass.-based IDS unit is the prime contractor for the Patriogt missile system.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Newfane hospital workers approve deal - Business First of Buffalo:
doqujamup.wordpress.com
The agreement between hospital negotiatorws and 110 members of 1199 SEIU includese wage increases of atleasrt 7.2 percent over three years. Workers will also receive an averagee increase of 18 percent in employetr contributions towardtheir pensions, as well as improvements in shiftf differentials. The new labor agreement will covert licensedpractical nurses, nurse attendants, environmental and service maintenance and clerical staff. According to the union, contract negotiationw broke off June 24 over issuexs of wage equity and retirement Employees had been working without a contracrt for a month whiletalks continued. Negotiations began in A federal mediator joined the talksin May.
The formerly known as Inter-Community Memorial Hospital, is locaterd on William Streetin Inter-Community merged with Lockport Memorial Hospitakl earlier this year to form Eastern Niagara The union blamed the merge r on inequities between the Lockport and Newfanre sites. In a prepared statement, union officials said they were satisfied withthe “We feel that this a fair contracr that provides wage increased and improved retirement benefits,” said Don Fiorilli, administratives organizer.
The agreement between hospital negotiatorws and 110 members of 1199 SEIU includese wage increases of atleasrt 7.2 percent over three years. Workers will also receive an averagee increase of 18 percent in employetr contributions towardtheir pensions, as well as improvements in shiftf differentials. The new labor agreement will covert licensedpractical nurses, nurse attendants, environmental and service maintenance and clerical staff. According to the union, contract negotiationw broke off June 24 over issuexs of wage equity and retirement Employees had been working without a contracrt for a month whiletalks continued. Negotiations began in A federal mediator joined the talksin May.
The formerly known as Inter-Community Memorial Hospital, is locaterd on William Streetin Inter-Community merged with Lockport Memorial Hospitakl earlier this year to form Eastern Niagara The union blamed the merge r on inequities between the Lockport and Newfanre sites. In a prepared statement, union officials said they were satisfied withthe “We feel that this a fair contracr that provides wage increased and improved retirement benefits,” said Don Fiorilli, administratives organizer.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Retail roundup: Major chains with Colorado stores report sales - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
houston-nearly.blogspot.com
Most major department-store chaine have been struggling to attract parsimoniouw shoppers while not giving away the store through deep a strategy that erodes profit But recent reports regarding rising manufacturinh activity and home sales gave a lift to retail stocksw earlier inthe week, based on hopew that consumers may be encouraged to go out and splurge on a few summerr items. Total May retail sales were projectes to dropby 3.6 percent, according to Retail a Massachusetts firm that trackxs store sales. This compares with a 2.7 percent decline in April. Department stores were forecast to post the weakest down 8.
5 percent, with “discretionary spendinb still in hiding,” according to its monthly • on Thursday reported that its May same-store sales fell 6.1 percenty from the same montb a year ago. Total sales, at $4.56 were down 2.3 percent from May 2008. "Sales for the monthh of May were somewhat belowour expectations," Target President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement. Targety (NYSE: TGT) has consistently posted monthly same-storwe sales declines during the as consumers have pulled back their spending on home furnishings and some of the other discretionary items that had boostedxthe company’s sales during better times.
April was a relative bright spot forthe company, with same-storde sales climbing 0.3 percent. Same-store sale for the first-quarter, however, still were down 3.7 percent. • . said its comparablew store sales in May decreasedby 0.4 percent and totalk sales increased 4.1 percent, better than management had The Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based retailer (NYSE: KSS) said Thursday sales for the four-weej month ending May 31 were $1.27 billion, compared with $1.21 billion in the same periodd of 2008. Year-to-date sales also are ahead of 2008at $4.9 compared with $4.8 billionn in 2008, an increase of 1.3 percent. Comparablee store sales year-to-date decreased 3.2 Kohl’s said.
“May’s sales results were strongerrthan planned,” said Kevin Kohl’s president and CEO. “Accessories was the strongest performinv line of business forthe month. The Southwest region had a positive comparable storse sales increase for May and was again ourstrongesgt region. The Southeast remains our most challenging As ofMay 30, Kohl’s operated 1,022 stores in 49 states, compared with 957 stores in 47 statees at the same time last year. said same-store sales at storex open a year or more fell 7 percent last monthg compared with ayear earlier. Total net salews at the Issaquah, Wash.-based retailer COST) fell to $5.47 billion from $5.77 billion in 2008.
Wall Street analysts were expecting a dropin same-storre sales in May of 6 analyst Dan Geiman at McAdams Wrighrt Ragen in Seattle expected an 8 percen t drop. “The company continues to experiencr relative strength inthe food-relatee categories, despite the increasing impacts of deflation, and generaol weakness in the more discretionary non-food Geiman wrote in a note to • . reported a 9.1 percent drop in same-stor e sales in May, as consumers continued to put offunnecessary spending. The Cincinnati-basedc department store chain said sales at stores open at least a year are in line withmanagemenyt expectations. Total sales declined to $1.7 billiojn from $1.
9 billion a year ago, or 9.5 For the year, Macy’s said its same-store salew declined by 9.1 percent, with totakl sales down 9.5 percent, to $6.9 billion from $7.7 billion.
Most major department-store chaine have been struggling to attract parsimoniouw shoppers while not giving away the store through deep a strategy that erodes profit But recent reports regarding rising manufacturinh activity and home sales gave a lift to retail stocksw earlier inthe week, based on hopew that consumers may be encouraged to go out and splurge on a few summerr items. Total May retail sales were projectes to dropby 3.6 percent, according to Retail a Massachusetts firm that trackxs store sales. This compares with a 2.7 percent decline in April. Department stores were forecast to post the weakest down 8.
5 percent, with “discretionary spendinb still in hiding,” according to its monthly • on Thursday reported that its May same-store sales fell 6.1 percenty from the same montb a year ago. Total sales, at $4.56 were down 2.3 percent from May 2008. "Sales for the monthh of May were somewhat belowour expectations," Target President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement. Targety (NYSE: TGT) has consistently posted monthly same-storwe sales declines during the as consumers have pulled back their spending on home furnishings and some of the other discretionary items that had boostedxthe company’s sales during better times.
April was a relative bright spot forthe company, with same-storde sales climbing 0.3 percent. Same-store sale for the first-quarter, however, still were down 3.7 percent. • . said its comparablew store sales in May decreasedby 0.4 percent and totalk sales increased 4.1 percent, better than management had The Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based retailer (NYSE: KSS) said Thursday sales for the four-weej month ending May 31 were $1.27 billion, compared with $1.21 billion in the same periodd of 2008. Year-to-date sales also are ahead of 2008at $4.9 compared with $4.8 billionn in 2008, an increase of 1.3 percent. Comparablee store sales year-to-date decreased 3.2 Kohl’s said.
“May’s sales results were strongerrthan planned,” said Kevin Kohl’s president and CEO. “Accessories was the strongest performinv line of business forthe month. The Southwest region had a positive comparable storse sales increase for May and was again ourstrongesgt region. The Southeast remains our most challenging As ofMay 30, Kohl’s operated 1,022 stores in 49 states, compared with 957 stores in 47 statees at the same time last year. said same-store sales at storex open a year or more fell 7 percent last monthg compared with ayear earlier. Total net salews at the Issaquah, Wash.-based retailer COST) fell to $5.47 billion from $5.77 billion in 2008.
Wall Street analysts were expecting a dropin same-storre sales in May of 6 analyst Dan Geiman at McAdams Wrighrt Ragen in Seattle expected an 8 percen t drop. “The company continues to experiencr relative strength inthe food-relatee categories, despite the increasing impacts of deflation, and generaol weakness in the more discretionary non-food Geiman wrote in a note to • . reported a 9.1 percent drop in same-stor e sales in May, as consumers continued to put offunnecessary spending. The Cincinnati-basedc department store chain said sales at stores open at least a year are in line withmanagemenyt expectations. Total sales declined to $1.7 billiojn from $1.
9 billion a year ago, or 9.5 For the year, Macy’s said its same-store salew declined by 9.1 percent, with totakl sales down 9.5 percent, to $6.9 billion from $7.7 billion.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Shareholders OK Embarq sale to CenturyTel - Kansas City Business Journal:
jaqezuweg.blogspot.com
billion plan to combine. About 99 percenty of Overland Park-based Embarq (NYSE: EQ) shareholders who votexd — representing more than 79 percent of total outstandin shares of common stock gave their blessing tothe transaction. More than 96 percent of voting shareholders ofCenturyTel (NYSE: based in Monroe, La., approved the the companies said in a CenturyTel, a local phone servicre provider half Embarq’s size, Embarq in an all-stock mergere that included assuming $5.8 million in Embarq debt. Shareholderd of Embarq are to get 1.37 CenturyTepl shares for everyEmbarq share, meaning they’ll own aboutg 66 percent of the combinesd company.
The deal is expected to close in thesecondc quarter, subject to federalk and state regulatory approvals. “With these we have taken another importantt step forward to combineour companies, maximize our and unite our employee s to deliver additional value for our CenturyTel CEO Glen Post said in the release. “The significantlyh greater scale and scope of our combined operationsz will better position us to take advantage of efficiency and growth opportunitiesw in an increasingly competitive andchallenginhg marketplace.” Post will run the combined company, whos headquarters will be in Louisiana.
Embarq CEO Tom Gerke will be executive vice chairmamn of thecombined company’s boarsd and oversee regulatory and governmental relationds and human resources. The companies, which are in a shrinkingy industry as consumers hang up wireline phoneds forwireless ones, expect the combination to save abouty $400 million annually within the first three years. CenturyTel shareholders also approved elimination ofspecial 10-vot e voting rights of certain of its shareholders, and they vote to increase the company’s authorized numbet of shares of common stockk from 350 million to 800 Embarq operates in 18 states; the two companiesx together will operate in 33 states with aboutg 8 million access lines and 2 million broadbancd customers.
Embarq ranks No. 3 on the Kansas City Business Journao ’s list of area public companies. It spun off from Overlanfd Park-based (NYSE: S) in May 2006. • • • •
billion plan to combine. About 99 percenty of Overland Park-based Embarq (NYSE: EQ) shareholders who votexd — representing more than 79 percent of total outstandin shares of common stock gave their blessing tothe transaction. More than 96 percent of voting shareholders ofCenturyTel (NYSE: based in Monroe, La., approved the the companies said in a CenturyTel, a local phone servicre provider half Embarq’s size, Embarq in an all-stock mergere that included assuming $5.8 million in Embarq debt. Shareholderd of Embarq are to get 1.37 CenturyTepl shares for everyEmbarq share, meaning they’ll own aboutg 66 percent of the combinesd company.
The deal is expected to close in thesecondc quarter, subject to federalk and state regulatory approvals. “With these we have taken another importantt step forward to combineour companies, maximize our and unite our employee s to deliver additional value for our CenturyTel CEO Glen Post said in the release. “The significantlyh greater scale and scope of our combined operationsz will better position us to take advantage of efficiency and growth opportunitiesw in an increasingly competitive andchallenginhg marketplace.” Post will run the combined company, whos headquarters will be in Louisiana.
Embarq CEO Tom Gerke will be executive vice chairmamn of thecombined company’s boarsd and oversee regulatory and governmental relationds and human resources. The companies, which are in a shrinkingy industry as consumers hang up wireline phoneds forwireless ones, expect the combination to save abouty $400 million annually within the first three years. CenturyTel shareholders also approved elimination ofspecial 10-vot e voting rights of certain of its shareholders, and they vote to increase the company’s authorized numbet of shares of common stockk from 350 million to 800 Embarq operates in 18 states; the two companiesx together will operate in 33 states with aboutg 8 million access lines and 2 million broadbancd customers.
Embarq ranks No. 3 on the Kansas City Business Journao ’s list of area public companies. It spun off from Overlanfd Park-based (NYSE: S) in May 2006. • • • •
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Sailor still floating on ad-lib kiss - Houston Business Journal:
hyperwave-exhausted.blogspot.com
McDuffie, now 81 and livingb in Houston, was forever immortalize as the “Kissing Sailor” in the “V-Jk Day in Times Square” photograph taken by Alfrerd Eisenstaedton Aug. 15, and published in “Life” magazine. This week, McDuffie was on hand to donatw a signed poster and other memorabilia tothe . McDuffide recounts events leading up to thelegendaruy lip-lock. He was on a three-day leave, getting ready to catch a train to visit his girlfriendfin Brooklyn. En the subway dropped him off atTimew Square. As he headed across the a nurse approached and told him how happ y she was that he could now go home becauss the warwas over.
“I was so and I began to jump up and down because my olde r brother had been captured by the McDuffie recalls. “We had not heard from him in over a I was so happy Ikissed her.” He realizedc in mid-kiss that someone was taking his He thought the man might be the woman’es husband or a jealous boyfriend, and quickly heade d across the street to catch the Brooklyn “I never told my girlfriend about that kiss,” he Twenty years later, McDuffie was surpriserd to see the photo in a Reno, newspaper. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says.
The facesx are hard to tell, so McDuffie has spentf a lot of time takinv polygraphtests — 10 to be exacf — to prove that’s his kisser in the The nurse has since been identified as Edith Shain. Collectorss of classic rock memorabilia will have lots to look atduringg “The Rockin’ Hot Summer Auction” to be held onlind June 21-28. Up for grabws will be more than 700 lots fillef with collectibles commemorating an array ofartists — from The Beatlesx to Elvis to B.B. King — with some items as low as $25.
, whichn holds four online auctionswa year, created smaller lots this time arounfd to make pieces of rock histort more affordable for cost-conscious All items come from the personak collection of Denny Somach, a Grammy-award winning radioo and television producer. Kelli van Gool, owner of Houston-baser Backstage Auctions with husband Jacques van Gool, says the sale of memorabiliz such as lithographs and concert poster also includes a unique assortmenyt of seven-inch vinyl (Remember those golden-oldie 45s?
) The collectioh has more than 5,000 recordes encased in sleeves and often adorned with artworkj unique to the single, says Kello van Gool, and 95 percent have never been “Collectors are always looking for thingsd to add to their collections,” says van Gool. “We are tryinf to make that a little easier for Parents have a new ally inthe age-oldd quest to help theie offspring understand the value of The Children’s Museum of Housto n is adding several new monetary wrinkles to the recently unveilefd Kidtropolis USA exhibit.
From June 22 throughg July 1, “Break the Bank” programmingv will help youths figure out that the mone y for that new iPodreally doesn’t just materializes out of thin air. The new programs include a $100 spending spre designed to help kiddie captains of industry learmn how managea budget. Money and dollar puzzles will show future accountantsd in short pants how many differenrt combinations of coins can add upto $1. Keitjh Ostfeld, director of exhibit development, says the museuj wanted to find ways to expand on the conceptt of theKidtropolis exhibit, whicg has attracted kids of all ages since it was introducec in March.
Like the name implies, Kidtropolisd is a mini-city structured around a simulated economy where kids hold imaginaryt jobs and earn play money that can be withdraw n from fiveworking ATMs. Upon arrival at Kidtropolis, the buddingf breadwinners startwith $60 divided equally betweem a checking and savingsx account and are issued a debit card. They choose from an arrat of jobs, from bankers and commoditgy traders to journalistsand veterinarians, to earn theitr keep. They learn quickly that they have tomake grown-ul choices about priorities in order to earn a living without blowing through their paychecks.
“You woulds be surprised how seriously these kids approach having their ownATM card,” Ostfeld “Very rarely do they just empty out thei bank account. It’s amazing how frugal they are when it’ds their own money and they have to workfor it.” Ostfelfd says the next program under consideratio n would take the Kidtropolis concept into the with financial kits available at branches of the system that can be checkexd out and returned. Corporate partner provided a $1 million granr to the museum to launch and will support thespecial add-on programs. Museujm admission is $7 per person — except for free familh nightson Thursdays.
That means mom and dad will have to shellk out more before their heirs and heiressex see the light and grow up to becomde expertmoney managers. Polo Becerra responded to a declinde in his lunch crowd by takinh his white tablecloth service to the The ownerof Polo’s Signature Restaurant and Post Oak Grill has launchefd a delivery service to offser the lack of business due to the down economy.
“We’ver seen about a 10 percent drop in business because more peoplde are having meetings at theier offices and trying to cut backon spending,” he The new service provides a delivery menu that includes box lunches with items rangingg in price from $8 to $11, and a higher-enr menu with prices from $14 to $28 that includes signatur e dishes from Becerra’s upscales restaurants. A minimum order of five dishes is required fordeliveruy service. In the next couple of Becerra plans to introduce a more extensivee menu with severaldozen dishes.
The delivergy service has proven so popular that Becerra has purchasee a second delivery truck to keep up with the He estimatesreceiving 1,000 to 1,500 orderzs a week, mostly from corporate clients such as and He’s addef delivery staff and says the servicee has increased his bottom line by aboug 10 percent. Says Becerra: “When I saw my busines s drop, I knew I had to do somethingb to bring in new revenuer becauseI didn’t want to cut any employees. Peopled are spending more time inthe office, and this servicew has been so popular because it keep s employees happy and they’re able to spend less money on a gourmeg lunch.
” The “40 Under 40” featurer in the June 12 Celebrate!Enterprise incorrectl y listed Holli Nichols as executive vice president and CFO of . Nichola is with
McDuffie, now 81 and livingb in Houston, was forever immortalize as the “Kissing Sailor” in the “V-Jk Day in Times Square” photograph taken by Alfrerd Eisenstaedton Aug. 15, and published in “Life” magazine. This week, McDuffie was on hand to donatw a signed poster and other memorabilia tothe . McDuffide recounts events leading up to thelegendaruy lip-lock. He was on a three-day leave, getting ready to catch a train to visit his girlfriendfin Brooklyn. En the subway dropped him off atTimew Square. As he headed across the a nurse approached and told him how happ y she was that he could now go home becauss the warwas over.
“I was so and I began to jump up and down because my olde r brother had been captured by the McDuffie recalls. “We had not heard from him in over a I was so happy Ikissed her.” He realizedc in mid-kiss that someone was taking his He thought the man might be the woman’es husband or a jealous boyfriend, and quickly heade d across the street to catch the Brooklyn “I never told my girlfriend about that kiss,” he Twenty years later, McDuffie was surpriserd to see the photo in a Reno, newspaper. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says.
The facesx are hard to tell, so McDuffie has spentf a lot of time takinv polygraphtests — 10 to be exacf — to prove that’s his kisser in the The nurse has since been identified as Edith Shain. Collectorss of classic rock memorabilia will have lots to look atduringg “The Rockin’ Hot Summer Auction” to be held onlind June 21-28. Up for grabws will be more than 700 lots fillef with collectibles commemorating an array ofartists — from The Beatlesx to Elvis to B.B. King — with some items as low as $25.
, whichn holds four online auctionswa year, created smaller lots this time arounfd to make pieces of rock histort more affordable for cost-conscious All items come from the personak collection of Denny Somach, a Grammy-award winning radioo and television producer. Kelli van Gool, owner of Houston-baser Backstage Auctions with husband Jacques van Gool, says the sale of memorabiliz such as lithographs and concert poster also includes a unique assortmenyt of seven-inch vinyl (Remember those golden-oldie 45s?
) The collectioh has more than 5,000 recordes encased in sleeves and often adorned with artworkj unique to the single, says Kello van Gool, and 95 percent have never been “Collectors are always looking for thingsd to add to their collections,” says van Gool. “We are tryinf to make that a little easier for Parents have a new ally inthe age-oldd quest to help theie offspring understand the value of The Children’s Museum of Housto n is adding several new monetary wrinkles to the recently unveilefd Kidtropolis USA exhibit.
From June 22 throughg July 1, “Break the Bank” programmingv will help youths figure out that the mone y for that new iPodreally doesn’t just materializes out of thin air. The new programs include a $100 spending spre designed to help kiddie captains of industry learmn how managea budget. Money and dollar puzzles will show future accountantsd in short pants how many differenrt combinations of coins can add upto $1. Keitjh Ostfeld, director of exhibit development, says the museuj wanted to find ways to expand on the conceptt of theKidtropolis exhibit, whicg has attracted kids of all ages since it was introducec in March.
Like the name implies, Kidtropolisd is a mini-city structured around a simulated economy where kids hold imaginaryt jobs and earn play money that can be withdraw n from fiveworking ATMs. Upon arrival at Kidtropolis, the buddingf breadwinners startwith $60 divided equally betweem a checking and savingsx account and are issued a debit card. They choose from an arrat of jobs, from bankers and commoditgy traders to journalistsand veterinarians, to earn theitr keep. They learn quickly that they have tomake grown-ul choices about priorities in order to earn a living without blowing through their paychecks.
“You woulds be surprised how seriously these kids approach having their ownATM card,” Ostfeld “Very rarely do they just empty out thei bank account. It’s amazing how frugal they are when it’ds their own money and they have to workfor it.” Ostfelfd says the next program under consideratio n would take the Kidtropolis concept into the with financial kits available at branches of the system that can be checkexd out and returned. Corporate partner provided a $1 million granr to the museum to launch and will support thespecial add-on programs. Museujm admission is $7 per person — except for free familh nightson Thursdays.
That means mom and dad will have to shellk out more before their heirs and heiressex see the light and grow up to becomde expertmoney managers. Polo Becerra responded to a declinde in his lunch crowd by takinh his white tablecloth service to the The ownerof Polo’s Signature Restaurant and Post Oak Grill has launchefd a delivery service to offser the lack of business due to the down economy.
“We’ver seen about a 10 percent drop in business because more peoplde are having meetings at theier offices and trying to cut backon spending,” he The new service provides a delivery menu that includes box lunches with items rangingg in price from $8 to $11, and a higher-enr menu with prices from $14 to $28 that includes signatur e dishes from Becerra’s upscales restaurants. A minimum order of five dishes is required fordeliveruy service. In the next couple of Becerra plans to introduce a more extensivee menu with severaldozen dishes.
The delivergy service has proven so popular that Becerra has purchasee a second delivery truck to keep up with the He estimatesreceiving 1,000 to 1,500 orderzs a week, mostly from corporate clients such as and He’s addef delivery staff and says the servicee has increased his bottom line by aboug 10 percent. Says Becerra: “When I saw my busines s drop, I knew I had to do somethingb to bring in new revenuer becauseI didn’t want to cut any employees. Peopled are spending more time inthe office, and this servicew has been so popular because it keep s employees happy and they’re able to spend less money on a gourmeg lunch.
” The “40 Under 40” featurer in the June 12 Celebrate!Enterprise incorrectl y listed Holli Nichols as executive vice president and CFO of . Nichola is with
Friday, May 11, 2012
From politics to public relations - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
ibitasony.wordpress.com
Soon after graduating from the University of Notrre Damein 1994, Nation became the press secretaryu for former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh. Nation's Fred, was the press secretary for Bayh beford his sontook over. "I sat in the same chair at the same desk with the same photos on the Nation said. The job at the Indiana governor'sa office launched Nation on an eight-yearr political career that eventually led to the formationjof , a Milwaukee-based public relationzs and public affairs firm in June 2003. Over the past four Nation has doubled the size of his publicrelationsw firm, which now has five employees.
The firm'a growth prompted Nation to acquire a small officee building at5027 W. North Ave. on Milwaukee'sa west side for $230,000 earlier this Nation plans to add anothe r two public relations practitioners beforee the endof 2008. He wouldr not discuss the firm's annual revenue. Nation expects to add 50 percenr more contracts in 2008 as compared with his currentrclient list. "I had offers to go into corporate PR, but alwayxs wanted to build my own Nation said. Nation started his public relationx firms with partner Josh Morby after servingh as the communications directoefor Gov. Jim Doyle at the beginningb of Doyle's first term.
Nation was the deputyh campaign managerduring Doyle's 2002 campaign. Nationn was recruited to come to Wisconsib and work for Doyle while serviny as the press secretary forIndiana Gov. Franki O'Bannon. Before taking the O'Bannom job, Nation had been the communications director for the Indianas Democratic Party and deputy presa secretary for the DemocraticNational Committee. "uI was burned out after eight straight years in politic and turning gray in mylate 20s," he Forming his own firm allowed Nation to spend more time in Milwaukeer with his wife, Dr. Melissa Wein, and their four Madeleine, Jake, Lillian and Owen.
Before putting up his own Nation worked several months withWilhelk & Conlon, a Chicago publiv relations firm that had a contract with to handlre some of the public relations issues surroundinh the Power the Future power plant and distribution line expansion After Nation broke away from Wilhelnm & Conlon, Wisconsin Energy became his first Nation still counts Wisconsin Energy as one of 20 companiess on his client roster. Other clientss include the Wisconsin Bio Industry a coalition of companies thatproduce ethanol; New North, a regionak development group based in Green Bay; TV4US, a trade coalition advertisingb on behalf of the Wisconsin video servicesd bill; and .
"Two things distinguish Nation Consultinvg from thepack -- pragmatic advice and a superiorf network of media and political contactes throughout the state," said David Stegeman, an executivre vice president for , Brownsville. Stegeman is also a spokesmajn for GlobalPipeline Partners, which is a joint venture made up of four companiews building a new oil pipeline for from Superior to Delafield. Nationb Consulting works as the public relatione and community affairs firm for Global Michels Corp. is the lead partnerr in the joint venture. Enbridge is an oil and gas distributionn company basedin Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Unlikew some former political operatives who went into theprivate sector, Natioh has a knack for understanding a client's big-picture strategic goals, said H. Carl Mueller. "He'd not totally focused on tactics," said Mueller, president of , Mueller worked with Nation onWisconsin Energy's Power the Future program and competes with Nation Consulting for some publicx relations jobs. Even though Nation Consulting is basedin Milwaukee, the firm regularl visits Madison, Green Bay and Appleton on behalfv of clients. As the firm continues to Nation said it is likely he and Morbyh will consider opening a seconrd office in theFox Valley.
Madison is overpopulateed with public relations and publiccaffairs firms, said Nation. "We have soli d relationships with industry leaders in Green Bay and said Morby, who is also a former aide to Gov.
Soon after graduating from the University of Notrre Damein 1994, Nation became the press secretaryu for former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh. Nation's Fred, was the press secretary for Bayh beford his sontook over. "I sat in the same chair at the same desk with the same photos on the Nation said. The job at the Indiana governor'sa office launched Nation on an eight-yearr political career that eventually led to the formationjof , a Milwaukee-based public relationzs and public affairs firm in June 2003. Over the past four Nation has doubled the size of his publicrelationsw firm, which now has five employees.
The firm'a growth prompted Nation to acquire a small officee building at5027 W. North Ave. on Milwaukee'sa west side for $230,000 earlier this Nation plans to add anothe r two public relations practitioners beforee the endof 2008. He wouldr not discuss the firm's annual revenue. Nation expects to add 50 percenr more contracts in 2008 as compared with his currentrclient list. "I had offers to go into corporate PR, but alwayxs wanted to build my own Nation said. Nation started his public relationx firms with partner Josh Morby after servingh as the communications directoefor Gov. Jim Doyle at the beginningb of Doyle's first term.
Nation was the deputyh campaign managerduring Doyle's 2002 campaign. Nationn was recruited to come to Wisconsib and work for Doyle while serviny as the press secretary forIndiana Gov. Franki O'Bannon. Before taking the O'Bannom job, Nation had been the communications director for the Indianas Democratic Party and deputy presa secretary for the DemocraticNational Committee. "uI was burned out after eight straight years in politic and turning gray in mylate 20s," he Forming his own firm allowed Nation to spend more time in Milwaukeer with his wife, Dr. Melissa Wein, and their four Madeleine, Jake, Lillian and Owen.
Before putting up his own Nation worked several months withWilhelk & Conlon, a Chicago publiv relations firm that had a contract with to handlre some of the public relations issues surroundinh the Power the Future power plant and distribution line expansion After Nation broke away from Wilhelnm & Conlon, Wisconsin Energy became his first Nation still counts Wisconsin Energy as one of 20 companiess on his client roster. Other clientss include the Wisconsin Bio Industry a coalition of companies thatproduce ethanol; New North, a regionak development group based in Green Bay; TV4US, a trade coalition advertisingb on behalf of the Wisconsin video servicesd bill; and .
"Two things distinguish Nation Consultinvg from thepack -- pragmatic advice and a superiorf network of media and political contactes throughout the state," said David Stegeman, an executivre vice president for , Brownsville. Stegeman is also a spokesmajn for GlobalPipeline Partners, which is a joint venture made up of four companiews building a new oil pipeline for from Superior to Delafield. Nationb Consulting works as the public relatione and community affairs firm for Global Michels Corp. is the lead partnerr in the joint venture. Enbridge is an oil and gas distributionn company basedin Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Unlikew some former political operatives who went into theprivate sector, Natioh has a knack for understanding a client's big-picture strategic goals, said H. Carl Mueller. "He'd not totally focused on tactics," said Mueller, president of , Mueller worked with Nation onWisconsin Energy's Power the Future program and competes with Nation Consulting for some publicx relations jobs. Even though Nation Consulting is basedin Milwaukee, the firm regularl visits Madison, Green Bay and Appleton on behalfv of clients. As the firm continues to Nation said it is likely he and Morbyh will consider opening a seconrd office in theFox Valley.
Madison is overpopulateed with public relations and publiccaffairs firms, said Nation. "We have soli d relationships with industry leaders in Green Bay and said Morby, who is also a former aide to Gov.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Achieve Green NW conference moves online - Portland Business Journal:
dawojetos.blogspot.com
Citing the economic realities facing many local businesses and individuals whoare under-employedf and unemployed, the Achieve Greeh NW conference organizers decidede to postpone the event and re-invent it as a lower-costr online workshop series to be offered throughout the summer “The response to Achieve Green NW was extremelyt positive from sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and potential said Jeff Blosser, Achieve Green NW conference chair and executive director of the Oregon Convention “But in this tough economy, we take to heart that the cost to attend in real dollars and in time away from work or not spenft looking for employment — is too much at this time for many Our response: let’s get innovative.
” The conference was originallyu scheduled to be held at the Oregob Convention Center June 1-3 and offered keynot e speakers and a series of panel discussiond designed to educate businesses, organizations and individual on a wide range of gree topics including building management, employee recruitment, marketinbg and purchasing. Networking receptions and an electronic packetof “how-to” tools were includedf in the cost of registration. Many of the more 50 expertd will contribute to the online seriez to be announced in early Visit www.achievegreennw.com for more information, updatesx and future online workshop serie s dates.
Citing the economic realities facing many local businesses and individuals whoare under-employedf and unemployed, the Achieve Greeh NW conference organizers decidede to postpone the event and re-invent it as a lower-costr online workshop series to be offered throughout the summer “The response to Achieve Green NW was extremelyt positive from sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and potential said Jeff Blosser, Achieve Green NW conference chair and executive director of the Oregon Convention “But in this tough economy, we take to heart that the cost to attend in real dollars and in time away from work or not spenft looking for employment — is too much at this time for many Our response: let’s get innovative.
” The conference was originallyu scheduled to be held at the Oregob Convention Center June 1-3 and offered keynot e speakers and a series of panel discussiond designed to educate businesses, organizations and individual on a wide range of gree topics including building management, employee recruitment, marketinbg and purchasing. Networking receptions and an electronic packetof “how-to” tools were includedf in the cost of registration. Many of the more 50 expertd will contribute to the online seriez to be announced in early Visit www.achievegreennw.com for more information, updatesx and future online workshop serie s dates.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Annuity, life insurance policy purchaser J.G. Wentworth files for bankruptcy - Philadelphia Business Journal:
vilyfijohy.wordpress.com
The Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based companh filed for bankruptcy inthe U. S. Bankruptcy Courtf in Delaware. The company sought acceptance of its plan from its lendersd before what is calle aprepackaged filing. More than 90 percentt of the termlenders approved, the company said. J.G. Wentwortnh said the plan will allow it to substantiallyt reduce its debt load while providing the enterprisewith $100 millio n of new equity to supporty ongoing operations. Its operating units will continu to conduct business without interruption duringb thereorganization process, which is expected to be completer within roughly 30 days.
The company said it also securedx a commitmentfor debtor-in-possession financing to supplement its workingv capital and provide adequate liquidity durin the proceedings. J.G. Wentworthu said its decision to file for Chapter 11 came after an extensiv review of alternatives to address pressuresfrom “extremelyy challenging capital markets and high borrowing costs”, and was unanimously approvec by the company’s board of directors. “We have recentluy faced significant challenges due tothe well-publishede disruption of the [asset-backed securities] market,” J.G. Wentworth CEO Davic Miller said. The company said customers completing a transactionwith J.G.
Wentworthn will not be affected bythe filing, neither will vendorz and employees. In December, J.G. Wentworthu laid off 120 of its 200 employees and closed its LasVegas office. Murray said at the time that the firm has felt the stingf ofthe “inefficient securitization market and the increas e in the cost of funds.” J.G. Wentworth, foundesd in 1991, is owned by New York-based privatwe equity firm JLL Partners and moved from Philadelphiaq to Bryn Mawrin 2003.
The Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based companh filed for bankruptcy inthe U. S. Bankruptcy Courtf in Delaware. The company sought acceptance of its plan from its lendersd before what is calle aprepackaged filing. More than 90 percentt of the termlenders approved, the company said. J.G. Wentwortnh said the plan will allow it to substantiallyt reduce its debt load while providing the enterprisewith $100 millio n of new equity to supporty ongoing operations. Its operating units will continu to conduct business without interruption duringb thereorganization process, which is expected to be completer within roughly 30 days.
The company said it also securedx a commitmentfor debtor-in-possession financing to supplement its workingv capital and provide adequate liquidity durin the proceedings. J.G. Wentworthu said its decision to file for Chapter 11 came after an extensiv review of alternatives to address pressuresfrom “extremelyy challenging capital markets and high borrowing costs”, and was unanimously approvec by the company’s board of directors. “We have recentluy faced significant challenges due tothe well-publishede disruption of the [asset-backed securities] market,” J.G. Wentworth CEO Davic Miller said. The company said customers completing a transactionwith J.G.
Wentworthn will not be affected bythe filing, neither will vendorz and employees. In December, J.G. Wentworthu laid off 120 of its 200 employees and closed its LasVegas office. Murray said at the time that the firm has felt the stingf ofthe “inefficient securitization market and the increas e in the cost of funds.” J.G. Wentworth, foundesd in 1991, is owned by New York-based privatwe equity firm JLL Partners and moved from Philadelphiaq to Bryn Mawrin 2003.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Cellino, Barnes donate $1M to UB - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
lyubomiradete.blogspot.com
Lisa Mueller, assistant dean for alumni and communications, said the gift matchese the largest single-donation in the history of the law the $1 million given in 2002 by Francis who graduated UB Law School in 1979 and went on to founx a successful personal injury firm. In a releasse announcing the gift, University at Buffalo Law School Dean Makau Mutua calledit “an extraordinar y act of philanthropy” and “a wonderful down payment on our visioj of academic excellence and our bold aspirations for the Mutua said he plans to invest the gift in the calling them the central core of the law Specifically, he said the money will go towarc scholarships, making improvements in pedagogical technologies in the school and upgrading services.
Steve Barnes, who founded the law firm along with Ross said they felt they owed a debt of gratitudr to the school whers they gottheir start. “Both Ross and I are graduates of the law school and we’ve come to know many of the professor and administrators very well,” he said. “Makahu Mutua is just an outstandintg individual and he has a visiohn thatwe haven’t seen at the school yet.” Barnes said the decisioh to make the gift an unrestrictedd donation reflects the confidence they have in the administratorx at the University to utilize the money in the most effectivee ways possible.
“We are lawyers, we didn’y feel as though we are in a position to dictats how the moneywas spent,” he “We have a lot of confidence in Makau’s visio and we have had long discussionws about where he wants to take the schookl and we’re on the same page.” Recognizingh the generosity of Cellino and Barnes, the schoolp has announced plans to name theidr main conference center, located in O’Briahn Hall, The Cellino and Barnes Conference Asked what it feels like to be in a positiom to give away $1 million, especially given the curreng economic climate, Barnes put the gift into “Both Ross and I come from very humbled beginnings and kind of worked our way up from the he said.
“We started out as just the twoof us, now, the practicwe is a lucrative practics and I’m just glad we were able to help at a time that I thinik is very critical to the law school.”
Lisa Mueller, assistant dean for alumni and communications, said the gift matchese the largest single-donation in the history of the law the $1 million given in 2002 by Francis who graduated UB Law School in 1979 and went on to founx a successful personal injury firm. In a releasse announcing the gift, University at Buffalo Law School Dean Makau Mutua calledit “an extraordinar y act of philanthropy” and “a wonderful down payment on our visioj of academic excellence and our bold aspirations for the Mutua said he plans to invest the gift in the calling them the central core of the law Specifically, he said the money will go towarc scholarships, making improvements in pedagogical technologies in the school and upgrading services.
Steve Barnes, who founded the law firm along with Ross said they felt they owed a debt of gratitudr to the school whers they gottheir start. “Both Ross and I are graduates of the law school and we’ve come to know many of the professor and administrators very well,” he said. “Makahu Mutua is just an outstandintg individual and he has a visiohn thatwe haven’t seen at the school yet.” Barnes said the decisioh to make the gift an unrestrictedd donation reflects the confidence they have in the administratorx at the University to utilize the money in the most effectivee ways possible.
“We are lawyers, we didn’y feel as though we are in a position to dictats how the moneywas spent,” he “We have a lot of confidence in Makau’s visio and we have had long discussionws about where he wants to take the schookl and we’re on the same page.” Recognizingh the generosity of Cellino and Barnes, the schoolp has announced plans to name theidr main conference center, located in O’Briahn Hall, The Cellino and Barnes Conference Asked what it feels like to be in a positiom to give away $1 million, especially given the curreng economic climate, Barnes put the gift into “Both Ross and I come from very humbled beginnings and kind of worked our way up from the he said.
“We started out as just the twoof us, now, the practicwe is a lucrative practics and I’m just glad we were able to help at a time that I thinik is very critical to the law school.”
Friday, May 4, 2012
Herborium Announces Continuing Progress In Key Strategic Initiatives - MarketWatch (press release)
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Herborium Announces Continuing Progress In Key Strategic Initiatives MarketWatch (press release) HBRM) www.herborium.com , a Botanical Therapeutics® company, reports today continuing progress with its key strategic initiatives. The company is progressing through the negotiating phase with China Health Resource Inc. regarding a potential ... |
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
KCEP invests in Denver company - Kansas City Business Journal:
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As part of the KCEP Managing Director Terry Matlack will become a memberof ACT's board. Another boarr seat was awarded toKeitj Bares, a partner with Minneapolis-based Convergeng Capital Partners I LP, which also participateed in the $7 million round of subordinated debt financing. The transactiomn is KCEP's first new investment in the telecommunications/media sector in almost two years. Mojica said the firm has explorec several deals in that industry in the past 18 issuing term sheets to more than 20 In many ofthose however, KCEP and the companies could not agree on Mojica said he would like KCEP to add more companie to its telecom/media portfolio.
The number of high-quality deals, at reasonable prices, has increasef in the past year, he "Does that mean you're going to now see a flurry of activity from us?" Mojica said. "It might, and it might not." The $7 million round includesd KCEP, Convergent, Denver-based NewWest Mezzanine Fund LP and theJames F. Seifert Management Trust, controlled by ACT board membedrJames Seifert. Founded in 1990, ACT is provider of video and Web-based conferencing products to corporations, governmen t agencies and other organizations. KCEP has about $110 millioj in capital.
The company invests in venturee throughout the country but primarily in the Throughthe years, KCEP's portfoliok has included locally based companies such as Birch Telecon Inc., Inergy LP and Three Dog
As part of the KCEP Managing Director Terry Matlack will become a memberof ACT's board. Another boarr seat was awarded toKeitj Bares, a partner with Minneapolis-based Convergeng Capital Partners I LP, which also participateed in the $7 million round of subordinated debt financing. The transactiomn is KCEP's first new investment in the telecommunications/media sector in almost two years. Mojica said the firm has explorec several deals in that industry in the past 18 issuing term sheets to more than 20 In many ofthose however, KCEP and the companies could not agree on Mojica said he would like KCEP to add more companie to its telecom/media portfolio.
The number of high-quality deals, at reasonable prices, has increasef in the past year, he "Does that mean you're going to now see a flurry of activity from us?" Mojica said. "It might, and it might not." The $7 million round includesd KCEP, Convergent, Denver-based NewWest Mezzanine Fund LP and theJames F. Seifert Management Trust, controlled by ACT board membedrJames Seifert. Founded in 1990, ACT is provider of video and Web-based conferencing products to corporations, governmen t agencies and other organizations. KCEP has about $110 millioj in capital.
The company invests in venturee throughout the country but primarily in the Throughthe years, KCEP's portfoliok has included locally based companies such as Birch Telecon Inc., Inergy LP and Three Dog
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