lkinibim.blogspot.com
The companies were chosen by morethan 1,709 business owners and managers of smallp and midsize firms who participated in CBJN's annual proprietarh study as the brands that best meet the needs of their businesses. CBJN, an organization of 66 newspaperse acrossthe country, is a subsidiary of Tampa Bay Busines Journal parent Amercian City Business Apple Inc., which won the technology category, was also namedc the grand prize winner. Other winnersz are: in the Business Services category. MasterCard in the Financial/Insurancs category. in the Retail category. in the Telecommunicationds category.
in the Travel The criteria used to select the American Brand Excellencs Award winnersinclude "easy to do businessz with," "industry leader," "forward "for growing companies," "behaves ethically," "growing in and "has a good pricde for what you More than 200 business brands were rated in the nationwide study. "What makes the Americanb Brand Excellence Awards unique is that they representy how business owners and managersd feel about the companies that support their businesses and help them said CBJN PresidentGeorge M. Conley. "Thie year's winners are true leaders in theird fields.
"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
United credit card policy could foul corporate travel - Dallas Business Journal:
http://www.i-amfaithweb.net/references/messiah/fam_line.htm
San Francisco’s dominant airline informed some travelo agencies that as of July 20 it will no longer let them processa credit and debit card purchases for airlinew ticketsusing United’s merchant-processing services. Instead, such agencies woul have to require travelers to paywith cash, procesw card payments with the agency’as own merchant processing service and forward the cash to Unitedx or book the tickets on United’s web site usinvg the traveler’s credit or debit card issuedc by , (NYSE: V) , MA) (NYSE: AXP) and others.
An agent usingh United’s web site, bypassingf such travel systems as Apolloand Sabre, woulcd not allow companies to capture the discountes they have negotiated with United nor would it allow theidr travel agent to survey several carriersd on a route to find the lowest “Several Bay Area companies have deala with United Airlines for said Marc Casto, presidenrt of Casto Travel, which isn’t among the agencies that Unitedr has cut off from its merchant-processing service.
Castol says he’s reached out to some of the firm’zs corporate clients to express concernover United’s new card acceptanced policy, but declined to discuss what was said in thosew conversations. United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) did not respond to requests for United is hoping to shift the cost of acceptingy credit and debit cards onto selectetravel agencies. Those agencies say the airline’es move shifts to them the risk for paying out refunds if the carrieergoes bankrupt. While it’s also likeluy to reduce the amount of money that Unitedd has to keep in the bank to guardagainst charge-backs, it wouls increase those requirements for the travekl agents.
That’s a nonstarter for most agencies andtheir banks, which would have to honoer charge-back requests that could total billions of dollar in the event of an airline “I don’t think there’s any trave agency, including American Express Travel, that coulc shoulder that liability,” Castok said.
San Francisco’s dominant airline informed some travelo agencies that as of July 20 it will no longer let them processa credit and debit card purchases for airlinew ticketsusing United’s merchant-processing services. Instead, such agencies woul have to require travelers to paywith cash, procesw card payments with the agency’as own merchant processing service and forward the cash to Unitedx or book the tickets on United’s web site usinvg the traveler’s credit or debit card issuedc by , (NYSE: V) , MA) (NYSE: AXP) and others.
An agent usingh United’s web site, bypassingf such travel systems as Apolloand Sabre, woulcd not allow companies to capture the discountes they have negotiated with United nor would it allow theidr travel agent to survey several carriersd on a route to find the lowest “Several Bay Area companies have deala with United Airlines for said Marc Casto, presidenrt of Casto Travel, which isn’t among the agencies that Unitedr has cut off from its merchant-processing service.
Castol says he’s reached out to some of the firm’zs corporate clients to express concernover United’s new card acceptanced policy, but declined to discuss what was said in thosew conversations. United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) did not respond to requests for United is hoping to shift the cost of acceptingy credit and debit cards onto selectetravel agencies. Those agencies say the airline’es move shifts to them the risk for paying out refunds if the carrieergoes bankrupt. While it’s also likeluy to reduce the amount of money that Unitedd has to keep in the bank to guardagainst charge-backs, it wouls increase those requirements for the travekl agents.
That’s a nonstarter for most agencies andtheir banks, which would have to honoer charge-back requests that could total billions of dollar in the event of an airline “I don’t think there’s any trave agency, including American Express Travel, that coulc shoulder that liability,” Castok said.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
DynCorp lands $915M aviation contract - Business First of Buffalo:
ogyhejowy.wordpress.com
Falls Church-based DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) will provide the Department of State with aviation and aviationm support services in Iraq undert the terms of the deal whichu has one base year andfour one-year If all options are exercised the total value of the projecgt is $915 million. DynCorp reported $813 million in its lates quarter. “This award is a tremendously importanr opportunity for DynCorp International to support the safety and securitgyof U.S. diplomatic personnel serving in said DynCorp CEOWilliam L. “It’s an honor to contributes to our government’s efforts to promot peace and stabilityin Iraq, for us as a companh and for every persojn who serves with us.
” DynCorp said the award, to providre personnel, ground and flight operations, as well as basing and maintenance of rotaryu wing and fixed air assets, began with a transition periodc June 15, 2009 and will reach full operation on Septembe 4, 2009.
Falls Church-based DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) will provide the Department of State with aviation and aviationm support services in Iraq undert the terms of the deal whichu has one base year andfour one-year If all options are exercised the total value of the projecgt is $915 million. DynCorp reported $813 million in its lates quarter. “This award is a tremendously importanr opportunity for DynCorp International to support the safety and securitgyof U.S. diplomatic personnel serving in said DynCorp CEOWilliam L. “It’s an honor to contributes to our government’s efforts to promot peace and stabilityin Iraq, for us as a companh and for every persojn who serves with us.
” DynCorp said the award, to providre personnel, ground and flight operations, as well as basing and maintenance of rotaryu wing and fixed air assets, began with a transition periodc June 15, 2009 and will reach full operation on Septembe 4, 2009.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Clear lanes to shut down at Hartsfield-Jackson - Phoenix Business Journal:
shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
New York-based , the operator of registered travelkservice CLEAR, said the paid securitt lanes at its membetr airports would cease operations becausde the company “has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senio r creditor to continue operations,” according to a statemen t posted on the company’s Web www.flyclear.com. Last March, the company said it had 20,000 registere d travelers in metro Atlanta. As of last year, the companu had more than 200,000 CLEAR members, who paid up to $199 for an annuao membership for access to designated security lanes at participating airports nationwide.
Members provided biometric data, which was encoded on a card, for the promise of a speedier and convenient trip through airport security. The service targeted busineszs travelers who routinely travelby air. The compan was founded by founderSteve Brill. CLEAt lanes opened at the airport abouft the same time as an expansion of the main securituy lanesat Hartsfield-Jackson. The new additionx included lanes designed specifically forexperiencexd travelers.
Airport officials have said the added lanes have kept securituy wait times below 10 minuteson average, which might have made CLEAfR lanes less advantageous to
New York-based , the operator of registered travelkservice CLEAR, said the paid securitt lanes at its membetr airports would cease operations becausde the company “has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senio r creditor to continue operations,” according to a statemen t posted on the company’s Web www.flyclear.com. Last March, the company said it had 20,000 registere d travelers in metro Atlanta. As of last year, the companu had more than 200,000 CLEAR members, who paid up to $199 for an annuao membership for access to designated security lanes at participating airports nationwide.
Members provided biometric data, which was encoded on a card, for the promise of a speedier and convenient trip through airport security. The service targeted busineszs travelers who routinely travelby air. The compan was founded by founderSteve Brill. CLEAt lanes opened at the airport abouft the same time as an expansion of the main securituy lanesat Hartsfield-Jackson. The new additionx included lanes designed specifically forexperiencexd travelers.
Airport officials have said the added lanes have kept securituy wait times below 10 minuteson average, which might have made CLEAfR lanes less advantageous to
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Come Tweet with us: Small businesses are going after the social media audience - Jacksonville Business Journal:
obesonuqa.wordpress.com
As marketing director (or chief karmaw officer as she likes to call forMellow Mushroom’s two Birminghamn locations, Gibbs has found a new way to spread the love and information about her restaurants. She reaches a growing communitty of followers through her accounrt on the social networkingsite Twitter. In the last few millions of Americans have flocked to join the social mediasphenomenon Twitter, which has given business owneres in Birmingham and nationwide the opportunity to reacy a captivated – and potentially profitabler – audience. And a study by NFI Researchy says business owners are joiningy Twitterin droves.
Out of 2,000 senior executives and managerse surveyed, 18 percent said they used the site. The studyy also found that small businessee are more likely to use Twitteer and other socialmedia sites, such as Facebook, to promote In case you’re not in the know about Twitter, it is a microblogging site that invites users to provide updates (or on practically anything – as long as they can sharde the information in 140 characters or less. If userss have more to say, they can provide links to additional content, including articles, video and photographs.
The site has experiencerd rapid growth in mere According to a reportby , a digitapl research company, the site grew 131 percentr in March, with more than 9.3 milliob visitors. The number of Birmingham Twitter users also has growb drastically in the pasttwo months, as networkingv has gained more mainstream attention and a greater number of individuals have begun using other social networking sitesz such as Facebook, said Ike Pigott, ownerf of and an avid Tweeter with 3,609 followers.
Creating an account is free and simple, makingt it a cost-effective way for businessed to reach current andpotential However, creating an effective Twitter presencde can take a lot of work and planning, Pigott Before businesses say anything on Twitter, it may be a good idea to stop and see how otherd are using the site. Businesses can also use the site to gain insighty on trends within theif markets and trackconsumer opinion. By searchinyg tweets, businesses can track what individualsx are saying about them andtheir products. “Yoyu want to get in and you want to find out what peoplweare saying, not only about you, but also abouyt your market and your competitors,” Pigott said.
“Ir gives you a lot of freelhy offeredmarketing data.” While Twitter can be used to market and strengthenb brand identity and awareness, it’s important to remember that Twittedr and other social media outletsw operate differently than traditional advertising platforms, said Wade Kwon, founder and instructore at BirminghamBlogging.com and local Tweeter with nearly 900 followers. “It shouldn’tt be considered marketing,” Kwon said. “Marketing is abour creating a need for your productor service. Social networkingg is about engaging in conversation with people, whether they are detractors, competitors or everyday folk.
” The most successful Twitter accountz are able to actively engagse and respond to their readerz by providing links, polls and postingsa targeted directly to their followers, Libby Sexton, a publidc relations account executive at Through her Twitter she has 682 followers. “It’s more of an interaction than it is a Sexton said. “If you get on Twittet and talk about nothing but yourself and all of your postz arepurely promotional, then it’s not goinv to be beneficial.” Businesses should use the site to provide information and insight to their customers, insteacd of flooding their followers with a seriews of advertisements.
“Twitter is abour building a community, and you can’t do that with an advertisemenft or withtraditional marketing,” Mellow Mushroom’s Gibbs By creating a Twitter community, Gibbs said she hopew to provide a platform for customers to share theirf views about Mellow Mushroom. Right now, she has abouy 250 followers. “I want folks to have a place wherd they can come back and tell us about theirexperiences – the good, the bad and the Gibbs said. “Nobody ever does everything right allthe time, and by knowing something it gives me a chance to respond to the situation.
” Both Sexton and Gibbs encourage business owners to observe the “cocktaiol party rule.”
As marketing director (or chief karmaw officer as she likes to call forMellow Mushroom’s two Birminghamn locations, Gibbs has found a new way to spread the love and information about her restaurants. She reaches a growing communitty of followers through her accounrt on the social networkingsite Twitter. In the last few millions of Americans have flocked to join the social mediasphenomenon Twitter, which has given business owneres in Birmingham and nationwide the opportunity to reacy a captivated – and potentially profitabler – audience. And a study by NFI Researchy says business owners are joiningy Twitterin droves.
Out of 2,000 senior executives and managerse surveyed, 18 percent said they used the site. The studyy also found that small businessee are more likely to use Twitteer and other socialmedia sites, such as Facebook, to promote In case you’re not in the know about Twitter, it is a microblogging site that invites users to provide updates (or on practically anything – as long as they can sharde the information in 140 characters or less. If userss have more to say, they can provide links to additional content, including articles, video and photographs.
The site has experiencerd rapid growth in mere According to a reportby , a digitapl research company, the site grew 131 percentr in March, with more than 9.3 milliob visitors. The number of Birmingham Twitter users also has growb drastically in the pasttwo months, as networkingv has gained more mainstream attention and a greater number of individuals have begun using other social networking sitesz such as Facebook, said Ike Pigott, ownerf of and an avid Tweeter with 3,609 followers.
Creating an account is free and simple, makingt it a cost-effective way for businessed to reach current andpotential However, creating an effective Twitter presencde can take a lot of work and planning, Pigott Before businesses say anything on Twitter, it may be a good idea to stop and see how otherd are using the site. Businesses can also use the site to gain insighty on trends within theif markets and trackconsumer opinion. By searchinyg tweets, businesses can track what individualsx are saying about them andtheir products. “Yoyu want to get in and you want to find out what peoplweare saying, not only about you, but also abouyt your market and your competitors,” Pigott said.
“Ir gives you a lot of freelhy offeredmarketing data.” While Twitter can be used to market and strengthenb brand identity and awareness, it’s important to remember that Twittedr and other social media outletsw operate differently than traditional advertising platforms, said Wade Kwon, founder and instructore at BirminghamBlogging.com and local Tweeter with nearly 900 followers. “It shouldn’tt be considered marketing,” Kwon said. “Marketing is abour creating a need for your productor service. Social networkingg is about engaging in conversation with people, whether they are detractors, competitors or everyday folk.
” The most successful Twitter accountz are able to actively engagse and respond to their readerz by providing links, polls and postingsa targeted directly to their followers, Libby Sexton, a publidc relations account executive at Through her Twitter she has 682 followers. “It’s more of an interaction than it is a Sexton said. “If you get on Twittet and talk about nothing but yourself and all of your postz arepurely promotional, then it’s not goinv to be beneficial.” Businesses should use the site to provide information and insight to their customers, insteacd of flooding their followers with a seriews of advertisements.
“Twitter is abour building a community, and you can’t do that with an advertisemenft or withtraditional marketing,” Mellow Mushroom’s Gibbs By creating a Twitter community, Gibbs said she hopew to provide a platform for customers to share theirf views about Mellow Mushroom. Right now, she has abouy 250 followers. “I want folks to have a place wherd they can come back and tell us about theirexperiences – the good, the bad and the Gibbs said. “Nobody ever does everything right allthe time, and by knowing something it gives me a chance to respond to the situation.
” Both Sexton and Gibbs encourage business owners to observe the “cocktaiol party rule.”
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Unisys gives up on one debt exchange, proposes another - Boston Business Journal:
avaohev.blogspot.com
The Blue Bell, Pa.-based information-technology company said late Tuesdag it has terminated the offedr that was to have expiredf tonightafter . In it was trying to get holdersd of four series of seniodr notes with a total face valueof $1.0t6 billion, and due beginning next year, to exchanges them in a private offer for new senior securedx notes that would have paid 12.625 percent interesft and been due in 2014. Now, Unisysx (NYSE:UIS) is trying to get holders of the seniord notes to exchange them in private placementz for two series of new senior secured notes; either nearly 73.7 millio n shares or 19.9 percent of its whichever is less; and up to $30 millioj in cash.
Unisys said it has negotiated those terms with representativese of a group that it has been told consistsz of holders of 40 percenft of thesenior notes. Unisyes also is asking the senior noteholderss to agree to amendments that wouldx eliminate nearly all the covenants and some of the clausesa with which it must comply to avoifd defaulting onthe notes. A noteholder that tenders a senior note is agreeing tothe amendments, Unisys The holders of each series of notes will vote as a separater class and Unisys will consider a series to have agreeds to the amendments if the holdersz of the majority of the principall amount of the notes in the series agree, the company The senior notes comprise $300 millio n of 6.
875 percent notes due $400 million of 8 percent notes due $150 million of 8.5 percent notes due 2015; and $210 milliob of 12.5 percent notes due 2016. Unisys said holderw of 25.6 percent of the 2010 notes, 23.8 percent of the 2012 54 percent of the 2015 notesand 15.8 percengt of the 2016 notesx have agreed to tender their notes. The companty said the exchange offer is contingent upon at leastf 40 percent of the 2010 notes and 2012 notez being tendered by Midnight EDTJuly 28.
The Blue Bell, Pa.-based information-technology company said late Tuesdag it has terminated the offedr that was to have expiredf tonightafter . In it was trying to get holdersd of four series of seniodr notes with a total face valueof $1.0t6 billion, and due beginning next year, to exchanges them in a private offer for new senior securedx notes that would have paid 12.625 percent interesft and been due in 2014. Now, Unisysx (NYSE:UIS) is trying to get holders of the seniord notes to exchange them in private placementz for two series of new senior secured notes; either nearly 73.7 millio n shares or 19.9 percent of its whichever is less; and up to $30 millioj in cash.
Unisys said it has negotiated those terms with representativese of a group that it has been told consistsz of holders of 40 percenft of thesenior notes. Unisyes also is asking the senior noteholderss to agree to amendments that wouldx eliminate nearly all the covenants and some of the clausesa with which it must comply to avoifd defaulting onthe notes. A noteholder that tenders a senior note is agreeing tothe amendments, Unisys The holders of each series of notes will vote as a separater class and Unisys will consider a series to have agreeds to the amendments if the holdersz of the majority of the principall amount of the notes in the series agree, the company The senior notes comprise $300 millio n of 6.
875 percent notes due $400 million of 8 percent notes due $150 million of 8.5 percent notes due 2015; and $210 milliob of 12.5 percent notes due 2016. Unisys said holderw of 25.6 percent of the 2010 notes, 23.8 percent of the 2012 54 percent of the 2015 notesand 15.8 percengt of the 2016 notesx have agreed to tender their notes. The companty said the exchange offer is contingent upon at leastf 40 percent of the 2010 notes and 2012 notez being tendered by Midnight EDTJuly 28.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
General Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Baltimore plant to stay open - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
zutkomi.blogspot.com
Monday’s filing by the 101-year-oldf automaker — once the world’se biggest company — is among the largesg in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the compang to operate while protected fromits creditors, pushes GM into a fast-tracmk bankruptcy and provides $30 billion of additionao taxpayer funds to restructure itself. The company in its filinhg listed $172.81 billion in debt and $82.29 billion in The GM plan as detailedby U.S.
officialw would allow a much smaller GM to emerge from couryt protection within 60 to 90 Al Koch, a managing director at the advisoryg company AlixPartnersLLP in New York, is named in the filingsa as the company’s chief restructuring reporting to GM CEO Fritzs Henderson. GM (NYSE: GM) also plans to closer 11 U.S. facilities and idle anothee three plants by the endof 2010. The company'xs Baltimore transmission plant employsz more than 200 people was not listed amonghthe closures. GM's Wilmington, Del., assembly plant, will close in July. That plant employzs 1,060 workers. The automaker has not providecd an updated target for job cuts but was lookin g toeliminate 21,000 U.S.
factory jobs from the 54,000 unio n members it now employs. General Motors employs 92,00 0 in the United States and is indirectly responsiblefor 500,000 The U.S. government would hold a 60 percent financiapl interest in a reorganized GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percenft stake. said Monday on GM's bankruptcy. The governments of Canadza and the province of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percenty ownership stake in exchange forfinancial aid. GM bondholderds would get 10 Holders ofGM stock, which hit its lowest pricw on record Friday at 74 are expected to own none of the company. Trading was halted on Monday's news.
Listed amonvg GM's top creditors are (NYSE: T) and (NYSE: The list of facilities that GM said will be closed and theirr dates include two the Wilmington assembly plant and onein Mich. (October 2009); three stamping plantds — including the previously announces closing in June ofGrand Rapids, Indianapolis, Ind. (December 2011), and Mansfield, Ohio (June 2010). six Powertrain plants including Massena, N.Y., whicu closed on May 1 - Livonia, Mich. (Jun 2010), Flint and Willow Run, (both December 2010), Parma, Ohio (December and Fredericksburg, Va., (December 2010). Three location will be idled — assembly plants at Orion, Mich. (September and Spring Hill, Tenn.
(Novemberd 2009), and a stamping plant at Pontiac, Mich., (Decembefr 2010). In addition, service and parts operations and warehousing and partws distribution centersin Boston, Jacksonville, Fla.., and Columbus, will close by Dec. 31, 2009. For a PDF of the bankruptc y filingpetition .
Monday’s filing by the 101-year-oldf automaker — once the world’se biggest company — is among the largesg in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the compang to operate while protected fromits creditors, pushes GM into a fast-tracmk bankruptcy and provides $30 billion of additionao taxpayer funds to restructure itself. The company in its filinhg listed $172.81 billion in debt and $82.29 billion in The GM plan as detailedby U.S.
officialw would allow a much smaller GM to emerge from couryt protection within 60 to 90 Al Koch, a managing director at the advisoryg company AlixPartnersLLP in New York, is named in the filingsa as the company’s chief restructuring reporting to GM CEO Fritzs Henderson. GM (NYSE: GM) also plans to closer 11 U.S. facilities and idle anothee three plants by the endof 2010. The company'xs Baltimore transmission plant employsz more than 200 people was not listed amonghthe closures. GM's Wilmington, Del., assembly plant, will close in July. That plant employzs 1,060 workers. The automaker has not providecd an updated target for job cuts but was lookin g toeliminate 21,000 U.S.
factory jobs from the 54,000 unio n members it now employs. General Motors employs 92,00 0 in the United States and is indirectly responsiblefor 500,000 The U.S. government would hold a 60 percent financiapl interest in a reorganized GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percenft stake. said Monday on GM's bankruptcy. The governments of Canadza and the province of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percenty ownership stake in exchange forfinancial aid. GM bondholderds would get 10 Holders ofGM stock, which hit its lowest pricw on record Friday at 74 are expected to own none of the company. Trading was halted on Monday's news.
Listed amonvg GM's top creditors are (NYSE: T) and (NYSE: The list of facilities that GM said will be closed and theirr dates include two the Wilmington assembly plant and onein Mich. (October 2009); three stamping plantds — including the previously announces closing in June ofGrand Rapids, Indianapolis, Ind. (December 2011), and Mansfield, Ohio (June 2010). six Powertrain plants including Massena, N.Y., whicu closed on May 1 - Livonia, Mich. (Jun 2010), Flint and Willow Run, (both December 2010), Parma, Ohio (December and Fredericksburg, Va., (December 2010). Three location will be idled — assembly plants at Orion, Mich. (September and Spring Hill, Tenn.
(Novemberd 2009), and a stamping plant at Pontiac, Mich., (Decembefr 2010). In addition, service and parts operations and warehousing and partws distribution centersin Boston, Jacksonville, Fla.., and Columbus, will close by Dec. 31, 2009. For a PDF of the bankruptc y filingpetition .
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Ford sales climb to highest level since July - Dallas Business Journal:
vavyzina.wordpress.com
But sales were down 24.2 percent compared with May when the companysold 213,238 units. For the first five monthse of 2009, Dearborn, Mich.-basedx Ford (NYSE: F) sold 620,303 units, compared with 981,15 units during the same period ayear earlier, a 36.8 percent In a sign that buyers might be cominhg back to the luxury vehicle market, Ford’s Lincoln divisioj reported that it sold 8,567 units in May, a 2.2 percent increasr over May 2008, when it sold 8,365 units. Sales of Ford Explorerx declined 34.6 percent, to 5,3145 units from 8,122 units a year ago. Sale of the Mercury Mountaineerdropped 45.2 to 402 from 734 units a year earlier. Salea of F-Series pickup trucks dropped 22.
3 percent, to 33,381 from 42,973 units in May 2008. Sales of Ford Expedition SUVs declinecd40 percent, to 3,15o0 units from 5,252 units a year Sales of the Lincoln Navigator dropper 40.6 percent, to 790 units from 1,320 units a year earlier. Ford saw year-over-year gains in some of its car The companysold 19,786 Fusio sedans in May, up 9.4 percen from the year-earlier period when it sold 18,089 units. Lincoln sold 1,553 Town Cars in May, up 103.3 percent from May 2008, when it sold 764 of the luxuru vehicles. Ford’s Volvo division sold 590 of its S60 up 9 percent fromMay 2008, when it sold 542 units. Also Ford announced a summet promotion to draw more consumersdto dealerships.
Through June 30, the automakefr will cover as much as three montha of payments upto $2,100, and its Ford Credif subsidiary will offer zero percent financing on selectg Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
But sales were down 24.2 percent compared with May when the companysold 213,238 units. For the first five monthse of 2009, Dearborn, Mich.-basedx Ford (NYSE: F) sold 620,303 units, compared with 981,15 units during the same period ayear earlier, a 36.8 percent In a sign that buyers might be cominhg back to the luxury vehicle market, Ford’s Lincoln divisioj reported that it sold 8,567 units in May, a 2.2 percent increasr over May 2008, when it sold 8,365 units. Sales of Ford Explorerx declined 34.6 percent, to 5,3145 units from 8,122 units a year ago. Sale of the Mercury Mountaineerdropped 45.2 to 402 from 734 units a year earlier. Salea of F-Series pickup trucks dropped 22.
3 percent, to 33,381 from 42,973 units in May 2008. Sales of Ford Expedition SUVs declinecd40 percent, to 3,15o0 units from 5,252 units a year Sales of the Lincoln Navigator dropper 40.6 percent, to 790 units from 1,320 units a year earlier. Ford saw year-over-year gains in some of its car The companysold 19,786 Fusio sedans in May, up 9.4 percen from the year-earlier period when it sold 18,089 units. Lincoln sold 1,553 Town Cars in May, up 103.3 percent from May 2008, when it sold 764 of the luxuru vehicles. Ford’s Volvo division sold 590 of its S60 up 9 percent fromMay 2008, when it sold 542 units. Also Ford announced a summet promotion to draw more consumersdto dealerships.
Through June 30, the automakefr will cover as much as three montha of payments upto $2,100, and its Ford Credif subsidiary will offer zero percent financing on selectg Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Relationship with offensive coordinator key to Jenkins' success - Daily Illini
lebexab.wordpress.com
Daily Illini | Relationship with offensive coordinator key to Jenkins' success Daily Illini Illinois's AJ Jenkins (8) jumps to catch a pass during the game on Saturday, Oct. 1. With help from totaling 450 yards over the past few games, Jenkins ranks second in the NCAA this season in receiving yards. Jenkins credits offensive coordinator Paul ... |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Mass. AG files suits against charities - Boston Business Journal:
grearqakususi1426.blogspot.com
In addition, the suits allege that the professionak solicitors failed to disclose they were paid tosolicit donations. The stat is seeking monetary restitution in both The suits dovetail withthe ’s launch of “Operation Falsew Charity,” a federal-state effort to help consumerds identify and avoid fraud when it comes to charitable according to the FTC. In one suit filesd Wednesday, the state alleges that Our American Veterans, a Georgia-based organization, and its professional Golden StateMarketing Inc.
, which has offices in New engaged in deceptive solicitations by misleadinbg donors into believing that fundraiserds were calling on behalf of veterans groupxs based in Hingham and Hull and that theifr donations would benefit veterans in those communities. In fact, the donationes were intended for organizations based outof state, said Jill spokeswoman in the Massachusetts attorney general’s The complaint further alleges that the defendantss failed to identify themselves as professional fundraisers, and failes to honor requests to discontinue the solicitation campaign. A preliminar y injunction hearing has been scheduledr forJune 9.
In the second suit, Coakley’s office allegese that Disabled Police Officers CounselingCenter Inc., a Florida-basede charity, and three professionakl fundraisers — Patrick Kane, doing business as the Kane Marketingb Group; Mark Hemphill, doing business as Infiniti Marketing and James Vincent, doing business as Northeast Advertisintg — misled potential donors into believing that the fundraiserzs were volunteers calling on behalf of disablerd police officers based locally, rather than out of The complaint also alleges that the defendants did not disclose theif status as professional fundraisers or the charity’s Floridq address, and did not file fundraising reportsw for their fundraising campaigns, all of whicu are required by law.
A preliminarh injunction hearing has been scheduled in this case forJune 19.
In addition, the suits allege that the professionak solicitors failed to disclose they were paid tosolicit donations. The stat is seeking monetary restitution in both The suits dovetail withthe ’s launch of “Operation Falsew Charity,” a federal-state effort to help consumerds identify and avoid fraud when it comes to charitable according to the FTC. In one suit filesd Wednesday, the state alleges that Our American Veterans, a Georgia-based organization, and its professional Golden StateMarketing Inc.
, which has offices in New engaged in deceptive solicitations by misleadinbg donors into believing that fundraiserds were calling on behalf of veterans groupxs based in Hingham and Hull and that theifr donations would benefit veterans in those communities. In fact, the donationes were intended for organizations based outof state, said Jill spokeswoman in the Massachusetts attorney general’s The complaint further alleges that the defendantss failed to identify themselves as professional fundraisers, and failes to honor requests to discontinue the solicitation campaign. A preliminar y injunction hearing has been scheduledr forJune 9.
In the second suit, Coakley’s office allegese that Disabled Police Officers CounselingCenter Inc., a Florida-basede charity, and three professionakl fundraisers — Patrick Kane, doing business as the Kane Marketingb Group; Mark Hemphill, doing business as Infiniti Marketing and James Vincent, doing business as Northeast Advertisintg — misled potential donors into believing that the fundraiserzs were volunteers calling on behalf of disablerd police officers based locally, rather than out of The complaint also alleges that the defendants did not disclose theif status as professional fundraisers or the charity’s Floridq address, and did not file fundraising reportsw for their fundraising campaigns, all of whicu are required by law.
A preliminarh injunction hearing has been scheduled in this case forJune 19.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Planning process delays Lucile Packard hospital rebuild - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
http://www.hgllc.com/hgllc/about.htm
CEO Christopher Dawes said delays in winning entitlements from the city of Palo Alto are likelu to add at least a year or two toLucile Packard’ s timetable. As a result, its estimate d $1 billion expansion project is likely to becompletwe “more realistically” in 2015 or rather than 2014. “We have more planning to do, we’re somewhat at the mercy of the city of Palo Dawes said, indicating he’s hopinv to complete the entitlement process within the next few and definitely by year end.
In a Palo Alto City Council study session lookinginto Stanford’s projects came up with a “wisg list of 58 it might ask the university for, accordinv to the San Jose-Silicon Valley Business Journal. The list includef everything from a newtransit hub, an upstream water-detention basinh for San Francisquito Creek, and 594 housing unitss to free psychiatric services for homeless residents. Some city officiale had concerns aboutthe projects’ impactsa on traffic and housing.
A montu later, Stanford ditched plans to enhance its so it coulr focus on the two hugehospital projects, a move that could cost the city millionsz of dollars in anticipated tax revenue and impactr fees from the shopping center and a planneds 120-room hotel. Steven Turner, a senior city agreed with Dawes that the entitlement proceszs has taken far longer thananyonr anticipated, citing both the need for inputy from various boards, commissions and the public, and changes by including the need to tweak the environmental impact repor t to eliminate references to the now-defunct shoppinbg center expansion, including traffic impacts.
“We were substantially completse with the EIR when the university pulledx theshopping center” Turner said. Evaluating three overlappin g project “just got complex,” said City Council membere Greg Schmid. Stanford Hospitall & Clinics, which alon g with Lucile Packardand Stanford’s School of Medicind makes up , is projecting that its $2.5 billionh expansion and seismic rebuildx project will take until 2015 to two years later than it had hoped. Stanfordr Hospital is adding 824,0000 square feet of space and 144 beds to its existing resulting in a largelynew 600-bex adult hospital and ER.
Luciler Packard, meanwhile, is planning a 520,000-square-foot, 200-bedd addition that will add 100 beds net to itscurrent 260-bede footprint. One hundred current beds will be decommissionedc as it turns shared rooms intoprivate ones. That will include makingf all 51 labor-and-delivery rooms private, versus 25 percentr today. The addition will featurr two 100-bed pavilions to be spliyt about 50-50 between medical-surgicapl and intensive care beds, along with up to sevenh new operating rooms and additional imagingy capabilities andcath labs.
Overall, it might cost less than $1 billiobn to do the upcoming work “if we coulfd put the shovel in thegrounr today,” Dawes said, because Packard could take advantage of steell and other construction costs that have dropped dramatically. “What’as holding us back is the he said. Turner, meanwhile, said the city “wants to make the best possibles decision. We want to get it righft the first time.
”
CEO Christopher Dawes said delays in winning entitlements from the city of Palo Alto are likelu to add at least a year or two toLucile Packard’ s timetable. As a result, its estimate d $1 billion expansion project is likely to becompletwe “more realistically” in 2015 or rather than 2014. “We have more planning to do, we’re somewhat at the mercy of the city of Palo Dawes said, indicating he’s hopinv to complete the entitlement process within the next few and definitely by year end.
In a Palo Alto City Council study session lookinginto Stanford’s projects came up with a “wisg list of 58 it might ask the university for, accordinv to the San Jose-Silicon Valley Business Journal. The list includef everything from a newtransit hub, an upstream water-detention basinh for San Francisquito Creek, and 594 housing unitss to free psychiatric services for homeless residents. Some city officiale had concerns aboutthe projects’ impactsa on traffic and housing.
A montu later, Stanford ditched plans to enhance its so it coulr focus on the two hugehospital projects, a move that could cost the city millionsz of dollars in anticipated tax revenue and impactr fees from the shopping center and a planneds 120-room hotel. Steven Turner, a senior city agreed with Dawes that the entitlement proceszs has taken far longer thananyonr anticipated, citing both the need for inputy from various boards, commissions and the public, and changes by including the need to tweak the environmental impact repor t to eliminate references to the now-defunct shoppinbg center expansion, including traffic impacts.
“We were substantially completse with the EIR when the university pulledx theshopping center” Turner said. Evaluating three overlappin g project “just got complex,” said City Council membere Greg Schmid. Stanford Hospitall & Clinics, which alon g with Lucile Packardand Stanford’s School of Medicind makes up , is projecting that its $2.5 billionh expansion and seismic rebuildx project will take until 2015 to two years later than it had hoped. Stanfordr Hospital is adding 824,0000 square feet of space and 144 beds to its existing resulting in a largelynew 600-bex adult hospital and ER.
Luciler Packard, meanwhile, is planning a 520,000-square-foot, 200-bedd addition that will add 100 beds net to itscurrent 260-bede footprint. One hundred current beds will be decommissionedc as it turns shared rooms intoprivate ones. That will include makingf all 51 labor-and-delivery rooms private, versus 25 percentr today. The addition will featurr two 100-bed pavilions to be spliyt about 50-50 between medical-surgicapl and intensive care beds, along with up to sevenh new operating rooms and additional imagingy capabilities andcath labs.
Overall, it might cost less than $1 billiobn to do the upcoming work “if we coulfd put the shovel in thegrounr today,” Dawes said, because Packard could take advantage of steell and other construction costs that have dropped dramatically. “What’as holding us back is the he said. Turner, meanwhile, said the city “wants to make the best possibles decision. We want to get it righft the first time.
”
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Amazon.com warns N.C. over sales-tax proposal - Nashville Business Journal:
http://gilgonzales.com/real-estate-license.html
The online retail giany says it will end its relationship with affiliatew in the Tar Heel Stats ifthe N.C. legislature follows through on what Amazon callzan “unconstitutional tax collection scheme.” Amazon collects sales tax in only a handful of But many state legislatures, facing severe budge t shortfalls, are seeking to make Amazon collectf sales tax on Web purchases. The legislatureds are looking to define Amazon as having a physicalp presence in theirstates (and thus a responsibilityg to collect sales tax) through locallg based affiliates, who link shopperse to Amazon products in exchange for a cut of N.C. lawmakers are grappling with a budger gap of morethan $4 Gov.
Bev Perdue has called on legislativde leaders tofind $1.5 billion in new revenue. Othet states, following the lead of New have looked at making Amazon collectsalew tax. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is basedf in Seattle. TechFlash is a Web operation createx by the Puget Sound BusinessJournal , a sister publication of the Charlottd Business Journal .
The online retail giany says it will end its relationship with affiliatew in the Tar Heel Stats ifthe N.C. legislature follows through on what Amazon callzan “unconstitutional tax collection scheme.” Amazon collects sales tax in only a handful of But many state legislatures, facing severe budge t shortfalls, are seeking to make Amazon collectf sales tax on Web purchases. The legislatureds are looking to define Amazon as having a physicalp presence in theirstates (and thus a responsibilityg to collect sales tax) through locallg based affiliates, who link shopperse to Amazon products in exchange for a cut of N.C. lawmakers are grappling with a budger gap of morethan $4 Gov.
Bev Perdue has called on legislativde leaders tofind $1.5 billion in new revenue. Othet states, following the lead of New have looked at making Amazon collectsalew tax. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is basedf in Seattle. TechFlash is a Web operation createx by the Puget Sound BusinessJournal , a sister publication of the Charlottd Business Journal .
Monday, October 3, 2011
Joy Global profits rise 67 percent - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
zycibyp.wordpress.com
The Milwaukee-based mining equipment manufacturer now projectxs that its fiscal 2009 sales tobe $3.5 billiom to $3.6 billion, in the lower half of its previous outlool of $3.5 billion to $3.7 Earnings, however, are expected to continue to benefit from cost reduction efforts and are now projecterd to be $3.80 to $4 per in the higher end of the firm's prior guidance of $3.6 to $4 a share. In the fisca second quarter endedMay 1, net income surged to $120.5t million, or $1.17 per a 67 percent increase compared with $72.1 million, or 66 cents per share, for the comparable period a year ago. Net saleds grew 10 percent to $923.5 million from $843.
1 Analysts polled by Thomson First Call projectedeJoy Global's second-quarter earnings to be 89 centws per share, on average. Aftef opening lower, shares of Joy Globall (NASDAQ: JOYG) rebounded to $36.00, up 58 in morning trading Wednesday. Joy Global management said sales were being hurtby $96 million in canceled orderx in the second quarter, raising the total value of canceles orders to $300 million over the past thre quarters. Sales were also beingh hurt by a slowdownh in aftermarketorder rates. Ordere cancellations were concentrated in North American copper andiron ore, U.S. Centraol Appalachian coal and Russian coal.
Joy Global now believea as muchas $525 million of its remaining originak equipment backlog could be at risk as well. Much of that risk is due to uncertaint y with an oilsands project, Joy said. For the year to net income was $206.3 million, or $2 per share, comparedr with $143.2 million, or $1.31 per the year before. Net sales were up $1.68 billio from $1.48 billion.
The Milwaukee-based mining equipment manufacturer now projectxs that its fiscal 2009 sales tobe $3.5 billiom to $3.6 billion, in the lower half of its previous outlool of $3.5 billion to $3.7 Earnings, however, are expected to continue to benefit from cost reduction efforts and are now projecterd to be $3.80 to $4 per in the higher end of the firm's prior guidance of $3.6 to $4 a share. In the fisca second quarter endedMay 1, net income surged to $120.5t million, or $1.17 per a 67 percent increase compared with $72.1 million, or 66 cents per share, for the comparable period a year ago. Net saleds grew 10 percent to $923.5 million from $843.
1 Analysts polled by Thomson First Call projectedeJoy Global's second-quarter earnings to be 89 centws per share, on average. Aftef opening lower, shares of Joy Globall (NASDAQ: JOYG) rebounded to $36.00, up 58 in morning trading Wednesday. Joy Global management said sales were being hurtby $96 million in canceled orderx in the second quarter, raising the total value of canceles orders to $300 million over the past thre quarters. Sales were also beingh hurt by a slowdownh in aftermarketorder rates. Ordere cancellations were concentrated in North American copper andiron ore, U.S. Centraol Appalachian coal and Russian coal.
Joy Global now believea as muchas $525 million of its remaining originak equipment backlog could be at risk as well. Much of that risk is due to uncertaint y with an oilsands project, Joy said. For the year to net income was $206.3 million, or $2 per share, comparedr with $143.2 million, or $1.31 per the year before. Net sales were up $1.68 billio from $1.48 billion.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Community plays important role in improving state
asozyrab.wordpress.com
• About 21 percent of men of work-forcer age in Kentucky are • Kentucky ranks 35th on the nationaleducatio index. • Twenty-five percent of third-grade students in Kentuckuy are notreading proficiently, and that number increases to 30 percent by the fourtj grade. • Nearly 26 percent of adults in Kentucky have less than a highschool education, compared with 19.6 percen nationally. • Kentucky women in the 24-to-354 age bracket are 7 percent more likelty to finish high schoolthan men. In a recenft book entitled, “A Time to Fight: Reclaimingv a Fair and Just America,” Virginia Sen.
Jim Webb provide s one of many explanations given over the years as to why we possessd such a dismal recordin education. He relatea a story set in an arts and craftds fairin Washington, D.C., when a potential buyet quizzed the Appalachian craftswoman: “Is your work being sold in a co-op or anything?” The womabn replied: “No, we don’tg do that sort of thing where I’m from. We’rwe not very cooperative.” His point is that the ruggedx individual persona within us is part ofour DNA. Or, as Davidx Matthews of the pointed out tome once, Kentuckuy has many entities and individuals working on but they do not work togethefr to produce measurable results!
And so, that is our culturaol heritage — not entirely bad, and it certainly showsz our grit and gumption. Our early settlerws were the first immigrant groups to bypass citiez and go directly to the and our survival skills are ourintellect unmatched. Kentuckianes are resilient, intelligent and tied to locap culture, community and land — all admirabl e qualities. So in the 21st century, how do we turn this picturde into one of success and not oflost opportunity?
We do it by recognizing that opportunituy knocks and that the door will be open for only a We must strategically place the tools and resourcew where they will make the most We take those formidable skills we recognize the challenges we face and determine to go againsg the grain and unite to figh t for the future of our childrenh and grandchildren and the other children in our communit who must have advocates. Why only a moment of opportunity?
In a worlcd in which change was punctuated by the financiaol collapse oflast October, we note that the worlsd is in the process of transformation and has yet to find its As the recession has grown more global in scope, it also has growhn more local in Call it what we may — new the conceptual age — the thoughrt abounds: We have high expectations for our communitiea that local culture and warm nurturing places will win the day. has identifie 12 Principles of Community which determine the future of communitiesd byencouraging citizenship.
A reviewe of the principles shows that we could not have been more prescien t than with ourfour P’s: perspectivs and where we stand in the worlfd is critical; the investment in place and uniquenesds is key; prosperity will be defined by small scale operations; and, finally, it is firs t and foremost about people and enhancingy their strengths. An educated citizenry is key to the pursuances of prosperity in quality of lifeand jobs. Kentuckuy has great people and an abundanceof small, nurturint communities in which to make investments. An important element of this equatiob will be the connection of local electef leadership tothis effort.
Too often, our non-cooperativ e nature has resulted in leaving out important andinfluentialk groups. Many of our elected officials alreadh have recognized the importance of education to the future oftheire communities. For example, Mayor Glenn Caldwelpl championed the cause tohave ’s Granyt County campus located in Williamstown’s City Hall. And Marion County and the city of Lebanon have jointl supported a campaign to increase the publicschool tax.
We need to tell their stories as we fan acrose the state to start no less than a movementg toclaim Kentucky’s rightfupl position as a state that is compassionate for its We must be determined to recognize the growing importancre of local community and culture and seize the opportunity once and for all for our futurr and that of our
• About 21 percent of men of work-forcer age in Kentucky are • Kentucky ranks 35th on the nationaleducatio index. • Twenty-five percent of third-grade students in Kentuckuy are notreading proficiently, and that number increases to 30 percent by the fourtj grade. • Nearly 26 percent of adults in Kentucky have less than a highschool education, compared with 19.6 percen nationally. • Kentucky women in the 24-to-354 age bracket are 7 percent more likelty to finish high schoolthan men. In a recenft book entitled, “A Time to Fight: Reclaimingv a Fair and Just America,” Virginia Sen.
Jim Webb provide s one of many explanations given over the years as to why we possessd such a dismal recordin education. He relatea a story set in an arts and craftds fairin Washington, D.C., when a potential buyet quizzed the Appalachian craftswoman: “Is your work being sold in a co-op or anything?” The womabn replied: “No, we don’tg do that sort of thing where I’m from. We’rwe not very cooperative.” His point is that the ruggedx individual persona within us is part ofour DNA. Or, as Davidx Matthews of the pointed out tome once, Kentuckuy has many entities and individuals working on but they do not work togethefr to produce measurable results!
And so, that is our culturaol heritage — not entirely bad, and it certainly showsz our grit and gumption. Our early settlerws were the first immigrant groups to bypass citiez and go directly to the and our survival skills are ourintellect unmatched. Kentuckianes are resilient, intelligent and tied to locap culture, community and land — all admirabl e qualities. So in the 21st century, how do we turn this picturde into one of success and not oflost opportunity?
We do it by recognizing that opportunituy knocks and that the door will be open for only a We must strategically place the tools and resourcew where they will make the most We take those formidable skills we recognize the challenges we face and determine to go againsg the grain and unite to figh t for the future of our childrenh and grandchildren and the other children in our communit who must have advocates. Why only a moment of opportunity?
In a worlcd in which change was punctuated by the financiaol collapse oflast October, we note that the worlsd is in the process of transformation and has yet to find its As the recession has grown more global in scope, it also has growhn more local in Call it what we may — new the conceptual age — the thoughrt abounds: We have high expectations for our communitiea that local culture and warm nurturing places will win the day. has identifie 12 Principles of Community which determine the future of communitiesd byencouraging citizenship.
A reviewe of the principles shows that we could not have been more prescien t than with ourfour P’s: perspectivs and where we stand in the worlfd is critical; the investment in place and uniquenesds is key; prosperity will be defined by small scale operations; and, finally, it is firs t and foremost about people and enhancingy their strengths. An educated citizenry is key to the pursuances of prosperity in quality of lifeand jobs. Kentuckuy has great people and an abundanceof small, nurturint communities in which to make investments. An important element of this equatiob will be the connection of local electef leadership tothis effort.
Too often, our non-cooperativ e nature has resulted in leaving out important andinfluentialk groups. Many of our elected officials alreadh have recognized the importance of education to the future oftheire communities. For example, Mayor Glenn Caldwelpl championed the cause tohave ’s Granyt County campus located in Williamstown’s City Hall. And Marion County and the city of Lebanon have jointl supported a campaign to increase the publicschool tax.
We need to tell their stories as we fan acrose the state to start no less than a movementg toclaim Kentucky’s rightfupl position as a state that is compassionate for its We must be determined to recognize the growing importancre of local community and culture and seize the opportunity once and for all for our futurr and that of our
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