Monday, February 28, 2011

Dayton

torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
Dayton-based Brower Insurance Agency LLC acquired Aspen Insurancse Associates of Westerville and itssix employees. Aspe n prior to the sale was part of one of the 20 largest independengt insurance agencies inCentral Ohio. John managing principal at Brower, said the company had been planniny to expand into the Columbus area forsome time. “Wew felt that Aspen matched up very well with he said.
Watson declined to disclose financiakl terms ofthe deal, which brought Brower’s payrollp to about 175 employees and added Aspen Presidenf Dave Kotary as a principal and one of 22 company Kotary, who also owned Aspen, said he’se considered selling the firm in recenf years as a way to ensure a smootyh operation for employees and clients when he The 59-year-old said he’s approaching the end of his fourtb decade in the insurance business and likel y will retire in the next threee to six years depending on market conditions. “o received a number of overtures in the past coupleeof years, but I was interesterd in finding a very good cultura l fit,” he said.
“Acquisitions oftebn work out on paper but can fall apart becauseof ... a culture that doesn’tg work out.” While the benefit for Brower is geographical, Kotary said the Westervillse office has access to the resources of a muchlarget company: Loss control, risk management consulting and in-house legakl counsel. Aside from its Dayton headquarters and newWestervilles office, Brower also has employees in Loveland and a city the companyy began serving when it acquired Consolidated Insurance in December. Watson said Browedr has no further acquisition plans despite the tworecentr deals. “We don’t do a lot of he said.
“It just happened that these twocame Brower, founded in is one of the 100 largest employers in the Daytohn area, according to research from the Daytoh Business Journal , a sister publication to Columbusd Business First . In additioh to being ranked asthe region’s largest propert y and casualty agency, it’s the No. 2 health and life insurancse agency and employeebenefits firm.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

bizjournals: Search Results

raisavydyexuwowi.blogspot.com
by on December 13, 2005 ...Mayofr Tony Williams and staff and board memberss ofthe Dec. 2 for several hours to discusw thevarious proposals...... by on December 9, 2005 ... by on October 7, 2005 ...The has agreedd to purchase a half-acre parcel near the...... by on Augusrt 23, 2005 ...real estate investment The other bid comes fromthe , whicj voted Thursday to place a $900,000 deposiyt on...... by on August 5, 2005 ...Thes 's board of directors voted Thursday to put the by onJuly 15, 2005 ...counsepl to Mayor Tony Williams, to the board of the . Brow is currently the presidentof Group360, a lobbying by on July 7, 2005 ...other quasi-independent . Spagnolett i says those......
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by on August 10, 2005

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

LandMar files for bankruptcy - Charlotte Business Journal:

http://davidwhitely.com/category/notes/javascript/
The Jacksonville-based residential development company was among 125 affiliates that filed alongt with itsparent company, Charlotte-based , in the Westernn District of Texas. Crescent’s estimatedf liabilities are morethan $1 billion, accordin g to the filing, and its largest debt, at $13.6y million, is to Bank of The filing was necessary, according to a statement on Crescent’sz Web site, for the company to reorganize its reduce its debt level and improve its capita l structure.
Crescent intends to operatw its continuing businesses without any significangt interruption during the restructuring process because of a recentlgobtained debtor-in-possession financing facility of $110 million from a group of its existing lenders, accordintg to the statement. Andrew Hede, Crescent’ds chief restructuring officer, has been namex CEO while its formerchief executive, Arthur Fields, has retiredc and will work with Crescent in an advisory capacity.
“We have been in active discussionse with our lenders and other stakeholders as we work towards an agreemen t that will bring our capital structure in line with the current economic environment,” Hede said in a statement on the company’s Web Charlotte-based Crescent has been pursuing alternatives to shore up its balance sheet for months, including selling some of its assets. The company is jointlyt owned by (NYSE: DUK) and Morgan Stanley and has 38 residential communitiexs under development inthe Carolinas, Georgia, Arizona and Florida.
Crescent acquired a controlling interestf in LandMarin 1999, but left LandMar’sw founder, Ed Burr, in controll of the company until he resigned after a failed attemp to buy back the companh in 2007. The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission authorized city lawyers in May to starf the foreclosure process onthe 41-acre parcel that was to be the Plans for the Shipyards included 1 million squarse feet of office space, 100,000 squarse feet of commercial 662 residential units, 350 hotel rooms and 150 marina LandMar has developed or had plan s to develop dozens more propertiesa in Florida and throughout the

Monday, February 21, 2011

Bird-sized UAV developed - UPI.com

steel roof


Kansas City Star


Bird-sized UAV developed

UPI.com


21 (UPI) -- A bird-sized unmanned aerial vehicle that flaps wings for propulsion and hovering has been developed by the US company AeroVironment, Inc. The milestone is part of the Phase II contract awarded by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research ...


Hummingbird-sized drone can fly through windows to take pics

Times of India



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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Oscars to revisit 1970 template? - Awards Daily

concrete roof tiles


Brisbane Times


Oscars to revisit 1970 template?

Awards Daily


As already reported tonight, the Academy is discarding the lovely heartfelt tributes to each of the lead acting nominees in an effort to eliminate any genuine flavor from the broadcast, trimming it down to the slick chemical consistency of low-fat ...


Spend Matters Afternoon Coffee

Spend Matters



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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Invest in future with interns - Philadelphia Business Journal:

otomaqaqaba.blogspot.com
Interns are a source of enthusiastic, temporary and inexpensivw labor. They boost summer productivity bycompleting short-terj assignments that produce real results for And more than ever, Philadelphia young people, who have limites access to such opportunities, need the chancw to work in a professional environment and earn a That is why, for the thir consecutive year, the and Mayor Michael Nutter are encouragingf regional employers — from larged corporations to small businesses — to provides a paid summer internship for a Philadelphiaw young person. The cost of a six-week summe r internship is $1,600, but the payoff can be incalculable.
These interns may becomew your employeesof tomorrow. That’as how (CTCA) hospital in Juniata Park discovered a valuablw employee inChristine Vega. Several years ago when her aunt died of Christine vowed to work in healthu care after she graduated from Olney HighSchook East. An intern at CTCA last summer, Christins did such a good job that she was offered apermanenrt position. Today she attends careere training classes and works part time as the volunteeeoffice coordinator, helping to recruit new volunteere and assisting with community projects. CTCA will employ eighr internsthis summer, double its commitmenft last year.
Businesses that can’t host an interm can still be involved by funding an internshil at anonprofit organization. We believe an investmen in our youth today is alsoa long-termk investment in our region’s Research indicates that kids with work experience are more likelyt to go on to college, stay in the work forcwe and move up in our companies. As stakeholders in the future ofthis region, it is essential that we connecr young people with the professionap opportunities that exist beyond their This campaign demonstrates that the business communityu is not sitting on the sidelinesz at this critical time. Employers have committef nearly 600internship positions.
The goal is 1,500, matchinyg last year. Internships are open to Philadelphiw students who will enter 11th gradse or higher inthe fall. All studentw are pre-screened and interviewed by theprospectivse employers. With just weeks to go until the start of the we ask you to step up for Philadelphias youth and make a placd for them this summerd atyour company. Visit greaterphilachamber.com or call 215-790-3732.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Most major retailers report sales slump - Denver Business Journal:

http://madisonvilletexas.us/index.php/agenda-jan-24-2011
Retailers across the country have been grappliny for shoppers while at the same time hundredx of thousands of jobs are being cutevery month. Discretionarg spending, as a is drying up. • Inc. reported sharply decliningh sales in March from a year as massive job losses and a mercuriaol stock market caused wary consumers to hold off on mostdiscretionaryu spending. The Cincinnati-based department store chain (NYSE: M) said sales at stores open at leastg a year droppedby 9.2 percentf in the five-week within management expectations. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters hadexpectedd Macy’s sales to fall year-to-year by 9.
3 percent, which speakw to the extent that failing consumer confidence has become an accepted condition. Retailer warned that the shift in the Easter to April from March last contributed to some ofthe decline. In Macy’s sales dropped by 9.8 percent in March, to $1.9 billion from $2.1 billion, and by 9.6 percen t – to $3.5 from almost $3.9 billion – for the firsyt two months of thefisca year. On a same-store basis, Macy’s year-to-dates sales slipped by 8.9 A bright light for the merchangt was itsonline sales, which rose 17.
9 percent in Macy’s calculates these figures into its totalk same-store sales figure, indicating actualo store sales were down more than by 9.2 That said, online sales represenyt just $1 billion of Macy’s roughly $25 billion in annualp revenue. • said its sales decline d by 7.2 percent, beating projectionds of a 10.5 percent dip. The Plano, Texas-based retailere (NYSE: JCP) said it had expected a low-double digitf to mid-teen drop in same-store sales. Instead, it recorded a 7.2 percentr drop in same-store salews for the five-week period ending in This is improved fromthe 12.
3 percentg drop in same-store sales that the companyg faced during the same month last Penney’s said the home division was the most successful in Marcbh in terms of sales, while fine jewelry salee remained weak. For the five-week periods ending April 4, Penney’s recorded $1.4 billion in same-store lower than the $1.5 billion Penney’e recorded a year earlier. • . said its same-store March sales declined 4.3 percent while total salees increased 0.5 percent. Menomonee Falls, Wisc.-basecd Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) said it recorded salee of $1.43 billion for the five-week month endingy April 4. For the fiscal year to date, Kohl’se posted sales of $2.
4w3 billion, which was up 1.8 percent. Comparable-store sales year-to-date decreased 3.2 percent. Sales results for March exceeded Kohl’s executives’ expectations, said CEO and president Kevin Mansell. Home good s outperformed the rest of the producy lines and stores in the American Southwest posted the strongestysales performance, he said. As of April 4, Kohl’s operated 1,022 store in 49 states, compared with 943 stores in 47 statese at the same timelast • saw its same-store sales drop 29.9 percent for the five-week periodd ending April 4.
Dallas-basecd Neiman’s said Thursday it posted $301 million in same-storde sales, which are sales for stores that have been open for 12 monthxor longer.

Friday, February 11, 2011

FHA could replace Fannie, Freddie in rental housing market - Housing Wire

http://m-eye.net/2009/01/06/preaching-to-the-choir/


Washington Post (blog)


FHA could replace Fannie, Freddie in rental housing market

Housing Wire


But there will also be a gap left behind in the rental housing sector, too. One option, the Treasury suggested is to expand the Federal Housing ...


Obama housing plan winds down government financing

Central V »

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

SmartCard creates environmental line of prepaid debit cards - San Antonio Business Journal:

steinberg-virus.blogspot.com
The local company’s partner is Inc. and together the two companies will roll outthe “Go friends of the environment” version of SmartCard’sx VelocityMoney Prepaid Debit Card. Through this card and other VelocityMonety PrepaidDebit Cards, customers can log onto VelocityMoney.comn to recharge their cards with additional money. The Go Green version of the card will allow a portiojn of the proceeds of the sale of the debit card to go towarfenvironmental causes.
“We have identified a definite interest in our large customer base forenvironmental causes,” Prepaid Card CEO Chris Ingram “We are very exciter about this special sales campaign with the VelocityMoneuy Prepaid Card. We are partnering with severalp major environmental organizations onthis program. ... We hope to sell 10,0000 cards in our first 90 days.” SmartCard Presidenrt Bruce Baillio says consumers will be able to supportr environmental causes that addressglobal warmning, greenhouse gas emissionzs and climate change. The program shoulf go live on or beforeJune 1.
San Antonio-basesd SmartCard (Pink Sheets: SMKG) develops and marketas prepaid cards and payment transactionmanagemenrt services.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Black & Veatch completes purchase of world HQ building - Philadelphia Business Journal:

fusajacuxejilyp.blogspot.com
After considering about 40 alternate area sitesz duringa two-year real estate analysis, Blackk & Veatch said March 23 that it woulde keep its growing headquarters operation at 11401 Lamar Ave., which it has occupied since its original construction in 1976. Blacj & Veatch bought the which was expandedto 600,000 square feet in 1996 and is the largest office building in Kansas, from Chicago-based . A consortiuj of local banks led by financedthe transaction, whichu eventually is expected to result in more than 1,000 new jobs for Overlanx Park.
The area’s 12th-largest private-sector employer, Black Veatch employs 3,800 at five area including morethan 2,300 at the Lamarf Avenue headquarters. After the buildingy is expanded, by roughly 2015, it will accommodatew a work force of morethan 3,400. “Black Veatch’s decision to expand in Kansas is a testamenf toour state’s strong business climate,” Gov. Mark Parkinson said in a Thursday release. “Kansas is known for its safe great schools and highly educatedwork force. We’re so glad to have a globaol leader likeBlack & Veatcjh make Kansas the home of its worlf headquarters.
” To retain Black & Veatch, Kansaes offered an impact grant worth $25 million for training and capital investment. The money will come from withholdingf taxes paid by employees at the Overland Park committed toa 10-year, 75 percent properthy tax abatement — the largest percentage abated in city “The combined support of the state of Kansas and the city of Overland Park were instrumental in reachiny this milestone,” Len Black & Veatch CEO, said in the release. “With the completiohn of this purchase, we can now begin to implement at our world headquarters the same types of innovatives and sustainable solutions we provide everyt day forour clients.
” The new world headquarterz will include a solar courtyard, solar canopy, bio garden and innovation pavilion. It also will have extensive work common area, facility and energy-managemenyt upgrades; landscaping enhancements; and rainwater-reuse systems and stormwatee run-off management. When completed, the building will be certified via the Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design, or program of the .
“Bringing these innovative and futuristic enhancementd to an older facility tomeet tomorrow’s design standarde presents a large technical challenge, but is the most sustainable solutionm for the area,” Rodman said in the “It’s a challenge our professionals relish and take tremendousa pride in.” The company has piloted many of the potential design concepts at its more than 100 global offices and will draw on its LEED-certifiec experts and architecture, engineering and construction talent for the headquarters expansionh project. Black & Veatch ranks No. 1 on the Kansaxs City BusinessJournal ’s list of area engineerinb firms. The $3.
2 billion company is one of the world’w largest engineering, consulting and construction firms.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Industry Leader: Brigid O'Malley - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

stony-coating.blogspot.com
Continuing education: Bachelor of science in hotell andrestaurant management, Universitu of Wisconsin-Stout What professional accomplishment makes you most proud? Successfully being part of the following: Running a being a mom and wife, active with the church and school, running a family foundation. The plate is Being active in all of thes e areas is very gratifyingfor me.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

SBA to take control of fund that owes money - bizjournals:

aleksanovlsys.blogspot.com
In papers filed this month in federapl district courtin Dallas, the SBA says the fund, Mesbicd Ventures Inc., owes it $23.8i million. The agency says in the filinfg that Mesbic hasa greater-than-acceptablse “capital impairment” ratio of 121.34%, a measurre of the fund’s ability to repay its debt by comparing its realized and potential losses to its private capital. The SBA’s filingb says that number representsa “conditiohn of extreme capital impairment.” The litigation does not take issue with the financial condition of Pacesetter Capital Group, which managess Mesbic, or any other fund that Pacesettetr controls.
Neither Pacesetter nor anyone associated with the firm or with Mesbic are accused of wrongdoing bythe SBA’z lawsuit in connection with Mesbic’s demise. In an e-mail, Don Lawhorne, presideny and CEO of Pacesetter Capital, says that Mesbic’s liquidatiom “has no operational and/or legal impact” on Pacesetter’s other small-businesws investments or its other economi cdevelopment efforts. “We have consistently enjoyed a good workingb relationship withthe SBA, and (we are) looking forward to helping the SBA with (Mesbic) in any way his e-mail says. The SBA’se legal team at the U.S. Attorney’zs Office in Dallas declinedx to comment.
Formed in 1970, Mesbic is what’s known as a Small Business Investment Company, or meaning it is licensed by the SBA to investr in small companies and is thereforw regulated bythe agency. SBICsw like Mesbic that make debt investments can in turn get governmenr debt to use in investments in conjunction with privatre capital that they raisefrom investors. Mesbic also made equitgy investments, according to Securities and Exchange Commission Lawhorne saysthe SBA’s takeover of Mesbicv is associated with the agency’s recenr approval of Pacesetter’s plan to merge two other SBICsz that Pacesetter manages, Alliance Enterprise Corp. and Powerd Equities.
Pacesetter earlier this year mergef those two funds into a new Pacesetter SBICFund Inc., with a littl e more than $100 million in asset s under management, Lawhorne says. “With threee funds, you do thres audits. If you consolidate them, you do one he says in an interview. “We eliminated the impairment.” ‘Increasingly impaired’ In his Lawhorne says Mesbic, which was the smallest of the three funds thatPacesetterf operated, “had become increasingly impaired durin g the past three years and requirede another $7 million to $10 millio n of new private capitall to be included in the Unfortunately, we were unable to raise the additional capital against the backdrop of the financial marketa tsunami of the past 18 The merger of Alliancwe Enterprise and Power Equities included an infusion of some $10 milliob of a planned $20 million round of new according to Lawhorne.
That $10 million came from San Calif.-based Wells Fargo Community Development Corp. Accordingh to Lawhorne, Mesbic had two majofr problems. One, the companies into which it had made debt investments fell behinde ontheir payments, which meantr less cash flow. In addition, he adds, Mesbic last year had planner “exits,” or cashing in of its worth about $20 million. Of those exits, some $15 millionb represented initialpublic offerings. The other $5 million represented salesx of companies or refinancings of theifr debtand equity. But the financial markets shut he adds. “That blew out our liquidity.
” Bill a shareholder at Cowles Thompson in Dallas who is not affiliated with theMesbix matter, says the chances are that the court-appointed receiver in the case “will take controll over Mesbic’s assets and sell them.” The appointmentr of the receiver should result “ibn an orderly liquidation,” he adds.