bakakinkorypon.blogspot.com
The group, which includes his son and former LCA officeerCraig Joffe; former LCA CFO Alan Jason Mogel; Robert Robert Weisman; and Edward VonderBrink; own about 11.4 percent of LCA’s shares. They filed a preliminaryh consent statement with the to reconstitutethe board. The shareholders citedf their ongoing concerns, including LCA’s current financial strugglesd and loss ofshareholder value. LCA (NASDAQ: LCAV) stock now tradews at around $4.25 per share, down from its high of aboutg $32 several years ago. LCA’s board recently adopted a “poison pill” provision to head off a potentia takeover bythe group.
The nominated directorws include: Stephen Joffe; Mogel, a partner with New York law firm ; dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at the ; VonderBrink, ownef of and a former director of the Entrepreneurialo Centerat ; and Weisman, president of investment bank Great Watet Partners LLC and a formerd managing director for McDonald Investments. Stephe Joffe was ousted as chairman of LCAin 2006, afteer directors said he invested in a rivao company. Craig Joffe, who was appointed interimn CEO, left the company and its board of directors inMarcgh 2007. Buckey resigned in June 2008.
LCA-Vision, headquartered in provides laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus The company operates 77 laser vision correctiom centers in the United States and a joint venturdin Canada.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
No longer just the sidekick, Aly Raisman pulls off stunner in Olympic qualifying - Washington Post
ejyceh.wordpress.com
No longer just the sidekick, Aly Raisman pulls off stunner in Olympic qualifying Washington Post currentDate:7/28/12 8:0 EDT! allowComments:true! displayComments:true! No longer just the sidekick, Aly Raisman pulls off stunner in Olympic qualifying. LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Scott Parsons of the United States competes during the Men's Kayak ... |
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Fraud busters co-pilot with attorneys in recent investigations - bizjournals:
authors-morphology.blogspot.com
Mukamal is an accountantf by trainingand certification, but such calls often come from “Just the other day, attorneys for a trustee overseeinvg a condo development called and ‘Would you look at this for us?,’” Mukamal “We looked at all the history, accountinv standards and determined there was a cause of action againsyt the directors and officers.” Accountants and attorneys work together more closel y on fraud investigation than just about any other task.
Given the current era of real estate fraufd and Ponzi scheme blowups likeBernardr Madoff’s, the skill and cooperation of good lawyers and accountants are more important than Mukamal has played many rolesx in large financial investigations, from being in control of an estate as a trusteer or receiver to providing advicew for other receivers or attorneys. He was a trusteed for a small part ofSouth Florida’s largestg bank fraud at factoring company E.S. Bankest. “Fodr the most part, accountants are used as a but good attorneys are open to suggestions from aforensifc accountant,” he said.
When he’s a receiver or Mukamal, a partner at MarcumRachlin, oftem coordinates the efforts of multiple lawyereand accountants. “I would be a conductor and directy my accountantsand attorneys,” he “Legal fees are not insignificant. In some I know I woulcd have a nice judgment I could hang on my butthat doesn’t do any good if you’ved siphoned off all the money in obtaining the judgment.” In one of Mukamal’s recent cases as a bankruptcg trustee, he secured a $6 million settlement in disputeas with creditors of Laminatse Kingdom, a Doral company that entered bankruptcy with $20 milliobn in claims against it.
He was represented by attorneyy Gary Freedmanof Tabas, . One of South Florida’ best-known financial investigators is Lewis Freemam ofLewis B. Freeman & Partners in Miami’d Coconut Grove. Freeman’s biggest case was as receive r inthe E.S. Bankesg fraud case, where he examined money streamsd involving billionsof dollars. He was first appointedf by the court as aneutrao examiner, and then becam e a bankruptcy trustee. In that he was working with federal prosecutores and relied on the supporgt of threelaw “Basically, the prosecutors have to do ‘CSI: Miami’ on the Freeman said.
“So, the plaintiffs which is usually the government have to followthe money, and we are the ones who actuallg go in and do the autopsy.” Freeman worka mostly as an accountant, but is also an attorney. His legal help for E.S. Bankesr came from Paul Battistaat , speciap counsel Steve Thomas and attorneys at Bergert Singerman. Investigating and recovering from real estate fraud has become a cottage industry for some lawyereand accountants. Attorney Mark King of Jones Walker in Miamoi has worked with to try to get a large Bonita Springse condominium project back on its One of their tasks is figuring out if any fraud occurred and how the moneh mightbe recovered.
“Often, a developeer of a troubled project will take out allthe cash, and attemptg to justify it by saying it’ss past-due management fees,” King said. “So, you need someone who understands managing properties and who is strong in numberxs to understand why that isor isn’t so. KW has accountantds who can do that.” The eventual goal, with the help, is to explain what happened to a judge or or to reach a settlement beforethat “At some point, I’mn going into court to try to explain what happened, and tell the judge how we know King said.
Mukamal is an accountantf by trainingand certification, but such calls often come from “Just the other day, attorneys for a trustee overseeinvg a condo development called and ‘Would you look at this for us?,’” Mukamal “We looked at all the history, accountinv standards and determined there was a cause of action againsyt the directors and officers.” Accountants and attorneys work together more closel y on fraud investigation than just about any other task.
Given the current era of real estate fraufd and Ponzi scheme blowups likeBernardr Madoff’s, the skill and cooperation of good lawyers and accountants are more important than Mukamal has played many rolesx in large financial investigations, from being in control of an estate as a trusteer or receiver to providing advicew for other receivers or attorneys. He was a trusteed for a small part ofSouth Florida’s largestg bank fraud at factoring company E.S. Bankest. “Fodr the most part, accountants are used as a but good attorneys are open to suggestions from aforensifc accountant,” he said.
When he’s a receiver or Mukamal, a partner at MarcumRachlin, oftem coordinates the efforts of multiple lawyereand accountants. “I would be a conductor and directy my accountantsand attorneys,” he “Legal fees are not insignificant. In some I know I woulcd have a nice judgment I could hang on my butthat doesn’t do any good if you’ved siphoned off all the money in obtaining the judgment.” In one of Mukamal’s recent cases as a bankruptcg trustee, he secured a $6 million settlement in disputeas with creditors of Laminatse Kingdom, a Doral company that entered bankruptcy with $20 milliobn in claims against it.
He was represented by attorneyy Gary Freedmanof Tabas, . One of South Florida’ best-known financial investigators is Lewis Freemam ofLewis B. Freeman & Partners in Miami’d Coconut Grove. Freeman’s biggest case was as receive r inthe E.S. Bankesg fraud case, where he examined money streamsd involving billionsof dollars. He was first appointedf by the court as aneutrao examiner, and then becam e a bankruptcy trustee. In that he was working with federal prosecutores and relied on the supporgt of threelaw “Basically, the prosecutors have to do ‘CSI: Miami’ on the Freeman said.
“So, the plaintiffs which is usually the government have to followthe money, and we are the ones who actuallg go in and do the autopsy.” Freeman worka mostly as an accountant, but is also an attorney. His legal help for E.S. Bankesr came from Paul Battistaat , speciap counsel Steve Thomas and attorneys at Bergert Singerman. Investigating and recovering from real estate fraud has become a cottage industry for some lawyereand accountants. Attorney Mark King of Jones Walker in Miamoi has worked with to try to get a large Bonita Springse condominium project back on its One of their tasks is figuring out if any fraud occurred and how the moneh mightbe recovered.
“Often, a developeer of a troubled project will take out allthe cash, and attemptg to justify it by saying it’ss past-due management fees,” King said. “So, you need someone who understands managing properties and who is strong in numberxs to understand why that isor isn’t so. KW has accountantds who can do that.” The eventual goal, with the help, is to explain what happened to a judge or or to reach a settlement beforethat “At some point, I’mn going into court to try to explain what happened, and tell the judge how we know King said.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Green gas could add fizz to Coke - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
qalymeled.wordpress.com
Coke is said to be considering tapping two Atlanta landfills as a sourceof clean-burning natural gas. Methaner is naturally produced during decomposition oflandfill waste. , which owns the gas rightx at DeKalb County’s Live Oak landfill, hopes to processz methane gas from the nearbyg Hickory Ridge landfillinto clean-burningb natural gas. An out-of-state utility has expressedc interest in investing inthe project, a source said. “There’z no secret that we have talked to a numbetr of potential partners aboutt joining us onthe [Live Oak] Jacoby Group’s John Borden said. Those potential partners include utilities and privateequitty investors.
Negotiations are under way, but “wse do not have the entire deal even under letterfof intent, much less said an official with Atlanta-based Global Energy a subsidiary of (Amex: GNH). Global Energy paid more than $3 million to acquire the Hickory Ridges landfill gaspurchase rights. While Coca-Colq declined to comment on any involvement with the potentialolandfill project, the company wants to add some green to its trademarj red. “Our aspirational goal is to grow the notthe carbon,” said Bruce Karas, director of sustainability, environmen t and safety at Coca-Cola North America.
“Energy projects are really the sweet spot for Live Oak is the largest renewable energy program involving methane gas in the state and one of two operation of its kindin Georgia. The landfill, whicnh closed in 2004 and is said to have an atleasf 20-year supply of methane, produces enougyh natural gas to fuel about 22,000 homes. The conversion methocd used at Live Oak involveas capturing the emittedmethane gas, removing the compressing the gas and filtering it through a membrane to remove impurities. Jacoby has partnerefd with to distribute the natural gas generated atLive Oak. “Any deal we do would preserve theexistinyg relationships,” Borden noted.
The Hickoryh Ridge landfill is expecteed to produce atleast 2,00o standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute, Mike Ellis, presidentr of Global Energy Systemas told Biomass Magazine in February. Globa Energy will construct a pipelinr to transport it to its gasconditioningv facility, where it will be converted into a saleable energhy product, the magazine noted. Globak Energy, which has gotten hit by the recession, is selling assete — including real estate — to raise cash to invest in its biomass, landfill gas and energy services business, Ellis told Atlanta Businesz Chronicle. “We are liquidating assets and selling assets to put intoenergy products,” Ellixs said.
In April, the diversifierd renewable energy company’s accounting firm issued a “goingy concern qualification” raising substantial doubtf about its ability to remainin business. Coca-Colaz is investing in long-term “energu innovation” such as fuel cell technologyh to power its facilities and directfire water-heating technology — nearly a third more efficientr than conventional boilers for syrup manufacturing. The companty switched 70 percent of its fleet of 800 sale vehicles to hybridslast year. As of summere 2008, the company had saved about $400,00o in fuel costs, Karas said. At its Paw Paw, Mich.
-baser juice manufacturing plant, Coke is recycling produced in the wastewatertreatment process, into an energy source to power boilers. That processx promises to reducethe plant’z natural gas consumption by 10 percent and save Coke “hundredsd of thousands of dollars” annually. Coke plansd to reduce its global CO2 emissions by 5 percenfby 2015, Karas said. “Only by doint these kinds of combinations of efficiench plus innovation can you get he said. The return on investment for environmentalp sustainability, Karas said, cannot be measured just by thecorporate bottom-line.
“If I can have a projecyt that gives me a 10 percent offset on a naturaol resourcethat I’m using, the savingw are huge,” he said. “There’s really not an issue with justifyinyg it.”
Coke is said to be considering tapping two Atlanta landfills as a sourceof clean-burning natural gas. Methaner is naturally produced during decomposition oflandfill waste. , which owns the gas rightx at DeKalb County’s Live Oak landfill, hopes to processz methane gas from the nearbyg Hickory Ridge landfillinto clean-burningb natural gas. An out-of-state utility has expressedc interest in investing inthe project, a source said. “There’z no secret that we have talked to a numbetr of potential partners aboutt joining us onthe [Live Oak] Jacoby Group’s John Borden said. Those potential partners include utilities and privateequitty investors.
Negotiations are under way, but “wse do not have the entire deal even under letterfof intent, much less said an official with Atlanta-based Global Energy a subsidiary of (Amex: GNH). Global Energy paid more than $3 million to acquire the Hickory Ridges landfill gaspurchase rights. While Coca-Colq declined to comment on any involvement with the potentialolandfill project, the company wants to add some green to its trademarj red. “Our aspirational goal is to grow the notthe carbon,” said Bruce Karas, director of sustainability, environmen t and safety at Coca-Cola North America.
“Energy projects are really the sweet spot for Live Oak is the largest renewable energy program involving methane gas in the state and one of two operation of its kindin Georgia. The landfill, whicnh closed in 2004 and is said to have an atleasf 20-year supply of methane, produces enougyh natural gas to fuel about 22,000 homes. The conversion methocd used at Live Oak involveas capturing the emittedmethane gas, removing the compressing the gas and filtering it through a membrane to remove impurities. Jacoby has partnerefd with to distribute the natural gas generated atLive Oak. “Any deal we do would preserve theexistinyg relationships,” Borden noted.
The Hickoryh Ridge landfill is expecteed to produce atleast 2,00o standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute, Mike Ellis, presidentr of Global Energy Systemas told Biomass Magazine in February. Globa Energy will construct a pipelinr to transport it to its gasconditioningv facility, where it will be converted into a saleable energhy product, the magazine noted. Globak Energy, which has gotten hit by the recession, is selling assete — including real estate — to raise cash to invest in its biomass, landfill gas and energy services business, Ellis told Atlanta Businesz Chronicle. “We are liquidating assets and selling assets to put intoenergy products,” Ellixs said.
In April, the diversifierd renewable energy company’s accounting firm issued a “goingy concern qualification” raising substantial doubtf about its ability to remainin business. Coca-Colaz is investing in long-term “energu innovation” such as fuel cell technologyh to power its facilities and directfire water-heating technology — nearly a third more efficientr than conventional boilers for syrup manufacturing. The companty switched 70 percent of its fleet of 800 sale vehicles to hybridslast year. As of summere 2008, the company had saved about $400,00o in fuel costs, Karas said. At its Paw Paw, Mich.
-baser juice manufacturing plant, Coke is recycling produced in the wastewatertreatment process, into an energy source to power boilers. That processx promises to reducethe plant’z natural gas consumption by 10 percent and save Coke “hundredsd of thousands of dollars” annually. Coke plansd to reduce its global CO2 emissions by 5 percenfby 2015, Karas said. “Only by doint these kinds of combinations of efficiench plus innovation can you get he said. The return on investment for environmentalp sustainability, Karas said, cannot be measured just by thecorporate bottom-line.
“If I can have a projecyt that gives me a 10 percent offset on a naturaol resourcethat I’m using, the savingw are huge,” he said. “There’s really not an issue with justifyinyg it.”
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Charlie Baker quitting Harvard Pilgrim - San Francisco Business Times:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
"Leaving the company is not an easy decisiofor me, but there is no middlre ground. I am either the CEO of HarvarrPilgrim – or I’m building a campaign organization. I cannoft do both," Baker said in a statement releasesWednesday morning. In a fairwell Baker thanked Harvard Pilgrim's staffersz and touted the organization's successes over the years. "Bu t I also recognize the terribls financial and operational strain that will face state and locall government in theyears ahead. I know both sectors pretty well betterthan most, I wouldc say — and I believe I can bring energy and leadership to the tasks that face stats government in the yeares ahead.
” Baker, a Republican, is a former state secretary of administration and CFO Bruce Bullen will be interim CEO at Harvard
"Leaving the company is not an easy decisiofor me, but there is no middlre ground. I am either the CEO of HarvarrPilgrim – or I’m building a campaign organization. I cannoft do both," Baker said in a statement releasesWednesday morning. In a fairwell Baker thanked Harvard Pilgrim's staffersz and touted the organization's successes over the years. "Bu t I also recognize the terribls financial and operational strain that will face state and locall government in theyears ahead. I know both sectors pretty well betterthan most, I wouldc say — and I believe I can bring energy and leadership to the tasks that face stats government in the yeares ahead.
” Baker, a Republican, is a former state secretary of administration and CFO Bruce Bullen will be interim CEO at Harvard
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Arizona State Savings dedicates opening of 21st office - Phoenix Business Journal:
borislavamcoc.blogspot.com
The building, at 5859 W. Talavk Blvd., Ste. 100, houses a 3,000-square-fooy branch office as well as a expanded back-office support center. A ribbon-cutting and dedicatiom ceremony will take placeon Jan. 23. The facilithy was located in Glendale to serveexisting members, whic h includes employees of Arizona State University West and Americabn Express Co., and because of its favorable lease rates, accordin g to Brian Johnson, vice president of marketing and member The center will serve about 10,000 members in northwest Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria and Sun Citiess areas. Lisa Jordan is the new brancbh manager.
She had been working for Desert Schools FCU and has worked for credit unions for 23 The administrative support center has a new voicde anddata network, indirect card services center, marketing, human resources and executiver suites. Internet-lending support and a loan call center also are planneed forthe facility, beginning this spring. Accounting and data processing functions will still be performed at the main offics at1812 W. Monroe in Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano and former Attorney Generalp Grant Woods will be among the speakers at the Nationakl Association of Legal midwinter conference, "Blazing the Investigative The conference will be held Jan.
25-27 at the Chaparral Suites Hotelin Scottsdale. It is co-sponsored by the Arizona Association of LicensesPrivate Investigators. Featured topics will include the death penalty, product liability and computer-altered documents. For more call 602-254-9899 or register onlined at . The National Bank of Arizonaz has promoted Christina Fell and Harr Harvey to senior vice Harvey was named senior vice president andcredity administrator/credit quality officer at the bank'z headquarters in Phoenix. He joined National Bank in 1995. Fell was namedd senior vice president and regional operations manager forthe bank'xs Southern Division, including Yuma.
She joinedf the bank's Tucson office in 1992. Timin is everything -- just ask JurisDiction.net of which may benefit from a multinational deal signed last Twomonths ago, JDUSA reached an agreement with one of the country's leading providers of legal research Loislaw bought 20 percent of JDUSA's stock for the rightf to integrate JDUSA's Web-based service into its legakl research libraries. Last Wolters Kluwer, a $3 billion, multinational legal information compang based inthe Netherlands, announcedr it will acquire Loislaw.com.
"The merger will insure Loislaw's unlimited growth which, in can only greatly enhance our growth and saidBill Miller, JDUSA's chief executive.
The building, at 5859 W. Talavk Blvd., Ste. 100, houses a 3,000-square-fooy branch office as well as a expanded back-office support center. A ribbon-cutting and dedicatiom ceremony will take placeon Jan. 23. The facilithy was located in Glendale to serveexisting members, whic h includes employees of Arizona State University West and Americabn Express Co., and because of its favorable lease rates, accordin g to Brian Johnson, vice president of marketing and member The center will serve about 10,000 members in northwest Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria and Sun Citiess areas. Lisa Jordan is the new brancbh manager.
She had been working for Desert Schools FCU and has worked for credit unions for 23 The administrative support center has a new voicde anddata network, indirect card services center, marketing, human resources and executiver suites. Internet-lending support and a loan call center also are planneed forthe facility, beginning this spring. Accounting and data processing functions will still be performed at the main offics at1812 W. Monroe in Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano and former Attorney Generalp Grant Woods will be among the speakers at the Nationakl Association of Legal midwinter conference, "Blazing the Investigative The conference will be held Jan.
25-27 at the Chaparral Suites Hotelin Scottsdale. It is co-sponsored by the Arizona Association of LicensesPrivate Investigators. Featured topics will include the death penalty, product liability and computer-altered documents. For more call 602-254-9899 or register onlined at . The National Bank of Arizonaz has promoted Christina Fell and Harr Harvey to senior vice Harvey was named senior vice president andcredity administrator/credit quality officer at the bank'z headquarters in Phoenix. He joined National Bank in 1995. Fell was namedd senior vice president and regional operations manager forthe bank'xs Southern Division, including Yuma.
She joinedf the bank's Tucson office in 1992. Timin is everything -- just ask JurisDiction.net of which may benefit from a multinational deal signed last Twomonths ago, JDUSA reached an agreement with one of the country's leading providers of legal research Loislaw bought 20 percent of JDUSA's stock for the rightf to integrate JDUSA's Web-based service into its legakl research libraries. Last Wolters Kluwer, a $3 billion, multinational legal information compang based inthe Netherlands, announcedr it will acquire Loislaw.com.
"The merger will insure Loislaw's unlimited growth which, in can only greatly enhance our growth and saidBill Miller, JDUSA's chief executive.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Here's why Gov. Corbett should expand Medicaid in Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Post Gazette
viktorevaikubuwo.blogspot.com
Here's why Gov. Corbett should expand Medicaid in Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Post Gazette When word came down on June 28 that the Supreme Court had upheld the Affordable Care Act, a patient being seen at the Squirrel Hill Health Center burst into tears. Like many patients at the center, she is low-income, has multiple chronic health ... Hospitals say a 'no' to Medicaid expansion would hurt financi » |
Brisbane Times | Prosecutor: Teens who killed man were playing a game Chicago Sun-Times Malik Jones, 16, Nicholas Ayala, 17, and Anthony Malcolm, 18, were caught after the video of Jones fat » |
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Southwestern Carpets grows business from the ground up - bizjournals:
moakhamet84.blogspot.com
Bill McCaddon has stripped Southwestern Carpetxs down and recreated it a couple of timexs since purchasing it from Don Lynchin 2001. When he boughtt the flooring company, it specialized in removing and replacingy carpets in apartments betweenrental occupation. The Lewisvilled company was producing annual revenuedof $5 million, but McCaddon found the business too impersonap because it was driven by product sales and not on buildintg relationships with customers. So he decided to switch focuz to themore relationship-centric business of providing flooring solutionws to new home-construction which includes hardwood floors, and backsplash and tile installation.
The wholesale company saw dramatic growth asa result, with annual revenude of $22 million in 2007. But the growthh was so rapid and so intense that managers were losing controlp of the direction the companywas heading. So in he enlisted Don Brush, a consultant with The Renovwa Corp., to help bring new energy to his company. McCaddon’ws sense of direction and leadershi abilities come from his experience asa manufacturer’s representative for 18 yeards at companies like Shaw Carpetf Manufacturer and Aleta Co. He had learnes the importance of building relationshipdwith clients. “My background was in workingb withnew homebuilders.
The apartment business was non-relationship said McCaddon. “I didn’t know how to builxd a businessthat wasn’t relational.” McCaddo downsized the company to redirecr the focus to the home-construction He was met with resistancre from his employees. “I realized that usinhg the sameemployees wasn’t going to work. I was tryingg to halfway do the change,” he “Once we made the commitment, we really turned the He began switchingout personnel. The company, which had grownj annual revenueto $5 million, saw revenue drop to under $3 million during the transition. But, once the commitmentr was made, McCaddon noted marked improvement.
By 2003, revenu had grown by 35%. Between 2004 and the company went through its biggestgrowth spurt, reachinhg up to $22 million in sales and employing more than 60 But at that time, the storybook growtgh came to an end. “I t was getting to be chaotic because of so many new We werean 8-cylinder engine working on six or seve cylinders. We’d lost a sense of teamwork, and everyone was That’s when McCaddon brought in Brush. “Fod the most part, I engage them and talk with them in orde to builda relationship.
I wantedc to find out the strengths of the company and what was workingg and whatneeded improvement,” said “They’ve got the dreams; they’ve got the It’s just giving them the Brush met with employees to figur e out areas that needed improvement and then created an actionj plan. He showed the company how to create committeexs to address problems as they come up and then dissolvwe the committees after the problem has been The shift has translated intohappiere customers. Bill Darling, president and co-owner of Darlingg Homes Inc., has worked with McCaddon since McCaddon purchasee Southwestern Carpetsin 2001.
“(We started workinv with Southwestern Carpets) because of Bill and his relational approachj to working with homebuilders as opposed to thetraditionall price-only approach,” said Darling. “Brush has helped Bill figurre out how to communicate better so that everyons is going in the same directiohn as the management and will yield themaximum impact.” For Chris McCoppin, operations manage for Southwestern Carpets, the changse in the corporate culture has been noticeable. “Sometimea you don’t realize that when one department changes theid policiesand procedures, it affects Now everyone talks to each other,” McCoppin said.
“We’ve empoweresd them to make decisions. We gave them the power to run the Theyfeel accountable.” With this new sensed of empowerment, as well as an improved use of digitizingb software called Measure, Southwesternn Carpets has seen a marked improvement on the accuracy of the 3,00 0 work orders entered each month — 95% accuracy, up from 77% accurac — and has saved about $160,000 in unnecessary costs for having to fix incorrecyt work orders. Instead of pursuinv potential clients merely for the sake of new McCaddon and his staff focus on getting to knowpotentiao clients, researching them as much as possible and understandinv their needs before they even meet.
“We’ll only do businessd with people who will sit down and have a relationshipwith us. Someone is always going to come inlowed (priced) than you,” said “We were always chasiny people who were focused on price. If they say, fax us (a pricse sheet), we say sorry, we can’t work with you. We stay togethefr as a result. If you have the value they don’t leave.”
Bill McCaddon has stripped Southwestern Carpetxs down and recreated it a couple of timexs since purchasing it from Don Lynchin 2001. When he boughtt the flooring company, it specialized in removing and replacingy carpets in apartments betweenrental occupation. The Lewisvilled company was producing annual revenuedof $5 million, but McCaddon found the business too impersonap because it was driven by product sales and not on buildintg relationships with customers. So he decided to switch focuz to themore relationship-centric business of providing flooring solutionws to new home-construction which includes hardwood floors, and backsplash and tile installation.
The wholesale company saw dramatic growth asa result, with annual revenude of $22 million in 2007. But the growthh was so rapid and so intense that managers were losing controlp of the direction the companywas heading. So in he enlisted Don Brush, a consultant with The Renovwa Corp., to help bring new energy to his company. McCaddon’ws sense of direction and leadershi abilities come from his experience asa manufacturer’s representative for 18 yeards at companies like Shaw Carpetf Manufacturer and Aleta Co. He had learnes the importance of building relationshipdwith clients. “My background was in workingb withnew homebuilders.
The apartment business was non-relationship said McCaddon. “I didn’t know how to builxd a businessthat wasn’t relational.” McCaddo downsized the company to redirecr the focus to the home-construction He was met with resistancre from his employees. “I realized that usinhg the sameemployees wasn’t going to work. I was tryingg to halfway do the change,” he “Once we made the commitment, we really turned the He began switchingout personnel. The company, which had grownj annual revenueto $5 million, saw revenue drop to under $3 million during the transition. But, once the commitmentr was made, McCaddon noted marked improvement.
By 2003, revenu had grown by 35%. Between 2004 and the company went through its biggestgrowth spurt, reachinhg up to $22 million in sales and employing more than 60 But at that time, the storybook growtgh came to an end. “I t was getting to be chaotic because of so many new We werean 8-cylinder engine working on six or seve cylinders. We’d lost a sense of teamwork, and everyone was That’s when McCaddon brought in Brush. “Fod the most part, I engage them and talk with them in orde to builda relationship.
I wantedc to find out the strengths of the company and what was workingg and whatneeded improvement,” said “They’ve got the dreams; they’ve got the It’s just giving them the Brush met with employees to figur e out areas that needed improvement and then created an actionj plan. He showed the company how to create committeexs to address problems as they come up and then dissolvwe the committees after the problem has been The shift has translated intohappiere customers. Bill Darling, president and co-owner of Darlingg Homes Inc., has worked with McCaddon since McCaddon purchasee Southwestern Carpetsin 2001.
“(We started workinv with Southwestern Carpets) because of Bill and his relational approachj to working with homebuilders as opposed to thetraditionall price-only approach,” said Darling. “Brush has helped Bill figurre out how to communicate better so that everyons is going in the same directiohn as the management and will yield themaximum impact.” For Chris McCoppin, operations manage for Southwestern Carpets, the changse in the corporate culture has been noticeable. “Sometimea you don’t realize that when one department changes theid policiesand procedures, it affects Now everyone talks to each other,” McCoppin said.
“We’ve empoweresd them to make decisions. We gave them the power to run the Theyfeel accountable.” With this new sensed of empowerment, as well as an improved use of digitizingb software called Measure, Southwesternn Carpets has seen a marked improvement on the accuracy of the 3,00 0 work orders entered each month — 95% accuracy, up from 77% accurac — and has saved about $160,000 in unnecessary costs for having to fix incorrecyt work orders. Instead of pursuinv potential clients merely for the sake of new McCaddon and his staff focus on getting to knowpotentiao clients, researching them as much as possible and understandinv their needs before they even meet.
“We’ll only do businessd with people who will sit down and have a relationshipwith us. Someone is always going to come inlowed (priced) than you,” said “We were always chasiny people who were focused on price. If they say, fax us (a pricse sheet), we say sorry, we can’t work with you. We stay togethefr as a result. If you have the value they don’t leave.”
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Houston layoff count grows - Houston Business Journal:
iwyqaxewun.wordpress.com
• (NASDAQ: JAVA), based in Santa Clara, Calif., told the TWC that it will lay off27 Houston-arewa employees as part of a work force reduction affectinb more than 90 of its sitee in an effort to reducr overall spending. The layoffs will take placd between May 30 and June 13 atthe company’ s office in Greenway Plaza. Minneapolis-based (NYSE: UNH) told the TWC that it will eliminatre 74 positions from its Houston officde at9700 Bissonnet. The layoffs are part of an actiob affecting260 employees, including 186 in the health insurance company’s Plano office. UnitedHealth said it wouldd begin the work force reduction onMay 29.
All of the terminate d positions are relatedto UnitedHealth’s Integrated Care Management Contract, a Medicaie program offered by UnitedHealth business unit Evercare Texasd in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that is being discontinued, accordinvg to spokeswoman Kim Whitaker. Most of the employee s whose jobs are affected will be offeref other positions with Evercare or other UnitedHealthbusinessx units, Whitaker said. The Bissonnet office is one of six officew UnitedHealth operatesin Houston.
About 1,000 employees work withinb various UnitedHealth business units inthe • Houston-based , a subsidiary of , told the TWC that it will eliminatw four positions permanently from its Beaumont/PDD Glycol plant on May 25. The announcementg comes a month after the company said it would abouy 229 employees atthe company’s Chocolate Bayouh facility in Alvin beginnin April 30. • , a subsidiary of Houston-based , said in a letterf to the TWC that it will be conductinga “mas s layoff” of 55 employees at its Schlumberger Technology in Midland. The company expectws to begin the process onMay 24.
Schlumbergerr (NYSE: SLB) said in January that it planned toabout 1,000 administrative, operations and contractor positions across its total North American work force of including about 100 Houston employees.
• (NASDAQ: JAVA), based in Santa Clara, Calif., told the TWC that it will lay off27 Houston-arewa employees as part of a work force reduction affectinb more than 90 of its sitee in an effort to reducr overall spending. The layoffs will take placd between May 30 and June 13 atthe company’ s office in Greenway Plaza. Minneapolis-based (NYSE: UNH) told the TWC that it will eliminatre 74 positions from its Houston officde at9700 Bissonnet. The layoffs are part of an actiob affecting260 employees, including 186 in the health insurance company’s Plano office. UnitedHealth said it wouldd begin the work force reduction onMay 29.
All of the terminate d positions are relatedto UnitedHealth’s Integrated Care Management Contract, a Medicaie program offered by UnitedHealth business unit Evercare Texasd in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that is being discontinued, accordinvg to spokeswoman Kim Whitaker. Most of the employee s whose jobs are affected will be offeref other positions with Evercare or other UnitedHealthbusinessx units, Whitaker said. The Bissonnet office is one of six officew UnitedHealth operatesin Houston.
About 1,000 employees work withinb various UnitedHealth business units inthe • Houston-based , a subsidiary of , told the TWC that it will eliminatw four positions permanently from its Beaumont/PDD Glycol plant on May 25. The announcementg comes a month after the company said it would abouy 229 employees atthe company’s Chocolate Bayouh facility in Alvin beginnin April 30. • , a subsidiary of Houston-based , said in a letterf to the TWC that it will be conductinga “mas s layoff” of 55 employees at its Schlumberger Technology in Midland. The company expectws to begin the process onMay 24.
Schlumbergerr (NYSE: SLB) said in January that it planned toabout 1,000 administrative, operations and contractor positions across its total North American work force of including about 100 Houston employees.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Winner: Lake Street Office Center; Medical Development or Redevelopment - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
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“Everybody stood out there at our ribbon-cuttin g and said, ‘Boy, that buildingy across the streetlook terrible.’ And nobody noticed it before because it was so littlr and there were so many crummy buildingx around it,” said Paul a partner in the Minneapolis-based firm. Thus beganb a $2 million project for Hyde and RealEstatd Recycling, which, as of the time of this had three medical clinics biddingy to buy the brand-new, 4,000-square-foot on the Real Estate Recycling’s niche involves taking polluted industrial sites, cleaninhg them up and building something better. It’s redevelopee more than 1.
6 million square feet over 15 years — and become a regular Best in Real Estate Awar d winner in the process. With the Lake Streetr Office Center, challenges included buying out an area businessmanm who was using a forme r repair shop for storage and leasing two billboards onthe roof. Hyde said St. Louisz Park ended up spending $400,000 to help Real Estate Recyclinvg buythe site. “It was important for them to clean up that Highwayt 7 corridor visuallyand they’ve been interested in gettinb rid of blighted buildings and the billboards along that main highwagy through the city,” Hyde said.
Luckily for Hyde, the leases on the billboarda wererunning out, so he dodged what could have been a legap headache. However, there were other headaches to deal with duringh theredevelopment project. Like the Corporated Center site acrossthe street, the area had once been part of a lead-smeltingt operation. Before general contractor could tear structurexs down and buildsomething new, there was the need to removw contaminated soil, capping what was left. Therr also was a layer of peat that createed someunstable geology, so a lot of soil had to be removesd and replaced with earth that was stable enoughn to support a larger structure. Then there was the debatee about what the new siteshould be.
Hyde was initiallyt thinking of getting a chain restauran tomove in, but St. Louis Park wanted to get some high-payingb jobs onto the property in returj forits troubles. So they settledc on building a structure to attract a medicalofficed — a decision Hyde is now glad was made in light of the presenty recession. “There are many small-offic uses it could be, but medical is where we’re seeing interest right now,” he said. All the challengea Real Estate Recycling faced in building the Lake Streetr Office Center made it worthy of a Best in RealEstatw honor, said Arvid Povilaitis, chiefd operating officer of Minneapolis-based and one of the contest’w judges.
“The developer overcame challenging obstacleds to get a very successful development he said. Greg Hunt, St. Louis Park’s economic development coordinator, said the city is extremelhy pleased it’s gotten rid of an “old garage buildingg with billboards,” and is replacing it with somethingmore “Now we’ve got a first-classa medical office building there. We think it’s a greatr use for the property.” Value: Location: 7102 Lake St. W., St.
Louise Park Size: 4,000 square feet Groundbreaking: May 1, 2008 Completed:
“Everybody stood out there at our ribbon-cuttin g and said, ‘Boy, that buildingy across the streetlook terrible.’ And nobody noticed it before because it was so littlr and there were so many crummy buildingx around it,” said Paul a partner in the Minneapolis-based firm. Thus beganb a $2 million project for Hyde and RealEstatd Recycling, which, as of the time of this had three medical clinics biddingy to buy the brand-new, 4,000-square-foot on the Real Estate Recycling’s niche involves taking polluted industrial sites, cleaninhg them up and building something better. It’s redevelopee more than 1.
6 million square feet over 15 years — and become a regular Best in Real Estate Awar d winner in the process. With the Lake Streetr Office Center, challenges included buying out an area businessmanm who was using a forme r repair shop for storage and leasing two billboards onthe roof. Hyde said St. Louisz Park ended up spending $400,000 to help Real Estate Recyclinvg buythe site. “It was important for them to clean up that Highwayt 7 corridor visuallyand they’ve been interested in gettinb rid of blighted buildings and the billboards along that main highwagy through the city,” Hyde said.
Luckily for Hyde, the leases on the billboarda wererunning out, so he dodged what could have been a legap headache. However, there were other headaches to deal with duringh theredevelopment project. Like the Corporated Center site acrossthe street, the area had once been part of a lead-smeltingt operation. Before general contractor could tear structurexs down and buildsomething new, there was the need to removw contaminated soil, capping what was left. Therr also was a layer of peat that createed someunstable geology, so a lot of soil had to be removesd and replaced with earth that was stable enoughn to support a larger structure. Then there was the debatee about what the new siteshould be.
Hyde was initiallyt thinking of getting a chain restauran tomove in, but St. Louis Park wanted to get some high-payingb jobs onto the property in returj forits troubles. So they settledc on building a structure to attract a medicalofficed — a decision Hyde is now glad was made in light of the presenty recession. “There are many small-offic uses it could be, but medical is where we’re seeing interest right now,” he said. All the challengea Real Estate Recycling faced in building the Lake Streetr Office Center made it worthy of a Best in RealEstatw honor, said Arvid Povilaitis, chiefd operating officer of Minneapolis-based and one of the contest’w judges.
“The developer overcame challenging obstacleds to get a very successful development he said. Greg Hunt, St. Louis Park’s economic development coordinator, said the city is extremelhy pleased it’s gotten rid of an “old garage buildingg with billboards,” and is replacing it with somethingmore “Now we’ve got a first-classa medical office building there. We think it’s a greatr use for the property.” Value: Location: 7102 Lake St. W., St.
Louise Park Size: 4,000 square feet Groundbreaking: May 1, 2008 Completed:
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Parents of band member who died after hazing will sue Florida A&M University - Washington Post
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CBS News | Parents of band member who died after hazing will sue Florida A&M University Washington Post ORLANDO, Fla. รข€" The parents of a Florida A&M University drum major who died after being hazed added the university to a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday, claiming school officials failed to stop hazing in its famous marching band. Pare nts of band member who died after hazing are suing FAMU Florida A&M resigns in wake of hazing scandal Parents of FAMU band member killed during hazing to file suit |
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
City's oldest biz centre being crippled from all directions - Times of India
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City's oldest biz centre being crippled from all directions Times of India City's oldest market place is gasping for space.New Market, developed in the early sixties, is crammed and clogged with thousands of vehicles coming from all the four directions of the city and passing through this area. |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Cascade Corp. sales drop 49 percent - Portland Business Journal:
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million first-quarter loss on a 49 percen t drop in sales as the markeg for lift trucks hits its lowest pointt intwo decades. The Gresham-basedx maker of truck attachmentss (NYSE: CAE), which in April said it had laid off 20 percentg of itswork force, reported a loss of $12. million, or $1.12 per share, on salew of $76.3 million for the quarter endedApril 30. In the same quarter last year, it had earnings of $10.9 or 98 cents per share, on $149.9 millionh in sales. The quarter included a $4.8 milliob restructuring cost from the closure of a Frencgmanufacturing facility.
The results fell far below estimates of analysts pollerd byThomson Reuters, who expected earning s of 13 cents per share on $87.5y million in sales. The company was hardest hit in Europe, wherw sales dropped 58 percent. North American salea fell 45 percent, followed by a 44 percent drop in the Asia Pacifivc region and 43 percentin China. Global lift truck shipments were down 45 percent for the The company said the uncertainth about the scope of the current recessiohn makes it difficult to estimate the futurre lifttruck market. The company anticipateas global demand to continue to dropinto 2011. Cascadde released its results after markets Its shares closed Thursdayat $30.
07, less than a half-percent But shares fell more than 9 percent in after-hourd trading to $27.27 per share. They have a 52-weeok range between $12.81 and $53.7 6
million first-quarter loss on a 49 percen t drop in sales as the markeg for lift trucks hits its lowest pointt intwo decades. The Gresham-basedx maker of truck attachmentss (NYSE: CAE), which in April said it had laid off 20 percentg of itswork force, reported a loss of $12. million, or $1.12 per share, on salew of $76.3 million for the quarter endedApril 30. In the same quarter last year, it had earnings of $10.9 or 98 cents per share, on $149.9 millionh in sales. The quarter included a $4.8 milliob restructuring cost from the closure of a Frencgmanufacturing facility.
The results fell far below estimates of analysts pollerd byThomson Reuters, who expected earning s of 13 cents per share on $87.5y million in sales. The company was hardest hit in Europe, wherw sales dropped 58 percent. North American salea fell 45 percent, followed by a 44 percent drop in the Asia Pacifivc region and 43 percentin China. Global lift truck shipments were down 45 percent for the The company said the uncertainth about the scope of the current recessiohn makes it difficult to estimate the futurre lifttruck market. The company anticipateas global demand to continue to dropinto 2011. Cascadde released its results after markets Its shares closed Thursdayat $30.
07, less than a half-percent But shares fell more than 9 percent in after-hourd trading to $27.27 per share. They have a 52-weeok range between $12.81 and $53.7 6
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Candidates press charges against poll body over electoral roll fiasco - Jakarta Post
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Jakarta Globe | Candidates press charges against poll body over electoral roll fiasco Jakarta Post Lawyer RBJ Bangkit from the Alex Noerdin-Nono Sampono ticket said that a joint investigation of the four tickets' campaign teams has found 387155 ineligible voters among the 6.9 million names in the voters' list. Among the largest categories of ... Population Agency, KPU Jakarta Reported to Police |
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Welsh park dedicated to honor veterans - KPLC-TV
karnergetajequ1416.blogspot.com
Welsh park dedicated to honor veterans KPLC-TV A number of citizens, elected officials and veterans gathered in Welsh this morning to have a small Fourth of July celebration of their own. |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
U.S. restaurant outlook dims - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
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A total of 60 percent of operators saw lower May salexs compared to ayear ago, while 26 percent said salesx were up. The association also says restaurant operators reported negativse customer traffic levelsin May, the 21st consecutivr month of traffic "Despite the softer sales outlook, restaurant operators remaine relatively optimistic that the economy will improve in the month s ahead," the Association said. "Thirty-four percenr of restaurant operators said they expect economic conditionsd to improve insix months, down slightly from 37 percenf who reported similarly last month.
" After reaching a 10-month high last the group says restauranrt operators have scaled back planxs for capital expenditures in the coming months, with 41 percent planniny to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percent last
A total of 60 percent of operators saw lower May salexs compared to ayear ago, while 26 percent said salesx were up. The association also says restaurant operators reported negativse customer traffic levelsin May, the 21st consecutivr month of traffic "Despite the softer sales outlook, restaurant operators remaine relatively optimistic that the economy will improve in the month s ahead," the Association said. "Thirty-four percenr of restaurant operators said they expect economic conditionsd to improve insix months, down slightly from 37 percenf who reported similarly last month.
" After reaching a 10-month high last the group says restauranrt operators have scaled back planxs for capital expenditures in the coming months, with 41 percent planniny to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percent last
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Bosses concerned about Facebook, Twitter - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
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But 53 percent of employees say conteng posted on their Facebook and Twitter accounts are nota boss’sz concern. That belief is even more prevalent amongbyounger workers. Sixty-three percent of workers ages 18 to 34 say employerse have no business looking at their online But mostemployees (74 percent) recognize that using online sociall networks make it easier to tarnisuh a company’s reputation.
“With the explosive growth of onlinessocial networks, such as Facebook and rapidly blurring the lines between professionalo and private lives, thesde virtual communities have increased the potential of reputationak risk for many organizations and their said Sharon Allen, chairman of the Deloitte LLP. “It is important for executivees to be mindful of the implications of this connecte d world and to elevate the discussion aboutt the risks associated with it to the highest leveldof leadership.” Just 17 percen of executives have formal ways to monitofr the possible risks relatexd to social network use.
But nearly half (49 of employees say such strict guidelines woulde not change their behavior online. More than 2,000 employed adults -- half men and half women -- were interviewed for the as well as 500business executives.
But 53 percent of employees say conteng posted on their Facebook and Twitter accounts are nota boss’sz concern. That belief is even more prevalent amongbyounger workers. Sixty-three percent of workers ages 18 to 34 say employerse have no business looking at their online But mostemployees (74 percent) recognize that using online sociall networks make it easier to tarnisuh a company’s reputation.
“With the explosive growth of onlinessocial networks, such as Facebook and rapidly blurring the lines between professionalo and private lives, thesde virtual communities have increased the potential of reputationak risk for many organizations and their said Sharon Allen, chairman of the Deloitte LLP. “It is important for executivees to be mindful of the implications of this connecte d world and to elevate the discussion aboutt the risks associated with it to the highest leveldof leadership.” Just 17 percen of executives have formal ways to monitofr the possible risks relatexd to social network use.
But nearly half (49 of employees say such strict guidelines woulde not change their behavior online. More than 2,000 employed adults -- half men and half women -- were interviewed for the as well as 500business executives.
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