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Representatives from hospitals, medical groupx and health insurance plans have convenedf three working groups durinv the past three months to explore ideae and opportunitiesfor savings. Even modest streamlining woul d mean big savings for businessesand consumers. Health care is a $19 billion business in Oregon, meaninh that nearly $6 billion a year goes to overhear costs. Claims processing, provider credentialing and determining insurancr eligibility alone cost Orego n medicalpractices $42 million annually, based on data collected by the . The project is at a however, because it needs funding and long-term volunteer commitmentd from would-be members.
Between 10 and 15 peopl e have participatedso far. Work group participanty Bart McMullan, president of the Portland-baseed insurance company RegenceBlueCross BlueShield, said the companyh is committed to the effort. “Everyg time you have back and forthbetween hospitals, physicians and it chews up money,” McMullan said. “This is a reallyg important issue, because there are hiddem costs everywhere.” Savings will take time to McMullan added. The effort will cost roughly $100,00 a year and may go on for several said spokesmanAndrew Davidson, CEO of the Lake Oswego-based Health Systems.
It’s modeled on a project Davidson worked on in Washingtonh when he was with the hospitalassociation there. The program’z price tag would be covered bymember commitments. The tab couldx come at an unwelcome time, because many health care companies are struggliny withlower profits. On the other hand, players may be eagert to show regulators andconsumers they’re working to shrinmk administrative costs. If health care companiex don’t act, they could have their hand forced bythe .
The group’s homegrown healthb reform initiative, released this month, proposes several options for curbint Oregon’s skyrocketing health costs, including regulating the purchase of individual insurance and capping overhead for healthinsurances plans. “Hospitals, health plans and physicians are all experiencing marked declinesd in netoperating revenue, and as a result it’s ever more importanr to look for ways to drivd unnecessary cost out of the Davidson said. “The state of the economy today only adds Phone calls, claims resubmissionsd and haggling about treatment coverage are among the meniakl tasks that add up to high overhead in medicakl billing.
Administrative costs accountefd for 31 percentof U.S. healt expenditures overall in 1999, according to an articlse published in the in 2003by Dr. Steffie compared with 16.7 percent in Canada. Employee benefits brokeer Arnie Poutala said medical group s may have the mostto gain. “Providers have so many insurers to deal with and it drivezs uptheir costs,” said Poutala, employees benefits consultant at the Portland brokeragw firm USI Northwest.
“There’s huge potentialo for improvement in a step like standardizingclaims
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
At PV America, Rendell says alternative energy will boost economy - Philadelphia Business Journal:
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“I believe that over the next five years, the developmentt of the green-energy economy can drive this nation’x comeback,” the Democratic governor said at the generalp session ofPV America, which is beingg held at the Pennsylvania Conventio n Center in Philadelphia throug Wednesday. The conference is the first by the to focuz solely on photovoltaicsolar energy, which comesa from photovoltaic panels that convert sunligh t into electricity. It’s being held in conjunctionb withthe IEEE’s 34th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference at the Philadelphia Marriott which is adjacent to the conventio center, from Sunday through Friday.
(IEEE used to stansd for , but the nonprofit now just refers to itself by its acronym becaus e it has so many members from otheerengineering fields.) About 3,0000 people are attending the conferences, the SEIA and IEEE Part of Rendell’s messagew was similar to the message delivere by SEIA President and CEO Rhonee Resch later in the session: When they go home, the peoplde at the conference should promote solatr energy’s virtues to everyone from their neighbors to their municipal, statwe and federal elected officials. “Yo have to roll up your sleevess andbe advocates,” Rendell said.
Both Rendellp and Resch praised President Obama for his efforts on behalf of renewabldeenergy — “President Obama is becoming the solae president,” Resch said — but they said they’fd like the federal government to do Rendell said federal legislators should do two Make renewable-energy tax credits permanent, rather than reauthorizinv them every few years; and creatw a federal alternative portfoliko standard that mandates that a specifief portion of energy sold in the country be created from alternative energy sources. Twentu eight states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the District of Columbiaq have alternativeportfolio standards.
Rendellp said he’d like the federal standard to have minimumj figures that states could exceed ontheir own. “Ifd we do those things … I thinki there’s no reason that America can’t be the dominanty nation in solar energy for the he said. Rendel said alternative energy will drivethe U.S. economy for the next 25 yearws just asthe information-technology and life sciences industries have driven it for the last 25. Underr his leadership, Pennsylvania has move d to capitalize onthat shift. In it established an alternative portfolilo standard that requires 18 percent of energu sold in Pennsylvania to come from alternativde sources of energyby 2020.
Last summer, Pennsylvania created a $650 milliob renewable energy fund. Of that money, $180 million is to go to solafr energy, consisting of $100 million for grants and rebates to cover up to 35 percent of the costs incurred by homeand small-businesxs owners who install solar energy and $80 million for grants and loans for solar economic-development projects. More than 300 applicationxs forsolar economic-development project s were received by the deadline last Rendell said. Philadelphia also has gotten in onthe renewable-energy act. Mayore Michael Nutter in Aprilby 2015. The city is one of 25 takiny part in the federal Departmentof Energy’sd Solar America Cities initiative.
As part of that, it’s developingh a plan to generate 2.3 megawatts of solae electricity by 2011and 57.8 megawatts by which is its share of the states of Pennsylvania’s solar installation To help it meet those Nutter said Monday, the city is lookingf to replace the roof at its fleet workshop with a roof that producexs solar energy and has formulated plans for building large-scale solad arrays at Philadelphia Water Department locations.
“I believe that over the next five years, the developmentt of the green-energy economy can drive this nation’x comeback,” the Democratic governor said at the generalp session ofPV America, which is beingg held at the Pennsylvania Conventio n Center in Philadelphia throug Wednesday. The conference is the first by the to focuz solely on photovoltaicsolar energy, which comesa from photovoltaic panels that convert sunligh t into electricity. It’s being held in conjunctionb withthe IEEE’s 34th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference at the Philadelphia Marriott which is adjacent to the conventio center, from Sunday through Friday.
(IEEE used to stansd for , but the nonprofit now just refers to itself by its acronym becaus e it has so many members from otheerengineering fields.) About 3,0000 people are attending the conferences, the SEIA and IEEE Part of Rendell’s messagew was similar to the message delivere by SEIA President and CEO Rhonee Resch later in the session: When they go home, the peoplde at the conference should promote solatr energy’s virtues to everyone from their neighbors to their municipal, statwe and federal elected officials. “Yo have to roll up your sleevess andbe advocates,” Rendell said.
Both Rendellp and Resch praised President Obama for his efforts on behalf of renewabldeenergy — “President Obama is becoming the solae president,” Resch said — but they said they’fd like the federal government to do Rendell said federal legislators should do two Make renewable-energy tax credits permanent, rather than reauthorizinv them every few years; and creatw a federal alternative portfoliko standard that mandates that a specifief portion of energy sold in the country be created from alternative energy sources. Twentu eight states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the District of Columbiaq have alternativeportfolio standards.
Rendellp said he’d like the federal standard to have minimumj figures that states could exceed ontheir own. “Ifd we do those things … I thinki there’s no reason that America can’t be the dominanty nation in solar energy for the he said. Rendel said alternative energy will drivethe U.S. economy for the next 25 yearws just asthe information-technology and life sciences industries have driven it for the last 25. Underr his leadership, Pennsylvania has move d to capitalize onthat shift. In it established an alternative portfolilo standard that requires 18 percent of energu sold in Pennsylvania to come from alternativde sources of energyby 2020.
Last summer, Pennsylvania created a $650 milliob renewable energy fund. Of that money, $180 million is to go to solafr energy, consisting of $100 million for grants and rebates to cover up to 35 percent of the costs incurred by homeand small-businesxs owners who install solar energy and $80 million for grants and loans for solar economic-development projects. More than 300 applicationxs forsolar economic-development project s were received by the deadline last Rendell said. Philadelphia also has gotten in onthe renewable-energy act. Mayore Michael Nutter in Aprilby 2015. The city is one of 25 takiny part in the federal Departmentof Energy’sd Solar America Cities initiative.
As part of that, it’s developingh a plan to generate 2.3 megawatts of solae electricity by 2011and 57.8 megawatts by which is its share of the states of Pennsylvania’s solar installation To help it meet those Nutter said Monday, the city is lookingf to replace the roof at its fleet workshop with a roof that producexs solar energy and has formulated plans for building large-scale solad arrays at Philadelphia Water Department locations.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Shawnee and Moores Junction, Ohio, Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancements
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"This is a significant advancement forour community," said , Shawnee' s village administrator. "The ability to utilizew wireless technology on an areawide basis enhancezs economic growth and developmenyt inthe area." The new cell sites improve coverage throughout the townas of Shawnee and Moores Junction. In addition, coverage is enhanceds along State Route 93 from the town of Crooksville south to Moorezs Junction and along State Route 13 from Mooresa Junction south to the townof Moxahala. "Network reliability is the No. 1 reasoh that customers choose and stay withVerizon Wireless," said , president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizobn Wireless.
"Getting through on the firsyt try and maintaining a connection are important toour customers. We continues to optimize our network so that it remains the most reliablwe inthe nation." This network improvement is part of Verizonm Wireless' continual effort to expand improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voic and data network in Ohio and throughout the Verizon Wireless has investedx more than $50 billioh since it was formed--$5.
5 billiomn on average every year--to increase the coveragee and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new In the first half of this the company invested more than $160 million in its Ohio Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliabl and largest wireless voics and data network, servinv more than 86.6 million customers. Headquarteree in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,0009 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of VerizonCommunicationsz (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafonee (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more visit .
To preview and requestf broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wirelesx Multimedia Libraryat .
"This is a significant advancement forour community," said , Shawnee' s village administrator. "The ability to utilizew wireless technology on an areawide basis enhancezs economic growth and developmenyt inthe area." The new cell sites improve coverage throughout the townas of Shawnee and Moores Junction. In addition, coverage is enhanceds along State Route 93 from the town of Crooksville south to Moorezs Junction and along State Route 13 from Mooresa Junction south to the townof Moxahala. "Network reliability is the No. 1 reasoh that customers choose and stay withVerizon Wireless," said , president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizobn Wireless.
"Getting through on the firsyt try and maintaining a connection are important toour customers. We continues to optimize our network so that it remains the most reliablwe inthe nation." This network improvement is part of Verizonm Wireless' continual effort to expand improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voic and data network in Ohio and throughout the Verizon Wireless has investedx more than $50 billioh since it was formed--$5.
5 billiomn on average every year--to increase the coveragee and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new In the first half of this the company invested more than $160 million in its Ohio Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliabl and largest wireless voics and data network, servinv more than 86.6 million customers. Headquarteree in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,0009 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of VerizonCommunicationsz (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafonee (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more visit .
To preview and requestf broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wirelesx Multimedia Libraryat .
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Mergers: Districts ponder joining forces - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
ivyhofy.wordpress.com
The Town of Tonawandq resident headedthe 17-member boarc for seven years before steppin down in March. Yet he didn’t retire. He continues to servew as WesternNew York’s regent, and he remainsw as outspoken as ever about educational issues. One of his pet topicx is the sheer number of locaoschool systems. There are too many of he says, and their enrollments are generallhytoo small. “Why do you need 28 school districts inErie County?” he asks. “I’d like to see somethinyg like five districts in the county insteasof 28. I’d even like to starg talking about a countywideschool district, like they have in Nort Carolina and a few other states.
” Bennett’s stanx is buttressed by a report released last Decembe by the State Commission on Property Tax “New York State has too many school districts,” the reporft says flatly. It suggests that districts with fewerthan 1,000 studentsw should be required to mergr with adjacent systems, and districta with enrollments between 1,000 and 2,000 shouls be encouraged to follow suit. Such proposals hit home in WestermNew York, where 66 of the region’s 98 schoolo districts have enrollments beloww 2,000, including 38 with fewer than 1,000 studentes from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The heart of this issues is a matter of benefitse andcosts -- pitting the perceived advantagex of combining two or more districts againsyt the potential loss of local control and self-identity. Advocateds maintain that mergers allow consolidated districtds to bemore cost-effective, construc better schools and offer a wider rangee of challenging courses. “It’s not only a financia issue. To me, it’s a mattet of equity,” says Bennett.
“Ig you had a regional high school, maybe serving sevehn or eight ofthe districts, it would give kids the opportunity to work with each othere -- and to have the best of the But opponents contend that mergersd bring more bureaucracy, longer bus rides for students and diminutio of local pride. “In this the world revolves aroundthis school,” says Thomaas Schmidt, superintendent of the 478-pupil Sherman Centralk School District in Chautauqua County. “If the schoolo went away, Sherman, N.Y., would lose a great deal of its School consolidation has been a emotional issue fora century.
The state was crosshatchedf by 10,565 districts in 1910, many of them centered on one-room A push for greater efficiency reducedd that numberto 6,400 by the outbreak of World War II, then swiftly down to 1,300 by 1960. New York now has 698 Statewide enrollment works outto 2,540 pupilas per district, which falls 25 percent beloww the national average of 3,400, according to the State Commissiohn on Property Tax Relief. The gap is even larger in WesternhNew York, which had 104 districts when Businesse First began rating schools in 1992. Mergers have sinces reduced that number to 98schookl systems. They educate an averags of 2,268 students, 33 perceng below the U.S. norm.
A comprehensive effort to push regional enrollmentr up to the national average would require the elimination of 33 Westerbn NewYork districts. That process would be messy, rancorous -- and extremely unlikely. There is no shortager of candidatesfor consolidation, to be sure. Business Firsy easily came up with 13hypotheticak mergers, most of them based on standards proposed in last December’xs report. These unions would involve districts from alleighyt counties. for a summary of these 13 potentiap consolidations.
It should be stressed that this listis fantasy, not State officials lack the power to force districts to Initiative must be taken at the local level, which happensx infrequently. Only one prospective merger in Western New York has currentlh reached an advanced stageof negotiations. Brocton and Fredoniaq began consolidation talkslast year, eventually commissioningb a feasibility study at the beginnin g of winter. If they decidse later this year that a mergermakews sense, voters in both districts would be givemn their say in a referendum.
The Town of Tonawandq resident headedthe 17-member boarc for seven years before steppin down in March. Yet he didn’t retire. He continues to servew as WesternNew York’s regent, and he remainsw as outspoken as ever about educational issues. One of his pet topicx is the sheer number of locaoschool systems. There are too many of he says, and their enrollments are generallhytoo small. “Why do you need 28 school districts inErie County?” he asks. “I’d like to see somethinyg like five districts in the county insteasof 28. I’d even like to starg talking about a countywideschool district, like they have in Nort Carolina and a few other states.
” Bennett’s stanx is buttressed by a report released last Decembe by the State Commission on Property Tax “New York State has too many school districts,” the reporft says flatly. It suggests that districts with fewerthan 1,000 studentsw should be required to mergr with adjacent systems, and districta with enrollments between 1,000 and 2,000 shouls be encouraged to follow suit. Such proposals hit home in WestermNew York, where 66 of the region’s 98 schoolo districts have enrollments beloww 2,000, including 38 with fewer than 1,000 studentes from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The heart of this issues is a matter of benefitse andcosts -- pitting the perceived advantagex of combining two or more districts againsyt the potential loss of local control and self-identity. Advocateds maintain that mergers allow consolidated districtds to bemore cost-effective, construc better schools and offer a wider rangee of challenging courses. “It’s not only a financia issue. To me, it’s a mattet of equity,” says Bennett.
“Ig you had a regional high school, maybe serving sevehn or eight ofthe districts, it would give kids the opportunity to work with each othere -- and to have the best of the But opponents contend that mergersd bring more bureaucracy, longer bus rides for students and diminutio of local pride. “In this the world revolves aroundthis school,” says Thomaas Schmidt, superintendent of the 478-pupil Sherman Centralk School District in Chautauqua County. “If the schoolo went away, Sherman, N.Y., would lose a great deal of its School consolidation has been a emotional issue fora century.
The state was crosshatchedf by 10,565 districts in 1910, many of them centered on one-room A push for greater efficiency reducedd that numberto 6,400 by the outbreak of World War II, then swiftly down to 1,300 by 1960. New York now has 698 Statewide enrollment works outto 2,540 pupilas per district, which falls 25 percent beloww the national average of 3,400, according to the State Commissiohn on Property Tax Relief. The gap is even larger in WesternhNew York, which had 104 districts when Businesse First began rating schools in 1992. Mergers have sinces reduced that number to 98schookl systems. They educate an averags of 2,268 students, 33 perceng below the U.S. norm.
A comprehensive effort to push regional enrollmentr up to the national average would require the elimination of 33 Westerbn NewYork districts. That process would be messy, rancorous -- and extremely unlikely. There is no shortager of candidatesfor consolidation, to be sure. Business Firsy easily came up with 13hypotheticak mergers, most of them based on standards proposed in last December’xs report. These unions would involve districts from alleighyt counties. for a summary of these 13 potentiap consolidations.
It should be stressed that this listis fantasy, not State officials lack the power to force districts to Initiative must be taken at the local level, which happensx infrequently. Only one prospective merger in Western New York has currentlh reached an advanced stageof negotiations. Brocton and Fredoniaq began consolidation talkslast year, eventually commissioningb a feasibility study at the beginnin g of winter. If they decidse later this year that a mergermakews sense, voters in both districts would be givemn their say in a referendum.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Recovery report - Nashville Business Journal:
plesciamipukoa1855.blogspot.com
BUILDING JOBS: Construction companies that have received contractsfor stimulus-backedd projects are beginning to hire new workers or rehire laid-ofgf employees, according to . Other contractor are cancelingplanned layoffs, AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson For many contractors, the projects keep a bad business environmenf from getting worse, he said. SMALL HOPE: A monthly index of smallo business economic indicatorsjumped 5.8 points in Most business owners expect the economy to improve in the next thre to six months. The percentage of small business owners optimistic about the economy jumpecd 24 points inthe ’ survey.
Scored for seven other indicators also enabling the index to riseto 86.8 still far below 100, the leveol that reflects small business conditions in 1986.
BUILDING JOBS: Construction companies that have received contractsfor stimulus-backedd projects are beginning to hire new workers or rehire laid-ofgf employees, according to . Other contractor are cancelingplanned layoffs, AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson For many contractors, the projects keep a bad business environmenf from getting worse, he said. SMALL HOPE: A monthly index of smallo business economic indicatorsjumped 5.8 points in Most business owners expect the economy to improve in the next thre to six months. The percentage of small business owners optimistic about the economy jumpecd 24 points inthe ’ survey.
Scored for seven other indicators also enabling the index to riseto 86.8 still far below 100, the leveol that reflects small business conditions in 1986.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Architects, contractors feel the weight of the slowdown - Philadelphia Business Journal:
efenytan.wordpress.com
Contractors turn to architecturap firms to gauge how much work they have to look forward to and this year that pipelinre of work isextremely light. “Workload for architectsd is really the canarh in the coal mine for the construction saidWalter P. Palmer III, presidengt and CEO of the General Buildinv Contractors Associationin Philadelphia. “Some architectural firm s are down to three daysa week, laid off the majorit of their staff and several architectural institutions graduating five-year architects that have nowher to go to get a job. That presents a ripplinv effect that comes across theconstruction industry.
Our entire board of directoras tell me 2010 is going to be much worsrethan 2009.” A convergence of developers delaying projects or haltingv them, and lenders still not funding developments has put a squeez e on architects and contractors. The constructiomn industry has already been hit with a 12 perceny decline in employment inthe five-county region between 2007 and the firsgt part of this year, according to the Bureau of Labot Statistics. Man hours are off by abouft 25 percent fromlast year’s high, Palmee said.
Architects were extremely busy between 2003 and 2007 with last year considerefda peak, according to John executive director at the Philadelphia chapter of the Americab Institute of Architects. Firms had a fairlyh long line of business racked up for the Claypool said. But no more. Some architectural firms have alreadyy beenearly casualties. SPG3, which was involved in retaio and entertainment, has slashed its staff and launche amajor restructuring. Ted Agoos, co-founder of , saw the firsr six months of last year asthe firm’s but this year is different. Doing a mix of project and not focusing on one areahas helped.
“Everyone is but it’s the big projects that give stability,” Agoos said. The firm has takemn on smaller, shorter projectz to sustain the staff. It also cut down the work “The challenge we face as an industrg is everyone is burning off backlog as fast as they canreplenisy it,” said Terry Steelman at Ballinger, a Philadelphiw architectural firm. “That is all goinb to trickle down to theconstructioh industry. We think 2009 has clearly been a challengingg year and 2010 is going to be a very challenging year unless things start to happen and startt tohappen quickly.” Contractorsz find they need to quickly adjusty to survive.
“Our theme for this year is to analyz e and adaptto achieve,” Palmer said. Already contractors are engagingt in a bidding frenzy over any project thatcomes up. Contractors are undercuttingf bids just to win work and inothef situations, major constructing companies are bidding on minuscules projects that were once the territory of small “Where there used to be two or three biddersw on projects, now there are 20 and 30,” Palmer said. has cutting 20 percent of its office andfield staff, said Steve president. Clemens hasn’t gone after work for no profitt just tokeep busy, Pouppirt said.
Emil y Bittenbender, managing partner of , formedc two new divisions as a way to ginup “We have to adapt to this environment,” Bittenbender “People are so optimistic that it’s going to turn around soon, but my concerm is we’re looking out a couple Bittenbender started a sustainable program-managemeny business to assist government agencies seeking stimuluxs funds for projects but which lack the staff to support and overse them. The other new businesse is a carpentry unit that will go after federalp contracts asa subcontractor. Architectds are also venturing intonew areas.
Ballinger ramped up writing grantt applications for institutions seeking stimulus fundatargeting research. These grants requirse a schematic design of what they intend to do withthe
Contractors turn to architecturap firms to gauge how much work they have to look forward to and this year that pipelinre of work isextremely light. “Workload for architectsd is really the canarh in the coal mine for the construction saidWalter P. Palmer III, presidengt and CEO of the General Buildinv Contractors Associationin Philadelphia. “Some architectural firm s are down to three daysa week, laid off the majorit of their staff and several architectural institutions graduating five-year architects that have nowher to go to get a job. That presents a ripplinv effect that comes across theconstruction industry.
Our entire board of directoras tell me 2010 is going to be much worsrethan 2009.” A convergence of developers delaying projects or haltingv them, and lenders still not funding developments has put a squeez e on architects and contractors. The constructiomn industry has already been hit with a 12 perceny decline in employment inthe five-county region between 2007 and the firsgt part of this year, according to the Bureau of Labot Statistics. Man hours are off by abouft 25 percent fromlast year’s high, Palmee said.
Architects were extremely busy between 2003 and 2007 with last year considerefda peak, according to John executive director at the Philadelphia chapter of the Americab Institute of Architects. Firms had a fairlyh long line of business racked up for the Claypool said. But no more. Some architectural firms have alreadyy beenearly casualties. SPG3, which was involved in retaio and entertainment, has slashed its staff and launche amajor restructuring. Ted Agoos, co-founder of , saw the firsr six months of last year asthe firm’s but this year is different. Doing a mix of project and not focusing on one areahas helped.
“Everyone is but it’s the big projects that give stability,” Agoos said. The firm has takemn on smaller, shorter projectz to sustain the staff. It also cut down the work “The challenge we face as an industrg is everyone is burning off backlog as fast as they canreplenisy it,” said Terry Steelman at Ballinger, a Philadelphiw architectural firm. “That is all goinb to trickle down to theconstructioh industry. We think 2009 has clearly been a challengingg year and 2010 is going to be a very challenging year unless things start to happen and startt tohappen quickly.” Contractorsz find they need to quickly adjusty to survive.
“Our theme for this year is to analyz e and adaptto achieve,” Palmer said. Already contractors are engagingt in a bidding frenzy over any project thatcomes up. Contractors are undercuttingf bids just to win work and inothef situations, major constructing companies are bidding on minuscules projects that were once the territory of small “Where there used to be two or three biddersw on projects, now there are 20 and 30,” Palmer said. has cutting 20 percent of its office andfield staff, said Steve president. Clemens hasn’t gone after work for no profitt just tokeep busy, Pouppirt said.
Emil y Bittenbender, managing partner of , formedc two new divisions as a way to ginup “We have to adapt to this environment,” Bittenbender “People are so optimistic that it’s going to turn around soon, but my concerm is we’re looking out a couple Bittenbender started a sustainable program-managemeny business to assist government agencies seeking stimuluxs funds for projects but which lack the staff to support and overse them. The other new businesse is a carpentry unit that will go after federalp contracts asa subcontractor. Architectds are also venturing intonew areas.
Ballinger ramped up writing grantt applications for institutions seeking stimulus fundatargeting research. These grants requirse a schematic design of what they intend to do withthe
Monday, October 17, 2011
Online college application company files for Chapt. 11 - Baltimore Business Journal:
gerazawa.wordpress.com
Last year, ApplicationsOnline lost its contract as the onlined provider of theCommon Application, used by more than 300 collegezs nationwide. That blow, coupled with an ongoinvg patent lawsuit bycompetitor CollegeNet, led to the Chapter 11 filinf on Aug. 11, the firm said in court documents. “Thes Chapter 11 is a strategy for stayinfgin business,” president Joshua Reiter said in an interview with the Business Journal . “It is not a strategyg for going outof business.” But CollegeNef asked the court Aug. 19 to dismiss the bankruptcy, sayintg it is merely an effort by ApplicationsOnlined to dodge key proceedings in thepatent lawsuit.
“This case is nothinv more thana two-party dispute, poorly disguised as a bankruptc case,” CollegeNet’s motion said. Reiter’s launched in 1998, developed technologhy allowing students to submit the CommonApplicatioj online, and by the 2006-2007 academivc year, more than a million students nationwide were doinfg so. Last year, ApplicationsOnline made local and nationalp news when it lost the Common Application account and launche acompeting product, the . That technology is now used by more than 75 including , Hood College and . ApplicationsOnline has paid “enormous” legapl fees to fight the patent the firm said in a motionfilesd Aug.
11 but did not provide a figure. CollegeNet, an Oregon-based firm that providese technology to collegesand nonprofits, sued ApplicationsOnline and The Common Applicatiob in late 2005. Their online application infringecon CollegeNet’s patented technology, which allows a thircd party to efficiently process onlind forms, CollegeNet’s suit claimed. ApplicationsOnline countersued, saying CollegeNet’s patenyt was invalid and it hadnot infringed. As the patent costsa mounted, ApplicationsOnline’s revenue began to fall becausr of the loss of the Common Applicatioj account inJuly 2007, the firm’ motion said.
ApplicationsOnline sued the Common Application and its new onlins vendorlast year, saying they illegallyh copied and used ApplicationsOnline’s copyrightedc technology. ApplicationsOnline earned income from operationsof $107,372 so far this compared with a totap of $8 million for 2006 and 2007, it said in a statementt of financial affairs. The firm, which has three listed assetsof $31,000 and liabilities of $1.154 million. The largest debt listed was $1.14r million owed to Reiter. The firm also listed CollegeNe and the Common Applicationas creditors, but said the amount it could owe them under the pendintg lawsuits was unclear.
But ApplicationsOnlinwe “appears to be able to pay its bills as they come CollegeNet said in its motion to dismiswsthe bankruptcy. ApplicationsOnline made a $3.7 million distributiomn to Reiterlast year, indicating that its finances are not in CollegeNet’s motion claimed. And ApplicationsOnline filed bankruptcy just weeks beforwe a key hearing on the patent CollegeNet said incourt documents. Gary Leibowitz, an attorney with Cole Schotz MeiseklForman & Leonard representing ApplicationsOnline in the declined comment on CollegeNet’s Lisa Tancredi, an attornety with LLP representing CollegeNet, declined comment.
Officialx with CollegeNet said that any company doing college admissions online is violating their In determining whether a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filinis legitimate, judges consider whether the firm has an “ulteriofr motive” beyond reorganizing and paying creditors, said Alan Grochal, chairman of the bankruptcy department at Baltimore law firm . Grochal is not involvex in the case. Bankruptcy reorganization can be a murkyt areaof law. Some firms, like airlines and big have filed Chapter 11 when their operations are but futureliabilities — like asbestos claimws or labor contracts — are weighing down the company.
In determining whetherr a bankruptcy caseis legitimate, court pay attention to how many creditors are involveds and the timing of the Grochal said.
Last year, ApplicationsOnline lost its contract as the onlined provider of theCommon Application, used by more than 300 collegezs nationwide. That blow, coupled with an ongoinvg patent lawsuit bycompetitor CollegeNet, led to the Chapter 11 filinf on Aug. 11, the firm said in court documents. “Thes Chapter 11 is a strategy for stayinfgin business,” president Joshua Reiter said in an interview with the Business Journal . “It is not a strategyg for going outof business.” But CollegeNef asked the court Aug. 19 to dismiss the bankruptcy, sayintg it is merely an effort by ApplicationsOnlined to dodge key proceedings in thepatent lawsuit.
“This case is nothinv more thana two-party dispute, poorly disguised as a bankruptc case,” CollegeNet’s motion said. Reiter’s launched in 1998, developed technologhy allowing students to submit the CommonApplicatioj online, and by the 2006-2007 academivc year, more than a million students nationwide were doinfg so. Last year, ApplicationsOnline made local and nationalp news when it lost the Common Application account and launche acompeting product, the . That technology is now used by more than 75 including , Hood College and . ApplicationsOnline has paid “enormous” legapl fees to fight the patent the firm said in a motionfilesd Aug.
11 but did not provide a figure. CollegeNet, an Oregon-based firm that providese technology to collegesand nonprofits, sued ApplicationsOnline and The Common Applicatiob in late 2005. Their online application infringecon CollegeNet’s patented technology, which allows a thircd party to efficiently process onlind forms, CollegeNet’s suit claimed. ApplicationsOnline countersued, saying CollegeNet’s patenyt was invalid and it hadnot infringed. As the patent costsa mounted, ApplicationsOnline’s revenue began to fall becausr of the loss of the Common Applicatioj account inJuly 2007, the firm’ motion said.
ApplicationsOnline sued the Common Application and its new onlins vendorlast year, saying they illegallyh copied and used ApplicationsOnline’s copyrightedc technology. ApplicationsOnline earned income from operationsof $107,372 so far this compared with a totap of $8 million for 2006 and 2007, it said in a statementt of financial affairs. The firm, which has three listed assetsof $31,000 and liabilities of $1.154 million. The largest debt listed was $1.14r million owed to Reiter. The firm also listed CollegeNe and the Common Applicationas creditors, but said the amount it could owe them under the pendintg lawsuits was unclear.
But ApplicationsOnlinwe “appears to be able to pay its bills as they come CollegeNet said in its motion to dismiswsthe bankruptcy. ApplicationsOnline made a $3.7 million distributiomn to Reiterlast year, indicating that its finances are not in CollegeNet’s motion claimed. And ApplicationsOnline filed bankruptcy just weeks beforwe a key hearing on the patent CollegeNet said incourt documents. Gary Leibowitz, an attorney with Cole Schotz MeiseklForman & Leonard representing ApplicationsOnline in the declined comment on CollegeNet’s Lisa Tancredi, an attornety with LLP representing CollegeNet, declined comment.
Officialx with CollegeNet said that any company doing college admissions online is violating their In determining whether a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filinis legitimate, judges consider whether the firm has an “ulteriofr motive” beyond reorganizing and paying creditors, said Alan Grochal, chairman of the bankruptcy department at Baltimore law firm . Grochal is not involvex in the case. Bankruptcy reorganization can be a murkyt areaof law. Some firms, like airlines and big have filed Chapter 11 when their operations are but futureliabilities — like asbestos claimws or labor contracts — are weighing down the company.
In determining whetherr a bankruptcy caseis legitimate, court pay attention to how many creditors are involveds and the timing of the Grochal said.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Bankruptcy filings soar in Florida
qalymeled.wordpress.com
percent increase in filings in the for the Middl e District of Florida in the 12 months endedMarch 31, compare to the same period a year earlier. The increasee in bankruptcy filings in the Middle District of Florida outpacee the national increase inbankruptcy filings. bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2009, were up 33.3 percent over bankruptcy filings forthe 12-month periox ending March 31, 2008, accordingb to statistics released by the administrative office of the U.S. Courts. In the Middlre District of Florida, there were 47,0r bankruptcy filings in the 12 months endedMarch 31, compared to 30,031 in the year endecd March 31, 2008.
There had been 18,017 bankruptcyt filings in the year endeeMarch 31, 2007. During the quarted ended March 31, thered were 13,332 total filings in the Middlew Districtof Florida, including 9,68u7 Chapter 7 filings, 127 Chapter 11 filings, and 3,513w Chapter 13 filings. There were 683 businesss bankruptcies filed in the quarter endesdMarch 31, including 507 businesses that soughty to liquidate through Chapter 7, and 116 that soughg to reorganize their debts through Chapterd 11. There also were a total of 12,649 non-business bankruptcies filed in the three months endedMarcj 31.
percent increase in filings in the for the Middl e District of Florida in the 12 months endedMarch 31, compare to the same period a year earlier. The increasee in bankruptcy filings in the Middle District of Florida outpacee the national increase inbankruptcy filings. bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2009, were up 33.3 percent over bankruptcy filings forthe 12-month periox ending March 31, 2008, accordingb to statistics released by the administrative office of the U.S. Courts. In the Middlre District of Florida, there were 47,0r bankruptcy filings in the 12 months endedMarch 31, compared to 30,031 in the year endecd March 31, 2008.
There had been 18,017 bankruptcyt filings in the year endeeMarch 31, 2007. During the quarted ended March 31, thered were 13,332 total filings in the Middlew Districtof Florida, including 9,68u7 Chapter 7 filings, 127 Chapter 11 filings, and 3,513w Chapter 13 filings. There were 683 businesss bankruptcies filed in the quarter endesdMarch 31, including 507 businesses that soughty to liquidate through Chapter 7, and 116 that soughg to reorganize their debts through Chapterd 11. There also were a total of 12,649 non-business bankruptcies filed in the three months endedMarcj 31.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
McLagan ordered to pay $202K restitution - The Business Review (Albany):
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
McLagan, 56, who was once a nationallyh known award-winning builder, was ordered to pay $202,000 restitution in monthly installments and servr fiveyears probation. He was sentencef in Saratoga County Court on Tuesday after he to multiple grand larceny and petty larceny charges in May for stealing from home buyersw and subcontractorson high-end homes in Saratogaz Springs and Stillwater. “Hr fell upon hard took on too much work and overextended himself,” said E.
Stewartr Jones, the Troy criminalo lawyer who represented Problems arose as the housingf market collapsed and McLagan began using home buyer deposits to pay for work on unrelated projectse and to pay off unrelatedr business andpersonal debts, said Saratoga County Districf Attorney James A. Murphy III. The builder was arrested in February 2008 and againlast November. He pleadesd guilty to two felony grand larceny charges and two misdemeanoe petty larceny charges in SaratogaqCounty Court. Murphy said he was pleasedd withthe sentence, because it will alloe McLagan to work so he can repay subcontractors who are owed That debt is to be repaird in installments.
McLagan also was orderee to repay $130,000 to home buyers who made downpayments for homesd that McLagan didnot complete. That case was handledr by a special prosecutor. Jones said McLagamn currently is working forother builders, but he expects him to staryt working on his own again. “I would stay I am sure he is going to get back in the game very soon,” Jones said.
McLagan, 56, who was once a nationallyh known award-winning builder, was ordered to pay $202,000 restitution in monthly installments and servr fiveyears probation. He was sentencef in Saratoga County Court on Tuesday after he to multiple grand larceny and petty larceny charges in May for stealing from home buyersw and subcontractorson high-end homes in Saratogaz Springs and Stillwater. “Hr fell upon hard took on too much work and overextended himself,” said E.
Stewartr Jones, the Troy criminalo lawyer who represented Problems arose as the housingf market collapsed and McLagan began using home buyer deposits to pay for work on unrelated projectse and to pay off unrelatedr business andpersonal debts, said Saratoga County Districf Attorney James A. Murphy III. The builder was arrested in February 2008 and againlast November. He pleadesd guilty to two felony grand larceny charges and two misdemeanoe petty larceny charges in SaratogaqCounty Court. Murphy said he was pleasedd withthe sentence, because it will alloe McLagan to work so he can repay subcontractors who are owed That debt is to be repaird in installments.
McLagan also was orderee to repay $130,000 to home buyers who made downpayments for homesd that McLagan didnot complete. That case was handledr by a special prosecutor. Jones said McLagamn currently is working forother builders, but he expects him to staryt working on his own again. “I would stay I am sure he is going to get back in the game very soon,” Jones said.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Supreme Court rules that states can investigate nationally chartered banks - Kansas City Business Journal:
ofycagvezi.blogspot.com
The case, Cuomo vs. , stems from a New York stat e investigation that sought information from national banks abou t potential discriminatory banking practices that violaterd NewYork law. The federal bankingb regulator, the , objected to the requests by New Yorkstatd officials, eventually siding with a suit brought by , which argued that the statse had no jurisdiction. The investigation was starteed in 2005by then-New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and continuex by current Attorney Generao Andrew Cuomo. They both argued that being regulated by the federapgovernment doesn’t give a bank immunityh from violating state laws.
Consumer groups supported Cuomo’s position because state officials tend to be more active indefendin consumers. Banking groups are displeased. “We are worried abouft the effect that this ruling coulr have onthe markets,” said Rich Whiting, executive directorf of the . The decision could createe a patchwork of state laws at the cost of efficiencie s of thenational market, he said. “Cuomo vs. Clearinvg House Association hinders the ability of financial service s firms from conducting business in the United Whiting said. “Even worse, it will caus e confusion for consumers, especially those who move from statsto state.
”
The case, Cuomo vs. , stems from a New York stat e investigation that sought information from national banks abou t potential discriminatory banking practices that violaterd NewYork law. The federal bankingb regulator, the , objected to the requests by New Yorkstatd officials, eventually siding with a suit brought by , which argued that the statse had no jurisdiction. The investigation was starteed in 2005by then-New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and continuex by current Attorney Generao Andrew Cuomo. They both argued that being regulated by the federapgovernment doesn’t give a bank immunityh from violating state laws.
Consumer groups supported Cuomo’s position because state officials tend to be more active indefendin consumers. Banking groups are displeased. “We are worried abouft the effect that this ruling coulr have onthe markets,” said Rich Whiting, executive directorf of the . The decision could createe a patchwork of state laws at the cost of efficiencie s of thenational market, he said. “Cuomo vs. Clearinvg House Association hinders the ability of financial service s firms from conducting business in the United Whiting said. “Even worse, it will caus e confusion for consumers, especially those who move from statsto state.
”
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Get hip to social media or lose customers - Jacksonville Business Journal:
http://www.sexingthepolitical.org/2003/2003/one/pregnancy.html
Having an informative Web siteor blog, especiall y one with interesting or useful videos, makews one’s business more likely to be found not only in a Googlwe search, but also on sites such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, even via Twitter. People share both good and bad experienced abouta company, product or service with their onlines friends. And if their friends ask for a they share thatas well. In order for businesses to be more successful usingsocial media, they have to get over the mindset. The right way to spread a company’s message on socialp media sites is to see it less as mass marketinfg and more asa one-on-one conversation.
“Thew problem is they go on all thesre sites and start marketing to everyone and putting ads outther [when] people don’t want to be marketex to,” said Nelson Bruton, vice president of . “You must make your message relevantto them. If they see any direcr marketing messageand there’s no value to they’re going to ignorew it. They may even delete you as a friend. “Makse sure you get involved [and] encourage conversations or commente andactively participate. Participation is the key It’s one thing to share informatioh about a product or service and have a few onlinee friends pass alongthe information.
It’s quite anothee for that information togo viral, where it’sw shared by thousands of people. “Everyone wants somethinbg to goviral that’s a given as social media have evolved and more and more brandsx are looking at socialk media” as a way to reach consumers, said Jalali founder and CEO of , which has an onlinde community of contributors who use social media to help businessees get their message out. Yovia uses what it callds a “Social Velocity Engine” to predicft whether a campaign willgo viral.
“We can predict if any campaign will go viral or not and give you a rougn approximation of what the viral community will be and if thersis none, what you need to change,” Hartmanm said. “We may not be able to say you’llk get X million number of views, but we can say this is what [the will be.” Yovia does this by breaking a campaign up intofour “the four C’s” — content, community and conversion. “The best kind of content is something the person wrote Hartman said. As for connections, “we are not interesteds in how many friends, but rather the collective sphere of influence ofthose friends.
“Communitg is a measure of discussion. If there’as no discussion, there’s no Conversion is the most overlooked aspect of any We knowthat two-thirds of peopled buy [based on a] referraol if you hear about something from someoner you know and trust. Your peers tell you what’sa important. [So] how do we get them talking in a way our message is associated with that This doesn’t mean every campaign will go but it can increase a campaign’s reach. “If you are just tryingt to come up with aviralk campaign, it probably won’t work, but it will help them understanf and spread the word about the brand,” Hartmabn said.
“We are not looking at the old modelo where you send an advertising messag e to a million people and get a 1percent response. We want to send the messagew to the right people and get a 100percentt response.” Yovia also offers free weekly training classeds at its office in Atlantidc Beach to help business owners learn how to use sociaol media, which can be particularly usefulk for those who aren’ft quite up to speed on the technology. “I’m 49 yearxs old; my kids know more about that than I saidDavid McCormick, president of . “With LinkedIn and Facebooj and Twitter, I was interested in learningv how theytie together.
Social media are changinvg the way people are marketing becaus e it isby word-of-mouth and that has more than traditional advertising.
Having an informative Web siteor blog, especiall y one with interesting or useful videos, makews one’s business more likely to be found not only in a Googlwe search, but also on sites such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, even via Twitter. People share both good and bad experienced abouta company, product or service with their onlines friends. And if their friends ask for a they share thatas well. In order for businesses to be more successful usingsocial media, they have to get over the mindset. The right way to spread a company’s message on socialp media sites is to see it less as mass marketinfg and more asa one-on-one conversation.
“Thew problem is they go on all thesre sites and start marketing to everyone and putting ads outther [when] people don’t want to be marketex to,” said Nelson Bruton, vice president of . “You must make your message relevantto them. If they see any direcr marketing messageand there’s no value to they’re going to ignorew it. They may even delete you as a friend. “Makse sure you get involved [and] encourage conversations or commente andactively participate. Participation is the key It’s one thing to share informatioh about a product or service and have a few onlinee friends pass alongthe information.
It’s quite anothee for that information togo viral, where it’sw shared by thousands of people. “Everyone wants somethinbg to goviral that’s a given as social media have evolved and more and more brandsx are looking at socialk media” as a way to reach consumers, said Jalali founder and CEO of , which has an onlinde community of contributors who use social media to help businessees get their message out. Yovia uses what it callds a “Social Velocity Engine” to predicft whether a campaign willgo viral.
“We can predict if any campaign will go viral or not and give you a rougn approximation of what the viral community will be and if thersis none, what you need to change,” Hartmanm said. “We may not be able to say you’llk get X million number of views, but we can say this is what [the will be.” Yovia does this by breaking a campaign up intofour “the four C’s” — content, community and conversion. “The best kind of content is something the person wrote Hartman said. As for connections, “we are not interesteds in how many friends, but rather the collective sphere of influence ofthose friends.
“Communitg is a measure of discussion. If there’as no discussion, there’s no Conversion is the most overlooked aspect of any We knowthat two-thirds of peopled buy [based on a] referraol if you hear about something from someoner you know and trust. Your peers tell you what’sa important. [So] how do we get them talking in a way our message is associated with that This doesn’t mean every campaign will go but it can increase a campaign’s reach. “If you are just tryingt to come up with aviralk campaign, it probably won’t work, but it will help them understanf and spread the word about the brand,” Hartmabn said.
“We are not looking at the old modelo where you send an advertising messag e to a million people and get a 1percent response. We want to send the messagew to the right people and get a 100percentt response.” Yovia also offers free weekly training classeds at its office in Atlantidc Beach to help business owners learn how to use sociaol media, which can be particularly usefulk for those who aren’ft quite up to speed on the technology. “I’m 49 yearxs old; my kids know more about that than I saidDavid McCormick, president of . “With LinkedIn and Facebooj and Twitter, I was interested in learningv how theytie together.
Social media are changinvg the way people are marketing becaus e it isby word-of-mouth and that has more than traditional advertising.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Real estate vets opening hardware store - Business First of Buffalo:
http://www.qzwhw.com/books/archive/bargaining-for-advantage.html
Jeff Pfeil and Deane Pfeil are opening later this summefr at 63Third St., the same addressz where they renovated the upper four floores into 19 luxury apartmentzs called The Conservatory. The husband-and-wife team -- who own the commercialk leasing and marketingfirm Inc. in Saratoga Springs -- say a hardwarew store is needed downtowbn to serve local businesses and residents who must now traveol miles away tobuy tools, equipment and othedr supplies. They know the frustration firsthand after doing two residential renovation projects inthe city, the Conservatoru and Powers Park Loftsa in north Troy. “Our constructionb staff was running all over to pick up the JeffPfeil said.
“We were spendinyg a lot of time driving to Lathanm and I was hauling a lot from in We thought, ‘Gee, there’s a void Trojan Hardware on Congress Street recently closed after 94 years in leaving downtown with no other hardware The closest is across the Hudson River in Watervliet or uptown near the town of Pfeil Hardware will be part of in Fort Wayne, the nation’s second largest hardwar co-operative. The store will be managed by Stevem Lesnewskiof Pittsfield, Mass., who has more than 25 yeard of experience in the hardward industry.
The 8,700-square-foot store will stock small appliances, fasteners, electrical and plumbinb supplies, Benjamin Moore paints and other It won’t sell lumber. The Pfeilds have been planning the store fora year. As part of theier research they visited hardware stores in colleger towns and large cities to see what kinds of productsdcustomers need. They also searched hard for someone to managethe “The decision wasn’t final until we foun the right person,” Pfeipl said. The Pfeils have been in the commerciapl real estate and development businesw for more than20 years, but this will be the firstg time they will own a store. There’s a reasomn for that.
“Because of all the years we worked with retailersa very closely we have a pretty thoroughh understandingof retail, that’e probably why we never went into Jeff Pfeil said. “It’s sort of a but retail is a lot ofhard work, long hour s and all the things that come with Still, they knew from personal experiencs a hardware store is needed and were encouraged by the resultds of their marketing studies. Finding a seasoned store managet wasalso critical. Mayor Harryy Tutunjian cheered the announcement aboutthe “Jeff and Deane Pfeil have a record of successx in Troy and I am sure that this new venturwe will succeed as well,” Tutunjianb said.
“The residents of Troy will benefig from having a well stockef urban hardware store in the heart of the The opening ofPfeil Hardware, whichn is tentatively set for will return retailing to a downtownb building that had long servedd as the home of Stanley’s departmengt store. The building sat emptg for years before the Pfeils bought it and converted the upper floors into 19 luxury apartments they call The All but two of the apartment s were occupied as ofJuly 1. The Pfeilw declined to say how much they spenyin start-up costs for the hardware Nor did they want to say how much they coulc have received per square foot had they leased the first floor space to another tenant.
Lease rates in downtown Troy were $10 to $20 per square foot as of the fourthy quarterof 2008, according to CB Richards Ellis/Albany.
Jeff Pfeil and Deane Pfeil are opening later this summefr at 63Third St., the same addressz where they renovated the upper four floores into 19 luxury apartmentzs called The Conservatory. The husband-and-wife team -- who own the commercialk leasing and marketingfirm Inc. in Saratoga Springs -- say a hardwarew store is needed downtowbn to serve local businesses and residents who must now traveol miles away tobuy tools, equipment and othedr supplies. They know the frustration firsthand after doing two residential renovation projects inthe city, the Conservatoru and Powers Park Loftsa in north Troy. “Our constructionb staff was running all over to pick up the JeffPfeil said.
“We were spendinyg a lot of time driving to Lathanm and I was hauling a lot from in We thought, ‘Gee, there’s a void Trojan Hardware on Congress Street recently closed after 94 years in leaving downtown with no other hardware The closest is across the Hudson River in Watervliet or uptown near the town of Pfeil Hardware will be part of in Fort Wayne, the nation’s second largest hardwar co-operative. The store will be managed by Stevem Lesnewskiof Pittsfield, Mass., who has more than 25 yeard of experience in the hardward industry.
The 8,700-square-foot store will stock small appliances, fasteners, electrical and plumbinb supplies, Benjamin Moore paints and other It won’t sell lumber. The Pfeilds have been planning the store fora year. As part of theier research they visited hardware stores in colleger towns and large cities to see what kinds of productsdcustomers need. They also searched hard for someone to managethe “The decision wasn’t final until we foun the right person,” Pfeipl said. The Pfeils have been in the commerciapl real estate and development businesw for more than20 years, but this will be the firstg time they will own a store. There’s a reasomn for that.
“Because of all the years we worked with retailersa very closely we have a pretty thoroughh understandingof retail, that’e probably why we never went into Jeff Pfeil said. “It’s sort of a but retail is a lot ofhard work, long hour s and all the things that come with Still, they knew from personal experiencs a hardware store is needed and were encouraged by the resultds of their marketing studies. Finding a seasoned store managet wasalso critical. Mayor Harryy Tutunjian cheered the announcement aboutthe “Jeff and Deane Pfeil have a record of successx in Troy and I am sure that this new venturwe will succeed as well,” Tutunjianb said.
“The residents of Troy will benefig from having a well stockef urban hardware store in the heart of the The opening ofPfeil Hardware, whichn is tentatively set for will return retailing to a downtownb building that had long servedd as the home of Stanley’s departmengt store. The building sat emptg for years before the Pfeils bought it and converted the upper floors into 19 luxury apartments they call The All but two of the apartment s were occupied as ofJuly 1. The Pfeilw declined to say how much they spenyin start-up costs for the hardware Nor did they want to say how much they coulc have received per square foot had they leased the first floor space to another tenant.
Lease rates in downtown Troy were $10 to $20 per square foot as of the fourthy quarterof 2008, according to CB Richards Ellis/Albany.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
WCI files reorganization plan - Houston Business Journal:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
Under the plan, senior secured lenders will received new first lien debt in the amounytof $450 million, which includes a $150 millionm payment-in-kind component and an initial 95 percent equityg stake in the reorganized company, WCI said in a news The remaining 5 percent would be shared by the company’xs unsecured creditors, which would begin to increasew when the new debt is fully Interim CEO David L. Fry said WCI’s goal is to emergw from Chapter 11 by thethird quarter. “Under the WCI will emerge as a deleverage d lifestyle community developer and land holding compant with the flexibility to navigate its businesds during these unprecedented times and he said.
Fry said the Sarasota-baseed company will continue to complete homes alreaduyunder construction, but has suspended all new home constructiomn activity in Florida.
Under the plan, senior secured lenders will received new first lien debt in the amounytof $450 million, which includes a $150 millionm payment-in-kind component and an initial 95 percent equityg stake in the reorganized company, WCI said in a news The remaining 5 percent would be shared by the company’xs unsecured creditors, which would begin to increasew when the new debt is fully Interim CEO David L. Fry said WCI’s goal is to emergw from Chapter 11 by thethird quarter. “Under the WCI will emerge as a deleverage d lifestyle community developer and land holding compant with the flexibility to navigate its businesds during these unprecedented times and he said.
Fry said the Sarasota-baseed company will continue to complete homes alreaduyunder construction, but has suspended all new home constructiomn activity in Florida.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Feds say Kauai man stole $16M in Ponzi scheme - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
onoeuqedol1902.blogspot.com
David E. Ruskjer of Koloa was charged by a federao grand jury Wednesday for fraudulently raising the moneuy from approximately140 investors. Among the charges against Ruskjer aremail fraud, wire currency structuring and money The U.S. Attorney’s office alleges Ruskjefr ran an investment and loan program out of Koloa calledRuskjer & Associates and Dave’zs Investment/Loan Program, promising investorsd returns of 3 percent to 5 percengt per month. The alleged activities occurred betweenh September 2004 andDecember 2008. Ruskjedr allegedly used half ofthe $16 millionb for trading through TD Ameritrade but lost more than $2.
5 The government said “there was never sufficient money to support the 3 to 5 percent interest ratew he guaranteed his clients.” In classic Ponz i scheme fashion, Ruskjer allegedly used moneyg from new clients to pay earlier client s to convince them he was making money for When the government seized Ruskjer’s trading account and bank accounts last Dec. 11, he had a combinedr balance of $4.1 million.
Ruskjer is accusexd of using much of the monegy onpersonal expenses, including $528,458 on a condominiukm on Kauai, $29,000 on a Honda sedan and $10,000 on If convicted, he face up to 20 yearsd in prison for each of the 17 mail and wire fraue charges, and up to 10 years in prisonh for each of the 30 other charges. The case resulted from an Internall RevenueService investigation.
David E. Ruskjer of Koloa was charged by a federao grand jury Wednesday for fraudulently raising the moneuy from approximately140 investors. Among the charges against Ruskjer aremail fraud, wire currency structuring and money The U.S. Attorney’s office alleges Ruskjefr ran an investment and loan program out of Koloa calledRuskjer & Associates and Dave’zs Investment/Loan Program, promising investorsd returns of 3 percent to 5 percengt per month. The alleged activities occurred betweenh September 2004 andDecember 2008. Ruskjedr allegedly used half ofthe $16 millionb for trading through TD Ameritrade but lost more than $2.
5 The government said “there was never sufficient money to support the 3 to 5 percent interest ratew he guaranteed his clients.” In classic Ponz i scheme fashion, Ruskjer allegedly used moneyg from new clients to pay earlier client s to convince them he was making money for When the government seized Ruskjer’s trading account and bank accounts last Dec. 11, he had a combinedr balance of $4.1 million.
Ruskjer is accusexd of using much of the monegy onpersonal expenses, including $528,458 on a condominiukm on Kauai, $29,000 on a Honda sedan and $10,000 on If convicted, he face up to 20 yearsd in prison for each of the 17 mail and wire fraue charges, and up to 10 years in prisonh for each of the 30 other charges. The case resulted from an Internall RevenueService investigation.
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