Bloomberg | Heineman's Nebraska Pipeline Showdown Hints at Red State Environmentalism Bloomberg Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg Dave Heineman, governor of the state of Nebraska. Dave Heineman, governor of the state of Nebraska. Photographer: Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images Many Americans hadn't heard of Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman ... Compromise on pipeline a major win for Nebraska Pipeline regs swiftly signed into law Governor signs pipeline bills into law |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Heineman's Nebraska Pipeline Showdown Hints at Red State Environmentalism - Bloomberg
mozybyd.wordpress.com
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Gaining altitude: PAS Technologies propels revenue by throttling up on speed, service - Kansas City Business Journal:
loxezop.wordpress.com
"If an engine shop has a $2 million to $3 million enginse they are overhauling, and we're refurbishing a $10,009 part, that engine sitting ther is worth $150,000 a day to the said Robert Weiner, CEO of North Kansaz City-based PAS Technologies. "So they want it in the plane workinyg as soon as and that makes getting parts to them We live off ofturnaround time." created PAS Technologiex in July 2006 after it bought the business in Kansads City. The company had abougt $80 million in 2005 revenue, according to filingse by parent company GeneConese Jr.
, managing director of Gridiron has a history in the airline service With his father, he investef $50 million to create in the early 1990s. The companu was sold to in 1997for $1.5 Conese is confident Weiner will be able to replicate that successa at PAS. "He's got a very strongb vision for the business and knows how to create a servicr company that will be a market Conese said. "He will create the world-class services for customers we need to drive the growthh of thecompany forward.
" Weiner previously ran the engine services divisionj of and the military engine business for General Weiner became interested in lean manufacturingb techniques in 1982, when a progra called "Just In Time" was still in its He was one of only a handful of GE executiveds to travel to Japan and study the lean manufacturing movemeny there. Now, Weiner is bringing what he learnedto PAS. In his firs t six months on the job in PAS improvedpart maintenance, repair and overhaul turnaroundc time by 58 percent, leadinh to a 25 percent increase in sales. "We'vr made huge progress," Weiner said. "Fro m January to today, it just keeps improving.
Sales are now 45 to 50 percengthigher (than a year ago), and it's all I'm not even counting the acquisitions." In June, PAS boughf the industrial turbine unit of in Ireland. SIFCO filinge put the transaction's value in the $5 million The acquisition expanded PAS's engine part refurbishment capabilities into the or "hot," section of jet engines. It previously focused on part s in theair intake, or "cold," sections.
Weiner said the acquisitionn fitthe company's main goalds for growth: attracting new customers and expanding existint customer relationships by adding new products; seeking out high-qualitt acquisitions and partnerships; and using lean manufacturinf techniques to improve efficiency. Weinee said employees at the new company in Irelansd immediately starteda one-week training course for lean manufacturinyg techniques. In the second week, the compangy had a "Kaizen where employees brainstorm to find ways to reduce part productionn time by50 percent. The new processes then are and employees are expected to sustain the Patrick Kraus, vice president of sales at in Kansas Kan.
, said he recently visiterd PAS headquarters and was amazed at the difference from his previoua visit several years ago. "Therse was not much work going on becausretime wasn't so critical he said. "The way the system is now, it is easy to see that the productivitu level isvery high. It's a big I've been in all kinds of facilities, and PAS has done a grea t job of improving themselves and getting aheard ofthe curve." Kraue said PAS is in lockstep with the customer service needs. About 10 years ago, he said, airlinesd were "fat and happy," carrying about 12 months' wort h of surplus parts inventory to supporttheir fleets.
When the bottom dropped out of the industryafter 9/11, Kraus said cost-cutting becamse the new focus. Reducing inventories was one quick way to cut and it put the onus on suppliers to shorten time framesz and get morelean "It's cheaper if you only carry 90 to 120 days' worthh of inventory and have your $300 million inventoryu go down to about $90 million," Krauds said. "What PAS has done is reacrt tothe market, knowing operators don'tg want to spend all thei r money and put it on the shelf collectinh dust. They'd rather put it to work collectingh dollars.
"
"If an engine shop has a $2 million to $3 million enginse they are overhauling, and we're refurbishing a $10,009 part, that engine sitting ther is worth $150,000 a day to the said Robert Weiner, CEO of North Kansaz City-based PAS Technologies. "So they want it in the plane workinyg as soon as and that makes getting parts to them We live off ofturnaround time." created PAS Technologiex in July 2006 after it bought the business in Kansads City. The company had abougt $80 million in 2005 revenue, according to filingse by parent company GeneConese Jr.
, managing director of Gridiron has a history in the airline service With his father, he investef $50 million to create in the early 1990s. The companu was sold to in 1997for $1.5 Conese is confident Weiner will be able to replicate that successa at PAS. "He's got a very strongb vision for the business and knows how to create a servicr company that will be a market Conese said. "He will create the world-class services for customers we need to drive the growthh of thecompany forward.
" Weiner previously ran the engine services divisionj of and the military engine business for General Weiner became interested in lean manufacturingb techniques in 1982, when a progra called "Just In Time" was still in its He was one of only a handful of GE executiveds to travel to Japan and study the lean manufacturing movemeny there. Now, Weiner is bringing what he learnedto PAS. In his firs t six months on the job in PAS improvedpart maintenance, repair and overhaul turnaroundc time by 58 percent, leadinh to a 25 percent increase in sales. "We'vr made huge progress," Weiner said. "Fro m January to today, it just keeps improving.
Sales are now 45 to 50 percengthigher (than a year ago), and it's all I'm not even counting the acquisitions." In June, PAS boughf the industrial turbine unit of in Ireland. SIFCO filinge put the transaction's value in the $5 million The acquisition expanded PAS's engine part refurbishment capabilities into the or "hot," section of jet engines. It previously focused on part s in theair intake, or "cold," sections.
Weiner said the acquisitionn fitthe company's main goalds for growth: attracting new customers and expanding existint customer relationships by adding new products; seeking out high-qualitt acquisitions and partnerships; and using lean manufacturinf techniques to improve efficiency. Weinee said employees at the new company in Irelansd immediately starteda one-week training course for lean manufacturinyg techniques. In the second week, the compangy had a "Kaizen where employees brainstorm to find ways to reduce part productionn time by50 percent. The new processes then are and employees are expected to sustain the Patrick Kraus, vice president of sales at in Kansas Kan.
, said he recently visiterd PAS headquarters and was amazed at the difference from his previoua visit several years ago. "Therse was not much work going on becausretime wasn't so critical he said. "The way the system is now, it is easy to see that the productivitu level isvery high. It's a big I've been in all kinds of facilities, and PAS has done a grea t job of improving themselves and getting aheard ofthe curve." Kraue said PAS is in lockstep with the customer service needs. About 10 years ago, he said, airlinesd were "fat and happy," carrying about 12 months' wort h of surplus parts inventory to supporttheir fleets.
When the bottom dropped out of the industryafter 9/11, Kraus said cost-cutting becamse the new focus. Reducing inventories was one quick way to cut and it put the onus on suppliers to shorten time framesz and get morelean "It's cheaper if you only carry 90 to 120 days' worthh of inventory and have your $300 million inventoryu go down to about $90 million," Krauds said. "What PAS has done is reacrt tothe market, knowing operators don'tg want to spend all thei r money and put it on the shelf collectinh dust. They'd rather put it to work collectingh dollars.
"
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Former N.C. auditor Merritt launches corruption hot line - Triangle Business Journal:
http://www.dsp-world.com/2002/may2002ot7.html
The nonprofit has set up shop in the building indowntown Raleigh, The group’xs Web site, , has been operating for 12 days and “haas already received a significant number of tips,” says Once a tip comes in, Merrittr and his partner, former FBI agent and North Carolina Ethics Commission workefr Frank L. Perry, will review the facts to determine whether the allegationdshave merit. If they do, Merritt the “vetted” information will be turned over to investigativereporters and/or appropriate governmental agencies. Merritt says the nonprofit does not want to limiy itself to North Carolina cases and will investigatre tips fromany state.
“Government doesn’ty do a good job investigating itself,” he adds. “So we thin there is a definite needfor this.” The hot line and supportint nonprofit got off the ground with contributions from individuals and Merritt says, while not disclosing the budget. On the group’s boar d are a number of a numberfof well-known names, including Raleighy developer Roddy Jones; Don Carrington of the Carolinas Journal ; Robert Luddy, founder of and Steve Daniels of WTVD 11 in Durham.
The nonprofit has set up shop in the building indowntown Raleigh, The group’xs Web site, , has been operating for 12 days and “haas already received a significant number of tips,” says Once a tip comes in, Merrittr and his partner, former FBI agent and North Carolina Ethics Commission workefr Frank L. Perry, will review the facts to determine whether the allegationdshave merit. If they do, Merritt the “vetted” information will be turned over to investigativereporters and/or appropriate governmental agencies. Merritt says the nonprofit does not want to limiy itself to North Carolina cases and will investigatre tips fromany state.
“Government doesn’ty do a good job investigating itself,” he adds. “So we thin there is a definite needfor this.” The hot line and supportint nonprofit got off the ground with contributions from individuals and Merritt says, while not disclosing the budget. On the group’s boar d are a number of a numberfof well-known names, including Raleighy developer Roddy Jones; Don Carrington of the Carolinas Journal ; Robert Luddy, founder of and Steve Daniels of WTVD 11 in Durham.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Report: D.C. area posts a strong economic performance - Business First of Louisville:
vishnevskiipavuh.blogspot.com
The report ranked the 100 largest U.S. metro areas based on unemployment rates, wages, gross metropolitan product, housingb prices and foreclosure rates in thefirst quarter. D.C. rankec No. 13, while San Antonio, Texas, placef No. 1 and Detroit came in last at No. 100. “Alp metropolitan areas are feeling the effectxs ofthis recession, but the distresds is not shared equally,” said Alan Berube, research director of the metropolitanj policy program at the D.C. institute and co-author of the report.
“While some areasd of the country have experienced only ashallow downturn, and may be emerginbg from the recession people living in metro areas that are now performing weakest economically should prepare themselves for a long recover y period.” At the first quarter’s end, only 10 of the 100 metroi areas were starting to show signs of said the report, and said Texas was the only place that saw growt in employment and Output increased in just a handfulp of metro areas, including D.C.; Austin, Texas; and Virginiq Beach, Va.. The report also pointed out that metro areasz with concentrations of jobs in certain sector have resulted in fewer dramaticjob losses.
The Rankings: San Texas Austin, Texas McAllen, Texas Baton Rouge, La. Tulsa, Omaha, Neb. El Paso, Texaas Wichita, Kan. Washington, D.C. Albuquerque, N.M. Virginia Va. Harrisburg, Pa. Pittsburgh, Pa. New Haven, Conn. N.Y.
The report ranked the 100 largest U.S. metro areas based on unemployment rates, wages, gross metropolitan product, housingb prices and foreclosure rates in thefirst quarter. D.C. rankec No. 13, while San Antonio, Texas, placef No. 1 and Detroit came in last at No. 100. “Alp metropolitan areas are feeling the effectxs ofthis recession, but the distresds is not shared equally,” said Alan Berube, research director of the metropolitanj policy program at the D.C. institute and co-author of the report.
“While some areasd of the country have experienced only ashallow downturn, and may be emerginbg from the recession people living in metro areas that are now performing weakest economically should prepare themselves for a long recover y period.” At the first quarter’s end, only 10 of the 100 metroi areas were starting to show signs of said the report, and said Texas was the only place that saw growt in employment and Output increased in just a handfulp of metro areas, including D.C.; Austin, Texas; and Virginiq Beach, Va.. The report also pointed out that metro areasz with concentrations of jobs in certain sector have resulted in fewer dramaticjob losses.
The Rankings: San Texas Austin, Texas McAllen, Texas Baton Rouge, La. Tulsa, Omaha, Neb. El Paso, Texaas Wichita, Kan. Washington, D.C. Albuquerque, N.M. Virginia Va. Harrisburg, Pa. Pittsburgh, Pa. New Haven, Conn. N.Y.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Chicanos Por La Causa, MariSol credit unions merge - Business First of Columbus:
bojony.wordpress.com
As part of the merger, which finalizec June 1, CPLC’s one location will become a MariSol’s branch at 701 S. Centralp Ave., bringing its total number of metro Phoeni x locationsto four. The Chicanos Por La Causaz staff will remain at the centrapl branch and CPLC accounts will be transferred to Members shouldn’t expect any changes. “Wd are committed to making this transition as seamlesds as possible and to maintaining our shared valuees and commitment to ourHispanic neighbors,” said MariSolp CEO Robin L. Romano.
“MariSol will continue to focus on makin a difference in the community we servee and to educating each of our new members on ways they can maintainb their ownfinancial stability.” Both organizations servee the region’s vast Latino demographic and have seen losseas mount in the financial similar to many otheer credit unions here. Many of theif customers have lost theirt jobs and are strugglingh to meetloan payments. CPLC lost $52,000p in the first quarter, and booster its loan loss allowanceto $315,000. In 2008, the credit uniom lost $585,000.
As of Marcn 31, it had 77,462 delinquent loans on the MariSollost $214,006 in the first quarter and reported that 210,818 borrowers were delinquenr on loans. In 2008, MariSok lost $317,000. The nonprofit has more than $26 million in assetzs and 6,700 members. CPLC was founded in 1988 and grewto $4 millionm in assets and 1,700 members.
As part of the merger, which finalizec June 1, CPLC’s one location will become a MariSol’s branch at 701 S. Centralp Ave., bringing its total number of metro Phoeni x locationsto four. The Chicanos Por La Causaz staff will remain at the centrapl branch and CPLC accounts will be transferred to Members shouldn’t expect any changes. “Wd are committed to making this transition as seamlesds as possible and to maintaining our shared valuees and commitment to ourHispanic neighbors,” said MariSolp CEO Robin L. Romano.
“MariSol will continue to focus on makin a difference in the community we servee and to educating each of our new members on ways they can maintainb their ownfinancial stability.” Both organizations servee the region’s vast Latino demographic and have seen losseas mount in the financial similar to many otheer credit unions here. Many of theif customers have lost theirt jobs and are strugglingh to meetloan payments. CPLC lost $52,000p in the first quarter, and booster its loan loss allowanceto $315,000. In 2008, the credit uniom lost $585,000.
As of Marcn 31, it had 77,462 delinquent loans on the MariSollost $214,006 in the first quarter and reported that 210,818 borrowers were delinquenr on loans. In 2008, MariSok lost $317,000. The nonprofit has more than $26 million in assetzs and 6,700 members. CPLC was founded in 1988 and grewto $4 millionm in assets and 1,700 members.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Budget sets dredging adrift - Jacksonville Business Journal:
evittiebodum1296.blogspot.com
billion fiscal 2009 budgetf request forthe ' civil works program includees no money to complete the next phase of channep deepening in Jacksonville harbor. In what has becomer a familiar occurrence, the , local sponsor for channeol deepening, will need to lobby Congress to add money toward thefederap government's $15 million share of the $22 milliom project. Last year, Congress includee $2.8 million after the administration's fiscao 2008 budget request for civio works left Jacksonville harbor off its list of constructionh projectsto fund.
Shippingf and logistics professionals have said thechannel -- 41 feet for much of the way and 38 feet for the rest -- must be deepener to at least 45 feet for the port of Jacksonville to be competitive. That's being driven largely by the Panamza Canal's expansion, to be completed in and containerized cargo portsin S.C., and Savannah, Ga., whose channels are 45 feet and 42 respectively. The current projectf is to increase the deptuh to 41 feet from milemarkerr 14.7 to Talleyrand Marine Terminal, a roughly five-nauticap mile stretch of the St. Johne River. Channel deepening as far as marker 14.7, about three miles west of Dame Point, was completed in 2002.
"We see it as a continuatiohn project," said Eric Green, the authority's senior directort for government andexternal affairs, referring to a categorhy of projects normally given greater prioritgy than new projects. "That's the case we'll be pleading." The administration's funding request for coastal navigatiom construction infiscal $188 million, is up 13.3 percent from its fiscapl 2008 request of $166 About $151 million for coasta navigation construction is requested for deepening projects deemed high priority: New York-New Jerseg Harbor, Oakland (Calif.) Harbor and Columbia River (Wash.-Ore.
) Much depends on a project's benefit-to-cosrt ratio, or BCR, said Dave director of navigation policy and legislation for the . "Inclusion in the president's budget request typically reflectsa high-priority, well-justified project." The Jacksonville project'sd BCR was calculated at 1.7 in said Steven Ross, project manager for the Corps of Engineers' Jacksonvillse District office. The BCR has risenn to just under 2 since then as certain designj costs havebeen absorbed. By the Oakland deepening project -- to 50 feet -- has the highesy BCR at 8.5. The administration's budgetr request includes $25.
1 million to continure construction onthat project, whicy has received more than $90 million in funding durin g the past two fiscal years. Only the New York-Nea Jersey harbor project, with a BCR of 2.7, has receivecd more funding in that time at morethan $180 This year's request seeks another $90 million for the New York-News Jersey harbor. The Columbisa River Channel Improvement Project to deepenthe 103.5-mile channelk between Oregon and Washington state had the lowest BCR, 1.5, of any coastal navigation construction project included in the budgeft request. One other coastal navigation project made the list with a BCR lower than theJacksonville harbor: the St. Luciee Inlet, BCR of 1.
7, for whicgh the president's budget requests $4 million. This year, the authority plans to contribute its entire share for theJacksonvillee project, $7 million, rather than a prorated share of abougt $900,000. The authority's money plus the federal government's $2.8 million will enablew the Corps of Engineers to deepen the stretcnh known as the Chaseville Turn and possibly morethis year. The authorithy hopes that the federal government will come througjh with the remainder of its sharer to complete the project infisca 2009. "We will be seeking the full fundinhgfor that," Green said. "I don't think we can breakj [the project] up again.
" If the authority can get the remaining federal share, it will then continude pushing to increase the depth to 45 feet or more. The Corpsa of Engineers' Jacksonville which oversees projectsin Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is studying the feasibility for furthedr deepening, Ross said. Although that stud y could take two tothree years, authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin has said the cost to achieved 45 feet is estimated at $400 million, with the authority'e share being $220 million.
The authority is hopefu it can generateabout $14 million a year from leasing land to a coal termina operator and bond that revenue to pay its A major obstacle is acquiring the land the authoritt envisions using for The land belongs to , whichu doesn't want to sell, so the authority will go to tria l in April to determine what it must pay to take the land by eminengt domain. With the Panama Canal expansion as the primaruyeconomic driver, Jacksonville's BCR could benefiy from new circumstances, including the earlu 2009 opening of a new containe terminal bringing service to Asia and another larger terminalp possibly coming in 2011.
"As things change, the port coulxd be in position for any opportunities thatmay exist," Ross "Having 'benefits' constructed versus thosse that may be built in the future helps the localp sponsor." Green believes the new terminals and Jacksonville's positiobn in the growing Southeast give its project a chance to move up on the Corpzs of Engineers' list. "Asd Jacksonville is growing at therate it's he said, "they have to really pay attentioj to us.
"
billion fiscal 2009 budgetf request forthe ' civil works program includees no money to complete the next phase of channep deepening in Jacksonville harbor. In what has becomer a familiar occurrence, the , local sponsor for channeol deepening, will need to lobby Congress to add money toward thefederap government's $15 million share of the $22 milliom project. Last year, Congress includee $2.8 million after the administration's fiscao 2008 budget request for civio works left Jacksonville harbor off its list of constructionh projectsto fund.
Shippingf and logistics professionals have said thechannel -- 41 feet for much of the way and 38 feet for the rest -- must be deepener to at least 45 feet for the port of Jacksonville to be competitive. That's being driven largely by the Panamza Canal's expansion, to be completed in and containerized cargo portsin S.C., and Savannah, Ga., whose channels are 45 feet and 42 respectively. The current projectf is to increase the deptuh to 41 feet from milemarkerr 14.7 to Talleyrand Marine Terminal, a roughly five-nauticap mile stretch of the St. Johne River. Channel deepening as far as marker 14.7, about three miles west of Dame Point, was completed in 2002.
"We see it as a continuatiohn project," said Eric Green, the authority's senior directort for government andexternal affairs, referring to a categorhy of projects normally given greater prioritgy than new projects. "That's the case we'll be pleading." The administration's funding request for coastal navigatiom construction infiscal $188 million, is up 13.3 percent from its fiscapl 2008 request of $166 About $151 million for coasta navigation construction is requested for deepening projects deemed high priority: New York-New Jerseg Harbor, Oakland (Calif.) Harbor and Columbia River (Wash.-Ore.
) Much depends on a project's benefit-to-cosrt ratio, or BCR, said Dave director of navigation policy and legislation for the . "Inclusion in the president's budget request typically reflectsa high-priority, well-justified project." The Jacksonville project'sd BCR was calculated at 1.7 in said Steven Ross, project manager for the Corps of Engineers' Jacksonvillse District office. The BCR has risenn to just under 2 since then as certain designj costs havebeen absorbed. By the Oakland deepening project -- to 50 feet -- has the highesy BCR at 8.5. The administration's budgetr request includes $25.
1 million to continure construction onthat project, whicy has received more than $90 million in funding durin g the past two fiscal years. Only the New York-Nea Jersey harbor project, with a BCR of 2.7, has receivecd more funding in that time at morethan $180 This year's request seeks another $90 million for the New York-News Jersey harbor. The Columbisa River Channel Improvement Project to deepenthe 103.5-mile channelk between Oregon and Washington state had the lowest BCR, 1.5, of any coastal navigation construction project included in the budgeft request. One other coastal navigation project made the list with a BCR lower than theJacksonville harbor: the St. Luciee Inlet, BCR of 1.
7, for whicgh the president's budget requests $4 million. This year, the authority plans to contribute its entire share for theJacksonvillee project, $7 million, rather than a prorated share of abougt $900,000. The authority's money plus the federal government's $2.8 million will enablew the Corps of Engineers to deepen the stretcnh known as the Chaseville Turn and possibly morethis year. The authorithy hopes that the federal government will come througjh with the remainder of its sharer to complete the project infisca 2009. "We will be seeking the full fundinhgfor that," Green said. "I don't think we can breakj [the project] up again.
" If the authority can get the remaining federal share, it will then continude pushing to increase the depth to 45 feet or more. The Corpsa of Engineers' Jacksonville which oversees projectsin Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is studying the feasibility for furthedr deepening, Ross said. Although that stud y could take two tothree years, authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin has said the cost to achieved 45 feet is estimated at $400 million, with the authority'e share being $220 million.
The authority is hopefu it can generateabout $14 million a year from leasing land to a coal termina operator and bond that revenue to pay its A major obstacle is acquiring the land the authoritt envisions using for The land belongs to , whichu doesn't want to sell, so the authority will go to tria l in April to determine what it must pay to take the land by eminengt domain. With the Panama Canal expansion as the primaruyeconomic driver, Jacksonville's BCR could benefiy from new circumstances, including the earlu 2009 opening of a new containe terminal bringing service to Asia and another larger terminalp possibly coming in 2011.
"As things change, the port coulxd be in position for any opportunities thatmay exist," Ross "Having 'benefits' constructed versus thosse that may be built in the future helps the localp sponsor." Green believes the new terminals and Jacksonville's positiobn in the growing Southeast give its project a chance to move up on the Corpzs of Engineers' list. "Asd Jacksonville is growing at therate it's he said, "they have to really pay attentioj to us.
"
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Burra pool may not open for summer - Clare Northern Argus
mooth35byh.blogspot.com
Burra pool may not open for summer Clare Northern Argus Goyder Council chief executive officer John Brak is concerned that the Burra Pool may not be able to open on the scheduled date of Saturday, December 3. All is now in readiness for the 2011-2012 swimming season with two very critical exceptions ... |
Monday, November 14, 2011
More bad news seems to await NBA - Fox Sports Ohio
cicugaha.wordpress.com
CBC.ca | More bad news seems to await NBA Fox Sports Ohio Sure doesn't seem that way, now does it? As for the players, well, their initial reaction to the proposal makes you think this thing is far from over. Basic » |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Paper will help readers through the tough economic times - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
ukatekexo.wordpress.com
It’s a question I have been askeds by business executives over and over the past few My answer is thehighly intellectual, “Boy I hope so.” Yes, so much of the recoveryt from the Great Recession seems to be about hope, confidenc e and other aspects of psychology. But it’s also abou action. A few weeks ago, I promisedd more help for our readers. This you can see it: • Go each week to our newly redesigned Page 2 where you willfind “Stimulusz Information” that will highlight Web sites with federal stimulue status. Check this weekly — we are findingf information on the federal program is tricklingbout slowly, but steadily.
We will also highlighr upcomingstimulus contracts. • On Page 3, edito r Mark Kass will highlight threeupcoming Milwaukee-area events that have networking potential. These are goingg to be events you can jump into rather last minute andfind high-caliber business folks to network with. Each week, we continue to bring you our “Bea t the Recession” story, with real how-to examplea from the region on businessess and individuals remaking themselves in the face ofthe • And look online to a regular home page feature, ” in which we summarize our coveragre of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And all of our coverage is locap coverage.
While we can turn to the strengths of our correspondenyin Washington, D.C., Kent Hoover, and our 40 sistef publications, the information we convey is meant for this region to help your businesz navigate these tough times.
It’s a question I have been askeds by business executives over and over the past few My answer is thehighly intellectual, “Boy I hope so.” Yes, so much of the recoveryt from the Great Recession seems to be about hope, confidenc e and other aspects of psychology. But it’s also abou action. A few weeks ago, I promisedd more help for our readers. This you can see it: • Go each week to our newly redesigned Page 2 where you willfind “Stimulusz Information” that will highlight Web sites with federal stimulue status. Check this weekly — we are findingf information on the federal program is tricklingbout slowly, but steadily.
We will also highlighr upcomingstimulus contracts. • On Page 3, edito r Mark Kass will highlight threeupcoming Milwaukee-area events that have networking potential. These are goingg to be events you can jump into rather last minute andfind high-caliber business folks to network with. Each week, we continue to bring you our “Bea t the Recession” story, with real how-to examplea from the region on businessess and individuals remaking themselves in the face ofthe • And look online to a regular home page feature, ” in which we summarize our coveragre of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And all of our coverage is locap coverage.
While we can turn to the strengths of our correspondenyin Washington, D.C., Kent Hoover, and our 40 sistef publications, the information we convey is meant for this region to help your businesz navigate these tough times.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Credit card processing company grows business by evolving strategy - Kansas City Business Journal:
kapitonragomo.blogspot.com
Henry Helgeson and Scott Zdanis established the compan in 1998 as a resellert of credit card processing terminals overthe Internet. To a smalle extent the company provided processint of creditcard transactions. But as margijn compression made equipment sales less the partners responded by ramping upprocessinv services. Today, its processing services constitute 90 percent of its totakgross revenue, while equipment and softwar e sales are 10 percent. Business has been so brisi — it signed up 2,300 new customers in April alonre — that the company is planning to increasre its sales force by 30 percent or 40 percent withih the next60 days.
“W e basically are getting more businesses trying to signup (for our than we have the capacity for, and we’re trying to stafft up for that as quickly as possible,” says 34, who serves as presidenft and co-CEO. Co-founder Zdanis has sincew moved to Miami and playas a less active role inthe company. Merchanrt Warehouse acts as a third-party processor, facilitating paymen t transactions between merchants and creditcard issuers, essentially by gettingg money off of the consumer’s credity card and into the business’w bank account.
Its residual-based business model makes money by charging for that service on each Sinceits inception, the 150-employee company estimates serving a cumulatives total of more than 87,000 customers nationwidwe — primarily small and medium-size businesses; abougt 56,000 are active accounts right now, with most of the attritioh due to companies going out of business, Helgesohn notes. Today, Merchant Warehouse is processing morethan 3.5 million paymenr transactions per month. After hitting $27.3 millioh in revenue in 2008, the company is shooting for $32 milliob to $34 million this year. Helgesonn says Merchant Warehouse has also benefited by becoming more ofa technology-drivenb company.
“When we started to hire our own software developer and build ourown infrastructure, as far as computerf systems and technology to run this office, that reallyy put us into a hyper-growth mode,” he says. Five yearsx ago, the company hired its first software developer. It subsequently built its own sophisticatecd customer relationship managementsystekm in-house that has enabled the company to bette measure the performance of its accountsw and staff.
And 18 months ago, it completede the development of the necessary infrastructure to begimn processing some transactions through its own electronic gateway here in It continues to utilize three larger outside firms to assist in processing the bulk ofthe transactions. The companuy also works with a pool of about100 point-of-sale system resellers, who often refed business to Merchant Warehouse. The companh has also used technology to innovatwe its services in an industry where Helgeson says the competitionnis fierce. “Our industry has been pretty much vanilla credit anddebit processing,” Helgeson says.
“Wer had to look at it and say, ‘Whagt can we do here to differentiate ourselves?’ ” For it offers wireless credit card processing servicexs to iPhone and BlackBerry users who have installed its software applications ontheire PDAs. Those mobile merchants now represenyt 10 percent to 15 percent ofthe company’s new accounts. It has also partneresd with another company, , to develop a card readefr that encrypts the credit card number as it is beinf swiped to help preventsecurity breaches.
“They’re a very impressiver group,” says Steve Parks, vice president of , an Atlanta-basede firm that Merchant Warehouse has engaged for some of its processing servicew formany years. He attributess the firm’s growth to “somed very shrewd investments in technology and beingy ahead of the curve in termes of technology and how to use it to driv etraffic (to their and training their sales reps to capitalize on that
Henry Helgeson and Scott Zdanis established the compan in 1998 as a resellert of credit card processing terminals overthe Internet. To a smalle extent the company provided processint of creditcard transactions. But as margijn compression made equipment sales less the partners responded by ramping upprocessinv services. Today, its processing services constitute 90 percent of its totakgross revenue, while equipment and softwar e sales are 10 percent. Business has been so brisi — it signed up 2,300 new customers in April alonre — that the company is planning to increasre its sales force by 30 percent or 40 percent withih the next60 days.
“W e basically are getting more businesses trying to signup (for our than we have the capacity for, and we’re trying to stafft up for that as quickly as possible,” says 34, who serves as presidenft and co-CEO. Co-founder Zdanis has sincew moved to Miami and playas a less active role inthe company. Merchanrt Warehouse acts as a third-party processor, facilitating paymen t transactions between merchants and creditcard issuers, essentially by gettingg money off of the consumer’s credity card and into the business’w bank account.
Its residual-based business model makes money by charging for that service on each Sinceits inception, the 150-employee company estimates serving a cumulatives total of more than 87,000 customers nationwidwe — primarily small and medium-size businesses; abougt 56,000 are active accounts right now, with most of the attritioh due to companies going out of business, Helgesohn notes. Today, Merchant Warehouse is processing morethan 3.5 million paymenr transactions per month. After hitting $27.3 millioh in revenue in 2008, the company is shooting for $32 milliob to $34 million this year. Helgesonn says Merchant Warehouse has also benefited by becoming more ofa technology-drivenb company.
“When we started to hire our own software developer and build ourown infrastructure, as far as computerf systems and technology to run this office, that reallyy put us into a hyper-growth mode,” he says. Five yearsx ago, the company hired its first software developer. It subsequently built its own sophisticatecd customer relationship managementsystekm in-house that has enabled the company to bette measure the performance of its accountsw and staff.
And 18 months ago, it completede the development of the necessary infrastructure to begimn processing some transactions through its own electronic gateway here in It continues to utilize three larger outside firms to assist in processing the bulk ofthe transactions. The companuy also works with a pool of about100 point-of-sale system resellers, who often refed business to Merchant Warehouse. The companh has also used technology to innovatwe its services in an industry where Helgeson says the competitionnis fierce. “Our industry has been pretty much vanilla credit anddebit processing,” Helgeson says.
“Wer had to look at it and say, ‘Whagt can we do here to differentiate ourselves?’ ” For it offers wireless credit card processing servicexs to iPhone and BlackBerry users who have installed its software applications ontheire PDAs. Those mobile merchants now represenyt 10 percent to 15 percent ofthe company’s new accounts. It has also partneresd with another company, , to develop a card readefr that encrypts the credit card number as it is beinf swiped to help preventsecurity breaches.
“They’re a very impressiver group,” says Steve Parks, vice president of , an Atlanta-basede firm that Merchant Warehouse has engaged for some of its processing servicew formany years. He attributess the firm’s growth to “somed very shrewd investments in technology and beingy ahead of the curve in termes of technology and how to use it to driv etraffic (to their and training their sales reps to capitalize on that
Monday, November 7, 2011
Coalition calls on Crist to veto health care bill - South Florida Business Journal:
houghtalingbaemo1268.blogspot.com
At a news conference in Tallahasseeon ; Council 79 of the American Federatioj of State, County and Municipal the public-employee union; Florida PIRG; the ; and the Consumetr Federation of the Southeast blasted SB which they claim would allow doctors who are not membersa of PPO networks to receive payment from a patient’s insurance “We believe this legislation would raise costs systemwid by undermining the abilit of insurers to negotiate reasonable fees with causing higher insurance rates and higher out-of-pocket medicapl bills for Florida Florida PIRG’s Brad Ashwell said in a news release.
The group pointed to an actuarial study by that said the legislation coulf increase the cost ofthe state’s group employee health insurance plan by $22 million, which taxpayers would have to pick up. “Theses are tough times for all and they’re especially tough times for state who have had no raise in three years and this year suffered cuts to theid base pay,” said Jeanette Wynn, president of Chaptefr 79 of the AFSCME, in a news release. Consumetr advocates also said they were opposed to the legislatiob because it lacks adequateconsumefr protections.
“If this bill becomes law as patients who go to a doctorr for medical care and are hit by unexpectee bills could see theircreditg damaged, their families doggedd by collections agencies and even become victimd of lawsuits,” said Walter Dartland, executive director of the Consume Federation of the Southeast, in a news Calls to Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton who sponsored the bill were notimmediatelyg returned.
At a news conference in Tallahasseeon ; Council 79 of the American Federatioj of State, County and Municipal the public-employee union; Florida PIRG; the ; and the Consumetr Federation of the Southeast blasted SB which they claim would allow doctors who are not membersa of PPO networks to receive payment from a patient’s insurance “We believe this legislation would raise costs systemwid by undermining the abilit of insurers to negotiate reasonable fees with causing higher insurance rates and higher out-of-pocket medicapl bills for Florida Florida PIRG’s Brad Ashwell said in a news release.
The group pointed to an actuarial study by that said the legislation coulf increase the cost ofthe state’s group employee health insurance plan by $22 million, which taxpayers would have to pick up. “Theses are tough times for all and they’re especially tough times for state who have had no raise in three years and this year suffered cuts to theid base pay,” said Jeanette Wynn, president of Chaptefr 79 of the AFSCME, in a news release. Consumetr advocates also said they were opposed to the legislatiob because it lacks adequateconsumefr protections.
“If this bill becomes law as patients who go to a doctorr for medical care and are hit by unexpectee bills could see theircreditg damaged, their families doggedd by collections agencies and even become victimd of lawsuits,” said Walter Dartland, executive director of the Consume Federation of the Southeast, in a news Calls to Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton who sponsored the bill were notimmediatelyg returned.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Nonprofit moving, adding employees - Dayton Business Journal:
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
The nonprofit home care agency signeda nine-yea r lease for 41,000 square feet of spacee in Courthouse Crossings. The agenchy is sub-leasing the space from Kettering-based Reynoldsz and Reynolds Co., which vacated 120,00 0 square feet of space last year when the company moverd 400 employees to its headquarters in the Miami VallegResearch Park. The leasd is for a little morethan $5 The agreement with Reynolds also includes the use of parkingy spaces at the Schuster Center garage. Doug executive director of the Area Agencgyon Aging, said the agency needed more space than it had at its curreng location at 6 S.
Patterson “We just ran out of room,” McGarry said of the 21,00o0 square feet of space it occupies. The agency, which currentlt employs 115, will move into Courthouse CrossingsJuly 1. It is expectes to add employees, up to 120 by the end of this year and bump up to 130 by the end of next McGarry said the which coordinates services toabout 4,500 seniort citizens, including caregiver services, home care option and others, has seen an increase in demand over the past few In 2007, the agency’sw revenue was $41.5 million. Last it increased to $48 milliohn and is projected tohit $55 millioj this year, McGarry said.
Jon with Gem Realty represented Area Agency andPaul Miller, with , representee Reynolds and Reynolds. McGarry also credited the for helpinyg the agency findthe space.
The nonprofit home care agency signeda nine-yea r lease for 41,000 square feet of spacee in Courthouse Crossings. The agenchy is sub-leasing the space from Kettering-based Reynoldsz and Reynolds Co., which vacated 120,00 0 square feet of space last year when the company moverd 400 employees to its headquarters in the Miami VallegResearch Park. The leasd is for a little morethan $5 The agreement with Reynolds also includes the use of parkingy spaces at the Schuster Center garage. Doug executive director of the Area Agencgyon Aging, said the agency needed more space than it had at its curreng location at 6 S.
Patterson “We just ran out of room,” McGarry said of the 21,00o0 square feet of space it occupies. The agency, which currentlt employs 115, will move into Courthouse CrossingsJuly 1. It is expectes to add employees, up to 120 by the end of this year and bump up to 130 by the end of next McGarry said the which coordinates services toabout 4,500 seniort citizens, including caregiver services, home care option and others, has seen an increase in demand over the past few In 2007, the agency’sw revenue was $41.5 million. Last it increased to $48 milliohn and is projected tohit $55 millioj this year, McGarry said.
Jon with Gem Realty represented Area Agency andPaul Miller, with , representee Reynolds and Reynolds. McGarry also credited the for helpinyg the agency findthe space.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Another drop in Colorado sales-tax revenue - The Business Review (Albany):
yfimuna.wordpress.com
percent — in May from the same month the year girding legislators for what they expect will be anothedr round of cuts innext year’s fiscapl budget. With the state most of the way througu a fiscal year that ends onJune 30, no more cuts are likely for this year, said Joint Budget Committee Vice Chairman Jack a Democratic representative from Boulder. The Legislature has designateds that any further funding shortfall this year will be filledd by money fromthe state’s undesignated reserv e fund and from a one-dagy borrowing of other funds to be repaid on July 1.
the continued fall of revenuea below expectations means the six JBC membersa who setthe state’s budget must begin looking soon at additional ways to scale back expenses or services in next year’s fiscal plan, several members said. “I guess this means we’re not out of the woodse yet,” Pommer said. “We’re going to have to prepare for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’vw already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budgetg shortfall over the past six months by raiding the reservw funds, transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funded accounts and cutting about $300 millionb in services.
As revenues continue to come in below that talk willbeginh again. State sales-tax receipts for May were off by $30 a 17.9 percent drop from last Individual income taxes fellby $66.23 million or 19.7 percent, and corporate incomr taxes dropped by $2.2 million or 13.2 State reserves have about $148 millionj that can be used to offset revenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver. If the state must transfere funding temporarily, however, that will only push the problem of balanciny the budget further off untionext year, he said. “The question is: Does revenue in the futurse pick upif we’rd starting to see recovery, or Ferrandino said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economgy is starting to if notlevel off.”
percent — in May from the same month the year girding legislators for what they expect will be anothedr round of cuts innext year’s fiscapl budget. With the state most of the way througu a fiscal year that ends onJune 30, no more cuts are likely for this year, said Joint Budget Committee Vice Chairman Jack a Democratic representative from Boulder. The Legislature has designateds that any further funding shortfall this year will be filledd by money fromthe state’s undesignated reserv e fund and from a one-dagy borrowing of other funds to be repaid on July 1.
the continued fall of revenuea below expectations means the six JBC membersa who setthe state’s budget must begin looking soon at additional ways to scale back expenses or services in next year’s fiscal plan, several members said. “I guess this means we’re not out of the woodse yet,” Pommer said. “We’re going to have to prepare for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’vw already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budgetg shortfall over the past six months by raiding the reservw funds, transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funded accounts and cutting about $300 millionb in services.
As revenues continue to come in below that talk willbeginh again. State sales-tax receipts for May were off by $30 a 17.9 percent drop from last Individual income taxes fellby $66.23 million or 19.7 percent, and corporate incomr taxes dropped by $2.2 million or 13.2 State reserves have about $148 millionj that can be used to offset revenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver. If the state must transfere funding temporarily, however, that will only push the problem of balanciny the budget further off untionext year, he said. “The question is: Does revenue in the futurse pick upif we’rd starting to see recovery, or Ferrandino said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economgy is starting to if notlevel off.”
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
AutoZone board approves $500M stock repurchase - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
The company’s board of directors approved the repurchases June 17 as part ofthe company’ws ongoing share repurchase program, the companyy announced after the close of marketds Wednesday. The last repurchase authorization was in Decembere and was a similar $500 million. There were three $500 millionn authorizations in 2008 and a total of $7.9 billion since 1998. "Wed remain committed to utilizing share repurchases withibn the bounds of a disciplinedx capital structure to enhance stockholde r returns while maintaining adequate liquidity to executeour plans,” said CFO Bill Memphis-based AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) is the leadinh retailer and distributor of automotive replacemenrt parts and accessories in the U.
S. The company sellsx auto and lighttruck parts, chemicals and accessoried through 4,172 AutoZone stores in 48 states, the Districf of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and 168 storea in Mexico. Shares of AutoZonee closed Wednesdayat $155.54, up 2.37 percent.
The company’s board of directors approved the repurchases June 17 as part ofthe company’ws ongoing share repurchase program, the companyy announced after the close of marketds Wednesday. The last repurchase authorization was in Decembere and was a similar $500 million. There were three $500 millionn authorizations in 2008 and a total of $7.9 billion since 1998. "Wed remain committed to utilizing share repurchases withibn the bounds of a disciplinedx capital structure to enhance stockholde r returns while maintaining adequate liquidity to executeour plans,” said CFO Bill Memphis-based AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) is the leadinh retailer and distributor of automotive replacemenrt parts and accessories in the U.
S. The company sellsx auto and lighttruck parts, chemicals and accessoried through 4,172 AutoZone stores in 48 states, the Districf of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and 168 storea in Mexico. Shares of AutoZonee closed Wednesdayat $155.54, up 2.37 percent.
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