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Monday, October 31, 2011
Volunteer lawyers help 'Occupy' protesters through legal system - Kansas City Star
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy - Business First of Buffalo:
http://www.jurnalcelebes.com/store2/club-glove.html
Eddie Bauer had struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened as revenue part of an overall trend affecting most retailers durinthe recession. The company has lost nearly a half billion dollars in the past three Those losses, coupled with the impact of the recessio n and debt payments apparently pushes the company into bankruptcy court a move that was rumored for Eddie Bauer became the latest majoer retailer to succumb to filing in bankruptcy courty this recession. The list also includesa Linens ‘n Things and Circuit City.
In many Eddie Bauer’s crisis is not different from what most retailers are facingy during this prolonged and deep saidGreg Charleston, an Atlanta-based consultant for Conway MacKenzie who workw with financially stressed retailers lookint to restructure. Most retailers — except discoung stores like — have seen a fast drop-off in retailo revenue across the board, Charleston said. Many of the specialty retail departmentg stores haveseen double-digit same-store sales declines, he “When revenue drops and same-store sales drop, companies with less debt can weathet a downturn much longer,” Charleston said.
“It becomesz an issue much sooner if you are intoliquidity issues.” As of May 11, Eddire Bauer reported having $289.5 million in outstanding including $187.8 million in term loans and $75 millionj in convertible notes, which compan executives have been trying to persuadee debt-holders to convert into sharezs of the company. According to a filing with the , Eddie Bauer had total assetsof $525.22 millio n in April. The company listed total liabilitiewof $448.9 million. Eddie Bauer reported lossesa of $165.5 million in fiscal year part of a totalof $478.76 million in losses during the past three fiscap years.
In the first quarter that enderin April, the company reportede net losses of 44.5 million. For the firsyt quarter of fiscal year which endedApril 4, Eddire Bauer reported a loss of $44.5t million. That was a greater loss than the first quarter of when the company reporteda $19.3 million Sales for the first quarter of 2009 were $179.8 million, comparef with net sales of $213.2 million in the firsf quarter of 2008. The company said that combineed comparable storesales — a barometer of successe at the store level fell 11.3 percent for the first quarter, a declinde the company blamed on the recession and reduced retai spending.
Sales were down nearly 15 perceny inEddie Bauer’s retail stores and sales through its direct channel were down nearly 11 “The first quarter was a difficultr one, as the sharp downturn in the economy took its toll on our We continued to focues on cost cutting and cash flow management, whichj helped mitigate the impact of lower said CEO Neil Fiske, in a statement with the first-quartef results filed with the SEC. It’s uncleadr what impact bankruptcy might have onEddie Bauer’ws 370 stores, including 251 retaik stores and 119 outlet storesz in the United States and Canada. Eddie Bauer has an outler store inNiagara Falls, and 10 storea in Southern Ontario.
The outlet stores have been hardest hit, with salees down nearly 76 percent in the first quarter. According to a released on the company’s Web site, they have entered into an asse purchase agreement with an affiliateof , LLC to buy the company’ws assets through a bankruptcy process, subject to an auctionm and Bankruptcy Court approval, for $202 million in cash, with working capital and similar Under the agreement, the company says “thew majority” of their 370 stores will remain open, and the majoritty of their employees will be retained. They also said they plan to honot all outstanding gift cards and their loyalttrewards program.
Eddie Bauer had struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened as revenue part of an overall trend affecting most retailers durinthe recession. The company has lost nearly a half billion dollars in the past three Those losses, coupled with the impact of the recessio n and debt payments apparently pushes the company into bankruptcy court a move that was rumored for Eddie Bauer became the latest majoer retailer to succumb to filing in bankruptcy courty this recession. The list also includesa Linens ‘n Things and Circuit City.
In many Eddie Bauer’s crisis is not different from what most retailers are facingy during this prolonged and deep saidGreg Charleston, an Atlanta-based consultant for Conway MacKenzie who workw with financially stressed retailers lookint to restructure. Most retailers — except discoung stores like — have seen a fast drop-off in retailo revenue across the board, Charleston said. Many of the specialty retail departmentg stores haveseen double-digit same-store sales declines, he “When revenue drops and same-store sales drop, companies with less debt can weathet a downturn much longer,” Charleston said.
“It becomesz an issue much sooner if you are intoliquidity issues.” As of May 11, Eddire Bauer reported having $289.5 million in outstanding including $187.8 million in term loans and $75 millionj in convertible notes, which compan executives have been trying to persuadee debt-holders to convert into sharezs of the company. According to a filing with the , Eddie Bauer had total assetsof $525.22 millio n in April. The company listed total liabilitiewof $448.9 million. Eddie Bauer reported lossesa of $165.5 million in fiscal year part of a totalof $478.76 million in losses during the past three fiscap years.
In the first quarter that enderin April, the company reportede net losses of 44.5 million. For the firsyt quarter of fiscal year which endedApril 4, Eddire Bauer reported a loss of $44.5t million. That was a greater loss than the first quarter of when the company reporteda $19.3 million Sales for the first quarter of 2009 were $179.8 million, comparef with net sales of $213.2 million in the firsf quarter of 2008. The company said that combineed comparable storesales — a barometer of successe at the store level fell 11.3 percent for the first quarter, a declinde the company blamed on the recession and reduced retai spending.
Sales were down nearly 15 perceny inEddie Bauer’s retail stores and sales through its direct channel were down nearly 11 “The first quarter was a difficultr one, as the sharp downturn in the economy took its toll on our We continued to focues on cost cutting and cash flow management, whichj helped mitigate the impact of lower said CEO Neil Fiske, in a statement with the first-quartef results filed with the SEC. It’s uncleadr what impact bankruptcy might have onEddie Bauer’ws 370 stores, including 251 retaik stores and 119 outlet storesz in the United States and Canada. Eddie Bauer has an outler store inNiagara Falls, and 10 storea in Southern Ontario.
The outlet stores have been hardest hit, with salees down nearly 76 percent in the first quarter. According to a released on the company’s Web site, they have entered into an asse purchase agreement with an affiliateof , LLC to buy the company’ws assets through a bankruptcy process, subject to an auctionm and Bankruptcy Court approval, for $202 million in cash, with working capital and similar Under the agreement, the company says “thew majority” of their 370 stores will remain open, and the majoritty of their employees will be retained. They also said they plan to honot all outstanding gift cards and their loyalttrewards program.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Executive AirShare planning operations, maintenance base at Jabara Airport - Wichita Business Journal:
pemp66seb.blogspot.com
Victor White, director of airports for the WichitaAirport Authority, says informationj presented to the city's Airport Advisory Boardr indicates that needs three acres of land in the southwestf corner of Jabara. White expects a finao lease agreement to be worked out withim two orthree months. It wouldx be the first tenant withina 20-acre tractt where the airport authority spengt $665,000 extending streets plus water and sewer lines. Executivre AirShare is currently headquartered atKansas City'se .
"I would just tell you that we haven't signed anything so we're just reluctanr to talk about it until we have an agreement with the saysBob Taylor, Executive AirShare's presidentf and CEO. The company has four operationes bases: Kansas City, Tulsa, Fort Worth and 12,00 square feet of office and hangar spacesat . The Wichita office handlese flight schedules forthe company's fleet of 12 busines s aircraft along with a maintenance operation. The leased space is insidd 's 50,000-square-foot aircraft service known asa fixed-base operator Eaglejet bought the FBO's assets in 2006 from as it was evolvin g into Executive AirShare.
The move "woule allow us to expand a little. We're full, says Jamie Pegg, Eaglejet's president and CEO. "It will alloa me to start wooingother customers." Executive AirShare sells partial ownershipp in business aircraft with the promise the airplane will be availabl e on the customer's schedule. The fleet includea two Beechjet 400As, four Beechcraft King Air 305s, five King Air C90Bes and one Beechcraft The company has clientsin Wichita, Taylo says, along with the othed three cities that have operations bases. He declined to providse a specific number. Moving to Jabarqa would be more convenient forthose customers, Taylorr says.
It creates a new fuel-sales customerd for Midwest Corporate Aviation, Jabara's FBO, but also a potential "If somebody gives up charter (service) and goes to fractionalk operation it doesimpact us," says Bob MCA's president. "Charter is still the cheapedr way to goversus fractional, but the one thing we can' offer that the fractionale can is a guarantee that you'll have the airplanse when you want it." MCA has been conductinvg a direct mail campaign to Wichitw businesses in an effort to build businesss for its aircraft charter service. Businessesx that locate on Wichita Airport Authority propertyu are responsible for payingconstruction costs.
The airport authority retains ownership of the land and the completed structurex with the business makinglease payments. Executive AirSharwe and the airport authority have been workinfg on the project for morethan year, White Last fall, streets and utilities were extendeed into the southwest corner at Jabara to make the land readyg for development. "This is the first tenanf to go into itand we're real excitede about it," White says. "It's going to open up that wholew area. We're negotiating with some otheer folks. Nothing concrete yet." Executive Airshare Corp. Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, 150 Richards Road, Suite 150, Kansad City, Mo., 64116.
Telephone: (816) 221-7200. Top Bob Taylor, president and CEO. Web site: .
Victor White, director of airports for the WichitaAirport Authority, says informationj presented to the city's Airport Advisory Boardr indicates that needs three acres of land in the southwestf corner of Jabara. White expects a finao lease agreement to be worked out withim two orthree months. It wouldx be the first tenant withina 20-acre tractt where the airport authority spengt $665,000 extending streets plus water and sewer lines. Executivre AirShare is currently headquartered atKansas City'se .
"I would just tell you that we haven't signed anything so we're just reluctanr to talk about it until we have an agreement with the saysBob Taylor, Executive AirShare's presidentf and CEO. The company has four operationes bases: Kansas City, Tulsa, Fort Worth and 12,00 square feet of office and hangar spacesat . The Wichita office handlese flight schedules forthe company's fleet of 12 busines s aircraft along with a maintenance operation. The leased space is insidd 's 50,000-square-foot aircraft service known asa fixed-base operator Eaglejet bought the FBO's assets in 2006 from as it was evolvin g into Executive AirShare.
The move "woule allow us to expand a little. We're full, says Jamie Pegg, Eaglejet's president and CEO. "It will alloa me to start wooingother customers." Executive AirShare sells partial ownershipp in business aircraft with the promise the airplane will be availabl e on the customer's schedule. The fleet includea two Beechjet 400As, four Beechcraft King Air 305s, five King Air C90Bes and one Beechcraft The company has clientsin Wichita, Taylo says, along with the othed three cities that have operations bases. He declined to providse a specific number. Moving to Jabarqa would be more convenient forthose customers, Taylorr says.
It creates a new fuel-sales customerd for Midwest Corporate Aviation, Jabara's FBO, but also a potential "If somebody gives up charter (service) and goes to fractionalk operation it doesimpact us," says Bob MCA's president. "Charter is still the cheapedr way to goversus fractional, but the one thing we can' offer that the fractionale can is a guarantee that you'll have the airplanse when you want it." MCA has been conductinvg a direct mail campaign to Wichitw businesses in an effort to build businesss for its aircraft charter service. Businessesx that locate on Wichita Airport Authority propertyu are responsible for payingconstruction costs.
The airport authority retains ownership of the land and the completed structurex with the business makinglease payments. Executive AirSharwe and the airport authority have been workinfg on the project for morethan year, White Last fall, streets and utilities were extendeed into the southwest corner at Jabara to make the land readyg for development. "This is the first tenanf to go into itand we're real excitede about it," White says. "It's going to open up that wholew area. We're negotiating with some otheer folks. Nothing concrete yet." Executive Airshare Corp. Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, 150 Richards Road, Suite 150, Kansad City, Mo., 64116.
Telephone: (816) 221-7200. Top Bob Taylor, president and CEO. Web site: .
Monday, October 24, 2011
Colorado stimulus board boosts minority-outreach effort - Denver Business Journal:
mooth35byh.blogspot.com
Maranda Pleau, the small business coordinatorfor Greeley-baserd general contractor , will join the Colorado Economic Recovery and Accountabilitg Board June 29, chairman Don Elliman said during a board meeting Her job is to ensure minority businesses are aware of contractds related to the stimulus package, Ellimann said. Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportatiob told the board they will recommend the agency revieq how it handles complaint s about road and bridge contracts and the use ofthese minority- and woman-owned businesses. CDOT'w move came after Hamon Contractors Inc.
in Denver raisede concerns about a bridge repair project paid for with moneu from the American Recovery andReinvestmenyt Act. Hamon lost a bid Aprilk 16 to rebuild two bridgees over Interstate 76 inAdams County. The lowestf bid for the contract camefrom Centennial-based , whichb bid $8 million for the project, nearly 15 percent under CDOT’s estimate of $9.4 State contracts are typically awarded to the lowest But Hamon objected to CDOT awardingh the project to Sema, saying Sema didn’ty make a "good-faith effort" to hire enough minority subcontractors, according to a June 3 letteer from Mark Cavanaugh, director of the Governor’s Economif Recovery Team, to the accountability board.
CDOT reviewedr the complaint, and Sema’sd efforts to get minority businesses involve in thebridge contract. The reviee concluded Sema met the agency’s threshold for tryinh and CDOT formally awarded the project to the CDOT executive director RussGeorge said. But CDOT wantws to review how it handles futurd complaints about using disadvantaged businesses on state Celina Benavidez, director of administration for CDOT, told the accountability board she will recommend the agency’s commissioners form a review committeer involving members of the agency, interest industry, the attorney general’s office, and federal transportation officials.
How to gather input from minority businesses about theie experience with aprime contractor. At the Hamon attorney Seth Firmender thankede CDOT for being willing to reviewthe process. Helgq Grunerud, executive director of the Hispanic Contractorxof Colorado, also praised CDOT’zs move, saying, "We believe we’vw been heard."
Maranda Pleau, the small business coordinatorfor Greeley-baserd general contractor , will join the Colorado Economic Recovery and Accountabilitg Board June 29, chairman Don Elliman said during a board meeting Her job is to ensure minority businesses are aware of contractds related to the stimulus package, Ellimann said. Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportatiob told the board they will recommend the agency revieq how it handles complaint s about road and bridge contracts and the use ofthese minority- and woman-owned businesses. CDOT'w move came after Hamon Contractors Inc.
in Denver raisede concerns about a bridge repair project paid for with moneu from the American Recovery andReinvestmenyt Act. Hamon lost a bid Aprilk 16 to rebuild two bridgees over Interstate 76 inAdams County. The lowestf bid for the contract camefrom Centennial-based , whichb bid $8 million for the project, nearly 15 percent under CDOT’s estimate of $9.4 State contracts are typically awarded to the lowest But Hamon objected to CDOT awardingh the project to Sema, saying Sema didn’ty make a "good-faith effort" to hire enough minority subcontractors, according to a June 3 letteer from Mark Cavanaugh, director of the Governor’s Economif Recovery Team, to the accountability board.
CDOT reviewedr the complaint, and Sema’sd efforts to get minority businesses involve in thebridge contract. The reviee concluded Sema met the agency’s threshold for tryinh and CDOT formally awarded the project to the CDOT executive director RussGeorge said. But CDOT wantws to review how it handles futurd complaints about using disadvantaged businesses on state Celina Benavidez, director of administration for CDOT, told the accountability board she will recommend the agency’s commissioners form a review committeer involving members of the agency, interest industry, the attorney general’s office, and federal transportation officials.
How to gather input from minority businesses about theie experience with aprime contractor. At the Hamon attorney Seth Firmender thankede CDOT for being willing to reviewthe process. Helgq Grunerud, executive director of the Hispanic Contractorxof Colorado, also praised CDOT’zs move, saying, "We believe we’vw been heard."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Universities chase stimulus cash for shovel-ready projects - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
onesawava.wordpress.com
The tens of millions of dollarxs in grant proposals are targeting funding streams flowingg down through the American Recovery andReinvestment Act’s shovel-readt initiatives. Universities faced with consecutive years of fundinf cuts are angling to usethe shovel-ready cash to catchn up on much-needed facility upgrades, build classrooms to handlre the influx of students in need of re-training or tackled big capital projects aimed at bolstering academiczs and research. The approach is twofold at , whichj has seen its student population surgwe by 12 percent in the past two due in part torising unemployment.
The college is seeking $45 millionm to build additional classroom capacityh on its three main campuses as well as to enhancd vocational training facilitiesin high-demand according to Ellyn Drotzer, director of the offices of grants development. The college wants the among other projects, to buil out its and the Marooned Automotive Program in Miramar to emphasizw curriculum on maintaining and repairing emerging green energy and hybrid systemse in boatsand cars.
It also wants to expancd classrooms foraviation training, including a facilityu to train a new generation of air traffidc controllers, which are expectee to be in high demands in a few years to replacre a wave of retiring controllers, Drotzer “These are all shovel ready,” she said. “We have a historyh of training in technical trades an now we are lookingv to be responsive to providingt curriculum in this new emergin industry ofgreen technology.” The ’s 18-membee stimulus working group meets regularly to discuss opportunitiesz and set a course to capture as much of the federaol cash as possible.
So far, the school has more than 400 proposala seeking in excessof $350 million in “We saw this as a very significant opportunituy for the university and to do something for the said Richard Bookman, vice provost of researchh at UM. Among the projects on the school’s shovel-ready wish list is a new $45 seawater researchn center at UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marinse and Atmospheric Science onVirginia Key, he The university is seeking $15 millionh from the and $15 million from the to help builxd the center, which will study sea creatureds as well as the physics of waves on UM is also is submitting proposals for a $15 milliob to $20 million addition to a scienc e building at its Coral Gabless campus and a multi-story research building at its medicalk school.
has science, green technology and culinarhy training onits shovel-ready submission The school is requestinyg help funding a $22.7u million hospitality management centetr to house a culinary arts school as well as $40 milliob for an extensive renovation and upgradse to decades-old facilities at its north campus and $1.2 millio for an and Technology. But by most accounts competitioj for stimulus funds willbe fierce. And specifif funding priorities from federal and state allocatorzbeyond short-term projects that would create jobs quickly remains said Camille Coley, assistant VP and interim director of sponsored researcj at . “They are not tellinb us what they are looking she said.
But FAU is seeking $4.5 million to help buil out water reuse infrastructure at itsnewl opened, gold level Leadership in Energyu and and platinum level engineering building, slated to open in 2010. The university also is seeking federal stimulus fundsz to create a road connector systemj at its main campus off Glades Road in Boca Rato n andadditional parking. It also wants funding to put a greejn roof on itsadministration building. While the applicationh process is infull swing, UM’w Bookman doesn’t expect the winning projectes to be announced untikl the fall.
The tens of millions of dollarxs in grant proposals are targeting funding streams flowingg down through the American Recovery andReinvestment Act’s shovel-readt initiatives. Universities faced with consecutive years of fundinf cuts are angling to usethe shovel-ready cash to catchn up on much-needed facility upgrades, build classrooms to handlre the influx of students in need of re-training or tackled big capital projects aimed at bolstering academiczs and research. The approach is twofold at , whichj has seen its student population surgwe by 12 percent in the past two due in part torising unemployment.
The college is seeking $45 millionm to build additional classroom capacityh on its three main campuses as well as to enhancd vocational training facilitiesin high-demand according to Ellyn Drotzer, director of the offices of grants development. The college wants the among other projects, to buil out its and the Marooned Automotive Program in Miramar to emphasizw curriculum on maintaining and repairing emerging green energy and hybrid systemse in boatsand cars.
It also wants to expancd classrooms foraviation training, including a facilityu to train a new generation of air traffidc controllers, which are expectee to be in high demands in a few years to replacre a wave of retiring controllers, Drotzer “These are all shovel ready,” she said. “We have a historyh of training in technical trades an now we are lookingv to be responsive to providingt curriculum in this new emergin industry ofgreen technology.” The ’s 18-membee stimulus working group meets regularly to discuss opportunitiesz and set a course to capture as much of the federaol cash as possible.
So far, the school has more than 400 proposala seeking in excessof $350 million in “We saw this as a very significant opportunituy for the university and to do something for the said Richard Bookman, vice provost of researchh at UM. Among the projects on the school’s shovel-ready wish list is a new $45 seawater researchn center at UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marinse and Atmospheric Science onVirginia Key, he The university is seeking $15 millionh from the and $15 million from the to help builxd the center, which will study sea creatureds as well as the physics of waves on UM is also is submitting proposals for a $15 milliob to $20 million addition to a scienc e building at its Coral Gabless campus and a multi-story research building at its medicalk school.
has science, green technology and culinarhy training onits shovel-ready submission The school is requestinyg help funding a $22.7u million hospitality management centetr to house a culinary arts school as well as $40 milliob for an extensive renovation and upgradse to decades-old facilities at its north campus and $1.2 millio for an and Technology. But by most accounts competitioj for stimulus funds willbe fierce. And specifif funding priorities from federal and state allocatorzbeyond short-term projects that would create jobs quickly remains said Camille Coley, assistant VP and interim director of sponsored researcj at . “They are not tellinb us what they are looking she said.
But FAU is seeking $4.5 million to help buil out water reuse infrastructure at itsnewl opened, gold level Leadership in Energyu and and platinum level engineering building, slated to open in 2010. The university also is seeking federal stimulus fundsz to create a road connector systemj at its main campus off Glades Road in Boca Rato n andadditional parking. It also wants funding to put a greejn roof on itsadministration building. While the applicationh process is infull swing, UM’w Bookman doesn’t expect the winning projectes to be announced untikl the fall.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
San Francisco Business Times: Why your business should reduce its carbon footprint now
lydiryl.wordpress.com
Why should my businesds care about reducing their carbon footprint now? I asked the questionj to a room full of climate change expertz at the Carbon Collaborative Leadership Forum at the offices of Hanson Bridgett on Tuesdauy night. Everyone understands the "it's the right thinyg to do for the planet" argument. You know, the one that does nothintg to address trivial thinge like shareholders and bottom linez andthe recession.
While the problem of climate change is anurgent one, convincing companies to make heavyh investments into measuring their including along their supply chain, energy efficiencty improvements and others, it's a tougher sell now as corporatione are facing layoffs, scale-backs and declining and before the state or the country has rolled out mechanisms that will cap emissions and effectivelu put a price on For companies in transportation, utilities and fuel refinersx and distributors that will be it makes sense to start trying to reduced emissions now, so they don't face huge upfrongt investments when and if cap and trades is implemented.
"To the extent that companies might take earlhaction now, their operating costs and cost of compliances will be lower," said David Pascal, the green business and clean technology advocatre for San Francisco. But there's a case to be made that a wait-and-se e approach by companies that aren't in the industrty groups being cappedand don't rush to reducr now could pay off. See, utilities' emissions will be cappeed under the current planfor California' s climate change legislation and under the federal version being debated in Congresa now.
Utilities will likely have to incent theifr rate payers to reduce emissions so the utilitiezs can meet those caps and avoid having to buy emissions Amy Zimpfer, head of the Air Division of the US Environmentapl Protection Agency Region 9, said energy savings alonwe should spur companies to look at reducintg today even if they won'tt be forced to in the future. She said retur on investments into energy efficiency technologies are averagingv about three tofive years. That meansa the sooner a company invests, the soonere it will start savinhg money inenergy costs.
It will depend on the size of the savingsz and the size of incentives if an early action strategyy pays offand "that's a tradeoff that people are going to have to gauge." Franki who works for San Francisco-based climate changr consultancy Climate Earth, said he's hearxd a more compelling argument. Countries who don't have the luxuryy of relying on the oil resources the Unitefd States has secured are already working on theie strategies to cut fossil which account for lots of greenhousegas emissions, from theif products and supply chains. And the way the worldr is heading, the lowest footprint, least energy-consumingh products will become theglobal standard.
We're alreaduy seeing that with majof retailers like WalMart decidinf shelf space based on which product aremost "This is totally about the competition," Ridolfi "If companies don't take early action, they will go out of business."
Why should my businesds care about reducing their carbon footprint now? I asked the questionj to a room full of climate change expertz at the Carbon Collaborative Leadership Forum at the offices of Hanson Bridgett on Tuesdauy night. Everyone understands the "it's the right thinyg to do for the planet" argument. You know, the one that does nothintg to address trivial thinge like shareholders and bottom linez andthe recession.
While the problem of climate change is anurgent one, convincing companies to make heavyh investments into measuring their including along their supply chain, energy efficiencty improvements and others, it's a tougher sell now as corporatione are facing layoffs, scale-backs and declining and before the state or the country has rolled out mechanisms that will cap emissions and effectivelu put a price on For companies in transportation, utilities and fuel refinersx and distributors that will be it makes sense to start trying to reduced emissions now, so they don't face huge upfrongt investments when and if cap and trades is implemented.
"To the extent that companies might take earlhaction now, their operating costs and cost of compliances will be lower," said David Pascal, the green business and clean technology advocatre for San Francisco. But there's a case to be made that a wait-and-se e approach by companies that aren't in the industrty groups being cappedand don't rush to reducr now could pay off. See, utilities' emissions will be cappeed under the current planfor California' s climate change legislation and under the federal version being debated in Congresa now.
Utilities will likely have to incent theifr rate payers to reduce emissions so the utilitiezs can meet those caps and avoid having to buy emissions Amy Zimpfer, head of the Air Division of the US Environmentapl Protection Agency Region 9, said energy savings alonwe should spur companies to look at reducintg today even if they won'tt be forced to in the future. She said retur on investments into energy efficiency technologies are averagingv about three tofive years. That meansa the sooner a company invests, the soonere it will start savinhg money inenergy costs.
It will depend on the size of the savingsz and the size of incentives if an early action strategyy pays offand "that's a tradeoff that people are going to have to gauge." Franki who works for San Francisco-based climate changr consultancy Climate Earth, said he's hearxd a more compelling argument. Countries who don't have the luxuryy of relying on the oil resources the Unitefd States has secured are already working on theie strategies to cut fossil which account for lots of greenhousegas emissions, from theif products and supply chains. And the way the worldr is heading, the lowest footprint, least energy-consumingh products will become theglobal standard.
We're alreaduy seeing that with majof retailers like WalMart decidinf shelf space based on which product aremost "This is totally about the competition," Ridolfi "If companies don't take early action, they will go out of business."
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mecklenburg unemployment rises to 11% - Business First of Columbus:
borislavamcoc.blogspot.com
percent in April. In May, 50,353 residents were unemployec amongthe county’s labor force of 456,651, according to the . Mecklenburv received the largest amountof unemployment-insurance benefits in the stat in May at $25.9 million. Gaston County was fourth with $8 million in payments. Unemployment in the Charlotte/Gastonia/Concord area rose to 12 percentfrom 11.3 percent in In the Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton region, unemployment increased to 15.4 percent from 14.9 •Anson: 15.1 percent, up from 13.3 •Cabarrus: 11.4 percent, up from 10.8 •Catawba: 15.5 percent, up from 15 •Cleveland: 15.6 percent, up from 15 percent. •Gaston: 14.8 percent, up from 14.
7 •Iredell: 12.9 percent, up from 12.6 •Lincoln: 14.4 percent, up from 14.1 percent. 13.6 percent, up from 12.5 percent. 12.5 percent, up from 11.5 percent. 10.8 percent, up from 10 The N.C. unemployment rate rose to 11.1 percentf in May from 10.5 percent in Currituck County had the lowest rate in Northg Carolina in Mayat 6.3 Scotland County had the highest at 17.2
percent in April. In May, 50,353 residents were unemployec amongthe county’s labor force of 456,651, according to the . Mecklenburv received the largest amountof unemployment-insurance benefits in the stat in May at $25.9 million. Gaston County was fourth with $8 million in payments. Unemployment in the Charlotte/Gastonia/Concord area rose to 12 percentfrom 11.3 percent in In the Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton region, unemployment increased to 15.4 percent from 14.9 •Anson: 15.1 percent, up from 13.3 •Cabarrus: 11.4 percent, up from 10.8 •Catawba: 15.5 percent, up from 15 •Cleveland: 15.6 percent, up from 15 percent. •Gaston: 14.8 percent, up from 14.
7 •Iredell: 12.9 percent, up from 12.6 •Lincoln: 14.4 percent, up from 14.1 percent. 13.6 percent, up from 12.5 percent. 12.5 percent, up from 11.5 percent. 10.8 percent, up from 10 The N.C. unemployment rate rose to 11.1 percentf in May from 10.5 percent in Currituck County had the lowest rate in Northg Carolina in Mayat 6.3 Scotland County had the highest at 17.2
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Maggiano's to open at The Domain in Feb. '10 - Portland Business Journal:
zutkomi.blogspot.com
Florida-based RCC Associates Generalp Contractors was hiredby Maggiano's owner Brinkedr International Inc. to build the 17,000-square-foot, 491-sea t restaurant as part of TheDomain II. NCA Architecture of Dallazs is theproject architect. The Maggiano’xs Little Italy menu features classiv and contemporary Italian dishes serverd in acasual atmosphere. This will be the chain'ss first location in Austin and its fifthhin Texas. The mixed-use Domainj development has already become a dining hotspot with restaurants such as Joe Daily Grill, North and Fleming's. Besidesz Maggiano's, the new phase will also includea BJ'se Restaurant & Brewhouse.
Brinker has more than 1,700 restaurants in 27 countrie andtwo territories. RCC previously buily Maggiano’s Little Italy locations in New Jersey, Florida and The company has also constructedtwo Chili’zs locations for Brinker International in
Florida-based RCC Associates Generalp Contractors was hiredby Maggiano's owner Brinkedr International Inc. to build the 17,000-square-foot, 491-sea t restaurant as part of TheDomain II. NCA Architecture of Dallazs is theproject architect. The Maggiano’xs Little Italy menu features classiv and contemporary Italian dishes serverd in acasual atmosphere. This will be the chain'ss first location in Austin and its fifthhin Texas. The mixed-use Domainj development has already become a dining hotspot with restaurants such as Joe Daily Grill, North and Fleming's. Besidesz Maggiano's, the new phase will also includea BJ'se Restaurant & Brewhouse.
Brinker has more than 1,700 restaurants in 27 countrie andtwo territories. RCC previously buily Maggiano’s Little Italy locations in New Jersey, Florida and The company has also constructedtwo Chili’zs locations for Brinker International in
Friday, October 14, 2011
Executive Profile: Vince Parrotta - Memphis Business Journal:
http://www.times.kg/?D=banner
Parrotta has been part of the Four Seasons networksincer 1999. He has managed properties across the including Chicago, Las Vegas and, most Jackson Hole, Wyo. Therr are some notable differencesw between working in Jackson Holeand Scottsdale, he said. “Oh my last day on my commute tothe resort, there was snow on the grounde and two moose in front of me. There was no way arounf them, and they wouldn’f move,” he said. “Sometimes, if you hit the horn or startlw them, it’s more trouble than it’s So I followed them in.” Education: Bachelor’s degree in hotel and restauranf management, Canada College, Redwood City, Calif.
Wife, Linda; teenagers, Brittany and Anthonyy Pets: A Sheltie, Mandy — I love the dog, but my familhy is driving here to Phoenix becaus e my wife and kids refuse to put the dog on a planwe Since you arefrom Canada, do you like hockey ? I love hockey. I grew up playing it, and my son playxs it. I will always be a Toront MapleLeafs fan, and I get the Center Ice cable TV package. I am a fanatic, and I have to watcjh the games. What is your favorite meal to cook Iam Italian. I make my own sauces — I get fresh tomatoes and start from I love breaded veal cutlett andeggplant parmigiana. Cookintg is so much fun. You can builrd a whole evening outof it. Do you have any immediatr goals?
The first thing I want to focus on is creatingf memorable experiences forour guests, making sure there are the righgt people in the right placew and we have the right product. We need to focua on the “experience” part of our which is our pointof difference. What is your professional style? I do a lot of managemenrt by walking around. I am up at 5 and I like to be in the office by7 a.m. Therse is just so much happening it’s important to be connected, and it allows you to get on top of any issuesthat arise. I really want to teach, coach and communicate with my Do you have any pet peeves Things should be in place acrossthe resort.
For example, there shouldd be chilled towels atthe spa. Time is money for our guests, and as a generalk manager, I don’t want them looking for somethinb that should alreadybe there. Is therr one person who has shaped yourprofessionak development? Isadore Sharp, the founder and CEO of the I have met him in person and gave him a tour of the Jacksonh Hole property. I have read his book, “Foufr Seasons: The Story of a Businesws Philosophy.” It is quite an experience to attend one ofhis speeches; it is very energizing.
Parrotta has been part of the Four Seasons networksincer 1999. He has managed properties across the including Chicago, Las Vegas and, most Jackson Hole, Wyo. Therr are some notable differencesw between working in Jackson Holeand Scottsdale, he said. “Oh my last day on my commute tothe resort, there was snow on the grounde and two moose in front of me. There was no way arounf them, and they wouldn’f move,” he said. “Sometimes, if you hit the horn or startlw them, it’s more trouble than it’s So I followed them in.” Education: Bachelor’s degree in hotel and restauranf management, Canada College, Redwood City, Calif.
Wife, Linda; teenagers, Brittany and Anthonyy Pets: A Sheltie, Mandy — I love the dog, but my familhy is driving here to Phoenix becaus e my wife and kids refuse to put the dog on a planwe Since you arefrom Canada, do you like hockey ? I love hockey. I grew up playing it, and my son playxs it. I will always be a Toront MapleLeafs fan, and I get the Center Ice cable TV package. I am a fanatic, and I have to watcjh the games. What is your favorite meal to cook Iam Italian. I make my own sauces — I get fresh tomatoes and start from I love breaded veal cutlett andeggplant parmigiana. Cookintg is so much fun. You can builrd a whole evening outof it. Do you have any immediatr goals?
The first thing I want to focus on is creatingf memorable experiences forour guests, making sure there are the righgt people in the right placew and we have the right product. We need to focua on the “experience” part of our which is our pointof difference. What is your professional style? I do a lot of managemenrt by walking around. I am up at 5 and I like to be in the office by7 a.m. Therse is just so much happening it’s important to be connected, and it allows you to get on top of any issuesthat arise. I really want to teach, coach and communicate with my Do you have any pet peeves Things should be in place acrossthe resort.
For example, there shouldd be chilled towels atthe spa. Time is money for our guests, and as a generalk manager, I don’t want them looking for somethinb that should alreadybe there. Is therr one person who has shaped yourprofessionak development? Isadore Sharp, the founder and CEO of the I have met him in person and gave him a tour of the Jacksonh Hole property. I have read his book, “Foufr Seasons: The Story of a Businesws Philosophy.” It is quite an experience to attend one ofhis speeches; it is very energizing.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Joffe, partners end pursuit of LCA-Vision takeover - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
ethelbertdiya3334.blogspot.com
In a filing with the Securitiez andExchange Commission, the group said it has withdrawn its nominations of several memberes to LCA-Vision’s board of directors. It also “has resolved to terminate its solicitationn of written consents from the stockholdersx ofthe issue, and the committe e has been disbanded.” In addition to Stepheh Joffe, the investor group also includedd Joffe’s son and former interi m CEO Craig Joffe and former LCA-Visionm CFO Alan Buckey.
Over the last few several proxy advisory firms have sided in favorf of the existing management team at a Cincinnati-based provider of laser vision eye On Monday, affirmed its recommendation that LCA-Visioh stockholders vote to retain the current board of directors and rejecty the election of replacement directors. Last the company’s medical advisory board after compangy officials addressedboard concerns. Investors would have had untipl April 9 to cast theifr proxy cards for or against the management changesa proposedby Joffe. LCA-Vision (NASDAQ: provides laser vision correction services undert theLasikPlus brand.
The company operates 75 lasef vision correction centers in the United Statea and a joint venturein Canada.
In a filing with the Securitiez andExchange Commission, the group said it has withdrawn its nominations of several memberes to LCA-Vision’s board of directors. It also “has resolved to terminate its solicitationn of written consents from the stockholdersx ofthe issue, and the committe e has been disbanded.” In addition to Stepheh Joffe, the investor group also includedd Joffe’s son and former interi m CEO Craig Joffe and former LCA-Visionm CFO Alan Buckey.
Over the last few several proxy advisory firms have sided in favorf of the existing management team at a Cincinnati-based provider of laser vision eye On Monday, affirmed its recommendation that LCA-Visioh stockholders vote to retain the current board of directors and rejecty the election of replacement directors. Last the company’s medical advisory board after compangy officials addressedboard concerns. Investors would have had untipl April 9 to cast theifr proxy cards for or against the management changesa proposedby Joffe. LCA-Vision (NASDAQ: provides laser vision correction services undert theLasikPlus brand.
The company operates 75 lasef vision correction centers in the United Statea and a joint venturein Canada.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Flag waving - St. Louis Business Journal:
vypybiza.wordpress.com
We wanted to write our first salute to Scott Air Force Base around the July 4th holidah because the base symbolizes so much that is righr in our region and inour nation. As St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern the base is a source of great talent as well as a huge economic driver. Who knew the St. Louiws Character story this week (pagw 8) would also feature Scott? Susan Baginski’s fathef was one of many who served at the base andsettlex here. We certainly could not have predictedr the section on Scott and the big sale would coincider with the holiday issue ofthe newspaper, yet the importancer of one reinforces the other.
it’s Mark Kern who articulates the importanceof both: “We value the presence of Scott and will go the extra mile to make sure we’rwe known for our friendlinessa to the military.”
We wanted to write our first salute to Scott Air Force Base around the July 4th holidah because the base symbolizes so much that is righr in our region and inour nation. As St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern the base is a source of great talent as well as a huge economic driver. Who knew the St. Louiws Character story this week (pagw 8) would also feature Scott? Susan Baginski’s fathef was one of many who served at the base andsettlex here. We certainly could not have predictedr the section on Scott and the big sale would coincider with the holiday issue ofthe newspaper, yet the importancer of one reinforces the other.
it’s Mark Kern who articulates the importanceof both: “We value the presence of Scott and will go the extra mile to make sure we’rwe known for our friendlinessa to the military.”
Friday, October 7, 2011
SF Examiner sold to Denver billionaire - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
ivyhofy.wordpress.com
Mr. Anschutz, who owns the and pro sports franchisews and other professionalsports teams, becomes the fourty owner of the storied Examiner newspaper, which began publicatiojn in 1865 and was the center of Williamj Randolph Hearst's newspaper Terms of the deal weren't A formal announcement was expected to be made in San Francisco latert Thursday. The deal includes acquisition of a largeprintingg operation, the San Francisco Independenyt and the San Mateo Independent newspapers in addition to the Examiner, a five-day-a-weekj tabloid. The San Francisco Independent publisheson Tuesday, Thursdays and the San Mateo paper publishes on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The newly formed will be headefby long-time Anschutz confidantde Robert Starzel as chairman and Scott McKibben, the newspaper's currentg publisher and formerly publisher of the , whicnh publishes the and several other newspapers in the East Bay. Mr. McKibbenb will become presidentand "For (Anschutz), this is just a good business deal, a good a source close to the deal told the Denver Businesw Journal, a sister newspaper to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, when asker why the notoriously publicity-shy Anschutzs would want to buy a newspaper. "It' something that (Anschutz has) thought about for a long time. All of the things fell into place ...
a greatr name, an enormous From a business standpoint, everything made sense." Mr. Starzel said the threwe papers have a combinedcirculation 436,000, whic h he believes is competitiver with the San Francisco Chronicle. In its most recent the Chronicleposted Monday-Friday paid circulation of The Examiner and the two Independent newspaperx will share some content but will remain as separate More importantly, however, the company will offer Bay area advertisers a combinedr buy to compete with the Chronicle.
The Hears t organization sold the afternoon Examiner in 2000 to the Fang publishers of the twoIndependent newspapers, when Hearsft bought its former rival, the morning San Francisci Chronicle. To satisfy anti-trust concerns of the , Hearst subsidized operations of the Examinef for three years following its purchasew ofthe Chronicle. Hearst's subsidy of the Fang family which totaled morethan $66 million, endedf in July. In the last year the paper had laid off most of its staff and its COO DouglasFang died. That's when talkas between Mr. Anschutz and the Fang family beganin earnest. The partiesx reached an agreement in principle inlate Mr.
Starzel, whose father was with the for33 years, has been with Mr. Anschutza for more than 30 years. He and Mr. McKibben said they intenfd to publish aqualith newspaper, with an emphasis on balancex reporting, heavy on business and sportsz and stories about the Bay Area's One attraction for Mr. Anschut in buying the Examiner wasthe paper'z ownership of the "Bay to Breakers" runningy event.
He has competed in the race sincethe
Mr. Anschutz, who owns the and pro sports franchisews and other professionalsports teams, becomes the fourty owner of the storied Examiner newspaper, which began publicatiojn in 1865 and was the center of Williamj Randolph Hearst's newspaper Terms of the deal weren't A formal announcement was expected to be made in San Francisco latert Thursday. The deal includes acquisition of a largeprintingg operation, the San Francisco Independenyt and the San Mateo Independent newspapers in addition to the Examiner, a five-day-a-weekj tabloid. The San Francisco Independent publisheson Tuesday, Thursdays and the San Mateo paper publishes on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The newly formed will be headefby long-time Anschutz confidantde Robert Starzel as chairman and Scott McKibben, the newspaper's currentg publisher and formerly publisher of the , whicnh publishes the and several other newspapers in the East Bay. Mr. McKibbenb will become presidentand "For (Anschutz), this is just a good business deal, a good a source close to the deal told the Denver Businesw Journal, a sister newspaper to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, when asker why the notoriously publicity-shy Anschutzs would want to buy a newspaper. "It' something that (Anschutz has) thought about for a long time. All of the things fell into place ...
a greatr name, an enormous From a business standpoint, everything made sense." Mr. Starzel said the threwe papers have a combinedcirculation 436,000, whic h he believes is competitiver with the San Francisco Chronicle. In its most recent the Chronicleposted Monday-Friday paid circulation of The Examiner and the two Independent newspaperx will share some content but will remain as separate More importantly, however, the company will offer Bay area advertisers a combinedr buy to compete with the Chronicle.
The Hears t organization sold the afternoon Examiner in 2000 to the Fang publishers of the twoIndependent newspapers, when Hearsft bought its former rival, the morning San Francisci Chronicle. To satisfy anti-trust concerns of the , Hearst subsidized operations of the Examinef for three years following its purchasew ofthe Chronicle. Hearst's subsidy of the Fang family which totaled morethan $66 million, endedf in July. In the last year the paper had laid off most of its staff and its COO DouglasFang died. That's when talkas between Mr. Anschutz and the Fang family beganin earnest. The partiesx reached an agreement in principle inlate Mr.
Starzel, whose father was with the for33 years, has been with Mr. Anschutza for more than 30 years. He and Mr. McKibben said they intenfd to publish aqualith newspaper, with an emphasis on balancex reporting, heavy on business and sportsz and stories about the Bay Area's One attraction for Mr. Anschut in buying the Examiner wasthe paper'z ownership of the "Bay to Breakers" runningy event.
He has competed in the race sincethe
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tasmanian devil cull won't save the species - Australian Geographic
ysynut.wordpress.com
RedOrbit | Tasmanian devil cull won't save the species Australian Geographic Culling of diseased Tasmanian devils can't keep up with the rate of infection, new research shows. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population in Tasmania is dying out. (Credit: Andrew Gregory) THE TASMANIAN DEVIL'S FUTURE is looking dimmer ... Culling Won't Help Tasmanian Devil Populations Cull 'no help' to Tasmanian devil Tasmanian devils face cancer threat |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Fontainebleau's Soffer caught by Lehman Bros. bankruptcy - Washington Business Journal:
younkinesagugad1746.blogspot.com
“When the retail division of the project lost access to fundinfgthrough Lehman, it was unabls to repay the resort for its shared of costs,” said Scott Baena, of Bilzinm Sumberg Baena Price Axelrod, who representzs Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC in the “That put enormous stress on the resort entity, and that was the beginning of the problems.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of its affiliatese filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late Tuesday.
The Fontainebleaui Miami Beach is not included inthe Soffer, also principal with Turnberry construction and development has partial, personal guarantees on portions of the retaik component of the Las Vegas but those portions are not in bankruptchy yet, Baena said. The complec is 70 percent completed. Since Decembe r 2008, Lehman refused to make any advances underthe project’s $315 million construction loan, according to a motion to maintaim cash management filed in the bankruptcy. After Lehman’s money stopped flowing through the retail entity to theresorgt entity. In March, other lenders pullex their financing, and construction on the resort stoppeein May, Baena said.
The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapterr 11 was the result of litigation with the other lenders on projec t aboutnearly $800 million in construction fundintg for the project. Other lenders includse , JPMorgan Chase Bank and Deutsched BankTrust Co. Americas. In the shorr term, the company is seeking to stabilize and protectf the finished portion of the Baena said. “It’s no longer possible to downsizedthe building,” he said.
“The 30 percentg remaining construction is principallythe We’ve got a lovely building waiting to be
“When the retail division of the project lost access to fundinfgthrough Lehman, it was unabls to repay the resort for its shared of costs,” said Scott Baena, of Bilzinm Sumberg Baena Price Axelrod, who representzs Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC in the “That put enormous stress on the resort entity, and that was the beginning of the problems.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of its affiliatese filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late Tuesday.
The Fontainebleaui Miami Beach is not included inthe Soffer, also principal with Turnberry construction and development has partial, personal guarantees on portions of the retaik component of the Las Vegas but those portions are not in bankruptchy yet, Baena said. The complec is 70 percent completed. Since Decembe r 2008, Lehman refused to make any advances underthe project’s $315 million construction loan, according to a motion to maintaim cash management filed in the bankruptcy. After Lehman’s money stopped flowing through the retail entity to theresorgt entity. In March, other lenders pullex their financing, and construction on the resort stoppeein May, Baena said.
The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapterr 11 was the result of litigation with the other lenders on projec t aboutnearly $800 million in construction fundintg for the project. Other lenders includse , JPMorgan Chase Bank and Deutsched BankTrust Co. Americas. In the shorr term, the company is seeking to stabilize and protectf the finished portion of the Baena said. “It’s no longer possible to downsizedthe building,” he said.
“The 30 percentg remaining construction is principallythe We’ve got a lovely building waiting to be
Saturday, October 1, 2011
U wants to ban alcohol from stadium - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
ymekovo.wordpress.com
Earlier plans for the stadium, which will hold its firsft Gophers football gameon Sept. 12, would have allowee alcohol sales in the more expensiv epremium seating, but not in general seating. Bruininks’ move comes aftefr the Minnesota Legislatureand Gov. Tim Pawlenty made a new law requirinhg thatall of-age game attendees have equal access to alcohol. this new legislation leaves us with only two to become the only Big Ten campus in the country to sell alcohop throughout itsfootball stadium, or to not sell alcohok at all,” said Bruininksx in a statement. “Our values do not changew even if ourplans must.
We have never sold alcoho at student-oriented on-campus events in the and I do not recommend westart now.” The university’s Boards of Regents will consider the proposalk and will likely take action at a June 24 If the regents approve Bruininks’ Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena will also be alcohol-free on game Currently, alcohol is served in some areas of those arenas on game day. The university acknowledged the alcohok ban will have somefinancial impact, but it has not yet assessedc how much.
Earlier plans for the stadium, which will hold its firsft Gophers football gameon Sept. 12, would have allowee alcohol sales in the more expensiv epremium seating, but not in general seating. Bruininks’ move comes aftefr the Minnesota Legislatureand Gov. Tim Pawlenty made a new law requirinhg thatall of-age game attendees have equal access to alcohol. this new legislation leaves us with only two to become the only Big Ten campus in the country to sell alcohop throughout itsfootball stadium, or to not sell alcohok at all,” said Bruininksx in a statement. “Our values do not changew even if ourplans must.
We have never sold alcoho at student-oriented on-campus events in the and I do not recommend westart now.” The university’s Boards of Regents will consider the proposalk and will likely take action at a June 24 If the regents approve Bruininks’ Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena will also be alcohol-free on game Currently, alcohol is served in some areas of those arenas on game day. The university acknowledged the alcohok ban will have somefinancial impact, but it has not yet assessedc how much.
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