guronelogoh.blogspot.com
Krista Tillman will be responsiblew for programsand curriculum, marketing and strategic-planninh initiatives at the college. She succeedsa Darrel Miller, who has been namedr dean of the university's School of Education, whicuh recently opened in Myerds Park. Tillman spent 28 years with holdingseveral positions, including assistant vice presidentr of business development, vice presideny of carrier operations and president of small-businesz operations. Beginning in 2000, she was Charlotte-basedd president of the telecom's North Carolina operation -- the first woma to hold that post. She retired in January 2007, shortl after San Antonio-based AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) bought BellSouth.
More Tillman has been executive in residenceat Queens' . Queensa University of Charlotte isa private, co-ed, Presbyterian-affiliated university that offer both liberal arts and professionak studies. The university has 2,200 undergraduat and graduate students.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Apple may drop into Catawba County - Boston Business Journal:
kapitonragomo.blogspot.com
The Apple center would create 50 jobs and represenrNorth Carolina’s second-largest incentive package ever. Huge server farms are already on thewant list, says Scott president. “They’ve been a target of ours for four Several data center projects are considerinhgthe county, he says. The primary site that interestxs Apple isthe 180-acre Catawba Data a greenfield project planned along U.S. Highway 321 near sources say. There Apple woulrd get its preference for a campus setting with otherddata centers. Perdue says Apple will build in North Carolinza butshe didn’t announce a specific site.
“Wee welcome Apple to North Carolina and look forward to workingv with the company as it begins providingt a significant economic boost to local communitiesx andthe state.” Apple spokeswomam Susan Lundgren says construction in North Carolinaz will begin soon. “Wed are getting started right away to acquirsa site.” The announcement comezs after Perdue signed Senate Bill 575, whicnh modifies the method by whichy capital-intensive businesses calculate corporate income tax liabilith in North Carolina. The N.C.
incentivese would rebate $46 million to Applee over the next 10 If the center operated for 30 the price tag of the inducements would zoomto $300 million, accordingy to a legislative analysis. Applew has hired of Atlanta, an offshoot of that develop data centers. T5 tried to interesyt Apple inthe 215,000-square-foot former Chris-Craftr facility in Kings Mountain. Millare deflected questions about Apple. “Ic there were a user on the hook, I wouldf be calling you,” he says. Applr needs the East Coast site for its server farm to handle growtn in its iTunesonline store. Its last significanrt data center, a $50 million opened in Newark, Calif., in 2006.
The Apple center would create 50 jobs and represenrNorth Carolina’s second-largest incentive package ever. Huge server farms are already on thewant list, says Scott president. “They’ve been a target of ours for four Several data center projects are considerinhgthe county, he says. The primary site that interestxs Apple isthe 180-acre Catawba Data a greenfield project planned along U.S. Highway 321 near sources say. There Apple woulrd get its preference for a campus setting with otherddata centers. Perdue says Apple will build in North Carolinza butshe didn’t announce a specific site.
“Wee welcome Apple to North Carolina and look forward to workingv with the company as it begins providingt a significant economic boost to local communitiesx andthe state.” Apple spokeswomam Susan Lundgren says construction in North Carolinaz will begin soon. “Wed are getting started right away to acquirsa site.” The announcement comezs after Perdue signed Senate Bill 575, whicnh modifies the method by whichy capital-intensive businesses calculate corporate income tax liabilith in North Carolina. The N.C.
incentivese would rebate $46 million to Applee over the next 10 If the center operated for 30 the price tag of the inducements would zoomto $300 million, accordingy to a legislative analysis. Applew has hired of Atlanta, an offshoot of that develop data centers. T5 tried to interesyt Apple inthe 215,000-square-foot former Chris-Craftr facility in Kings Mountain. Millare deflected questions about Apple. “Ic there were a user on the hook, I wouldf be calling you,” he says. Applr needs the East Coast site for its server farm to handle growtn in its iTunesonline store. Its last significanrt data center, a $50 million opened in Newark, Calif., in 2006.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Experience, cost controls count in the hunt for VC - Boston Business Journal:
bojony.wordpress.com
“We are seeing money being place dvery prudently,” said Donald J. Troy, CPA, a partnetr in the audit departmentat , an accounting firm in “Venture firms are working on preserving their relationships with client who have already receivex money.” Venture capitalists nationwide invested just $3 billion in the first quarter, a 47 perceny decrease from the previous quarter and the lowestr venture investment level since 1997, according to ’ MoneyTrere report. Although the numbers are down new ideas and proposals are stilowinning backing.
Consider in which has closed on four new deals so farthis “We are on much the or faster, pace than the last few years,” said Todd Foley, managinf partner. “We are actively investing. We think it’x a great opportunity to invest. More than usual therer are cheap deals. Pricing has come down.” Two of the companiesx MPM recently invested in are a biotech company in Waltham that is developingv a drug to improve vein graftas fordialysis patients, which raised $12 milliobn in a Series B round, bringing the total amount raised in the rounrd to $50 million; and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, a Ky.
-based company focused on women’s health, whicyh completed an equity financinvg of $38 million led by MPM. A viable exit strategh is holding backmany deals, investors say. The numbeer of M&As have been declining steadily from quarter to quarter going to a modest 56 in the first quartef of 2008 from 106 inlast year’s firsyt quarter, according to the . But that’s still better than the other major exit strategy the initialpublic offering, which is pretty much nonexistent. So what do VCs look for? For controlling costs is essential forportfolio companies.
“More than ever venturd firms arescrutinizing costs,” Troy “Companies have to have an understandingh of how the financial aspects of the businesa work. A lot of our clientsx are exploring cost reduction strategies to limit spending.” Foley said he sees more companie exploring ways of getting non-venture dollards through a combination of revenue, grants and additionap partnerships. Andrew Merkin, a partner in the corporate practics division at law firmin Boston, said it hasn’g happened yet, but predicts venturs firms will start putting restrictions on how moneyg is spent.
“Financial controls are very important,” he “I think we mighgt start seeing venture firms negotiating restrictions on the use of You need to understand how much cash youreall need, what you are going to do with it, how quickly you will go through it. You need to be able to articulated that anddefend it. I think we will also see board control ramped upa bit, too. Thoss controls weren’t there in the and money would get blown throughincredibluy fast.
” Merkin said time frames for dealss are also longer, making cash burn even more And because valuations are down, entrepreneure might need to give up more “But the old adage ‘Better to have a smalp piece of a big pie than a big piecwe of a small pie’ still Merkin said. “The smart entrepreneur recognizes that it is betteer to be part ofa well-funded company than a poorly funded one.” Keep the size of the managementg team small and lean. Rely on outsides consultants wherever possible. Experience also matters, Merkim said — now more than ever. “Thd management team of the company is all that much more he said.
“Venture firms want to see experiencedc management, people who have gone througj theprocess before. They don’tr want to be funding people who are in this for thefirsrt time.”
“We are seeing money being place dvery prudently,” said Donald J. Troy, CPA, a partnetr in the audit departmentat , an accounting firm in “Venture firms are working on preserving their relationships with client who have already receivex money.” Venture capitalists nationwide invested just $3 billion in the first quarter, a 47 perceny decrease from the previous quarter and the lowestr venture investment level since 1997, according to ’ MoneyTrere report. Although the numbers are down new ideas and proposals are stilowinning backing.
Consider in which has closed on four new deals so farthis “We are on much the or faster, pace than the last few years,” said Todd Foley, managinf partner. “We are actively investing. We think it’x a great opportunity to invest. More than usual therer are cheap deals. Pricing has come down.” Two of the companiesx MPM recently invested in are a biotech company in Waltham that is developingv a drug to improve vein graftas fordialysis patients, which raised $12 milliobn in a Series B round, bringing the total amount raised in the rounrd to $50 million; and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, a Ky.
-based company focused on women’s health, whicyh completed an equity financinvg of $38 million led by MPM. A viable exit strategh is holding backmany deals, investors say. The numbeer of M&As have been declining steadily from quarter to quarter going to a modest 56 in the first quartef of 2008 from 106 inlast year’s firsyt quarter, according to the . But that’s still better than the other major exit strategy the initialpublic offering, which is pretty much nonexistent. So what do VCs look for? For controlling costs is essential forportfolio companies.
“More than ever venturd firms arescrutinizing costs,” Troy “Companies have to have an understandingh of how the financial aspects of the businesa work. A lot of our clientsx are exploring cost reduction strategies to limit spending.” Foley said he sees more companie exploring ways of getting non-venture dollards through a combination of revenue, grants and additionap partnerships. Andrew Merkin, a partner in the corporate practics division at law firmin Boston, said it hasn’g happened yet, but predicts venturs firms will start putting restrictions on how moneyg is spent.
“Financial controls are very important,” he “I think we mighgt start seeing venture firms negotiating restrictions on the use of You need to understand how much cash youreall need, what you are going to do with it, how quickly you will go through it. You need to be able to articulated that anddefend it. I think we will also see board control ramped upa bit, too. Thoss controls weren’t there in the and money would get blown throughincredibluy fast.
” Merkin said time frames for dealss are also longer, making cash burn even more And because valuations are down, entrepreneure might need to give up more “But the old adage ‘Better to have a smalp piece of a big pie than a big piecwe of a small pie’ still Merkin said. “The smart entrepreneur recognizes that it is betteer to be part ofa well-funded company than a poorly funded one.” Keep the size of the managementg team small and lean. Rely on outsides consultants wherever possible. Experience also matters, Merkim said — now more than ever. “Thd management team of the company is all that much more he said.
“Venture firms want to see experiencedc management, people who have gone througj theprocess before. They don’tr want to be funding people who are in this for thefirsrt time.”
Friday, July 6, 2012
SJ Mercury workers reach tentative contract deal, includes 9% in pay cuts - Sacramento Business Journal:
disadvantage-unlimited.blogspot.com
An additional 2 percent cut in pay woulcd take effectin January. The Mediz Workers Guild represents 257 Mercury News including about 130 in editorial jobs and 127in circulation, finance and supporrt positions. A ratification meeting to discuss and vote on the proposed contract is scheduled forMondayg afternoon. If approved, it would last 18 months, expiriny Nov. 30, 2010. Other concessions include reduce vacation accruals and the relocation ofthe Merc’s copy desk to Walnut Creek, where MediaNews’ is It owns the Mercury News and 11 otheer daily papers in the which include virtually all of the daily paperse in the Bay Area except the and .
“Thisw contract settlement represents our best effortsz atprotecting workers, jobs and quality at the Mercurt News,” the Guild’s San Francisco-basexd Local 39521 said in a statement. “It is not somethinv that we recommend Mac Tully, the Mercury News’ publisher and president, coulrd not immediately be reached for comment about the tentativew agreement. The deal would also permit managementr to require up to five furlough daysin 2010, move remaining circulatio and finance jobs to the Bay Area News Group’s shared servicess center in San Ramon, consolidatwe advertising functions in the East Bay and San hire commission-only sales representatives to develop new and win some additionap subcontracting rights, according to the Guild.
The contract negotiationxs have taken place during grim timesz fordaily newspapers. Several majorf papers have folded inrecent months, including the and the priny version of the , and many major metropolitan including the San Francisco Chronicle, , , and , face dauntin financial challenges.
An additional 2 percent cut in pay woulcd take effectin January. The Mediz Workers Guild represents 257 Mercury News including about 130 in editorial jobs and 127in circulation, finance and supporrt positions. A ratification meeting to discuss and vote on the proposed contract is scheduled forMondayg afternoon. If approved, it would last 18 months, expiriny Nov. 30, 2010. Other concessions include reduce vacation accruals and the relocation ofthe Merc’s copy desk to Walnut Creek, where MediaNews’ is It owns the Mercury News and 11 otheer daily papers in the which include virtually all of the daily paperse in the Bay Area except the and .
“Thisw contract settlement represents our best effortsz atprotecting workers, jobs and quality at the Mercurt News,” the Guild’s San Francisco-basexd Local 39521 said in a statement. “It is not somethinv that we recommend Mac Tully, the Mercury News’ publisher and president, coulrd not immediately be reached for comment about the tentativew agreement. The deal would also permit managementr to require up to five furlough daysin 2010, move remaining circulatio and finance jobs to the Bay Area News Group’s shared servicess center in San Ramon, consolidatwe advertising functions in the East Bay and San hire commission-only sales representatives to develop new and win some additionap subcontracting rights, according to the Guild.
The contract negotiationxs have taken place during grim timesz fordaily newspapers. Several majorf papers have folded inrecent months, including the and the priny version of the , and many major metropolitan including the San Francisco Chronicle, , , and , face dauntin financial challenges.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Developers, UNCG eye key GSO property - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
judonebolayb1394.blogspot.com
The fate of the site is beiny watched closely from the neighboring Colleg e HillHistoric District, where residents are concernedr that the continuing expansion of the campus could drive down propert values. "The value of the historic district to the communitt is in the character ofthe neighborhood," said David who is president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association and also directodr of corporate and foundation relations at "What we've seen over and over is developers attractedc to the neighborhood by that character with big, high-densithy projects that would negatively impact that very character.
" The propertyy in question isn't in the historic but rather adjacent to it on the soutbh side of Spring Garden between Mendenhallp Street and Fulton Street, with the Norfolk Southern railroa d track running behind. The bulk of that propertyu is owned by NewmanMachine Co., a century-old makerd of sanders, planers and other woodworking machinery sold to furnitur e makers and others. According to Guilford Countt property records, Newman owns 4.6 acres of propertty there, with a tax value of about $1.4 The entire area in question covers abouteight acres.
Newmanj Machine, which is still functioning, has been the subjectg of a court battl e betweenits owners, brothers William and Franl York, that began in 2006. Accordingb to a complaint filed withthe N.C. Business Court in William York accusedFrank York, acting as Newman's CEO, of fraudulentl mismanaging the assets of the company. The suit demandeds the dissolution of the investment group thatowns Newman. Frank York denied the allegations and chargeds in turn that William Yorkhad "actee deceptively" to extract assets from the The settlement that was reachede in December 2007 is under seal by the court, and callsx to Frank York and his attorneuy were not returned.
Willia m York's attorney declined to comment. But sources familiar with the case say the sale of the assets of Newmaj Machine is the likely end result of the Such a sale may or may not leavr the businessitself intact. What' s next? It's the possibility the land underneatg Newman's factory will come up for grabsd that has the university and the developers eyeing thatacreages hungrily, and its neighbors watching Specifically, Arneke said College Hill residents are worriedf about a plan by a private developet interested in building student housingf on not just the Newman land but also on neighborint lots owned by two Builders and New Age Neighborhood residents received a letter this spring from Winston-Salem-based Freeman Commerciak Properties saying that out-of-state developers were interested in buildinv a student-housing complex on the site just a few blocks east of the UNCG There are already a number of private housing complexezs built or planned near the campud aimed at absorbing the rapidly growingt student population.
A huge project is rising now on nearby Lee Student housing is often associated with noisreand traffic, which are the primary concerns of Collegre Hill residents, Arneke said. Bob Anderson of Freemamn Commercial Properties declined to identify the developet behind the proposal or offedany details, saying it's not yet clear that the project is moving forward. "All I can say is it's a very good grouop and they dovery high-quality but the deal isn't put together," Anderson said. One possibled hang up: the land couldc potentially bevery valuable, not just becausw it's close to UNCG but also closes to downtown.
Those who own land there aren'yt in a hurry to sell and aren't going to let it go That goes for both Gary owner of GaryJobe Builders, and Joe co-owner of New Age Builders. Both said they had been contactedc about the studenthousing project, but both also said they weren'gt looking to sell their small lots and hadn' heard of any recent progress on the idea. "Someone came to see me with some which werereally nice," Jobe said. "But I don'f think they'd be able to afford my I wouldn't even considerr it for less than $1 million.
" If that's what land in the area is there is an entity that coule afford to payit -- the state itsel on behalf of UNCG, whicbh recently updated its master plan with an eye towarsd expansions that will be necessarhy to house and educate a student population that could reach nearly 23,000 by 2025. Mike Byers, the university's assistant vice chancellor forauxiliary services, said that mastefr plan does highlight that acreage as one the university woul d like to acquire at some point, givehn its size and proximity to campus.
He said he coulfd not comment on any current negotiations that may or may not beunder way, but he said the university has talked to property owneras there to express interest in a purchase if
The fate of the site is beiny watched closely from the neighboring Colleg e HillHistoric District, where residents are concernedr that the continuing expansion of the campus could drive down propert values. "The value of the historic district to the communitt is in the character ofthe neighborhood," said David who is president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association and also directodr of corporate and foundation relations at "What we've seen over and over is developers attractedc to the neighborhood by that character with big, high-densithy projects that would negatively impact that very character.
" The propertyy in question isn't in the historic but rather adjacent to it on the soutbh side of Spring Garden between Mendenhallp Street and Fulton Street, with the Norfolk Southern railroa d track running behind. The bulk of that propertyu is owned by NewmanMachine Co., a century-old makerd of sanders, planers and other woodworking machinery sold to furnitur e makers and others. According to Guilford Countt property records, Newman owns 4.6 acres of propertty there, with a tax value of about $1.4 The entire area in question covers abouteight acres.
Newmanj Machine, which is still functioning, has been the subjectg of a court battl e betweenits owners, brothers William and Franl York, that began in 2006. Accordingb to a complaint filed withthe N.C. Business Court in William York accusedFrank York, acting as Newman's CEO, of fraudulentl mismanaging the assets of the company. The suit demandeds the dissolution of the investment group thatowns Newman. Frank York denied the allegations and chargeds in turn that William Yorkhad "actee deceptively" to extract assets from the The settlement that was reachede in December 2007 is under seal by the court, and callsx to Frank York and his attorneuy were not returned.
Willia m York's attorney declined to comment. But sources familiar with the case say the sale of the assets of Newmaj Machine is the likely end result of the Such a sale may or may not leavr the businessitself intact. What' s next? It's the possibility the land underneatg Newman's factory will come up for grabsd that has the university and the developers eyeing thatacreages hungrily, and its neighbors watching Specifically, Arneke said College Hill residents are worriedf about a plan by a private developet interested in building student housingf on not just the Newman land but also on neighborint lots owned by two Builders and New Age Neighborhood residents received a letter this spring from Winston-Salem-based Freeman Commerciak Properties saying that out-of-state developers were interested in buildinv a student-housing complex on the site just a few blocks east of the UNCG There are already a number of private housing complexezs built or planned near the campud aimed at absorbing the rapidly growingt student population.
A huge project is rising now on nearby Lee Student housing is often associated with noisreand traffic, which are the primary concerns of Collegre Hill residents, Arneke said. Bob Anderson of Freemamn Commercial Properties declined to identify the developet behind the proposal or offedany details, saying it's not yet clear that the project is moving forward. "All I can say is it's a very good grouop and they dovery high-quality but the deal isn't put together," Anderson said. One possibled hang up: the land couldc potentially bevery valuable, not just becausw it's close to UNCG but also closes to downtown.
Those who own land there aren'yt in a hurry to sell and aren't going to let it go That goes for both Gary owner of GaryJobe Builders, and Joe co-owner of New Age Builders. Both said they had been contactedc about the studenthousing project, but both also said they weren'gt looking to sell their small lots and hadn' heard of any recent progress on the idea. "Someone came to see me with some which werereally nice," Jobe said. "But I don'f think they'd be able to afford my I wouldn't even considerr it for less than $1 million.
" If that's what land in the area is there is an entity that coule afford to payit -- the state itsel on behalf of UNCG, whicbh recently updated its master plan with an eye towarsd expansions that will be necessarhy to house and educate a student population that could reach nearly 23,000 by 2025. Mike Byers, the university's assistant vice chancellor forauxiliary services, said that mastefr plan does highlight that acreage as one the university woul d like to acquire at some point, givehn its size and proximity to campus.
He said he coulfd not comment on any current negotiations that may or may not beunder way, but he said the university has talked to property owneras there to express interest in a purchase if
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Smith & Hawken stores, including Galleria location, to close - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
caloloary.blogspot.com
Scotts Twin Cities Smith & Hawken stores last saying it was focusingb more on a larger Jim Hagedorn, CEO of the Marysville, Ohio-based lawn and garden said in a statement that “the combination of a weak economyu and the lack of scale proved too greayt to overcome.” For a year, Scottes had been exploring options for the high-end gardej brand it bought in 2004 for $68.5r million but decided closing the businesw was the “best option available,” Hagedorj said. Smith & Hawken, based in Novato, Calif.
, has a stor in Columbus at Easton Town Scotts (NYSE:SMG) on Wednesday said storewide sales across the chainh will begin Thursday and will be managed by a third-party Orders on Smith & Hawken’s Web site, catalogv and call center will be discontinuedf Thursday. The company in its last annuao report said the chain has consistentlyg underperfomed since it was acquired nearly half adecade ago. Scotts’ “corporate and other” segment, whicj consists of Smith & Hawkemn and administrative expenses, posted a 23 percent decline in salesat $51.2 million for the six month s ended March 29. That segment’sw operating loss for the six-month periodr totaled $75.
4 million, accordingg to filings. Scotts expects to take a $25 millionb after-tax hit on the closure of the mainly tied to terminated leases and severance Most ofthose charges, the company said, will be taken on by the end of the Scotts (NYSE:SMG) in the year ended Sept. 30, lost $10.9 million on $2.98 billion in revenue. The company has aboutg 6,400 full-time workers worldwide.
Scotts Twin Cities Smith & Hawken stores last saying it was focusingb more on a larger Jim Hagedorn, CEO of the Marysville, Ohio-based lawn and garden said in a statement that “the combination of a weak economyu and the lack of scale proved too greayt to overcome.” For a year, Scottes had been exploring options for the high-end gardej brand it bought in 2004 for $68.5r million but decided closing the businesw was the “best option available,” Hagedorj said. Smith & Hawken, based in Novato, Calif.
, has a stor in Columbus at Easton Town Scotts (NYSE:SMG) on Wednesday said storewide sales across the chainh will begin Thursday and will be managed by a third-party Orders on Smith & Hawken’s Web site, catalogv and call center will be discontinuedf Thursday. The company in its last annuao report said the chain has consistentlyg underperfomed since it was acquired nearly half adecade ago. Scotts’ “corporate and other” segment, whicj consists of Smith & Hawkemn and administrative expenses, posted a 23 percent decline in salesat $51.2 million for the six month s ended March 29. That segment’sw operating loss for the six-month periodr totaled $75.
4 million, accordingg to filings. Scotts expects to take a $25 millionb after-tax hit on the closure of the mainly tied to terminated leases and severance Most ofthose charges, the company said, will be taken on by the end of the Scotts (NYSE:SMG) in the year ended Sept. 30, lost $10.9 million on $2.98 billion in revenue. The company has aboutg 6,400 full-time workers worldwide.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
July likely to bring more high temperatures in Denver - Denver Post
xoqylyjibo.wordpress.com
July likely to bring more high temperatures in Denver Denver Post After the hottest June in Denver history, the National Weather Service is predicting that July may also a broiler. |
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