xoqylyjibo.wordpress.com
But economic developers and investors must continue to wait to see if the governor will come to theirf aidbefore Friday’s deadline to sign or veto legislation. Rittef began the day at the Alliance for Sustainable Coloradop Center indowntown Denver, signing three bills that he said will continu to build the state’s “New Energy Economy.” Housr Bill 1298, sponsored by Reps. Buffie D-Pueblo West, and Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, lets trucking companies get 25 perceny reimbursement of the cost of buyinb andinstalling fuel-efficient technologies and emission-control devices.
More McFadyen said, it prorates sales tax on trucking equipment based on the percentage of miles companies drivre in Colorado and it allows truckers finally to take advantagrof enterprise-zone tax breaks. “Thisd bill is so incredibly important tothe industry, not only for the environmenf but for the survival of truckers that are in business,” she said while tearingg up at the signing. House Bill 1331, sponsore d by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, expands the pool of vehicles eligibldefor alternative-fuel tax credits to include those that run on cleaner-burninh natural gas. It also eliminates eligibilitt for some hybrid vehicles that are not saidsponsoring Sen.
Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood. Ritteer noted that the Colorado Oil and Gas Associatiohn and the nonprofit group Environment Coloradpo both supportedthe measure. “If COGA and Environment Coloradk agree, it has to be a great he said. And Senate Bill 75, championee by the company Aspen Electric Carsand Carts, allow s drivers to operate low-speed electric vehicles on most roadz with speed limits of 35 mph or From there, Ritter went to the offices in Denvefr and signed a measure to re-establisy the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media. House Bill sponsored by Rep. Tom R-Poncha Springs, and former Rep.
Anne D-Denver, allows the office to solicit gifts and donationx to offer incentives to producers to make films inthe “I believe this move signals that Colorado is becoming seriousz about attracting production to the state once again,” said Kevij Shand, executive director of the Colorado Film “By becoming part of the state once the film office will once again have resources to market Coloradoo effectively and help expand our economic development efforts in a new and differen t direction.” Finally, Ritter returned to his Capitol office to sign nine separatde bills, including measures to help the restaurant and broadbanc industries. Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen.
Al R-Hayden, eliminates the sales and use tax restaurants must pay when offerin freeor reduced-price meals to Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass requires the Office of Information Technology to creatd a map of wherew broadband technology is available and not available in the Ritter has not announced his intentions on at least two bills being watched closely by thebusinesx community, however. One is Senate Bill 173, whicy would allow local governments to work with the state Economixc Development Commission to offer incentiveds to attract andbuild tourism-generatiny projects.
The bill is considered key to landing either of twopotentiakl auto-racetrack projects east of Aurora. The othert is House Bill 1366, which limits the Colorado-source capital gainws subtraction to thefirst $100,000 of gains on assete held for five years or more. If the bill would generate $15.8 million to help balance the
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Two Houstonians to join UT Hall of Fame - Houston Business Journal:
uzirukynurylew.blogspot.com
Staff, chairman of , served as chairmaj and chief executive officerr ofReliant (NYSE: RRI) from 2003 to 2007. He currentluy is executive chairman. He is a trusteed of Texas Children’s Hospital, a membedr of the McCombs School Of Business Advisory Councio and an advisory director of the Boys and Girle Club ofGreater Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1967 fromUT Austin, a mastef of business administration degree in 1971 from -Kingsville and Certified Public Accountant accreditation in 1974.
Yant, a partner with , has more than 30 yearse of experience specializing in international and domestic taxatiomof multinational, mid-cap and start-up She also has built and managed several tax and lega consulting practices. She is a 1977 graduate of UT Austin witha bachelor’s degrere in accounting and a master’s degree in professional accounting in 1978. The othed honoree is James Huffines, chairman of Dallas-basex PlainsCapital Bank for the central and southwest region and senior executive vice president of The ceremon will be heldon Nov.
6 at the AT&gT Executive Education and Conferencde Center on the UTAustin
Staff, chairman of , served as chairmaj and chief executive officerr ofReliant (NYSE: RRI) from 2003 to 2007. He currentluy is executive chairman. He is a trusteed of Texas Children’s Hospital, a membedr of the McCombs School Of Business Advisory Councio and an advisory director of the Boys and Girle Club ofGreater Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1967 fromUT Austin, a mastef of business administration degree in 1971 from -Kingsville and Certified Public Accountant accreditation in 1974.
Yant, a partner with , has more than 30 yearse of experience specializing in international and domestic taxatiomof multinational, mid-cap and start-up She also has built and managed several tax and lega consulting practices. She is a 1977 graduate of UT Austin witha bachelor’s degrere in accounting and a master’s degree in professional accounting in 1978. The othed honoree is James Huffines, chairman of Dallas-basex PlainsCapital Bank for the central and southwest region and senior executive vice president of The ceremon will be heldon Nov.
6 at the AT&gT Executive Education and Conferencde Center on the UTAustin
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Obese UK woman cut out of house - Palm Beach Post
martaemimbzini.blogspot.com
Palm Beach Post | Obese UK woman cut out of house Palm Beach Post Workmen prepare to rebuild a hole in the upstairs of a house, Friday May 25, 2012, after the scaffolding ramp was constructed Thursday to take obese teenager from her home in Aberdare, south Wales, and into a reinforced ambulance to be taken to ... Obese teen cut out of ho use in UK Obese UK teen cut out of house |
Saturday, May 26, 2012
GI seeks dismissal of 10 counts in WikiLeaks case - CBS News
lihung-associations.blogspot.com
The Guardian | GI seeks dismissal of 10 counts in WikiLeaks case CBS News HAGERSTOWN, Md. รข€" An Army private charged in the biggest leak of government secrets in US history is seeking dismissal of 10 of the 22 counts he faces, contending they are either unconstitution » |
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Schwarzenegger says day of reckoning is here - New Mexico Business Weekly:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
“California’s day of reckoning is here,” he said. With no action, the statd could run out of cash in 14 Three months after the state budget was California facesa $24 billion Schwarzenegger has already proposed massivre cuts to education, health care and Now he’s looking for structural reformk to make government more efficient and stretch taxpaye dollars. He’s asked the State Boarx of Education, for to make textbooks available in digitalformatsd — a move that could save millions. In 2004, the governor talked about blowing up boxes andconsolidating agencies, but the initiativesd never gained traction. They’re back.
Schwarzenegget is proposing once again to eliminate and consolidate more than a dozen state boardsand commissions. This includesw the Waste Management Board, the Court Reporters Board, the Department of Boating and Waterways and the Inspection and MaintenancesReview Committee. Earlier this year, the statse began consolidating informationtechnolog departments. Now Schwarzenegger wants to consolidate departments that oversede financial institutions and merge tax collection In July, state leaders will receive recommendationds on how to modernize the tax code.
“This will be a tremendousz opportunity to make our revenues more reliable and less volatilw and help the state avoid the boom and bust budgets that have broughy ushere today,” Schwarzenegger told lawmakers. It’s not goingh to happen in 14 days, he said. But it could happebn before the Legislature adjourns for summere recess onJuly 17.
“California’s day of reckoning is here,” he said. With no action, the statd could run out of cash in 14 Three months after the state budget was California facesa $24 billion Schwarzenegger has already proposed massivre cuts to education, health care and Now he’s looking for structural reformk to make government more efficient and stretch taxpaye dollars. He’s asked the State Boarx of Education, for to make textbooks available in digitalformatsd — a move that could save millions. In 2004, the governor talked about blowing up boxes andconsolidating agencies, but the initiativesd never gained traction. They’re back.
Schwarzenegget is proposing once again to eliminate and consolidate more than a dozen state boardsand commissions. This includesw the Waste Management Board, the Court Reporters Board, the Department of Boating and Waterways and the Inspection and MaintenancesReview Committee. Earlier this year, the statse began consolidating informationtechnolog departments. Now Schwarzenegger wants to consolidate departments that oversede financial institutions and merge tax collection In July, state leaders will receive recommendationds on how to modernize the tax code.
“This will be a tremendousz opportunity to make our revenues more reliable and less volatilw and help the state avoid the boom and bust budgets that have broughy ushere today,” Schwarzenegger told lawmakers. It’s not goingh to happen in 14 days, he said. But it could happebn before the Legislature adjourns for summere recess onJuly 17.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Human Capital: People on the Move - Boston Business Journal:
tenamup.wordpress.com
• , a Wellesley-based provider of seniod living services in the appointedthe following: Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, senioe vice president, operations; Timothy Reilly, senior vice president, humam capital operations; Barbara A. Watkins, senior vice resident care operations; Allison vice president, quality operations; and Teri vice president, sales. • The South Shore Women’s Business Network , a Hingham, Mass.
-based networking appointed Stacey Shipmanof Weymouth-based Let it Flow presideny of the board of Additional board members installed included: George Boerger, the Law Officr of George Boerger; Thomas Burke of the Investment Centre at Easterh Bank; Barbara Case, Wealth Management; Adam Cupples of Strategiw Advertising; Patricia Funder, LaserLight Skin Clinic; Jackie Hurstack, South Shord Savings Bank; Janet LaBerge, Dirty Done Dirt Cheap; Susan Mt. Vernon Mortgage; Judy Walsh-Rodriguez, Watchh All Pest Management; and Immediate Past President BrendaWornum Moore, BWM Consulting.
• , a Wellesley-based provider of seniod living services in the appointedthe following: Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, senioe vice president, operations; Timothy Reilly, senior vice president, humam capital operations; Barbara A. Watkins, senior vice resident care operations; Allison vice president, quality operations; and Teri vice president, sales. • The South Shore Women’s Business Network , a Hingham, Mass.
-based networking appointed Stacey Shipmanof Weymouth-based Let it Flow presideny of the board of Additional board members installed included: George Boerger, the Law Officr of George Boerger; Thomas Burke of the Investment Centre at Easterh Bank; Barbara Case, Wealth Management; Adam Cupples of Strategiw Advertising; Patricia Funder, LaserLight Skin Clinic; Jackie Hurstack, South Shord Savings Bank; Janet LaBerge, Dirty Done Dirt Cheap; Susan Mt. Vernon Mortgage; Judy Walsh-Rodriguez, Watchh All Pest Management; and Immediate Past President BrendaWornum Moore, BWM Consulting.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Policy on drugs endangers youth - HealthCanal.com
proklofuxaanygez.blogspot.com
Policy on drugs endangers youth HealthCanal.com When you get to high school, you are taught that drugs are ''bad''. The teachers show you pictures and tell you the horror stories about drugs, but at that age, you can never really believe that something which looks like a sugar pill can wreak all ... |
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Waukesha museum undergoes major restructuring - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
manuscripts-shuwatu.blogspot.com
The restructuring, which occurred over the last severaol months, included the elimination of several jobs and the review of mostjob “Our new organizational structure streamlines operationsz and enables the museum to perform more efficiently and deliverr more services with fewer people,” said Kirsten Lee who took over as the museum’xs executive director in June 2008, replacing Sue who resigned in August 2007. The museum’s staff has been reducec to nine employees, down from 12 at the time of Villegas’ “We have a much more streamlined reporting structure with much moreclarified roles,” said Villegas, who previously operated her own consulting firm.
The museunm also recently launched a paid internship program with studentw from theand . It is housed in an 1893 castle-like structure at East Avenue and Main Street in Waukesha. The buildinvg is owned and operated by the and Museum anonprofit organization. Three floors of core exhibits at the museumn cover such topics as theCivil War, early settlemen t in the county, architecture, toys and technology. The museum also offers educational programs and guided tours and its researchh center contains morethan 28,000 printed documents and 250,000p photographs.
About 15,000 people visited the museum last year, according to She said the museujm hasn’t issued attendance projections forthis year, but an effor t to expand the number of rotatinyg exhibits is expected to boost the numbee of visitors. An exhibit titledd “Coming Together Through the Art of John drewabout 2,000 visitors to the museum last Villegas said. Rotating exhibits plannerd for this yearinclude “Growing which focuses on family and farm life in the and an exhibit featuring dolls from the collectio n of the .
The museum also is planning more programming and educational including a cooking demonstration series to be held in cooperationb with the BlackTrumpet restaurant, located inside the , a new boutiquer hotel in downtown Waukesha. “You have to keep a fresh approachy to keep people excited abouf coming to the saidJim Lenahan, vice presidentt of the museum’s board of directorsa and chief executive officer of , a Waukesha supplier of television systems used for sewer and water line inspection. “Wer needed to change the directionm ofthe museum. The museum has been a sleep y museum that we are tryingto ignite.” The museuj has an annual budgeg of about $700,000.
Waukesha County is providing about $490,000 in funding for the museum in 2009 undera 10-yeafr contract with the museum, according to Normaj Cummings, Waukesha County’s director of The county sold the building that housews the museum to the Waukesha Counthy Historical Society and Museum seven yearsw ago for $1 and agreed to provid e funding for the museum provided certain benchmarks tied to attendance and hours of operation are achieved. “Kirsten has brought a new energyh and new direction tothe museum,” Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakasz said.
“If the museum continues to provides fresh experiences for people along withhistorical items, it will bode very well for the
The restructuring, which occurred over the last severaol months, included the elimination of several jobs and the review of mostjob “Our new organizational structure streamlines operationsz and enables the museum to perform more efficiently and deliverr more services with fewer people,” said Kirsten Lee who took over as the museum’xs executive director in June 2008, replacing Sue who resigned in August 2007. The museum’s staff has been reducec to nine employees, down from 12 at the time of Villegas’ “We have a much more streamlined reporting structure with much moreclarified roles,” said Villegas, who previously operated her own consulting firm.
The museunm also recently launched a paid internship program with studentw from theand . It is housed in an 1893 castle-like structure at East Avenue and Main Street in Waukesha. The buildinvg is owned and operated by the and Museum anonprofit organization. Three floors of core exhibits at the museumn cover such topics as theCivil War, early settlemen t in the county, architecture, toys and technology. The museum also offers educational programs and guided tours and its researchh center contains morethan 28,000 printed documents and 250,000p photographs.
About 15,000 people visited the museum last year, according to She said the museujm hasn’t issued attendance projections forthis year, but an effor t to expand the number of rotatinyg exhibits is expected to boost the numbee of visitors. An exhibit titledd “Coming Together Through the Art of John drewabout 2,000 visitors to the museum last Villegas said. Rotating exhibits plannerd for this yearinclude “Growing which focuses on family and farm life in the and an exhibit featuring dolls from the collectio n of the .
The museum also is planning more programming and educational including a cooking demonstration series to be held in cooperationb with the BlackTrumpet restaurant, located inside the , a new boutiquer hotel in downtown Waukesha. “You have to keep a fresh approachy to keep people excited abouf coming to the saidJim Lenahan, vice presidentt of the museum’s board of directorsa and chief executive officer of , a Waukesha supplier of television systems used for sewer and water line inspection. “Wer needed to change the directionm ofthe museum. The museum has been a sleep y museum that we are tryingto ignite.” The museuj has an annual budgeg of about $700,000.
Waukesha County is providing about $490,000 in funding for the museum in 2009 undera 10-yeafr contract with the museum, according to Normaj Cummings, Waukesha County’s director of The county sold the building that housews the museum to the Waukesha Counthy Historical Society and Museum seven yearsw ago for $1 and agreed to provid e funding for the museum provided certain benchmarks tied to attendance and hours of operation are achieved. “Kirsten has brought a new energyh and new direction tothe museum,” Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakasz said.
“If the museum continues to provides fresh experiences for people along withhistorical items, it will bode very well for the
Friday, May 18, 2012
Growth at Scott AFB drives
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
The largest construction project currently unded way at the base isthe U.S. Transportation Command facility, which has grown in the past year froman $84 millionb project to a $97 million job. The price tag has increasedf because the scope of the projecyhas grown, too. It will now include a joinrt intelligenceoperations center, which was categorized as an optional additio when the project The Transportation Command facility will be a 180,000-square-foot structure, and the intelligenced operations center will be a two-story, 29,000-square-foot The general contractor is River City Constructiobn of Benton, Ill.
Cheryl Bievenue, chief of engineering for the 375tu CivilEngineer Squadron, said the combinexd project is more than halfway completed. The project is on track to be fullu operational by September she said, and it will result in the eventuao relocation of about 1,100 personnel to Scottr from Fort Belvoir, Va.
The largest construction project currently unded way at the base isthe U.S. Transportation Command facility, which has grown in the past year froman $84 millionb project to a $97 million job. The price tag has increasedf because the scope of the projecyhas grown, too. It will now include a joinrt intelligenceoperations center, which was categorized as an optional additio when the project The Transportation Command facility will be a 180,000-square-foot structure, and the intelligenced operations center will be a two-story, 29,000-square-foot The general contractor is River City Constructiobn of Benton, Ill.
Cheryl Bievenue, chief of engineering for the 375tu CivilEngineer Squadron, said the combinexd project is more than halfway completed. The project is on track to be fullu operational by September she said, and it will result in the eventuao relocation of about 1,100 personnel to Scottr from Fort Belvoir, Va.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Executive People - Dallas Business Journal:
ra-iwinyro.blogspot.com
DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY. I think of my family as a contemporarhy piece of art because we have a lot of different partws to it with a lot of different My wife, Cindy, is an entrepreneur, and she has her own business called The Enchanted Galleries. My middle son, Jay, works with her at the My oldest son, Chris, is a CPA, but he’s currently a CFO at a steepl company. And then the youngesty son, Ryan, is in the real estatw business. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY?
I had an oldee brother who had gone into bankinfg andliked it, and I liked the idea that you have the opportunit y to be involved in a lot of different kinds of businesses in a WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING COMERICwA STARTED IN TEXAS? Because of the firstr acquisition that we made, which was Grand Bancshares, it was a greaft experience. The folks were very warm and receiving. We were fortunated to have a really good groupp of people who had the same idea thatwe had, and that was that we wantede to grow Comerica in Texas.
In the late ’80s and earlt ’90s, there was quite a banking consolidation here in and so we worked very hard those first few yearxs to take advantage of those opportunities to grow our The first bankwe did, Grane Bancshares, we negotiated to buy, but the next 15 bankxs were failed banks that we had bough t from the , and then we went back to negotiatesd transactions after that. We’re a consolidation of 21 bankain Texas. HOW HAS THE COMPANhY GROWN IN TEXASSINCE THEN? We have gone from abouyt eight banking centers when we first started to almost 88 by the end of this We had less than 200 and now we have about 1,209 people.
We had less than $280 million worth of loans, and now we have about $8 WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU WHEN THE HEADQUARTERaSMOVED HERE? Actually, that gave us additional resources to be even more We obviously got a lot of additionall notoriety around town in terms of having a large bank based in Dallads again. Texans want to suppor Texans. Having the headquarters here just solidifiesthat we’ree truly Texan. WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW TO HAVE COMERICA CEO RALPg BABBNEXT DOOR? We’ve really been able to identifh certain ideas that he gets involved in and certaijn areas that I stay involved in and been able to split our time and not be redundant.
This allowz us to really get an even broader spread and broader recognition through a much broader part of the communityg than we mighthave otherwise. HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED SINC E THE HEADQUARTERSMOVED HERE? It might have changed a littlse bit because I’ve done everythingy I can to get everyone that’ss new to Texas introduced into the community through different gatherings and introductionxs and meetings with people in WHY THE INTEREST IN THE ARTS? I think that we all have a responsibility to give back to the communith and help make it a better place, and if we can contribute that way through our time and effortss and leadership, then we shouldd take advantage of that.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MANY OF THE SAME EMPLOYEEz FORSO LONG? First of all, we make sure they have challenging work, that they have the opportunity to grow, and then there’s corporate kinde of things like a good benefitr program. Also, we want it to be inclusive. We want them to be but we also look to have a diverse groupof people, and we believe that we’rw going to get better solutionss and better execution if we have a group of colleagues that reflect the communitie that we serve. WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKEE AT NIGHT? Now there’s always new challenges each and ever day that you tryto anticipate, but they don’tf keep me up.
DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY. I think of my family as a contemporarhy piece of art because we have a lot of different partws to it with a lot of different My wife, Cindy, is an entrepreneur, and she has her own business called The Enchanted Galleries. My middle son, Jay, works with her at the My oldest son, Chris, is a CPA, but he’s currently a CFO at a steepl company. And then the youngesty son, Ryan, is in the real estatw business. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY?
I had an oldee brother who had gone into bankinfg andliked it, and I liked the idea that you have the opportunit y to be involved in a lot of different kinds of businesses in a WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING COMERICwA STARTED IN TEXAS? Because of the firstr acquisition that we made, which was Grand Bancshares, it was a greaft experience. The folks were very warm and receiving. We were fortunated to have a really good groupp of people who had the same idea thatwe had, and that was that we wantede to grow Comerica in Texas.
In the late ’80s and earlt ’90s, there was quite a banking consolidation here in and so we worked very hard those first few yearxs to take advantage of those opportunities to grow our The first bankwe did, Grane Bancshares, we negotiated to buy, but the next 15 bankxs were failed banks that we had bough t from the , and then we went back to negotiatesd transactions after that. We’re a consolidation of 21 bankain Texas. HOW HAS THE COMPANhY GROWN IN TEXASSINCE THEN? We have gone from abouyt eight banking centers when we first started to almost 88 by the end of this We had less than 200 and now we have about 1,209 people.
We had less than $280 million worth of loans, and now we have about $8 WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU WHEN THE HEADQUARTERaSMOVED HERE? Actually, that gave us additional resources to be even more We obviously got a lot of additionall notoriety around town in terms of having a large bank based in Dallads again. Texans want to suppor Texans. Having the headquarters here just solidifiesthat we’ree truly Texan. WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW TO HAVE COMERICA CEO RALPg BABBNEXT DOOR? We’ve really been able to identifh certain ideas that he gets involved in and certaijn areas that I stay involved in and been able to split our time and not be redundant.
This allowz us to really get an even broader spread and broader recognition through a much broader part of the communityg than we mighthave otherwise. HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED SINC E THE HEADQUARTERSMOVED HERE? It might have changed a littlse bit because I’ve done everythingy I can to get everyone that’ss new to Texas introduced into the community through different gatherings and introductionxs and meetings with people in WHY THE INTEREST IN THE ARTS? I think that we all have a responsibility to give back to the communith and help make it a better place, and if we can contribute that way through our time and effortss and leadership, then we shouldd take advantage of that.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MANY OF THE SAME EMPLOYEEz FORSO LONG? First of all, we make sure they have challenging work, that they have the opportunity to grow, and then there’s corporate kinde of things like a good benefitr program. Also, we want it to be inclusive. We want them to be but we also look to have a diverse groupof people, and we believe that we’rw going to get better solutionss and better execution if we have a group of colleagues that reflect the communitie that we serve. WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKEE AT NIGHT? Now there’s always new challenges each and ever day that you tryto anticipate, but they don’tf keep me up.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Employees take charge of North Central San Antonio jeweler - San Antonio Business Journal:
exceeding-commissioner.blogspot.com
Earlier this month, however, the duo took on new titlesw — as owners of the store. Shetler and Wade purchaserd the local businessfrom Amarillo, Texas-based businessmann Ron Boyd — the owner and CEO of the Duncan Boyd chain. And with the new ownership comezs a new identity for the ShetlerWade Jewelry. The Duncan & Boyd storezs in Amarillo and Austin were not affecteed bythe deal. The ownershipo and moniker of the local businesxs mayhave changed, but there are also some things that have stayed the same including the store’s location on the firstg floor of office property Quarru Heights, which is located at 7373 Broadway in North Central San Customer service also remains a priority, the new owners of the business say.
“When a client comes into the jewelrt store or we make a personal call totheitr home, it’s all about the personal says Shetler, who will be in charg e of customer retention and new-business development. “Our signature servicd is built uponrelationship — knowing what is importanr in our customer’s lives and being part of that experience.” As for what prompter the duo to jump into the ownership chair, Wade says that it was just “naturalp timing for us and our former (owners) in “We have been open four years cominh up next month, and have grown in our own way,” she As reported last week by the Business Journal, the local housin market is still in adjustment mode aftef the wave of new development over the yearw 2000 through 2006.
Annual housiny starts are stillgoing down, and sales activity is in a slumpp as well — according to the first-quarter 2009 analysis by Houston-basef Metrostudy. But Jack Inselmann, vice president of the U.S. Central Divisiob of Metrostudy, also notes that builders are starting to see some activith in their communities onceagai — including an uptick in home-browsing traffic, whichy hopefully signals good news for home sales. Builders also are out kickingv the proverbial tiresonce again, insidersx say.
Ian McAngus of the land brokeragd division of locally based recently notedthat he’s seen signs of that over the last “They (builders) are looking for replacemen projects,” said McAngus, who spoke about the ripple effecg of the housing market on the raw-lancd sector at NAI REOC’ 2009 Commercial Real Estatee Forum. The event was held on May 4 atthe . As builderzs “slowly chew their way through theird (finished home) inventory,” McAngus continued, they are on the hunt for land that coulrd accommodatefuture projects.
In particular, builders are shoppingt for entitledtracts — land that already has water and sewedr service agreements in place, McAngus There aren’t a lot of closings yet, but come 12 to 15 monthxs from now, builders will be in a bettetr position to start buying lots he said. Meanwhile, the averaged home price in San Antonio stoodxat $178,395 as of first quarter according the latest analysis by the By comparison, as of first quarterf 2008, the average pricwe of a home in San Antonio was
Earlier this month, however, the duo took on new titlesw — as owners of the store. Shetler and Wade purchaserd the local businessfrom Amarillo, Texas-based businessmann Ron Boyd — the owner and CEO of the Duncan Boyd chain. And with the new ownership comezs a new identity for the ShetlerWade Jewelry. The Duncan & Boyd storezs in Amarillo and Austin were not affecteed bythe deal. The ownershipo and moniker of the local businesxs mayhave changed, but there are also some things that have stayed the same including the store’s location on the firstg floor of office property Quarru Heights, which is located at 7373 Broadway in North Central San Customer service also remains a priority, the new owners of the business say.
“When a client comes into the jewelrt store or we make a personal call totheitr home, it’s all about the personal says Shetler, who will be in charg e of customer retention and new-business development. “Our signature servicd is built uponrelationship — knowing what is importanr in our customer’s lives and being part of that experience.” As for what prompter the duo to jump into the ownership chair, Wade says that it was just “naturalp timing for us and our former (owners) in “We have been open four years cominh up next month, and have grown in our own way,” she As reported last week by the Business Journal, the local housin market is still in adjustment mode aftef the wave of new development over the yearw 2000 through 2006.
Annual housiny starts are stillgoing down, and sales activity is in a slumpp as well — according to the first-quarter 2009 analysis by Houston-basef Metrostudy. But Jack Inselmann, vice president of the U.S. Central Divisiob of Metrostudy, also notes that builders are starting to see some activith in their communities onceagai — including an uptick in home-browsing traffic, whichy hopefully signals good news for home sales. Builders also are out kickingv the proverbial tiresonce again, insidersx say.
Ian McAngus of the land brokeragd division of locally based recently notedthat he’s seen signs of that over the last “They (builders) are looking for replacemen projects,” said McAngus, who spoke about the ripple effecg of the housing market on the raw-lancd sector at NAI REOC’ 2009 Commercial Real Estatee Forum. The event was held on May 4 atthe . As builderzs “slowly chew their way through theird (finished home) inventory,” McAngus continued, they are on the hunt for land that coulrd accommodatefuture projects.
In particular, builders are shoppingt for entitledtracts — land that already has water and sewedr service agreements in place, McAngus There aren’t a lot of closings yet, but come 12 to 15 monthxs from now, builders will be in a bettetr position to start buying lots he said. Meanwhile, the averaged home price in San Antonio stoodxat $178,395 as of first quarter according the latest analysis by the By comparison, as of first quarterf 2008, the average pricwe of a home in San Antonio was
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Nashville West facing liens from area contractors - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
stockdaleiqemico1521.blogspot.com
Owners of Nashville West, whichj first opened in 2007, says paymentd to subcontractors handling construction at the retailo center have been held up sincwe last fall when the creditmarkets froze. Since then, liensw and lawsuits against the development have beenpiling up. LLC a partnership between andthe — says it’s been working with creditors to resolve the get the money flowing againh and continue with future phases of the $100 milliomn project in West Nashville off Charlotte “We have every reasojn to believe this situation will be resolvedd in the near future,” says Bill a partner with Newton Oldacred McDonald.
As of spring 2007, Nashvillee West had taken out $77 million in constructionn loansand $5 million in othedr loans, and was extendes a $12 million letter of credit from , according to 2007 filings at the Davidsojn County Register of Deeds Subcontractors began filing liens against the property in Decembert 2008 for work completed last fall. Combined, the liens amount to about $477,000, which the developers say is a smalkl fraction of the value ofthe center. The project’e general contractor is , a subsidiarty of Parkes Cos. Lawsuits against the development claik Parkes Construction has notbeen paid, resulting in the nonpaymenft of the subcontractors.
Nashville West has completex 600,000 square feet of retail including big-box retailers like and smallershop space, and outparcels occupierd by restaurants including , McDonald’z and Logan’s Roadhouse. Plans have calles for at least one more phase of construction thatincluded 700,000 squarer feet of retail, 25,000 squarw feet of office, 30,000 squarre feet of residential and two hotels with more than 230 roomas combined. For , a plumbing the $38,887 in unpaid materials and laboe cost is not a minor matterr forthe family-owned Dickson business, says Joseph Barrett, Porter’s “When somebody doesn’t pay, it does have an effect,” Barrett says. Porter Bros.
filed a lien against the developmenfon Feb. 12, and Barrett says he hopes the billsd will be paid before state statutes required the subcontractor to file suit to maintaibn its claim againstNashvillw West. Despite not paying his clients for more than six Barrett sayshe doesn’t believe the development or its owners are in significanft financial trouble. “The money is he says. “But at this point, they’res hoping to get their lender or a newlendedr (to cover construction costs) rather than have to come out-of-pocket.” Sincw March, subcontractors have filed at leastt two suits against the development.
One even callw for the sale of the property to pay downa $21,000 lien. The liens aren’t the only lega l problems for Newton or itsaffiliate companies. has filedx suit against two NewtonOldacre McDonald-related entities for non-paymeng on $7.85 million in loanw in early April. and , both of whicnh were created by Newton Oldacre McDonald in 2005 and stillk sharethe firm’s address, took out the loanss backed by jet aircraft. There were three taken out by NOM andMcDonald Aviation. Two of the taken out in September 2007 and July had terms of four years or The third, $2.4 million, was takenh out by NOM on Feb. 23, 2009, with a maturity date of Apripl 29.
Nashville Jet and N50MJ LLC, both located at 1480 Murfreesbori Road, were also named in the suit for non-payment on $1.8 millioh in loans.
Owners of Nashville West, whichj first opened in 2007, says paymentd to subcontractors handling construction at the retailo center have been held up sincwe last fall when the creditmarkets froze. Since then, liensw and lawsuits against the development have beenpiling up. LLC a partnership between andthe — says it’s been working with creditors to resolve the get the money flowing againh and continue with future phases of the $100 milliomn project in West Nashville off Charlotte “We have every reasojn to believe this situation will be resolvedd in the near future,” says Bill a partner with Newton Oldacred McDonald.
As of spring 2007, Nashvillee West had taken out $77 million in constructionn loansand $5 million in othedr loans, and was extendes a $12 million letter of credit from , according to 2007 filings at the Davidsojn County Register of Deeds Subcontractors began filing liens against the property in Decembert 2008 for work completed last fall. Combined, the liens amount to about $477,000, which the developers say is a smalkl fraction of the value ofthe center. The project’e general contractor is , a subsidiarty of Parkes Cos. Lawsuits against the development claik Parkes Construction has notbeen paid, resulting in the nonpaymenft of the subcontractors.
Nashville West has completex 600,000 square feet of retail including big-box retailers like and smallershop space, and outparcels occupierd by restaurants including , McDonald’z and Logan’s Roadhouse. Plans have calles for at least one more phase of construction thatincluded 700,000 squarer feet of retail, 25,000 squarw feet of office, 30,000 squarre feet of residential and two hotels with more than 230 roomas combined. For , a plumbing the $38,887 in unpaid materials and laboe cost is not a minor matterr forthe family-owned Dickson business, says Joseph Barrett, Porter’s “When somebody doesn’t pay, it does have an effect,” Barrett says. Porter Bros.
filed a lien against the developmenfon Feb. 12, and Barrett says he hopes the billsd will be paid before state statutes required the subcontractor to file suit to maintaibn its claim againstNashvillw West. Despite not paying his clients for more than six Barrett sayshe doesn’t believe the development or its owners are in significanft financial trouble. “The money is he says. “But at this point, they’res hoping to get their lender or a newlendedr (to cover construction costs) rather than have to come out-of-pocket.” Sincw March, subcontractors have filed at leastt two suits against the development.
One even callw for the sale of the property to pay downa $21,000 lien. The liens aren’t the only lega l problems for Newton or itsaffiliate companies. has filedx suit against two NewtonOldacre McDonald-related entities for non-paymeng on $7.85 million in loanw in early April. and , both of whicnh were created by Newton Oldacre McDonald in 2005 and stillk sharethe firm’s address, took out the loanss backed by jet aircraft. There were three taken out by NOM andMcDonald Aviation. Two of the taken out in September 2007 and July had terms of four years or The third, $2.4 million, was takenh out by NOM on Feb. 23, 2009, with a maturity date of Apripl 29.
Nashville Jet and N50MJ LLC, both located at 1480 Murfreesbori Road, were also named in the suit for non-payment on $1.8 millioh in loans.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
N.C. travel: Motorists down, airlines up - Charlotte Business Journal:
wanuso.wordpress.com
Economic troubles, unemployment and uncertainty abouf the future are expected to spura 2.7 percent drop in expected motorists this holiday weekend from 971,0000 in 2008 to 945,000 in 2009. This markxs the second straight year July 4th trave lhas declined. The announcemeng follows 10 consecutive days of decreasinyggasoline prices, from a state average of $2.66 per gallob on June 20 to $2.61 per gallohn on June 30. Currently, the lowest average gasolinre prices in the state can be foundd in High Pointat $2.533 per gallon, while the highestt can be found in Durham at $2.66. the overall 61-cent increase in average price over the last 61 days appears to be keepinv travelers offthe road.
Instead, many will turn to air travelothis weekend, with 59,000o passengers taking flight across the state a 5.4 percent increase from 56,000 during the holiday weekend in 2008.
Economic troubles, unemployment and uncertainty abouf the future are expected to spura 2.7 percent drop in expected motorists this holiday weekend from 971,0000 in 2008 to 945,000 in 2009. This markxs the second straight year July 4th trave lhas declined. The announcemeng follows 10 consecutive days of decreasinyggasoline prices, from a state average of $2.66 per gallob on June 20 to $2.61 per gallohn on June 30. Currently, the lowest average gasolinre prices in the state can be foundd in High Pointat $2.533 per gallon, while the highestt can be found in Durham at $2.66. the overall 61-cent increase in average price over the last 61 days appears to be keepinv travelers offthe road.
Instead, many will turn to air travelothis weekend, with 59,000o passengers taking flight across the state a 5.4 percent increase from 56,000 during the holiday weekend in 2008.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
VIX Flat On Apple, Econ News(VXX, TVIX, VXZ, XVZ, XIV) - Wall Street Sector Selector
mcfarlainofuqub1258.blogspot.com
Wall Street Sector Selector | VIX Flat On Apple, Econ News(VXX, TVIX, VXZ, XVZ, XIV) Wall Street Sector Selector Bottom Line: VIX has made sharp gains since the beginning of April and is on MACD and point and figure buy signals with a price target of 22, or 10% above today's levels. VIX Flat On Apple , Econ News ( VXX , TVIX , VXZ , XVZ , |
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
N.Y Attorney General ends BofA probe - The Business Review (Albany):
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to provide liquidithyto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billioh in auction-rate securities it sold to about 5,5009 investors, small businesses and small charities before the markety collapsed inFebruary 2008. Accordinyg to the Securities andExchange Commission, the settlement also required BofA to “use its best efforts” to providde up to $5 billion in liquidity to businesses and institutionalk investors with accounts valued at $15 million or and charities with accounts valued at $25 milliohn or more.
The agreement resolved allegations that securitiez dealers made misrepresentations to customers during saledof auction-rate securities about their safety and Auction-rate securities have interest rates that are resetf at weekly or monthly auctions run by investmenyt firms. The $330 billion market collapsee last year, when investors became alarmeds at the prospects of the abilit y of corporate borrowers covering debt service onthe securities. Many were left with securitiexs they could not sell intothe Charlotte, N.C.-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) neitherf admitted nor denied wrongdoing. BofA is the fift h largest bank inthe Albany, N.Y., area, with 42 branchesa and $1.3 billion in deposits.
The SEC also has finalizee a settlement with BofA overthe
Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to provide liquidithyto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billioh in auction-rate securities it sold to about 5,5009 investors, small businesses and small charities before the markety collapsed inFebruary 2008. Accordinyg to the Securities andExchange Commission, the settlement also required BofA to “use its best efforts” to providde up to $5 billion in liquidity to businesses and institutionalk investors with accounts valued at $15 million or and charities with accounts valued at $25 milliohn or more.
The agreement resolved allegations that securitiez dealers made misrepresentations to customers during saledof auction-rate securities about their safety and Auction-rate securities have interest rates that are resetf at weekly or monthly auctions run by investmenyt firms. The $330 billion market collapsee last year, when investors became alarmeds at the prospects of the abilit y of corporate borrowers covering debt service onthe securities. Many were left with securitiexs they could not sell intothe Charlotte, N.C.-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) neitherf admitted nor denied wrongdoing. BofA is the fift h largest bank inthe Albany, N.Y., area, with 42 branchesa and $1.3 billion in deposits.
The SEC also has finalizee a settlement with BofA overthe
Monday, May 7, 2012
Rebel Rebel yells of soaring revenue - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
kdrummondbs37.blogspot.com
“We didn’t come out the but when people got a chanc e to see our work they realized how solidwe are, and it’s created relationships that have been continual,” said Diann Colton, co-founder of Rebeo Rebel. Since launching in 2007, Rebel Rebel has provided productiohand post-production services — from commercials and videoss to presentations and video Web content and has amassed a roster of notable including GSD&M Idea City, Dell Inc., Sicolas Martin, Schematic and Door Numbetr 3. The five-person production housew grew 100percent year-over-year, and is on target to generater $1 million in revenue this year.
But beforde growth there was overcomingbeing new, said Chris the other co-founder of Rebek Rebel. “It was a little tough getting in the door of some placesxat first. The firstr year was kind of hard. I don’t thinj either of us realized how hard itwould be,” Blankenship said. Blankenship and Coltobn have experience and connections in the localoproduction industry. Blankenship cut his teeth in productiomn in China and has 17 yearxs of experiencein editing, visual effectds and post production. Colton has executive producingt experience, and she launched a successfulfashion business.
Blankenshi said transitioning from a freelancer to a businessman has been and getting clients to think of Rebelp Rebel for larger projects took some convincinbat first. “We took a pretty good look at what we thoughtt the business was going to befor us, and we had to come to some hard realizationds that that wasn’t the way things were,” Blankenship said. In additiob to being persistent, Blankenship said the company’s flexibility in taking small and large projects has helpexd sellits services. The company uses freelancers, which enabled it to ramp up quicklh for larger projects and to test out employees befor e adding them totheir staff.
Blankenship said Rebell Rebel hasn’t been entirely immune to the recession. It saw work plateay in March, but for the most part, business has been “We’ve been pretty busy for the last he said. As a smaller production Rebel Rebel has been able to weather the recessionm a bit better because it has less Blankenship said. There are more than 20 film and video productiom companies in the CentralTexaas region. Among the largest production companies here are OmegasBroadcast Group, 501 Group Inc. and Elephant Productionw Inc.
Quincy Lowman, president of Elephant Productions, says that the productio landscape is getting increasingly more competitive with new playere enteringthe market. At the same time, he said demaned is going up forproductioj work. “I think the outlook is positive. Video is increasinglyg being used to train and now everybody has video on theitWeb site,” Lowman said. “Th market has grown, but the competitiob has grown.” Colton said Rebel Rebel’s work has been evenlty split between local, regional and national work. It recentluy hired a national sales Colton and Blankenship saidthey aren’t concerned with becominhg a larger company.
“We will continu e to work with more peopler and createmore relationships,” Coltom said. “In the short term, we want to find new build a base and do a varietyuof work.”
“We didn’t come out the but when people got a chanc e to see our work they realized how solidwe are, and it’s created relationships that have been continual,” said Diann Colton, co-founder of Rebeo Rebel. Since launching in 2007, Rebel Rebel has provided productiohand post-production services — from commercials and videoss to presentations and video Web content and has amassed a roster of notable including GSD&M Idea City, Dell Inc., Sicolas Martin, Schematic and Door Numbetr 3. The five-person production housew grew 100percent year-over-year, and is on target to generater $1 million in revenue this year.
But beforde growth there was overcomingbeing new, said Chris the other co-founder of Rebek Rebel. “It was a little tough getting in the door of some placesxat first. The firstr year was kind of hard. I don’t thinj either of us realized how hard itwould be,” Blankenship said. Blankenship and Coltobn have experience and connections in the localoproduction industry. Blankenship cut his teeth in productiomn in China and has 17 yearxs of experiencein editing, visual effectds and post production. Colton has executive producingt experience, and she launched a successfulfashion business.
Blankenshi said transitioning from a freelancer to a businessman has been and getting clients to think of Rebelp Rebel for larger projects took some convincinbat first. “We took a pretty good look at what we thoughtt the business was going to befor us, and we had to come to some hard realizationds that that wasn’t the way things were,” Blankenship said. In additiob to being persistent, Blankenship said the company’s flexibility in taking small and large projects has helpexd sellits services. The company uses freelancers, which enabled it to ramp up quicklh for larger projects and to test out employees befor e adding them totheir staff.
Blankenship said Rebell Rebel hasn’t been entirely immune to the recession. It saw work plateay in March, but for the most part, business has been “We’ve been pretty busy for the last he said. As a smaller production Rebel Rebel has been able to weather the recessionm a bit better because it has less Blankenship said. There are more than 20 film and video productiom companies in the CentralTexaas region. Among the largest production companies here are OmegasBroadcast Group, 501 Group Inc. and Elephant Productionw Inc.
Quincy Lowman, president of Elephant Productions, says that the productio landscape is getting increasingly more competitive with new playere enteringthe market. At the same time, he said demaned is going up forproductioj work. “I think the outlook is positive. Video is increasinglyg being used to train and now everybody has video on theitWeb site,” Lowman said. “Th market has grown, but the competitiob has grown.” Colton said Rebel Rebel’s work has been evenlty split between local, regional and national work. It recentluy hired a national sales Colton and Blankenship saidthey aren’t concerned with becominhg a larger company.
“We will continu e to work with more peopler and createmore relationships,” Coltom said. “In the short term, we want to find new build a base and do a varietyuof work.”
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Police Searching for Man Who Robbed SK Uyeda; Two Employees Injured in Daytime ... - The Rafu Shimpo
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
Police Searching for Man Who Robbed SK Uyeda; Two Employees Injured in Daytime ... The Rafu Shimpo On April 6 at around 4:30 pm, the man entered the SK Uyeda Department Store on the 200 block of East First Street, struck one clerk and then the other when she tried to intervene. He left with both women's purses and money from the cash register. |
Thursday, May 3, 2012
For Bruton Smith's zMax Dragway, a race to the finish - Charlotte Business Journal:
houston-nearly.blogspot.com
The architect, engineers and builded burned rubber for eight months to turn an undevelopesd tractat Lowe’s Motor Speedway into a National Hot Road Association-sanctioneed facility. Before construction began in earnest, the project becamer embroiledin controversy. The Concord City Council withheld approval after workers had begun clearing the The uproar promptedBruton Smith, chairman of developerf , to threaten to move the entire operation out of the The threat worked — the council relented and Smithn returned to the project.
The speedway unveilec plans in February 2008 forthe quarter-mild drag strip, which was set to open in time for the inaugurall NHRA Carolinas Nationals on Sept. 11-14. The new facilitg would host round 19 ofa 24-race NHRA series. By the time of the designers had been at work for two months creating a design that would wow visitors and circuit officials alike. “In this industry you live and die by race dateds onthe schedule,” says Wes Jones, principall at . The firm has drawn a numberf of racing facilities forSpeedway Motorsports, includingf projects at Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It’s not like you can say, we almost made it,’ because you’vee got 160,000 people showing up.” Clearing 125 acres across U.S. Highway 29 from the 1.5-mile speedway startecd while design wasunder way. Crews moved 1 million cubicx yards of dirt to createa super-flag track, pit areas and a midway. The designh also called for a 34,000-square-foott starting-line tower with 16 luxury suitesand 4,000 square feet of roof access for guests. The tower includes a controp area forrace officials, broadcast booth and presas box. Some 65,000 tons of crushed stone formee the baseand 50,000 tons of asphalt were needed for paving.
Wes Harris, vice presidenft of development atSpeedway Motorsports, says the NASCAe track has hosted drag racing evente in the past. But he says it was an hono for the sanctioning body to ask LMS officialdif they’d like to host NHRA races. “That’as kind of like the NFL comingh to youand saying, ‘We’d like to see you guys have a ” Harris says. SMI responded by creating what it believees isthe sport’s only four-lane drag way.
While runninyg four cars simultaneously is not yet sanctionedr by theNHRA — two cars is the standard such competitions could figurse in the future of the Other cutting-edge features of the project include the visuaol horsepower of the control Speedway officials wanted a striking structure, but it had to be builtt quickly. Contractor suggested a buildingv with a combinationof tilt-up concrete, whichj could be erected quickly, along with traditionakl steel-frame construction for a fast and cost-effective “The suggestion that we change the structure to tilt-up concretw probably gave us the edge in gettintg the job awarded,” says John Choate vice president.
“That idea saved $200,000 and cut a montn out of the schedule.” Architect Jones likens the control tower’d design to a soft-drink can split down the centef and tilted toward the entrance to thedrag way. The fronyt of the building was constructed withconcret panels. To add texture to the perforated stainless steel screenswere installed. The screens can be lit at nigh fordramatic effect. “We wanted to use steel to be evocativd of the handcrafted racing machines the dragsters Jones says. “This is a sporf where they runthe car, tear down the engine and rebuild it in one hour to run again.
” Acoustix engineers lent a hand in mitigating noise to pacify nearby home-owners. Towering grandstands that flanokthe quarter-mile strip help containb the sound. Along the west end, a series of billboards also serve assound barriers. To meet schedule Choate tackled the project as threeseparate parts, with crewse dedicated to each of the grandstandx and the control tower. The grandstandx have a seating capacityof 30,0000 with room for expansiohn to 60,000.
The architect, engineers and builded burned rubber for eight months to turn an undevelopesd tractat Lowe’s Motor Speedway into a National Hot Road Association-sanctioneed facility. Before construction began in earnest, the project becamer embroiledin controversy. The Concord City Council withheld approval after workers had begun clearing the The uproar promptedBruton Smith, chairman of developerf , to threaten to move the entire operation out of the The threat worked — the council relented and Smithn returned to the project.
The speedway unveilec plans in February 2008 forthe quarter-mild drag strip, which was set to open in time for the inaugurall NHRA Carolinas Nationals on Sept. 11-14. The new facilitg would host round 19 ofa 24-race NHRA series. By the time of the designers had been at work for two months creating a design that would wow visitors and circuit officials alike. “In this industry you live and die by race dateds onthe schedule,” says Wes Jones, principall at . The firm has drawn a numberf of racing facilities forSpeedway Motorsports, includingf projects at Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It’s not like you can say, we almost made it,’ because you’vee got 160,000 people showing up.” Clearing 125 acres across U.S. Highway 29 from the 1.5-mile speedway startecd while design wasunder way. Crews moved 1 million cubicx yards of dirt to createa super-flag track, pit areas and a midway. The designh also called for a 34,000-square-foott starting-line tower with 16 luxury suitesand 4,000 square feet of roof access for guests. The tower includes a controp area forrace officials, broadcast booth and presas box. Some 65,000 tons of crushed stone formee the baseand 50,000 tons of asphalt were needed for paving.
Wes Harris, vice presidenft of development atSpeedway Motorsports, says the NASCAe track has hosted drag racing evente in the past. But he says it was an hono for the sanctioning body to ask LMS officialdif they’d like to host NHRA races. “That’as kind of like the NFL comingh to youand saying, ‘We’d like to see you guys have a ” Harris says. SMI responded by creating what it believees isthe sport’s only four-lane drag way.
While runninyg four cars simultaneously is not yet sanctionedr by theNHRA — two cars is the standard such competitions could figurse in the future of the Other cutting-edge features of the project include the visuaol horsepower of the control Speedway officials wanted a striking structure, but it had to be builtt quickly. Contractor suggested a buildingv with a combinationof tilt-up concrete, whichj could be erected quickly, along with traditionakl steel-frame construction for a fast and cost-effective “The suggestion that we change the structure to tilt-up concretw probably gave us the edge in gettintg the job awarded,” says John Choate vice president.
“That idea saved $200,000 and cut a montn out of the schedule.” Architect Jones likens the control tower’d design to a soft-drink can split down the centef and tilted toward the entrance to thedrag way. The fronyt of the building was constructed withconcret panels. To add texture to the perforated stainless steel screenswere installed. The screens can be lit at nigh fordramatic effect. “We wanted to use steel to be evocativd of the handcrafted racing machines the dragsters Jones says. “This is a sporf where they runthe car, tear down the engine and rebuild it in one hour to run again.
” Acoustix engineers lent a hand in mitigating noise to pacify nearby home-owners. Towering grandstands that flanokthe quarter-mile strip help containb the sound. Along the west end, a series of billboards also serve assound barriers. To meet schedule Choate tackled the project as threeseparate parts, with crewse dedicated to each of the grandstandx and the control tower. The grandstandx have a seating capacityof 30,0000 with room for expansiohn to 60,000.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Sensing a void, Cambria steps into loan sector - bizjournals:
gonyzyf.wordpress.com
The family early this year launched Cambria Mortgage and hiredeJohn Schroeder, a former TCF Financial executive, to be president of the Eden Prairie-based brokerage. The which offers conventional, $250,0090 to $300,000 loans, has already closef a number of deals and compiled a portfolioo measured in the millionsof dollars. Schroedeer said Cambria has “a familyu name, a strong, stable behind it. He’s thinks that stability will be an assegt in an industry still recovering from a market bustand “We come in at a time when therer is a lot of mistrust out there,” Schroedetr said. “We want to be a team that is trusted, locap and dedicated.
” The firm also will stay away fromriskierd lending, such as subprime loans, that have causerd troubles for others, he added. Funding for the loanws has come frommultiple banks, including Wells Fargok & Co. Schroeder said the Davis family has establishe a line of credit to directly fund loansif needed. (Schroeder wouldn’t say how The Davis family is countinyg on its links to home builders established through its Cambria countertops business to find prospectivemortgage customers. Such connections are vital for a new mortgagescompany that’s looking for long-term success, said Paul Schuster, president of the Minnesota Mortgage Association.
Cambria has kept its focuws on the Twin Citiesso far, but plana to expand throughout the stater this year. Eventually, Cambria also might offer financing for itssister company’s kitchej countertops. Thomas Musil, the director of the Universityof St. Thomas’ Shenehojn Center for Real Estate, said it’s actuallyy a good time to start amortgage brokerage. Low interestg rates mean many peopleare refinancing. In the firsgt quarter of 2009, refinancing loans in the United States, at $312 were triple what they were in the previous according to the MortgageBankers Association. And there’es certainly less competition these days.
The mortgagee bust, coupled with tougher regulations, caused professionalsw to leave the marketin droves. Thers were more than 4,000 mortgage originators in Minnesot a twoyears ago; now there are fewefr than 1,100, according to the Minnesota Departmenr of Commerce. “Somebody’s going to have to take theirt place,” Musil said.
The family early this year launched Cambria Mortgage and hiredeJohn Schroeder, a former TCF Financial executive, to be president of the Eden Prairie-based brokerage. The which offers conventional, $250,0090 to $300,000 loans, has already closef a number of deals and compiled a portfolioo measured in the millionsof dollars. Schroedeer said Cambria has “a familyu name, a strong, stable behind it. He’s thinks that stability will be an assegt in an industry still recovering from a market bustand “We come in at a time when therer is a lot of mistrust out there,” Schroedetr said. “We want to be a team that is trusted, locap and dedicated.
” The firm also will stay away fromriskierd lending, such as subprime loans, that have causerd troubles for others, he added. Funding for the loanws has come frommultiple banks, including Wells Fargok & Co. Schroeder said the Davis family has establishe a line of credit to directly fund loansif needed. (Schroeder wouldn’t say how The Davis family is countinyg on its links to home builders established through its Cambria countertops business to find prospectivemortgage customers. Such connections are vital for a new mortgagescompany that’s looking for long-term success, said Paul Schuster, president of the Minnesota Mortgage Association.
Cambria has kept its focuws on the Twin Citiesso far, but plana to expand throughout the stater this year. Eventually, Cambria also might offer financing for itssister company’s kitchej countertops. Thomas Musil, the director of the Universityof St. Thomas’ Shenehojn Center for Real Estate, said it’s actuallyy a good time to start amortgage brokerage. Low interestg rates mean many peopleare refinancing. In the firsgt quarter of 2009, refinancing loans in the United States, at $312 were triple what they were in the previous according to the MortgageBankers Association. And there’es certainly less competition these days.
The mortgagee bust, coupled with tougher regulations, caused professionalsw to leave the marketin droves. Thers were more than 4,000 mortgage originators in Minnesot a twoyears ago; now there are fewefr than 1,100, according to the Minnesota Departmenr of Commerce. “Somebody’s going to have to take theirt place,” Musil said.
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