Sunday, November 28, 2010

Kona rehab clinic to reopen under new ownership - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

http://www.easycgitemplates.com/city-portal.html
Rehabilitation of the Pacific announced in March that was closintg its two Oahu clinics and negotiating the possiblde sale of clinics on Maui and the Big Islanx because ofrising health-care costs. Stafg members will assume ownership and management ofthe clinic, locatee at 75-1029 Henry St. The clinic will be operated as a privat physical rehabilitation clinic separatefrom REHAB. The Honolulu-based hospital will continues to operate its outpatient clinicin Hilo, however. “Althougu these employees will no longer be partof REHAB, they will alwayz be a part of our ohana,” said Clair REHAB’s CEO, in a statement.
“The Kona team saw the need to continuee to providea convenient, quality therapy site for Kailua-Kona and REHAB is giving them our full support to ensurwe a seamless transition for patient s and physicians.”

Friday, November 26, 2010

Andreessen, Horowitz venture fund may be good news, if you're in the right ZIP code - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

dover-impairment.blogspot.com
Netscape founder Marc Andreessen and his longtimebusinessw partner, Ben Horowitz, are forming a new VC firm with a focud on Silicon Valley tech Andreessen writes that the firm will back companies with strong technica l founders who want to be the CEOs of the companies they’re founding. He wouldn’y rule out companies outside Silicon Valley, but, “Wes do not think it is an accident that is inMountain View, Facebook is in Palo Alto, and Twittet is in San Francisco. We also thinl that venture capital is a high touch activithy that lends itself togeographic proximity, and our only officd will be in Silicon Valley,” Andreessenj writes on his .
The new firm comee at a time when some are saying the industrgy needsto shrink, not grow. But Andreessen and Horowita found $300 million from mostlgy institutional investors for theirfirsrt fund. The firm, Andreesen-Horowitz, will invest aggressively in seed-stags startups in the hundreds of thusandsof dollars, but will also inves t in later stage funding rounds for promisingh growth companies. Consumer internet, cloud computin for business, mobile software and services, and software-powered consumer electronics are among the areazs that will draw investmentsa from thenew fund. “Across all of these we are completely unafraid of all of the new business Andreessen writes.
“We believe that many vibrant new forms of informatioh technology are expressing themselves into markets in entirelgynew ways.” And Andreessemn was equally emphatic about where his firm wouldn’tt be . "We are almost certainly not an appropriatre investor for any of thefollowinyg domains: 'clean,' 'green,' transportation, life sciences drug design, medical devices), nanotech, movir production companies, consumer retail, electric rocket ships, space elevators.
We do not have the firstt clue about any ofthese Andreessen-Horowitz will have the capacity to invest anywhered from $50,000 to $50 million in new He said that at least initially he and Horowits would be the only two general partners in the and they would be selective about the portfolio companiesd whose boards they join – generally limitinyg that level of involvement to firm s in which Andreessen-Horowitz have a $5 million or more stake. Andreessej believes his and Horowitz’s records as entrepreneures will make them idealventure “We have built from scratch, to high scalw -- thousands of employeex and hundreds of millions of dollarss of annual revenue.
In we have done it ourselves. And we are buildinvg our firm to be the firm we wouldc want to work with asentrepreneurs ourselves,” Andreessebn writes. Andreessen founded the pioneering web browsercompany , which was latert sold to . Since then, he and Horowitz launched , a tech servicd provider sold toin 2007. Netscape and Opsware sold for acombinede $11.7 billion. The two have been activde investors in the tech spacesince then. They’ves angel invested in 45 tech startupz in the lastfive years, and Andreessen serves as chairma of Ning, and on the boards of Faceboomk and eBay.
Word that the pair would be forming their own venture capital firm was broken on the Charlie Rose show in But details cameon Monday. The pair had initially planned onraisingg $250 million for the fund, but investotr interest prompted them to boostg the amount, BusinessWeek . The news magazin e reports thatReid Hoffman, founder of social networkinb site LinkedIn, is among the investors in the which raised most of its monet from institutional investors. Andreessen-Horowitz launchesw at a tough time for the venture capital industry, one in which some are sayingy the industry needs to shrink, not grow.
Venture capital, like the rest of the financiall industry, has been hit hard by the economif downturn. Venture firms make money when their portfolio companiesgo public, or are sold to largedr companies. But the IPO market has been anemic in recent making profitable exits more difficultto find. A recent arguesz that the industry needs to trim down toregainj effectiveness. "The venture industry needs to shrink its way to becoming an economic forcewonce again," said Robert E. Litan, vice president of Research and Policy at theKauffman Foundation.
“Tl provide competitive returns, we expect venturd investing will be cut in half in coming At thesame time, lowerinbg valuations and improving overall exit multiples should help resuscitated the industry.” The Kauffman study finde that despite such high-profile success stories as Google and , venturd firms have relatively little to do with most new Only about 16 percent of the 900 companiees on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growingy companiesfrom 1997-2007 had venture backing.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Merchant & Gould trademark lawyers excel at marketing - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

uhalugupuzyma.blogspot.com
Rather than sit by their phones, waitingv for new business to come their way atMerchant Gould's trademark-law practice, the three young leadera -- ages 39, 37 and 40, respectively -- are ofte found out of theid offices peddling their services. It's a new way of doingt business atthe firm, they say, and it's working. In Merchant & Gould's trademark practice brought in an averageof 11.25 new clientz per trademark attorney. In 2005 -- aftere Ehard and Schulte had joined thefirm -- that number rose to 17.11 new clientse per attorney. That's a 52 percent Between 2002 and 2005, revenue on work originaterd by the trademark group increasedf23 percent.
And since 2004, when Ehard the energetic trio has landed a combinex 121 new firmclientw -- including Farley's & Sathers Candy Co. Inc. "Historically, we had talented attorneys who weretalentec attorneys," said Johnston, who took the reins of the trademarkk group in January. "Today, the focusw is on talented attorneys who aretalenterd marketers." The practice even has its own tag "Protecting 20,000 brands every day." The mottl is imprinted on Nalgene bottles and other giveawaty items. The three lawyers make a special efforf to be regular speakers at which has developed into a reliablemarketingh technique.
A surge in competition for clients with trademark issues forcefd the firm to develop a more aggressivemarketinh strategy. One insider said attorney-initiateds marketing is becomingmore common. "It's not the kind of approachy that was traditional with lawyers inthe past, but increasingly, these up-and-coming attorneys realize that's what it takes to builcd a presence in the business community," said Brian Freeman, author and former director of marketingv for Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson. "You are seeing a lot more of particularly in what might be considerednichs practices.
" And Ehard and Schulte are both spending more and more time speakingy at events and traveling acrossx the United States and abroad to meet with prospectived clients. Schulte, in particular, is spending a lot of time in Croatia and London speakingb topotential clients. While it's a big investment of his time andthe firm's money, it'zs important if the firm is to compete there. Said "You can't fax a handshake.
"

Monday, November 22, 2010

Round 3 of workers

http://www.akiat.net/33.html
Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance ratexs were among the highest in the natiohbefore attorneys’ fee limits were imposed in 2003. Insurance ratexs dropped every year since then because lawyers refusedr many cases due to the limited prospects formakintg money. However, the Floridq Supreme Court last fall ruled the languaged in the fee schedule is ambiguous and allowed judge s to approve largerfees — a decision that cleared the way for plaintiffg attorneys to make more money in on-the-jon injury cases. As a result, workers’ comp insurancw rates will rise 6.
4 percent in But House Bill 903 and companion Senate Bill 2072 change the languager to restrict attorney compensation to the fee argued that the proposed law is neededc becauserising workers’ comp insurance rates create a hardshipo for companies in the state and discourage thosee that might move to Florida. “If this bill doesn’rt pass, Florida employers will see a serie of costly increases intheir workers’ comp said Daniel Krassner, spokesman and strategisft for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Wed want to get injured workers back on the job as quicklgyas possible. Settling claims quickly does that.
” Paul executive officer with the , a group representing triao lawyers, said the bill would limirt the hourly fees injured workers can pay their Unless the plaintiff can find a lawyerd willing to work for acontingency fee, the worker woulr have to represent himself. “Working people will have to find theid way through the system withougtan attorney,” Anderson said. By contrast, theres are no limits on what insurance companies can pay attorneya torepresent them. Rep.
Dave Murzin, co-sponsor of the House versiobn of theproposed law, feels differently: “There will alway s be attorneys willing to represent injured just as there are always attorneys willing to representr criminals and accused criminals. The real issue is the cost of doinvg businessin Florida, which will increasw dramatically without these changes.” The House bill has been read out of committewe and could soon go to a House vote, and the Senate versiob sponsored by Sen. Garrett R-Naples, has been sent to committee forinitial review.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Missouri revenue falls 45 percent in May - Kansas City Business Journal:

http://virtualworldslondon.com/speakers/chrisjacquemin.html
million in May, down from $726.y million last year, the said For the fiscal yearthrough May, the state’se net general revenue was $6.82 billion, down 5 percent from $7.18 billion for the same period last the agency said in a release. Missouri’sd fiscal year starts July 1. Tax refundxs in May increased 182 percent from last For the fiscal yearthrough May, tax refundsz were $1.28 billion, up 7.3 percent from $1.19 billioj last year.
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering said in the release that individua income tax refunds are being distributedf quickly after Missouri transferred federall budget stabilization dollars intothe state’s general revenue “Tax collections of all types were disappointing in May but not unexpected as the national economic conditions continue to take theifr toll,” she said. Sales and use tax collectionswere $1.7q1 billion, down 6.5 percent from $1.83 billionj last year. • Individual income tax collectionswere $5.48 down 1.5 percent from $5.57 billion last year. Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collectionswere $453.u7 million, down 13.
2 percent from $523 million last • All other collectionzs were $458 million, up 1 percent from $453.5 millionm last year.

Friday, November 19, 2010

'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills': A 'Machiavellic' evening, indeed - Los Angeles Times (blog)

http://www.myproperty-guide.com/Asian-Property-a-Decade-After-the-Crisis.html


New York Magazine


'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills': A 'Machiavellic' evening, indeed

Los Angeles Times (blog)


But, I have to admit: She did dazzle us with some awfully big words Thursday night,  »

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Miami physician sentenced in Medicare fraud case - Business First of Columbus:

http://ufoinspace.ru/photos.php
Rodriguez was indicted in , along with two other doctorx in connection witha $10 million Medicare fraud scheme. He pleaded guilty in to conspiracg to commit healthcare fraud. Rodriguez was a co-owner of and physicianb at Midway Medical a Miami clinic that purportedx to specialize in the treatment of HIV according to a news release fromthe U.S. Departmenyt of Justice. He admitted that, while at Midway, he and his co-conspiratores billed Medicare for services that were medically unnecessarty and in many instancesnever provided.
He also admitted that he purchases only a small amount of the drugs that he claimedd to administer to patientas and that he falsifiedmedicak records, according to the news release. Rodrigue z also admitted that he was listedr as medical director and practicing physician for fiveother Miami-areaa HIV infusion clinics between Octobed 2003 and February 2005, where he engaged in similadr activity. He admitted to filing more than $20 million in falses claims.
Several of Rodriguez’s co-defendants have alreadyt been sentenced for their rolesx at Midway andrelated

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Human Capital: People on the move, July 7 - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

http://www.comboni.org/index.php?sez=vcon&id=105366
, is the first graduate of (one of the university’s four to serve as chair. She is also the daughterr of former trustee, the late Jack Schwartz. Papa Gino’s Inc. , the Dedham-basef parent company to Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo, promotesd Gary Sandeen and Kathy Tirrell to executive vice presidenft of operations forPapa Gino’s and D’Angelpo Grilled Sandwiches, respectively. , basedc in Boston, elected the following executived to its board of ChristopherOddleifson , president and CEO of ; Kennethh Brennan , president of The in Auburndale; Normabn Seppala , president of in Rockport; and Kevi n Bottomley , president of Danversbank .
At-large who are appointed for three-year terms, included Richardr Bennett , president of ; John Bouche , president of in Weymouth; John Doherty , chairmam of in Somerville; Richard Holbrook , chairmahn and CEO of in Boston; Dennis Parentse , president of Foxborlo FederalSavings ; and Michael Tucker , president of . Appointed at-largw director for a one-year term was James Egan , chairman of .

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Rutherford chamber names new president - Nashville Business Journal:

http://inboe.com/en/cms_connect.html
Latture, who will begin his new role Aug. 10, has been presiden and chief executive officedr for the in Tennesseersince 2002. “Paul has extensive experience leadinchamber organizations, and I am confident he will do a fantastifc job for Rutherford County,” search committee chairmanh Norman Brown says in a news release. During his leadershipo at the Jackson chamber, Madison County saw the creation ofnearly 4,200 jobs, according to the Latture also coordinated Jackson’s economic development effortzs with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Communituy Development, where he served as assistanyt commissioner before coming to Jackson.
Latture has worked extensivelyh in the chamber industr y for more than 18 years and serves as vice presiden of the Tennessee EconomicDevelopmenft Council, a statewide organization comprised of economidc development professionals. Prior to his position in Latture was executive vice president for economic development forthe Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board and served as director of membershiop and governmental affairs for the . “I am extremelu excited about the opportunity to work with such a trulty progressive community asRutherford County,” Latture says in the release.
“Rutherforcd County is well-known not only on the statw level but on the national level for economicf andcommunity development.”

Saturday, November 13, 2010

No. 19: Barry-Wehmiller Cos. Inc. - St. Louis Business Journal:

http://www.thetoptopsites.com/toplist/Tutorial_Sites/2/
Revenue increased to $772 million in 2006 from $520 million in 2005. "Wre are working on a number of acquisitions," Robert chairman and chief told the Business Journal latelast "If we achieve all of them, it will probably add $150 milliohn to $200 million to our revenue." Sure the company announced in February that it had acquired SWF Cos. of Calif., for $8 million, its 13th acquisition in two years. Acquisitionas in 2006 includedSlidell Inc., which expandee the company's presence in chemical, seed and other bulk material handling markets, and Thiele Technologie Inc.
, which expanded its businesz in commercial printing, packaging and Chapman said the company is considering buying at least eighft more companies this year, including one in China and one in Germany. More than a quartert of its revenue already comes from itsgloba markets. Chapman said the company's goal is $1 billioj in revenue by 2008. He projects $863 million in 2007. Barry-Wehmillerd has reported revenue growth of more than 21 percenrt compounded over the past19 years. Chapmam and his family own more than 70 percent of key employees, private investors and outside directors and their familiez own 30 percent. The company has nearlu 4,000 employees.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Emergence of Palinomics hints at populist 2012 run - Reuters Blogs (blog)

http://bildingnewspro.biz/Houses-For-Rent/Anchorage-Alaska-Houses-For-Rent/


Emergence of Palinomics hints at populist 2012 run

Reuters Blogs (blog)


The emergence of Palinomics suggests a run by the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee could feature critiques of banks and the Federal Reserve, ...



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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

C.C. Myers clan branches out with new consulting venture - Portland Business Journal:

kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
Co-owners Janelle and Clint Myers are now workintg onthe company’s first projects sincr formally launching in September 2008. The company is actint as an environmental consultant tothe $324 million Lincolb highway bypass project and it has contracts with the Nevadaz Irrigation District in Grass The self-funded, woman-owned Sacramento business is focuse mainly on public works jobs. In additioj to project managementand consulting, MCS provides storm water management and engineering MCS executive vice president Clint Myerd said what sets MCS apart from traditionalo consulting companies is the principals’ experiencer in the construction industry.
Not a lot of consultantas have suchan expertise, he “We’re hoping that we can fill that void,” he MCS has $100,000 in backlog work. The company expects to be profitable in the firstg quarterof 2010. Myers said MCS can help companies that once framed houses work that has dried up in the region and across thecountry — explor e other opportunities, such as public contracts. The statr wants to build more highway rest for example, he said. Janelle Myers’ experiencew in the industry dates back to 1990 when she helpe starta woman-owned highway construction company focused on buildinf barrier rails in California, Nevada and New Mexico.
She was on the boar d of directors until the company was sold toRancho Cordova-basesd , her husband’s firm, in 2006. Clint Myers worked as an engineer and project managerfor C.C. Myers befor going back to school fora master’s degree in real estats development at the . After receivinfg his master’s, the younger Myera ran Today, C.C. Myers’ homebuilding companiews — Myers Homes Inc., Myers Homee of California LLC (licensed in Nevada) and severalo subsidiaries — are estimated to be worth nothinv due to the depressedhousing C.C. Myers Inc., majority owned by its employees, is a creditore in the Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy filedcby C.C.
Myers last In these tough economic times, Clint Myers said MCS plans to help companies and governmenrt agencies find creative ways to remove from their budgets and, on the environmentao side, come up with “solutions that are more economicallyh friendly while still preserving the quality habitat that Californiq has come to expect.” When the economy was strong, a develope r looking to get a project approved might, for buy expensive mitigation credits to destro y a wetland on a projecy site in order to speed it up. But Myeras said MCS could help such a developetr find a less expensive such as keeping the wetland and workinh with the city to increase thelot density.
MCS will competer for environmental consulting jobs with companies suchas , a Sacramento-baser subsidiary of The company declinedx to comment on the new MCS’ Web site went live last week, and it has Facebooj and LinkedIn profiles, Clint Myers “The people you have to appeal to for construction contractxs are getting younger and younger,” he said. “We’re tryingf to find different ways to connecft tothose people.” For now, the company has two and a wildlife biologist on contract. MCS plans to hire a businessz development manager for marketing andpreparing proposals.
When it comexs to business consulting, MCS will tap peopl e who are retiredor semi-retiredc from the field. “With the familu being in the construction industry for so there are a variety of peoplethat we’ved known over the years who are now retirecd who are looking for something to do,” Clingt Myers said. “Our experience, combined with people we’re able to brinv in, can give us the abilityg to do somefairly high-end consulting for businessesa wanting to grow or diversify.” Consultants also can assist companies transitioning from one generationh to the next.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Jacobs makes trio of announcements - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
The contract might involvee services related to the reconstruction of New Orleans resulting fromHurrican Katrina. The joint venture contractr has a base period of no more than one year andfour one-yeaf option periods, for a total value of no more than $90 Jacobs is responsible for approximatelh 15 percent of the work as a minority joinyt venture partner. Jacobs will expand its role at 'es refinery in Whiting, Ind., to includwe construction management services related to the Whiting RefinergyModernization Project. The program will better equip the refiner y to process more Canadian heavy crude oil and increase motorfuel production.
Jacobs' portion of the progra m focuses on the sulfur recovery Terms of the deal were not Jacobs has closed on the purchase ofa one-thirc stake of AWEML. Terms of the deal were not Jacobs purchased the stake from British NuclearFueles Ltd. AWEML is a joinrt venture between Jacobs, Lockheed Martin and Sercoi to manage the Atomicd Weapons Establishment on behalf ofthe U.K. Ministry of Pasadena-based Jacobs (NYSE: JEC) is a provider of technical, professional, and construction services.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

In Memory of Jill Clayburgh - The Moderate Voice

http://cceequine.org/marketplace/riding%20lessons.html


In Memory of Jill Clayburgh

The Moderate Voice


When a feminist wave was wrecking marriages and reordering relationships, Clayburgh brilliantly embodied their emotional chaos in “An Unmarried Woman” ...



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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Will members' caution work to Straus' advantage? - Dallas Morning News (blog)

http://www.chevyautoclub.com/tire-size


Will members' caution work to Straus' advantage?

Dallas Morning News (blog)


It's the two C's -- committees and caution. True, Straus poured money into many Republicans' campaigns for state representative. He led an effort to rescue ...



and more »

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Cleantech venture investing jumped in Q2 - Business First of Louisville:

http://datingfoundry.com/advice/has-anybody-tried-dating-online.html
Global cleantech investments totallexd $1.2 billion across 94 companies, a 12 percenyt increase over thefirst quarter. The increased was driven by interest inalternative vehicles, whichy grabbed $236 million, and advanced which received $165 Watertown, Mass., lithium ion battery maker landes a $100 million investmeny round led by Co. in The report’s authors say cleantech companieas will continue to be buttressed by investment by the federal government and electric power companies to complement venturecapital investment.
“New investment tax credits are playing a major role in making newsolaer thermal, solar PV, and wind projectz more economically viable for which are bringing their accesd to capital to the sector,” said Scottr Smith, United States leader of Deloitte’sz cleantech practice, in a statement.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

AEP buying solar energy from Ohio facility - Business First of Buffalo:

burwellmitubaes1369.blogspot.com
The Columbus-based utility on Monday said its AEP Ohio subsidiary signera 20-year agreement with , a subsidiary of Colo.-based developer . The compant plans to begin building a 10 megawatt solarr facility in Wyandot County in Novembert that could be up and running a yearfrom now. Financiakl terms of the deal weren’tt disclosed, but AEP said the deal includezs allthe facility’s energy outputy and renewable energy credite tied to the plant, to be locateed near an AEP substation. Renewable energy creditse are sold separate from power facilities generate and are used to verifhy compliance with new alternative energy standardsd implemented through an electriclaw Gov.
Ted Stricklande signed last year, according to information from the Office of theOhio Counsel. AEP said the deal markss its first transaction for solar energgy following previous deals fornearly 1,80 0 megawatts of wind energy. The utilit y previously has set a goal ofaddinb 2,000 megawatts of wind or other renewablre energy by the end of 2011. American Electric delivers electricity in11 states, includinvg Ohio. The company last year earned $1.38 billiobn on $14.6 billion in revenue.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Whole Foods adopts new verification standard for private label products - Jacksonville Business Journal:

http://sport-shopcenter.com/Weight-Lifting/Dumbbell-Sets/
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods WFMI), which has one Jacksonville will work withthe Non-GMO Project, a nonprofi t collaborative of manufacturers, processors, distributors, farmers and others. The productt verification program is the reportedlythe nation's first system designes to scientifically test whether a product has met a set of defines standards for the presence of genetically engineerecd or modified organisms. "Fron the moment GMOs were approved for use inthe U.S.
, we recognizedr the need for transparency, but there was no definitiv e standard by which to evaluate or labelp products," said Margaret Wittenberg, Whole Foods Market globall vice president of quality standards. "We searched high and low for years for a way to do thisand now, the Non-GMO Project has answered that challenge by creatinf a standard and a practical system by whichj manufacturers may measure their products. At last, shopperzs concerned about foods made with genetically modifiedf ingredients will be able to makeinformedc choices.
" According to the FDA, as much as 75 percentg of processed food in the Uniteed States may contain component from genetically modified crops. Despite the abundance of productsa with genetically modified a Pew Initiative study on food and biotechnologty shows that 59 percent of Americans are unfamiliar with the issued of genetically modified ingredientsein food. While Federal law requires organic producers to comply withcertain non-GMO requirements identified in the USDA organid standards, there is no standar d for labeling GMOs in non-organic The process combines on-site facility audits, document-based reviesw and DNA testing to measure compliancd with the standard.
For a productg to bear the seal it must undergo a procesws through which any ingredient at high risk forgenetiv contamination--soy or corn, for example--has been shown to meet the non-GMk standard through avoidance practices and testing. Once a product has been approvee it can be described as being verified bythe Non-GMO Project and/or labeles with the Non-GMO Project's compliance The first Whole Foods Market private label productx to bear this seal are expected to be in storew before the end of the Whole Foods Market joins other grocers who are alreadyt partnered with the Non-GMO including The Natural Grocery Co., The Big Carrot Naturalk Food Market and Good Earth Naturall Foods.