Crain's Chicago Business back issues from July 2008:
Let there be light; No. 26: Rubicon Technology Inc., Franklin Park.(Focus: Fast Fifty)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: Phuong Ly ***** Correction: A story in the June 2 issue should have noted that Radion Mogilevsky founded S&R Rubicon Inc., a predecessor company to Rubicon Technology Inc., which Mr. Mogilevsky co-founded. In addition, the story incorrectly reported that ...
How Chicago can lead in the growing green economy.(Viewpoint essay)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Howard Learner Howard Learner is executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago. Chicago is well-positioned to be a center of the rapidly growing green economy if we seize the strategic opportunities. That requires savvy policy and ...
Demand for space picks up; Office vacancy rate slips to lowest level since '02.(News)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN The downtown office vacancy rate took a surprising turn during the second quarter, dropping to its lowest level in nearly six years. The vacancy rate plunged to 10.8% during the second quarter from 11.4% in the first quarter and 12.6% in ...
Obama looms large in suburbs; Seals-Kirk race for 10th District seat viewed as tossup.(News)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: PAUL MERRION As November's elections loom, a test of the Obama effect is brewing in Chicago's north suburbs. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, faces what could be his stiffest challenge to date as he aims for a fifth term representing Illinois' 10th ...
Checking Out; Local REIT Strategic a heartbreak hotel for investors.(Markets)(real estate investment trusts)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. has turned into an unpleasant stay for investors. Shares in the Chicago-based real estate investment trust have plunged 62% in the past 12 months, closing at $8.51 on Thursday, the lowest since the company went ...
Water, sand abound through Glendale Lakes; Short course finds ways to challenge at each hole.(Business of Life)(Occupation overview)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The many waterways at Glendale Lakes Golf Club would make a fine setting for a bass anglers' club or even a sailing regatta. Water hazards come into play on 11 holes, but that total is misleading. At some places, like the marquee No. 13, a par 4 ...
Destination: Nantucket, Mass.(Business of Life)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli GET AWAY: Nantucket, a vacation spot since 1880, is resolute in its quest to remain "yesterday's island.'' In other words, no Starbucks. But what it lacks in 21st-century brand names, it makes up for with miles of beaches, photography-friendly light and ...
Info Junkie.(Business of Life)(Illinois Network of Charter Schools's executive director Elizabeth Evans)(Occupation overview)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Christina Le Beau As executive director of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, Elizabeth Evans, 45, is all about public discourse. How she keeps up: Recent press about infighting in the Chicago Teachers Union underscored the difference between the ...
United squeezes agents; Airline looks to slash payments by $100 mil.(News)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: JOHN PLETZ United Airlines is putting the squeeze on travel agents as it tries to shave $100 million in costs. The airline has stopped paying agents for booking some lower-cost tickets. It also is dropping hundreds of agencies from bonus programs, which ...
Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "Benin-Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria" 111 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 443-3600 www.artic.edu 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Admission: ...
SWEETER IN SLICES? Wall St. reckons Sara Lee's worth more in pieces than whole, raising sticky questions for CEO as 4th-quarter report looms.(News)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: DAVID STERRETT With Wall Street penciling out breakup values for Sara Lee Corp. that are as much as twice the company's current market capitalization, CEO Brenda Barnes is under pressure to deliver strong financial results next month. It's been a struggle for ...
Invisible man; STATE GOP LOOKS INCREASINGLY IRRELEVANT AS SENATE NOMINEE LABORS IN OBSCURITY.(News)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Greg Hinz In most states, electing a U.S. senator is a big deal. Campaigns clash and TV ad wars erupt. Washington big shots drop by to endorse. The winner gets a six-year membership in the world's most exclusive club, don'tcha know. It used to be that way in ...
They never saw it coming; Tim Russert's fatal heart attack left professional men reeling. Doctors and survivors say every single risk factor needs attention.(Business of Life)(Phil Fasone )(Occupation overview)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: RITA PYRILLIS At age 38, Phil Fasone was loving his job as a regional sales manager for WorldPoint, a distributor of emergency cardiovascular equipment. He enjoyed his frequent trips to the West Coast and entertaining clients-many of them experts in heart disease. He had ...
Tourist spots feel gas pain; Local attractions offering discounts as consumers cut back.(News)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: MONEE FIELDS-WHITE From Six Flags Great America to the Art Institute of Chicago, local tourist attractions are rolling out discounts and ramping up marketing in a bid to save the summer season from soaring gas prices. Worried that prices above $4 a gallon will ...
Corrections.(Correction notice)
Jul 07, 2008 ... A June 23 Focus story on tourism misstated last year's attendance at Navy Pier. There were 8.4 million visitors. A caption in ...
Japonais keeps its edge for sophisticated Asian; High-energy scene frames contemporary Japanese cuisine.(Business of Life)(Company overview)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI Sexy and high-energy by night, languid and sophisticated by day, Japonais is dressed to impress with prices to match. The kitchen is double-teamed by chef/partner Jun Ichikawa, primarily on sushi, and chef/partner Gene Kato on the hot side ....
Biking to work in Loop? Don't let city fool you.(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Biking to work sounds like a great idea for your wallet, waistline and the environment. But early adopters of rush-hour biking strike us as canaries going into a coal mine. The city heartily encourages biking into the Loop-it sounds so progressive and shifts the argument away ...
Allstate bytes into social-networking venture.(People)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Steve Daniels Job: President, social networking, Allstate Financial, beginning July 21. Vitals: 48 years old; political science degree, Wellesley College, 1981; MBA, Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, 1985; customer service manager, AT&T, ...
Hip chains look to local artists.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Kevin Davis The next piece of hip home decor or artwork you buy in a national chain might actually come from Chicago. This summer, CB2 stores began selling a new line of original prints by Chicago painter Matthew Lew. Framed prints include an image ...
Bobins to join PrivateBank.(Briefs)(Norman R. Bobins)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Former LaSalle Bank Chairman Norman R. Bobins is slated to become chairman of PrivateBank, the fast-growing business lender now run by his longtime protege Larry Richman. Mr. Bobins, 65, also will join the board of PrivateBancorp, the bank's holding company. The Chicago-based lender has ...
For The Record.(Briefs)(Rod R. Blagojevich )(Fitch Ratings Inc.)(Manitowoc Company Inc. bids with Enodis Corp.)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Gov. Blagojevich called for legislators to return to Springfield this week to work out a state budget for the fiscal year that's already started. He also is halting construction on 39 projects totaling $30.6 million across the state because of wording in the budget bill sent to him last ...
On magazine scene: a battle for social set.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Shia Kapos It's not William Randolph Hearst vs. Joseph Pulitzer, but a publishing clash is brewing in Chicago with its own version of big egos, lavish parties and elbow-throwing business practices. Jason Binn and his Michigan Avenue, the soon-to-arrive Niche ...
Wells-Gardner bets house on 3-D; Slot machine screens key to reversing decline.(News)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Wells-Gardner Electronics Corp. wants to jazz up the video game monitors it builds for slot machines in hopes of reviving a casino business buffeted by drooping demand and falling prices. The McCook company is working with computer engineering ...
Market Facts '08.(Focus: Market Facts)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Matthew Carmichael Market Facts is about numbers, which are as important a staple of your business as the office supplies on your desk. How many people live here? How old are they? What is their background? How much do they spend on housing, entertainment, utilities, ...
On the Move.(People)(Larry C. Cose and Smith Barney joins Cameron Cose Financial)(John M. Murphy joins Cadent Financial Services)(William H. Channon joins PrivateBancorp Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... FINANCIAL SERVICES Cameron Cose Financial, Chicago: Larry C. Cose, 54, to president, from portfolio manager at Smith Barney. Cadent Financial Services, Chicago: Tom Konopiots, 49, to CEO, from chief operating officer. Also, John M. Murphy, 45, to president, from head ...
SHOPPING FOR BARGAINS? CHECK TECH, WALGREEN; A conversation with money manager Robert Dearborn.(Markets)(Lodestar Investment Counsel LLC)(Interview)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine Robert Dearborn, 48, president, Lodestar Investment Counsel LLC, Chicago Experience: 23 years Assets under management: $750 million CRAIN'S: How are you investing? Mr. Dearborn: The opportunity to buy great ...
ShoreBank CEO's double vision; Seeks to boost earnings via new branches, home mortgages, payday loans.(News)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Byline: STEVE DANIELS ShoreBank, the high-profile Chicago community bank focused on low-income neighborhoods, seeks to double earnings within three years by expanding into other parts of Chicago from its South Side base, ramping up its mortgage lending and taking on payday ...
Humvee plans sputter; Boeing and Navistar face longer wait for military's decision.(News)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Byline: BOB TITA Money problems have delayed the U.S. military's $40-billion plan to replace its Humvee utility vehicle fleet, prolonging a waiting game for Boeing Co. and Navistar International Corp., both vying for the business. Last month, the Army told ...
Online; chicagobusiness.com/marketfacts.(Focus: Market Facts)
Jul 07, 2008 ... Once you've read the raw data in this issue, check out ChicagoBusiness.com/marketfacts and see it all in action. Lincoln Square Head to Lincoln Square and see how all of this data works together. Alderman Gene Schulter (47th), business owners, residents and others ...
Big plans for Pullman; Kelly envisions a new neighborhood on site of Ryerson steel plant.(News)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN Billionaire banker Michael Kelly is picking up where utopian visionary George Pullman left off. The non-profit development arm of Mr. Kelly's flagship Park National Bank has acquired the former Ryerson Inc. steel plant on the Far South Side ...
FOR GROWTH IN TOUGH TIMES, LET THE SUN SHINE IN; A conversation with money manager John Cregan.(Markets)(Interview)(Brief article)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Bruce Blythe John Cregan, 53, president, Hotchkiss Associates LLC, Chicago Experience: 31 years Assets under management: $1.5 billion CRAIN'S: Anything keeping you up at night? Mr. Cregan: The biggest thing we worry about is ...
Destination: Newport, R.I.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Anne Ford GET AWAY: Newport is known for its impossibly lush mansions, and visiting at least one of them-preferably the 70-room Vanderbilt "cottage'' turned National Historic Landmark-is all but mandatory during a stay here (www.newportmansions.org; 401/847-1000; ...
Keeping food bank's donors in the loop.(People)(Greater Chicago Food Depository)(Brief article)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Byline: Monee Fields-White Job: Director of external affairs, Greater Chicago Food Depository, since January. Vitals: 29 years old; bachelor of arts degree in English and Africana studies, Grinnell College, 2000; marketing specialist, Chas. Levy Circulating Co., ...
Investors turn sights to film; Star power, creative aspect are lures; finding a little glamour, a lot of risk.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: SHIA KAPOS John Vaile thought his buddy had found a sure thing with "Drunk Boat,'' a coming-of-age film starring John Malkovich and John Goodman. Though his friend, former Chicago Board Options Exchange trader Tommy Tomaska, had produced some forgettable ...
ITW, Middleby are hot to take a look at really cool business; Enodis' ice-maker units could fetch $450 mil.(News)(Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: BOB TITA A Vernon Hills-based maker of ice-cube machines is turning into a hot commodity. Scotsman Ice Systems and Denver-based Ice-O-Matic, both divisions of London-based Enodis PLC, will draw the interest of local manufacturers Illinois Tool Works Inc. and ...
A public course (gasp) wins North Shore raves; Bent grass, shade trees and a haven for learners.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Smart chefs and golf pros have long been leery of wealthy suburbs, assuming that any town dominated by private country clubs is not likely to support public restaurants or municipal golf with much enthusiasm. That old saw is rapidly losing ...
Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Laura Bianchi Lawrence Morse, 58, reads "everything I can about Amazon.com, a great business model.'' As president of Lincolnshire-based Quill Corp., acquired by Staples in 1998, he says, "We would like to be the Amazon of office supplies.'' In other news: ...
Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening Outdoor Film Festival Grant Park (312) 744-3315 www.chicagooutdoorfilmfestival.us Sunset, Tuesday Free The city celebrates the classics with selections for this ...
Caring for a pet from beyond.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Rita Pyrillis Most people won't leave $12 million to their dog, as Leona Helmsley did with her Maltese, but not all pet owners scoff at providing for their companions from the afterlife. Paul Lisnek, 50, a political commentator for Comcast Cable and WGN-TV, ...
LETTERS: Hinz misses the mark on payday loan legislation.(Opinion)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 14, 2008 ... While I respect Greg Hinz as a columnist, I nonetheless was disturbed with his June 23 column, "Paying along.'' Mr. Hinz has misshaped the payday loan issue in what appears to be a veiled attack on Attorney General Lisa Madigan and House Speaker Michael Madigan. It is ...
Curing America's health care woes takes doctor's touch.(Viewpoint essay)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Vincent J. Bufalino Vincent J. Bufalino is CEO of Midwest Heart Specialists in Naperville and co-chair of the American College of Cardiology's Advocacy Committee. Look in any newspaper on any given day, and you'll most likely find at least one story about ...
On the move.(People)(Peter Nelson joins University of Illinois at Chicago)(Brian Reilly joins Crowe Chizek)(Dominick Mondi joins Mesirow Financial)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Education University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago: Peter Nelson, 46, to dean of the College of Engineering and professor of computer science, from interim dean and head of the computer science department. Financial services AAA Chicago, Aurora: Mike ...
Lunch at Prosecco relaxed, but sparkling; A place to linger over courses, from antipasti to well-made pastas.(Business of Life)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: ALISON NEUMER LARA Lunch at Prosecco is a quiet affair. The barely year-old Italian spot peps up in the evening, perhaps when more people are ready for a glass of its namesake sparkling wine, but at lunch, two months after opening for midday service, only a few tables ...
Corrections.(Correction notice)
Jul 14, 2008 ... A July 7 story in the Business of Life section should have identified Chris Curtis as president and CEO of Schneider Electric's North American Operating Division. A story in the June 2 issue should have noted that Radion Mogilevsky ...
Local banks need cash; Rising loan losses, low reserves spell trouble for some small lenders.(News)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: STEVE DANIELS When the first signs of the mortgage crisis emerged in the spring of 2007, Platinum Community Bank President Michael Linsner moved quickly, lining up a deal to sell the small Rolling Meadows lender. Florida-based Taylor Bean & Whitaker Mortgage ...
A sweeter side of life; Ex-convicts make honest livings-and jars of urban honey.(Focus: Small Business)(Arturo Fleites)(Occupation overview)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: DEE GILL Before becoming a beekeeper, Arturo Fleites was a burglar, a drug dealer and a club bouncer. Another former job, stealing cars, ended abruptly when the police caught him in his garage taking apart a 1968 Buick Wildcat convertible. That led to a ...
Profitable non-profits; Charities' businesses replace donations.(Focus: Small Business)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: DEE GILL The idea to open a doggie day care started as a joke, an off-the-cuff suggestion in a brainstorming session about fundraising. Dog-sitting seemed far-fetched for Community Support Services, a non-profit that fosters independence in people with autism, mental ...
A new breed of entrepreneur.(Focus: Small Business)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: Profiles by Dee Gill For the entrepreneur driven by a desire to right social injustice, there's money available. The Skoll Foundation, Echoing Green, Ashoka and other grant-making organizations offer substantial early funding for promising social business plans. They ...
It's Old Republic's turn; Crisis trickles down to mortgage insurer.(News)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Banks and mortgage brokers are attracting the media's attention amid the downturn in residential mortgages. Less noticed have been mortgage insurance specialists, such as Old Republic International Corp., which must repay lenders when clients default on ...
Answers sought on tanker deal.(Briefs)(United States. Air Force)(Northrop Grumman Corp.)(Brief article)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Lawmakers demanded an explanation of the Air Force's management of a $35-billion tanker contract once awarded to Northrop Grumman and its European partner, EADS, over Boeing, and they pressed for details on how the Pentagon would proceed with rebidding the deal to avoid future mistakes ....
For the Record.(Briefs)
Jul 14, 2008 ... UAL will record $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion in accounting charges in the second quarter. The largest chunk is a non-cash impairment charge of between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion. "The company has concluded that the entire value of goodwill on its books has to be written off,'' United ...
Can you make money and do good? A Nobel Peace Prize made social entrepreneurship a common term. But is it just a feel-good fad?(Focus: Small Business)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Byline: DEE GILL It's unlikely Al Whittaker called himself a "social entrepreneur'' in 1971, when he cut short a career running corporate giants like Bristol-Myers International and Mennen Co. to help the poor start their own businesses. At the time, few outside academia had ...
Attorney hopes to spur reading frenzy; First-graders in 500 Chicago public schools to get help from Teachermate.(Focus: Small Business)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: DEE GILL If Seth Weinberger were an ordinary software developer, this would be the story of another tech genius on the verge of making millions on a nifty new gadget. After all, his Teachermate, a Game Boy-like device that holds personalized reading and math lessons, is ...
The licensing of 'expediters' won't end corruption.(Viewpoint essay)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Construction permitting in the city of Chicago is so labyrinthine and confusing that few attempt to navigate the system alone. Most seeking approval to build or improve their property have no choice but to hire a professional "expediter.'' Like the frontier scouts of old, ...
Luxury yacht figures in tussle over estate.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: shia kapos The Illusion, an 85-foot yacht moored on the placid waters of Belmont Harbor, is at the center of a turbulent estate war between two sons of a legendary Chicago personal injury attorney. The harbor's biggest yacht is a beauty-with four ...
UPDATING ULTA; Stylish stores, prestige brands part of CEO's makeover plan, but will debt spoil the look?(News)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: MONE FIELDS-WHITE In nine years as CEO of Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc., Lyn Kirby has transformed a dowdy discount chain into a network of spa-like salons and stores that generates nearly $1 billion in annual sales. Now Ms. Kirby is taking the ...
Feds target Rush in kickback probe; Investigation focuses on Chicago hospital's dealings with doctors.(News)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: MIKE COLIAS The federal government is investigating whether Rush University Medical Center gave illegal kickbacks to doctors. The Chicago hospital received a subpoena from regulators in June 2007 "in connection with an investigation into possible false or ...
Guv's budget sticks hospitals; Proposal to delay Medicaid payments will hit some hard.(News)
Jul 14, 2008 ... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Some suburban hospitals are feeling a sharp sting from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto pen, which last week slashed $350 million in Medicaid payments to hospitals from the 2009 budget. The cut means that the average time it takes for hospitals to get ...
cme's shrinking share price; Futures kingpin takes beating as financial market's woes curb trading volume.(Markets)(CME Group Inc.)
Jul 14, 2008; ... Byline: ANN SAPHIR The deepening credit crisis has knocked CME Group Inc. shares from their once-lofty perch atop the futures industry. Shares of the Chicago-based exchange have tumbled 57% from a record close of $710.75 in December, ending Friday at $306.50. The ...
Ajasteak sizzles expense accounts; Asian-American spin on steakhouse fare stars the most pampered beef.(Business of Life)(Product/service evaluation)
Jul 21, 2008; ... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI The collective groan heard around town when Ajasteak opened in June came from the accounting departments of the city's top firms for wining and dining. With kobe beef sold at $18 per ounce and a 12-ounce wagyu strip at $72, this contemporary, ...
Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
Jul 21, 2008 ... Byline: Laura Bianchi Eduardo Fernandez, 45, is president and general manager of Spanish station Telemundo-Chicago (WSNS-TV/Channel 44) and consumes media almost constantly. "You learn to digest it quickly.'' On the menu: Three office televisions stay tuned to ...
Is Midway deal losing altitude? Declining traffic, credit turmoil could erode value of privatization.(News)
Jul 21, 2008 ... Byline: PAUL MERRION Soaring oil prices, turbulent credit markets and a sputtering economy threaten to undercut the value of Mayor Richard M. Daley's plan to privatize Midway Airport. Further complicating the picture: At least one of six potential bidders is no ...
Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)(fairs and festivals)(Calendar)
Jul 21, 2008 ... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening Steppenwolf's First Look Repertory of New Work 1624 N. Halsted St. (312) 335-1650 www.steppenwolf.org 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 1, 4:30, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday ...
Bucolic course masks challenging design; Oak Club gives a visitor plenty to strategize over.(Business of Life)
Jul 21, 2008; ... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Hotshots from the city and suburbs are apt to roll their eyes at the idea of a foray deep into the exurbs for golf on an old-fashioned country course surrounded by pastureland. Skeptics will say, "How tough can that be?'' Plenty tough, it turns ...
Home sales slump slows; Pace of decline ebbs slightly as more builders cut prices.(News)
Jul 21, 2008 ... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Sales of new homes in the Chicago area fell again in the second quarter, but the rate of decline slowed as more builders cut prices. Amid mortgage market turmoil, record gas prices and growing consumer pessimism, buyers signed contracts for 2,226 ...