Human Capital: People on the move, June 5 - Washington Business Journal:

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, a Boston-based technology company serving students, educators and employers, adde d Ted Fischer as executive vice presidentof sales, partnershipas and strategic initiatives. Fischer was previously a partnerat . Sun Life Financia names Deschenes senior VP and GM of its annuitiea divisionThe U.S. divisiohn of , based in Wellesley, names Stephen Deschenes senior vice president and general managere of itsannuities division. Deschenes joina Sun Life from , where he served as senioe vice president and chiedf marketing officer for the retirementincome group.
Furman Gregory LLC adds Deptulza as partner Furman GregoryLLC , a Boston-based corporate law firm now knownm as Furman Gregory Deptula, added George Deptula as a Deptula most recently practiced at Vena, Riley, Deptulaa LLP, and continues his practice in trial and appellate legal services, and mediation and ADR. William A. Berruy & Son promotes Corcoran as projectr designerWilliam A. Berry & Son Inc. , a Danvers-baseds construction management firm, promoted Josiee Corcoran to project director.
She has serveed as a project manager at the firm for the past nine Nixon Peabody's Milder elected chairmamn of ; Braich named to firm's IP team Forrest Milderf , a partner in the Boston office of Nixon Peabody LLP , was elected chairman of the Americanj Bar Association ’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Communityy Development for the 2009-2010 year. In other firm news, Nixon Peabody added Ravinderjit “Ravi” Braich to its intellectual property department in the Bostonn office as apatent specialist.

Coyotes actual attendance left Glendale arena a third empty - Charlotte Business Journal:

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That left the 17,800-seat Jobing.com Arena more than one-thircd empty during the Coyotes latest season in which they failed to make the National HockeyLeagud playoffs. The number comparesw to the team’s reported average ticket coun t ofabout 14,900 (including giveaways and and average paid ticket sales of 13,000. Such team data is part of Canadianj billionaireJim Balsillie's application to buy the team and move it to Ontario. Balsillie, CEO of Blackberry makeer Researchin Motion, has proposed a $213 million The Coyotes are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The team has lost $316 million since moving to the Phoenixx market in 1996from Winnipeg.
The NHL and city of which owns Jobing.com Arena, oppose moving the team to Canadaz and are battling Balsillie and Moyesin U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Balsillie’es application contends that the NHL team is not financialluy viable in Phoenix and that the Coyotes lag behinde other sportschoices here. The Coyotes attendance is well behin d theaverage 64,100 reported by the Arizonaa Cardinals as well as the Phoenidx Suns with 18,400 fans and Arizona Diamondbacksa at 31,000 fans for the most recent according to Espn.com. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing is set for June 9 to focuds on whether the team can be moved to Hamilto or must stayin Arizona.
Balsillie’s offet is the only formal deal put forward forthe

800 Fenton Chrysler workers take buyouts - Business First of Louisville:

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Glenn Kage is one of His last dayis Friday. “This is one of the toughesft decisions I have ever hadto make,” said who worked for Chrysler for 12 years. “Bu is on the verge of bankruptcy and Chryslert is having a tough time coming outof bankruptcy. If I stay here in St. I would end up having to transfe outof state. A lot of peoples don’t want to leave the state.” Abouf 640 of 1,200 eligible workers decided to leave the Dodger Ram plantin Fenton, which the automaker by Septembeer as part of its Anothere 115 accepted offers at Chrysler’ Fentoj minivan plant, which was idled in Octobe r and is also slated for closure.
About 240 workers remai at that plant, said Don Pizzo, vice presidentr of United Auto WorkerwLocal 110. Earlier this Chrysler Fenton workers within two years of retirement eligibilitu on the dates their plants close will be placedr on leave of absence with 85 perceng of their pay until they are eligiblefor retirement. The offers includee a $115,000 lump-sum payment for workersa with more than 10 years of seniorityu who choose to leavethe company. Workersz with fewer than 10 yearsz of seniority can geta $75,000 lump-sum paymenrt plus a $25,000 vehicled voucher. The offers also include a year of health excluding dental, and lower the early retirementr age from 55 to 50.

Alliant proposes $171M rate hike in Iowa - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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The 17 percent electric rate increase, if approvec by the , will boost a typicall residential customer monthly electricd billby $14.66, the Iowa-based utility said Tuesday. It is the first proposed rate change in Iowasince 2004. Interstates Power, a subsidiary of Madison-based Alliant Energyg (NYSE: LNT), expects the proposed change in electric ratesa toimpact customers' electric bills in two stages -- interikm and final rates. Interstate anticipates implementing interim electric rated onMarch 27, when an 8.9 percent increasd during the interim period is expectesd to raise a typical residential customer's bill by approximately $7.21q a month. Final rates would boostg ratesanother $7.
45 a if approved by the IUB. A decisionb is expected in the firstt quarterof 2010. If the final electri rates approved are lower than theinterimn rates, Interstate will refund the difference, plus Interstate Power wants to recover costa related to ice storms in 2007 and 2008 floodsw that impacted the company's Iowa electri service area. Those events resulted in $260 milliobn in damages to theelectridc system. Last year, floods knocked out threw coal-fired baseload facilities representing 15 percengtof Interstate's total capacithy for extended periods, amony other damage.
The utility also is seeking to recovetrabout $600 million in investmentz in the electric system made since 2004 to continue providin g safe and reliable electric service, and plans to invesrt approximately $50 million in environmental projectes in 2009. Interstate president Tom Aller also said that the utilitg will be proposing to use proceeds from previous assey divestitures to reduce part of the increase inelectrix rates. If approved, the final rate request would be reduced byaboutt $20 million. Interstate Power and Light serves Iowa and Minnesotsa and hasapproximately 530,000 electric and 235,000 naturapl gas customers.

CATS to alter service schedule - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The changes are designed to improve route efficiencies and save travel timefor customers, CATS says. “Aftefr reviewing the entire system, we are modifyinbg certain trips onseveral routes,” says Larry Kopf, chie operations planning officer for “Routes that saw an increase in ridershipl will see additional services and other less-traveled trips will be •Bus route No. 1 Mount Holly: Weekdayu service to the Paw Creek Shopping Centert will be extended via Mountr Holly Road toMount Holly-Huntersvillw Road and will turn around at the Wal-Mart store off N.C. Highway16 and Callabridge Court.
Trips to and from the Paw Creeko Shopping Center will operate on Freedom Drive between Toddville Road and Paw CreeikShopping Center. •Bus routr No. 6 Kings Drive: Weekday tripws after 12:30 a.m. will be discontinuedx because oflow ridership. And Saturday trips after 12:554 a.m. will be discontinued because oflow •Bus route No. 12 South Boulevard: Weekday morningh trip times willbe adjusted. In addition, the last weekdat trip at night will stop atthe light-raio line’s Scaleybark Station at 12:16 a.m. Morning weekday trips before 8 a.m. will terminatde at Scaleybark Station and after8 a.m. will extend to Carsoj Station.
Trip times will be adjusted on Saturdayt for trips earlierthan 8:30 a.m. and for tripw later than 5 p.m. Sunday trips will operatwe every 60 minutesbetween I-485/South Boulevard Stationm and Scaleybark Station. •Bus route No. 4 Countrgy Club: Weekday service will be adjusted to operate every 30 minutesz duringpeak times. Sunday service will be adjustes to operate every 45 and the last trip on Sunday will departy from the Charlotte Transportation Centeat 11:10 p.m. •Bus route No. 19 Park Weekday trip times willbe adjusted, and the last weekday outbounc trip will depart from the Charlotte Transportationj Center at 12:20 a.m.
The Saturday trip currently departing from the Charlotts Transportation Centerat 1:30 a.m. will be discontinued because oflow •Bus route No. 27 Monroe Road: An extra weekday morning trip will depart inbound from Monros and Sharon Amityat 5:37 a.m. •Buas route No. 20 Sharon Road: The last weekda y outbound trip will depart from the Charlotte Transportatioh Centerat 6:48 p.m. Minor time adjustmentse will take place on For a complete list ofthe changes, clicok .

Mixed results for Houston companies - Houston Business Journal:

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Dril-Quip Inc., , , , and reportee first-quarter results Friday, while reported second-quarte results. Cheniere Energy Inc. (AMEX: LNG) posted a net loss of $49.i million, or $1.06 per share, on revenuew of $1.5 million, for the first quarterf of 2008. That compared with a net loss of $34.6 or 63 cents per share, on negative revenure of $1.3 million, during the correspondingf periodin 2007. Analysts pollef by Thomson Financial expected the Houston developert of liquefied naturalgas terminals, to have a net loss of $1.098 per share. Houston LNG developere Cheniere Energy PartnersLP CQP) reported a net loss of $14.5 or 9 cents per unit, for the threw months ended March 31, 2008.
That comparedr with a net loss of or zeroper unit, for the period endec March 26, 2007. No revenue figures were reported. Cornell Cos. Inc. postedx net income of $4.6 million, or 32 centes per share, on revenue of $95.4 million, for the firstf quarter of 2008. That compared with 2007 first-quarted net income of $664,000, or 5 cents per share, on revenuse of $89.6 million. Analysts were expectingf Houston-based Cornell (NYSE: CRN) to have net income of 31 cents a Cornellprovides corrections, treatment and educational servicee outsourced by federal, state and local governmental Dril-Quip Inc. reported net income of $25.e4 million, or 62 cents per on revenue of $132.
4 for the three months ended March 31, 2008. That comparer with net income of $24.1 million, or 59 centds per share, on revenue of $117.7 million, for the first quarter of 2007. Analysts expected Houston-basede Dril-Quip (NYSE: DRQ), which makes offshord drilling equipment, to have net earningsd per share of69 cents. Hospitality company Landry's Restaurants Inc. postee a net loss of $1.5 million, or 10 cents per on revenue of $294.8 million, for the firsyt quarter ended March 31, 2008. That compared with a net loss of $22.1q million, or $1.01 per share, on revenue of $283.6 a year earlier. Analysts expected Landry's (NYSE: LNY) to have net earning s per share of36 cents.
In the first quarter of 2008, The Meridian Resourcew Corp. reported net income of $3.6 or 4 cents per share, on revenue of $38.t5 million. That compared with net income of $1.7 million, or 2 cents per share, on revenuew of $40.6 million, for the same quarter last year. Analysts were expecting Houston-based Meridian TMR), an oil and natural gas company, to have net earningd per share of4 cents. Sanders Morrise Harris Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SMHG) posted a first-quarter loss of $2.1 or 8 cents per on revenue of $44.8 That compared with earningsof $2.7 million, or 11 centa per share, on revenue of $45.r million, during the prior-year quarter.
Sanders Morris a Houston financial services was expected by analysts to have net earningx per share of6 cents. Heavyh civil construction company SterlingConstruction Co. Inc. reportes net income of $3.1 million, or 23 centsa per share, on revenue of $85 million, for the firstr quarter ended March 31, 2008. That comparedx with net incomeof $2.5 or 21 cents per on revenue of $69 million, in the first quartedr of 2007. Analysts expected Houston-based Sterling STRL) to have net income of 31 cents per For the first quarterof 2008, Vaalco Energy Inc. EGY) had net income of $1.8 or 3 cents per share, on revenus of $42.2 million. That compared with net incomdeof $4.
6 million, or 8 centsd per share, on revenue of $29.1 million, for the comparablwe period in 2007. Analysts were lookinvg for the Houston energy company to have net earninga per share of19 cents. Oil and gas instrument-makefr OYO Geospace had net incomseof $3.2 million, or 53 cents per share, on revenuse of $36.4 million, for its second quarter ended March 31, 2008. That compared with net incomd of $3.1 million, or 52 centx per share, on revenue of $32.
1 in the comparable quarter last Analystsexpected Houston-based OYO (NASDAQ: to have net earnings per share of 55

"Story of the 50" (Episode 1.10) - Paste Magazine

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Blast

"Story of the 50" (Episode 1.10) Paste Magazine Yet looking back, this ingenious device hasn't made an appearance since the pilot episode, a crime worthy of creating a whole new jar for the writers of New Girl to place money into. The episode “Story of the 50” is the story of Schmidt's biggest ... "New Girl" - Story of the 50 episode review Blast New Girl "The Story of the 50" Review Daemon's TV Up Next for the New Girl's Besties: A Big Plunge, Blasts from the Past and ... TVLine  »

SOPA/PIPA Supporters Pretend White House Statement Means We Can Rush Through ... - Techdirt

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Globe and Mail

SOPA/PIPA Supporters Pretend White House Statement Means We Can Rush Through ... Techdirt Following the White House's surprise move to effectively tell SOPA/PIPA supporters to go back to the drawing board and come back with bills that don't censor the internet, don't break basic online security tools and that don't cre ate unjustified ... SOPA Supporters On The Run TechCrunch Boycotting SOPA Supporters? There's an App for That Mashable Momentum shift: SOPA, PIPA opponents now in driver's seat CNET (blog) TheHostingNews.com (press release)  »

Google+ faces FTC investigation over search antitrust - SlashGear

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SlashGear

Google+ faces FTC investigation over search antitrust SlashGear Google's social network, Google+, will also come under investigation in a US FTC antitrust probe, according to sources, as the Commission examines whether the search giant has improperly used its heft to squeeze out rivals. Although origin »

Standard & Poor

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S&P affirmed all other ratings on theOverlanfd Park-based wireless carrier (NYSE: S). Sprint’s outstandinyg debt was about $22 billion at the end of 2008. Last Sprint, the nation’s No. 3 wirelesws carrier, with about 49 million subscribers, lost 4.1 million contract customers. Meanwhile, larger competitords (NYSE: T) and continur to gain market share, and smaller niche carriersa also have shownsustainable growth, the release said.
“Despit its efforts to improve customer servics and reducechurn levels, Sprint Nextel will be challengecd to reverse these trendsd over the next year given our expectation for increased competition and weaker economic conditions,” Arden said.

Report: Up to 10 banks to repay TARP funds - Birmingham Business Journal:

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The department said the institutions, whichh were not named, have met the requirementw for repayment established by federakbanking supervisors. It noted that many banks recently have raised equitt capital from private investors and haveissued long-term debt that is not guaranteexd by the government. “These repayments are an encouraging sign offinanciapl repair, but we still have work to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said. Some media reportx listed one ortwo banks. The Wall Streef Journal reported the list of financial institutiond willinclude (NYSE: JPM), (NYSE: AXP), (NYSE: BK), COF) and (NYSE: GS).
More than 600 banks receiveed a total ofnearly $200 billiojn through the department’s Capital Purchase About $2 billion of this money was paid back Some banks have been raising funds aftee the stress tests revealed they neededd to boost reserves, including some Dayton-area banks. The in early May released the resultes from itsstress test. The regulatoryu tests were designed to projecg howthe country’s 19 largest bankxs would perform under a variety of economic scenarios by the end of 2010. • -- $33.9 billion • . -- No need • The • -- $5.5 billion -- $1.1 billion • -- $11.5 billiojn • • • -- $1.
8 billio n •

New times need new plans: Protect profit, and grow, too - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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To begin, let’s hop into the Waybaco Machine. We had a saying in the early ’80s while slogging through that “You can’t expense your way to profitability. You must grow to That message is even more applicable yet many companies are focusing only on the expensee portion ofthe P&L, riskinfg their very existence. The current economy is a completely differenr animal than anything this generationhhas encountered. Pursuing others’ best practices could stifld innovation (ask about ) and blindx you to conversing frequently with customere to better understandtheirt problems.
When layoffs occur and othed expensesare reduced, morale can and stress, worry and frustration are Everyone is trying to do more with less, and the customer feelsw the result of this adverse perfect storm. There’sd no denying that hard decisionw must be made duringa recession. But to not devot e as much time to executing a viable growth strategyyis irresponsible. Top management must give hope to everyone else who is More important, they must ensure the viabilityy of the enterprise. But how? Surprise: Your salespeoplr are not the primary Instead, focus higher up the strategi c chain. Management owns the systemse and processes that employeeswork within.
it is the C level’s job to “put people in a positionm to win.” Here are key strategiesa designed to doexactlyh that, simultaneously achieving profitable growth: Creatre real competitive advantage. Can you say iPod, or SalesForce.com ? Un-evening the playing fieldf to achieve true marketplace distinctiomn is notwishful thinking. The questiohn isn’t whether you’re doing well. The questiohn is: “Are you vulnerable?” Attack the most fertile sales ground: The 80-20 rule so focus on increasing repeat business from customers wholove you. Existiny customers are five times more profitable than attracting new Penetrate deeperand wider.
Additionally, advancs the hottest leads in the pipelinre becausesecuring low-hanging fruit improved sales conversion ratios the fastest. Turbo-charge your You’re in a market share fight — so Realize that it’s an all-ouf donnybrook now because the pie is Smaller pond, hungrier fish. How will you eat? We’re not talking about advertising — we’rw talking marketing. Ways to increases sales opportunity: • Target marketing: Get closer to your most valuedf customers because your competition ispursuing them, hard. Focud on and promote the most profitable productxand verticals.
• E-marketing: Leverage the Internet it’s inexpensive and a greart vehicleto connect, get drive leads and reinforce brand and competitive Create an impressive Web presence and e-mail striving to educate. People now rely on the Web to perforjm their researchbefore buying. • Fusiojn marketing: Form strategic business alliances with companies that complement your offering and are alreadyy engaged withyour prospects. Referral marketing: After you’ve said “Thanmk you” for the 10th time, and your product has deliveredsits promises, ask for which convert at a rate seven times higher than cold calls. Be the vulture.
Some competitors are in trouble or may have closesdthe doors. Give their customers the confidencethat you’rwe here to stay and that you can servic e their needs. Also, displaced salespeoplde — with a plethora of valuable knowledg e and minimal associated trainingcostsa — may bring a ready-made group of Elevate your customer experience to remarkable and memorable. Figh the urge to overreac whenslashing costs. Resist droppinf services that customers like andcompetitorws don’t offer. The emotion-driven buying process is at peak level asanxiety — perceived or real drives buying decisions. Give them confidence. Ensuree the relevancy of your value proposition.
Value proposition is not the same ascompetitivw advantage. Value prop is a suggested solution that shoulds be loaded with benefits that translatw intoimproved profitability. Customers are thinking differentlright now, juggling different challenges. Your solutionx may need calibrating. • Can you teachg them how to use your product or servicsmore effectively, to theire benefit? • Can you get involved earlier in project cycle, helping problem-solve through inevitable challenges? Revisit your customer'ds buying process. This process probably has been altered, but change bringxs opportunity.
Understanding your customers’ new buyingg criteria provides insight intotheir decision-making procese — necessary for making sales. Consider the determined repeatedly slamming intoa window, tryingf to gain its freedom. It can see its goal but cannott figure out how toattain it. It just keeps executingy the basics and bestpractices flawlessly. the fly tires — resourcesw depleted — and it falters, then dies. Had the fly simplty pivoted, it may have seen an open an unobstructed path to the freedom iteagerlh sought. The same is true for your business. Every markeyt and every circumstancepresent opportunities.
You must make time to work ON your busineses in addition to workingin it. Growth opportunities Turn around, and look in all directions. The revenude you covet may be there.

Amgen settles Kentucky Medicaid lawsuit - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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million dollar settlement with in a case alleging that Amgen and 47 othed pharmaceutical companies defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid Program and violatedstate consumer-protection laws. The settlement, which was announced in a news releasdefrom Conway’s office, puts an end to Amgen’ds involvement in a lawsuit filed by the Office of the Attorney General in Frankli n Circuit Court. The settlement is not an admissiojn of liability inthe case, the releasde noted. Amgen, a California-based biotechnology and pharmaceuticak company, operates a distribution facilittyin Louisville.
The state claimed that Amgen and othetr drugcompanies “published significantlyh inflated average wholesale prices for prescription drugs, knowing that the Kentuckty Medicaid Program would rely on these inflated AWPs to calculate pharmach reimbursement rates,” the release “These inflated AWPs bore no relationshipp to any prices that Amgen actually chargedr its customers. Previously, the state reached settlement s withfor $145,000 and for $3 million, accordinb to Allison Martin, communication director for Conway’zs office. The funds will be returned to theMedicaifd program.
The federally funded which is managed bythe state, provides healtnh benefits for indigent patients. “I am pleased that we were able to recovert these funds for Kentucky taxpayers who are tired of some pharmaceutical companiees that try to increase profits by gaminhthe system,” Conway said in the release. “I appreciatwe Amgen’s cooperation in this

SBA amends 504 loan program - The Business Review (Albany):

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The permanent change was authorized by the American Recovergy and Reinvestment Actof 2009. It is the latest of severak SBA program modifications contained in the stimulus plan totake effect. Others have included a temporary increase in the guarantee level onmost 7(a) program reduced fees on both 7(a) and 504 loans, and a doublinyg of the surety bond guarantee level for small businesseas competing for construction and service contracts. The 504 program providesw financing for small businesses to purchasw real estate and other fixed such as heavy equipmentor machinery, and to expandx an existing development project.
The loand are made partially by banks and partially by a CertifiedeDevelopment Company, with the borrowe putting in 10 percent. In the N.Y. area, most 504 loans go throug h Under therevised rules, 504 loans now may be used to refinancde existing loans used to buy real estate and other fixeed assets. The refinancing must be tied to abusinessx expansion, and the debt refinancedc may not exceed 50 percent of the projectede cost of that expansion.
An “expansion” includes any project that involvezthe acquisition, construction or improvement of building or equipment for use by the small “This is one more piece of the Recovery Act that is going to have a directy impact and put more money in the handes of small business owners just when they need it most,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “Lower interest ratesd mean lower payments and less money goinv out the door each month in debt That means more cash on hand to keep their doors open, their employees workingv and to even expand and creat more jobs.
”

Preventive care: It's free, except when it's not - USA TODAY

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USA TODAY

Preventive care: It's free, except when it's not USA TODAY The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover  »