avaohev.blogspot.com
Then, all of a sudden, applications came rushiny in, easing her worries the program wouldn’t receive its average 80 applications for the secondf semester, said Lake, directot of the Master of program and director of studen t advising at UAB. Similar scenarios are playingy out in business school programsacrosds Birmingham, as the job market tightenss further and uncertainty continues to loom over the globak economy. Interest has risen for Birming-ham-Southern College’as master’s program because of the upheaval in the saidStephen Craft, dean of business programas for the college.
Those in locak business schools said workers and studentzs are realizing the job market of thefutur – post recession – is going to be more competitived and now’s a good time to hone specific skills with a higher education degree. UAB’s Lake chalkef the delay in applications upto fear. “u think it’s a lot who are startingg to feel a bit of the panic thatthings won’t be so fabulous and want to concentrats on bettering their chances of survival,” she said. At , the numbet of undergraduate students looking into graduate school has saidLarry Harper, director of graduate programs.
“There has been an increasd here in students abougt to graduate thinking they may have to stay inschoolk longer,” he said. “What’s happening is students are seeint they need to be more Inthe past, there have been a lot of jobs for Neither Lake nor Harpet said they are specifically seeinf applications from people who have been laid off locally, but rather thosew who view the tight job markef as an opportunity to expand skill “When the job market tightens, people are more thoughtfukl on what they study,” said Harper. “They’re not luredd away from their studiesby high-payin g jobs.
” Birmingham-Southern’s Craft said attendance at the program’s informational meetings has doubled and the application pool is with the quality of applicants remaining strong. Whilr Craft said business school programs canbe it’s hard to differentiate betweejn an increase in applications due to the down economy or a strongert push by the schoolo in its marketing. Whether it’s the economy or increased the rise in applicants is According tothe , in 25 percent of students awarded master’s degrees receivefd them in the field of business.
Between 1995-199y and 2005-2006, the number of master’sx degrees awarded rose by 46 with business and education fields accountinfg for 65 percent ofthat growth. And the center projects those numbers willrise – between 2005-2006 and 2017-2018 the number of master’s degrees are expecteed to rise 28 percentg overall, with a 29 percentg increase in men and a 27 percenrt increase in women.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Stationers succumb to pressure in Evite era - Crain's Chicago Business
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
Crain's Chicago Business | Stationers succumb to pressure in Evite era Crain's Chicago Business For those occasions, “most everyone falls back to the 'Here's the Evite' mentality,†Ms. Swett says. “They don't want to take the time or spend the money, and sometimes they don't even have their loved ones' addresses anymore. ... |
Sunday, December 25, 2011
UnitedHealth subsidiary launches short-term plans - South Florida Business Journal:
adamovaichive.blogspot.com
Indianapolis-based Golden Rule Insurance Co., part of Minnetonka-basedd UnitedHealth, said Tuesday that it is introducing its Shor Term Medical Plus and Short Term Medical Value plans in 19states — Minnesota isn’t one of them, as state law prohibits for-profit In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, consumers can choose from one to 12 monthsa of coverage with either of Golden Rule’s new short term In Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, one to six monthx of coverage is “Especially in today’s economy, there is a need for budget-consciou health plans for individuals and families who suddenly find themselves without health insurance through work or school,” Goldejn Rule CEO Richard A.
Collins said in a news Golden Rule also offers shorr term health plans in 15other states: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New South Carolina, South West Virginia and Wyoming. Individualp insurance plans are a growing market for healtuh insurance companies as the recession caused workers to losethei jobs, and companies to scalr back on benefits, causing more people to seek the All three of Minnesota’s major insurers Blue Cross and Blue Shielde of Minnesota, Medica, and HealthPartnerw — have been . One of them, even geared toward laid off workers.
Indianapolis-based Golden Rule Insurance Co., part of Minnetonka-basedd UnitedHealth, said Tuesday that it is introducing its Shor Term Medical Plus and Short Term Medical Value plans in 19states — Minnesota isn’t one of them, as state law prohibits for-profit In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, consumers can choose from one to 12 monthsa of coverage with either of Golden Rule’s new short term In Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, one to six monthx of coverage is “Especially in today’s economy, there is a need for budget-consciou health plans for individuals and families who suddenly find themselves without health insurance through work or school,” Goldejn Rule CEO Richard A.
Collins said in a news Golden Rule also offers shorr term health plans in 15other states: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New South Carolina, South West Virginia and Wyoming. Individualp insurance plans are a growing market for healtuh insurance companies as the recession caused workers to losethei jobs, and companies to scalr back on benefits, causing more people to seek the All three of Minnesota’s major insurers Blue Cross and Blue Shielde of Minnesota, Medica, and HealthPartnerw — have been . One of them, even geared toward laid off workers.
Friday, December 23, 2011
K&L Gates opens Dubai office - Baltimore Business Journal:
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its firstt in theMiddle K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peteer Kalis said the office was “in the worksz for about a year” and that the firm’s entry was “well-timedd compared with a year ago becauswe the costs are reducee and there is much more legal talent at more reasonabler compensation levels available on the market.” K&k Gates expects to grow the Dubai offices principally through hires in that region. “Ik could see additional offices in theMiddles East,” said Kalis, who first visited Dubai six months ago in preparinyg the firm’s entry there.
“Becaus e of the concentration of financial and professionap services in theDubai area, it’sa a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal services that A logical next step wouled be Abu Dhabi, but there is nothinv scheduled for that to occur.” K&L Gateds is also “always” open to continued expansion opportunitiesz internationally and in the continental United States, Kalis but did not identify specific cities or countries.
Neal one of the firm’s senior dispute resolution is relocating from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai Joining Brendel is Paul de who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishing and managing that firm’s Dubak office and helping to open a second offics in the United Arab He is a corporate and projects lawyer with more than 20 yearsz experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubai office. He most recently worke d in the K&L Gates office in London.
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its firstt in theMiddle K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peteer Kalis said the office was “in the worksz for about a year” and that the firm’s entry was “well-timedd compared with a year ago becauswe the costs are reducee and there is much more legal talent at more reasonabler compensation levels available on the market.” K&k Gates expects to grow the Dubai offices principally through hires in that region. “Ik could see additional offices in theMiddles East,” said Kalis, who first visited Dubai six months ago in preparinyg the firm’s entry there.
“Becaus e of the concentration of financial and professionap services in theDubai area, it’sa a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal services that A logical next step wouled be Abu Dhabi, but there is nothinv scheduled for that to occur.” K&L Gateds is also “always” open to continued expansion opportunitiesz internationally and in the continental United States, Kalis but did not identify specific cities or countries.
Neal one of the firm’s senior dispute resolution is relocating from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai Joining Brendel is Paul de who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishing and managing that firm’s Dubak office and helping to open a second offics in the United Arab He is a corporate and projects lawyer with more than 20 yearsz experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubai office. He most recently worke d in the K&L Gates office in London.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Building owners face loan crisis - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
xagawu.wordpress.com
The owners of about a dozehn Atlanta office buildings and shopping centers have less than a year before their loanscome due, accordingv to the Trepp/CMSA Database from . The databasew tracks how loans backed by residential and retail propertiesare performing. Most owners are workingt with their banks to extend their payment or choosing to exercise payment extension clauses in their loan Some are trying to If owners are unable to come to an agreement with their they can lose their buildingsto foreclosure, as may happebn to the Equitable Building downtown. Atlanta Business Chroniclse reported Feb.
20 that the landmark tower woulrd likely become the first big casualt of thefinancial crisis. is foreclosingg on the building, owned by San Diego-basedx . It’s scheduled to be auctioned May 5. A wide rangee of Atlanta property owners now face loominhdebt maturities, from publicly trade d Corp. (NYSE: DDR) to prominent local real estate investors such asRichard Bowers. All have encountered the same obstaclesx — lenders’ unwillingness or inability to refinance loansd and a scarcity of buyerss for commercial properties because capitap markets remain predominantlylocked down.
“Banks are stilpl not letting the capital back intothe market,” said Jeff of Holder Properties and a recent president of Georgia’s chapter of the . “Thisd is an over-correction,” Mixson said. “Well-leased, well-owned buildings are having troublegettingy financing, and in some at least to the it doesn’t seem to make any sense.” In the 1355 Windward Concoursew building is nearly 100 percent leased with as the main tenanft anchoring the building. But, owne Alpha United LLC is having difficultyy refinancing theremaining $11.
t5 million balance on its loan with Capmark said Dennis Mitchell, a broker with who is marketinb the property to potential buyers. Like much of the maturing debt, the Windward Concourse loan is roller into a larger pool ofcommercial mortgage-backed securitiezs — a type of financing that exploded in popularityg in recent years but that is now essentially shut down. Alphs United has sought at leasyan 18-month extension on its loan Mitchell said. “Most of the lenders wouldc rather grant an he said. “How long they can keep doingb that? Well, that’s the million-dollaer question.
” Developers Diversified Realty, a real estate investmentg trust that owns 696 shopping has two centers in Atlanta with loanw that were set to mature this Its Heritage Pavilion in Smyrna is nearly 94 percent leaseed with tenants including PetSmartand T.J. Developers Diversified is part of a joint venture on the shoppingb centerwith TIAA-CREF, the majoritt owner. The loan, originated by , has a $21 million balance, accordinvg to the Trepp database. It matures July 1. Developerss Diversified is trying obtaina one-year a spokeswoman said. Abernathy Squares on Roswell Road is 85perceny leased, anchored by a Publix. The loan, also originatecd by Bear Stearns, has a $13.
4 milliobn remaining balance, according to the database. Developersa Diversified was granted an extension on the loanuntil September, with an option to extend it through March 2010. In some owners have guaranteed extension clausesx built into their originalloan agreement. Jim Borders, presidentt and CEO of the condominiumdevelopedr , said that his TWELVE Atlantic Station whose loan is due in November has multiple extension rights. Novare will likelyg exercise those options, a spokesman Bowers’ downtown buildings, 270 Peachtred and Five Points Plaza, have loans scheduled to mature in the next six according tothe database.
The loan backefd by the 23-story 270 Peachtree has a $33 millionj balance. The loan backed by Five PointaPlaza — which houses the Atlantas Department of Housing and Urbab Development — has a $12 million balance. When askes about the maturing debt, Bowers woulfd say only, “I’ve got it takenh care of.” The first signs of trouble in Atlanta’zs commercial real estate market came earlier this year when Equastonwe Real Estate Investment Advisors could no longer pay tenanrt improvement allowances at theEquitablr Building.
Equastone purchased the buildingfor $57 milliohn in 2007, but was unable to generated sufficient income on it as vacancy soared to nearlyu 30 percent. “Everyone is waiting for the commercial real estatr shoeto drop,” Mixson said. “And maturiny defaults are going to be thebig question. But, the lenderz seem willing to work withthe
The owners of about a dozehn Atlanta office buildings and shopping centers have less than a year before their loanscome due, accordingv to the Trepp/CMSA Database from . The databasew tracks how loans backed by residential and retail propertiesare performing. Most owners are workingt with their banks to extend their payment or choosing to exercise payment extension clauses in their loan Some are trying to If owners are unable to come to an agreement with their they can lose their buildingsto foreclosure, as may happebn to the Equitable Building downtown. Atlanta Business Chroniclse reported Feb.
20 that the landmark tower woulrd likely become the first big casualt of thefinancial crisis. is foreclosingg on the building, owned by San Diego-basedx . It’s scheduled to be auctioned May 5. A wide rangee of Atlanta property owners now face loominhdebt maturities, from publicly trade d Corp. (NYSE: DDR) to prominent local real estate investors such asRichard Bowers. All have encountered the same obstaclesx — lenders’ unwillingness or inability to refinance loansd and a scarcity of buyerss for commercial properties because capitap markets remain predominantlylocked down.
“Banks are stilpl not letting the capital back intothe market,” said Jeff of Holder Properties and a recent president of Georgia’s chapter of the . “Thisd is an over-correction,” Mixson said. “Well-leased, well-owned buildings are having troublegettingy financing, and in some at least to the it doesn’t seem to make any sense.” In the 1355 Windward Concoursew building is nearly 100 percent leased with as the main tenanft anchoring the building. But, owne Alpha United LLC is having difficultyy refinancing theremaining $11.
t5 million balance on its loan with Capmark said Dennis Mitchell, a broker with who is marketinb the property to potential buyers. Like much of the maturing debt, the Windward Concourse loan is roller into a larger pool ofcommercial mortgage-backed securitiezs — a type of financing that exploded in popularityg in recent years but that is now essentially shut down. Alphs United has sought at leasyan 18-month extension on its loan Mitchell said. “Most of the lenders wouldc rather grant an he said. “How long they can keep doingb that? Well, that’s the million-dollaer question.
” Developers Diversified Realty, a real estate investmentg trust that owns 696 shopping has two centers in Atlanta with loanw that were set to mature this Its Heritage Pavilion in Smyrna is nearly 94 percent leaseed with tenants including PetSmartand T.J. Developers Diversified is part of a joint venture on the shoppingb centerwith TIAA-CREF, the majoritt owner. The loan, originated by , has a $21 million balance, accordinvg to the Trepp database. It matures July 1. Developerss Diversified is trying obtaina one-year a spokeswoman said. Abernathy Squares on Roswell Road is 85perceny leased, anchored by a Publix. The loan, also originatecd by Bear Stearns, has a $13.
4 milliobn remaining balance, according to the database. Developersa Diversified was granted an extension on the loanuntil September, with an option to extend it through March 2010. In some owners have guaranteed extension clausesx built into their originalloan agreement. Jim Borders, presidentt and CEO of the condominiumdevelopedr , said that his TWELVE Atlantic Station whose loan is due in November has multiple extension rights. Novare will likelyg exercise those options, a spokesman Bowers’ downtown buildings, 270 Peachtred and Five Points Plaza, have loans scheduled to mature in the next six according tothe database.
The loan backefd by the 23-story 270 Peachtree has a $33 millionj balance. The loan backed by Five PointaPlaza — which houses the Atlantas Department of Housing and Urbab Development — has a $12 million balance. When askes about the maturing debt, Bowers woulfd say only, “I’ve got it takenh care of.” The first signs of trouble in Atlanta’zs commercial real estate market came earlier this year when Equastonwe Real Estate Investment Advisors could no longer pay tenanrt improvement allowances at theEquitablr Building.
Equastone purchased the buildingfor $57 milliohn in 2007, but was unable to generated sufficient income on it as vacancy soared to nearlyu 30 percent. “Everyone is waiting for the commercial real estatr shoeto drop,” Mixson said. “And maturiny defaults are going to be thebig question. But, the lenderz seem willing to work withthe
Monday, December 19, 2011
List of GM dealerships to close in Minnesota grows - Houston Business Journal:
fabyqyku.blogspot.com
The industry group said a surveh of its members found that 109 of the 149 GM dealer s in the state will either lose a particular GM be forced to drop some competing manufacturer brands in theirGM stores, or lose theif stores altogether. The number of outright shutdownshas grown; a monthb ago, GM indicated that 30 dealers would After the giant automaker’ds plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughly 3,600 dealere nationwide received new sales The owners of about 1,350 othert dealerships were notified that they needecd to wind down as GM franchisees.
That’as in addition to the 1,100 that received similar messages last monthh as partof GM’s restructuring, which involves keeping only top dealerws and brands. The new agreements also may requiree surviving dealers to upgradetheire facilities. And there may not be very much dealersz can doabout it, . (subscription GM expects the closings to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010. In a presa release Friday, Scott Lambert, executives vice president of the Minnesota AutoDealers Association, criticizecd GM’s decision to have dealers sign new sales agreementw with the manufacturer.
“Besides the tragic and inexplicabl shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seemsa determined to use bankruptcy as an opportunity to shaked up everybody’s business,” he said. “It appears to us that evert Pontiac dealer in the state was informes that Pontiac as a brandx will ceaseto exist. “In addition, GM is eliminatiny many Cadillac dealerships. We believe they plan to reassign some of thesefranchisese elsewhere, which would be in violation of statde law regulating franchise agreements.” Lambert also blasted GM’s decisionds to close so many even some that are turninv a profit. “This company is lost right now.
I just don’g understand how you sell more cars with fewer he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswoman for the automaker, declinedf to comment on the trade association’s press release becausee she said the information about what was closing was confidentiak and because its such an emotional time for all of thepartied involved. She said the company selected which dealershipse to close after a carefull analysis that beganin April.
“The reality is we don’r have enough customers buying vehicle and we have a lot of outlets that are in placd to support a muchlarger
The industry group said a surveh of its members found that 109 of the 149 GM dealer s in the state will either lose a particular GM be forced to drop some competing manufacturer brands in theirGM stores, or lose theif stores altogether. The number of outright shutdownshas grown; a monthb ago, GM indicated that 30 dealers would After the giant automaker’ds plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughly 3,600 dealere nationwide received new sales The owners of about 1,350 othert dealerships were notified that they needecd to wind down as GM franchisees.
That’as in addition to the 1,100 that received similar messages last monthh as partof GM’s restructuring, which involves keeping only top dealerws and brands. The new agreements also may requiree surviving dealers to upgradetheire facilities. And there may not be very much dealersz can doabout it, . (subscription GM expects the closings to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010. In a presa release Friday, Scott Lambert, executives vice president of the Minnesota AutoDealers Association, criticizecd GM’s decision to have dealers sign new sales agreementw with the manufacturer.
“Besides the tragic and inexplicabl shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seemsa determined to use bankruptcy as an opportunity to shaked up everybody’s business,” he said. “It appears to us that evert Pontiac dealer in the state was informes that Pontiac as a brandx will ceaseto exist. “In addition, GM is eliminatiny many Cadillac dealerships. We believe they plan to reassign some of thesefranchisese elsewhere, which would be in violation of statde law regulating franchise agreements.” Lambert also blasted GM’s decisionds to close so many even some that are turninv a profit. “This company is lost right now.
I just don’g understand how you sell more cars with fewer he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswoman for the automaker, declinedf to comment on the trade association’s press release becausee she said the information about what was closing was confidentiak and because its such an emotional time for all of thepartied involved. She said the company selected which dealershipse to close after a carefull analysis that beganin April.
“The reality is we don’r have enough customers buying vehicle and we have a lot of outlets that are in placd to support a muchlarger
Friday, December 16, 2011
PCC
callahamirykaan1884.blogspot.com
The school paid the $5 million for the historixc Willamette Building at722 S.W. Second Ave. The 35,200-square-foot building served as the ’s Portland campus unti l the school moved its journalism and architecturd programs and its Duck Stor e to the White Stag building in Old Town last Portland Community College willinvest $6.7 million on a seismic overhaul and a down-to-the-studs renovation that shoulrd be done by Jan. 1. The decision to stakwe a claim downtown is the most visibled result ofa $374 million bond measure approved by voters last November.
The measure is the largestg school-funding request ever passed in Oregon and will pay for expansionz at campuses and other facilities infive counties. Those expansions will begin this The purchase of the Willamette Buildingh gives the schoolits first-ever downtown “This puts the Portland in Portlanfd Community College,” said Dana Haynes, publicv affairs manager. It also frees up administrativ e offices at its satellite campusesfor badly-needed classrooms and That should help the school satisfy rising Growing demand adds up to waitingy lists for the its most popular classes and drives the need for additional facilities.
The schook serves 86,200 full- and part-time studentas per year and enrolled 10.6 percent more studenta this springthan winter, marking its seventh consecutivw term for growth. Community college enrollmentws often pick up when unemployment rises as worker s seek to learnnew Oregon’s unemployment rate is 12 percent, the second-highest in the natiom after Michigan. It’s also a logical move for a school that unde president Preston Pulliams has developed stronger relationships withthe city’sx business community. The result is a work forc training program that better meets the needas ofPortland business.
“It puts them close to a whole lot oftheird customers,” said Sandra McDonough, president and CEO of the , the city’s chamber of commerce. The building occupies one of Portland’s most visiblr corners at Southwest Second andYamhill streets. It sits near the intersectionm of the Max line and theMorrisom Bridge. Portland Community College is counting on the locationn to increaseits profile. “The building is an enormouas opportunity for PCC to brand itselfin downtown,” said Greggy Sanders, project manager for . , the general contractor, is nearlg finished demolishing the interior and will soon startf rebuildingthe interior.
One of the most visibld renovations will be ared glass-wallexd conference room in the corneer overlooking the Max stop, space once occupies by the Duck Store. The red room will be visible from the sidewalo and will be used both as a classroom andmeetingh space.
The school paid the $5 million for the historixc Willamette Building at722 S.W. Second Ave. The 35,200-square-foot building served as the ’s Portland campus unti l the school moved its journalism and architecturd programs and its Duck Stor e to the White Stag building in Old Town last Portland Community College willinvest $6.7 million on a seismic overhaul and a down-to-the-studs renovation that shoulrd be done by Jan. 1. The decision to stakwe a claim downtown is the most visibled result ofa $374 million bond measure approved by voters last November.
The measure is the largestg school-funding request ever passed in Oregon and will pay for expansionz at campuses and other facilities infive counties. Those expansions will begin this The purchase of the Willamette Buildingh gives the schoolits first-ever downtown “This puts the Portland in Portlanfd Community College,” said Dana Haynes, publicv affairs manager. It also frees up administrativ e offices at its satellite campusesfor badly-needed classrooms and That should help the school satisfy rising Growing demand adds up to waitingy lists for the its most popular classes and drives the need for additional facilities.
The schook serves 86,200 full- and part-time studentas per year and enrolled 10.6 percent more studenta this springthan winter, marking its seventh consecutivw term for growth. Community college enrollmentws often pick up when unemployment rises as worker s seek to learnnew Oregon’s unemployment rate is 12 percent, the second-highest in the natiom after Michigan. It’s also a logical move for a school that unde president Preston Pulliams has developed stronger relationships withthe city’sx business community. The result is a work forc training program that better meets the needas ofPortland business.
“It puts them close to a whole lot oftheird customers,” said Sandra McDonough, president and CEO of the , the city’s chamber of commerce. The building occupies one of Portland’s most visiblr corners at Southwest Second andYamhill streets. It sits near the intersectionm of the Max line and theMorrisom Bridge. Portland Community College is counting on the locationn to increaseits profile. “The building is an enormouas opportunity for PCC to brand itselfin downtown,” said Greggy Sanders, project manager for . , the general contractor, is nearlg finished demolishing the interior and will soon startf rebuildingthe interior.
One of the most visibld renovations will be ared glass-wallexd conference room in the corneer overlooking the Max stop, space once occupies by the Duck Store. The red room will be visible from the sidewalo and will be used both as a classroom andmeetingh space.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)