Tuesday, January 31, 2012
NACA to add more than 1,000 jobs in Charlotte - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
The hiring will begin immediately, with the nationakl nonprofit hosting a job fair Fridayand Saturday. NACA focusez on lending to low- and moderate-income Gov. Bev Perdue announced the expansion Thursday, with the state giving NACA a $1 million grant from the One NorthyCarolina Fund. It plans to invesrt more than $4 million here, with 1,01 4 jobs expected to be added over the nextfive years. “Northj Carolina remains a strong presence inthe U.S. financse sector, and this is a tremendousw opportunity forthe Charlotte-area,” Perdue said. “Our top-rated business climat and skilled financial-services work force are attractivee to growingnational operations.
” NACA is headquartered in Boston and operates more than 40 offices nationwide. It currently employ s about 100 workers in Mecklenburb County to originate and processmortgags loans. Under the five-year state incentive agreement, the organization plans to add 550jobs immediately. The jobs will pay an average annual wage of Salaries will range upto $80,000 annually. The hirinvg will focus on mortgage negotiators, customer-service representatives, call-centef managers and mortgage counselors. “NACA is excited that it’sx putting more than 1,000 people to work durinvg these tougheconomic times,” NACA Chief Executive Bruce Markes said Thursday.
“Today’s announcement is more than just a soundbite — we are following through on this investmenf by holding a jobs fair tomorroew to hire 550 people immediately.” Perduer said Thursday that she consulted with former Bank of America Chairman Hugh McColl Jr. about the McColl has been a longtimre supporterof NACA’s BofA began a partnership with NACA under McColl’s watch in 1995 and in 2004 committed $6 billion to its lending program. Perdue says McColp confirmed to her that he expected NACA coulde follow through on its job commitments in severaklphone conversations.
“When someone beginw something like this in italways grows,” McColpl said in an interview Thursday. “They’ll come in and find this is a good place tofind (a work force). I would hope it would be an eruption of jobs, not just trickle down.” The grou p claims it will be the largestr number of people hired immediately in one area and the largestg job commitment in the country since the mortgag crisis began in 2007. The hirin comes as NACA embarks on a nationwide Save the Dream Tour. Marks says the added jobs are crucial as NACA leadss its campaign to makemortgages affordable.
Hundreds of NACA stafdf will provide long-term solutions for homeownera with anunaffordable “Charlotte continues to be attractive because of our knowledgeable financial-servicew work force and we welcome NACA’s investment in Nortgh Carolina,” N.C. Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg) said in a NACA’s Counseling Center is in the Charlottw East office park off Albemarle Road between Centralk Avenue and FarmPond Lane.
“Charlotte continues to be recognized as a leader in financial services with a talented and experiencedlabotr force,” says Charlotte Chamber Chairman Tim “We are pleased to welcomde NACA to the community and look forward to the investment in jobs and presence they will bring to our East side.” The chambe r assisted NACA in its expansion Charlotte East owner Roger Kellogg, principal of , and leasint director Eric Speckman have worked closely with NACA sincwe 2007, when the nonprofit established a smalk office in the park. NACA has legallyy binding agreements with all themajor lenders/servicers to restructurer the mortgages they service.
The NACA agreements cover more than 90 percent of homeowners with anunaffordable mortgage. The staff from the Counselinfg Center in Charlotte will travel nationwide to work on Save the Dreamj events where morethan 25,00 people are counseled over four with thousands receiving affordable restructures mortgages with permanent interest rates oftehn at 4 percent, 3 percent and 2 percentf and where necessary the principal The organization, started in 1988, has the primary goal of buildint strong, healthy neighborhoods nationwide through affordable NACA operations include financial counseling, specialized mortgager services and a Home Save program for homeowners with an unaffordablee mortgage.
NACA will host a job fair from8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at its CharlotteCounseling Center. For more information abou Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of includingemployment opportunities, go to www.naca.com.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Iowa joins national effort to curb use of word 'retarded' - USA TODAY
USA TODAY | Iowa joins national effort to curb use of word 'retarded' USA TODAY By Tony Leys, The Des Moines Register DES MOINES, Iowa -- Lynn Holtzman wants people to know something about her. "I'm not stupid," she said. By David Purdy, The Register Graham Liston sorts shoelaces at Link Associates in West Des Moines. |
Friday, January 27, 2012
Canadian Western Bank Increases CEO Pollock's Pay to C$3 Million - Bloomberg
Canadian Western Bank Increases CEO Pollock's Pay to C$3 Million Bloomberg Canadian Western Bank (CWB), the country's eighth-biggest lender, awarded Chief Executive Officer Larry Pollock C$3.04 million ($3.03 million) in compensation for 2011, a 1 percent increase from a year earlier. Pollock, 65, received a salary of ... |
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
How To - Portland Business Journal:
Many are looking for alternatives to bank Experts say finding the correct alternativr to a bank loanis It’s important to find the right alternative and overcomer negative perceptions about non-bankj financing. “A lot of borrowers thought there was a stigma attachedto [alternative said Marilyn Landis, chairwoman of the in D.C. “It was kind of like you were sayinhgyou weren’t good enough for a bank.” One popular optionm is factoring, which is when a business sell its accounts receivable at a discount to a thirdc party, which collects and keepse the payments.
Factoring differs from bank lending in that the emphasia is placed on the value of the receivables and notthe business’ credit It is also not a loan but simply the purchasee of a financial asset. Factors make funds available to a business that mighft not be able to get abank loan. But expertxs say factoring can be more expensive than bank as factors take a fee and pay a discount for the Another option is cashflow lending, where a lendere determines loan eligibility based on a review of bank and credit card Landis cited New York’ss On Deck Capital as one organizatiojn that handles this sort of There are also boutique banks that make loans to certaibn types of businesses.
One in Kansas lends only to funeral for example. “The bankers are experts in that industr y and best able todetermine risk,” Landi said. High-net-worth individuals also might be willing to invest in smal l businesses as equity partners orangel investors. If they believer they can get a better return by investing in a privat e company than in the stock market they will advance the ownert money for operating expenses in exchang for repaymentwith interest, or in some case an ownership stake in the business. However, this routd isn’t appropriate for every business. Harris Smith, chairman of the Ill.
-based and a partner at accountingfirm , said angel investors might see a good opportunity in certainh businesses but are generally not a grea t alternative because wealthy individuals will not usuall y participate in such activity unless they get a high interest As difficult as it can be getting connected to the right alternativr lenders, Landis and Smityh said business owners still need to be aggressivd in their due diligence. Landis recommended that would-be borrowers start with their trade associationm and ask where they gettheit financing.
Find out who sponsors theirr events, because typically those are the same groupw interested in your And she said to talk to peers Smith also suggested that businessd owners ask their bankers for help locating alternative sources of Once you’ve identified potential prospects, vet them with the Better Business Bureau and dig into their track including contacting previous customers. Ask the lender if it intendx to fund loans directly orif it’es a broker. If it is acting as a broker, obtain the name of the ultimate lender to identifhy the actual source ofthe funds. Landis said to watch if they want upfront fees. If you get ask why.
“It might be that you are askingt for a loanthat isn’t doable and you can restructure the projecf to make it more suitable,” Landis said.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Skipping Florida smart for Ron Paul - Tampabay.com
ABC News | Skipping Florida smart for Ron Paul Tampabay.com By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor Republican presidential contender Ron Paul has made it clear he won't spend much money campaigning in Florida's primary. It makes sense given the cost of running a statewide campaign and the state's ... Santorum Deno unces Gingrich as 'Very High-Risk Candidate' In concession speech, Romney sharpens attack on Gingrich |
Friday, January 20, 2012
Northlich shuffles senior managers - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
Warman has been name executivecreative director, replacing Chief Creative Officer Don according to a news release. Warmah most recently served as ideation directof forthe downtown-based agency. He first joined Northlich in 1998 as a left for another job in and returnedin 2003. Warman is a graduate of with a bachelor’s degree in mass He previously worked as a documentary writer and producer for and a producerfor , and he also was a Whitw House intern during the Clintonh administration. Willis, vice president and generap managerof Northlich’s Columbus and Clevelands offices, also will head the agency’x public relations practice.
He joinedr Northlich’s Cleveland office when the agencyg acquired Public Relations Partners in October 2005 and was promoted to vice presideny earlierin 2008. Willis’ 23-year marketingy and communications career includes a stint with the Clevelanc officeof , where he was a partner and seniof vice president. He graduated from with a bachelor’s degree in Miller, formerly Northlich’s president of publidc relations, will serve as chief growth with responsibility for agenct growth andbusiness Miller, a graduate of Bowling Green State joined Northlich in 1994.
Prior to that, he held management positions with in Chicago and in San where he was senior vice president andgeneral Perkins, a 20-year member of Northlich’s creative “leaves a legacy of inspiring work, extremelyy successful and award-winning campaigns and a host of cliengt and colleagues who have benefited personally and professionally from his Selker said in a news release. “We thank him immensely and wish him much Northlichis Cincinnati’s largest advertising/PR agency, according to Courier with clients that include , and .
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Fascinators in ban at Royal Ascot's Royal Enclosure - BBC News
BBC News | Fascinators in ban at Royal Ascot's Royal Enclosure BBC News Women will have to wear hats, not fascinators, as part of a tightening of the dress code in Royal Ascot's Royal Enclosure this summer. Under the rules, racegoers will also have to wear skirts or dresses of "modest length" f » |
Monday, January 16, 2012
Shelley's high hopes to accomplish more at world record challenge - Gazette Daily
Gazette Daily | Shelley's high hopes to accomplish more at world record challenge Gazette Daily Shelley, of Barnes Lane, will take to the rough 24000 mile route in a 90ft wave piercing recycled aluminium boat named Accomplish More â" which is being built in Birmingham. And with recently announced new sponsors data protection Company 85 backing her ... |
Saturday, January 14, 2012
United Way names CEO search committee - Charlotte Business Journal:
•Curt Walton, city manager for the city of •Donna Lockhart, vice president of corporat community relations andLiveWELL Carolinas! for Carolinas HealthCare System; •Floyd Davis Jr., CEO of Community Link, a nonprofit housing organization; •Greg Haislip, clienrt director in the financial-services group at Microsofft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT); •Harry Jones Sr., Mecklenburg County •Jen Algire, executive director of community-health services in and •Thomas Williams Jr., retire president of ATI Allvac. In Frank Emory Jr. and Susan Faulkner agrees to serveas co-chairs of the search committee chargedf with hiring a chief executive.
Emory is a partned with the law firm ofHunton Williams, where he heads theitr global-litigation practice. Faulkner is the customer segmente and deposits executive at Bank ofAmerica (NYSE:BAC). Controversy arose last summedr over former CEO GloriaPace King’s pay and benefit following news reports that United Way had paid her $1.2 millioj in 2007. A public outcry ensued, promptinfg the board to reconsider her The board ousted Kingon Aug. 26, asking her to She didn’t resign, and the board ended her employmengt with theorganization Oct. 1.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
PC market suffers from shortage of parts, innovation as 4Q shipments decline ... - Washington Post
Bloomberg | PC market suffers from shortage of parts, innovation as 4Q shipments decline ... Washington Post SAN FRANCISCO â" Personal computer shipments dipped during the final three months of last year amid a shortage of key parts or compelling innovations. A portrait of a lackluster PC market emerged in separate reports Wednesday from Gartner Inc. and IDC. ... PC Shipments Sag in 4Q Amid Lackluster Conditions |
Monday, January 9, 2012
Cephalon CEO Baldino rejoins ViroPharma board - Baltimore Business Journal:
Baldino had been on the ViroPharma (NASDAQ:VPHM) board from 1996 to 2006. ViroPharmsa is an Exton, Pa.-based biopharmaceutical Last week it announced that the wantws an additional clinical study on its experimentapl hereditaryangiodema (HAE) drug Cinryze befores the agency will render a HAE is a rare, condition that causes swelling in various body parts includint the hands, feet, face and throat. The drug is alreadgy approved for use in preventingHAE ViroPharma’s other approved drug is Vancocin, an antibiotif used to treat bacteria infections of the lower digestive tracf that result in a potentially fatal condition known as clostridium difficile-associated disease.
Cephalon is an international company that focusesx on developing drugs in four coretherapeutic areas: central nervouw system, pain, oncology and addiction. Baldino sits on several otherr boards, including the trustees at Temple University, the Franklinh science museum and the Greater Philadelphia Chamberof Commerce.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Real estate roundup - Portland Business Journal:
The bank leased 4,850 square feet at 1001 N.W. 14th Ave. from Lovejoyt Corner LLC. Jeff Olson of Commerciaol Realty Advisors NW representerthe bank; Thom Brockmiller of Gray Associates represented the property. KeyBanlk will remodel the existing building and planw to open its new branch this The bank has 70 branches in Oregon andSouthwestf Washington. • Venne & Company LLC, a publidc accounting firm, leased 3,565 square feet at 6915 S.W. Macadam Ave., Portland, from RF Macadam LLC. John Van Zonneveled of MacadamForbes Inc. represented the Greg Gonzalez of DougBean & Associates represented the property.
• Maclaren & Whearty LLP, an estatse planning and tax firm, renewed its lease for 2,633 square feet at Fairway Center, 9115 S.W. Oleson Road, Portland. Matt Adams of Grubb Ellis Co. represented Maclarejn & Whearty; Shawn Adams and Charlied Digregorio of CB Richard Ellisa representedthe lessor, Fairway Center Officw Associates LLC. • Carlson Swanlund LLC leased 2,495 square feet at Fairwayu Center, 9115 S.W. Olseon Road, Portland. Jeff Borlaug of NAI Norriss Beggs & Simpson represented the tenant; Shawn Adams and Charliwe Digregorio of CB Richard Elliz represented Fairway Center OfficeAssociates LLC. • Dealef Services Corp.
, which provides serviceds to the autodealer industry, signed an expansio n lease for 1,822 square feet at Airportg Plaza Building, 5933 N.E. Win Sivers Drive, Dealer Services represented itself; Rich Sabel of CB Richarf Ellis representedlandlord D.W. Siverss Company. • Dr. Greg Baker of Manual Medicine and Rehab Center P.C. leased 1,702 square feet at Sunnysid e Marketplace, 12304 S.E. Sunnyside Road, Matt Sichel of Elliott Associates Inc. representedr the property. • Advantage Management Softwareleased 1,337 square feet at 8600 S.W. Salisn Lane, Wilsonville, from David A. and Sue Ellem L. Duemling.
Jake Lancaster of Grubb & Ellizs represented the tenant; Casey Pileggi, Kevin VandenBrink and Joe Kapplef of Macadam Forbes representedthe property. • Line Recta International Inc., a branding firm, leased 13,00 square feet at 6040 N. Cuttert Circle. Peter Stalick of GVA Kidder Mathewszrepresented Linea; Todd Collins of Macadamn Forbes Inc. represented the lessor, Rosan Inc. Jim Bean Brands Co. renewed its leasee for 3,685 square feet at Minthorn Business 4099 S.E. International Way, Milwaukie. Preston Greene of CB Richarxd Ellis representedJim Bean; the landlord representesd itself. • Reliant Dry Ice Pacificf LLC leased 3,630 square feet at Commercw Park Clackamas, 16065 S.E.
98th Ave., Clackamas, from CP Clackamae LLC. Steven Klein and Petef Stalick of GVA Kidder Mathews brokeredthe • Columbia Scooters leased 2,450 square feet at Corneliux Pass Plaza LLC, 7530 N.E. Shaleehn St., Hillsboro. Dean Wier of Norrids & Stevens Inc. represented Columbiaq Scooters; • Pet Pros leased 2,125r square feet at Sunnyside Marketplace, 12040 S.E. Sunnysids Road, Clackamas, from Sunnyside Marketplace LLC. Doug Magnusen of HSM Pacifix Realty representedPet Pros; Matt Sichel of Elliot Associates Inc. represented the property. • Freddie’zs Deli and Pub leased 1,500 squar feet at Baker Streert Square, 1250 N.E. Baker St.
, McMinnville, from Baker Squarwe Investors LLC. Todd Amacher of Ellioty Associates Inc. represented Freddie’s; Tien Pham of Argonaug Investments representedthe property. Cha! Cha! Cha! Mexican Taqueria leased 1,350 squared feet at 3808 N. Williams Portland, from 3030 Williams LLC. Todd Amacherd of Elliott Associates Inc. represented the restaurant; Jon Kellogg of Commercial Realty Advisors representedthe property. • Charles Padot purchasedc Typres Gardens, a 20-unit apartment compled at 2400Haworth Ave., Newberg, from the estatd of Carol Hilterbrand, for $850,000 or $42,500 per Brian Tracy of Norris & Stevens Inc.
represented the buyer; Tom Demonbrun representedc the seller.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
GM files for bankruptcy protection - Houston Business Journal:
Chevrolet-Saturn of Harlem Inc., a New York-based affiliates of the Detroit was the first GM affiliate to seek bankruptcy protection Monday morning throughthe U.S. Bankrutpcy Court's Southerh District of New York, accordin g to court records. The restructuring will enabld GM to emerge as a viabls entity under the brand namenew GM. It also will give the federakl government, which plans to make availableabout $30 billion of federak assistance to support the restructuring, a large ownership stake in the company.
Two area companies were among the list of creditorwsin GM's filing: New York-basex Bank of New York Mellon, with claims of $176 million, and Downtown-based US Steel, with claims of $9.6 For a list of creditors, see GM'sw . According to a releasse from theWhite House, the company planws to announce today that it will closw 11 facilities and idle another three. GM had alreadt announced in May .
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Washington Federal seeks stabilizer for portfolio - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
After going public in 1982, Washington Federal acquired nine thriftz and opened offices in seven othetr Westernstates -- Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and In May, it announced a definitive agreementg to make its 10th acquisition. Washington Federal, with $7.3 billion in has agreed to pay $65 million for . United has assetd totaling $317 million, four offices and headquarterswin Seattle's International District. When the transactiojn closes, Washington Federal will appoint Unitex Savings CEO Derek Chinn toits board. "It's an opportunitg for both parties," said Washington Federao CEO Roy Whitehead, adding that the two had talked on and off for a numbertof years.
Said Chinn, "We are very proud to join a companyh with a strong reputation for integrity and a length y track record of outstandingfinancialp performance." Whitehead said Washingtoh Federal has no branches in some of the markets servedf by United. The fit, moreover, is a good one, he Like Washington Federal, United has kept its operationa simple, and it has similar deposit and loan Whitehead said things at United will change as little as Customers should notice scarcely anything othert than a new name on the outside Besides acquiringUnited Savings, Washington Federal plans to open other branches.
It operates a tota l of 115 in eight Puyallup will host the newestWashington branch. It'se building another office in Bend, one in Plano, Texas, and two more in Las Washington Federal is a traditional savings and It takes in deposits and borrowx funds and lends them mainly to home although it alsomakes multifamily, land and constructiojn loans. It makes fixed-rate, single-familh mortgage loans, which now comprise 81 percent of its loan and retains these loans rather than sellinb them into thesecondary market. As a result, today' low interest rates presentr Washington Federal with the challenge of preparinyg forrising rates.
For should ratex rise, and interest paid to depositorsrise accordingly, Washington Federapl would make less or even lose moneyh on its mortgage loans. "This is not the idea l time for 30-year, fixed-rate loans," Whitehead said. Anticipating that interest rates will sooner orlater rise, Washingto Federal is beefing up its balance sheet with cash or and is building its Whitehead said, "so we can leverage up into a higherd interest-rate position." Thrifts and banks leverage their capital with deposites and borrowings. Whitehead said Washington Federal can leverage up with anothedroughly $3 billion.
The idea is that when interes rates rise, Washington Federal can make higher-rate mortgags loans. And the hope is that the interesyt income produced by these loans will more than offseg the higher interest Washington Federal will have to payfor deposits. Whitehead said, if interest rates don't Washington Federal can buy back stock or increase itsalready "generous" cash dividend.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
DiNome abandons quest to lead Reed Smith - Austin Business Journal:
Reed Smith spokesman Dave Egan told the Pittsburgh Businessd Times that Jordan and DiNome issued a joinyt announcement tothe Pittsburgh-based firm Tuesday morning that DiNomr has withdrawn his candidacy. “Theyt sat down and talked and discovered they had a lot ofcommonn ground,” Egan said. “Mang of the things John was concernerd about, Greg was working on. They agreede that the best thing for the firm was to focue on business instead of reported last week that DiNome waschallengint Jordan, who was seeking his fourth three-year term as managinh partner of the law firm.
DiNome sent out a 10-pagse statement of candidacy to all Reed Smith partner s in which he questionedthe firm’s business the compensation and transparency of seniot management, and called for a more independeny executive committee. The memo was obtained by the Businesz Journal. DiNome and Jordan had said they agreedf to not speak publicly about the contested race to leadthe 1,600-lawyef firm, which has 150 lawyers in The firm partnership will vote in the winner, who will now certainly be will start his new term in Jordan has not been opposed since he firsty sought the job in when he beat Philadelphia litigator John Smith.
Jordan’e tenure has been viewed as extremely He has grown the firm through a seriees of significant mergers from 500 lawyers in nine officeszto 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices, including new ones in Asia and California. Focusing on a core groupl of practices with high billing Jordan also drastically increasedthe firm’s profitability. But with the econom y sagging, Reed Smith’s transactional practices have suffered. The firm has laid off 215 including26 lawyers, since December. The firm also cut 50 legall secretaries last summer and salaries forall U.S. associates by 10 perceng last month.
DiNome, a labor lawyer, joined as part of a groul from Montgomery McCrackenWalker & Rhoads led by Karl Frittobn in 1996. A graduate of West he spent seven years in active duty as a fiels artillery officer before attending Rutgeres University Schoolof Law-Camden.