R'Biz - brought to you by James A. Bacon

Archived articles for the month of May 2008


10 Things

O&W Shares Downgraded

Stock now rated neutral (5/2/2008)



Business

In Brief...

Quick clips from around the Richmond business scene (5/16/2008)

MeadWestvaco to Shutter Pennsylvania Plant

Cutback coincides with assignment of "junk" rating to MWV's unsecured debt. (5/16/2008)

Live by the Consumer, Die by the Consumer

Capital One charges off $342 million on U.S. credit card business. (5/16/2008)

Leaderslips & Tips

The Hershey Company proves that executive teams are not immune to dysfunction. (5/15/2008)

Synergy Systems, Obetech Honored

Greater Richmond Technology Council recognizes leaders and innovators in Richmond's technology community. (5/15/2008)

Massey Energy Builds Coal Reserves

If the United States is the "Saudi Arabia" of coal, does that make Massey Energy the Exxon of coal? (5/15/2008)

Performance Food Sold to Private Investors

Food distributor merges with Vistar Corp. but headquarters to stay in Richmond area. (5/15/2008)

Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Chicken Renderers

Tyson to lay off 190 workers at Hanover poultry processing plant. (5/14/2008)

One-Stop Red Tape Shopping

Commonwealth launches portal to cut paperwork for starting new businesses. (5/14/2008)

In Brief...

Quick clips from around the Richmond business scene. (5/14/2008)

Profit Woes Run Deep

Circuit City faces "rapid commoditization" of big-ticket electronic products. (5/14/2008)

Chesapeake May Close Belgian Plant

European carton manufacturing to be consolidated in Gent. (5/14/2008)

Warehouse Workout

CrossFit RVA is a no-frills fitness club where members come for machine-free exercise programs. (5/14/2008)

Is This Any Way to Hold an Annual Meeting?

Blog journalist denied admittance to Massey Energy conclave (5/13/2008)

Behind the Concrete Barriers

The 2007 Annual Report offers glimpses into the secretive operations of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (5/13/2008)

MeadWestvaco Expands Presence in Brazil

MWV combines expertise in pine chemicals with Chemserv's background in oleochemicals. (5/13/2008)

UPS Freight Cuts Transit Times

Improved performance cuts customers' inventory carrying costs. (5/13/2008)

Communication at Work

How to make sure communication is on your senior management's agenda. (5/12/2008)

"I Feel Your Angst"

Times-Dispatch publisher enumerates factors behind cuts in page count (5/12/2008)

Titanic Tyvek

DuPont's Tyvek still looms large thanks with $1 billion a year in sales. (5/12/2008)

Petersburg Property Sold for $4 Million

Quick notes from the world of Richmond business. (5/12/2008)

Last Dance for Circuit City?

Blockbuster may be ugly, but it's the only one wooing the troubled electronics retailer. (5/10/2008)

Circuit City Management Bows to Blockbuster, Shareholders

Takeover tycoon Carl Icahn affirms willingness to acquire Circuit City if Blockbuster can't swing deal. (5/9/2008)

Cracking the da Vinci Code

VCU students in the da Vinci program project are designing operating tables for the third world. (5/8/2008)

Scrub a Dub Dub

Dominion scrubbers at Chesterfield power plant mean less mercury, acid rain (5/8/2008)

Traveler Frustration Rises over Gas Prices

And that's before the summer price hikes. (5/8/2008)

In Brief...

Quick notes from the world of Richmond business. (5/8/2008)

Why Watch Football Live When You Can Watch It on the Big Screen Right there at the Stadium?

Whitlock Group snags $3 million contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5/7/2008)

Employer All Star Awards Announced

Employer All Star Awards announced (5/7/2008)

Dominion's Rate Hike and the End of the Cheap Energy Era

Dominion files to recoup $1.1 billion in higher fuel costs. Get used to it. (5/7/2008)

James River Coal: Earnings Down, Prospects Up

As long-term contracts roll over, coal company expects more revenue (5/7/2008)

In Brief

A few quick notes from the world of Richmond business. (5/7/2008)

Morningstar Lowers LandAmerica Valuation

LandAmerica's business base too narrow. (5/7/2008)

The Snagajob Publicity Bonanza

Print media propel Snagajob -- and ensure their own demise (5/6/2008)

Chesapeake's China Plant Achieves Quality Milestone

Chinese manufacturers are improving quality -- and we're helping them do it (5/6/2008)

Hands Off Our Records, Attorney General Moonbeam

Cap One sues Jerry Brown to safeguard credit card info (5/6/2008)

Communication at Work

How to make sure communication works for your company. (5/5/2008)

Honey, I Shrunk the Newspaper

Times-Dispatch cuts editorial hole. Again. (5/5/2008)

Race Hound of the Baskervill

Mark Lindsey goes national with raceway design (5/5/2008)

Leopard Park Fills Southside Niche

High-end home furnishings for the discriminating Southside matron (5/5/2008)

Good News, Tornado Victims!

A brief reprieve from the tax man (5/5/2008)

Altria Spends $3 Million on Lobbying

Tobacco company seeks FDA regulation (5/5/2008)

Recession Watch: NASCAR Tickets Go Begging

400 tickets available on day before the race (5/2/2008)

Laughon's Law

When gas prices rise, nimble companies find profit opportunities (5/2/2008)

Porter Closes Sale on Office/Warehouse

(5/2/2008)

20 Questions with Shawn Boyer

SnagAJob.com's CEO and the Small Business Administration's Business Person of the Year. A closer look at one of our favorite Richmonders. (5/1/2008)

GEICO Does Nascar

With a little help from the Martin Agency (5/1/2008)

Timmons Nabs DISA Job

Richmond firm to provide civil engineering for $370 million project (5/1/2008)

Enjoy the Alligators, Albemarle

Chemical Company to Relocate H.Q. to Baton Rouge (5/1/2008)

Welcome to R'Biz

Richmond.com Launches R'Biz, Richmond's Source for Business Intelligence (5/1/2008)



Capital Funding

SouthPeak Goes Public

Video game publisher is the second IPO for a Richmond-area company in a week. (5/14/2008)

Out of the Box

Boxwood Partners to invest in marketing, media, service companies (5/12/2008)

Financing the Green Revolution

Ewing Bemiss closes string of alternate energy transactions (5/7/2008)



Contracts & Partnerships

Tridium Collaborates with Swiss Firm

Partnership with Belimo will add value to Tridium's next-generation building automation controls. (5/15/2008)

In Brief

Quick clips from the Richmond business scene (5/13/2008)

SouthPeak to Distribute "B-Boy" Playstation Game

From the mean streets of Midlothian...to the world. (5/6/2008)

Timmons Wins Hampton Roads Work

(5/2/2008)



Economic Development

Biotech Park Approaches "Critical Mass"

A commercialization initiative tied to Israeli biotech and medical-device companies could make Richmond the entry point of choice for foreign life science companies seeking to enter the U.S. market. (5/15/2008)



Expansions & Relocations

More Insight into the Albemarle Move

Specialty chemicals manufacturer exects to save $2 million a year by relocating H.Q. to Baton Rouge. (5/15/2008)

Universal Seeking Smaller Quarters

After years of restructuring and downsizing, tobacco trading company no longer needs 83,000 square feet for H.Q. (5/15/2008)

CBI Forms China Joint Venture

(5/7/2008)

Moss Motors to Occupy Dinwiddie Facility

Harrison & Bates handles transaction (5/7/2008)

Et Tu, Carmax?

Carmax to invest $4.5 million in Baton Rouge (5/5/2008)

ITT Educational Services to Expand

Harrison & Bates handles transaction (5/5/2008)



General News

If the Cigarettes Don't Kill You, the Price Hikes Will

Philip Morris Raises Cigarette Prices and Cuts Discounts (5/6/2008)



Management & Strategy

Operation Cut Red Tape

Defense Supply Center Richmond is introducing "One Pass Pricing" to streamline delivery of repair parts to the U.S. Air Force. (5/16/2008)

Cap One Ranks High in Diversity

54 percent of new hires are minorities. (5/14/2008)

Betting on Biologics

CEO Geoffrey Allan has positioned Insmed to prosper if Congress reforms drug patent laws (5/13/2008)

On the Cutting Edge of Family Friendly HR Policies

(5/9/2008)

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Defense Supply Center Richmond aims for 50 percent reduction in customer account workload (5/7/2008)



New Products & Services

A Pint Saved is a Pint Earned

An innovative blood conservation program at CJW Medical Center will cut health care costs and improve medical outcomes. (5/16/2008)

Genworth Introduces New Retirement Product

LifeHarbor guarantees income even if investment portfolio tanks. (5/16/2008)

World's Coolest PC Maker Unveils World's Coolest Support Hub

Richmond's Velocity Micro upgrades customer support for its high-performance PCs. (5/14/2008)

Monument Consulting Upgrades Technology

New technology bolsters applicant tracking capabilities. (5/12/2008)

That's Green Glue, Not Green Goo

Accoustical Solutions launches website for sound-proofing material (5/7/2008)

PARI Launches New Nebulizer Program

Doctors, patients both breath easier (5/6/2008)

We Could Have Used This Before the Sub-Prime Meltdown

LandAmerica goes national with fraud prevention program. (5/6/2008)

Henrico Docs Purchase State-of-the-Art MRI Scanner

(5/6/2008)



Research & Intellectual Property

VCU to Research Female Endocrine Disorder

Med school wins $6 million NIH grant. (5/14/2008)



Stocks

Profits Pummeled at Meadwestvaco

Company blames the pain on higher energy costs (5/1/2008)



Stocks & Investing

A Reprieve for Circuit City?

Circuit City still has a chance to survive as an independent company. Here's the scenario. (5/16/2008)

Analyst Likes Proposed Blockbuster/Circuit City Merger

Citi Analyst sees synergies, savings in merger of two ailing companies. (5/13/2008)

Bullish on James River Coal

Richmond-based coal producer benefits from soaring energy prices (5/12/2008)

Insmed Shrinks Losses

Drug company credits end of restructuring, litigation expenses. (5/10/2008)

Colfax Prices IPO at $18 / Share

Backed by secretive D.C. billionaire Mitchell Rales, company has quietly built global business in pumps and valves. (5/8/2008)

HRH Increases Dividend

(5/8/2008)

Chesapeake Profits Take a Pasting

Packaging company's $8.4 million loss may threaten loan covenants (5/8/2008)

Dominion Profits Surge 50 Percent

Boosted by accounting for fuel expenses. (5/2/2008)

O&W Shares Downgraded

Stock rated neutral (5/2/2008)

Markel Appoints Springman as New Number Two

Tony Markel, appointed vice chair, to take on strategic focus (5/1/2008)

LandAmerica Shares Take Beating on Profit News

Shares down 20 percent on news of $24.2 million 1Q loss (5/1/2008)

Fitch Upgrades Dominion Debt Rating

Unsecured Debt Now A- (5/1/2008)

Thanks for the Business, Hugo

Brink's Racks up Revenues in Volatile Venezuela (5/1/2008)



The C-Suite

The Durable Eva Teig Hardy Retires from Dominion

EVP of government affairs helped orchestrate re-regulation of Virginia's electric power industry. (5/12/2008)

Spinner to Resign from Performance Foods

CEO to step down after merger (5/8/2008)

Johnson Retires from Dominion Virginia Power

DVP CEO takes senior job at General Dynamics (5/8/2008)

New Chairman for Albemarle Corp.

(5/7/2008)



WORKMAGAZINE

Innovators

WORKMAGAZINE profiles some of Richmond's brightest innovators. This time: MaxPitch Media. (5/13/2008)

Innovators

WORKMAGAZINE profiles some of Richmond's brightest innovators. This time: Pauline Stevens' Elations. (5/13/2008)

Innovators

WORKMAGAZINE profiles some of Richmond's brightest innovators. This time: Packet360. (5/9/2008)