Job Opportunities with CSX

EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A DEGREE! PASS-ON TO SOMEONE WHO CAN USE THIS!

Great jobs for young men who aren’t in college, and strong young women also! This is Obama money for “infrastructure” the jobs are located all over, paid training in Atlanta . This is an awesome opportunity, please pass this on. These jobs pay good wages.

Training: You will attend two or three weeks of training at the Railroad Education & Development Institute in Atlanta , GA. CSX will pay for travel, lodging and meals as required by collective bargaining agreement.

Track Worker-030702

Job Summary: Work as a member of a crew to install new railroad track, maintain existing track and right of-way. Replace or repair track switches with specific components. Slide and align tie plates. Drill holes through rails for insertion of bolts and tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends or rails together. Correct deviations in track surface, alignment and gauge Cut rails to specific lengths etc.

Pay Rate

Entry Rate $19.36/hour

Full Rate $21.52/hour

Promotional/ Advancement Opportunities: Under Maintenance of Way Collective Bargaining Agreement, Track Workers may be considered for advancement or promotion to other positions within the Engineering Department if qualified.

Machine Operator $23.25 – $24.81/hour
Welder Helper $21.93/hour
Bridge Tender $21.93/hour
Bridge Mechanic $22.65/hour
Foreman $22.71 – $25.53/hour
Track Inspector $23.98 – $25.14/hour

Qualifications: High School diploma/GED; 18 years of age or older; Valid Driver’s License

At CSX, two of the company’s core values are People Make The Difference and Safety Is A Way of Life. We are committed to offering our team members the most competitive compensation and benefits package available, unlimited opportunities for development and growth throughout an exciting and rewarding career, and the safest work environment possible. CSX is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer that supports diversity in the workplace.

Apply online to this and other positions: http://www.csx.com/?fuseaction=careers.main

Catrena Norris Carter Appointed Associate Publisher for Who’s Who Publishing Alabama Market

Birmingham, Alabama – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher focusing on the African-American market, proudly announces Catrena Norris Carter as the associate publisher for its Alabama market. Carter, president and chief executive officer of Women of Will, brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to Birmingham, Alabama.

Her 10 years in management at the Tutwiler Hotel and former role as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Historic Redmont Hotel provided her with invaluable customer service skills supported by her numerous awards; including The Restaurant & Hospitality Association’s prestigious Hospitality Professional of the Year for the state of Alabama in 2003.

In addition to starting her own event planning company, C&C Events, she founded Women of Will (WOW) a statewide organization aiming to advance women into leadership positions at work, in the community and in politics through training workshops and forums. Carter has done radio in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama. Her show, Trena’s Truth, addresses the challenges of male/female relationships.

Carter graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, following two years on a performing arts scholarship at Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado. She is also connected to several professional affiliations, including Birmingham Event and Meeting Professionals, Birmingham Lodging Association, the African American Business Council – Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Exchange, the League of Women’s Voters, and the 21st Century Youth Leadership Training Program.

Honored in the second edition and featured in the third edition of Who’s Who In Black BirminghamTM as an Interesting Personality, Carter understands the Who’s Who mission of highlighting African-American achievement in the Birmingham area. “It brings me great honor and pride to be joining such a wonderful mission,” shares Carter. “To be able to spotlight the accomplishments of the excellence and perseverance of the African-American people in the great state of Alabama is long overdue. Through this publication we will have a living history book for our children and our communities.”

Real Times Media CEO Hiram E. Jackson shares, “We are truly happy to have Ms. Carter join the Who’s Who family.
We are confident that she will take the Alabama market to new heights and continue the strong reputation of Who’s

Whothroughout Birmingham and cities throughout the state.”  A subsidiary of Real Times Media, Who’s Who Publishing Company was founded in 1989 and highlights the achievements of African Americans while providing a valuable resource and networking guide for the entire community. Real Times Inc. is dedicated to sustaining its presence as the leading source of African-American-related news, entertainment, and lifestyle information.

Noted Entrepreneur, Lawyer, HR Executive and Author selected to lead Thurgood Marshall College Fund

PR Log (Press Release) – Apr 26, 2010 – Mr. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., Esq. Charlotte, NC, chosen to lead the 23 year old Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), it was announced today by James Clifton, Chairman, Board of Directors, and Dr. N. Joyce Payne, Founder, Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  

In making the announcement, Mr. Clifton and Dr. Payne said on behalf of the Board of Directors, “Johnny Taylor exemplifies the kind of transformative leadership, strategic acumen and fundraising skills needed to move the fund to a new level of national prominence, a new era of innovation. In short, Mr. Taylor’s nearly two decades of broad senior-level corporate experience, commitment to higher education and significant not-for-profit governance, fundraising and operations experience will prove invaluable as we continue to meet the needs of our universities and students — our core constituency.”  James Mitchell, Chair, Presidential Search Committee, added, “We all agree that Johnny is a well-rounded executive with senior –level legal, human resources, administrative and general management experience that will add great value to the continued growth and development of the fund.”

Mr. Taylor spent the last several years with IAC/InterActiveCorp – first as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and then as the President and CEO of IAC’s identity search engine, RushmoreDrive.com. Before joining IAC, Mr. Taylor was a Partner in the McGuireWoods law firm and President of that firm’s HR consulting business; General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Compass Group USA; and has held several senior human resources and legal executive roles with Viacom subsidiaries, Blockbuster Entertainment and Paramount Pictures.

Mr. Taylor is a recognized leader in the not-for-profit world having served as the Chairman of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), one of the world’s largest membership organizations with nearly 230,000 members in over 100 countries.  At SHRM, he oversaw a 300+ employee organization with $100 million + annual revenues, served as the chief board spokesman and traveled the world as the official “face and voice” of the profession giving as many as 38 keynote speeches per year.  

In addition to his reputation as a strong business executive, Mr. Taylor has demonstrated a significant commitment to higher education and HBCU education in particular.  Mr. Taylor has served on the Board of Trustees of Johnson C. Smith University and Drake University, the University of Miami’s President’s Council and the Board of Visitors of Queen’s University.  Equally important, he has earned a reputation as a prolific fundraiser in political and higher education circles, including serving as the UNCF Annual Campaign Co-Chair for Johnson C. Smith University, the TMCF Charlotte Regional Dinner Co-Chair, the TMCF 2007 Annual National Awards Gala in NYC and raising significant funds for various congressional and presidential campaigns.  

“I could not be more excited about the opportunity to lead the nation’s pre-eminent organization committed to preparing the best and brightest leaders from our nation’s public historically black colleges and universities.  I will work tirelessly alongside the presidents of our 47 member institutions, our incredibly committed corporate and governmental partners, and hard-working and talented TMCF Board of Directors and Staff to build upon the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall,” Johnny Taylor stated in accepting the position. “I am humbled by this awesome challenge, responsibility and opportunity,” Taylor added.

Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Science in Communication, with general honors, from the University of Miami, Master of Arts in Mass Communication with honors, from Drake University; and Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors, from the Drake University Law School, where he served as Research Editor of the Drake Law Review and argued on the National Moot Court Team.  He is a member of the Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C. bars, and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

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Why supporting local businesses is a good business practice

Why support local businesses?  Because it matters how the money we have is spent with local community friendly businesses.   Community friendly businesses understand economics.   Every community has economic drivers that propel a healthy quality of life for their area.  If you were to just look at a community externally you would notice the differences.  Those differences might be how people take care of their property and how involved they are in community organizations such as neighborhood associations and parent teacher associations.  I also suggest you look at who owns the businesses in a community and if they are active in making the community a positive place to live and raise a family.  This one observation of who owns the businesses in a community is pivotal to a community that thrives or a community that dies.  The basic economic equation for a healthy community focuses on high rates of employment, business and home ownership.  Implied in these economic drivers is an understanding of economics that must be aggressively taught in the educational system.  We all have a stake in promoting a healthy community because the youth of our communities will become the leaders of tomorrow.
Shop local initiatives have been very effective around the country and can work her in Birmingham too.  Monies spent to help support hometown businesses can have a ripple effect on the local economy.  With thought and a little heart, you can make a big difference.
We celebrate are twenty fourth year anniversary during 2010.  This is a milestone for us professionally and as a family.   But during the current economic recession the challenge is to do more for the local economy and put people back to work.  Every local community needs an economic stimulus package.
You can make that happen with a little help from your friends, civic groups and churches.  Start a trend in your local organization to spend at least a $100 per person or more at local stores in your community.   Challenge other groups to do the same.  We campaign for elections, let’s campaign for the local business owners by spending at local stores in our communities.  Designate a store to shop at each month and have you and all your friends shop there.  Tell the store manager or owner that you intend to ask your friends to patronage the store because it improves the community and provides local jobs.

Have fun with it, challenge other groups to outspend your group monthly and designate a specific local store or establishment.   Let’s reward those businesses that offer goods and services to our community and provide job opportunities to our neighbors.
Why do this?  Everyone can do there part to improve the community by becoming more involved.  You have in your wallet or purse the ability to change your community and create employment opportunities for you neighbors.

We do not need the government to show us the way out of this recession we have the keys to do it for ourselves.  We can start our own stimulus package for our communities today.
I challenge every community in Jefferson County to practice spending with local businesses and report back in 12 months what impact it had on your community.

What do you think? Email us at problmslv@aol.com or check out our website:  www.chambersconsultingLTD.com or call us at 205.780.7903

Harry Chambers Jr. MBA is co-owner of an award winning accounting, strategic planning and management consulting firm established in 1978.  Chambers Consulting LTD is located in the western business section of Birmingham.  Chambers Consulting LTD,  mission: To advise and consult with business owners, nonprofits and individual wealth accumulators from an entrepreneurial perspective about strengthening their businesses for better communities by providing long-term financial management expertise that is unavailable to them internally; with a focus on planning business solutions, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting and tax planning.

Harry Chambers Jr. MBA is co-owner of an award winning accounting, strategic planning and management consulting firm established in 1978.  Chambers Consulting LTD is located in the western business section of Birmingham.  Chambers Consulting LTD,  mission: To advise and consult with business owners, nonprofits and individual wealth accumulators from an entrepreneurial perspective about strengthening their businesses for better communities by providing long-term financial management expertise that is unavailable to them internally; with a focus on planning business solutions, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting and tax planning.  Website: www.chambersconsultingLTD.com

Twelve Major Brands That Will Disappear Soon

By: Douglas A. McIntyre

A number of well-known brands disappeared in the last year in large part due to economic forces. Many of them were in the retail industry, led by Circuit City. ATA and Aloha airlines are gone. Gateway Computers has effectively disappeared after being bought by Acer. It still has a website, but the brand is no longer marketed.

As the recession deepens and stretches out quarter after quarter, more companies will close or will shut divisions. More brands will disappear because their parents firms fold or can no longer afford to support them. Other brands will be obliterated by mergers.

24/7 Wall St. examined 100 large brands that are facing troubled futures. The analysis included records for those brands that are public companies or part of public companies. We considered sales information, information from industry experts, and brand histories. We also looked at the level of competition in each brand’s market and the extent to which that competition is growing. We examined the likelihood that a brand could be sold or spun off in cases where parent companies are in financial trouble.

We have compiled a list of 12 brands that will we believe will not survive until the end of next year. Each brand and the major reasons for its demise are listed along with some of the public information 24/7 Wall St. examined.

1. Avis/Budget (CAR) operates two car rental businesses. The primary competition for the company is Hertz (HTZ). Both firms are facing significant problems paying down their debt. Barclays Capital analyst Brian A. Johnson said the companies are “facing an almost perfect storm, with increasing pressure on both revenues and costs, coupled with very large risks on the liquidity and operational side.” There is real risk that Avis may violate its credit facility covenants. As the travel industry continues to falter, problems at Avis/Budget are going to get worse. The company has said that it plans to operate both brands. Their financial statements indicate that will become increasingly difficult. Avis is the larger operation with 5,100 locations to Budget’s 2,750, according to the company’s 10-K. Avis/Budget lost money each of the last three years and in 2008 lost $1.1 billion on revenue of $6 billion. As sales drop through 2009, Avis/Budget will find it impossible to support the costs of maintaining two brands. The Budget brand will have to be eliminated. CAR trades for $1 down from a 52-week high of $18.

2. Borders (BGP) has struggled for several years as the No.2 operator of book store behind Barnes & Noble. When Border’s released its last set of earnings it said it would cut the number of Waldendbooks stores from about 300 to 50 or 60. With Border’s losses, that won’t be enough. The pressure from online book operations led by Amazon (AMZN) and new e-book readers is overwhelming Borders. In the fourth quarter of last year, sales at Border’s branded stores dropped 15.3%. For the full year 2008, Borders lost $157 million on revenue of $2.8 billion. Borders recently extended its $42.5 million senior secured term loan with Pershing Square Capital Management, moving the due date to April 1, 2010. That may be the day that Borders goes away. Border’s shares trade at $1.47, down from a 52-week high of $8.02.

3. Crocs (CROX) sold the fastest growing footwear in America at one point. In late 2007, the company’s shares traded at more than $72. Now they change hands at well below $2. At the end of March, Crocs got a six-month extension of a critical credit facility. According to Reuters, “Crocs Inc averted a cash crunch by winning an 11th-hour credit facility extension with a California bank, but analysts say the jury is still out on whether the struggling brand can turn around.”  Two weeks before the credit extension, the company’s auditors gave the firm a “going concern” letter, an indication that there would be reasonable chance that Crocs would make it another year. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Crocs lost $43 million after making $55 million in the same period the year before. Revenue fell from $225 million in the last quarter of 2007 to $126 million. Crocs won’t make it through the year.

4. Saturn was created by former GM (GM) CEO Roger Smith to be the company’s platform for manufacturing and marketing innovation. GM, now faced with bankruptcy, will almost certainly close its poorly performing brands. In the first quarter, Saturn sales dropped 59% to 19,843. GM can’t afford to support a brand with poor sales that are falling at such a rapid pace.

5. Esquire Magazine is published by Hearst which is having substantial problems in both its newspaper and magazine divisions. Hearst recently threatened to close The San Francisco Chronicle after losing tens of millions of dollars during the last several years. It kept the paper open after the staff agreed to huge cuts. At about the same time, Hearst closed its paper in Seattle. The collapse in print advertising has pushed revenue at most of Hearst’s large magazines down by double digits after a bad year in 2008. Flagship titles such as Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan have been hit especially hard. Hearst is going to have to cut some of its anemic magazine titles. Esquire is among the weakest of the major men’s magazines on the basis of advertising page performance. Through April, ad pages at the magazine dropped 27% to 206. Men’s magazines are one of the most crowded categories in the industry. Esquire is up against GQ, Details, Men’s Journal, Maxim, and a number of men’s fitness and health publications. The men’s magazines which are performing the most poorly will not last long. Big publishers such as Hearst and Conde Nast have already proven that they will cut what they have to in a brutal environment.

6. Gap (GAP) Old Navy and Banana Republic. Gap is a three-brand company living in a two-brand body. In March, same-store sales for the Gap North America flagship brand were off 14% following a 14% drop in the same month in 2008. Sales at Old Navy were flat for the same month but dropped 27% in March 2008.  Sales at Banana Republic were off 16% this year and 8% last year. Gap announced that year-to-date net sales were $2.08 billion for the nine weeks that ended April 4, 2009, a decrease of 9% compared with net sales of $2.28 billion for the nine weeks that ended April 5, 2008. Old Navy has more stores than Banana Republic, 1,067 compared to 573. In the fourth quarter of last year, Gap had less than a 6% operating margin on $4.1 billion in revenue. In other words, if same-store sales at the company continue to drop 15% month after month, Gap is going to run into problems. Old Navy is still the weakest brand of the lot. Gap will have to close it down.

7. Architectural Digest Magazine has lost 47% of its ad pages this year. The magazine is owned by Conde Nast which is controlled by the Newhouse family. Newhouse is having significant financial problems with both its newspaper operations, which used to be very profitable, and its magazine group. Architectural Digest is operating in an environment where high-end home sales and expensive redecorating have been driven out of the market. It is also up against a number of other home and shelter magazines. Publications which are losing nearly half of their ad pages are almost certainly not going to make it for another year no matter what subjects they cover. Conde Nast has already closed or cut back several of its magazines.

8. The Chrysler brand of Chrysler LLC faces a problem similar to the one that GM faces with its weakest brands. As the company filed for bankruptcy with government support, the automaker knows that it cannot support product design, manufacturing, and marketing for all of its brands. An analysis of Chrysler LLC sales by division shows that the Chrysler brand has substantially worse sales than Dodge or Jeep. Through the first quarter, Chrysler sales dropped 61% to 45,706. The only nameplate within the brand that sold more than 20,000 vehicles was the Town & Country which could almost certainly be moved to the Dodge division. Dodge and Jeep both sold substantially more cars than the Chrysler brand even thought their sales were down 40%. When the company is restructuring Chrysler will be gone.

9. Eddie Bauer (EBHI) stock trades at $.38 now. Just last September it changed hands at more than $8. The company has said that it may violate debt covenants this year. According to the AP, the company also has severe competitive problems. “The retailer is facing an uphill battle because its merchandise doesn’t stand out among competitors such as outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment Inc., according to Janet Hoffman, managing partner of the global retail practice of Accenture.” In the fourth quarter of 2008, Bauer lost $128 million on revenue of $369 million. The company’s current S&P rating is about as low as it could be—CCC-. Eddie Bauer could be out of business by mid-year.

10. Palm (PALM) has been at death’s door for some time. It prospects have improved recently and the company has one last chance to become viable when it launches its new “Pre” product. Recent research shows that almost no one who owns an Apple (AAPL) iPhone or RIM (RIMM) Blackberry will switch to the new smartphone, so Palm will have to essentially expand the market to get share for its new device during a recession.  The “Pre” will also be sold exclusively though Sprint (S), the No.3 cellular carrier in the US which has been losing subscribers consistently for more than two years. The launch of the “Pre” is a disaster in the making. Palm’s results for the quarter that ended on February 27th were awful, failing to meet Wall St’s modest expectations. Palm sold only 482,000 handsets for the period, down 42% from the same quarter the year before. Revenue dropped from $312 million to $91 million, and Palm lost $95 million. Palm brought in just over $100 million with the help of its largest shareholder, Elevation Partners, in a recent financing. The bottom line is that Palm has no chance of getting an even modest part of the smartphone market in a severe economic downturn since it competes with two of the premier technology companies in the world—Apple and RIM. Palm won’t be in business in a year.

11. AIG (AIG) may be the only large company in America that both the management and federal government want torn apart. If AIG succeeds in selling most of its divisions it will be able to repay more than $100 billion in government loans and investments. The figure may be closer to $150 billion depending on how the federal money is accounted for. Uncle Sam also owns 80% of AIG’s shares. There are two reasons that the AIG brand, once the premier insurance brand in the world, will disappear. The first is that most of the companies owned by AIG do not bear its name. AIG owns ten general insurance companies with names such as New Hampshire Insurance Company and The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. Several of AIG’s life insurance companies do not have AIG in their titles. AIG’s most valuable financial services company is probably the aircraft leasing operation, International Lease Finance Corporation. AIG is now a “toxic” brand. Its operating groups will do their best to distance themselves from the company even while they are owned by AIG. Once they become independent of part of other companies, these operations will end whatever attachment they have had with AIG even if it means changing their names. AIG may be the one large brand in America which almost everyone would like to see disappear.

12. The travel industry has been so badly damaged by the economy that the airline industry faces substantial overcapacity. There is almost no question that two of the large US flag carriers will have to merge to avoid the bankruptcy of another American airline. United Airlines (UAUA) is among the three weakest carriers in the US. AMR (AMR) and US Air (LCC) complete the list. The stocks of all three companies are down more thank 40% so far this year as concerns mount that passenger traffic declines will accelerate as the recession gets worse. The sales loses are being partially offset by a drop in fuel prices and cuts in routes and airplanes, but the benefit of those reductions has already mostly occurred. When the economy or fuel prices are bad for a prolonged period, airlines turn to the two behaviors which have been their modes operandi in the past—mergers and bankruptcy. If the revenue problems facing the industry get worse, a stronger carrier such as Continental (CAL) is almost certain takeover one of its weakened peers. At United, total consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) decreased in March. Not only are the numbers of passengers dropping, but as BusinessWeek pointed out two weeks ago, airlines are cutting ticket charges sharply because “there are relatively strong indications that bookings for the spring and summer — especially for business-class tickets — may be far softer than carriers had expected.” And, United has indicated that the quarter that just ended will not be as good as Wall St. had hoped. Avondale Partners analyst Bob McAdoo recently wrote “Despite the deepest capacity cuts in the industry, UAL expects declines in [first-quarter unit revenue] that are slightly worse than what other legacies have recently guided to.” In the fourth quarter of last year, United generated negative $989 million in operating cash flow and negative $1.1 billion of free cash flow, defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditures. United cut a deal with its largest credit card processor in terms of the cash balances it needs to maintain. The card company gets a security interest in some United aircraft in exchange. The deal extends until January of next year. United needs a way out of all this trouble. It has already been through a bankruptcy recently. A “merger” is a much more likely alternative now. As TWA learned when it was bought by AMR, the company being bought gets to keep its brand around but fairly quickly a new logo gets painted on the planes.

Source:  http://247wallst.com

Black Radio a thing of the past?

NAB Urges Congress to Oppose Record Label Bailout

WASHINGTON, DC — NAB President and CEO David Rehr urged lawmakers to oppose legislation introduced today that would force America’s hometown radio stations to pay a new “performance fee” to the recording industry for music aired free on the radio. The legislation, introduced in the House, is supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A measure opposing today’s Congressional action is expected to be introduced shortly.

“Local radio broadcasters consider this fee a ‘performance tax’ that will not only harm your local radio stations, but will threaten new artists trying to break into the business as well as your constituents who rely on local radio” wrote Rehr. “Although the proponents of H.R. 848 claim this bill is about compensating artists, in actuality at least half of this fee will go directly into the pockets of the big record labels, funneling billions of dollars to companies based overseas”

Three of the four largest record label conglomerates — Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI — are internationally-based.

“Although the big record labels have seen their revenues decline over the last decade, local radio broadcasters are not the reason the recording industry is losing money, and it should not be the industry to fix it” wrote Rehr.

To read a version of Rehr’s letter to House lawmakers, click here.

State broadcast associations representing all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, also issued a resolution today expressing opposition to a performance tax.

On numerous occasions, both record label executives and artists have recognized the promotional value of free radio airplay. Such statements include:

“I love a strong radio hit. All of us. That’s what our job is, to have a radio hit. Without radio, we couldn’t do what we do, but the job is to have a radio hit that sounds unique, and like you”

– Jewel, Grammy-nominated recording artist, ‘Nashville Star,’ July 2008

“Alright, let’s talk about the nuts and bolts. If you win ‘Nashville Star’, you have to get on 200 major market radio stations. You have to”

– John Rich, Big and Rich, ‘Nashville Star,’ July 2008

“I have to thank… every DJ, every radio guy, every promotions guy, everybody who ever put up a poster for me and spread the word”

– Alicia Keys, recording artist and Grammy winner, 2008 Grammy Awards, February 2008

“[R]adio remains the best way to get new music into the listeners’ lives”

–Sony BMG Executive VP Butch Waugh as quoted in Radio & Records, January 11

“[R]adio is the conduit to the people, the voice of the format and the lifestyle’s soundtrack.

-Sony BMG Nashville VP of Marketing Tom Baldrica, as quoted in Radio & Records, January 11

“Obviously, radio is probably the most important thing for a new rock band coming out. If you don’t get yourself on the radio, then you won’t draw bodies at the clubs and you won’t sell records”

– ‘Another Animal’ drummer Shannon Larkin, Drum Magazine, 2008

“Country radio, thank you so much for being our mouthpiece. You know what we do means nothing if it never gets played, and no one gets to hear it”

– ‘Rascal Flatts,’ Vocal Group of the Year, Country Music Awards, 2007

“I can’t even believe that this is real… I want to thank country radio. I’ll never forget the chance you took on me”

– Taylor Swift, Horizon Award (for best new artist), Country Music Awards, 2007

“I have yet to see the big reaction you want to see to a hit until it goes on the radio. I’m a big, big fan of radio”

–Richard Palmese, Executive Vice President of Promotion, RCA, 2007

“Radio has proven itself time and time again to be the biggest vehicle to expose new music”

– Ken Lane, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Island Def Jam Music Group, 2005

“It is clearly the number one way that we’re getting our music exposed. Nothing else affects retail sales the way terrestrial radio does”

–Tom Biery, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Warner Bros. Records, 2005

“That’s the most important thing for a label, getting your records played”

– Eddie Daye, recording artist, 2003

“Radio helped me a lot. That’s the audience. I can’t see them, but I know they’re there. I can’t reach out and touch them with my hand, but I know they’re there”

– B.B. King, recording artist, 2002

“If a song’s not on the radio, it’ll never sell”

– Mark Wright, Senior Vice President, MCA Records, 2001

“Air play is king. They play the record, it sells. If they don’t, it’s dead in the water”

– Jim Mazza, President, Dreamcatcher Entertainment, 1999

“I am so grateful to radio. Their support has truly changed my life, and I hope they know how appreciative I am for that”

– Jo Dee Messina, recording artist, 1999

Source:  Webwire.com

Wal-Mart Spent $8 Billion With Minority Suppliers

It’s your friendly neighborhood “Digital Drummer” again…smile

Ken Smikle, Founder and Publisher of Target Market News, the number one online authority on the Black consumer market reports that Wal-Mart spent a record $8 Billion dollars with minority and women owned suppliers (see http://www.targetmarketnews.com/storyid04280901.htm)

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. expanded its business with minority- and women-owned companies by more than 25 percent in 2008, according to recently verified figures. In the midst of a struggling economy, where businesses across the country have been forced to close or drastically reduce capacity and workforce, Wal-Mart increased its combined direct and second tier spend to more than $8.1 billion with minority- and women-owned businesses.

In 2008, Wal-Mart’s direct spend with minority- and women-owned businesses was more than $6 billion, with second-tier spending totaling more than $2 billion. Second-tier spend is an accounting of suppliers that subcontract with prime suppliers on Wal-Mart business. Wal-Mart’s spend numbers are verified by CVM Solutions, a third-party enterprise supplier management company. Wal-Mart’s direct spend with diverse suppliers was more than $4.8 billion in 2007, totaling more than $6 billion when accounting for second-tier spend. The nearly $2 billion overall increase in the 2008 total is a reflection of the company’s commitment to diversity, its customers and local communities.

“At Wal-Mart, we know we can make a difference in the communities we serve and our commitment extends to minority- and women-owned businesses at the local level,” said Theresa Barrera, vice president of Supplier Diversity at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “We are proud of the fact that, in these difficult financial times, we are able to deepen our commitment to these important partners — giving them the potential to grow, while enabling Wal-Mart to deliver and sell the goods and services our customers want.”

Wal-Mart began its supplier diversity program in 1994. Through its mission, Wal-Mart’s supplier diversity team partners with businesses of all sizes, industries and areas of the country. (For examples of suppliers in your area, please see Appendix A or visit http://www.walmartstores.com)

As part of its efforts to stay connected to the best and brightest diverse suppliers, Wal-Mart partners with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and several other organizations across the country, to identify potential partners.

“Wal-Mart has been an important partner, supporting our programs and initiatives, as well as continuously creating new ways for outstanding women-owned businesses to sell their products and services through Wal-Mart — sometimes starting in just one store and then growing to become a major vendor throughout the chain,” said Linda J. Denny, president and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). “Wal-Mart’s dedication to increased spending with women-led companies translates to growth, financial stability and increased employment in communities across the country.”

In addition to the relationships Wal-Mart maintains with partner organizations, the company is also dedicated to investing in opportunities that assist the establishment and growth of minority- and women-owned businesses. For example:

– Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club have held supplier fairs, and other events, across the country, giving diverse suppliers the opportunity to meet with Walmart and Sam’s Club buyers. — Wal-Mart granted ten scholarships to the Tuck School of Business’ Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The Tuck School has two minority business programs that focus on strategic planning, financial control systems and internal growth strategies. Ten more sponsorships are planned for 2009. — Wal-Mart is a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, an organization dedicated to the success of minority- and women-owned businesses. The organization is comprised of public companies that spend more than $1 billion each with minority- and women-owned enterprises.

– Wal-Mart invested $25 million in the Pinnacle Minority Supplier Development Fund, a private equity co-investment fund designed to further enhance the growth of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses Enterprises (MWBE) certified businesses. For more information on Wal-Mart and its supplier diversity efforts, or if you are interesting in becoming a supplier, please visit http://www.walmartstores.com/diversity.

Will the Stimulus Package Stimulate Minority Business

Melvin J. Gravely, Ph.D. says, “I don’t know but it can stimulate some.”

Latest Business news from the web

Birmingham Business News – Local Birmingham News | Birmingham Business Journal: View Breaking Local News Headlines in Birmingham from the Birmingham Business Journal. Access business resources, company profiles, business advice columns, local jobs and more.

• Alabama lawmakers file bills to legalize medical marijuana

Two Alabama House members from opposing parties have filed similar bills seeking to legalize the medical use of marijuana. With the 2012 session to begin Tuesday, Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, is again carrying a bill that would allow qualifying patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana if prescribed by a physician. Meanwhile, Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, a funeral home owner who says his sister used marijuana to control pain before her death from breast cancer 25 years ago, has filed a similar bill…

• Top of the List: Hispanic-owned businesses

In this week�s print edition of the Birmingham Business Journal, we ran our annual list of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in Birmingham. Hispanic Employment Labor Pool Inc. came in No. 1 again this year with 60 employees. But in the course of compiling this list, I heard stories about Hispanic businesses and the struggles they’ve faced in the months after Alabama’s controversial immigration legislation was signed into law. You can read more about those challenges in the story I wrote for this week’s print edition.

• Real estate roundup: Cashing in on the medical market

Medical real estate is a hot item for some commercial brokerage firms right now, and Birmingham-based Shannon Waltchack LLC is hoping to get a piece of the action. The company recently bought a 10,400-square-foot, class-B medical office building at Shelby Baptist Medical Center from Alabaster Dental Associates for $530,000, or $50.96 per square foot, and plan a $250,000 renovation. The two-story building, which was built in 1980 and renovated in 2003, was originally listed at $800,000. Aliant Bank is financing the deal, which bumps up Shannon Waltchack�s medical portfolio to 150,000 square feet, including the second, 20,000-square-foot office building it already owns at Shelby Baptist…

• BBVA Compass sued by former employee in overtime pay case

A lawsuit filed by a former employee claims BBVA Compass failed to give legally required overtime pay to its mortgage banking officers. The lawsuit was filed in Texas on Thursday by Kevin Vaughan, who is being represented by Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC and Lee & Braziel LLP, on behalf of himself and all other current and former mortgage banking officers and other similar mortgage origination jobs employed by BBVA Compass since Feb. 2, 2009. In the suit, the plaintiff claims that the Birmingham-based bank paid mortgage banking officers on a commission basis and didn�t pay overtime pay for the hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week…

• Photos from the Birmingham ballpark groundbreaking

Yesterday, we reported on the groundbreaking ceremony at the new ballpark in downtown Birmingham. As we reported, it was unveiled at the ceremony that Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) will sponsor the $64 million park, which will be home to the Birmingham Barons when it opens in 2013. Use the slideshow on the right to check out photos from the event.

• Alabama Gives Day raises $743K

Alabama Gives Day, the Feb. 2 event to raise money for Alabama nonprofits, raised more than $743,000 for state organizations, according to the event’s website. More than 8,400 donors and 900 nonprofit organizations participated in the event. According to the website, Birmingham’s Restoration Academy was given the most money ($54,528), followed by Marion Military Institute Foundation Inc. ($12,800) and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama ($11,806).

• Mobile has state’s top transportation salaries

Ship captains in Mobile are the highest earners among Alabama’s transportation workers. According to a new review of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by On Numbers, ship captains, mates and water vessel pilots earn an average of $87,950 per year. Commercial air pilots in Montgomery ($82,590) and Birmingham ($81,400) are the next highest earners. Transportation inspectors in Birmingham ($78,750) have the fourth highest salaries, followed by air pilots in Mobile ($73,360). You can click here for the full report from On Numbers.

• Medical Properties offering $200M in senior notes

Medical Properties Trust Inc. today said it would offer $200 million in senior shares in another move to finance the planned acquisition of Ernest Health Inc. The Birmingham-based company (NYSE: MPW) said it will offer the notes at an as-yet undisclosed time through its operating partnership, MPT Operating Partnership LP, and a subsidiary, MPT Finance Corp. In addition to the acquisition of Ernest Health, which was announced Jan. 31, the company said the offering would be used for debt repayment, future acquisitions and investments, among other things…

• Center Point OKs plan to turn debris into wood chips

A $15,000, 30-day contract to turn debris from the January 23 tornado into wood chips was approved by the city of Center Point on Thursday. According to the Birmingham News, H & H Line Clearing of Gadsden was awarded the contract at an emergency called meeting. City council members also authorized Mayor Tom Henderson to begin seeking proposals for tornado debris removal.

• $122M C-RAM contract awarded to Northrop

A $122 million contract to install and sustain Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) systems at bases in Iraq and Afghanistan has been awarded to Northrop Grumman. According to the Huntsville Times, the contract includes options that could raise the value of the contract to $311 million. Officials said the C-RAM system, which first went into the field more than six years ago, provides early warning of incoming indirect fire.

BusinessWeek.com — Small Business:

• Michigan Wants More Immigrants

Republican Governor Rick Snyder wants to attract talented foreigners he sees as crucial to the economy

• A Verification System for New Hires Backfires

Eligibility checks of workers under the government’s E-Verify program are hurting small business

• Small Business Exports Edge Up

Small companies have increased their share of goods sold abroad in the two years since President Obama set a goal to double exports by 2015

• For Some U.S. Manufacturers, Time to Head Home

More companies are assessing the true cost of outsourcing

• One-Percenters Want to Buy the Corner Bakery

Smarting from poor returns in the markets, ultrawealthy individuals plan to increase their investments in small businesses

• Obama Seeks Cuts Amid Regulations Debate

• After Hedge Funds, a Career Rejuvenation

A TSA inspection helped Julie Macklowe switch careers from hedge fund manager to entrepreneur, selling luxury, travel-friendly toiletry kits

• Fed Says Business-Loan Demand Rose in 4th Quarter

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) — Demand for business loans increased in the fourth quarter as economic growth accelerated, according to a Federal Reserve survey of senior loan officers at banks. Seventeen of 56 banks reported stronger demand among companies with $50 million in annual sales or more, according to the survey, while six reported weaker demand. Loan demand among small businesses increased by the most in any quarter since 2005. Michael McKee reports on Bloomberg Television’s "Bottom Line."

• One-Percenters Want to Buy the Corner Bakery

Smarting from poor returns in the markets, ultrawealthy individuals plan to increase their investments in small businesses

• 2015 May Be `Tipping Point’ for Electric Cars

Idan Ofer, chairman of Better Place, a U.S. startup developing charging stations for electric vehicles, discussess the outlook for the electric car market

Latest financial news – CNNMoney.com: From CNN and Money magazine, CNNMoney.com combines business news and in-depth market analysis with practical advice and answers to personal finance questions.

• Disney employees now allowed to grow beards

Mickey Mouse can finally grow that goatee he’s always wanted. Until now, Disney parks and resort employees had been prohibited from growing beards and goatees. Starting Friday they may do so, so long as they’re a quarter-inch or shorter.

• Beat stress for less

This year the end of the holidays probably didn’t bring the usual stress relief; there are still worries about unemployment, a flailing housing market, and a volatile stock market, all of which may be taking a toll on your health.

• New York sues banks over foreclosures

The New York attorney general sued some of the nation’s biggest banks on Friday, accusing them of unlawful and deceptive practices for relying on a private electronic registry that tracks mortgages.

• Micron CEO Steve Appleton dies in plane crash

Micron CEO and chairman Steve Appleton died Friday morning in a small-plane crash in Boise.

• Big drop in unemployment rate for blacks

The unemployment rate for blacks fell more than 2 percentage points last month to its lowest level since March 2009.

• Place your bets on Facebook’s IPO — literally

Facebook has finally filed for an IPO, but it likely won’t start trading for months. For those who can’t wait to gamble on the stock market, bookies are accepting bets.

• Kiss QE3 hopes goodbye. And good riddance!

The strong January jobs report may finally put a nail in the QE3 coffin.

• Stealth jobs boom: 6 months, 2 million jobs

Companies are saying the job market is getting better. Workers are saying it’s already kicked into high gear.

• Auto stocks gain on jobs report. GM up 7%

Shares of General Motors and Ford surged on Friday following strong data on the U.S. job market.

• Facebook IPO shrinks private trading market

Facebook has played a big role in the private trading markets that allow eligible investors the chance to snap up shares of hot Internet companies years before they go public.