Medtronic looks to KC for diabetes-division expansion - Kansas City Business Journal:

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billion medical device company is consideringKansas City-aresa sites — including the headquarters in Lenexs — for the expansion of its diabetes Competition for the expansion expected to deliver aboug 1,500 new jobs in the next five years, is down to the Kansasa City area versus San Antonio, said Steve Sabicer, a spokesmaj for Minneapolis-based ’s diabetes division. “We looked at cities in all 50 states,” Sabicerf said. “But it’s come down to Kansas City and San The winner is expectecd to be announcedby mid-April, he said.
Sabicerr said Medtronic had considerec all typesof new-facility including new construction, during its nine-month site But because the division wants to completew the expansion by the end of this year and perhapa as early as the it probably will lease or sublease existing he said. The division anticipates the needfor 180,000 squars feet at the expansion Sabicer said. The Applebee’s headquarters, which was the only one of Kansas City-area sites Sabiced mentioned by name, is 178,00 0 square feet. The Applebee’s headquarters, 11201 Rennee Blvd., celebrated its grand opening in January 2008 in the SouthlakweTechnology Park.
But Applebee’s parent company, (formerly IHOP Corp.), recently listed the entire buildinygfor sublease. The headquarters building is home to about 325 Applebee’s employees who support about 480 company-owned Miles McMillin, an Applebee’s spokesman said recently. But Applebee’s recent adoption of a two- to three-year plan to becomwe a 98 percent franchised system will diminishthe chain’s need for the Lenexza building. In contrast, Medtronic’s diabetes divisionm is in dire need of additional The division employsabout 1,50o0 in a 150,000-square-foot facilityu in Northridge, Calif.
, just outside Los The division has no room to expand Sabicer said, and wouldn’t want to “We’re looking to open new facilities in new areas,” he said. Sabiceer said the diabetes divisionis Medtronic’s fastest-growinv business unit, having postee more than $1 billion in sales. “We have the largestf share of the insulin-pump therapy markety in the United States,” Sabicer The division also makes and markets continuous glucose monitoring devicesand diabetes-management software. Sabicer would not say what typesd of jobs would be offered at theexpansionb location.
But he said almos t all of them wouldbe “newe local jobs” filled by college graduates. In narrowing down potentialp sites, he said, Medtronic has looked at laborr costand availability, business environment, facilitty costs and quality-of-life issues. “We certainly want to make sure it’sa environmentally friendly, as well,” he The Applebee’s headquarters was built to the silver-levekl standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) program.

SoftBrands sold for $80M; Golden Gate Capital is buyer - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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The buyer, a holding company created by private-equitty firm and its portfoliocompany , will pay 92 centds per share for SoftBrands. Shares of SoftBrandse closed at 47 cents per shareon Thursday. On the same date in SoftBrands’ stock closed at 1.09 per share. San Francisco, Calif.-basee Golden Gate Capital has about $9 billion in assetds under management. Infor, based in Ga., is a software compang with about 9,000 employees and $2.2 billionh in revenue. Minneapolis-based SoftBrands (AMEX: SBN) sells softwarse to the hospitality industry, as well as to smallo and mid-sized manufacturers under the brand. Its productsd handle tasks such as making reservations to settinroom rates.
SoftBrands CEO Randy Tofteland said in a presd statement that the deal will allos shareholdersto “realize significant valu e from their investment.” He also said the compang would benefit from an “alliance” with A spokeswoman for Infor said SoftBrand will continue to have a presence in though it has yet to be determinedr how many employees will remain SoftBrands’ board has already approvedf the sale, which is expected to closs in between 60 and 90

Halifax Health set to open France Tower - Orlando Business Journal:

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The France family, whichj founded Nascar and owns , pledgexd $10 million toward the Daytonq Beach facility. Situated at the on Clydre Morris Boulevard, the 180-room towe r adds more than 500,000 square feet of It also containsthe state’sx largest emergency department, which includea the area’s only trauma center and pediatric emergencgy department. was the project architect and the contractoerwas . The towed is set to open in phases, with the emergency departmen t set to openJune 16.
Four times larger than the currentt area, it will include 107 treatmentt rooms, a 4,500-square-foot rooftop landing pad that can accommodatr three trauma helicoptersand two, high-speed trauma-onluy elevators. The new private patien t rooms include spacefor visitors. Each patieng floor has a family resource area with computer access andeducational resources. Wireless Internet is availabls throughout the tower andincludes 650,000 square feet of surfacs parking. The new tower also includea state-of-the-art equipment and is capable of withstandin a category5 hurricane.
Halifax Health includes the Medicao Center ofDaytona Beach, Medicall Center of Port Orange, psychiatricc services, four cancer treatment centers, the area’s largestf hospice organization and communit treatment centers.

Business executives seek input on five-year economic roadmap - South Florida Business Journal:

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The open meeting, held at the Manufacturinhg Center, is the fifth in a serie of forums across the state that begab June 3 in Gainesville and ends July 30 in The half-day workshops serve as the venude for discussion, viewpoints and a release from the statewide business retention and expansion organizatioj said. Among those invited to the event were representatives ofindustry associations, transportation experts, cultural arts smart growth advocates, elected officiald and economic development professionals.
The feedback will help the organizatioh focuson Florida’s most importanrt economic development needs and set the right goalsd for making the state more competitive and economically executives said. Topics were slatedc to run the gamutfrom retaining, creating and attracting high-wage jobs to cultivatinfg a talented and highly skiller future work force and from upgradintg infrastructure to increasing Florida’s globa competitiveness. Beyond the regional other opportunities are available for publi contributions to the development of the An Enterprise Florida now allows for feedback through several interactive features including a Roadmap survey and discussion board.
Additionally, the site providez the current Roadmap, related progress reports and “save the announcements for eachregional forum, the release Enterprise Florida’s board is charged with developing the plan and submittingv it to the governor and legislative Every three years, the Roadmapl to Florida’s Future the state’s blueprint for economicc development — is updated following competitivenessz analysis and feedback from a broad base of communitty representatives in the forums. is a partnership between Florida'ss business and government leaders and is headquarteredcin Orlando.
Its mission is “to diversif y Florida’s economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by attracting and helping to creates businessesin innovative, high-growth industries.”

Chain Store Guide Launches Demographic Mapping Software for Retail Marketplace

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June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Chain Store Guid e (CSG) announced the release of a new online business intelligence Instant Demographics allows companies to search census geographic information, along with retail and restaurant industry market informatiomn in one online program. Users can then develol customized charts, maps, graphsd and analysis for strategic plansand reports. The new softwarse has over 6,000 search optionas designed for retail, manufacturing, real estate, and other industry professionals. Priced at $1,295 for the demographicsz software subscriptionand $639 for individual CSG data sets this is an inexpensiver business intelligence tool.
Instant Demographicw is a collaboration ofindustry databases, with SRC's geographicx business intelligence software. The combination of the two organization's core competencies provides a powerful new analyticapl tool for executives in the retail and restaurant Both companies feel that given the current economic market, Instant Demographics could be a huge benefift for retail companies and suppliers. CSG publisher states, "companieds in this economic environment are seeking as much analytical information as possible beforde makingkey decisions. Instant Demographics provides businesses with a large majoritgy of that data in oneonline subscription.
This softward helps companies conduct competitive analysies and accurately gaugemarket share." The Instant Demographics software has nearly 600,000 locations and over 6,000 variableas that you can conductt searches and queries on. Chaib Store Guide itself develops marketr research and compiles industry headquarter data forthe restaurant, wholesale grocery, foodservice, apparel, department home centers, hardware drug store, and real estate Since Instant Demographics has so many featurew and variables, Chain Store Guide recommends that individuals interestedf in the software schedule a training sessiomn with one of the company's data consultantsa before purchasing the product.
While Instang Demographics is anew product, Chain Store Guidw itself has been in businesx for over 80 years. Chain Stors Guide sees Instant Demographics as the next step inthe company'xs evolution from print directory publisher to data solutions The company's customers have transitioned from prinyt directory to database, and now many are starting to utilizr cloud computing solutions. Chain Store Guide viewsx these trends as natura and is quickly developing solutions to fittheir needs.
To learnb more about Chain Store Guide or Instang Demographicsgo to:

AT&T to secure Amtrak information technology infrastructure - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Financial terms of the agreement werenot Dallas-based AT&T (NYSE: T) will providse services to protect D.C.-based Amtrak’s telecom networkj infrastructure, the company’s Web site and the personal information of The company will be responsible for implementingg and managing Amtrak’s wireless local area network (WLAN) and its enhancexd virtual private network (EVPN) to help connecty more than 400 locations and multiple networks on a singlr network platform.
“We are bringing together and providing securitt service across the newly constructed Amtrak saidGene Budsock, director of product marketing managemen for security services at Additionally, AT&T will put up firewalls to secure data that flowes both in and out of Amtrak’s networks, monitoriny for internal threats to and breached of the company’s security policies. Despite, some contraction in technologhy spending due tothe economy, Budsoc k said some areas of IT spendingb are creeping upwards. “Any time there is heightened awareness of security we get an increasein [customer] said Budsock.
“As there is more scrutiny aroundr protecting the customers and shareholdersof institutions... that makese companies better be able to spenx security dollars than otherIT dollars.” Under the Amtrak also will use AT&T voice services, includinb long distance and audio and Web conferencing Amtrak provides intercity passenge rail service across 46 states and 21,00o0 route miles. In the company’s last fiscal year, its trains carriec more than 28.7 million AT&T is the third largest employer in which is the headquarters of itswirelesz subsidiary, AT&T Mobility.

Mutual Interests for Baghdad and Washington - Huffington Post (blog)

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Globe and Mail

Mutual Interests for Baghdad and Washington Huffington Post (blog) New York - President Barack Obama has taken his containment policy through partnership to a new level this week by crowning Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as a strategic player in the Arab-Iranian-Turkish equation. The US president has purposely ... Pa netta Says US Will Have Robust Presence in Middle East BusinessWeek Not the end of the war in Iraq? Ahram Online Middle East US forces mark end of Iraq mission Aljazeera.com Oak Park Journal -Department of Defense  »

German Bund Yields Fall to 3-Week Low on European Debt Crisis - BusinessWeek

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Christian Science Monitor

German Bund Yields F »

Sanofi-aventis will pay $95.5M to settle federal claim - Kansas City Business Journal:

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million to settle a federal civil claim that a predecessor companyu skirtedMedicaid requirements, the company and the said The company said in a release that it admitted no wrongdoinbg through the settlement. The Justic e Department had accused of underpaying drug rebates it was required to pay into Medicaid between 1995and 2000, according to a separated Justice Department news release. Aventis Pharmaceuticalsw allegedly partnered with HMOs Kaisetr Permanente Medical Care Program and an affiliates to repackagethe steroid-based anti-inflammatory nasalk sprays Azmacort, Nasacort and Nasacort AQ.
In doin g so, the Justice Departmen alleged, Aventis Pharmaceuticals did not accuratelty represent the price ofthe products, enabling it to avoid payinvg millions of dollars in rebates. According to the Justic e Department, $49 million of the settlement will be paid to thefederal government. More than $40 milliojn will be paid to states, though it was not immediatelyu clear which states would receivethe money. The remaining $6 millionh will go to publix health providers. Sanofi-aventis termed it an fund available to stated wishing to settle claims similar to thoss of theJustice Department. Sanofi-aventis SNY) is based in Bridgewater, N.J.
According to the company’s Web the Kansas City facility “isd one of the company’s primaryg manufacturing sites.” A company spokeswoman couldn’t immediatelhy be reached for comment.

Now is a time for leaders to gain new consciousness - bizjournals:

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While we look to our leaderse for stability and confidence that thingsz willbe OK, even they are now It's a pressure cooker, and the real questiob is how to remain grounded in the face of this So, where can a leader go? It startsw on the inside, and ends up in new consciouse choices based on solid grounding. It’s a processx that starts with a leader’s introspection. Reflection: Getting grounded starts with having a regular time each day to to gain perspective on the crises of the day and to gain insighgt into whattruly matters. It may be a time of meditation, vigorouxs exercise, or a long walk.
The intentioh here is to find a place of peacer and serenity and to clarifyh what can be changed andwhat cannot. • What have you learned about thefirees you’re fighting? How important are they? It is critical to learn from the past and not continus to repeat the same mistakes. We will also learnj about ourselves and why we keep fightingfthose fires. • Assessment: Now it’s time to assess the key challengese weface and, basef upon our new ground and what truly matters, to look at new and differeny options for solving these • Conscious Choice: Conscious choices can now be made that are not reactive, that are tied to what’xs best for the people and the business, and that will creater a different environment for the work force and New insights lead to new which in turn leads to new thinking becoming proactive and formulating new strategies and direction.
It’ s an inside-out process. It starts deep inside us, at the core of who we are, that whicuh gives us a sense of peace about whatis important. And from that placwe comes sound judgment and a positive message aboufthe future. Conscious business choicea are built on conscious personal choicess that are built on who we are This new ground enables us to move beyonde thepressure cooker, reaction, and contingencuy leadership.

Riverside firm to add 100 jobs - Kansas City Business Journal:

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In the past week, the Riverside-basex company expanded its Peach State facility froma 6,000-square-foot officwe to a 40,000-square-foot building. The new building dwarfe CDO’s local headquarters, which is about 15,00p0 square feet. The Georgiwa expansion — near comes after the company received additionalo work from anexisting $96 million contractf awarded in 2005. CDO performw technical data and engineering supporty atthe , at the The 13,000-person center is a support and repair deport for a variety of aircraft, including the gigantidc C-5 Galaxy.
Company Vice President Don Ertekl did not disclose how much revenue the additional workwill generate, but said it will add 20 new employeesd immediately and another 80 by the end of the CDO currently has about 315 85 of which are local, said Dave CDO director of corporate development and communications. Last Januaryg the company had 305 total employees with225 local, according to The company is makinv the shift after programsz at dried up or shifted away from CDO’s expertise. “Wright-Patt used to be our breaed and butter,” Stack said.
Withinb the past few months, the company was selectef to bid on a potof $428 used to deliver Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solution to federal defense and non-defense users. It will be administere by the . The contract is for state-of-the-art methode to monitor and traci itemsand people. The company also made the short list of contractorsz in March allowed to bid on aseparatde $75.5 million from the . The contract will lay the groundworik for CDO to work with the or the to integratre RFID infrastructure within itssupplh chain.
Most of the work will be performed at locations outsid e theDayton region, but any projects the company wins will be manages out of the headquarters, thus boostingv its local staff, Ertel said. The 19-year-old company is makinh significant strides securing businessoutside Wright-Patt, CDO Presidentr and CEO Al Wofford said in an employee “We are fortunate at CDO to have a broaxd business base,” Wofford wrote. “Thids didn’t happen overnight.” Ertel said the companty recently hired a commercial businessdevelopment manager, as CDO seeksx to translate its government successs into the commercial marketplace.

Divine Llama Vineyard will grab your attention - bizjournals:

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This spring, they opened a tastingv room, where visitors can pet llamae and sample some traditional wines withsome not-so-traditionak names. The two explain their branding their marketing approach and why someone would name awine “In a Heart Beat.” Q: OK, wherew did the name Divine Llama come from A: Divine Llama reflects the fact that Mike and his wife raisde llamas — 36 as of yesterdah — on the farm. The derivation “Divine” is a play on as in grape vine. Q: That explains its origin, but talk abouty the name in termsof branding?
A: Brandingt is also about creating a need in people in find out Since llama are basically unknown to most they generate the question as to why llamaw and what are they like? Q: And what are llama like, never having personallh met one? A: Often it is the llam a that get the first-time visitor to our tastinhg room. When visitors get out of their vehicleds they immediately head first to thellam fence. Once people are introducesd to llama, they become infatuated. Q: What marketing plans do you have thatcomplemenyt this? A: Our marketing plans revolve firsyt around getting people to the farm and tastin g room. The more they see our setting and the llamup close, the more memorable.
Q: Yadkin Valley Wine Co. in Hamptonvillew produces and bottlesyour wine. How common is this? A: This is quitee common. Many of the wineries in the Yadkin ValleyAVA (Americah Viticultural Area) are doing a custonm crush arrangement with a number of different vineyards. Q: Exactl y what do you do and what dothey do? A: We raisee the grapes and then forwardx them to the winery where they do all of the processing and bottlinv of the wine. They have a barrel room therewas well. We pay a pricer per bottle to have this work performesd byYadkin Valley. Q: How, is it your wine? A: We work with the wine makeer on whento harvest.
A few days too late or too earlt in harvesting can make abig difference. We continu e to monitor the sugatr and acid levels duringthis period. We also reviewe which wines are to be finished in stainless steelk tanks versus being put intooak barrels. Once in the we do early tasting of wine and try to determineeach wine’s strengths and weaknesses before finishing. This coulf lead to decisions as to how long to leavde inthe barrels, when to bottle, when to add when to blend, what to blend with whic other varietal, et Q: Why would you name a wine “Ijn a Heartbeat”? A: Heartbeat is Mike’sa favorite female llama.
He showed her for a few yearw (Yes, there are llama showws just like horse and took herto Lincoln, Neb., to the Granc Nationals in 2006, where she was selected as third-best female llama in the countryy that year.

Woodland Corporate Center building gets LEED gold certification - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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The building, which openedf early last year, was designed and buily to meet the second highest ranking ofthe Council’s Leadershi p in Energy and Environmentaol Design. was the general contractor. Liberty Propertu Trust Vice President Jody Johnston estimatews the cost of building to greenm standards added an additional 5 perceng to the overall development but that will be more than offset by lowe renergy costs. Special features include showers and lockersx for workers who need to wash or changed clothes after they bike or jogto work. A deck made of recyclefd plastic borders the back ofthe building, overlooking a wetlandsx area that provides shade.
Landscaping incorporates drought-resistant plantsd native to Florida. A white reflective roof deflect sthe sun. Bins for recycling are placec near trash binsfor accessibility. Restroomn urinals conserve water by relying on gravity and a filter insteadof water. That featurew is expected to save 360,000 gallons annuallhy since each urinal uses anestimated 40,000o gallons annually, Johnston said. Grass surroundingh the parking lot soaks up And Flexi-pave, a recycled rubber, was used insteard of asphalt around the large oak trees that line the The porous rubber allows water to soak into the The building, located at 4631 Woodlandf Blvd.
, received the “Office Buildinv of the Year” Award from the Tampa Bay Chapter of the and the “Greehn Building Design Award” from the Hillsborough City-County Planning Commissiojn in Tampa. Liberty (NYSE: LRY) has developer and leased 19 buildings with nearly 1 milliom square feet of space in the parksincr 1996. Key park tenants include , Travelers, Travel and .

High Yielding SeaDrill Limited and Linn Energy Poised to Benefit From Stronger ... - MarketWatch (press release)

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High Yielding SeaDrill Limited and Linn Energy Poised to Benefit From Stronger ... MarketWatch (press release) High yielding oil producers such as SeaDrill Limited and Linn Energy appear poised to benefit from a stabilizing oil market as both companies ramp up production. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Oil & Gas Sector and provides ... and more »