Archive: July 2002
Raising money is no easy task
July 1, 2002SSN Staff
Money makes the world go around.
We all know it. You have to have money to make money. Yup, there's no secret there. There's got to be an initial cash investment in any business in order to start one or grow one. And often there needs to be additional cash added along the road to take it to the next level.
So where the heck do you get money to do these things in the first place? In some cases it's your local bank. But in most cases, banks just don't take much risk and that's especially so right...
Home networking company teams with Panasonic
July 1, 2002Andrea Gura
PALO ALTO, Calif.-A home management network company has announced a partnership with Panasonic to bring to market a home security and control system that the companies would sell through national broadband service providers.
The system, being developed by MyCasa Network, a hardware and software company based here, is a broadband-based home management  system that enables a homeowner or small business owner to remotely view and control devices within the home, said Mike Stocker, manager of...
Identix, Visionics deal gets SEC OK
July 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
LOS GATOS, Calif. - Merger plans between biometric companies Identix and Visionics Corp. moved a step closer to being finalized. In late May the Securities and Exchange Commission completed its review of a joint proxy statement that was sent to shareholders for approval in June.
"The last regulatory hurdle has now been passed," said Damon Wright, director of investor relations and public relations for Identix. "All that's left is to go to the shareholder vote."
Shareholders were scheduled to vote...
LifeStyle branch opens showroom
July 1, 2002SSN Staff
DALLAS-LifeStyle Technologies has opened a showroom in an existing branch here to showcase its products through demonstrations to builders and homeowners in the area.
The Dallas/Fort Worth LifeStyle Technologies branch is the first franchise of the company located in the west, in an area estimated to be one of the top five housing markets in the country. The franchise operation already has 12 other locations in the southeast, including the country's top housing marketing, Atlanta.
Headquartered...
Five seek NBFAA board seats
July 1, 2002SSN Staff
SILVER SPRING, Md.-The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association was scheduled to hold elections for its executive committee on June 26.
Four candidates were vying for three vice president seats up for election. The candidates are Paul Carroll, George Gunning, Jamie Orvis and Tony Shaddix.
Carroll, who has been on the NBFAA's board for 15 years, is running on the platform of a balanced budget for the association, while Gunning is a proponent of licensing and training in the industry. Gunning, who...
SAI, King settle disputed note
July 1, 2002Andrea Gura
MANASQUAN, N.J. and ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Company officials from the former King-Monital and Security Associates International can finally close the file on their failed 2001 merger after the two reached a settlement on a disputed $1.75 million.
The terms of the settlement call for KC Acquisition Corp. to pay SAI $900,000 in monthly payments of $20,000 with a lump sum of $720,000 due on Dec. 31 of 2002, according to SAI's Securities and Exchange Commission filing. SAI officials could not be reached...
False alarm ordinance watch
July 1, 2002SSN Staff
Arlington, Texas
A proposal by the city's police department to stop responding to burglar alarms without verification first received a cool reception by the Arlington City Council.
Some council members at its meeting in late May cautioned against such an ordinance, which would require confirmation that an emergency is in progress before police respond to the scene, according to a report in The Dallas Morning News.
Last year police responded to 31,000 alarm calls. Mayor Elzie Odom recommended more...
Vindicator ups staff, training at HQ
July 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
AUSTIN, Texas-Product manufacturer Vindicator Technologies moved to a new headquarters this spring, enabling the company to increase staffing by 20 percent and expand product training.
The new location comes at an ideal time for the growing company, said Rick Gross, president and chief executive officer of Vindicator, which has served the likes of the military, correction facilities and hospitals.
The company provides turnkey security systems by manufacturing hardware and software for the communication...
New AFAA group formed in central Virginia
July 1, 2002Andrea Gura
LAKE MARY, Fla.-A new member group that encompasses fire companies in the central Virginia area has formed as a member association of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association, the AFAA's 25th such member organization.
About 30 new members met in an organizational meeting in late May, said Tom Hammerberg, vice president for education for the AFAA. The group, called the Central Virginia AFAA, elected a temporary board as well as a president and at press time, planned to meet again in mid-June to formulate...
The art of business planning
July 1, 2002SSN Staff
Senior management has the responsibility of conceiving and implementing an integrated business strategy that
results in profits, growth, and clear direction for the entire organization. The Business Plan is the evidence that this responsibility has been met. In a broad sense, the Business Plan is based on two primary elements: strategic thinking (strategic plan - clearly the most challenging to get right); and, a tactical plan (marketing, operations, finance - details for implementing the plan).
Articulating...